Neuroimaging clinics of North America
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common disease of the central nervous system, with various clinical symptoms and a heterogeneous disease course. MRI can depict focal and diffuse manifestations of the disease, and accurately measure progression over time. ⋯ More recent genome-wide association studies have revealed other genes to be related to disease susceptibility and severity, explaining part of the variability in symptoms, radiological manifestations and disease course. Studies relating genetics and imaging in MS are discussed in this paper.
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Gene expression is a process of DNA sequence reading into protein synthesis. In cases of problems in DNA repair/apoptosis mechanisms, cells accumulate genomic abnormalities and pass them through generations of cells. The accumulation of mutations causes diseases and even tumors. ⋯ Some trials are testing patients with epigenetic treatments. Epigenetic therapy must be used with caution because epigenetic processes and changes happen constantly in normal cells, giving rise to drug off-target effects. Scientists are making progress in specifically targeting abnormal cells with minimal damage to normal ones.
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Neuroimaging is a potentially valuable tool to link individual differences in the human genome to structure and functional variations, narrowing the gaps in the casual chain from a given genetic variation to a brain disorder. Because genes are not usually expressed at the level of mental behavior, but are mediated by their molecular and cellular effects, molecular imaging could play a key role. This article reviews the literature using molecular imaging as an intermediate phenotype and/or biomarker for illness related to certain genetic alterations, focusing on the most common neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson disease.
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Imaging genomics combines imaging-defined phenotypes with molecular determinants of disease. Recent studies have examined the relationship between MRI-derived feature sets and gene expression in gliomas, including glioblastoma (GBM). ⋯ The combination of clinical, genetic, and imaging data has improved prognostic modeling and has identified potential therapeutic targets. Many challenges remain in fully leveraging the associations between such large datasets, but even current methodology shows promise in helping to craft individually tailored treatments to patients with brain tumors and other diseases.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 2015
ReviewNeuroimaging and genetic influence in treating brain neoplasms.
The current treatment of glioblastoma patients based on surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy has achieved modest improvement in progression-free survival. In this direction, personalized treatment is the next achievement for better patient management and increased overall survival. ⋯ MR imaging features and novel techniques are correlated with the main genetic aspects of such tumors. Posttreatment phenomena, such as pseudoprogression and pseudoresponse, are analyzed in association with the genetic expression of these tumors.