Biomarkers, bioindicators, molecular imaging, functional imaging, precision medicine, and the search for intelligent life in the universe

An essential aspect of thyroid cancer (TC) management is personalized and precision medicine. Functional imaging of TC with radioiodine and [18F]FDG has been frequently used in disease evaluation for several decades now. Recently, advances in molecular imaging have led to the development of novel tracers based on aptamer, peptide, antibody, nanobody, antibody fragment, and nanoparticle platforms. The emerging targets—including HER2, CD54, SHP2, CD33, and more—are promising targets for clinical translation soon. The significance of these tracers may be realized by outlining the way they support the management of TC. The provided examples focus on where preclinical investigations can be translated. Furthermore, advances in the molecular imaging of TC may inspire the development of novel therapeutic or theranostic tracers. In this review, we summarize TC-targeting probes which include transporter-based and immuno-based imaging moieties. We summarize the most recent evidence in this field and outline how these emerging strategies may potentially optimize clinical practice.

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Etiology of Dementia in Thai Patients

Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra ◽

10.1159/000515676 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 64-70

Author(s):

Pornpatr A. Dharmasaroja ◽

Jintana Assanasen ◽

Sunsanee Pongpakdee ◽

Kankamol Jaisin ◽

Praween Lolekha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Imaging ◽

Functional Imaging ◽

Lewy Bodies ◽

Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽

Cortical Atrophy ◽

Common Cause ◽

Presenting Symptoms ◽

Dementia Registry ◽

The Mean ◽

Baseline Characteristics

Introduction: Molecular imaging has been developed and validated in Thai patients, comprising a portion of patients in the dementia registry. This should provide a more accurate diagnosis of the etiology of dementia, which was the focus of this study. Methods: This was a multicenter dementia study. The baseline characteristics, main presenting symptoms, and results of investigations and cognitive tests of the patients were electronically collected in the registry. Functional imaging and/or molecular imaging were performed in patients with an equivocal diagnosis of the causes of dementia, especially in atypical dementia or young onset dementia (YOD). Results: There were 454 patients in the study. The mean age of the patients was 78 years, with 60% female. Functional imaging and/or molecular imaging were performed in 57 patients (57/454 patients, 13%). The most common cause of dementia was Alzheimer’s disease (AD; 50%), followed by vascular dementia (VAD; 24%), dementia with Lewy bodies (6%), Parkinson’s disease dementia (6%), frontotemporal dementia (FTD; 2.6%), progressive supranuclear palsy (2%), multiple system atrophy (0.8%), and corticobasal syndrome (0.4%). YOD accounted for 17% (77/454 patients), with a mean age of 58 years. The causes of YOD were early onset amnestic AD (44%), VAD (16%), behavioral variant FTD (8%), posterior cortical atrophy (6.5%), and logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia (5.2%). Conclusion: AD was the most common cause of dementia in Thai patients and the distribution of other types of dementia and main presenting symptoms were similar to previous reports in Western patients; however, the proportion of YOD was higher.

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From cosmos to intelligent life: the four ages of astrobiology

International Journal of Astrobiology ◽

10.1017/s1473550412000237 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 345-350 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Marcelo Gleiser

Keyword(s):

Chemical Elements ◽

Life Forms ◽

Big Bang ◽

Self Awareness ◽

First Stars ◽

History Of ◽

Life On Earth ◽

The Big Bang ◽

The Universe ◽

Intelligent Life

AbstractThe history of life on Earth and in other potential life-bearing planetary platforms is deeply linked to the history of the Universe. Since life, as we know, relies on chemical elements forged in dying heavy stars, the Universe needs to be old enough for stars to form and evolve. The current cosmological theory indicates that the Universe is 13.7 ± 0.13 billion years old and that the first stars formed hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang. At least some stars formed with stable planetary systems wherein a set of biochemical reactions leading to life could have taken place. In this paper, I argue that we can divide cosmological history into four ages, from the Big Bang to intelligent life. The physical age describes the origin of the Universe, of matter, of cosmic nucleosynthesis, as well as the formation of the first stars and Galaxies. The chemical age began when heavy stars provided the raw ingredients for life through stellar nucleosynthesis and describes how heavier chemical elements collected in nascent planets and Moons gave rise to prebiotic biomolecules. The biological age describes the origin of early life, its evolution through Darwinian natural selection and the emergence of complex multicellular life forms. Finally, the cognitive age describes how complex life evolved into intelligent life capable of self-awareness and of developing technology through the directed manipulation of energy and materials. I conclude discussing whether we are the rule or the exception.

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Interlude V

Quick(er) Calculations ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198852650.003.0012 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 143-148

Author(s):

Trevor Davis Lipscombe

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Vietnam War ◽

The United States ◽

Legal Case ◽

Wild Ass ◽

The Vietnam War ◽

To Come ◽

The Universe ◽

Intelligent Life

I’m sure the universe is full of intelligent life. It’s just been too intelligent to come here. ARTHUR C. CLARKE (reproduced from an interview http://www.scifi.com/transcripts/aclarke.txt) The Vietnam War, during which American casualties ran extremely high, remains controversial in the United States. During the conflict, US forces estimated the strength of enemy forces based on the “SWAG” principle. At the war’s end, in a legal case, Colonel John Stewart took the stand. Lawyers grilled him, asking what, exactly, SWAG stood for. His reply, generating much amusement in the courtroom, was “Scientific Wild-Ass Guess.”...

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Molecular imaging and molecular guided Therapy

Nuklearmedizin ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1625109 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 45 (06) ◽

pp. 273-276

Author(s):

A. Jigalin ◽

H. Lerch

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Medicine ◽

Molecular Imaging ◽

Functional Imaging ◽

Therapy Planning ◽

Scientific Publications ◽

Diagnosis And Therapy ◽

Guided Therapy

SummaryAim and method: Scientific publications in the journal of Nuklearmedizin Molecular Imaging and Therapy during 2004/2005 were retrospectively examined for their potential classification to molecular imaging or molecular guided therapy, functional imaging and therapy, and were compared to earlier analyses. Results: Of the 57 original papers examined, 36 (63%) were assigned to the category of molecular imaging / molecular guided therapy. Within this category, the number of original papers on molecular guided therapy increased by 19% compared to preceding periods. There was a general overall increase in the proportion of experimental papers and more frequent inclusion of basic background subjects. Conclusion: The development of molecular imaging as a direct instrument in therapy planning leads to further promotion of molecular guided therapy. The structural advantage of nuclear medicine, uniting method-lead diagnosis and therapy within one specialist subject, predestines it to advance molecular imaging and molecular guided therapy.

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Molecular Imaging and Precision Medicine in Lung Cancer

PET Clinics ◽

10.1016/j.cpet.2016.08.008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 53-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Katherine A. Zukotynski ◽

Victor H. Gerbaudo

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Molecular Imaging ◽

Precision Medicine

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"Intelligent life in the universe"-a "non-survey" approach to the traditional survey course for nonscience majors

Journal of Chemical Education ◽

10.1021/ed055p252 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 55 (4) ◽

pp. 252

Author(s):

Denis Quane

Keyword(s):

Nonscience Majors ◽

The Universe ◽

Survey Approach ◽

Intelligent Life

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Other Worlds, Other Civilizations?

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s1743921310007386 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 6 (S269) ◽

pp. 177-182

Author(s):

Guy Consolmagno

Keyword(s):

Important Influence ◽

The Moon ◽

Popular Imagination ◽

Profound Influence ◽

The Universe ◽

Intelligent Life

AbstractGalileo's work had a profound influence on our understanding of the question of “other worlds” and the possibility of other intelligent life in the universe. When he saw the Moon with its mountains, and Jupiter with its moons, he implicitly recognized that these were physical places and thus could themselves be possible abodes for life. But some ancient and medieval scholars had already suggested as much, though without the empirical backing that Galileo's observations provided. Thus perhaps an even more important influence on the development of these ideas is that Galileo made them popular with the educated public, rather than merely the speculations of specialists. By inciting the popular imagination to take seriously the possibility of other worlds, he engaged subsequent generations of philosophers and storytellers to explore the possibilities and implications of life on those worlds.

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WHAT CAN EARTH HISTORY AND EVOLUTION TELL ABOUT THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE?

International Journal of Theology Philosophy and Science ◽

10.26520/ijtps.201.5.8.19-41 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (8) ◽

pp. 19-41

Author(s):

Andreas MAY

Keyword(s):

Evolutionary Processes ◽

Earth History ◽

The Earth ◽

Random Events ◽

History Of ◽

The Universe ◽

Intelligent Life

Conclusions about the Creator of the universe are drawn from the evolution and diversity of living beings. Furthermore, four events of the Earth's history are addressed. From them, it can be concluded that the Creator actively intervened in the history of the Earth to promote the development of intelligent life. Following characteristics of the Creator are observed: He is patient, creates an exuberant fullness, and gives freedom to his creation. He uses causal links and seemingly random events to steer the course of his creation. The Creator is in constant dialogue with his creation to lead it into ever greater abundance and freedom. He uses evolutionary processes, which are not goal-oriented, to achieve his goals. The observed characteristics of the Creator fit very well with the Judeo-Christian God. The question is raised whether the Creator is timeless or not.

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