Role of PET gamma detection in radioguided surgery: a systematic review

Purpose This systematic review aimed to collect published studies concerning intraoperative gamma detection of positronemitting tracers for radioguided surgery (RGS) applications. Methods A systematic literature search of studies published until October 2022 was performed in Pubmed, Web Of Science, Central (Cochrane Library) and Scopus databases, including the following keywords: “Positron Emission Tomography” OR “PET” AND “Gamma” OR “γ” AND “Probe” AND “Radioguided Surgery” OR “RGS”. The included studies had to concern RGS procedures performed in at least 3 patients, regardless of the administered radiopharmaceutical and the field of application. Results Among to the 17 selected studies, all published between 2000 and 2022, only 2 investigations were conducted with gallium-68 (68Ga)-labeled somatostatin analogues, with fluorine-18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ([ 18F]FDG) being the most commonly used agent for RGS applications. Almost all studies were performed in oncologic patients, with only one paper also including inflammatory and infectious findings. The analysis showed that the largest part of procedures was performed through the intraoperative use of conventional gamma probes, not specifically designed for the detection of annihilation photons (n = 9), followed by PET gamma probes (n = 5) and with only three studies involving electronic collimation. Conclusions Regardless of the intraoperative devices, RGS with positron emitters seems to lead to significant improvements in surgeons’ ability to obtain a complete resection of tumors, even if the nature of photons resulting from positron–electron collision still remains extremely challenging and requires further technical advances

Molecular mechanism of tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone in platelet anti-aggregating effects: an integrated study of pharmacology and computational analysis.

Tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone are two pharmacologically active diterpenoids extracted from the roots of Salvia milthiorriza Bunge, a plant used in Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of some cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Until now, the molecular mechanisms of action of these two diterpenoids on platelets are partially known. To clarify this aspect, here we utilized an integrated study of pharmacology and computational analysis. Our results demonstrate that cryptotanshinone is able to inhibit in a concentration dependent manner the rat platelet aggregation and also is endowed of Gi-coupled P2Y12 receptor antagonist as demonstrated by docking studies. This computational method was also performed for tanshinone IIA demonstrating even for this diterpenoid an interaction with the same receptor. The findings from our study enable a better understanding of tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone biological properties, which could ultimately lead to the development of novel pharmaceutical strategies for the treatment and/or prevention of some cardiovascular disease

Basil essential oil: Composition, antimicrobial properties, and microencapsulation to produce active chitosan films for food packaging

The essential oil (EO) from basil—Ocimum basilicum—was characterized, microencapsu-lated by vibration technology, and used to prepare a new type of packaging system designed to extend the food shelf life. The basil essential oil (BEO) chemical composition and antimicrobial activity were analyzed, as well as the morphological and biological properties of the derived BEO microcapsules (BEOMC). Analysis of BEO by gas chromatography demonstrated that the main component was linalool, whereas the study of its antimicrobial activity showed a significant inhibitory effect against all the microorganisms tested, mostly Gram-positive bacteria. Moreover, the prepared BEOMC showed a spheroidal shape and retained the EO antimicrobial activity. Finally, chitosan-based edible films were produced, grafted with BEOMC, and characterized for their physicochemical and biological properties. Since their effective antimicrobial activity was demonstrated, these films were tested as packaging system by wrapping cooked ham samples during 10 days of storage, with the aim of their possible use to extend the shelf life of the product. It was demonstrated that the obtained active film can both control the bacterial growth of the cooked ham and markedly inhibit the pH increase of the packaged food

Evaluation of Clinico-Pathological Alterations Including Some Leukocyte Ratios and Survival Rate in Dogs with IMHA Transfused and Not Transfused: A Retrospective Study

Immune-mediated hemolytic anaemia (IMHA) is a common hematological disorder in dogs. It can be primary or secondary and it is characterized by anti-RBC antibodies production. IMHA requires a detailed diagnostic pathway as well as a complex therapeutic approach that can include blood transfusion. Unfortunately, IMHA presents a high mortality rate, especially within 15 days after onset. This retrospective study evaluated: a) the clinical and clinico-pathological alterations that influenced the choice to perform a blood transfusion in an IMHA patient; b) if blood transfusion could be an additional therapeutic approach; c) application of leukocyte ratios in the prognosis. Sixty-seven cases of IMHA, both primary and secondary, admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital between May 2010 and July 2018, were included. Signalment, history, clinical signs, clinico-pathological parameters and survival rate were collected. Patients were divided in two groups: 44 patients (IMHAnt) treated with immunosuppressive therapy alone (primary n=36, secondary n=8) and 23 patients (IMHAt), which received also a blood transfusion (primarily packed RBC) (primary n=16, secondary n=6). For all collected parameters, both groups were statistically compared. The IMHAt patients compared to IMHAnt patients (un-regarding to primary or secondary cause) presented: worse marks according to Tokyo Score System (TSS) (Chi Squared, p=0.003); a lower erythrocyte count (T-test, p=0.039), hemoglobin concentration (T-test, p=0.029) and platelet count (Mann-Withney, M-W, p=0.008); a higher value of band neutrophils (M-W, p=0.022), band neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (M-W, p=0.005), (band neutrophil/neutrophil) to lymphocyte ratio (M-W, p=0.006) and a lower value of lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (M-W, p=0.013); a higher value of C-reactive protein (M-W, p=0.011) and activated partial thromboplastin time (M-W, p=0.014); and a lower survival rate at day 120 (Kaplan-Meyer, logrank, p=0.004) and not at 7, 15 and 30 days. Blood transfusions were performed based on the severity of clinical and clinico-pathological signs. IMHAt patients showed a more severe disease (according to TSS), a greater acute inflammatory condition and more coagulative defects. The high death rate among IMHAt patients at 120 days was related to their critical condition, which is probably why the desired benefit of blood transfusion wasn’t reached. However, a link between blood transfusions and the related worse clinical signs in IMHAt patients could not be ruled-out. Finally, the leukocyte ratios in dogs affected by IMHA were assessed for the first time so far and they were proven to be useful markers of acute inflammation and could have a prognostic value

Compositional study and antioxidant potential of Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. and Lepidium sativum L. seeds

The present investigation has been carried out to find the proximate composition, amino acids, metal contents, oil composition as well as the antioxidant capacity of the seeds of Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. and Lepidium sativum L. Proximate composition indicated a great difference in oil (14.09\ub10.66, 28.03\ub11.05) and fibre (16.55\ub10.31, 6.75\ub11.20) contents for I. hederacea and L. sativum, respectively. Fatty acid profile indicated that oleic acid (19.50 \ub1 0.37, 30.50 \ub1 0.16) and linoleic acid (52.09 \ub1 0.48, 8.60 \ub1 0.38) are major fatty acids. \u3b3-Tocopheol and alfa-tocopheol (28.70 \ub1 0.14, 111.56 \ub1 0.37) were the most abundant in the seed oil of I. hederacea and L. sativum, respectively. Results of antioxidant assays like TEAC, FRAP and TRAP indicated that L. sativum has much greater antioxidant potential than I. hederacea

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) functionalized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for plasmonic photothermal ablation of cancer. A review

The meeting and merging between innovative nanotechnological systems, such as nanoparticles, and the persistent need to outperform diagnostic-therapeutic approaches to fighting cancer are revolutionizing the medical research scenario, leading us into the world of nanomedicine. Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a non-invasive thermo-ablative treatment in which cellular hyperthermia is generated through the interaction of near-infrared light with light-to-heat converter entities, such as gold nanoparticles (GNPs). GNPs have great potential to improve recovery time, cure complexity, and time spent on the treatment of specific types of cancer. The development of gold nanostructures for photothermal efficacy and target selectivity ensures effective and deep tissue-penetrating PTT with fewer worries about adverse effects from nonspecific distributions. Regardless of the thriving research recorded in the last decade regarding the multiple biomedical applications of nanoparticles and, in particular, their conjugation with drugs, few works have been completed regarding the possibility of combining GNPs with the cancer-targeted pharmaceutical fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). This review aims to provide an actual scenario on the application of functionalized GNP-mediated PTT for cancer ablation purposes, regarding the opportunity given by the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) functionalization

Prognostic and theranostic applications of positron emission tomography for a personalized approach to metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer

Metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) represents a condition of pro-gressive disease in spite of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), with a broad spectrum of mani-festations ranging from no symptoms to severe debilitation due to bone or visceral metastatization. The management of mCRPC has been profoundly modified by introducing novel therapeutic tools such as antiandrogen drugs (i.e., abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide), immunotherapy through sipuleucel‐T, and targeted alpha therapy (TAT). This variety of approaches calls for unmet need of biomarkers suitable for patients’ pre‐treatment selection and prognostic stratification. In this sce-nario, imaging with positron emission computed tomography (PET/CT) presents great and still unexplored potential to detect specific molecular and metabolic signatures, some of whom, such as the prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), can also be exploited as therapeutic targets, thus combining diagnosis and therapy in the so‐called “theranostic” approach. In this review, we per-formed a web‐based and desktop literature research to investigate the prognostic and theranostic potential of several PET imaging probes, such as18F‐FDG,18F‐choline and68Ga‐PSMA‐11, also covering the emerging tracers still in a pre‐clinical phase (e.g., PARP‐inhibitors’ analogs and the radioligands binding to gastrin releasing peptide receptors/GRPR), highlighting their potential for defining personalized care pathways in mCRPC

Regulatory T-cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: actor or innocent bystander?

Abstract: Regulatory T (Treg) cells are now under extensive investigation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This small subset of T-cells has been, in fact, considered to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of CLL. However, whether Treg dysregulation in CLL plays a key role or it rather represents a simple epiphenomenon is still matter of debate. In the former case, Treg cells could be appealing for targeting therapies. Finally, Treg cells have also been proposed as a prognostic indicator of the disease clinical course