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Abstract: Aim of the study: Prognostication may be difficult in comatose cardiac arrest survivors. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is potentially useful in the prediction of neurological outcome, and it may detect acute ischemia at an early stage. In a pilot setting we determined the prevalence and development of cerebral ischemia using serial MRI examinations and neurological assessment. Methods: Ten witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients were included. MRI was carried out approximately 2h after admission to the hospital, repeated after 24h of therapeutic hypothermia and 96h after the arrest. The images were assessed for development of acute ischemic lesions. Neurophysiological and cognitive tests as well as a self-reported quality-of-life questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36), were administered minimum 12 months after discharge. Results: None of the patients had acute cerebral ischemia on MRI at admission. Three patients developed ischemic lesions after therapeutic hypothermia. There was a change in the apparent diffusion coefficient, which significantly correlated with the temperature (p <0.001). The neurophysiological tests appeared normal. The patients scored significantly better on SF 36 than the controls as regards both bodily pain (p =0.023) and mental health (p =0.016). Conclusions: MRI performed in an early phase after cardiac arrest has limitations, as MRI performed after 24 and 96h revealed ischemic lesions not detectable on admission. ADC was related to the core temperature, and not to the volume distributed intravenously. Follow-up neurophysiologic tests and self-reported quality of life were good. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological movement disorder, which often causes sleep problems. However, the comorbidity of this disorder is not well known. This study aimed to document the prevalence of RLS in the general population of Sweden and to identify factors associated with this condition. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in Sweden. One thousand subjects aged 18–90 years old underwent telephone interviews. The questionnaire assessed such factors as sleep variables, depressive mood, treatment of diabetes mellitus, and treatment with drugs for depression during the previous four-week period. RLS was diagnosed based on the minimal criteria provided by the International RLS Study Group. Results: The prevalence of RLS was 5% (5.7% in women, 3.5% in men). Severe or very severe RLS symptoms during the previous week were noted by 64% of the RLS subjects. Factors associated with RLS were insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, periodic limb movements in sleep, and depressed mood. Those affected by RLS were not more often consumers of drugs for depression than non-RLS subjects. Conclusions: RLS is prevalent in the general population in Sweden. RLS negatively influenced sleep and was associated with depressed mood. Antidepressive drug treatment was not associated with RLS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]