Background: Multiple sclerosis is often a longitudinal disease continuum with an initial relapsing-remitting phase (RRMS) and later secondary progression (SPMS). Most currently approved therapies are not sufficiently effective in SPMS. Early detection of SPMS conversion is therefore critical for therapy selection. Important decision-making tools may include testing of partial cognitive performance and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Aim of the work: To demonstrate the importance of cognitive testing and MRI for the prediction and detection of SPMS conversion. Elaboration of strategies for follow-up and therapy management in practice, especially in outpatient care. Material and methods: Review based on an unsystematic literature search. Results: Standardized cognitive testing can be helpful for early SPMS diagnosis and facilitate progression assessment. Annual use of sensitive screening tests such as Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and Brief Visual Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) or the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) test battery is recommended. Persistent inflammatory activity on MRI in the first three years of disease and the presence of cortical lesions are predictive of SPMS conversion. Standardized MRI monitoring for features of progressive MS can support clinically and neurocognitively based suspicion of SPMS. Discussion: Interdisciplinary care of MS patients by clinically skilled neurologists, supported by neuropsychological testing and MRI, has a high value for SPMS prediction and diagnosis. The latter allows early conversion to appropriate therapies, as SPMS requires different interventions than RRMS. After drug switching, clinical, neuropsychological, and imaging vigilance allows stringent monitoring for neuroinflammatory and degenerative activity as well as treatment complications.

The human brain has been described as a complex system. Its study by means of neurophysiological signals has revealed the presence of linear and nonlinear interactions. In this context, entropy metrics have been used to uncover brain behavior in the presence and absence of neurological disturbances. Entropy mapping is of great interest for the study of progressive neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this study was to characterize the dynamics of brain oscillations in such disease by means of entropy and amplitude of low frequency oscillations from Bold signals of the default network and the executive control network in Alzheimer’s patients and healthy individuals, using a database extracted from the Open Access Imaging Studies series. The results revealed higher discriminative power of entropy by permutations compared to low-frequency fluctuation amplitude and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations. Increased entropy by permutations was obtained in regions of the default network and the executive control network in patients. The posterior cingulate cortex and the precuneus showed differential characteristics when assessing entropy by permutations in both groups. There were no findings when correlating metrics with clinical scales. The results demonstrated that entropy by permutations allows characterizing brain function in Alzheimer’s patients, and also reveals information about nonlinear interactions complementary to the characteristics obtained by calculating the amplitude of low frequency oscillations.

Introduction: the presence of anti-CCP is an important prognostic tool for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its relationship with the activity of the disease and functional capacity is still being investigated. Objectives: to study the relationship between anti-CCP and the indices of disease activity, functional capacity and structural damage, by means of conventional radiography (CR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in stabilized RA. Methods: cross-sectional study of RA patients with one to 10 years of disease. The participants were subjected to clinical evaluation with anti-CCP screening. Disease activity was assessed by means of the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and functional capacity by means of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). CR was analyzed by the Sharp van der Heijde index (SmvH) and MRI by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Magnetic Resonance Image Scoring System (RAMRIS). Results: 56 patients were evaluated, with median (IIq) of 55 (47.5–60.0) years, 50 (89.3%) were female among whom 37 (66.1%) were positive for anti-CCP. The median (IIq) of CDAI, HAQ, SmvH and RAMRIS were 14.75 (5.42–24.97), 1.06 (0.28–1.75), 2 (0–8) and 15 (7–35), respectively. There was no association between anti-CCP and CDAI, HAQ, SmvH and RAMRIS. Conclusion: our results did not establish the association of anti-CCP with the severity of the disease. So far, we cannot corroborate the anti-CCP as a prognostic tool in RA established.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic cancer characterized by clonal proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow. It is the most serious form of plasma cell dyscrasias, whose complications—hypercalcemia, renal failure, anemia, and lytic bone lesions—are severe and justify the therapeutic management. Imaging of bone lesions is a cardinal element in the diagnosis, staging, study of response to therapy, and prognostic evaluation of patients with MM. Historically, the skeletal radiographic workup (SRW), covering the entire axial skeleton, has been used to detect bone lesions. Over time, new imaging techniques that are more powerful than SRW have been evaluated. Low-dose and whole-body computed tomography (CT) supplants SRW for the detection of bone involvement, but is of limited value in assessing therapeutic response. Bone marrow MRI, initially studying the axial pelvic-spinal skeleton and more recently the whole body, is an attractive alternative. Beyond its non-irradiating character, its sensitivity for the detection of marrow damage, its capacity to evaluate the therapeutic response and its prognostic value has been demonstrated. This well-established technique has been incorporated into disease staging systems by many health systems and scientific authorities. Along with positron emission tomography (PET)-18 fluorodeoxyglucose CT, it constitutes the current imaging of choice for MM. This article illustrates the progress of the MRI technique over the past three decades and situates its role in the management of patients with MM.

Today, diffusion-weighted MRI is an important, complementary sequence in an MRI of the abdomen, especially in oncological questions, but also in inflammatory diseases. The following paper deals with the technical basics and shows typical indications and findings as well as the value of the method in the diagnosis of parenchymatous upper abdominal organs and the gastrointestinal tract.

The changes the magnetic flux generated (electric, magnetic and electromagnetic waves) on the surface of earth due to sudden changes is a matter of discussion. These emissions occur along the fault line generated due to geological and tectonic processes. When sudden changes occur in the environment due to seismic and atmospheric variations, these sensing was observed by creatures and human bodies because the animals and trees adopt the abnormal signals and change the behavior. We have analyzed the changing behavior of recorded signal by live sensors (i.e., banyan tree). So we use the deep-rooted and long-aged banyan tree. The root of banyan tree (long-aged) has been working as a live sensor to record the geological and environmental changes. We record the low frequency signals propagated through solar-terrestrial environment which directly affect the root system of the banyan tree and changes that have been observed by live sensors. Then, very low frequency (VLF) signal may propagate to the earth-ionosphere waveguide. We have also analyzed the different parameters of live cells which is inbuilt in latex of the tree, so we record the dielectric parameters of green stem latex and found some parameters i.e., dielectric constant (ε) and dielectric loss (ε’) of various trees to verify these natural hazards and found good correlation. Therefore, we can say by regularly monitoring the bio-potential signal and dielectric properties of banyan tree and we are able to find the precursory signature of seismic hazards and environmental changes.