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Biomedical subjects

C Oppenheim

Publications and source records attributed to C Oppenheim.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Antidepressant efficacy and cognitive effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in vascular depression: an open trial.

BACKGROUND: Beneficial effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) were demonstrated by many controlled studies in major depression. Moreover, this promising and non invasive therapeutic tool seems to be better tolerated than electroconvulsive therapy.Vascular depression is a subtype of late-life depression, associated with cerebrovascular disease and means a poorer response to antidepressant treatment. We employed rTMS over the left prefrontal cortex in 11 patients with late-onset resistant vascular depression. The primary purpose of this two-week open study was to examine antidepressant efficacy of rTMS in vascular depression. The secondary aim was to evaluate cognitive effects of rTMS in our sample. METHODS: Clinical status, as measured with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and cognitive effects, as evaluated by neuropsychological tests, were assessed at baseline and after two weeks of rTMS. Brain measurements to obtain an index of prefrontal atrophy were performed at both the motor cortex and prefrontal cortex. RESULTS: Five out of 11 resistant patients with late-onset vascular depression were responders. They showed a clinically meaningful improvement in HDRS scores, with a decrease of 11, 4 points (p<0.01). Antidepressant response is correlated to the relative degree of prefrontal atrophy (p = 0.05). After two weeks, verbal fluency and visuospatial memory improved. No cognitive performance deteriorated except for verbal memory, as the delayed recall decreased significantly in the responders' group. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary observations prompt to perform a subsequent controlled study to examine if rTMS may constitute an alternative to electroconvulsive therapy.

Aged↗

[Headaches in the emergency context].

Headaches constitute one of the most frequent reason of consultation. Their causes are extremely varied. The first step consists in the analysis of the characteristics of the pain and the associated signs in order to distinguish primary and secondary headaches. Primary headaches, including migraines and tension-type headaches are the most frequent types and do not require imaging evaluation. Secondary headaches are related to an organic cause and require specific investigations. In case of suspected symptomatic or secondary headaches, brain imaging plays an important role in the etiologic work-up. The main purpose of imaging in an emergency setting is to diagnose a life-threatening disease.

Acute Disease↗

[Diffusion tensor MR imaging of the brain. Clinical applications].

Diffusion tensor MR imaging is a technique that provides details on tIssue microstructure and organization well beyond the usual image resolution. With diffusion tensor MR imaging, diffusion anisotropy can be quantified and subtle white matter changes not normally seen on conventional MRI can be detected. The purpose of this article is to review the current applications of diffusion tensor MR imaging for the study of the brain, including normal aging, Alzheimer's disease, neuropsychiatric disorders, strokes, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors and intractable seizures.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Spectroscopy and serial diffusion MR findings in hGH-Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

This report describes the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in two patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for human growth hormone Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, who initially had pronounced bilateral DWI/FLAIR (diffusion weighted imaging/fluid attenuated inversion recovery) hyperintensities in the basal ganglia, with decreased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values (range, 58-82% of normal). MRI spectroscopy, obtained in one case, showed decreased N-acetyl aspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) ratio in the atrophic vermis (0.79; normal: mean, 1.20; SD, 0.13), despite the lack of DWI/FLAIR signal changes, whereas NAA/Cr was normal in the putamina (1.6; normal: mean, 1.56; SD, 0.17), despite striking DWI signal changes and decreased ADC values (60% of normal). Serial DWI, obtained in the other case, showed a progressive disappearance of DWI hypersignal of the basal ganglia replaced by pronounced atrophy. Data from these two patients suggest that restricted diffusion associated with a normal NAA value might indicate spongiform changes of still viable cells, and that any subsequent regression of the DWI signal changes, atrophy, or decreased NAA values could be related to progressive neuronal death.

Adult↗

Neuroimaging in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.

The terms posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy, reversible posterior cerebral edema syndrome, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) all refer to a clinicoradiologic entity characterized by headaches, confusion, visual disturbances, seizures, and posterior transient changes on neuroimaging. Clinical findings are not sufficiently specific to readily establish the diagnosis; in contrast, magnetic resonance imaging pattern is often characteristic and represents an essential component of the diagnosis of PRES. Typical lesions predominate in the posterior white matter, with some involvement of the overlying cortex; are hyperintense on T2-weighted images; and are usually hypointense or isointense on diffusion-weighted images, with an increase of the apparent diffusion coefficient, indicating vasogenic edema. The pathogenesis is incompletely understood, although it seems to be related to the breakthrough of autoregulation and endothelial dysfunction. Since its initial description, this syndrome has been subsequently described in an increasing number of medical conditions, including hypertensive encephalopathy, eclampsia, and the use of cytotoxic and immunosuppressive drugs. The diagnosis has important therapeutic and prognostic implications because the reversibility of the clinical and radiologic abnormalities is contingent on the prompt control of blood pressure and/or discontinuing the offending drug. On the contrary, when unrecognized, conversion to irreversible cytotoxic edema may occur.

Brain↗

Early asymptomatic recurrence of cervical artery dissection: three cases.

Cervical artery dissection (CAD) recurrences are rare but the risk could be higher during the first month. Twenty-seven consecutive patients admitted for an acute CAD were investigated using a standardized imaging protocol. An early asymptomatic recurrence was observed in three patients 49 to 53 days after the initial diagnosis. Anticoagulation was maintained and the prognosis remained good. Early CAD recurrences may have been underestimated previously, because asymptomatic recurrences seem to be more frequent than symptomatic ones.

Adult↗

[Lyrical and musical auditive mental imagery in functional MRI].

PURPOSE: to explore with functional MRI cerebral areas involved in musical and lyrical sounds signal processing with the mental imagery method. MATERIAL: and METHODS: nine volunteers (mean age: 27 years old) underwent functional MRI with BOLD contrast at 1.5 T. Box-car paradigms of partial recollections of musical or lyrical memories tasks were performed. Statistical correlations mappings were calculated and superimposed on previously realigned anatomical reference imaging to observe activated cerebral areas. RESULTS: all except one subjects had activation areas in primary and secondary auditive cortices in the temporal Heschl gyrus and the Planum Temporale, unilaterally (n=2) or bilaterally (n=6) during both mental tasks. Contralateral activation improvement was observed in 4 cases when the lyrical tasks were performed. Temporal and insular regions involved in language processing were observed in eight of nine subjects. CONCLUSION: auditive mental imagery can show in functional MRI cerebral areas involved in auditive functions and some of the areas involved in language processing.

Adult↗

[Diffusion tensor MRI of Wallerian degeneration: a case report].

Diffusion tensor imaging allows a 3D analysis of water molecular motion and an exploration of white matter tracts integrity and orientation. We report a diffusion tensor study of wallerian degeneration of the corticospinal tract following a capsulo-lenticular hemorrhage in a 49-year old man. Reduced anisotropy (loss of fiber coherence) with preserved diffusivity of the damaged corticospinal tract was observed. This highlights the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging on clinical MR units and its ability to quantify the degree of white matter tract destruction.

Anisotropy↗

[Dementia: role of imaging].

This article summarizes the role of imaging in the evaluation of cognitive disorders of the elderly. The primary goal of imaging is to exclude potentially reversible dementia due to intracranial lesions such as tumor, subdural hematoma or normal pressure hydrocephalus. The value of neuroimaging in the diagnosis of degenerative disorders is then discussed: Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementias, dementia with Lewy bodies, dementia associated with parkinsonian syndromes, vascular dementias and mild cognitive impairment.

Aged↗

[Normal results].

THE TECHNIQUE: Today, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the exploration of choice for a number of central nervous system disorders. This technique, which does not use ionising rays, examines the encephalus in all its dimensions. Various sequences are used to study the cerebral parenchyma: specific sequences in T1, with or without injection of a contrast product, specific sequence in T2, and FLAIR sequence. THE RESULTS OBTAINED: The diffusion and perfusion imaging respectively reveal the movement of the water molecules and the cerebral microcirculation. Visualisation of the arteries and veins is non-invasive with magnetic resonance angiographical techniques. Study of the chemical composition of tissues (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and of cerebral activation (functional activation imaging) will not be addressed.

Arteries↗

[Tumor pathology].

THE MRI DIAGNOSTIC SUPPORT: Magnetic resonance imaging is an efficient technique for revealing an intercranial tumor, and specifying its topography and loco-regional impact. A macroscopical approach is possible with MRI, since it distinguishes the components: tumoral tissue, cyst, necrosis and hemorrhage. DEPENDING ON THE TUMOR: Assessment of the tumoral limits is easy for extra-axial tumors. However, it is imprecise or even impossible for infiltrating intra-axial tumors. MRI specificity is low, however some lesions such as meningiomas, glioblastomas, arachnoid cysts and neurinomas are evocative.

Brain↗

[Vascular pathology].

IN ARTERIAL ISCHEMIC PATHOLOGY: Magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly proposed for any suspicion of cerebral vascular accident. Because of its diffusion sequences, it permits the rapid diagnosis and screening of ischemic lesions and provides prognostic information. FOR OTHER CEREBRAL VASCULAR DISORDERS: Intra-parenchymatous and sub-arachnoid hemorrhages are easily revealed by MRI. Today, MRI is the most effective examination for the diagnosis of venous thrombosis and of its impact on the parenchyma.

Brain Ischemia↗

[Traumatic, infectious or degenerative pathology].

CRANIO-ENCEPHALIC TRAUMAS: Scanography remains the examination of choice. However, MRI can be useful in diagnosis of diffuse axional lesions, not clearly visualized with scanography, and for screening the subsequent lesions. INFECTIOUS OR INFLAMMATORY LESIONS: Some are very evocative with MRI: cerebral abscesses, notably herpetic encephalitis and Creutzfeldt-Jacob's disease. If multiple sclerosis is suspected, MRI is considered as the principle para-clinical examination able to confirm the diagnosis with the first episode. It also supplies data for the diagnosis of metabolic, toxic and degenerative diseases.

Brain↗

[Creation of an educational CD-ROM using a PACS].

Presentation of MIRIAM 2: We describe the materials used for the creation of and the content of a CD-ROM entitled '77 neuroradiological case reports'. We mention the gathering of clinical and imaging data, exclusively provided by a PACS. Our work demonstrates that a CD-ROM is an appropriate interactive medium for radiological teaching. Its creation can be simplified thanks to a PACS, but it nonetheless remains work intensive.

Brain Diseases↗

DWI prediction of symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation in acute MCA infarct.

PURPOSE: Symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation is a severe complication of acute ischemic stroke which occurs at a higher frequency after thrombolysis. The present study was designed to analyze whether early DWI can be used for predicting the risk of hemorrhagic transformation with clinical worsening in MCA stroke patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 28 patients with a middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarct and proven MCA or carotid T occlusion on DWI and MR angiography performed within 14 hours after onset (mean 6.5 +/- 3.5 hours, median 5.2 hours), 4 developed hemorrhagic transformation with clinical worsening, while 24 did not. For the 2 groups, we compared admission NIHSS score, site of arterial occlusion, volume of DWI abnormalities, and several apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements: ADC(infarct) (mean ADC value of the whole infarct), ADC(core) (peak ADC decrease as calculated in a 57 mm(2) circular ROI, manually centered on the ischemic area with the lowest ADC value on the ADC maps), ADC(superficial) and ADC(deep). Discriminant function analysis was used to determine the most accurate predictors of symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation. RESULTS: The best predictor was the ADC(core) (F=5.34, p=2.9%, cut-off value=300 x 10(-6) mm(2)/s). This monovariate model allowed to correctly classify all 4 patients (ADC(core) 300 x 10(-6) mm(2)/s) with subsequent symptomatic hemorrhage, and 17 of the 24 patients without symptomatic hemmorrhage (ADC(core)>300 x 10(-6) mm(2)/s) (100% sensitivity, 71% specificity). CONCLUSION: Although preliminary, these results suggest that a simple measurement of minimum ADC values within an acute MCA stroke could be useful in targeting those patients with a high risk of severe hemorrhagic transformation.

Acute Disease↗