Supplementary Material for: Cognitive Function and White Matter Changes Associated with Renal Transplantation

<b><i>Background:</i></b> End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a disease with an aging population and a high prevalence of cognitive impairment affecting quality of life, health care costs and mortality. Structural changes in the brain with decreased white matter integrity have been observed in ESRD. Understanding the changes in cognition and associated changes in brain structure after renal transplantation can help define the mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in ESRD. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study in ESRD patients listed for renal transplantation and followed them post-transplantation. We assessed their cognitive function with a battery of neuropsychological tests and brain white matter integrity with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) both before transplant and 3 months after transplant. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Eleven patients, aged 56.5 ± 10.7 years, completed the study. Cognitive measures of memory and executive function improved after the transplant, specifically on tests of logical memory I (p = 0.004), logical memory II (p = 0.003) and digit symbol (p < 0.0001). DTI metrics also improved post the transplant with an increase in fractional anisotropy (p = 0.01) and decrease in mean diffusivity (p = 0.004). These changes were more prominent in tracts associated with memory and executive function. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Cognitive function, particularly memory and executive function, improve post the transplant with concurrent improvements in white matter integrity in tracts associated with memory and executive function. These data suggest that abnormalities in cognition and brain structure seen in the ESRD population are at least partially reversible

Multi-dimensional computed cardiac visualization

During the past decade, coronary radiology has undergone rapid development. This second edition of the only available monograph on the subject places special emphasis on the role of non-invasive techniques, which can supply information on the condition of the coronary arteries within one simple and short examination. The modalities considered in detail include CT angiography with multidetector and dual-source tomography, 2D and 3D visualization techniques, and MR coronary angiography. Invasive procedures are not neglected, however, and a separate section includes chapters on conventional catheterization, quantitative angiography, and intravascular and quantitative ultrasound. In addition, a section devoted to coronary calcification clearly explains its development and the use of modern techniques in its visualization and quantification. The informative text is supported by a large number of high-quality color images of the coronary and cardiac anatomy