diff --git a/content/analysis_18f-fdopa.html b/content/analysis_18f-fdopa.html
index 6f929b498bd597237e9058700fbc50b500093eda..3127535f200656c09dd7cca4a80d5c3434a22747 100644
--- a/content/analysis_18f-fdopa.html
+++ b/content/analysis_18f-fdopa.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Analysis of PET measurements of FDOPA
 author: Vesa Oikonen
-updated_at: 2023-11-15
+updated_at: 2023-11-17
 created_at: 2009-02-18
 tags:
   - Dopamine
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ and [<sup>18</sup>F]FPDOPA
 subsequent build-up of labelled metabolites fluorodopamine (FDA),
 6-[<sup>18</sup>F]fluorohomovanillic acid (FHVA), and 
 6-[<sup>18</sup>F]fluoro-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (FDOPAC) 
-(<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-2952(97)00031-2">Barrio et al., 1997</a>).
+(<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.1987.tb05629.x">Firnau et al., 1987</a>; 
+<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-2952(97)00031-2">Barrio et al., 1997</a>).
 FDOPA is also the most used PET tracer for studying hyperinsulinemia and 
 <a href="./tumour_net.html">neuroendocrine tumours</a> (NETs).</p>
 
@@ -164,23 +165,36 @@ the tail of <a href="./organ_pancreas.html">the pancreas</a>.</p>
 <h3>Gjedde-Patlak graphical analysis with arterial plasma input</h3>
 
 <p>Multiple-time graphical analysis for irreversible kinetics 
-(<a href="./model_mtga.html#patlak">Patlak plot</a>) has frequently been used to analyze brain 
-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDOPA data, but the labelled metabolites of [<sup>18</sup>F]FDOPA must be accounted 
-for in the analysis. Plasma data must be corrected for labelled metabolites. 
-Reference region (cerebellum or occipital cortex) TAC is subtracted from the TAC of 
-region-of-interest (ROI) or TACs of image pixels.
-The radioactivity concentration in reference region consists mainly of
-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDOPA and [<sup>18</sup>F]OMFD, and after the subtraction the concentration in
+(<a href="./model_mtga.html#patlak">Patlak plot</a>) has frequently been used to assess 
+the net influx rate constant <em>K<sub>i</sub></em>, representing dopamine synthesis and storage in 
+the brain. While the synthesized [<sup>18</sup>F]dopamine is stored in the presynaptic vesicles, 
+some of it is metabolized further into [<sup>18</sup>F]FHVA and [<sup>18</sup>F]FDOPAC, which can 
+leave the brain, causing underestimation of <em>K<sub>i</sub></em> without observable downward
+curvature, even when only 90 min of the data is used
+(<a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/01.wcb.0000050041.22945.3e">Sossi et al., 2003</a>).
+Brain scans are typically 90 min long, and the time range for Patlak plot line fit is often set to
+30-90 min. However, the applied time range for line fit has been varied in 
+the numerous FDOPA studies applying the Patlak plot, for example, time range 20-70 min was used by 
+<a href="https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.8.1515">Heinz et al (2005)</a>.</p>
+
+<p>Peripherally formed labelled metabolites of [<sup>18</sup>F]FDOPA, especially 
+[<sup>18</sup>F]OMFD, can penetrate BBB, which must be accounted for in the analysis.
+The radioactivity concentration in a reference region with little or no AADC activity 
+(cerebellum or occipital cortex) consists mainly of plasma-derived [<sup>18</sup>F]FDOPA and 
+[<sup>18</sup>F]OMFD. Reference region TAC is subtracted from the TAC of region-of-interest (ROI) 
+or TACs of image pixels; after the subtraction the remaining radioactivity concentration in
 region of interest represents the concentration of [<sup>18</sup>F]FDA and its metabolites, 
 enabling better assessment of AADC activity
-(<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410260407">Martin et al., 1989</a>).</p>
+(<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410260407">Martin et al., 1989</a>).
+Plasma TAC must be corrected for all labelled metabolites.</p>
 
-<p>In regional analysis the rate constant can be calculated per striatum, 
-mL plasma)&times;(striatum&times;min)<sup>-1</sup>. In this case, striatal ROI is drawn so that it
-covers the the whole striatum as visible in the PET image, including any spill-out activity; 
-the regional radioactivity concentrations (<em>C</em>) and the volumes (<em>V</em>) or areas of 
-the striatal and reference tissue regions are recorded, and the "specific" striatal radioactivity 
-(<em>A</em>) is then calculated at each time point as</p>
+<p>In regional analysis the Patlak net influx rate constant <em>K<sub>i</sub></em> can be calculated 
+per striatum, in units (mL plasma)&times;(striatum&times;min)<sup>-1</sup>. 
+In this case, striatal ROI is drawn so that it covers the the whole striatum as visible in 
+the PET image, including any spill-out activity; the regional radioactivity concentrations 
+(<em>C</em>) and the volumes (<em>V</em>) or areas of the striatal and reference tissue regions are 
+recorded, and the "specific" striatal radioactivity (<em>A</em>) is then calculated at each 
+time point as</p>
 
 <a name="striatum"></a>
 <div class="eqs">
@@ -193,22 +207,31 @@ the striatal and reference tissue regions are recorded, and the "specific" stria
 <p>(<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410260407">Martin et al., 1989</a>).
 This approach may help to reduce the 
 <a href="./image_pve.html">partial volume effect</a>, and may be clinically more relevant measure
-of nigrostriatal function than the striatal average.
+of nigrostriatal function than the striatal average; the caudate, putaminal, and thalamic volumes
+are negatively correlated with age, and reduced in <a href="./dis_pd.html">Parkinson's disease</a> 
+(<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8294897/">Lisanby et al., 1993</a>).
 
 Usually, though, the subtraction is done simply using regional average TACs, providing also the 
 Patlak net influx rate constant <em>K<sub>i</sub></em> in usual units 
 (mL plasma)&times;(ml tissue)<sup>-1</sup>&times;min<sup>-1</sup>. Then the ROIs are usually drawn
 based on anatomical reference image.</p>
 
-<p>Applied time range for line fit has been varied in the numerous studies applying 
-the <a href="./model_mtga.html#patlak">Patlak plot</a>. Time range 20-70 min was used by 
-<a href="https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.8.1515">Heinz et al (2005)</a>.</p>
-
 
 <h3>Graphical analysis with reference tissue input</h3>
 
-<p>The slope of <a href="./model_mtga.html#patlak_ref">reference tissue MTGA</a> (Patlak plot) is 
-a function of <em>k<sub>2</sub></em> and <em>k<sub>3</sub></em>:</p>
+<p>Cerebellum and occipital cortex are used as reference regions in brain [<sup>18</sup>F]FDOPA
+studies. Multiple-time graphical analysis for irreversible kinetics 
+(<a href="./model_mtga.html#patlak">Patlak plot</a>) can be used with either plasma input function
+or with reference tissue input function (<a href="./model_mtga.html#patlak_ref">reference tissue 
+MTGA</a>). Patlak plot with reference tissue input has been used for example to assess 
+the rate of loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease
+has been measured using Patlak plot with occipital cortex as reference region
+(<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.1139">Nurmi et al., 2001</a>;
+<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.22484">Brück et al., 2009</a>).</p>
+
+<p>In case of the reference tissue input, the slope of the Patlak plot 
+<em>K<sub>i</sub><sup>ref</sup></em> is a function of 
+<em>k<sub>2</sub></em> and <em>k<sub>3</sub></em>:</p>
 
 <a name="kref"></a>
 <div class="eqs">
@@ -221,11 +244,14 @@ a function of <em>k<sub>2</sub></em> and <em>k<sub>3</sub></em>:</p>
 <em>K<sub>i</sub><sup>ref</sup></em> results, because the competition affects similarly
 the reference region and the region of interest (ROI).</p>
 
-<p>Cerebellum and occipital cortex have been used as reference regions.
-For example, the rate of loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease
-has been measured using Patlak plot with occipital cortex as reference region
-(<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.1139">Nurmi et al., 2001</a>;
-<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.22484">Brück et al., 2009</a>).</p>
+<p>The loss of [<sup>18</sup>F]dopamine metabolites from the striatum causes underestimation of
+Patlak plot slope, even more so with reference tissue input than with plasma input
+(<a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/01.wcb.0000050041.22945.3e">Sossi et al., 2003</a>).
+Presence of [<sup>18</sup>F]OMFD introduces downward curvature in the Patlak plot, causing negative
+bias in <em>K<sub>i</sub><sup>ref</sup></em>. The negative bias in amplified with the loss of
+dopaminergic neurons, which may explain why reference region input Patlak has been often found to be
+the most sensitive marker for <a href="./dis_pd.html">Parkinson's disease</a> 
+(<a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/01.wcb.0000050041.22945.3e">Sossi et al., 2003</a>).</p>
 
 <p><a href="./model_ki_dtp.html#ref">Dual time point imaging</a> can be used to calculate a
 surrogate parameter to <em>K<sub>i</sub><sup>ref</sup></em>