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The objective of this study is to investigate the hyperintense lesions on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) and its clinical correlation in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). Patients who suffered from sCJD and followed up at the Department of Neurology at the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army during the period of June 1, 2007 to July 1, 2014 were reviewed. The location of the hyperintense lesions on DWI, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the hyperintense lesions were correlated with symptoms and clinical course. A total of 58 sCJD patients and ten healthy controls were included. Hyperintense lesions on DWI were observed in all the patients. The patients with basal ganglia (BG) hyperintense lesions on DWI had shorter disease duration and higher incidence of myoclonus (92 versus 44 %) than those without BG hyperintense lesions. The patients with occipital cortex hyperintense lesions on DWI had shorter disease duration between symptom onset and akinetic mutism than those without these lesions. The lower of the BG ADC value the faster presence of akinetic mutism and the shorter disease duration the patients will have. The presence of BG and occipital cortex hyperintense lesions on DWI and BG ADC values is correlated with the clinical course and clinical symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of ascites in patients with POEMS syndrome, which comprise polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes, are unknown. We described the frequency of ascites at presentation of POEMS syndrome and further evaluated for the pathogenesis and nature of the ascites. One hundred and six consecutive patients with POEMS syndrome in Chinese PLA General Hospital were evaluated for the presence of ascites, and the cellular and biochemical characteristics of the ascitic fluids were assessed. Serum levels of complement, cytokines, and clinical chemistry parameters were analyzed in peripheral blood samples of the patients with POEMS syndrome. Ascites was observed in 42 of 106 (39.6 %) patients with POEMS syndrome. Patients with ascites had significantly high serum levels of C3 and C4 complement components and TNF-α (all p < 0.01). In 31 (73.8 %) patients who underwent paracentesis, the ascitic fluids had low serum ascites albumin gradients (SAAG), indicating non-portal hypertension. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was not observed. Ascites is a common complication of POEMS syndrome and has characteristics of non-portal hypertension, based on low SAAG. Increased immune activation and inflammatory status could contribute to the pathogenesis of ascites in POEMS syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]