Imaging of T cell-mediated inflammation in a preclinical GvHD model using radiolabeled anti-human CD3 antibody

Whole-body biodistribution of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor ligand [ 18 F]MK-9470 in the rat

The endocannabinoid system participates in many processes in the body, including memory, reward, pain, motor activity, food intake, energy metabolism, and gastrointestinal functions. [18F]MK-9470 is a positron emission tomography (PET) ligand that binds with high affinity and selectivity to the cannabinoid type 1 receptor. In order to fully characterize ligand behavior, tracer uptake measured using in vivo microPET was compared with results from ex vivo tissue dissection. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three subgroups and scanned over time periods of 10min, 30min and 90min using PET. Afterwards, a number of the animals' organs were dissected. Uptake of radioactivity was e…

Einfluss von THC auf die Glukoseaufnahme im Rattenhirn und das motorische Verhalten

Blood constituents trigger brain swelling, tissue death, and reduction of glucose metabolism early after acute subdural hematoma in rats

Outcome from acute subdural hematoma is often worse than would be expected from the pure increase of intracranial volume by bleeding. The aim was to test whether volume-independent pathomechanisms aggravate damage by comparing the effects of blood infusion with those of an inert fluid, paraffin oil, on intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), local cerebral blood flow (CBF), edema formation, glucose metabolism ([18F]-deoxyglucose, MicroPET), and histological outcome. Rats were injured by subdural infusion of 300 μL venous blood or paraffin. ICP, CPP, and CBF changes, assessed during the first 30 mins after injury, were not different between the injury groups at most …

Sympathetic activity at rest and motor brain areas: FDG-PET study.

Although recent studies identified brain areas which are involved in short term activation of the sympathetic nervous system, little is known about brain mechanisms which generate the individual variability of basal autonomic activity. In this fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography study (FDG-PET), we aimed to identify brain regions, which covary with function parameters of the autonomic nervous system at rest. Therefore, FDG-PET (Siemens, Germany) was performed twice in 14 healthy resting subjects (7 m, 7 f; mean age 29.5 years) while different parameters of autonomic function were assessed simultaneously: Blood pressure, heart rate, power spectra of heart rate variability (HF/LF …

The unpleasantness of tonic pain is encoded by the insular cortex

Objective: Muscle pain differs from skin pain with respect to quality, accuracy of localization, and unpleasantness. This study was conducted to identify the brain regions associated with the affective-motivational component of tonic skin and muscle pain. Methods: Forty healthy volunteers were investigated in three groups with different F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET activation scans. A verbal rating scale (VRS) was used to quantify pain intensity and unpleasantness. One group was investigated during painful infusion of an acidified phosphate buffer (pH 5.2) into either muscle or skin for 30 minutes. Muscle and skin infusions were adjusted to achieve pain intensity rating of VRS = 40. The seco…

Einfluss von THC auf die Glukoseaufnahme und den zellulären Energiestatus im Rattenhirn und auf die Impulskontrolle

Evidence for modulation of opioidergic activity in central vestibular processing: A [(18)F] diprenorphine PET study.

Animal and functional imaging studies had identified cortical structures such as the parieto‐insular vestibular cortex, the retro‐insular cortex, or the anterior cingulate cortex belonging to a vestibular cortical network. Basic animal studies revealed that endorphins might be important transmitters involved in cerebral vestibular processing. The aim of the present study was therefore to analyse whether the opioid system is involved in vestibular neurotransmission of humans or not. Changes in opioid receptor availability during caloric air stimulation of the right ear were studied with [(18)F] Fluoroethyl‐diprenorphine ([(18)F]FEDPN) PET scans in 10 right‐handed healthy volunteers and compa…

Einfluss der Kenntnisse über Bestrahlungsplanung und Primärdiagnostik auf die Beurteilungssicherheit in der Rezidivdiagnostik des NSCLC mittels PET/CT

Osteoprotegerin: a new biomarker for impaired bone metabolism in complex regional pain syndrome?

Abstract Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is important for bone remodeling and may contribute to complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) pathophysiology. We aimed to assess the value of OPG as a biomarker for CRPS and a possible correlation with radiotracer uptake in 3-phase bone scintigraphy (TPBS). OPG levels were analyzed in 23 CRPS patients (17 women; mean age 50 ± 9.0 years; disease duration: 12 weeks [IQR 8–24]), 10 controls (6 women; mean age 58 ± 9.6 years) and 21 patients after uncomplicated fractures (12 women; mean age: 43 ± 15 years; time after fracture: 15 weeks [IQR: 6–22]). The CRPS and control patients also underwent TPBS. OPG in CRPS patients was significantly increased by comparison wi…

Koinzidenzspektrum-Analyse und Aktivitätsbestimmung mit Sc-44 zur Verbesserung der Quantifizierung

Visual-motion suppression in congenital pendular nystagmus.

Patients with a congenital pendular nystagmus are known not to experience oscillopsia in a normal visual environment. The data of a 31-year-old female patient suffering from a congenital pendular nystagmus are presented. The aim of the fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) experiment was to analyze the regional cerebral glucose metabolism (rCGM) during minimal as well as maximal nystagmus. Video-oculography showed a maximum in frequency of the horizontal pendular nystagmus during gaze to the left, whereas the zone of minimal nystagmus was 10 degrees to the right. Two sessions with an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose tracer were performed to analyze cerebral blood-glucose utilizati…

Diagnostik von ZNS-Erkrankungen mittels PET bzw. SPECT: Radiopharmazeutische Strategien und klinische Anwendungen

Radioaktiv markierte Molekule fur die nicht-invasive Darstellung biochemischer Funktionen haben seit etwa 25 Jahren betrachtlich zum Verstandnis normaler und gestorter Stoffwechselvorgange im Hirn beigetragen. In einigen Fallen hat dies dazu gefuhrt, dass 18F-markierte PET- bzw. 123I- und 99mTc-Radiodiagnostika ihren festen Platz bei der klinischen Diagnostik von Erkrankungen des Zentralen Nervensystems mittels der modernen tomographischen Techniken PET bzw. SPECT gefunden haben. Dies betrifft primar den Mb. Parkinson, die Epilepsie, zunehmend die Alzheimer Demenz, aber auch Hirntumore. Diese molekulare, neurochemische Diagnostik in vivo wird, in Konkurrenz zu etablierten klinischen Diagnos…

Einfluss chronischer THC-Gaben auf die zerebrale Glukoseaufnahme in der Ratte

Effects of tetrahydrocannabinol on glucose uptake in the rat brain

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive component of the plant Cannabis sativa and acts as a partial agonist at cannabinoid type 1 and type 2 receptors in the brain. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of THC on the cerebral glucose uptake in the rat brain. 21 male Sprague Dawley rats (12-13 w) were examined and received five different doses of THC ranging from 0.01 to 1 mg/kg. For data acquisition a Focus 120 small animal PET scanner was used and 24.1-28.0 MBq of [18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose were injected. The data were acquired for 70 min and arterial blood samples were collected throughout the scan. THC, THC-OH and THC-COOH were determined at 55 min p.i. Nine volu…

Central opioidergic neurotransmission in complex regional pain syndrome

Objective: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition characterized by sensory, motor, and autonomic symptoms. It develops after limb trauma and may be associated with relevant psychiatric comorbidity. As there is evidence for central pathophysiology which might be related to an altered opioidergic neurotransmission, we investigated the cerebral opioid receptor status under resting conditions in this patient population.Methods: In this case-control study, 10 patients with CRPS and 10 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects underwent a PET scan using the subtype-nonselective opioidergic radioligand [18F]fluoroethyl-diprenorphine. As a surrogate for regional cerebral o…