Our results suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure alters brain metabolism in a long-standing or permanent manner in multiple brain areas. These changes are in accordance with previous findings from structural and functional studies. Metabolic alterations represent changes in the glial cell pool rather than in the neurons.

(2011) MRI quality assurance using the ACR phantom in a multi-unit imaging center, Acta Oncologica, 50:6, 966-972,

No abstract

Aims/hypothesis The aim of the study was to assess the effect of hyperglycaemia on regional concentrations of glucose and other substrates within the brain in nondiabetic individuals and in patients with type 1 diabetes. Methods The brain metabolites of 17 men with type 1 diabetes and 12 age-matched non-diabetic men (22-43 years old) were studied after an overnight fast (plasma glucose 9.2±3.0 vs 4.8±0.5 mmol/l, respectively). N-Acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine, choline, myo-inositol (mI) and glucose in the frontal cortex, frontal white matter and thalamus were quantified with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results In the non-diabetic participants, the glucose level was 47% higher (p<0.01) in the frontal cortex than in the frontal white matter. In contrast, this regional variation was not observed in the diabetic participants, in whom the glucose level in the frontal white matter was 64% higher (p<0.001) and in the frontal cortex 25% higher (p=0.033) than that of the non-diabetic participants. In the diabetic participants, the glucose level in each of the three regions studied correlated with fasting plasma glucose (r=0.88-0.67, p<0.01). In addition, in the diabetic participants, mI was 20% higher (p<0.001) and NAA 6% lower (p=0.037) in the frontal white matter, and mI was 8% higher (p= 0.042) in the frontal cortex, than in the non-diabetic participants. Conclusions/interpretation In type 1 diabetes, hyperglycaemia is associated with accumulation of glucose and mI in the cortex and in the white matter.

Two organic radical contrast agents, TEMPO-Glc and TEEPO-Glc, were synthesized and their stabilities and contrast enhancing properties were tested with in vitro NMR and MRI experiments. Owing to the glucose moieties in the prepared compounds, this study presents potential candidates for a tumor targeting fully organic contrast agents for MRI.