Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging
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Amyloid deposition, tau neurofibrillary tangles, and cerebrovascular dysfunction are important pathophysiologic features in Alzheimer's disease. Pittsburgh compound B ([11 C]-PIB) is a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer used to quantify amyloid deposition in vivo. In addition, certain models of [11 C]-PIB delivery reflect cerebral blood flow rather than amyloid plaques. As cerebral blood flow and perfusion deficits are associated with white matter pathology, we hypothesized that [11 C]-PIB delivery in white matter regions may reflect white matter integrity. ⋯ Future studies are warranted to explore whether [11 C]-PIB PET is a "triple biomarker" that may provide information about amyloid deposition, cerebral blood flow, and white matter pathology.
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Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) is associated with focal inflammatory lesions and the loss of cortical and deep gray matter. Optic neuritis (ON) and white matter (WM) lesions in the visual pathway can directly contribute to visual cortical mantle thinning. We determine the relative contributions of MS insult on anterior and posterior visual pathway integrity. ⋯ POMS negatively impacts the integrity of the anterior visual pathway, but it is the loss of WM integrity that drives anterograde loss of the cortical mantle. Preserved visual acuity and foveal sparing imply some degree of functional and structural resilience.
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The cingulate island sign (CIS) on 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET); ie, the relative preservation of mid-posterior cingulate cortex metabolism, is a supportive biomarker in the diagnostic criteria for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). However, limited information is currently available on the diagnostic value of the CIS on FDG-PET or 123 I-iodoamphetamine single-photon emission computed tomography (IMP-SPECT) for differentiating between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) (MCI-AD) and MCI due to DLB (MCI-DLB). ⋯ The FDG-PET and IMP-SPECT derived CIS ratios are both useful for differentiating between AD and DLB. The FDG-PET derived CIS ratio is more valuable than the IMP-SPECT derived CIS ratio for differential diagnosis in patients with MCI. A larger study is needed to confirm these results.
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Despite accumulating evidence for the clinical efficacy and neuroprotective properties of rasagiline in Parkinson's disease (PD), effects of rasagiline on brain perfusion in PD patients have not been elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of rasagiline on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with PD using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). ⋯ Our results show that adjunctive rasagiline treatment had beneficial effects on perfusion in the precuneus of PD patients, suggesting potential neuroprotective effects.
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Hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII) is a major cause of neonatal death and neurodevelopmental disability. Head ultrasounds (HUS) in neonates with HII often show enhanced gray/white matter differentiation. We assessed the significance of this finding in predicting white matter structural integrity measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in neonates with HII. ⋯ Prehypothermia HUS WGR may predict posthypothermia white matter structural integrity and is potentially an early and easily obtainable biomarker of severity in neonatal HII.