Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

University of Minnesota

Thomas M Wengenack

Joseph F Poduslo

Geoffrey L Curran

Michael G Garwood

Abdul H Fauq

Daniel J McCormick

Clifford R Jack, Jr

Amyloid plaque in the brain of a subject is imaged in an MRI system with or without the use of a contrast agent. Contrast is achieved using a spin-echo pulse sequence that is both respiratory gated and cardiac gated to reduce motion artifacts at the very high image resolution required to see plaque. A preparatory pulse sequence is used to insure longitudinal magnetization remains constant for all the acquired views even if the effective TR changes during the scan due to irregular breathing.

Magnetic resonance imaging of amyloid plaque in the brain

Methods for detecting parenchymal plaque deposits in the brain of a living mammal are described that include administering a polyamine modified, labeled polypeptide having specific binding affinity for the extracellular deposit, to the living mammal. Isolated &#x3b2;-amyloid peptides that are polyamine modified and labeled with a radioisotope or contrast agent also are described.

Methods for detecting parenchymal plaques in vivo

An amino acid composition with improved blood brain barrier permeability comprising an amino acid polymer, wherein the amino acid comprises at least one asparagyl-4-aminobutane or glutamyl-4-aminobutane residue.

Amino acid composition with increased blood brain barrier permeability

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MN, United States of America

Thomas M Wengenack