2024

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Gadolinium based Contrast Agents (GBCAs) in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

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Gadolinium based Contrast Agents (GBCAs) in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a crucial technique for disease diagnosis and treatment, with gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) being useful and safe in some cases. GBCAs are pharmaceuticals that enhance diagnostic image information by altering tissue properties, influencing contrast mechanisms. They are used in MRI to study proton (1H) relaxation processes in water and soft tissues in biological systems. GBCAs are administered intravenously and distributed throughout the body, with most being eliminated within hours. They shorten the T1 and T2 relaxation times of water molecules, resulting in brighter signals on T1-weighted images and darker signals on T2-weighted images. When administered at relatively low doses in individuals with normal renal function, all GBCAs approved for clinical use have a broad safety margin. Understanding an agent’s relaxivity, concentration, and chelate stability is important for radiologists as these properties impact patient safety and the effectiveness of diagnosis. This blog summarizes an overview of Gadolinium based contrast agents usage in the diagnostic MRI imaging.

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Therapeutic Modalities for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

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Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disorder causing muscle weakness and atrophy due to the degeneration of alpha motor neurons in the spinal cord. SMA is a major cause of hereditary mortality globally, with carriers estimated to be 1/40–1/60. Assistive equipment include, adaptive strollers, wheelchairs, and support devices. Target therapies like Nusinersen, Risidiplam, and Onasemnogene abeparvovec target the underlying disease mechanism and may prevent or slow SMA progression. Risdiplam compensates for the loss of SMN1 function in SMA patients, while Onasemnogene abeparvovec is a gene therapy that delivers a functional copy of the human survival motor neuron gene to patients, showing significant improvement in developmental motor milestones. Nusinersen is an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) used to treat 5q Spinal Muscular Atrophy (5q SMA). It alters SMN2 gene splicing to increase SMN protein synthesis, correcting the disease’s underlying cause. Nusinersen helps produce full-length (100%) SMN protein essential for motor neuron function. Palliative, supportive, and rehabilitative treatment for SMA includes orthopaedic care, dietary assistance, end-of-life care, and pulmonary management, with severity varying based on disease type. The numerous therapy approaches to treat and assist people with SMA are the main topic of this blog.

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Role of Ferroptosis – A Novel Programmed Cell Death in Temozolomide Therapy for Brain Cancer

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TEMOZOLOMIDE- Role of Ferroptosis in Brain Cancer

Glioblastoma (GBM) are the most prevalent type of primary malignant brain tumor in adults that can develop in the brain stem, cerebellum, or spinal cord. Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating agent that is used to treat adults with newly diagnosed GBM and resistant anaplastic astrocytoma who have progressed on a nitrosourea and procarbazine-containing therapy regimen. Ferroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death, plays a crucial role in glioblastoma therapy. Cell membrane damage produced by mechanisms such as intracellular iron build-up, reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity failure, and x-catenin (xCT) causes ferroptosis (iron dependent programmed cell death). This blog discusses the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis, its application, and challenges in the development and treatment of glioblastoma. GBM invasiveness and treatment resistance may increase if ferroptosis is avoided due to changes in glucose, lipid, glutamine, and iron metabolism. Targeting ferroptosis, which involves fatal phospholipid peroxidation due to dysregulated redox homeostasis and cellular metabolism, could be a promising treatment for GBM, as it is essential for tumor cell viability.

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