Transient global amnesia: a study with Tc-99m ECD SPECT shortly after symptom onset and after recovery

PURPOSE:Transient global amnesia (TGA) is characterized by sudden loss of memory of recent events, transient inability to retain new information, and retrograde amnesia. We investigated the changes of regional cerebral blood flow in patients with TGA shortly after symptom onset and after recovery using Tc-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer single-photon emission computed tomography (Tc-99m ECD SPECT) and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis.METHODS:Six right-handed patients with TGA were studied using Tc-99m ECD SPECT shortly after symptom onset and after recovery. As a control group, six healthy individuals were also studied. Images were analyzed using SPM8 using voxel-based analysis to estimate the differences between TGA patients and controls.RESULTS:There was significant hypoperfusion in the left hippocampus, left thalamus, and bilateral cerebellum. In the follow-up SPECT scan, hypoperfusion in hippocampus and thalamus were restored, while hypoperfusion was noted in the temporoparietal region.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the underlying mechanism of TGA may be temporary ischemia in the hippocampus and thalamus. There was significant restoration of perfusion in the hippocampus and thalamus after recovery from TGA

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of paclitaxel, albumin-binding paclitaxel, and liposomal-encapsulated albumin-binding paclitaxel upon gastric subserosal administration

Introduction: Systemic chemotherapy is typically administered following radical gastrectomy for advanced stage. To attenuate systemic side effects, we evaluated the effectiveness of regional chemotherapy using paclitaxel, albumin-paclitaxel, and liposome-encapsulated albumin-paclitaxel via subserosal injection in rat models employing nuclear medicine and molecular imaging technology.Method: Nine Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: paclitaxel (n = 3), albumin-paclitaxel nano-particles (APNs; n = 3), and liposome-encapsulated APNs (n = 3). [123I]Iodo-paclitaxel ([123I]I-paclitaxel) was synthesized by conventional electrophilic radioiodination using tert-butylstannyl substituted paclitaxel as the precursor. Albumin-[123I]iodo-paclitaxel nanoparticles ([123I]APNs) were prepared using a desolvation technique. Liposome-encapsulated APNs (L-[123I]APNs) were prepared by thin-film hydration using DSPE-PEG2000, HSPC, and cholesterol. The rats in each group were injected with each test drug into the subserosa of the stomach antrum. After predetermined times (30 min, 2, 4, 8 h, and 24 h), molecular images of nuclear medicine were acquired using single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography.Results: Paclitaxel, APNs, and L-APNs showed a high cumulative distribution in the stomach, with L-APNs showing the largest area under the curve. Most drugs administered via the gastric subserosal route are distributed in the stomach and intestines, with a low uptake of less than 1% in other major organs. The time to reach the maximum concentration in the intestine for L-APNs, paclitaxel, and APNs was 6.67, 5.33, and 4.00 h, respectively.Conclusion: These preliminary results imply that L-APNs have the potential to serve as a novel paclitaxel preparation method for the regional treatment of gastric cancer

Physicochemical Changes in Root-Canal Sealers under Thermal Challenge: A Comparative Analysis of Calcium Silicate- and Epoxy-Resin-Based Sealers

Introduction: We compared the effects of heat on the physicochemical properties of recently developed calcium silicate-based sealers (CSBSs), including BioRoot Flow, BioRoot RCS, and AH Plus Bioceramic sealer, with those of the epoxy-resin-based sealer (ERBS) AH Plus. Methods: The flow, film thickness, setting time, and solubility of sealers were evaluated at 37 °C and 100 °C using ISO 6876/2012. Furthermore, pH and calcium ion release were evaluated at these temperatures. In addition, the mass change in sealers at a high temperature was assessed via thermogravimetric analysis. Then, the chemical composition and components of the sealers were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results: BioRoot Flow, AH Plus Bioceramic, and AH Plus complied with ISO standards in terms of flow and film thickness, both before and after heat application. However, BioRoot RCS exhibited significantly increased film thickness at 100 °C. The setting times of all sealers were significantly reduced at 100 °C. The solubility of CSBS was >3%, exceeding the ISO 6876/2012 standard, both before and after heat exposure. Conversely, the solubility of AH Plus complied with the standard, regardless of the thermal condition. For 4 weeks, CSBS showed a significantly higher pH than AH Plus at both 37 °C and 100 °C. After heat treatment, calcium release decreased in Bioroot RCS and BioRoot Flow, while AH Plus showed no significant differences before and after treatment. However, CSBS consistently exhibited significantly higher calcium release than AH Plus at both temperatures. An FTIR analysis revealed that the chemical composition of the sealers did not change at the high temperature, whereas a thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated a >5% weight reduction in CSBS and a 0.005% weight reduction in AH Plus at 100 °C. Conclusions: BioRoot Flow, AH Plus Bioceramic, and AH Plus possess favorable physicochemical properties, which make them suitable for application under thermal conditions. At a high temperature, BioRoot RCS did not exhibit changes in its chemical composition. However, its film thickness was increased, and pH and solubility were reduced. Therefore, caution is needed when it is applied at high temperatures, such as during the warm obturation technique

Clinical utility of FDG uptake within reticuloendothelial system on F-18 FDG PET/CT for prediction of tumor recurrence in breast cancer.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the metabolism of the spleen, bone marrow (BM), and liver from preoperative F-18 FDG PET/CT scans for the prediction of recurrence in breast cancer.MethodsWe retrospectively included 153 patients diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast who underwent preoperative F-18 FDG PET/CT scan and a curative operation. The mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) of the spleen, liver, and BM and maximum SUV (SUVmax) of primary tumors were measured. The relationships between spleen, BM, and liver metabolism and clinicopathologic parameters were evaluated, and possible prognostic parameters predicting recurrence were assessed using disease-free survival (DFS).ResultsSpleen SUVmean was significantly correlated with primary tumor SUVmax, pathologic T (pT) stage, and histologic grade of primary tumor. BM SUVmean also showed a positive correlation with primary tumor SUVmax. Spleen SUVmean were significantly associated with recurrence from binary logistic regression analysis (P = 0.004). Spleen, BM, liver, and primary tumor SUVs were all significant prognostic factors for DFS in univariate Cox regression analysis (all P2; P = 0.009) and estrogen receptor (ER) status (ER negativity; P = 0.001).ConclusionSplenic metabolism together with pT stage and ER status was an independent prognostic factor for predicting recurrence in breast cancer. Metabolic activity of reticuloendothelial system such as spleen, liver or BM on preoperative F-18 FDG PET/CT can be a meritorious imaging factor for discriminating patients with IDC that require adjunctive therapy to prevent recurrence

Clinical value of delayed 18F-FDG PET/CT for predicting nipple-areolar complex involvement in breast cancer: A comparison with clinical symptoms and breast MRI.

OBJECTIVE:We aimed to evaluate the predictive value of delayed 18F-FDG PET/CT for identifying malignancies involved in the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) in comparison with clinical symptoms and breast MRI. METHODS:We enrolled 90 patients who underwent preoperative delayed 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI between October 2015 and May 2017. We calculated the NAC-Standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) using the following formula: maximum SUV (SUVmax) of the NAC in the malignant breast /SUVmax of the NAC in the contralateral normal breast on early (NAC-SUVRearly) and delayed (NAC-SUVRdelay) phase images. MRI was used to measure the distance between the tumor and NAC and to analyze NAC enhancement patterns. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify significant predictive factors for NAC involvement. RESULTS:Seventeen patients were confirmed to have pathologic NAC involvement. NAC symptoms (p = 0.009), tumor multiplicity (p = 0.006), NAC-SUVRdelay (> 1.23, p = 0.007), and MRI-based tumor-to-NAC distance (≤ 22.0 mm, p = 0.003) were independent predictive factors for NAC involvement. Ten of 76 patients with no clinical NAC symptoms had NAC malignancy. Tumor multiplicity (p = 0.009), tumor-to-NAC distance (≤ 20.0 mm, p = 0.014)), and NAC-SUVRdelay (> 1.23, p = 0.018) had independent predictive value for NAC involvement. CONCLUSIONS:Delayed 18F-FDG PET/CT is a useful modality for predicting NAC involvement in breast cancer patients whether or not NAC symptoms are present

Prognostic value of diffuse splenic FDG uptake on PET/CT in patients with gastric cancer.

This study investigated the prognostic value of diffuse splenic uptake on F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in gastric cancer (GC) patients.A total of 134 pathology confirmed GC patients who underwent PET/CT for staging work-ups were enrolled. The maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of primary tumor (Tmax), spleen (Smax), and spleen to liver uptake ratio (SLR) were measured. The prognostic value of PET-measured parameters in GC patients for predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. And the relationships of the parameters with hematological and inflammatory parameters were also investigated.During follow-up period, 19 patients (14.1%) had disease recurrence and 12 (8.9%) died from GC. In univariate analysis, hematocrit (p<0.001 and p = 0.002), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR; p = 0.021 and p = 0.040), AJCC staging (p<0.001 and p<0.001), adjuvant chemotherapy (p<0.001 and p<0.001), Tmax (p = 0.004 and p = 0.005), and SLR (p = 0.005 and p = 0.016) were significant prognostic factors for RFS and OS, whereas platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR; p = 0.034) was a significant prognostic factor for RFS. In multivariate analysis, only SLR was an independent prognostic factor for RFS (p = 0.018, adjusted HR = 3.011, 95% CI = 1.207-7.511). SLR were significantly associated with serum hematocrit level (r = -0.256, p = 0.002), PLR (r = 0.362, p = 0.001), and Tmax (r = 0.280, p = 0.001).Diffuse splenic uptake on FDG PET/CT was correlated with the level of hematological and inflammatory parameters and was an independent predictor for RFS in GC

Background Intestinal 18F-FDG Uptake Is Related to Serum Lipid Profile and Obesity in Breast Cancer Patients.

This study investigated the relationships between background intestinal uptake on 18F-FDG PET and cardio-metabolic risk (CMR) factors.A total of 326 female patients that underwent 18F-FDG PET to determine the initial stage of breast cancer were enrolled. None of the patients had history of diabetes or hypertension. The background intestinal uptake on PET was visually graded (low vs. high uptake group) and quantitatively measured using the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax). SUVmax of 7 bowel segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, hepatic flexure, splenic flexure, and descending colon-sigmoid junction) were averaged for the total bowel (TB SUVmax). Age, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose level (BST), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were the considered CMR factors. The relationships between background intestinal 18F-FDG uptake on PET and diverse CMR factors were analyzed.The visual grades based on background intestinal 18F-FDG uptake classified 100 (30.7%) patients into the low uptake group, while 226 (69.3%) were classified into the high uptake group. Among CMR factors, age (p = 0.004), BMI (p<0.001), and TG (p<0.001) were significantly different according to visual grade of background intestinal 18F-FDG uptake. Quantitative TB SUVmax showed significant positive correlation with age (r = 0.203, p<0.001), BMI (r = 0.373, p<0.001), TG (r = 0.338, p<0.001), cholesterol (r = 0.148, p = 0.008), and LDL (r = 0.143, p = 0.024) and significant negative correlation with HDL (r = -0.147, p = 0.022). Multivariate analysis indicated that BMI and TG were independent factors in both visually graded background intestinal 18F-FDG uptake (p = 0.027 and p = 0.023, respectively) and quantitatively measured TB SUVmax (p = 0.006 and p = 0.004, respectively).Increased background intestinal 18F-FDG uptake on PET may suggest alteration of lipid metabolism and risk of cardio-metabolic disease in non-diabetic and non-hypertensive breast cancer patients

(18)F-FDG PET/CT in mediastinal lymph node staging of non-small-cell lung cancer in a tuberculosis-endemic country: consideration of lymph node calcification and distribution pattern to improve specificity

The aim of the study was to assess the accuracy of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in mediastinal lymph node staging of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a region with a high prevalence of granulomatous disease. Between March 2004 and February 2006, all patients with NSCLC underwent FDG PET/CT and contrast-enhanced thoracic CT, and subsequent surgical resection. PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT images of 182 patients (126 men and 56 women; mean age 60.7 years) with NSCLC were acquired. Mediastinal node staging was determined using the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. Surgical and histological findings served as the reference standard. A total of 182 patients with 778 mediastinal node stations were evaluated. Sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced CT were 36% and 80% on a per-patient basis and 23% and 92% on a per-node station basis. Sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT were 81% and 73% on a per-patient basis and 75% and 85% on a per-node station basis. After lymph nodes with calcification and bilateral hilar distribution were considered benign, sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT were 75% and 89% on a per-patient basis and 66% and 96% on a per-node station basis. This prospective study suggests that FDG PET/CT can more accurately stage mediastinal lymph nodes than CT. Considering lymph node calcification and distribution pattern could improve specificity at the cost of a decrease in sensitivity.Yen RF, 2008, EUR J NUCL MED MOL I, V35, P1305, DOI 10.1007/s00259-008-0733-1Bayman NA, 2008, CLIN LUNG CANCER, V9, P92TIEU BH, 2008, THORAC SURG CLIN, V18, P403HWANGBO B, 2008, CHESTKim YK, 2007, CANCER, V109, P1068, DOI 10.1002/cncr.22518Kim BT, 2006, RADIOLOGY, V241, P501, DOI 10.1148/radiol.2412051173Shim SS, 2005, RADIOLOGY, V236, P1011, DOI 10.1148/radiol.2363041310Cerfolio RJ, 2004, ANN THORAC SURG, V78, P1017, DOI 10.1016/j.athorascur.2004.02.067Detterbeck FC, 2004, CHEST, V125, P2300Rohren EM, 2004, RADIOLOGY, V231, P305, DOI 10.1148/radiol.2312021185Verhagen AFT, 2004, LUNG CANCER-J IASLC, V44, P175, DOI 10.1016/j.lungcan.2003.11.007Halter G, 2004, THORAC CARDIOV SURG, V52, P96, DOI 10.1055/s-2004-817844Kang WJ, 2004, EUR J NUCL MED MOL I, V31, P202, DOI 10.1007/s00259-003-1368-xSchrevens L, 2004, ONCOLOGIST, V9, P633Cerfolio RJ, 2003, ANN THORAC SURG, V76, P861Lardinois D, 2003, NEW ENGL J MED, V348, P2500SILVESTRI GA, 2003, CHEST, V123, P147TOLOZA EM, 2003, CHEST, V123, P157GREENE FL, 2002, AJCC CANC STAGING HDFischer BMB, 2001, LANCET ONCOL, V2, P659Kamiyoshihara M, 2001, J CARDIOVASC SURG, V42, P119Pieterman RM, 2000, NEW ENGL J MED, V343, P254Farrell MA, 2000, RADIOLOGY, V215, P886Ko JP, 2000, AM J ROENTGENOL, V174, P775Hong YP, 1998, INT J TUBERC LUNG D, V2, P27Gdeedo A, 1997, EUR RESPIR J, V10, P1547Mountain CF, 1997, CHEST, V111, P1710Mountain CF, 1997, CHEST, V111, P1718Hoh CK, 1997, SEMIN NUCL MED, V27, P94Takizawa T, 1997, J THORAC CARDIOV SUR, V113, P248Strauss LG, 1996, EUR J NUCL MED, V23, P1409MCLOUD TC, 1992, RADIOLOGY, V182, P319