Publications by authors named "N B Nabulsi"
[F]FE-PE2I PET is a promising alternative to single positron emission computed tomography-based dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging in Parkinson's disease. While the excellent discriminative power of [F]FE-PE2I PET has been established, so far only one study has reported meaningful associations between motor severity scores and DAT availability. In this study, we use high-resolution (∼3 mm isotropic) PET to provide an independent validation for the clinical correlates of [F]FE-PE2I imaging in separate cross-sectional (28 participants with Parkinson's disease, Hoehn-Yahr: 2 and 14 healthy individuals) and longitudinal (initial results from 6 participants with Parkinson's disease with 2-year follow-up) cohorts.
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- The study explores the effects of calcitriol (active vitamin D) on dopamine receptors in healthy adults, utilizing a randomized, double-blind design with PET scans before and after amphetamine administration.
- Findings indicate that calcitriol enhances dopamine receptor availability in certain brain regions (ventral striatum and dorsal putamen) and influences dopamine release after amphetamine.
- These results suggest a potential role for vitamin D in targeting dopaminergic function, which may be relevant for treating disorders with dopamine dysregulation.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the relationship between metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) and synaptic density in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) using PET imaging techniques.
- Findings reveal a strong positive correlation between mGluR5 levels and synaptic density in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of Alzheimer’s patients, but less significant in cognitively normal individuals.
- The research concludes that loss of mGluR5 in the medial temporal lobe is linked to synaptic loss, suggesting its potential role in AD pathology.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates synaptic density in autistic adults using positron emission tomography (PET) and synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) as a marker.
- Results show that autistic individuals exhibit a 17% lower synaptic density across the whole cortex compared to non-autistic peers, with significant deficits in various brain regions, especially the prefrontal cortex.
- The findings suggest that lower synaptic density is associated with increased autistic features, pointing to a potential molecular basis for autism that requires further exploration.