Dissertation defence (Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine): BVetMed Saeka Shimochi
Time
28.2.2025 at 12.00 - 16.00
BVetMed Saeka Shimochi defends the dissertation in Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine titled “Novel PET imaging approaches for neurodegenerative disease progression” at the University of Turku on 28 February 2025 at 12.00 (TYKS T-hospital, Risto Lahesmaa auditorium, Hämeentie 11, Turku).
Opponent: Professor Gitte Moos Knudsen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
Custos: Visiting Professor Hidehiro Iida (University of Turku)
Doctoral Dissertation at UTUPub: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-9999-6
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Summary of the Doctoral Dissertation:
Neuropathic pain (NPP) results from nerve damage causing persistent pain, while neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury in newborns due to lack of oxygen and blood flow, leading to long-term disabilities. Both are difficult to diagnose and treat, underscoring the need for reliable biomarkers and diagnostic tools.
This dissertation investigates advanced Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging techniques to enhance the diagnosis, tracking of pathophysiological changes, and prediction of outcomes in these conditions. Focusing on experimental models of NPP and HIE, the research addresses the critical gap in understanding how neurological damage begins and progresses, which limits the development of effective treatments.
The PET tracer [18F]F-DPA specifically targeted inflamed spinal cord tissue in the NPP model, though in vivo PET imaging faced challenges in visualizing the small inflammation site due to low uptake at the injury site and high background noise.
A novel 15O-labelled gas inhalation PET setup provided a fully quantitative assessment of blood flow and oxygen metabolism changes after HIE injury, offering a non-invasive method with broad applications for monitoring disease progression and treatment responses. PET imaging enabled the detection of pathophysiological changes in the damaged brain area after HIE injury. Changes in glucose uptake and oxygen metabolism at early stage after HIE injury showed potential for recognition of brain injury severity at a later stage, indicating clinical potential of PET imaging in the future.
This dissertation highlights the potential and limitations of PET imaging in tracking neurological damage, offering new opportunities for more enhanced diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies for diseases like NPP and HIE. The research could pave the way for personalized therapies, improving care for individuals with these challenging conditions.
Opponent: Professor Gitte Moos Knudsen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
Custos: Visiting Professor Hidehiro Iida (University of Turku)
Doctoral Dissertation at UTUPub: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-9999-6
***
Summary of the Doctoral Dissertation:
Neuropathic pain (NPP) results from nerve damage causing persistent pain, while neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury in newborns due to lack of oxygen and blood flow, leading to long-term disabilities. Both are difficult to diagnose and treat, underscoring the need for reliable biomarkers and diagnostic tools.
This dissertation investigates advanced Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging techniques to enhance the diagnosis, tracking of pathophysiological changes, and prediction of outcomes in these conditions. Focusing on experimental models of NPP and HIE, the research addresses the critical gap in understanding how neurological damage begins and progresses, which limits the development of effective treatments.
The PET tracer [18F]F-DPA specifically targeted inflamed spinal cord tissue in the NPP model, though in vivo PET imaging faced challenges in visualizing the small inflammation site due to low uptake at the injury site and high background noise.
A novel 15O-labelled gas inhalation PET setup provided a fully quantitative assessment of blood flow and oxygen metabolism changes after HIE injury, offering a non-invasive method with broad applications for monitoring disease progression and treatment responses. PET imaging enabled the detection of pathophysiological changes in the damaged brain area after HIE injury. Changes in glucose uptake and oxygen metabolism at early stage after HIE injury showed potential for recognition of brain injury severity at a later stage, indicating clinical potential of PET imaging in the future.
This dissertation highlights the potential and limitations of PET imaging in tracking neurological damage, offering new opportunities for more enhanced diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies for diseases like NPP and HIE. The research could pave the way for personalized therapies, improving care for individuals with these challenging conditions.
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