Fisher information analysis of list-mode SPECT emission data for joint estimation of activity and attenuation distribution.

The potential to perform attenuation and scatter compensation (ASC) in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging without a separate transmission scan is highly significant. In this context, attenuation in SPECT is primarily due to Compton scattering, where the probability of Compton scatter is proportional to the attenuation coefficient of the tissue and the energy of the scattered photon and the scattering angle are related. Based on this premise, we investigated whether the SPECT scattered-photon data acquired in list-mode (LM) format and including the energy information can be used to estimate the attenuation map.

Urinary iodine deficiency in Gippsland pregnant women: the failure of bread fortification?

Objective: To assess iodine status and the factors that influence iodine status among a cohort of pregnant women living in Gippsland.

Design, Participants And Setting: Cross-sectional study of 86 pregnant women (at ≥ 28 weeks' gestation) conducted in hospital antenatal care services and private obstetrician clinics across the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia, from 13 January 2009 to 17 February 2010.

Main Outcome Measures: Overall proportion of pregnant women with a urinary iodine concentration (UIC) > 150 μg/L; proportion of pregnant women with a UIC >150 μg/L after the mandatory iodine fortification of bread; use of supplements containing iodine; intake of foods known to be good sources of iodine; intake of bread.

Taking a history: the learnings that national health science forgot.

Objective:   This paper provides evidence for the importance of taking an effective history and considering regional differences before formulating national health policies.

Design:   Qualitative study; the data collection technique included manual searches of rare book collections, a search of the Victorian Public Record Office and Australian Archives files and a local media appeal for information about iodine and iodine supplementation in Gippsland and other regions of Australia.

Setting:   Regional Victoria and Australia as a whole.

Is Gippsland environmentally iodine deficient? Water iodine concentrations in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia.

Objective:   This paper provides evidence of environmental iodine deficiency in the Gippsland region.

Design:   Quantitative study; water samples were collected from 18 water treatment plants and four rain water tanks across Gippsland and water iodine concentrations were measured.

Setting:   Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia.

Increased iodine deficiency in Victoria, Australia: analysis of neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone data, 2001 to 2006.

Objective: To use neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration data to measure the iodine status of the population of the Australian state of Victoria.

Design, Participants And Setting: Retrospective analysis of the results of 368,552 neonatal heel-prick blood tests for TSH concentration in Victoria in the years 2001-2006.

Main Outcome Measures: Iodine deficiency as indicated by a mean percentage of neonatal TSH concentrations > 5 mIU/L of over 3% in accordance with World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund and International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorder criteria; comparison of findings for the nine Department of Human Services health regions in Victoria.

Comparison of risks and benefits of normal vaginal and caesarian section deliveries in a public tertiary hospital in Bangladesh.

A comparative study was done to compare risks and benefits of normal vaginal and caesarean section delivery. One hundred women between 36 to 40 weeks gestation were enrolled and face to face interviews and clinical assessments were conducted both in antenatal and postnatal period. Though 98% preferred vaginal birth only 45% eventually had so.

A randomised intervention trial to assess two arsenic mitigation options in Bangladesh.

Arsenic groundwater contamination in Bangladesh warrants immediate remediation. This randomised controlled intervention trial was conducted to determine the effectiveness of two possible interventions: dug wells and three-pitcher filters. A total of 640 individuals participated with 218 randomised to the dug well group, 216 to the three-pitcher group and 206 to a control group.

Effect of Usuhiratake (Pleurotus pulmonarius) on sneezing and nasal rubbing in BALB/c mice.

The anti-rhinitis properties of Pleurotus pulmonarius were investigated in BALB/c mice. A single administration of Pleurotus Pulmonarius caused no significant effect on antigen-induced nasal rubbing and sneezing at a dose of 500 mg/kg, but a significant inhibition was observed after 2 weeks of repeated treatment at this dose, and at a dose of 200 mg/kg, it also caused a significant inhibition after repeated administration for 4 weeks. Pleurotus pulmonarius showed no significant inhibitory effect on the production of IgE.

Influences of histamine H1 receptor antagonists on maximal electroshock seizure in infant rats.

The influences of histamine H1 receptor antagonists on maximal electroshock seizure were studied using infant rats. In this study, electroconvulsion was induced by stimulating rats using ear-clip electrodes, and the durations of electroencephalogram (EEG) seizure, tonic extensor (TE) seizure and clonic (CL) seizure induced by maximal electroshock were measured. Diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, cyproheptadine and ketotifen caused a dose-dependent and significant prolongation of both EEG seizure and TE seizure induced by maximal electroshock.

Interactive effect of histamine and prostaglandin D2 on nasal allergic symptoms in rats.

This study was undertaken to investigate the interactive effect of histamine and prostaglandin D(2) in nasal allergic symptoms in rats. The intranasal application of histamine at doses lower than 10 mumol/site caused no sneezing or nasal rubbing. In addition, prostaglandin D(2) also showed no significant increase in these responses, even at a dose of 10 nmol/site.

Epileptogenic activity of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) antibiotics in rats.

The present study was undertaken to clarify the epileptogenic activity induced by intracerebroventricular injection (i.c.v.

Involvement of cyclooxygenase-2 in allergic nasal inflammation in rats.

This study was undertaken to investigate the involvement of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in allergic nasal inflammation in actively sensitized rats. An allergic rhinitis model was developed by the repeated topical application of antigen into the nasal cavities in the sensitized rats. The severity of allergic rhinitis was studied by measuring the nasal behavior, as well as electroencephalogram (EEG) activity by antigen challenge.

Mechanism of imipramine-induced seizures in amygdala-kindled rats.

The present study was undertaken to get insight in the possible mechanisms of imipramine-induced seizures in amygdala-kindled rats. The intraperitoneal (i.p.

Effects of mometasone furoate on a rat allergic rhinitis model.

The present study was undertaken to clarify the effects of mometasone on nasal symptoms induced by repeated intranasal application of antigen in sensitized rats in comparison with that of chlorpheniramine. Rats received mometasone intranasally or chlorpheniramine orally 1 h before a topical antigen challenge for 7 days. Mometasone caused a decrease in the instances of nasal rubbing and an inhibition of this response was observed during the treatment period.

Electroencephalogram and behavioral changes induced by histamine application into the nasal cavity and the effects of some H(1)-receptor antagonists.

The present study was performed to measure the olfactory bulb with an electroencephalogram (EEG) to investigate the relationship between the EEG and behavioral changes of rats induced by the topical application of histamine into the nasal cavity. The effects of some H(1)-receptor antagonists on the EEG and behavioral changes induced by histamine were also studied. The topical application of histamine into the nasal cavity resulted in a significant and dose-dependent increase in the incidence of sneezing and nasal rubbing.