Frequency drift in MR spectroscopy at 3T.

Purpose: Heating of gradient coils and passive shim components is a common cause of instability in the B field, especially when gradient intensive sequences are used. The aim of the study was to set a benchmark for typical drift encountered during MR spectroscopy (MRS) to assess the need for real-time field-frequency locking on MRI scanners by comparing field drift data from a large number of sites.

Method: A standardized protocol was developed for 80 participating sites using 99 3T MR scanners from 3 major vendors.

Phase IIb Study of Intranasal Glutathione in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Reduced glutathione (GSH) is an endogenously synthesized tripeptide depleted early in the course of Parkinson's disease (PD) and GSH augmentation has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy in PD.

Objective: This Phase IIb study was designed to evaluate whether a Phase III study of intranasal GSH, (in)GSH, for symptomatic relief is warranted and to determine the most appropriate trial design for a disease-modification study.

Methods: This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 45 individuals with Hoehn & Yahr Stage 1-3 PD.

Central nervous system uptake of intranasal glutathione in Parkinson's disease.

Glutathione (GSH) is depleted early in the course of Parkinson's disease (PD), and deficiency has been shown to perpetuate oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired autophagy, and cell death. GSH repletion has been proposed as a therapeutic intervention. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether intranasally administered reduced GSH, (in)GSH, is capable of augmenting central nervous system GSH concentrations, as determined by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 15 participants with mid-stage PD.