Prediction of mild cognitive impairment that evolves into Alzheimer's disease dementia within two years using a gene expression signature in blood: a pilot study.

Background: The focus on Alzheimer's disease (AD) is shifting from dementia to the prodromal stage of the disorder, to a large extent due to increasing efforts in trying to develop disease modifying treatment for the disorder. For development of disease-modifying drugs, a reliable and accurate test for identification of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD is essential.

Objective: In the present study, MCI progressing to AD will be predicted using blood-based gene expression.

Size-biased allocation of prey from male to offspring via female: family conflicts, prey selection, and evolution of sexual size dimorphism in raptors.

In birds with bi-parental care, the provisioning link between prey capture and delivery to dependent offspring is regarded as often symmetric between the mates. However, in raptors, the larger female usually broods and feeds the nestlings, while the smaller male provides food for the family, assisted by the female in the latter part of the nestling period, if at all. Prey items are relatively large and often impossible for nestlings to handle without extended maternal assistance.

GE-145, a new low-osmolar dimeric radiographic contrast medium.

Background: Contrast-induced nephrotoxicity is a significant risk when using radiographic contrast media clinically, especially in high risk patients. Consequently, there is a need for a new contrast agent with improved clinical safety with regards to nephrotoxicity.

Purpose: To evaluate the physicochemical properties as well as the preclinical safety and biodistribution parameters of the newly developed radiographic contrast medium GE-145.

Quantification of NC100692, a new tracer for 99mTc-imaging of angiogenesis, in human plasma using reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization ion-trap mass spectrometry.

NC100692 is under development as a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical for targeting angiogenesis associated with diseases, such as cancer and endometriosis. NC100692 consists of a cyclic RGD-containing peptide with an ethylene glycol chain linked to the C-terminal amino acid and a (99m)Tc-binding chelator linked to the N-terminal amino acid. The present report describes a method for quantification of NC100692 in human citrated plasma.