Sub-arcsecond imaging of the water emission in Arp 220

AIMS

Extragalactic observations of water emission can provide valuable insights into the excitation of the interstellar medium. In particular they allow us to investigate the excitation mechanisms in obscured nuclei, i.e. whether an active galactic nucleus or a starburst dominate.

METHODS

We use sub-arcsecond resolution observations to tackle the nature of the water emission in Arp 220. ALMA Band 5 science verification observations of the 183 GHz H₂O 3₁₃-2₂₀ line, in conjunction with new ALMA Band 7 H₂O 5₁₅-4₂₂ data at 325 GHz, and supplementary 22 GHz H₂O 6₁₆ - 5₂₃ VLA observations, are used to better constrain the parameter space in the excitation modelling of the water lines.

RESULTS

We detect 183 GHz H₂O and 325 GHz water emission towards the two compact nuclei at the center of Arp 220, being brighter in Arp 220 West. The emission at these two frequencies is compared to previous single-dish data and does not show evidence of variability. The 183 and 325 GHz lines show similar spectra and kinematics, but the 22 GHz profile is significantly different in both nuclei due to a blend with an NH₃ absorption line.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the most likely scenario to cause the observed water emission in Arp 220 is a large number of independent masers originating from numerous star-forming regions.

On the nonoptimality of the foreground-background discipline for IMRL service times

It is known that for decreasing hazard rate (DHR) service times the foreground-background discipline (FB) minimizes the mean delay in the M/G/1 queue among all work-conserving and nonanticipating service disciplines. It is believed that a similar result is valid for increasing mean residual lifetime (IMRL) service times. However, on the one hand, we point out a flaw in an earlier proof of the latter result and construct a counter-example that demonstrates that FB is not necessarily optimal within class IMRL. On the other hand, we prove that the mean delay for FB is smaller than that of the processor-sharing discipline within class IMRL, giving a weaker version of an earlier hypothesis.

Amyloid PET imaging in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a 2-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have greater risk of conversion to Alzheimer disease (AD). Increased brain amyloid burden in AD and MCI has been demonstrated with PET using [(11)C] Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) as a tracer.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate change in β-amyloid deposition in with MCI during 2-year follow-up.

METHODS

Patients with MCI and controls were studied with [(11)C] PiB PET, MRI, and neuropsychometry at baseline and these investigations were repeated in patients with MCI after follow-up.

RESULTS

Those patients with MCI converting to AD during follow-up had greater [(11)C] PiB retention in the posterior cingulate (p=0.020), in the lateral frontal cortex (p=0.006), in the temporal cortex (p=0.022), in the putamen (p=0.041), and in the caudate nucleus (p=0.025) as compared to nonconverters. In converters, there was no significant change in [(11)C] PiB uptake, whereas an increase was seen as compared to baseline in nonconverters in the anterior and posterior cingulate, temporal and parietal cortices, and putamen. Hippocampal atrophy was greater in converters at baseline than in nonconverters, but increased significantly in both groups during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Hippocampal atrophy and amyloid deposition seem to dissociate during the evolution of MCI, the atrophy increasing clearly and [(11)C] PiB retention changing modestly when conversion to AD occurs. Longer follow-up is needed to determine whether nonconverters would convert to AD later, which would suggest accelerated [(11)C] PiB retention preceding clinical conversion.

Follow-up of [11C]PIB uptake and brain volume in patients with Alzheimer disease and controls

OBJECTIVE

In Alzheimer disease (AD), the accumulation pattern of beta-amyloid over time and its relationship with dementia severity are unclear. We investigated the brain uptake of the amyloid ligand (11)C-labeled Pittsburgh compound B ([(11)C]PIB) and volumetric brain changes over a 2-year follow-up in patients with AD and in aged healthy controls.

METHODS

Fourteen patients with AD (mean age 72 years, SD 6.6) and 13 healthy controls (mean age 68 years, SD 5.4) were examined at baseline and after 2 years (patients with AD: mean 2.0 years, SD 0.2; controls: mean 2.1 years, SD 0.6) with [(11)C]PIB PET, MRI, and neuropsychological assessments. [(11)C]PIB uptake was analyzed with a voxel-based statistical method (SPM), and quantitative data were obtained with automated region-of-interest analysis. MRI data were analyzed with voxel-wise tensor-based morphometry.

RESULTS

The [(11)C]PIB uptake of the patients with AD did not increase significantly during follow-up when compared with that of the controls. MRI showed progressive brain volume change in the patients with AD, e.g., in the hippocampal region, temporal cortex, and precuneus (p < 0.05). The mean Mini-Mental State Examination score of the patients with AD declined from 24.3 (SD 3.1) at baseline to 21.6 (SD 3.9) at follow-up (p = 0.009). Cognitive decline was also evident in other neuropsychological test results. Baseline neocortical [(11)C]PIB uptake ratios predicted subsequent volumetric brain changes in the controls (r = 0.725, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest no (or only little) increase in (11)C-labeled Pittsburgh compound B ([(11)C]PIB) uptake during 2 years of Alzheimer disease progression, despite advancing brain atrophy and declining cognitive performance. Nevertheless, changes in [(11)C]PIB uptake during a longer follow-up cannot be excluded. High cortical [(11)C]PIB uptake may predict ongoing brain atrophy in cognitively normal individuals.

Voxel-based analysis of cerebral glucose metabolism in mono- and dizygotic twins discordant for Alzheimer disease

BACKGROUND

Sporadic Alzheimer disease (AD) is a multifactorial disease to which both genetic and environmental factors contribute. Therefore, twin pairs are useful in studying its pathogenesis and aetiology. Cerebral glucose metabolism has been found to be reduced in AD patients.

METHODS

Cerebral glucose metabolism was studied in seven monozygotic (MZ) and nine same-sexed dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs discordant for AD using positron emission tomography. To obtain objective and explorative results concerning differences in glucose metabolism, the analysis was performed utilising modern voxel-based analysis methodology statistical parametric mapping and automated region-of-interest analysis.

RESULTS

In the demented MZ and DZ co-twins, cerebral glucose metabolism was extensively reduced compared with controls. The non-demented MZ co-twins showed reduced metabolism in inferior frontal, lateral temporal, parietal and medial temporal cortices as well as in the thalamus, putamen and right amygdala. In contrast, no reductions were found in the non-demented DZ co-twins. The reduction found in the non-demented MZ co-twins may be an indicator of genetic susceptibility to AD.

PET amyloid ligand [11C]PIB uptake and cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid in mild cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

In mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD)-type cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker profiles predict rapid progression and conversion to AD. An increased brain amyloid burden in AD and MCI has been demonstrated with PET using [(11)C]PIB (Pittsburgh compound B). Little is known about the relationship between these biomarkers in MCI.

METHODS

We studied 15 patients with amnestic MCI and 22 controls with PET using [(11)C]PIB. In MCI patients, CSF levels of Abeta42, pTAU, totalTAU and the Abeta42/pTAU ratio were measured.

RESULTS

In MCI patients, CSF Abeta42 was abnormal in 53% of patients, totalTAU in 67%, pTAU in 64% and the Abeta42/pTAU ratio in 64%. A composite neocortical [(11)C]PIB uptake score was increased in 87% of the MCI patients. Only 54% of [(11)C]PIB-positive subjects showed AD-type Abeta42 values. During a 2-year follow-up, 6 MCI patients converted to AD, all of them had increased neocortical PIB scores at the MCI stage. Abnormal CSF Abeta42 was found in 3 patients, pTAU in 3 patients and Abeta42/pTAU ratio in 4 patients.

CONCLUSION

Follow-up studies are needed to confirm whether [(11)C]PIB uptake might be more sensitive than CSF Abeta42 concentration in detecting increased amyloid burden in MCI, as suggested by the results of this study.

PET amyloid ligand [11C]PIB uptake is increased in mild cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have increased risk to develop Alzheimer disease (AD). In AD increased brain amyloid burden has been demonstrated in vivo with PET using N-methyl-[(11)C]2-(4'-methylaminophenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole ([(11)C]PIB) as a tracer.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether patients with amnestic MCI would show increased [(11)C]PIB uptake, indicating early AD process.

METHODS

We studied 13 patients with amnestic MCI and 14 control subjects with PET using [(11)C]PIB as tracer. Parametric images were computed by calculating the region-to-cerebellum ratio in each voxel over 60 to 90 minutes. Group differences in [(11)C]PIB uptake were analyzed with statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and automated region-of-interest (ROI) analysis.

RESULTS

The SPM analysis showed that patients with MCI had significantly higher [(11)C]PIB uptake vs control subjects in the frontal, parietal, and lateral temporal cortices as well as in the posterior cingulate showing the most prominent differences. These results were supported by the automated ROI analysis in which MCI patients showed in comparison with healthy control subjects increased [(11)C]PIB uptake in the frontal cortex (39% increase from the control mean, p < 0.01), the posterior cingulate (39%, p < 0.01), the parietal (31%, p < 0.01) and lateral temporal (28%, p < 0.001) cortices, putamen (17%, p < 0.05), and caudate (25%, p < 0.05). Individually, in the frontal cortex and posterior cingulate, 8 of 13 patients with MCI had [(11)C]PIB uptake values above 2 SD from the control mean. MCI subjects having at least one APOE epsilon4 allele tended to have higher [(11)C]PIB uptake than MCI subjects without APOE epsilon4.

CONCLUSIONS

At group level the elevated N-methyl-[(11)C]2-(4'-methylaminophenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole ([(11)C]PIB) uptake in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) resembled that seen in Alzheimer disease (AD). At the individual level, about half of the MCI patients had [(11)C]PIB uptake in the AD range, suggestive of early AD process.

Voxel-based analysis of PET amyloid ligand [11C]PIB uptake in Alzheimer disease

BACKGROUND

PET studies with N-methyl-[(11)C]2-(4':-methylaminophenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole ([(11)C]PIB) have revealed an increased tracer uptake in several brain regions in Alzheimer disease (AD).

OBJECTIVE

To employ voxel-based analysis method to identify brain regions with significant increases in [(11)C]PIB uptake in AD vs healthy control subjects, indicative of increased amyloid accumulation in these regions.

METHODS

We studied 17 patients with AD and 11 control subjects with PET using [(11)C]PIB as tracer. Parametric images were computed by calculating a region-to-cerebellum ratio over 60 to 90 minutes in each voxel. Group differences in [(11)C]PIB uptake were analyzed with statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and automated region-of-interest (ROI) analysis.

RESULTS

SPM showed increased uptake (p < 0.001) in the frontal, parietal, and lateral temporal cortices as well as in the posterior cingulate and the striatum. No significant differences in uptake were found in the primary sensory and motor cortices, primary visual cortex, thalamus, and medial temporal lobe. These results were supported by automated ROI analysis, with most prominent increases in AD subjects in the frontal cortex ([(11)C]PIB uptake 163% of the control mean) and posterior cingulate (146%) followed by the parietal (146%) and temporal (145%) cortices and striatum (133%), as well as small increases in the occipital cortex (117%) and thalamus (115%).

CONCLUSIONS

Voxel-based analysis revealed widespread distribution of increased [(11)C]PIB uptake in Alzheimer disease (AD). These findings are in accordance with the distribution and phases of amyloid pathology in AD, previously documented in postmortem studies.

Correlation of EEG spectral entropy with regional cerebral blood flow during sevoflurane and propofol anaesthesia

ENTROPY index monitoring, based on spectral entropy of the electroencephalogram, is a promising new method to measure the depth of anaesthesia. We examined the association between spectral entropy and regional cerebral blood flow in healthy subjects anaesthetised with 2%, 3% and 4% end-expiratory concentrations of sevoflurane and 7.6, 12.5 and 19.0 microg.ml(-1) plasma drug concentrations of propofol. Spectral entropy from the frequency band 0.8-32 Hz was calculated and cerebral blood flow assessed using positron emission tomography and [(15)O]-labelled water at baseline and at each anaesthesia level. Both drugs induced significant reductions in spectral entropy and cortical and global cerebral blood flow. Midfrontal-central spectral entropy was associated with individual frontal and whole brain blood flow values across all conditions, suggesting that this novel measure of anaesthetic depth can depict global changes in neuronal activity induced by the drugs. The cortical areas of the most significant associations were remarkably similar for both drugs.

Measurement of striatal and thalamic dopamine D2 receptor binding with 11C-raclopride

11C-Raclopride is a widely used positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for measurement of striatal D2 dopamine receptor binding characteristics. Recently, 11C-raclopride has also been used for quantification of thalamic D2 receptor binding. We studied reproducibility and validity issues on the thalamic D2 binding measurements using healthy volunteer test-retest data and simulated data. Eight healthy male volunteers received 11C-raclopride as a bolus injection in a standard test-retest design using 3-dimensional PET. The displacement of thalamic 11C-raclopride binding by the D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol was studied in two female schizophrenic patients. With regards to reproducibility and reliability, thalamic 11C-raclopride binding could be described with a simplified reference tissue model resulting in binding potentials (BPs) between 0.38 and 0.66. In comparison, the model failed to describe 11C-raclopride binding consistently in temporal cortex due to low specific signal. Measurement of thalamic 11C-raclopride BP was reproducible with a test-retest variability of 7.6+/-6.2% and reliable with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.87. Comparable ICCs were observed in caudate and putamen (0.84-0.96). With regard to validity, subchronic low dose haloperidol treatment reduced specific 11C-raclopride binding equally in putamen and thalamus but a higher dose induced clearly higher D2 receptor occupancy in putamen than in thalamus. Noise simulations indicated that this can partly be explained by an over-estimation of thalamic D2 receptor BP in noisy conditions (low signal, high occupancy). The D2 receptor BP in putamen was clearly more resistant to noise. We conclude that the reproducibility and reliability of thalamic 11C-raclopride BP is good and equal to, or only slightly less than, those observed in caudate or putamen. However, the signal-to-noise ratio for quantification may become too low especially in receptor occupancy-type studies, leading to an artefactual underestimation of measured D2 receptor occupancy.

Extrastriatal dopamine D(2) receptors in Parkinson's disease: a longitudinal study

Most antiparkinsonian drugs are known to act through central dopamine D(2) receptor agonism. A previous longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) study has indicated that, in the striatum of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, dopamine D(2) receptor binding declines at a relatively fast annual rate of 2-4% (compared to the rate of <1%/year in healthy individuals). In the present study, the examination of longitudinal changes in D(2) receptors was extended to extrastriatal brain regions in PD. Eight early PD patients were examined twice with PET, approximately 3 years apart, using a high-affinity extrastriatal D(2)/D(3) receptor tracer, [(11)C]FLB 457. Both the MRI-referenced region-of-interest method and the voxel-based statistical analysis method were used independently in the analysis. Regional D(2)-like availabilities (binding potentials) in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the left temporal cortex and the left and right medial thalami were significantly decreased at the second examination by 20-37% (corresponding to an annual decline of 6-11%). Thus, the annual loss of extrastriatal D(2) availability in PD is up to three times faster than the rate previously reported in the putamen. Our longitudinal study shows first evidence concerning cortical D(2) receptor loss in the progression of PD, although it is not possible to distinguish between the effects of the therapy and the disease.

Cognitive functioning in severe somatization--a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

Somatizing patients often report cognitive complaints but neuropsychological research on somatization is scarce. We investigated somatizing patients for functioning in different cognitive domains.

METHOD

Ten female patients with somatization disorder or undifferentiated somatoform disorder and 10 non-somatizing controls participated in neuropsychological examinations.

RESULTS

The patients performed at a lower level than the controls in tests involving semantic memory, verbal episodic memory and visuo-spatial tasks, and were slower in attentional tasks.

CONCLUSION

Somatization patients may suffer from substantial problems in cognitive performance.

Severe somatization in women is associated with altered cerebral glucose metabolism

BACKGROUND

Somatization is a clinical phenomenon characterized by multiple, medically unexplained somatic symptoms. The pathophysiology remains unknown. We aimed to test the hypothesis of a central nervous system dysfunction in the pathophysiology of this disorder.

METHOD

We studied 10 female patients diagnosed as having somatization disorder or undifferentiated somatoform disorder with no current Axis I disorders according to DSM-IV. They were compared with 17 healthy female volunteers using brain [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET with MRI reference.

RESULTS

The patients had lower cerebral metabolism rates of glucose (P<0.05) in both caudate nuclei, left putamen and right precentral gyrus compared with healthy volunteers.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to demonstrate changes in brain metabolism in somatizing women. The regional cerebral hypometabolism is probably associated with the pathophysiology of somatization.

Neuroanatomical substrata of amusement and sadness: a PET activation study using film stimuli

The aim of the present study was to explore the neuroanatomical substrata of film-induced amusement and sadness, aiming at maximal reliability by using strict statistics. Film-induced changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were measured using positron emission tomography and [15O]water. It appeared that many brain regions were involved similarly and symmetrically in both emotions. Activation of the occipitotemporal and anterior temporal cortex and cerebellum during both emotions agreed well with the earlier findings. Contrary to some earlier studies, the posterior cingulate gyrus and some frontal areas were deactivated in both emotions. The strict explorative analysis did not reveal activations in the limbic or subcorticai structures seen in some earlier studies. However, an additional analysis restricted to the subcortical and limbic system structures revealed bilateral activation of the amygdala in both target emotions. The outcomes of imaginal studies of emotions seem to be largely dependent on the conservativeness of the statistical analysis and very likely also on the method of emotion induction.