Identification of Novel Genetic Loci Associated with Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies and Clinical Thyroid Disease

Peer reviewe

A micro-machined retro-reflector for improving light yield in ultra-high-resolution gamma cameras

High-resolution imaging of x-ray and gamma-ray distributions can be achieved with cameras that use charge coupled devices (CCDs) for detecting scintillation light flashes. The energy and interaction position of individual gamma photons can be determined by rapid processing of CCD images of individual flashes. Here we investigate the improvement of such a gamma camera when a micro-machined retro-reflector is used to increase the light output of a continuous scintillation crystal. At 122 keV we found that retro-reflectors improve the intrinsic energy resolution (full width at half maximum (FWHM)) by 32% (from 50% to 34%) and the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio by 18%. The spatial resolution (FWHM) was improved by about 4%, allowing us to obtain a resolution of 159 µm. The full width at tenth maximum (FWTM) improvement was 13%. Therefore, this enhancement is a next step towards realizing compact high-resolution devices for imaging gamma emitters.RRR/Radiation, Radionuclides and ReactorsApplied Science

A pinhole gamma camera with optical depth-of-interaction elimination

The performance of pinhole single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) depends on the spatial resolution of the gamma-ray detectors used. Pinhole cameras suffer from strong resolution loss due to the varying depth-of-interaction (DOI) of gamma quanta that enter the detector material at an angle. We eliminate DOI effects in a scintillation gamma camera via a dedicated optic fiber bundle that acts as a focusing collimator for light generated in a scintillation crystal. A curved crystal is connected to a concavely shaped fiber-optic bundle such that the fibers connect perpendicularly to the crystal's convex surface and point straight at the pinhole opening. Limiting the fiber numerical apertures can be used to suppress resolution losses due to light spread. Here we demonstrate experimentally that this prototype position-sensitive gamma sensor successfully eliminates DOI effects, and has an intrinsic resolution of better than 280 µm full width at half maximum with an interaction probability of 67% for 140 keV photons. Therefore, the detector has great potential for increasing the resolution of pinhole SPECT.RRR/Radiation, Radionuclides and ReactorsApplied Science

Effectiveness of A(H1N1)pdm09 Influenza Vaccine in Adults Recommended for Annual Influenza Vaccination

<p>Introduction: Because of variability in published A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza vaccine effectiveness estimates, we conducted a study in the adults belonging to the risk groups to assess the A(H1N1)pdm09 MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccine effectiveness.</p><p>Methods: VE against influenza and/or pneumonia was assessed in the cohort study (n>25000), and vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza was assessed in a matched case-control study (16 pairs). Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by using multivariate logistic regression; vaccine effectiveness was estimated as (1-odds ratio)*100%.</p><p>Results: Vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza and influenza and/or pneumonia was 98% (84-100%) and 33% (2-54%) respectively. The vaccine did not prevent influenza and/or pneumonia in 18-59 years old subjects, and was 49% (16-69%) effective in 60 years and older subjects.</p><p>Conclusions: Even though we cannot entirely rule out that selection bias, residual confounding and/or cross-protection has played a role, the present results indicate that the MF59-adjuvanted A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza vaccine has been effective in preventing laboratory-confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza and influenza and/or pneumonia, the latter notably in 60 years and older subjects.</p>

Genetic risk score and the risk of TPOAb-positivity.

<p>GRS, genetic risk score (based on rs11675434, rs653178, rs10944479, rs1230666, rs2010099).</p>a<p>Adjusted for age and gender</p

Population characteristics and serum TPOAb, TSH, and FT4 level measurements specifications.

<p>Population characteristics and serum TPOAb, TSH, and FT4 level measurements specifications.</p

Newly identified TPOAb associated loci and the risk of thyroid disease in stage 1 and 2 populations.

<p>All analyses adjusted for age and gender.</p><p><i>ATXN2</i>-rs653178 is in high LD with <i>SH2B3-</i> rs3184504</p><p><i>MAGI3-</i>rs1230666 is in high LD with <i>PTPN22-</i>rs2476601</p