The Role of FDG-PET in the Evaluation of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Review

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin disorder characterized by nodules, comedones, and sinus tracts that often leave prominent scarring. In recent years, non-invasive imaging techniques have been used to assess the inflammatory activity, vascularization, and treatment response of lesions. Specifically, fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) scans may aid in identifying systemic inflammation in patients with HS, improving diagnosis. Inflamed hypermetabolic tissues exhibit a greater uptake of FDG due to increased glucose uptake and vascularity. A systematic review was conducted to summarize the utility of nuclear imaging techniques in the diagnosis and treatment follow-up of HS. PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases were utilized for relevant articles discussing the utility of PET scans in managing HS. A total of 51 citations were identified in the initial search. Following the review of titles, abstracts, and duplicates, 43 articles were excluded, leaving a total of eight articles for analysis. Data were extracted from each article, encompassing the number of patients, imaging techniques employed, and final results. An analysis of the data demonstrated that FDG-PET showed evidence of identifying subclinical lesions of the disease, improving the visualization of HS, and providing an objective method of assessing severity

Advancements in dendritic cell vaccination: enhancing efficacy and optimizing combinatorial strategies for the treatment of glioblastoma

Glioblastomas (GBM) are highly invasive, malignant primary brain tumors. The overall prognosis is poor, and management of GBMs remains a formidable challenge, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies such as dendritic cell vaccinations (DCVs). While many early clinical trials demonstrate an induction of an antitumoral immune response, outcomes are mixed and dependent on numerous factors that vary between trials. Optimization of DCVs is essential; the selection of GBM-specific antigens and the utilization of 18F-fludeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) may add significant value and ultimately improve outcomes for patients undergoing treatment for glioblastoma. This review provides an overview of the mechanism of DCV, assesses previous clinical trials, and discusses future strategies for the integration of DCV into glioblastoma treatment protocols. To conclude, the review discusses challenges associated with the use of DCVs and highlights the potential of integrating DCV with standard therapies

The Emerging Role of NaF-PET/CT in Detecting Vascular Microcalcification in the Pathogenesis of Neurological Dysfunction

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is a global health concern, and early detection is crucial for effective intervention. This case report presents a 31-year-old male patient with multiple cardiac risk factors who underwent positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to evaluate for the presence and degree of atherosclerosis in the aorta, carotid arteries, coronary arteries, iliac arteries, and the femoral arteries. Elevated NaF uptake within the bilateral carotid arteries signified substantial ongoing vascular microcalcification. Reduced global brain metabolism and region-specific hypometabolism measured with FDG PET indicated potential cerebrovascular mechanisms that may be influencing neurological function. The findings highlight the potential of emerging PET tracers, such as NaF, to improve the diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic management of CVD. This case emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic approach as well as continued investigation into CVD pathophysiology using PET-based techniques, which may guide the development of innovative therapeutic strategies

Supercritical CO2 mediated incorporation of Pd onto templated carbons: a route to optimizing the Pd particle size and hydrogen uptake density.

Palladium nanoparticles are deposited onto zeolite template carbon (ZTC) via supercritical CO2 (scCO2) mediated hydrogenation of a CO2-phillic transition metal precursor. The supercritical fluid (SCF) mediated metal incorporation approach enabled the decoration of ZTC with 0.2-2.0 wt % of well-dispersed Pd nanoparticles of size 2-5 nm. The resulting Pd-doped ZTCs exhibit enhanced hydrogen uptake and storage density. The ZTC (with surface area of 2046 m(2)/g) had a hydrogen storage capacity (at 77 K and 20 bar) of 4.9 wt %, while the Pd-ZTCs had uptake of 4.7-5.3 wt % despite a surface area in the range 1390-1858 m(2)/g. The Pd-ZTCs thus exhibit enhanced hydrogen storage density (14.3-18.3 μmol H2/m(2)), which is much higher than that of Pd-free ZTC (12.0 μmol H2/m(2)). The hydrogen isosteric heat of adsorption (Qst) was found to be higher for the Pd-doped carbons (6.7 kJ/mol) compared to the parent ZTC (5.3 kJ/mol). The deposition of small amounts of Pd (up to 2 wt %) along with well-dispersed Pd nanoparticles of size of 2-5 nm is essential for the enhancement of hydrogen uptake and illustrates the importance of optimizing the balance between metal loading/particle size and surface area to achieve the best metal/porous carbon composite for enhanced hydrogen uptake