A composition useful as an imaging agent comprises a beta adrenergic receptor antagonist compound, preferably iodopindolol, to which is covalently attached an iodine radioisotope such as .sup.123 I or .sup.124 I. This composition is used in a method for radioimaging beta adrenergic receptors in a tissue, preferably brain. In particular, the method is useful with the radioimaging technique of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET). The above composition, as well as a kit comprising a set of one or more standard radiographic images of beta adrenergic receptors, are also useful in methods for (1) diagnosing an alteration in beta adrenergic receptors in a tissue, particularly brain; (2) diagnosing suicidal depression in a subject; and (3) detecting the therapeutic normalization of beta adrenergic receptor expression in a subject.
A method of evaluating the effects of administering an external stimuli or treatment such as a psychoactive compound, a drug, or an environmental influence like temperature, noise, vibration, light and similar sensory-perceived influences, on a subject's brain using imaging techniques with positron emission tomography (PET). The method measures cerebral metabolism before and after administering the external stimuli or treatment, and employs a behavioral clamp to control behavioral influences on the subject's brain after administration of the external stimuli or treatment.
The present invention relates generally to a peripheral marker or marker of blood brain barrier integrity and methods of using them in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of a variety of diseases. The preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, compositions, kits, and assays useful in determining the integrity or permeability of a blood brain barrier. The various embodiments of the present invention can be used to identify subjects at risk for developing a disease associated with increased permeability of the blood brain barrier, as well as to provide insight on the ability of an agent or agents to pass the blood brain barrier. Preferably, increased levels of S100.beta. protein are used alone or in combination with other markers of diseased state in order to diagnose and prognosticate permeability of the BBB.
The present invention relates generally to a peripheral marker or markers of blood barrier integrity and methods of using same in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of a variety of diseases. The peripheral marker(s) of the present invention are particularly useful in the differential diagnosis of diseased states. The preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, compositions, kits, and assays useful in determining the integrity or permeability of either a blood CSF barrier or a blood brain barrier. The various embodiments of the present invention can be used to identify subjects at risk for developing a disease associated with increased permeability of the blood brain barrier, as well as to provide insight on the ability of an agent or agents to pass through the blood brain barrier. Embodiments of the present invention preferably involve the use of subject derived blood samples to determine the occurrence and level of circulating proteins indicative of blood brain barrier permeability or integrity. The embodiments of the present invention also provides screening methods for diagnosis, prognosis, susceptibility, or degree of permeability of penetration of the blood brain barrier by detecting the presence of serum Transthyretin either directly or through the use of antibodies.
A method of evaluating the effects of administering an external stimuli or treatment such as a psychoactive compound, a drug, or an environmental influence like temperature, noise, vibration, light and similar sensory-perceived influences, on a subject's brain using imaging techniques with positron emission tomography (PET). The method measures cerebral metabolism before and after administering the external stimuli or treatment, and employs a behavioral clamp to control behavioral influences on the subject's brain after administration of the external stimuli or treatment.
Herein described are radiolabeled compounds and their precursors useful to image D4 receptors in vivo, of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is selected from iodo, tri(loweralkyl)tin and a radioisotopically labeled iodide and R.sup.1 is selected from H and alkoxycarbonyl, with the proviso that R is not iodo when R.sup.1 is H. The radiopharmaceutical compounds are useful particularly to image localization of D4 receptor in the human brain, and can therefore aid in the diagnosis of schizophrenia and other medical conditions in which the D4 receptor is implicated.
