Featured Publications
EM reconstruction algorithms for emission and transmission tomography.
Lange K, Carson R. EM reconstruction algorithms for emission and transmission tomography. Journal Of Computer Assisted Tomography 1984, 8: 306-16. PMID: 6608535.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEM algorithmGood physical modelTransmission image reconstructionTransmission tomographyMaximum likelihood estimatesAlgebraic schemeRelevant physical featuresNon-negativity constraintsGlobal convergenceIterative techniquePoisson natureLikelihood estimatesParameter estimatesCounting noiseMaximum likelihoodDetector geometryPhysical modelAccurate incorporationEM reconstruction algorithmPhysical featuresSpecific algorithmsImage reconstructionAlgorithmReconstruction algorithmActual reconstructionImaging synaptic density in the living human brain
Finnema SJ, Nabulsi NB, Eid T, Detyniecki K, Lin SF, Chen MK, Dhaher R, Matuskey D, Baum E, Holden D, Spencer DD, Mercier J, Hannestad J, Huang Y, Carson RE. Imaging synaptic density in the living human brain. Science Translational Medicine 2016, 8: 348ra96. PMID: 27440727, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf6667.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic densityPositron emission tomographyPET imagingSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ATemporal lobe epilepsyNumerous brain disordersCentral nervous systemNumber of synapsesJ PET imagingHuman brainHuman PET studiesPredominant neuronsSurgical resectionSynaptic lossLobe epilepsyPsychiatric disordersNervous systemBrain disordersPresynaptic boutonsAlzheimer's diseaseBrain tissueEmission tomographyNeuron contactsTherapeutic monitoringPET studiesFirst-in-Human Evaluation of 18F-SynVesT-1, a Radioligand for PET Imaging of Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A
Naganawa M, Li S, Nabulsi N, Henry S, Zheng MQ, Pracitto R, Cai Z, Gao H, Kapinos M, Labaree D, Matuskey D, Huang Y, Carson RE. First-in-Human Evaluation of 18F-SynVesT-1, a Radioligand for PET Imaging of Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2020, 62: 561-567. PMID: 32859701, PMCID: PMC8049363, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.249144.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsC-UCBSynaptic densityRegional time-activity curvesTime-activity curvesDistribution volumeMetabolite-corrected arterial input functionPET imagingMultilinear analysis 1Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AAntiepileptic drug levetiracetamTotal distribution volumeNondisplaceable distribution volumeCentrum semiovaleBlocking doseHealthy volunteersHuman studiesDrug levetiracetamLassen plotNeuropsychiatric disordersPET radioligandArterial input functionNonhuman primatesLevetiracetamReference regionRadioligandAssessing Synaptic Density in Alzheimer Disease With Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A Positron Emission Tomographic Imaging
Chen MK, Mecca AP, Naganawa M, Finnema SJ, Toyonaga T, Lin SF, Najafzadeh S, Ropchan J, Lu Y, McDonald JW, Michalak HR, Nabulsi NB, Arnsten AFT, Huang Y, Carson RE, van Dyck CH. Assessing Synaptic Density in Alzheimer Disease With Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A Positron Emission Tomographic Imaging. JAMA Neurology 2018, 75: 1215-1224. PMID: 30014145, PMCID: PMC6233853, DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.1836.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositron emission tomographic imagingSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ASynaptic densityAlzheimer's diseaseEmission tomographic imagingHigh-resolution PET scanningPET scanningCognitive impairmentDisease-modifying therapiesDisease-modifying treatmentsNormal participantsCross-sectional studyPittsburgh compound BMajor structural correlateAmnestic mild cognitive impairmentMagnetic resonance imagingMild cognitive impairmentJ PET imagingRestoration of synapsesSpecific bindingNeurologic evaluationSynaptic lossDisease stagePostmortem studiesOutcome measuresReduced synaptic vesicle protein 2A binding in temporal lobe epilepsy: A [11C]UCB‐J positron emission tomography study
Finnema SJ, Toyonaga T, Detyniecki K, Chen M, Dias M, Wang Q, Lin S, Naganawa M, Gallezot J, Lu Y, Nabulsi NB, Huang Y, Spencer DD, Carson RE. Reduced synaptic vesicle protein 2A binding in temporal lobe epilepsy: A [11C]UCB‐J positron emission tomography study. Epilepsia 2020, 61: 2183-2193. PMID: 32944949, DOI: 10.1111/epi.16653.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedial temporal lobe sclerosisTemporal lobe epilepsyTLE subjectsPositron emission tomographyLobe epilepsyJ BPSynaptic vesicle protein 2APartial volume correctionTemporal lobe sclerosisPositron emission tomography studyEmission tomography studiesSeizure onset zonePromising biomarker approachJ bindingPresurgical selectionSclerotic hippocampusHippocampal asymmetryTLE patientsRegional binding patternsControl subjectsCentrum semiovaleContralateral regionsEpilepsy patientsOutcome measuresOnset zoneLower synaptic density is associated with depression severity and network alterations
Holmes SE, Scheinost D, Finnema SJ, Naganawa M, Davis MT, DellaGioia N, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Angarita GA, Pietrzak RH, Duman RS, Sanacora G, Krystal JH, Carson RE, Esterlis I. Lower synaptic density is associated with depression severity and network alterations. Nature Communications 2019, 10: 1529. PMID: 30948709, PMCID: PMC6449365, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09562-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMajor depressive disorderPost-traumatic stress disorderLower synaptic densitySynaptic densityPositron emission tomographyFunctional connectivityNetwork alterationsSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ASymptoms of depressionSynaptic lossDepressive disorderHealthy controlsNerve terminalsDepressive symptomsDepression severityUnmedicated individualsSynaptic connectionsEmission tomographyStress disorderVivo evidenceSymptomsDepressionSeverityDisordersAlterationsNoise Reduction in the Simplified Reference Tissue Model for Neuroreceptor Functional Imaging
Wu Y, Carson RE. Noise Reduction in the Simplified Reference Tissue Model for Neuroreceptor Functional Imaging. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2002, 22: 1440-1452. PMID: 12468889, DOI: 10.1097/01.wcb.0000033967.83623.34.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
Microglia-mediated neuroimmune suppression in PTSD is associated with anhedonia
Bonomi R, Hillmer A, Woodcock E, Bhatt S, Rusowicz A, Angarita G, Carson R, Davis M, Esterlis I, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Krystal J, Pietrzak R, Cosgrove K. Microglia-mediated neuroimmune suppression in PTSD is associated with anhedonia. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2406005121. PMID: 39172786, PMCID: PMC11363315, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406005121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPTSD groupPrefrontal-limbic circuitsNeuroimmune responseAssociated with anhedoniaPosttraumatic stress disorderPositron emission tomography brain imagingTranslocator protein availabilityBrain immune functionAnhedonic symptomsStress disorderPeripheral immune dysfunctionPTSDGroup differencesSeverity of symptomsPsychiatric diseasesTranslocator proteinBrain imagingAdministration of lipopolysaccharideSymptomsMicroglial markersLPS-induced increaseCompared to controlsImmune functionSickness symptomsAnhedoniaA pilot study to evaluate the effect of CT1812 treatment on synaptic density and other biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease
van Dyck C, Mecca A, O’Dell R, Bartlett H, Diepenbrock N, Huang Y, Hamby M, Grundman M, Catalano S, Caggiano A, Carson R. A pilot study to evaluate the effect of CT1812 treatment on synaptic density and other biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 2024, 16: 20. PMID: 38273408, PMCID: PMC10809445, DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01382-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMild to moderate dementiaPositron emission tomographyAlzheimer's diseaseVolumetric MRIModerate dementiaClinical rating scalesSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ACerebrospinal fluidMouse model of ADPharmacodynamic effectsPlacebo-controlled phase 1 clinical trialBiomarkers of AD pathologyClinical trialsCognitive measuresNominally significant differencesPhase 1 clinical trialModel of ADHippocampal cortexPhase 1/2 studyRating ScaleParallel-group trialSynaptic densityTrial registrationThe clinical trialPlacebo-controlledSigma-2 receptor ligands
2023
Markerless head motion tracking and event-by-event correction in brain PET
Zeng T, Lu Y, Jiang W, Zheng J, Zhang J, Gravel P, Wan Q, Fontaine K, Mulnix T, Jiang Y, Yang Z, Revilla E, Naganawa M, Toyonaga T, Henry S, Zhang X, Cao T, Hu L, Carson R. Markerless head motion tracking and event-by-event correction in brain PET. Physics In Medicine And Biology 2023, 68: 245019. PMID: 37983915, PMCID: PMC10713921, DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ad0e37.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPoint source studyHead motion correctionSmaller residual displacementMotion correctionIterative closest point (ICP) registration algorithmHead motion trackingSpatial resolutionResidual displacementData-driven evaluation methodHigh spatial resolutionLow noiseMotion trackingStereovision cameraMotion tracking deviceStructured lightEvent correctionBrain positron emission tomography (PET) imagingTracking deviceReconstruction resultsHMT methodPoint cloudsNegative biasReference cloudUMTEvaluation methodDose reduction in dynamic synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A PET imaging using artificial neural networks
Li A, Yang B, Naganawa M, Fontaine K, Toyonaga T, Carson R, Tang J. Dose reduction in dynamic synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A PET imaging using artificial neural networks. Physics In Medicine And Biology 2023, 68: 245006. PMID: 37857316, PMCID: PMC10739622, DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ad0535.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIntrathecal delivery of nanoparticle PARP inhibitor to the cerebrospinal fluid for the treatment of metastatic medulloblastoma
Khang M, Lee J, Lee T, Suh H, Lee S, Cavaliere A, Rushing A, Geraldo L, Belitzky E, Rossano S, de Feyter H, Shin K, Huttner A, Roussel M, Thomas J, Carson R, Marquez-Nostra B, Bindra R, Saltzman W. Intrathecal delivery of nanoparticle PARP inhibitor to the cerebrospinal fluid for the treatment of metastatic medulloblastoma. Science Translational Medicine 2023, 15: eadi1617. PMID: 37910601, PMCID: PMC11078331, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi1617.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCerebrospinal fluidDelivery of drugsEffective therapyTherapeutic indexPARP inhibitorsBlood-brain barrierSite of tumorRapid systemic clearanceXenograft mouse modelSolvent evaporation processAdministration of substancesLeptomeningeal spreadIntrathecal deliveryLeptomeningeal metastasesBrain penetrationSystemic clearanceTumor regressionPolymer nanoparticlesMetastatic medulloblastomaMouse modelPediatric medulloblastomaDrug accumulationCSF turnoverEncapsulated drugsPET imagingImaging the brain’s immune response to alcohol with [11C]PBR28 TSPO Positron Emission Tomography
Raval N, Angarita G, Matuskey D, Miller R, Drake L, Kapinos M, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Carson R, O’Malley S, Cosgrove K, Hillmer A. Imaging the brain’s immune response to alcohol with [11C]PBR28 TSPO Positron Emission Tomography. Molecular Psychiatry 2023, 28: 3384-3390. PMID: 37532797, PMCID: PMC10743097, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02198-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVolume of distributionBlood alcohol levelsPositron emission tomographyBrain immune responseImmune responseAlcohol challengeEmission tomographyPeak blood alcohol levelsMultilinear analysis 1Peripheral immune functionVivo human evidenceLaboratory alcohol challengeTSPO positron emission tomographyBinge levelsPlasma cytokinesImmune dysfunctionNeuroimmune systemIL-6MCP-1Cytokines TNFAcute effectsScan dayArterial bloodHuman evidenceImmune functionRelationships of in vivo brain norepinephrine transporter and age, BMI, and gender
Koohsari S, Sadabad F, Pittman B, Gallezot J, Carson R, van Dyck C, Li C, Potenza M, Matuskey D. Relationships of in vivo brain norepinephrine transporter and age, BMI, and gender. Synapse 2023, 77: e22279. PMID: 37382240, PMCID: PMC10416616, DOI: 10.1002/syn.22279.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexMultilinear reference tissue model 2Gender-related differencesBrain norepinephrine transportersNorepinephrine transporterAge-related declineStructural MR scansBrain regionsReference tissue model 2Mass indexRaphe nucleusLocus coeruleusOccipital cortexBMI relationshipHealthy adultsHigh-resolution research tomographAvailable radiotracersHealthy participantsMR scansAgeAnatomic templateReference regionNegative associationNet availabilityPotential agePrincipal component analysis of synaptic density measured with [11C]UCB-J PET in early Alzheimer’s disease
O'Dell R, Higgins-Chen A, Gupta D, Chen M, Naganawa M, Toyonaga T, Lu Y, Ni G, Chupak A, Zhao W, Salardini E, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Arnsten A, Carson R, van Dyck C, Mecca A. Principal component analysis of synaptic density measured with [11C]UCB-J PET in early Alzheimer’s disease. NeuroImage Clinical 2023, 39: 103457. PMID: 37422964, PMCID: PMC10338149, DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103457.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCognitive domainsCognitive performanceSubjects' scoresCortical regionsNeuropsychological batteryEarly Alzheimer's diseaseAD groupBilateral regionsNormal participantsNegative loadingsCognitive impairmentCN participantsAlzheimer's diseaseParticipantsStructural correlatesStrong contributionParticipant characteristicsScoresPositive loadingsData-driven approachTotal variancePrincipal component analysisSpecific spatial patternsReductions in synaptic marker SV2A in early-course Schizophrenia
Yoon J, Zhang Z, Mormino E, Davidzon G, Minzenberg M, Ballon J, Kalinowski A, Hardy K, Naganawa M, Carson R, Khalighi M, Park J, Levinson D, Chin F. Reductions in synaptic marker SV2A in early-course Schizophrenia. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2023, 161: 213-217. PMID: 36934603, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.02.026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic patientsSynaptic pruningStage of illnessEarly course patientsEarly course schizophreniaSeverity of delusionsWidespread reductionMajor disease mechanismsSynaptic deficitsSynaptic markersSynaptic eliminationPET scansFormal onsetBrain regionsSignificant positive correlationPatientsSchizophrenia studiesSchizophreniaDisease mechanismsCognitive performanceIllnessEarly phaseSpecific bindingPresent studyPositive correlationInvestigating CNS distribution of PF‐05212377, a P‐glycoprotein substrate, by translation of 5‐HT6 receptor occupancy from non‐human primates to humans
Sawant‐Basak A, Chen L, Lockwood P, Boyden T, Doran A, Mancuso J, Zasadny K, McCarthy T, Morris E, Carson R, Esterlis I, Huang Y, Nabulsi N, Planeta B, Fullerton T. Investigating CNS distribution of PF‐05212377, a P‐glycoprotein substrate, by translation of 5‐HT6 receptor occupancy from non‐human primates to humans. Biopharmaceutics & Drug Disposition 2023, 44: 48-59. PMID: 36825693, DOI: 10.1002/bdd.2351.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-human primatesBrain penetrationPositron emission tomographyReceptor occupancyUnbound concentrationsPre-clinical evidenceVivo brain penetrationConcentration-dependent increaseP-glycoprotein substratesPlasma ECsP-gpAlzheimer's diseaseEmission tomographyRat BBBTarget engagementCumulative evidenceDependent increaseTransporter substratesCNS distributionBBBRatsDiseasePrimatesSpecies differencesHumansSerotonin transporter availability in physically aggressive personality disordered patients: associations with trait and state aggression, and response to fluoxetine
Rosell D, Slifstein M, Thompson J, Xu X, Perez-Rodriguez M, McClure M, Hazlett E, New A, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Carson R, Siever L, Abi-Dargham A, Koenigsberg H. Serotonin transporter availability in physically aggressive personality disordered patients: associations with trait and state aggression, and response to fluoxetine. Psychopharmacology 2023, 240: 361-371. PMID: 36640190, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06306-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnterior cingulate cortexAnti-aggressive effectsIED patientsPositron emission tomographyVentral striatumTransporter availabilityChildhood traumaSerotonin transporter availabilityRational treatment selectionIntermittent explosive disorderFluoxetine 20Fluoxetine treatmentSerotonergic abnormalitiesHealthy comparison participantsTreatment selectionRisk individualsObjectivesThe aimPatientsCingulate cortexExplosive disorderEmission tomographyImpulsive aggressionNovel therapeuticsFluoxetineNeuroanatomical basis
2022
Noninvasive Quantitative PET Imaging in Humans of the Pancreatic Beta-Cell Mass Biomarkers VMAT2 and Dopamine D2/D3 Receptors In Vivo
Bini J, Carson R, Cline G. Noninvasive Quantitative PET Imaging in Humans of the Pancreatic Beta-Cell Mass Biomarkers VMAT2 and Dopamine D2/D3 Receptors In Vivo. Methods In Molecular Biology 2022, 2592: 61-74. PMID: 36507985, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2807-2_4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositron emission tomographyBeta-cell massFunctional beta-cell massDopamine D2/D3 receptorsD2/D3 receptorsBeta-cell lossType 2 diabetesEfficacy of therapeuticsQuantitative positron emission tomographyInsulin secretionDopamine receptorsD3 receptorsGlucose regulationPET radioligandEmission tomographyType 1Clinical usePET imagingReceptorsQuantitative PET imagingVMAT2Cellular transportersImagingVivoQuantitative imagingDifferences in Quantification of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Across Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder
Holmes S, Asch R, Davis M, DellaGioia N, Pashankar N, Gallezot J, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Sanacora G, Carson R, Blumberg H, Esterlis I. Differences in Quantification of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Across Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. Biological Psychiatry 2022, 93: 1099-1107. PMID: 36764853, PMCID: PMC10164841, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.10.018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMajor depressive disorderMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Glutamate receptor 5MGluR5 availabilityBipolar disorderPositron emission tomographyHC groupDepressive disorderReceptor 5Emission tomographyHealthy control individualsPossible treatment targetsGlutamate transmissionBD depressionTreatment strategiesBD groupMGluR5Depressive symptomsNovel treatmentsCognitive alterationsTreatment targetsSynaptic plasticityControl individualsAccurate diagnosisSignificant negative correlation