Topic Review
Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairment in Chronic Kidney Disease
A notable feature of dementia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is the high frequency of vascular dementia, making its prevention through the management of classical risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, etc., associated with atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. Other effective measures, including the use of renin–angiotensin system inhibitors, addressing anemia, exercise therapy, and lifestyle improvements, have been reported. The incidence and progression of cognitive impairment (CI) may also be influenced by the type of kidney replacement therapy, with reports suggesting that long-duration dialysis, low-temperature hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplantation can have a preferable effect on the preservation of cognitive function. In conclusion, patients with CKD are at a higher risk of developing CI, with brain atrophy being a contributing factor. 
  • 78
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Artificial Intelligence in Migraine
Migraine is a burdensome neurological disorder that still lacks clear and easily accessible diagnostic biomarkers. Furthermore, a straightforward pathway is hard to find for migraineurs' management, so the search for response predictors has become urgent. Nowadays, artificial intelligence (AI) has pervaded almost every aspect of our lives, and medicine has not been missed. Its applications are nearly limitless, and the ability to use machine learning approaches has given researchers a chance to give huge amounts of data new insights. When it comes to migraine, AI may play a fundamental role, helping clinicians and patients in many ways. For example, AI-based models can increase diagnostic accuracy, especially for non-headache specialists, and may help in correctly classifying the different groups of patients. Moreover, AI models analysing brain imaging studies reveal promising results in identifying disease biomarkers. Regarding migraine management, AI applications showed value in identifying outcome measures, the best treatment choices, and therapy response prediction.
  • 82
  • 02 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Neuroimaging Techniques in Differentiating Parkinson’s Disease
Neuroimaging can provide significant benefits in evaluating patients with movement disorders associated with drugs. The dopaminergic radiotracers already reported to assess patients with drug-induced parkinsonism are [123I]-FP-CIT, [123I]-β-CIT, [99mTc]-TRODAT-1, [18F]-DOPA, [18F]-AV-133, and [18F]-FP-CIT. The most studied one and the one with the highest number of publications is [123I]-FP-CIT. Fludeoxyglucose (18F) revealed a specific pattern that could predict individuals susceptible to developing drug-induced parkinsonism.
  • 52
  • 01 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Conventional MRI Characteristics of Peri- and Para-Vascular Spaces
Brain spaces around (perivascular spaces) and alongside (paravascular or Virchow–Robin spaces) vessels have gained significant attention due to the advancements of in vivo imaging tools and to their crucial role in maintaining brain health, contributing to the anatomic foundation of the glymphatic system. In fact, it is widely accepted that peri- and para-vascular spaces function as waste clearance pathways for the brain for materials such as ß-amyloid by allowing exchange between cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid. Visible brain spaces on magnetic resonance imaging are often a normal finding, but they have also been associated with a wide range of neurological and systemic conditions, suggesting their potential as early indicators of intracranial pressure and neurofluid imbalance.
  • 95
  • 01 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Application of Diffusion Spectrum Imaging
Studies have demonstrated that many regions in the human brain include multidirectional fiber tracts, in which the diffusion of water molecules within image voxels does not follow a Gaussian distribution. Therefore, the conventional diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) that hypothesizes a single fiber orientation within a voxel is intrinsically incapable of revealing the complex microstructures of brain tissues. Diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) employs a pulse sequence with different b-values along multiple gradient directions to sample the diffusion information of water molecules in the entire q-space and then quantitatively estimates the diffusion profile using a probability density function with a high angular resolution. Studies have suggested that DSI can reliably observe the multidirectional fibers within each voxel and allow fiber tracking along different directions, which can improve fiber reconstruction reflecting the true but complicated brain structures that were not observed in the previous DTI studies. Moreover, with increasing angular resolution, DSI is able to reveal new neuroimaging biomarkers used for disease diagnosis and the prediction of disorder progression. However, this method has not been used widely in clinical studies, due to its overly long scanning time and difficult post-processing.
  • 113
  • 15 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Bilingual Speech and Neuroimaging
It is documented that most bilingual speakers voluntarily engage in code-mixing in conversation and bilinguals use speech sound inventories from both their first (L1) and second language (L2) when code-mixing. Code-mixed language offers a unique opportunity to study first- and second-language speech perception while both languages are being assessed. In addition, it is possible to investigate neural activation monitoring during such a task with the use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). fNIRS is a non-evasive imaging technology that has been previously used to investigate bilingualism and brain localization function.
  • 232
  • 07 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Cerebral Vasomotor Reactivity in COVID-19
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affects the respiratory system but can also lead to neurological complications. Among COVID-19 patients, the endothelium is considered the Achilles heel. A variety of endothelial dysfunctions may result from SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent endotheliitis, such as altered vascular tone, oxidative stress, and cytokine storms. The cerebral hemodynamic impairment that is caused is associated with a higher probability of severe disease and poor outcomes in patients with COVID-19.
  • 238
  • 01 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Diagnostic Approaches to Adult-Type Diffuse Glial Tumors
Gliomas are the most frequent intrinsic central nervous system tumors. The new 2021 WHO Classification of Central Nervous System Tumors brought significant changes into the classification of gliomas, that underline the role of molecular diagnostics, with the adult-type diffuse glial tumors now identified primarily by their biomarkers rather than histology. The status of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 or 2 describes tumors at their molecular level and together with the presence or absence of 1p/19q codeletion are the most important biomarkers used for the classification of adult-type diffuse glial tumors. 
  • 153
  • 27 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Radiomics in Clinical Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the loss of neurological function due to a sudden reduction in cerebral blood flow and is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. The field of radiological imaging has experienced growth in recent years, which could be boosted by the advent of artificial intelligence. One of the latest innovations in artificial intelligence is radiomics, which is based on the fact that a large amount of quantitative data can be extracted from radiological images, from which patterns can be identified and associated with specific pathologies. Since its inception, radiomics has been particularly associated with the field of oncology and has shown promising results in a wide range of clinical situations. The performance of radiomics in non-tumour pathologies has been increasingly explored in recent years, and the results continue to be promising. 
  • 275
  • 19 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Glioma and Glioblastoma Multiforme
Glioma and glioblastoma multiform (GBM) remain among the most debilitating and life-threatening brain tumors. Despite advances in diagnosing approaches, patient follow-up after treatment (surgery and chemoradiation) is still challenging for differentiation between tumor progression/recurrence, pseudoprogression, and radionecrosis. Radiomics emerges as a promising tool in initial diagnosis, grading, and survival prediction in patients with glioma and can help differentiate these post-treatment scenarios.
  • 185
  • 19 Sep 2023
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