Molecular imaging is leading an important role in the era of molecular medicine. Optical imaging, a rising star in the filed of molecular imaging, largely consists of bioluminescent imaging and fluorescent imaging. It has been shown that well-aimed and creatively-built optical-imaging-reporters let researchers explore and answer a lot of biologically important questions in living subjects. Despite relatively short history, molecular optical imaging is rapidly being implemented not only in many clinical areas but also in various research fields from tracking gene expression, protein-protein interaction or migrating cells to molecular diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis ; Gene Expression ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Molecular Imaging ; Molecular Medicine ; Neurosciences* ; Optical Imaging*

This study intended to obtain an useful information on the prevalence of subjective symptoms, and to clarify the interrelationships between blood lead and lead related symptoms in low level lead exposure. The 93 male workers exposed to lead and 56 male nonexposed workers were examined for their blood lead (PBB), Zinc-protoporphy (ZPP), hemoglobin (HB) and personal history, and completed 15 questionnaires related to symptoms of lead absorption; also measured lead concentration in air (PBA) in the workplace. The results obtained were as follow; 1. The means of blood lead (PBB), blood ZPP and hemoglobin (HB) among workers exposed to lead were 26.1+/-8.8 microgram/dl, 28.3+/-26.0 microgram/dl and 16.2+/-1.2g/dl; whereas those of nonexposed workers were 18.7+/-5.1 microgram/dl, 20.6+/-8.7 microgram/dl and 17.3+/-1.1g/dl. The means of above three indicies between two groups showed significant difference statistically (p<0.05). 2. The means of blood lead (PBB), blood ZPP and hemoglobin of workers exposed to different lead concentration in air were as follows; When it was below 25 microgram/m3 , the indices were 24.7+/-79, 26.1+/-26.8 microgram/dl and 16.4+/-1.1 g/dl respectively; These indices were 27.1+/-8.5, 23.9+/-10.92 /dl and 16.2+/-1.3 g/dl when the lead concentration in air was 25~50 microgram/m3; and they were 3.4+/-9.3, 42.3+/-31.3 microgram/dl and 15.5+/-1.2 g/dl when the concentration of lead was above 50 microgram/m3. Although there were statistical difference in blood lead and hemoglobin among three different lead concentration in air, there was no statistical difference of blood ZPP among the three groups with different exposure levels (p>0.05). 3. The most frequently by complained symptom was "Generalized weakness and fatigue", and fewest symptom was "Intermittent pains in abdomen". 4. Only two symptoms out of fifteen symptoms checked by themselves revealed significant difference between exposed and nonexposed groups. These were "Intermittent pains of abdomen" and "Joint pain or arthralgia" (p<0.05). No positive correlation was found between the levels of blood lead and symptom groups categorized as gastrointestinal, neuromuscular and constitutional symptoms. 5. Blood lead (r=0.3995) and ZPP (r=0.2837) showed statistically significant correlation with mean lead concentration in air, whereas correlations were not demonstrated between blood lead and lead related symptoms or blood ZPP and lead related symptoms. 6. Blood lead (PBB) and ZPP showed association (r=0.2466) and the equation PBB=23.75+0.0842 ZPP was derived. 7. On stepwise multiple regression, using blood lead level as a dependent variable and ZPP, hemoglobin (HB), age, work duration (WD) and symptom prevalence as a independent variables, only ZPP significantly contributed a lot to blood lead level. 8. While the ZPP measurement was found to be a good indicator in evaluating health effect of lead absorption in low level lead exposure, lead related symptoms were not sensitive enough to evaluate of lead absorption in low level exposure.
Absorption ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder caused by CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. Brain involvement in DM1 has been reported, but quantitative imaging data is limited. This study aimed to characterize and quantify brain structural abnormalities in DM1 using MRI and DUIH-Image software. Methods: Sixteen patients with classic DM1 (10 male, 6 female; age range 17–68 years) underwent genetic testing, neuropsychologic assessment, and brain MRI. FLAIR images were analyzed using DUIH-Image software to quantify brain lesions and create probabilistic lesion maps. Results: FLAIR imaging revealed hyperintensities predominantly in periventricular and subcortical white matter. Probabilistic lesion maps highlighted the subcortical white matter near the anterior horn as the most affected site, with additional involvement of the posterior horn, frontal, insular, parietal, and temporal cortices. Neuropsychological testing identified frontal lobe dysfunction as the most common deficit, correlating with brain involvement. No significant correlations were found between lesion load, CTG repeat number, and disease duration. Conclusions This study demonstrates significant periventricular and subcortical white matter involvement in DM1, with the anterior subcortical white matter being the most affected site. Frontal lobe dysfunction was a frequent finding. Brain involvement did not correlate with CTG repeat number or disease duration, suggesting complex pathophysiology in DM1-related brain abnormalities.

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder caused by CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. Brain involvement in DM1 has been reported, but quantitative imaging data is limited. This study aimed to characterize and quantify brain structural abnormalities in DM1 using MRI and DUIH-Image software. Methods: Sixteen patients with classic DM1 (10 male, 6 female; age range 17–68 years) underwent genetic testing, neuropsychologic assessment, and brain MRI. FLAIR images were analyzed using DUIH-Image software to quantify brain lesions and create probabilistic lesion maps. Results: FLAIR imaging revealed hyperintensities predominantly in periventricular and subcortical white matter. Probabilistic lesion maps highlighted the subcortical white matter near the anterior horn as the most affected site, with additional involvement of the posterior horn, frontal, insular, parietal, and temporal cortices. Neuropsychological testing identified frontal lobe dysfunction as the most common deficit, correlating with brain involvement. No significant correlations were found between lesion load, CTG repeat number, and disease duration. Conclusions This study demonstrates significant periventricular and subcortical white matter involvement in DM1, with the anterior subcortical white matter being the most affected site. Frontal lobe dysfunction was a frequent finding. Brain involvement did not correlate with CTG repeat number or disease duration, suggesting complex pathophysiology in DM1-related brain abnormalities.

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder caused by CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. Brain involvement in DM1 has been reported, but quantitative imaging data is limited. This study aimed to characterize and quantify brain structural abnormalities in DM1 using MRI and DUIH-Image software. Methods: Sixteen patients with classic DM1 (10 male, 6 female; age range 17–68 years) underwent genetic testing, neuropsychologic assessment, and brain MRI. FLAIR images were analyzed using DUIH-Image software to quantify brain lesions and create probabilistic lesion maps. Results: FLAIR imaging revealed hyperintensities predominantly in periventricular and subcortical white matter. Probabilistic lesion maps highlighted the subcortical white matter near the anterior horn as the most affected site, with additional involvement of the posterior horn, frontal, insular, parietal, and temporal cortices. Neuropsychological testing identified frontal lobe dysfunction as the most common deficit, correlating with brain involvement. No significant correlations were found between lesion load, CTG repeat number, and disease duration. Conclusions This study demonstrates significant periventricular and subcortical white matter involvement in DM1, with the anterior subcortical white matter being the most affected site. Frontal lobe dysfunction was a frequent finding. Brain involvement did not correlate with CTG repeat number or disease duration, suggesting complex pathophysiology in DM1-related brain abnormalities.

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder caused by CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. Brain involvement in DM1 has been reported, but quantitative imaging data is limited. This study aimed to characterize and quantify brain structural abnormalities in DM1 using MRI and DUIH-Image software. Methods: Sixteen patients with classic DM1 (10 male, 6 female; age range 17–68 years) underwent genetic testing, neuropsychologic assessment, and brain MRI. FLAIR images were analyzed using DUIH-Image software to quantify brain lesions and create probabilistic lesion maps. Results: FLAIR imaging revealed hyperintensities predominantly in periventricular and subcortical white matter. Probabilistic lesion maps highlighted the subcortical white matter near the anterior horn as the most affected site, with additional involvement of the posterior horn, frontal, insular, parietal, and temporal cortices. Neuropsychological testing identified frontal lobe dysfunction as the most common deficit, correlating with brain involvement. No significant correlations were found between lesion load, CTG repeat number, and disease duration. Conclusions This study demonstrates significant periventricular and subcortical white matter involvement in DM1, with the anterior subcortical white matter being the most affected site. Frontal lobe dysfunction was a frequent finding. Brain involvement did not correlate with CTG repeat number or disease duration, suggesting complex pathophysiology in DM1-related brain abnormalities.

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder caused by CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. Brain involvement in DM1 has been reported, but quantitative imaging data is limited. This study aimed to characterize and quantify brain structural abnormalities in DM1 using MRI and DUIH-Image software. Methods: Sixteen patients with classic DM1 (10 male, 6 female; age range 17–68 years) underwent genetic testing, neuropsychologic assessment, and brain MRI. FLAIR images were analyzed using DUIH-Image software to quantify brain lesions and create probabilistic lesion maps. Results: FLAIR imaging revealed hyperintensities predominantly in periventricular and subcortical white matter. Probabilistic lesion maps highlighted the subcortical white matter near the anterior horn as the most affected site, with additional involvement of the posterior horn, frontal, insular, parietal, and temporal cortices. Neuropsychological testing identified frontal lobe dysfunction as the most common deficit, correlating with brain involvement. No significant correlations were found between lesion load, CTG repeat number, and disease duration. Conclusions This study demonstrates significant periventricular and subcortical white matter involvement in DM1, with the anterior subcortical white matter being the most affected site. Frontal lobe dysfunction was a frequent finding. Brain involvement did not correlate with CTG repeat number or disease duration, suggesting complex pathophysiology in DM1-related brain abnormalities.

Molecular imaging is leading an important role in the era of molecular medicine. Optical imaging, a rising star in the filed of molecular imaging, largely consists of fluorescent imaging and bioluminescent imaging. In the fluorescence imaging, an illuminating light excites fluorescent reporters in the living subject, and a charged coupled device (CCD) camera collects an emission light of shifted wavelength. In the bioluminescent imaging, reporter genes code for the luciferase that is responsible for fireflies' glow. After the injection of the substrate iuciferin, animals carrying the luciferase gene are imaged with a supersensitive CCD camera to pick up the small number of photons transmitted through tissues. It has been shown that well aimed and creatively built reporters let researchers explore and answer a lot of biologically important questions in living subjects. Despite its relatively short history, optical imaging is rapidly being implemented in various clinical areas as well as research fields.
Animals ; Genes, Reporter ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Luciferases ; Molecular Imaging* ; Molecular Medicine ; Optical Imaging* ; Photons