Machine learning based radiomics model to predict radiotherapy induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer.

Purpose: Cardiotoxicity is one of the major concerns in breast cancer treatment, significantly affecting patient outcomes. To improve the likelihood of favorable outcomes for breast cancer survivors, it is essential to carefully balance the potential advantages of treatment methods with the risks of harm to healthy tissues, including the heart. There is currently a lack of comprehensive, data-driven evidence on effective risk stratification strategies.

Myocardial perfusion SPECT radiomic features reproducibility assessment: Impact of image reconstruction and harmonization.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) has one of the highest mortality rates in humans worldwide. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) provides clinicians with myocardial metabolic information non-invasively. However, there are some limitations to interpreting SPECT images performed by physicians or automatic quantitative approaches.

Assessment of 4D flow MRI for quantification of left-to-right shunt in pediatric patients with ventricular septal defect: comparison with right heart catheterization.

Objectives: The percentage of shunt fraction significantly impacts the management of patients with congenital shunts, influencing strategic choices such as surgical or interventional procedures. This study compared the estimated shunt fraction (the ratio of pulmonary-to-systemic flow, Qp/Qs) for quantifying the left-to-right shunt in children with ventricular septal defect (VSD) using heart catheterization, four-dimensional (4D) flow, and two-dimensional (2D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The goal was to establish a non-invasive and reliable measurement ratio between pulmonary and systemic blood flow in these patients.

Role of CT attenuation correction gated SPECT MPI in prediction of pulmonary hypertension.

Objective: To elucidate the value of gated SPECT-MPI using CT attenuation correction (AC) for prediction of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in coronary patients by estimation of reliability of non-contrast CT in measurement of main pulmonary artery diameter (MPAd) as well as by assessment of potential predictive role of gated parameters as beneficial accessory findings.

Background: Contrast-enhanced CT is known as an accurate tool for assessment of MPAd to predict PHT. [1] The low-dose non-contrast CT which is used for AC in MPI study, however, has an unclear value in precise vascular diameter measurement; it is also uncertain whether gated parameters could help to predict PHT.

Machine learning based readmission and mortality prediction in heart failure patients.

This study intends to predict in-hospital and 6-month mortality, as well as 30-day and 90-day hospital readmission, using Machine Learning (ML) approach via conventional features. A total of 737 patients remained after applying the exclusion criteria to 1101 heart failure patients. Thirty-four conventional features were collected for each patient.

Left Ventricular Myocardial Dysfunction Evaluation in Thalassemia Patients Using Echocardiographic Radiomic Features and Machine Learning Algorithms.

Heart failure caused by iron deposits in the myocardium is the primary cause of mortality in beta-thalassemia major patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) T2* is the primary screening technique used to detect myocardial iron overload, but inherently bears some limitations. In this study, we aimed to differentiate beta-thalassemia major patients with myocardial iron overload from those without myocardial iron overload (detected by T2*CMRI) based on radiomic features extracted from echocardiography images and machine learning (ML) in patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF > 55%) in echocardiography.

Post-revascularization Ejection Fraction Prediction for Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Based on Myocardial Perfusion SPECT Imaging Radiomics: a Preliminary Machine Learning Study.

In this study, the ability of radiomics features extracted from myocardial perfusion imaging with SPECT (MPI-SPECT) was investigated for the prediction of ejection fraction (EF) post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment. A total of 52 patients who had undergone pre-PCI MPI-SPECT were enrolled in this study. After normalization of the images, features were extracted from the left ventricle, initially automatically segmented by k-means and active contour methods, and finally edited and approved by an expert radiologist.

Artificial intelligence-based analysis of whole-body bone scintigraphy: The quest for the optimal deep learning algorithm and comparison with human observer performance.

Purpose: Whole-body bone scintigraphy (WBS) is one of the most widely used modalities in diagnosing malignant bone diseases during the early stages. However, the procedure is time-consuming and requires vigour and experience. Moreover, interpretation of WBS scans in the early stages of the disorders might be challenging because the patterns often reflect normal appearance that is prone to subjective interpretation.

Myocardial Perfusion SPECT Imaging Radiomic Features and Machine Learning Algorithms for Cardiac Contractile Pattern Recognition.

A U-shaped contraction pattern was shown to be associated with a better Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) response. The main goal of this study is to automatically recognize left ventricular contractile patterns using machine learning algorithms trained on conventional quantitative features (ConQuaFea) and radiomic features extracted from Gated single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (GSPECT MPI). Among 98 patients with standard resting GSPECT MPI included in this study, 29 received CRT therapy and 69 did not (also had CRT inclusion criteria but did not receive treatment yet at the time of data collection, or refused treatment).

Breathing-induced Errors in Quantification and Description of Dominant Intra-Prostatic Lesions (Dils) in PET Images: A Simulation Study by Means of The 4D NCAT Phantom.

Background: Respiratory movement and the motion range of the diaphragm can affect the quality and quantity of prostate images.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the magnitude of respiratory-induced errors to determine Dominant Intra- prostatic Lesions (DILs) in positron emission tomography (PET) images.

Material And Methods: In this simulation study, we employed the 4D NURBS-based cardiac-torso (4D-NCAT) phantom with a realistic breathing model to simulate the respiratory cycles of a patient to assess the displacement, volume, maximum standardized uptake value (SUV), mean standardized uptake value (SUV), signal to noise ratio (SNR), and the contrast of DILs in frames within the respiratory cycle.

Evaluation of Dose-Painting in the Dominant Intraprostatic Lesions by Radiobiological Parameters using Ga- PSMA PET/CT.

Background: Patients diagnosed with dominant intraprostatic lesions (DIL) may need radiation doses over than 80 Gy. Dose-painting by contours (DPC) is a useful technique which helps the patients. Dose-painting approach need to be evaluated.

Myocardial Function Prediction After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Using MRI Radiomic Features and Machine Learning Algorithms.

The main aim of the present study was to predict myocardial function improvement in cardiac MR (LGE-CMR) images in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using radiomics and machine learning algorithms. Altogether, 43 patients who had visible scars on short-axis LGE-CMR images and were candidates for CABG surgery were selected and enrolled in this study. MR imaging was performed preoperatively using a 1.

Amino-modified-silica-coated gadolinium-copper nanoclusters, conjugated to AS1411 aptamer and radiolabeled with technetium-99 m as a novel multimodal imaging agent.

Hybridimagingtechnology has the potential to provide reliable imagingand accurate detection of cancer cells by combining the advantages and overcoming the shortages of various clinical imaging tools. Nanomaterials with unique targeting properties and their small size have improved biomedical imaging. Indeed, their small size determines local contrast agent concentrations in tumors by enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect.

Synthesis and evaluation of Tc-DOTA-ARA-290 as potential SPECT tracer for targeting cardiac ischemic region.

Objectives: Myocardial infarction caused by ischemia of heart tissue is the main reason for death worldwide; therefore, early detection can reduce mortality and treatment costs. Erythropoietin (EPO) has protection effects on ischemic tissue due to nonhematopoietic peptide (pHBSP; ARA-290) which is derived from the B-subunit of EPO.

Materials And Methods: We designed and synthesized a modified DOTA-(Lys-Dabcyl, Phe)-ARA-290 using Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis strategies.

Non-contrast Cine Cardiac Magnetic Resonance image radiomics features and machine learning algorithms for myocardial infarction detection.

Objective: Robust differentiation between infarcted and normal tissue is important for clinical diagnosis and precision medicine. The aim of this work is to investigate the radiomic features and to develop a machine learning algorithm for the differentiation of myocardial infarction (MI) and viable tissues/normal cases in the left ventricular myocardium on non-contrast Cine Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (Cine-CMR) images.

Methods: Seventy-two patients (52 with MI and 20 healthy control patients) were enrolled in this study.

Myocardial strain by cardiac magnetic resonance: A valuable predictor of outcome after infarct revascularization.

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of left ventricular strains by cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) in patients with re-perfused myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: The study enrolled 58 patients with re-vascularized MI who underwent CMR within a week from acute MI. An 18-month follow-up was carried out for the composite endpoint of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Novel manganese carbon quantum dots as a nano-probe: Facile synthesis, characterization and their application in naproxen delivery (Mn/CQD/SiO@naproxen).

This study for the first time pursues two crucial aims of using Naproxen as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in a better, non-invasive setting and introducing a simple and biocompatible nano-carrier (Mn/CQD/SiO) which is a magneto carbon quantum dots modified with mesoporous silica probe which can be served as a drug delivery and tracer system. SiOmodification was doneby mesoporous silica which improves biocompatibility and provideslow cytotoxicity. Naproxen was conjugated to the nano-probe to form Mn/CQD/SiO@naproxen and biodistribution was investigated.

Role of Technetium-99m-Ethylenedicysteine in the Calculation of Differential Renal Function: A Comparison Study with Dimercaptosuccinic Acid Renal Scintigraphy.

Purpose Of The Study: The aim of our study was to compare the technetium-99m (Tc-99m)-ethylenedicysteine (EC) renography calculation of differential renal function (DRF) with this measurement using Tc-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy.

Materials And Methods: Patients referred to our department were included in our study, and both DMSA and EC scans were performed for each patient according to the standard imaging protocols. A checklist was filled for each patient.

Assessment of LV diastolic dysfunction in myocardial perfusion imaging: a correlative study with transthoracic echocardiography.

Objective: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) by gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a feasible method in the evaluation of left ventricular perfusion and function. The purpose of this study was to determine the threshold and grading of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) using gated SPECT MPI.

Methods: A total of 149 patients were recruited in the study.

Synthesis, radiolabelling, and biological assessment of folic acid-conjugated G-3 Tc-dendrimer as the breast cancer molecular imaging agent.

Hence, in this study, the authors aimed to develop a dendrimer-based imaging agent comprised of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-citrate, technetium-99 m (Tc), and folic acid. The dendrimer-G3 was synthesised and conjugated with folic acid, which confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic light scattering, and transition electron microscopy. 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide cytotoxicity assay kit was used to measure the cellular toxicity of dendrimer.

The impact of frame numbers on cardiac ECG-gated SPECT images with interpolated extra frames using echocardiography.

Cardiac echocardiography and cardiac ECG-gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are the most common modalities for left ventricle (LV) volumes and function assessment. The temporal resolution of SPECT images is limited and an ECG provides better temporal resolution. This study investigates the impact of frame numbers on images in terms of qualitative and quantitative assessments.

Application of radiolabeled peptides in tumor imaging and therapy.

Scientists are looking for new therapies to cope with the rise in cancer worldwide. Since cancer cells overexpress peptide receptors and owing to small size, easy uptake by tumor cells, easy preparation, and with no toxicity, the use of radiolabeled peptides with high specificity and affinity for accurate imaging and therapy has attracted much attention. To develop an ideal imaging or treatment radiolabeled peptide, there are some aspects in the components of radiolabeled peptide including radionuclide, peptide, chelator, and spacer that should be considered.

Cardiac SPECT radiomic features repeatability and reproducibility: A multi-scanner phantom study.

Background: The aim of this work was to assess the robustness of cardiac SPECT radiomic features against changes in imaging settings, including acquisition, and reconstruction parameters.

Methods: Four commercial SPECT and SPECT/CT cameras were used to acquire images of a static cardiac phantom mimicking typical myorcardial perfusion imaging using 185 MBq of Tc. The effects of different image acquisition and reconstruction parameters, including number of views, view matrix size, attenuation correction, as well as image reconstruction related parameters (algorithm, number of iterations, number of subsets, type of post-reconstruction filter, and its associated parameters, including filter order and cut-off frequency) were studied.

Technetium-99 m-PEGylated dendrimer-G-(Dabcyle-Lys,Phe)-pHBSP: A novel Nano-Radiotracer for molecular and early detecting of cardiac ischemic region.

In cardiac ischemic disorder, pyroglutamate helix B surface peptide (pHBSP) which derived from erythropoietin causes to increase cell stability. To improve the serum stability of pHBSP, two lipophilic amino acids Arg, Ala were replaced with Fmoc-(Dabcyle)-Lys-OH and Fmoc-Phe-OH during the peptide synthesis. This peptide was subsequently conjugated to PEGylated dendrimer-G and labeled with TcO to detect cardiac ischemic region.