Is PET scan of any good in this?
As this is not an animal trial, I would be happy to know whether any non-invasive sensitive tool is available?
Thank you
The only approach that one uses with human beings is based on beta cells/islet response to insulin secretory stimuli (primarily glucose). This method has its limitations because of obvious reasons where altered secretion or function of insulin for any reason will effect the secreted insulin levels and given that there is considerable reserves of insulin, in a typical test duration, it is difficult to reliably link the insulin levels (are under the curve etc.) to a specific number of beta cells.
Even if invasive procedures procedures could be contemplated, needle biopsy is not very likely to give an overall picture due to difference in composition of islet cells between head a tail of pancreas.
As you alluded to, in experimental animals PET has been used for estimates islet mass by loading the animals with labeled compound (dihydrotetrabenazine and fluoropropyl analogue - DTBZ) that target vesicular monoamine transporter in beta cells. I do recall a clinical trial by Columbia U but I am not sure about the outcome. Perhaps you could search through NIH website.
You may want to give the following review a quick read:
Estimation of -Cell Mass by Metabolic Tests
Necessary, but How Sufficient?
http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/56/10/2420.full.pdf
Thank you Tausif :) Just wanted to know whether there is anything apart from HOMA-%B and IVGTT.
Could you suggest me some papers which gives guidance on how to 'measure' disposition index, please.
Thank you in advance.
Evidently, PET based method must not have worked satisfactorily or we would have heard about its wide usage.
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT00771576
Notice that the study has been completed and no results are posted at ClinicalTrials.gov.
As for GTT based protocols, you shouldn't have any difficulty finding it through literature review.
Best,
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