Quantifying inter-individual anatomical variability in the subcortex using 7 T structural MRI.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data are usually registered into standard anatomical space. However, standard atlases, such as LPBA40, the Harvard-Oxford atlas, FreeSurfer, and the Jülich cytoarchitectonic maps all lack important detailed information about small subcortical structures like the substantia nigra and subthalamic nucleus. Here we introduce a new subcortical probabilistic atlas based on ultra-high resolution in-vivo anatomical imaging from 7 T MRI. The atlas includes six important but elusive subcortical nuclei: the striatum, the globus pallidus internal and external segment (GPi/e), the subthalamic nucleus, the substantia nigra, and the red nucleus. With a sample of 30 young subjects and carefully cross-validated delineation protocols, our atlas is able to capture the anatomical variability within healthy populations for each of the included structures at an unprecedented level of detail. All the generated probabilistic atlases are registered to MNI standard space and are publicly available.

Ethics and practice in organ transplantation in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

In sum, much more needs to be known about the issue of transplantation in HIV-infected patients before the current state of extremely limited access to transplantation for these patients can be medically and ethically justified. Approaches to remedy this situation may include well-designed outcome studies; revision of existing local, regional, and national policies to better reflect the current state of knowledge; and education of clinicians, patients, and the public about this topic. Nurses can effect change in this area as informed clinicians, patients' advocates, researchers, and policy makers.