Comparison of Cell Proliferation, Protein, and Glucose Metabolism in Musculoskeletal Tumors in a PET Study

11C-choline and 18F-FAMT are known to correlate with tumor cell proliferation and amino acid metabolism. We investigated the ability of 11C-Choline and 18F-FAMT PET in diagnosis of musculoskeletal tumors in thirty-six patients in comparison of 18F-FDG PET. 11C-Choline and 18F-FDG PET were positive in all the malignant tumors (n = 13), whereas 18F-FAMT was positive in 11 tumors. The mean SUVs for malignant tumors were significantly higher than those for benign lesions in all three tracers imaging. A moderate correlation was found between 11C-Choline and 18F-FDG (r = 0.540, P < .05), or 18F-FAMT and FDG (r = 0.596, P < .05). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for malignancy were 91.7% and 71.4%, respectively, using 11C-choline with a SUV cut-off of 2.69. The sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FAMT for malignancy were 66.7% and 85.7%, respectively, using a SUV cut-off of 1.26. For 18F-FDG, using a SUV cut-off of 2.77, the sensitivity and specificity were 83.3% and 71.4%, respectively. According to ROC analysis, the ROC curves for 11C-Choline, 18F-FAMT, and 18F-FDG were 0.855, 0.734, and 0.847, respectively. 11C-Choline PET is superior in the visualization of musculoskeletal tumors with high contrast imaging, whereas the combination of 18F-FAMT and 18F-FDG PET provides valuable information for the preoperative planning in patients with musculoskeletal tumors

Iridium complex, a phosphorescent light-emitting diode material, serves as a novel chemical probe for imaging hypoxic tumor tissues

Iridium complex, a promising organic light-emitting diode for next generation television displays, emits phosphorescence. Phosphorescence is quenched by oxygen. We used this oxygen-quenching feature for imaging tumor hypoxia. Red light-emitting iridium complex Ir(btp)~2~(acac) (BTP) presented hypoxia-dependent light emission in culture cell lines, whose intensity was in parallel with HIF-1[alpha] expression. BTP was further applied to imaging five tumors (four from human origin and one from mouse origin) transplanted in athymic mice. All tumors presented a bright BTP-emitting image even 5 min after the injection. The BTP-dependent tumor image peaked at 1 to 2 h after the injection, and was then cleared from tumors within 24 h. The minimal BTP image recognition size was 3 to 4 mm in diameter. Compared with ^18^F-FDG/PET images, BTP delineated a clearer image for a tumor profile. We suggest that iridium complex has a vast potential for imaging hypoxic lesions such as tumor tissues

Perfusion CT image of pulmonary thromboembolism: data acquisition using single-detector helical CT scanner

AbstractWe report a case of pulmonary thromboembolism, in which we used conventional single-detector helical CT scanner to obtain dynamic CT data, and the decrease in pulmonary parenchymal perfusion was clearly demonstrated on perfusion CT image

Detection of vascular endothelial growth factor in colon cancer xenografts using bevacizumab based near infrared fluorophore conjugate.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to develop the near infrared fluorescence (NIRF)-based imaging agent for the visualization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in colon cancer. AlexaFluor 750 conjugating with bevacizumab, and injected intravenously into nude mice bearing VEGF over-expressing HT29 human colorectal cancer. Optical imaging was performed at 15 min, 24 h and 48 h post injection. Immunofluorescences staining of the tumor sections were performed. HT29 colorectal cancer xenografts were clearly visualized with bevacizumab-AlexaFluor 750. RESULTS: Ex vivo analysis showed 2.1 ± 0.4%, 37.6 ± 6.3% and 38.5 ± 6.2% injected dose/g accumulated in the tumors at 15 min, 24 h and 48 h respectively. Tumor uptake was significantly decreased in pretreated with excess of bevacizumab (p = 0.002). Immunofluorescence analysis showed strong staining of anti-CD 31 antibody around the blood vessels. Anti-VEGF-A and bevacizumab showed heterogeneous expression throughout the tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Current study successfully detected the VEGF expression in HT29 colorectal cancer xenografts, signifying as a potential agent for non-invasive imaging of VEGF expression, which may be applied in clinical practice

Minimally Invasive Spinal Stabilization with Denosumab before Total Spondylectomy for a Collapsing Lower Lumbar Spinal Giant Cell Tumor

A 21-year-old man consulted our hospital for treatment of a spinal giant cell tumor (GCT) of Enneking stage III. Lower lumbar-spine tumors and severe spinal canal stenosis are associated with high risk for surgical mor-bidity. Stability was temporarily secured with a percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in combination with deno-sumab, which shrank the tumor. Total en bloc spondylectomy was then performed 6 months after initiation of denosumab, and the patient was followed for 3 years. There was no local recurrence, and bony fusion was obtained. Minimally invasive surgery and denosumab allowed safer and easier treatment of a collapsing lower lumbar extra-compartmental GCT

A Cooperative Game Using the P300 EEG-Based Brain-Computer Interface

In this paper, we present a cooperative game, Brainio Bros 300, using a brain-computer interface (BCI). The game is cooperatively controlled by two people using P300-generating color discrimination. The two users advance through the game together, one as the “player” and the other as the “supporter” providing assistance. We assumed that players would be able-bodied, while supporters would include people with severe disabilities. Through experiments using human subjects, we evaluated the subjects’ impressions of the game and its usefulness. The results of the impression evaluation showed that the subjects generally had good impressions, and there were many opinions that such cooperative games are interesting. We also discuss the possibilities of using the P300 BCI

Severe accidental colchicine poisoning by the autumn crocus: A case of successful treatment

AbstractBackgroundThe common garden plant autumn crocus contains colchicine and its derivatives. Colchicine poisoning causes abdominal cramps and diarrhea within hours. Several days later, multiorgan failure, pancytopenia, and cardiovascular collapse occur.1,2 Severe colchicine poisoning is associated with high mortality.Case reportA 63-year-old woman who accidentally ingested an autumn crocus, which contained ∼0.38 mg colchicine, had severe vomiting and was taken to an emergency center. She presented with symptoms of gastroenterocolitis within 1 hour of ingestion, and bone marrow hypoplasia with pancytopenia developed on the 3rd day after ingestion. We continued administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (300 μg) for 5 days until we confirmed that the patient's white blood cell count was increasing. Also, there was focal and segmental intestinal ischemia and some cakes of charcoal remained in the intestinal tract. Therefore, we presumed that nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia was caused by hypotension with severe dehydration, although pseudo-obstruction due to the activated charcoal may have been a contributing factor. We were able to promptly intervene to treat paralytic ileus and gastrointestinal edema before anticipated worsening of abdominal compartment syndrome, by conducting open peritoneal drainage. Despite severe poisoning, our patient survived with intensive care. Conclusion: Colchicine intoxication may lead to a sudden and extreme critical course. Therefore, as there is no means to predict prognosis from initial severity of symptoms at onset, we suggest that all patients suspected of colchicine intoxication should be managed in hospital with continuous vital sign monitoring and frequent laboratory testing for at least a few days after ingestion

Integrated education of gross anatomy and CT radiology for current advances in medicine

It is essential to learn human anatomy in 3D for advanced medicine. We designed such an education system by integrating anatomy dissection with diagnostic CT radiology. Cadavers were scanned by CT, and students consulted the postmortem CT images while dissecting the cadaver to gain a better understanding of 3D human anatomy and diagnostic radiology. Students used handheld DICOM viewers at the bench-side (OsiriX on iPod touch). Students had lectures and workshops on diagnostic radiology, and study assignments where they discussed findings in anatomy labs in comparison with CT radiology. This teaching method for gross anatomy was used from 2009, and yielded positive students’ perspectives, and significant improvements in radiology skills at clinical courses.This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Tohru Murakami, Yuki Tajika, Hitoshi Ueno, Sachiko Awata, Satoshi Hirasawa, Maki Sugimoto, Yoshihiko Kominato, Yoshito Tsushima, Keigo Endo, and Hiroshi Yorifuji. An integrated teaching method of gross anatomy and computed tomography radiology. Anat Sci Educ, 2014, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ doi/10.1002/ase.1430/abstract

The posterior communicating arteries in the patients with sudden deafness: evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRA)

BACKGROUND: A strong association was suggested between a non-functioning posterior communicating artery (Pcom) of the circle of Willis and sudden deafness (SD). The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of depiction of Pcom on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in patients with SD. METHODS: Sixteen patients with SD (47.7 +/- 13.3 years; range, 24 – 76 years; nine males) were evaluated with intracranial MRA as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head. The depiction of Pcom on MRA was correlated with the laterality of SD. One hundred twenty-eight controls (49.1 +/- 8.4 years; range, 22 – 66 years; 87 male) were selected from neurologically normal subjects who underwent MR examinations as a part of an annual medical check-up in our hospital. RESULTS: Four (25%) of 16 SD patients had bilateral Pcom on MRA, four patients had unilateral Pcom and eight patients had bilaterally absent Pcom These results were not significantly different from the controls (p = 0.96). In 6 (37.5 %) of 16 SD patients, the ipsilateral Pcom was present on MRA, and 104 (40.6%) of 256 Pcom were present in 128 normal controls (p = 0.81). CONCLUSION: Since there was no link between the occurrence of SD and the absence of the ipsilateral Pcom, our results cannot support the hypothesis that the absence of Pcom may be a risk factor for the occurrence of SD