The impact of extended electrodiagnostic studies in Ulnar Neuropathy at the elbow

Background: This study aimed to explore the value of extended motor nerve conduction studies in patients with ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow (UNE) in order to find the most sensitive and least time-consuming method. We wanted to evaluate the utility of examining both the sensory branch from the fifth finger and the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve. Further we intended to study the clinical symptoms and findings, and a possible correlation between the neurophysiological findings and pain. Methods: The study was prospective, and 127 UNE patients who were selected consecutively from the list of patients, had a clinical and electrodiagnostic examination. Data from the most symptomatic arm were analysed and compared to the department's reference limits. Student's t - test, chi-square tests and multiple regression models were used. Two-side p-values < 0.05 were considered as significant. Results: Ulnar paresthesias (96%) were more common than pain (60%). Reduced ulnar sensitivity (86%) and muscle strength (48%) were the most common clinical findings. Adding a third stimulation site in the elbow mid-sulcus for motor conduction velocity (MCV) to abductor digiti minimi (ADM) increased the electrodiagnostic sensitivity from 80% to 96%. Additional recording of ulnar MCV to the first dorsal interosseus muscle (FDI) increased the sensitivity from 96% to 98%. The ulnar fifth finger and dorsal branch sensory studies were abnormal in 39% and 30% of patients, respectively. Abnormal electromyography in FDI was found in 49% of the patients. Patients with and without pain had generally similar conduction velocity parameter means. Conclusion: We recommend three stimulation sites at the elbow for MCV to ADM. Recording from FDI is not routinely indicated. Sensory studies and electromyography do not contribute much to the sensitivity of the electrodiagnostic evaluation, but they are useful to document axonal degeneration. Most conduction parameters are unrelated to the presence of pain

Animal study assessing safety of an acoustic coupling fluid that holds the potential to avoid surgically induced artifacts in 3D ultrasound guided operations

Background Use of ultrasound in brain tumor surgery is common. The difference in attenuation between brain and isotonic saline may cause artifacts that degrade the ultrasound images, potentially affecting resection grades and safety. Our research group has developed an acoustic coupling fluid that attenuates ultrasound energy like the normal brain. We aimed to test in animals if the newly developed acoustic coupling fluid may have harmful effects. Methods Eight rats were included for intraparenchymal injection into the brain, and if no adverse reactions were detected, 6 pigs were to be included with injection of the coupling fluid into the subarachnoid space. Animal behavior, EEG registrations, histopathology and immunohistochemistry were used in assessment. Results In total, 14 animals were included, 8 rats and 6 pigs. We did not detect any clinical adverse effects, seizure activity on EEG or histopathological signs of tissue damage. Conclusion The novel acoustic coupling fluid intended for brain tumor surgery appears safe in rats and pigs under the tested circumstances. Keywords: Brain imaging; Brain tumor; Intraoperative imaging; Ultrasoun

Synthesis and in Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation of SiFA-Tagged Bombesin and RGD Peptides as Tumor Imaging Probes for Positron Emission Tomography

Gastrin-releasing-peptide (GRP)-receptors and α_vβ₃-integrins are widely discussed as potential target structures for oncological imaging with positron emission tomography (PET). Favored by the overexpression of receptors on the surface of tumor cells good imaging characteristics can be achieved with highly specific radiolabeled receptor ligands. PEGylated bombesin (PESIN) derivatives as specific GRP receptor ligands and RGD (one-letter codes for arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) peptides as specific α_vβ₃ binders were synthesized and tagged with a silicon-fluorine-acceptor (SiFA) moiety. The SiFA synthon allows for a fast and highly efficient isotopic exchange reaction at room temperature giving the [¹⁸F]­fluoride labeled peptides in up to 62% radiochemical yields (d.c.) and ≥99% radiochemical purity in a total synthesis time of less than 20 min. Using nanomolar quantities of precursor high specific activities of up to 60 GBq μmol^–1 were obtained. To compensate the high lipophilicity of the SiFA moiety various hydrophilic structure modifications were introduced leading to significantly reduced logD values. Competitive displacement experiments with the PESIN derivatives showed a 32 to 6 nM affinity to the GRP receptor on PC3 cells, and with the RGD peptides a 7 to 3 μM affinity to the α_vβ₃ integrins on U87MG cells. All derivatives proved to be stable in human plasma over at least 120 min. Small animal PET measurements and biodistribution studies revealed an enhanced and specific accumulation of the RGD peptide ¹⁸F-SiFA-LysMe₃-γ-carboxy-d-Glu-RGD (<b>17</b>) in the tumor tissue of U87MG tumor-bearing mice of 5.3% ID/g whereas the PESIN derivatives showed a high liver uptake and only a low accumulation in the tumor tissue of PC3 xenografts. Stability studies with compound <b>17</b> provided further information on its metabolism in vivo. These results altogether demonstrate that the reduction of the overall lipophilicity of SiFA tagged RGD peptides is a promising approach for the generation of novel potent ¹⁸F-labeled imaging agents

Diagnostic performance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/MRI versus MRI alone in the diagnosis of pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer

Purpose!#!To compare the diagnostic performance of !##!Methods!#!All PET/MRIs of patients in the follow-up of rectal cancer performed between 2011 and 2018 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Recurrence was confirmed/excluded either by histopathology or imaging follow-up (&amp;gt; 4 months). Four groups of readers (groups 1/2: one radiologist each, groups 3/4: one radiologist/one nuclear medicine physician) independently interpreted MRI and PET/MRI. The likelihood of recurrence was scored on a 5-point-scale. Inter-reader agreement, sensitivity, specificity, PPV/NPV and accuracy were assessed. ROC curve analyses were performed.!##!Results!#!Fourty-one PET/MRIs of 40 patients (mean 61 years ± 10.9; 11 women, 29 men) were included. Sensitivity of PET/MRI in detecting recurrence was 94%, specificity 88%, PPV/NPV 97% and 78%, accuracy 93%. Sensitivity of MRI was 88%, specificity 75%, PPV/NPV 94% and 60%, accuracy 85%. ROC curve analyses showed an AUC of 0.97 for PET/MRI and 0.92 for MRI, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.116). On MRI more cases were scored as equivocal (12% versus 5%). Inter-reader agreement was substantial for PET/MRI and MRI (0.723 and 0.656, respectively).!##!Conclusion!#!1

2. Fachworkshop "Nationales Biodiversitätsmonitoring im Wald (NaBioWald)". April 2023, Leipzig

Am 20. und 21. April 2023 fand der 2. Fachworkshop zur Entwicklung eines nationalen Biodiversitätsmonitorings im Wald (NaBioWald) in Leipzig am Deutschen Zentrum für integrative Biodiversitätsforschung (iDiv) statt. Erneut kamen Fachleute aus der waldbezogenen Biodiversitätsforschung und dem Monitoring zusammen, um ihr Wissen für die Weiterentwicklung der NaBioWald-Initiative einzubringen. Die Impulsreferate befassten sich mit der konkreten Auswahl von Arten für ein Monitoring, den Ansprüchen an ein genetisches Monitoring sowie der potentiellen Nutzung von Proxys für die Biodiversitätserfassung. Es wurden zudem der aktuelle Stand der Literaturrecherche für den Lebensraum Wald im Rahmen des Projekts Faktencheck Artenvielfalt (FEdA Bundesinitiative zum Erhalt der Artenvielfalt) sowie die potentielle Einbindung des NaBioWald-Ansatzes in das Gesamtkonzept des NMZB vorgestellt. Bei den Arbeitsgruppen standen die vier festgelegten Einflussgrößen Waldwirtschaft, Klima, Pflanzenschutz-mitteleintrag und Luftverschmutzung im Fokus der Diskussionen. Hierbei wurden erste potentielle Artengruppen festgelegt, die bei einem Monitoring erfasst werden sollten und empfindlich auf die Einflussgrößen reagieren. Zudem sollten sie die waldtypische Biodiversität möglichst umfassend repräsentieren, um den Einfluss der Forstwirtschaft und anderer Einflussfaktoren abzubilden. Auch mögliche Habitatmerkmale bzw. Proxys, welche eine Vorhersage der Vorkommenswahrscheinlichkeit der Art(-engruppe) ermöglichen, wurden im letzten Arbeitsgruppenblock diskutiert.On April 20 and 21, 2023, the 2nd expert workshop for the development of a national biodiversity monitoring in forests (NaBioWald) took place in Leipzig at the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv). Once again, experts from forest-related biodiversity research and monitoring came together to contribute their knowledge to the further development of the NaBioWald initiative. Thanks to the broad expertise, many topics and areas of acquisition could be covered. The keynote presentations addressed the specific selection of species for monitoring, the requirements for genetic monitoring, and the potential use of proxies for biodiversity recording. There were also presentations on the current status of literature research for the forest habitat within the project 'Faktencheck Artenvielfalt' (FEdA Federal initiative for the preservation of biodiversity) as well as the potential integration of the NaBioWald approach into the overall concept of the NMZB. In the working groups, the discussions focused on the four defined parameters of forest management, climate, pesticide input and air pollution. In this context, the first potential species groups were selected, which should be recorded as part of a monitoring and which are sensitive to the drivers. The species should represent forest-typical biodiversity as comprehensively as possible to show the influence of forestry and other influencing factors. Possible habitat features or proxies that would allow prediction of the species' likelihood of occurrence were also discussed

3. Fachworkshop "Nationales Biodiversitätsmonitoring im Wald (NaBioWald)". Januar 2024, online

Am 09 Januar 2024 fand der dritte Fachworkshop zur Entwicklung eines nationalen Biodiversitätsmonitorings im Wald (NaBioWald) statt. Der Fokus lag auf dem Sammeln von Informationen für die Konzepterstellung. Basierend auf Impulsvorträgen aus anderen Monitoringbereichen wurden in Kleingruppen für jede Artengruppe Steckbriefe erstellt, die Auskunft über mögliche Erhebungsansätze und Kosten beinhalteten. Das Thema der Flächenauswahl wird Bestandteil des vierten Fachworkshops sein. Die Ergebnisse der Fachdiskussionen wurden im Anschluss an den Workshop an die Teilnehmenden zur Kommentierung und Ergänzung versandt. Der Workshop war als zweitägige Präsenzveranstaltung in Braunschweig am Thünen-Institut geplant. Aufgrund einer akuten Verkehrsstreiksituation musste jedoch kurzfristig auf ein eintägiges online-Format gewechselt werden.The third expert workshop on the development of a national forest biodiversity monitoring system (NaBioWald) took place on January 09, 2024. The focus was on collecting information for the concept development. Based on keynote speeches from other monitoring areas, small groups drew up fact sheets for each species group, which contained information on possible survey approaches and costs. The topic of site selection will be part of the fourth specialist workshop. The results of the expert discussions were sent to the participants after the workshop for comments and additions. The workshop was planned as a two-day face-to-face event in Braunschweig at the Thünen Institute. However, due to an acute traffic strike situation, it had to be changed to a one-day online format at short notice