Featured Publications
Imaging 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 studies
2022
A 3D atlas of functional human brain energetic connectome based on neuropil distribution
Yu Y, Akif A, Herman P, Cao M, Rothman D, Carson R, Agarwal D, Evans A, Hyder F. A 3D atlas of functional human brain energetic connectome based on neuropil distribution. Cerebral Cortex 2022, 33: 3996-4012. PMID: 36104858, PMCID: PMC10068297, DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac322.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic densityCortical regionsHigher synapse densityHuman cortical circuitsFunctional imaging studiesCortical activity mapsVivo PET imagingNeuropil distributionGlucose oxidationSynapse densityCortical circuitsMetabolic rateSynaptic connectionsCortical energeticsImaging studiesHuman cortexPET imagingHistological stainingRecent evidenceCortexHuman brainBrainVoxel levelActivity ratesAtlas
2021
Identifying brain networks in synaptic density PET (11C-UCB-J) with independent component analysis
Fang XT, Toyonaga T, Hillmer AT, Matuskey D, Holmes SE, Radhakrishnan R, Mecca AP, van Dyck CH, D’Souza D, Esterlis I, Worhunsky PD, Carson RE. Identifying brain networks in synaptic density PET (11C-UCB-J) with independent component analysis. NeuroImage 2021, 237: 118167. PMID: 34000404, PMCID: PMC8452380, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118167.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic densityResting-state functional magnetic resonance imagingSynaptic vesicle protein 2ALevel-dependent signal fluctuationsBrain networksFunctional magnetic resonance imagingMagnetic resonance imagingAge-related changesHealthy controlsResonance imagingRs-fMRIEffects of sexProtein 2AMultiple comparisonsHuman brainAgePotential utilitySexFirst evidenceCovariance patternsPET Imaging Estimates of Regional Acetylcholine Concentration Variation in Living Human Brain
Smart K, Naganawa M, Baldassarri SR, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, Najafzadeh S, Gao H, Navarro A, Barth V, Esterlis I, Cosgrove KP, Huang Y, Carson RE, Hillmer AT. PET Imaging Estimates of Regional Acetylcholine Concentration Variation in Living Human Brain. Cerebral Cortex 2021, 31: 2787-2798. PMID: 33442731, PMCID: PMC8355478, DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa387.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsACh concentrationHuman volunteersHigh ACh concentrationsMuscarinic antagonist scopolamineHealthy human volunteersHuman brainCholinergic receptorsNicotine challengeAntagonist scopolaminePreclinical studiesStriatal regionsPET scansEndogenous neurotransmittersNeuropsychiatric diseasesNonhuman primatesWhole-brain imagesDrug occupancyNicotinic ligandsClinical populationsBrainAcetylcholineDistinct functional rolesStriatumVolunteersFunctional role
2019
Imaging the Enzyme 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 with PET: Evaluation of the Novel Radiotracer 11C-AS2471907 in Human Brain
Gallezot JD, Nabulsi N, Henry S, Pracitto R, Planeta B, Ropchan J, Lin SF, Labaree D, Kapinos M, Shirali A, Lara-Jaime T, Gao H, Matuskey D, Walzer M, Marek GJ, Bellaire S, Yuan N, Carson RE, Huang Y. Imaging the Enzyme 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 with PET: Evaluation of the Novel Radiotracer 11C-AS2471907 in Human Brain. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2019, 60: 1140-1146. PMID: 30877174, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.118.219766.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTest-retest variabilityNondisplaceable distribution volumeOccipital cortexEnzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1White matterDistribution volumeTreatment of depressionDehydrogenase type 1Large cortical regionsPosttraumatic stress disorderHuman brainAdditional scansIntraclass correlation coefficientAge-related cognitive functionBolus administrationFrontal cortexCaudate nucleusAdipose tissueTime-activity curvesNovel radiotracersGlucocorticoid levelsParietal cortexCortical regionsPattern of uptakeType 1
2002
Brain Incorporation of [11C]Arachidonic Acid in Young Healthy Humans Measured With Positron Emission Tomography
Giovacchini G, Chang M, Channing M, Toczek M, Mason A, Bokde A, Connolly C, Vuong B, Ma Y, Der M, Doudet D, Herscovitch P, Eckelman W, Rapoport S, Carson R. Brain Incorporation of [11C]Arachidonic Acid in Young Healthy Humans Measured With Positron Emission Tomography. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2002, 22: 1453-1462. DOI: 10.1097/00004647-200212000-00006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPositron emission tomographyArachidonic acidBrain incorporationEmission tomographyHuman brainCerebral blood volumeYoung healthy humansYoung healthy adultsRole of AAVivo quantitative methodBrain radioactivityAwake ratsHealthy humansPharmacological activationBlood volumeRat studiesHealthy adultsWhite matterArterial input functionBrainPhospholipase A2Important second messengerSignal transductionTomographySecond messenger