Union is strength: the combination of radiomics features and 3D-deep learning in a sole model increases diagnostic accuracy in demented patients: a whole brain 18FDG PET-CT analysis.

Objective: FDG PET imaging plays a crucial role in the evaluation of demented patients by assessing regional cerebral glucose metabolism. In recent years, both radiomics and deep learning techniques have emerged as powerful tools for extracting valuable information from medical images. This article aims to provide a comparative analysis of radiomics features, 3D-deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) and the fusion of them, in the evaluation of 18F-FDG PET whole brain images in patients with dementia and normal controls.

Greater accuracy of radiomics compared to deep learning to discriminate normal subjects from patients with dementia: a whole brain 18FDG PET analysis.

Methods: 18F-FDG brain PET and clinical score were collected in 85 patients with dementia and 125 healthy controls (HC). Patients were assigned to various form of dementia on the basis of clinical evaluation, follow-up and voxels comparison with HC using a two-sample Student's t -test, to determine the regions of brain involved. Radiomic analysis was performed on the whole brain after normalization to an optimized template.

Direct correlation between ischemic burden induced by dipyridamole and stress peak filling rate: a gated perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography study.

Aim And Patients: The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of dipyridamole on stress and rest peak filling rate in consecutive patients who showed perfusion and, or function abnormalities at Gated-SPECT. Were enrolled 96 patients (73 males (76%); mean age 71.7 ± 9.

Better characterization of dipyridamole-induced myocardial stunning by systolic wall thickening. A gated perfusion SPECT study.

Aim And Patients: The aim of the present study was to assess the additional value of systolic wall thickening to myocardial perfusion in diagnosing myocardial stunning induced by dipyridamole infusion. We selected 52 ischemic patients (43 males; mean age 65.5 ± 7.

Additional value of systolic wall thickening in myocardial stunning evaluated by stress-rest gated perfusion SPECT.

Aim And Patients: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the additional value of systolic wall thickening to myocardial perfusion in diagnosing myocardial stunning in patients with angiography proven coronary artery disease. We selected 91 ischemic patients (82 males; mean age 59.7 ± 10.

Delayed Gastric Emptying in Advanced Parkinson Disease: Correlation With Therapeutic Doses.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal dysfunction is often described in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), and gastrointestinal symptoms are usually attributed to gastroparesis. The consequent delayed gastric emptying (GE) may be an important pharmacokinetic mechanism underlying some of the response fluctuations that develop after long-term levodopa (L-dopa) therapy.The aim of this prospective study was to assess GE time by a liquid meal scintigraphy, in PD patients, and to correlate them with demographic, clinical, and therapeutic data.

Understanding coronary atherosclerosis in relation to obesity: is getting the distribution of body fatness using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry worth the effort? A novel perspective using Bayesian Networks.

Aim: A relative excess of fat in the upper body region has been proven to be associated with increased coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is probably the most accurate and precise method available to study fat regional distribution and to directly measure total body fat and lean soft tissue mass. However, while several studies have investigated the abilities of obesity anthropometric measures in predicting CAD, only few studies have evaluated DXA as CAD predictor; particularly, a comparison between a model including information coming from anthropometric measurements and a model in which fat is precisely measured by DXA, is still lacking.

Removal of radioisotopes in solution and bactericidal/bacteriostatic sterilising power in activated carbon and metal silver filters.

Activated carbon filters play an important role in water filtration and purification from contaminants of different origin. Their limit consists in bacterial proliferation, which may occur only during prolonged periods of non-use and in their ability to remove radioactive contaminants present in waste water from Industry or Nuclear Medicine departments. In this work we tested a commercially available activated carbon filter for water purification enriched with silver plated parts incubating in static condition at room temperature different micro organisms (Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillum niger), up to 78 days.

Prognostic implications of stress-induced transient ischemic dilation of the left ventricle in patients with systolic dysfunction and fixed perfusion defects.

Purpose: To verify whether stress-induced transient ischemic dilation (TID) of the left ventricle may help refine prognostic assessment of patients with resting systolic dysfunction and fixed perfusion defects.

Methods: Two hundred seventy patients with resting ejection fraction View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Truncal fat determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is an independent predictor of coronary artery disease extension.

Background: Controversy prevails regarding the existence of a correlation between the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the extent and distribution of obesity.

Purpose: To assess the correlation between total fat, truncal fat (TF), and lean mass, obtained with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and standard anthropomorphic indices (body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio) and to verify whether DEXA indices can predict the extent and severity of CAD.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-eight patients (19 females) consecutively referred for coronary angiography underwent physical examination and DEXA assessment of body composition.

Myocardial perfusion imaging evidence of functionally complete revascularization by minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass in 2-vessel coronary artery disease.

Background: Whether patency of a second diseased vessel still impacts myocardial perfusion when complete revascularization of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) territory has been achieved is currently undetermined. In patients with 2-vessel coronary artery disease and complex LAD lesions, we evaluated the impact of single LAD or integrated revascularization on single photon emission computed tomography-assessed reversible myocardial ischemia.

Methods And Results: Thirty-five candidates for revascularization with double-vessel disease including the LAD and a preoperative stress single photon emission computed tomography study were studied.

Evaluation of different counting methods for use in radiochemical purity testing procedures for 99mTc-labelled radiopharmaceuticals.

The efficiency and accuracy of different methods for quality control of radiopharmaceutical preparations for diagnostic purpose were studied. The radiochemical purity of (99m)Tc Tetrafosmin, (99m)Tc Exametazime, (99m)Tc Sestamibi and (99m)Tc Oxidronate was evaluated by different thin layer chromatography systems, followed by cutting of the strips into two or three sections and by the measurement of radioactivity distribution by dose calibrator or gamma counter. In addition, to confirm the accuracy of these routine procedures, the strips were cut into a number of micro-sections (14-25) and each of them evaluated by the gamma counter.

Combined assessment of left ventricular perfusion and function by gated single-photon emission computed tomography for the risk stratification of high-risk hypertensive patients.

Objective: This study was aimed at verifying whether combined information on left ventricular perfusion and function by electrocardiogram-gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) retains its known prognostic value in patients with systemic hypertension.

Methods: A total of 415 hypertensive patients underwent rest and stress (exercise in 278 and dipyridamole in 137) gated 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT and prospective follow-up for the composite endpoint of death and acute coronary syndrome. Patients undergoing revascularization were censored.

Prognostic value of C-reactive protein in patients with stress induced myocardial ischemia.

Objective: Inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Possible association between C-reactive protein (CRP), stress-induced myocardial ischemia and clinical outcome was investigated.

Design, Patients And Results: We correlated scintigraphic scan and CRP values of 101 consecutive out-patients who performed an exercise stress test for evaluation of chest pain (n=49) or scheduled control after myocardial infarction (n=52).

Enhanced prognostic stratification of CAD patients with low ejection fraction by stress-rest Tc99m tetrofosmin gated-spect.

Objective: This study was performed to assess whether post-stress and rest functional parameters, as measured by gated-SPECT, provide additional predictive value for long-term prognosis, over clinical and perfusion data in patients (pts.) with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: 647 consecutive pts.

Enhanced prognostic stratification of cad patients with dilated left ventricle by stress and rest functional parameters and 99mTc-tetrofosmin Gated-SPECT.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the post-stress and rest functional parameters, measured by Gated-SPECT, have incremental prognostic value compared with perfusion parameters in predicting cardiac events (CE), in a population of CAD patients with dilated LV.

Materials And Methods: A total of 670 consecutive patients (mean age: 62; range 29-86 yrs.) underwent conventional diagnostic 2-day gated-SPECT with 99mTc-tetrofosmin (55% exercise stress test, 45% dip stress): 605 patients (mean age: 62 yrs.

Geometry and bone mass in primary hyperparathyroidism assessed by peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT).

Purpose: Non-invasive measurement by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) of bone geometry, biomechanics, and mineral content in patients (pts) with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).

Materials And Methods: Total, trabecular and cortical mineral density (totBMD, cortBMD, trab BMD), bone geometrical properties (total area, trabecular area, cortical area, cortical/total area) and cortical thickness as biomechanical parameters, were assessed by pQCT at distal radius in 38 (32 F; 6 M) consecutive patients with PHPT (mean age: 62 yrs; range: 30-77). In a subgroup of 12 patients, bone mineral density (BMD) was also measured by means of dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine (L2-L4).

Severe cortical and trabecular osteopenia in secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) provides real volumetric bone density values, not only of the total, but also of trabecular and cortical bone, separately. In addition, it provides data on bone geometry that can be related to the risk of fracture.

Methods: Total, cortical, and trabecular volumetric bone mineral densities (BMD), as well as the main geometric parameters (cross-sectional area, cortical area, trabecular area, and cortical thickness) were assessed by pQCT at the distal radius in 24 hemodialysis patients affected by severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (PTH, mean +/- SD: 1444 +/- 695 pg/mL).