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MRI studies have provided valuable insights into the structure and function of neural networks, particularly in health and in classical neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer disease. However, such work is also highly relevant in other diseases of the CNS, including multiple sclerosis (MS). In this Review, we consider the effects of MS pathology on brain networks, as assessed using MRI, and how these changes to brain networks translate into clinical impairments. We also discuss how this knowledge can inform the targeting of MS treatments and the potential future directions for research in this area. Studying MS is challenging as its pathology involves neurodegenerative and focal inflammatory elements, both of which could disrupt neural networks. The disruption of white matter tracts in MS is reflected in changes in network efficiency, an increasingly random grey matter network topology, relative cortical disconnection, and both increases and decreases in connectivity centred around hubs such as the thalamus and the default mode network. The results of initial longitudinal studies suggest that these changes evolve rather than simply increase over time and are linked with clinical features. Studies have also identified a potential role for treatments that functionally modify neural networks as opposed to altering their structure.

Esclerosi múltiple; Diagnòstic diferencial; Imatges Esclerosis múltiple; Diagnóstico diferencial; Imagen Multiple sclerosis; Differential diagnosis; Imaging Background: Differentiating multiple sclerosis (MS) from vascular risk factor (VRF)-small vessel disease (SVD) can be challenging. Objective and Methods: In order to determine whether or not pontine lesion location is a useful discriminator of MS and VRF-SVD, we classified pontine lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as central or peripheral in 93 MS cases without VRF, 108 MS patients with VRF and 43 non-MS cases with VRF. Results: MS without VRF were more likely to have peripheral pons lesions (31.2%, 29/93) than non-MS with VRF (0%, 0/43) (Exp(B) = 29.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) = (1.98, 448.3); p = 0.014) but there were no significant differences regarding central pons lesions between MS without VRF (5.4%, 5/93) and non-MS with VRF patients (16.3%, 7/43) (Exp(B) = 0.89; 95% CI = (0.2, 3.94); p = 0.87). The presence of peripheral pons lesions discriminated between MS and VRF-SVD with 100% (95% CI = (91.8, 100)) specificity. The proportion of peripheral pons lesions in MS with VRF (30.5%, 33/108) was similar to that seen in MS without VRF (31.2%, 29/93, p = 0.99). Central lesions occurred in similar frequency in MS with VRF (8.3%, 9/108) and non-MS with VRF (16.3%, 7/43, p = 0.15). Conclusion: Peripheral pons lesion location is a good discriminator of MS from vascular lesions. The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

Between 30th April and 11th May 2018, Crestwood Environmental with OA undertook an archaeological evaluation comprising 14 trenches at the site of a proposed housing development known as Portfields Rise, Milton Keynes (NGR SP 85287 44042). The work was undertaken as a condition of the planning permission. Cropmark evidence and the results of a geophysical survey indicated the presence of several rectangular enclosures and a circular enclosure within the proposed development area. The results of the trial trenching correlated well with the results of the geophysical survey. A trapezoidal enclosure of Roman date was identified within Area 1, adjacent to an undated circular enclosure that may be contemporary or of prehistoric date. An early Roman farmstead was identified in Area 2, comprising two closely adjacent rectangular enclosures, the smaller of which contained two probable roundhouses. The enclosures were adjoined to the south-west by an area of smaller enclosures, possibly including further buildings, and were enclosed to the north and east by a ditched boundary. Artefactual evidence from the farmstead included an iron arrowhead and a rare example of a roughcast indented beaker in a colour-coated fine ware.

Astrocytic necrosis is a prominent pathological feature of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) lesions and is clinically relevant. We report 5 NMO-related cases, all with longitudinally extensive lesions in the upper cervical cord, who underwent cervical cord 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Lower myo-inositol/creatine values, suggesting astrocytic damage, were consistently found within the NMO lesions when compared with healthy controls and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), who showed at least 1 demyelinating lesion at the same cord level. Therefore, the in vivo quantification of myo-inositol may distinguish NMO from MS. This is an important step toward developing imaging markers for clinical trials in NMO. © 2013 American Neurological Association.

Background The extent and clinical relevance of grey matter (GM) pathology in multiple sclerosis (MS) are increasingly recognised. GM pathology may present as focal lesions, which can be visualised using double inversion recovery (DIR) MRI, or as diffuse pathology, which can manifest as atrophy. It is, however, unclear whether the diffuse atrophy centres on focal lesions. This study aimed to determine if GM lesions and GM atrophy colocalise, and to assess their independent relationship with motor and cognitive deficits in MS.\ud \ud Methods Eighty people with MS and 30 healthy controls underwent brain volumetric T1-weighted and DIR MRI at 3 T, and had a comprehensive neurological and cognitive assessment. Probability mapping of GM lesions marked on the DIR scans and voxel- based morphometry (assessing GM atrophy) were carried out. The associations of GM lesion load and GM volume with clinical scores were tested.\ud \ud Results DIR-visible GM lesions were most commonly found in the right cerebellum and most apparent in patients with primary progressive MS. Deep GM structures appeared largely free from lesions, but showed considerable atrophy, particularly in the thalamus, caudate, pallidum and putamen, and this was most apparent in secondary progressive patients with MS. Very little co-localisation of GM atrophy and lesions was seen, and this was generally confined to the cerebellum and postcentral gyrus. In both regions, GM lesions and volume independently correlated with physical disability and cognitive performance.\ud \ud Conclusions DIR-detectable GM lesions and GM atrophy do not significantly overlap in the brain but, when they do, they independently contribute to clinical disability.

To assess in a large population of patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) the relevance of brain lesion location and frequency in predicting 1-year conversion to multiple sclerosis (MS).In this multicenter, retrospective study, clinical and MRI data at onset and clinical follow-up at 1 year were collected for 1,165 patients with CIS. On T2-weighted MRI, we generated lesion probability maps of white matter (WM) lesion location and frequency. Voxelwise analyses were performed with a nonparametric permutation-based approach (p0.05, cluster-corrected).In CIS patients with hemispheric, multifocal, and brainstem/cerebellar onset, lesion probability map clusters were seen in clinically eloquent brain regions. Significant lesion clusters were not found in CIS patients with optic nerve and spinal cord onset. At 1 year, clinically definite MS developed in 26% of patients. The converting group, despite a greater baseline lesion load compared with the nonconverting group (7 ± 8.1 cm3 vs. 4.6 ± 6.7 cm3, p0.001), showed less widespread lesion distribution (18% vs. 25% of brain voxels occupied by lesions). High lesion frequency was found in the converting group in projection, association, and commissural WM tracts, with larger clusters being in the corpus callosum, corona radiata, and cingulum.Higher frequency of lesion occurrence in clinically eloquent WM tracts can characterize CIS subjects with different types of onset. The involvement of specific WM tracts, in particular those traversed by fibers involved in motor function and near the corpus callosum, seems to be associated with a higher risk of clinical conversion to MS in the short term.

A detailed gradiometer survey was conducted over land off Alresford Road, Winchester, Hampshire (centred on NGR 451473, 129262). The project was commissioned by Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd. (West) with the aim of establishing the presence, or otherwise, and nature of detectable archaeological features in support of a planning application for the extension of Magdalen Hill cemetery. The site comprises an arable field located to the south of Alresford Road, covering an area of 3.3ha. The geophysical survey was undertaken on 21st- 22nd May 2015. The detailed gradiometer survey has demonstrated the presence of a number of anomalies of potential archaeological interest in the field. The main anomaly identified as being of archaeological interest is a possible ditched enclosure, partly visible in the western section of the field. Features identified near to this are likely to represent possible pits and further archaeology whilst the southern area of the field presents evidence for historic cultivation.

A detailed gradiometer survey was conducted over land at Stapleton Allotments, Bristol. The project was commissioned by Atkins on behalf of Bristol City Council with the aim of establishing the presence, or otherwise, and nature of detectable archaeological features on site ahead of the proposed Metrobus route development connecting North Fringe to Hengrove. The survey area comprises several small parcels of mixed-use land currently occupied by allotments and smallholding with intermittent areas of grassland. All areas accessible at the time of survey were covered with a total of 1.1ha of data collected out of a proposed survey area of 4.3ha. The width of the field boundaries, artificial obstructions (heras fencing, skips, and rubble) and unsafe conditions underfoot reduced the size of the area that could be surveyed. The gradiometer survey has demonstrated the presence of some anomalies of possible archaeological interest along with trends of uncertain origin possibly associated with the modern agricultural use of the site as allotments and smallholdings. The anomalies identified of possible archaeological potential are a rectilinear ditch-type feature and two further pit-type features. The site as a whole is dominated by weak trends likely to be as a result of modern agricultural activity as well as large scale ferrous responses. Few anomalies apart from trends of uncertain origin have been identified in the areas of ferrous response. The survey was undertaken in two phases on the 23rd March and the 3rd August 2015 by the in-house geophysics team at Wessex Archaeology.

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by St Edmunds Development Ltd. to undertake a detailed gradiometer survey over land at Ash Manor, Ash Green, Surrey (centred on NGR 490146, 150313). The aim of the survey was to establish the presence, or otherwise, and nature of detectable archaeological features ahead of the development of the site. The survey area consists of two fields bounded on the south and east sides by Ash Green Road, with a minor track to the west and surrounded by further fields to the north. The site covers a total area of 2.96ha, of which 2.2ha was surveyed. A small portion (0.76ha) of the site extent was un-surveyable due to additional fences within the survey areas restricting movement and large tractor parts at the edges of one field preventing access. The geophysical survey was undertaken on 30th April 2015. The detailed gradiometer survey has demonstrated the presence of magnetic anomalies that are of low archaeological interest. A possible former, modern field boundary has also been identified in conjunction with numerous faint linear trends of unknown origin. In addition, further anomalies associated with modern services and areas of superficial geology are also present.

Wardell Armstrong Archaeology were commissioned to undertake an archaeological watching brief at various tower locations relating to overhead power lines between Melksham, Radstock and Frome in Wiltshire and Somerset. Small slots were investigated by each tower leg. A stratigraphic matrix was noted but no finds or features were recovered.