Researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston are currently recruiting subjects for an imaging in diabetes clinical trial.
The trial is the result of a recent study conducted by Joslin and MGH researchers on a new imaging technique to reveal the inflammation of pancreatic islets in recently diagnosed diabetic mice. In the experiments, researchers demonstrated that this can be detected with the help of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) and MRI.
If pancreatic vessels leak due to inflammation, the MNPs spill into nearby tissues, where they are absorbed by macrophages. As the process occurs, the MNPs are concentrated at the inflamed site and can be spotted by high-resolution MRI, according to the researchers.
The goal of the study was to gather data on mouse models that could guide the application of the technique in human patients with, or at risk of, type 1 diabetes. Study results suggest that the MRI-MNP imaging technology may be helpful in identifying people at immediate risk of developing autoimmune diabetes, and for early prediction of response to therapy, the researchers said.
The proposed clinical trial will be comprised of individuals over the age of 17 who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes within the last six months, or who are at increased risk for developing type 1 diabetes, based on family history and antibody testing. At present, the trial is enrolling only at-risk individuals who have already been risk-stratified.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
August 19, 2005
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