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Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) often manifest similar symptoms. However, the distinction between the two diseases is particularly important for different therapies. The aim of this study is to determine whether these diseases can be distinguished based on cerebral iron deposits in the deep grey matter and whether there is a correlation between iron deposits, local deep grey matter atrophy and clinical severity of the disease. Methods: 40 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 20 patients with NMO and 20 healthy subjects were examined at the MRI department of the 1st Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague from December 2013 to March 2015. All patients with RRMS fulfilled the revised McDonald criteria, the diagnosis of NMO was based on Wingerchuk criteria. All 20 patients with NMO had positive AQP4-IgG. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and volumometry of individual deep gray matter structures were performed. All patients with NMO and MS underwent simultaneous examination by a specialist in demyelinating diseases. Neurological disability was assessed by the Kurtzke Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Results: Patients with NMO have higher magnetic susceptibility values in the substantia nigra compared to healthy controls. Patients with RRMS...

Multimodality MR imaging of pathological changes in schizophrenia Aim: To prove structural changes of the neocortex and white matter of the brain indicating connectivity disorder in early phases of schizophrenia. Material and methods: A prospective monocentric study comparing a cohort of patients after the first episode of schizophrenia (on average 15.6 days after the initial hospitalization) with a control group of healthy persons. Probands were examined using a complex MRI protocol. Twenty-six patients and twenty-four healthy persons were examined in total. Three dimensional T1 and T2 data and DWI data were analyzed using TBSS FA, FBA a surface- based morphometry. Results: Large areas of dispersively decreased FA were found in patients compared to control group using TBSS. Several fixels of decreased FD metric were found using FBA in the anterior commissure of patients and one sporadic fixel of decreased FDC metric was found in frontal white matter of the brain. No statistically significant areas of cortical surface area and cortical thickness differences were found using SBM. Conclusions: Large areas of decreased microstructural integrity of the white matter of the brain were found. However, it was not possible to specify the nature of its corruption using FBA. Our findings indicate the crucial role of...

Aim: To compare the therapeutic efficacy of the three minimally invasive methods (PRF, KOT, PRT) in patients with chronic (more than 3 months lasting) unilateral radicular syndrome L5 or S1. The hypothesis: PRF and KOT are more effective than PRT in the treatment of chronic radicular pain. Material and methods: Prospective, randomized, unilaterally blinded, monocentric study. All patients underwent one of the procedures, navigated by CT. Two questionnaires: PainDETECT and Oswestry disability questionnaire were used to measure of the outcome - before treatment, immediately after and at the of 3th, 6th and 12th month after. Evaluated parameters: quantity of pain (VAS), neuropathic component of pain (NB), disability (ODI), character of pain (CHB), analgesic consumption (an), physiotherapy (re). Results: Group of 178 patients (115 women, 63 men, median age 56, BMI 27,5). (PRF 57, KOT 69, PRT 52). VAS was immediately reduced after procedures, mainly in PRT group with statistic significance in comparison - KOT to PRT (p = 0,0152). By the end of 3rd and 6th month after, the VAS values in all methods were similar, still lower than before treatment. PRT showed the best analgesic effect on NB, with statistical significance between PRT and PRF after 3rd and 6th month (p = 0,0457 and 0,0108, respectively)....