Innovations in Nuclear Medicine Imaging for Reactive Oxygen Species: Applications and Radiopharmaceuticals.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated during normal cellular energy production and play a critical role in maintaining cellular function. However, excessive ROS can damage cells and tissues, contributing to the development of diseases such as cardiovascular, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative disorders. This review explores the potential of nuclear medicine imaging techniques for detecting ROS and evaluates various radiopharmaceuticals used in these applications.

Age and gender effects on striatal dopamine transporter density and cerebral perfusion in individuals with non-degenerative parkinsonism: a dual-phase F-FP-CIT PET study.

Background: Dual-phase fluorine-18 labeled N-3-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane (F-FP-CIT) positron emission tomography (PET) scans could be used to support disorders like Parkinson's disease (PD). Dopamine transporter (DAT) binding and cerebral perfusion are associated with ageing and gender. We investigated the effects of age and gender on non-degenerative parkinsonism, using automated quantification in striatum: specific binding ratios (SBRs) for DAT binding in delayed phase PET (dCIT) and standardized-uptake-value ratios (SUVRs) for cerebral perfusion in early phase PET (eCIT).

Comparative Analysis of Balloon Angioplasty Alone versus Carotid Artery Stenting for Severe Extracranial Carotid Artery Stenosis: A 4-Year Retrospective Study.

Background: This retrospective study aimed to compare the efficacy of balloon angioplasty alone (BAA) with carotid artery stenting (CAS) for severe extracranial carotid artery stenosis. The primary outcomes assessed were restenosis requiring retreatment and symptomatic stroke occurrence within a 4-year follow-up period.

Methods: A total of 77 patients with 89 carotid artery stenoses undergoing endovascular carotid revascularization between January 2015 and December 2019 were included.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of paclitaxel, albumin-binding paclitaxel, and liposomal-encapsulated albumin-binding paclitaxel upon gastric subserosal administration.

Systemic chemotherapy is typically administered following radical gastrectomy for advanced stage. To attenuate systemic side effects, we evaluated the effectiveness of regional chemotherapy using paclitaxel, albumin-paclitaxel, and liposome-encapsulated albumin-paclitaxel via subserosal injection in rat models employing nuclear medicine and molecular imaging technology. Nine Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: paclitaxel ( = 3), albumin-paclitaxel nano-particles (APNs; = 3), and liposome-encapsulated APNs ( = 3).

Application of TSPO-Specific Positron Emission Tomography Radiotracer as an Early Indicator of Acute Liver Failure Induced by Propacetamol, a Prodrug of Paracetamol.

Acetaminophen overdose is a leading cause of acute liver failure (ALF), and effective treatment depends on early prediction of disease progression. ALF diagnosis currently requires blood collection 24-72 h after APAP ingestion, necessitating repeated tests and hospitalization. Here, we assessed earlier ALF diagnosis using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of translocator proteins (TSPOs), which are involved in molecular transport, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and energy metabolism, with the radiotracer [F]GE180.

Radiopharmaceuticals for Skeletal Muscle PET Imaging.

The skeletal muscles account for approximately 40% of the body weight and are crucial in movement, nutrient absorption, and energy metabolism. Muscle loss and decline in function cause a decrease in the quality of life of patients and the elderly, leading to complications that require early diagnosis. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) offers non-invasive, high-resolution visualization of tissues.

Saengmaeksan, a traditional polyherbal formulation containing Panax ginseng, improves energy metabolism during exercise.

Saengmaeksan (SMS), a representative oriental medicine that contains Panax ginseng Meyer, Liriope muscari, and Schisandra chinensis (1:2:1), is used to improve body vitality and enhance physical activity. However, there is limited scientific evidence to validate the benefits of SMS. Here, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo regulatory effects of SMS and its constituents on energy metabolism and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Efficacy of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy in predicting surgical outcomes of lymphaticovenous anastomosis in lower extremity lymphedema: Clinical correlations in gynecological cancer-related lymphedema.

Background: Lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) is a promising microsurgical treatment for lower extremity lymphedema (LEL). Lymphoscintigraphy effectively assesses lower limb lymphatic systems before LVA, but its role in predicting the therapeutic outcomes of LVA is indeterminate. In this study we investigate the efficacy of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy using clinical findings to predict outcomes in gynecological cancer-related LEL patients who underwent LVA.

Value of Quantitative Salivary Gland SPECT/CT for the Detection of Saliva Leakage.

A 47-year-old woman presented to our emergency department with a 10-day history of pain, halitosis, and swelling below the left jaw. The patient was diagnosed with left sialadenitis and left submandibular abscess by tissue biopsy. An otolaryngologist performed transcervical incision and drainage of the abscess 1 day after admission.

The added value of SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy in the initial assessment of secondary extremity lymphedema patients.

An added value of SPECT/CT over planar lymphoscintigraphy for initial staging in patients with secondary extremity lymphedema was investigated. Furthermore, we developed a hybrid SPECT/CT classification combining dermal backflow (DBF) of SPECT and honeycomb pattern (HP) of CT, correlated it with lymphoscintigraphic staging and clinical severity. Forty-one patients with secondary extremity lymphedema who underwent lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT were included retrospectively.

A novel chalcone derivative exerts anticancer effects by promoting apoptotic cell death of human pancreatic cancer cells.

Aggressive pancreatic cancer is typically treated using chemotherapeutics to reduce the tumor pre-operatively and prevent metastasis post-operatively, as well as surgical approaches. In the present study, we synthesized a hydroxyl group-introduced chalcone derivative (1, IC = 32.1 μM) and investigated its potential as an anticancer drug candidate by evaluating its apoptosis-promoting effects on BXPC-3 cancer cells.

From Pristine to Heteroatom-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots: An Essential Review and Prospects for Future Research.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are carbon-based zero-dimensional materials that have received considerable scientific interest due to their exceptional optical, electrical, and optoelectrical properties. Their unique electronic band structures, influenced by quantum confinement and edge effects, differentiate the physical and optical characteristics of GQDs from other carbon nanostructures. Additionally, GQDs can be synthesized using various top-down and bottom-up approaches, distinguishing them from other carbon nanomaterials.

Salivary Gland Uptake on F-FP-CIT PET as a New Biomarker in Patients With Parkinsonism.

Objective: F-FP-CIT positron emission tomography (PET) is known for its high sensitivity and specificity for evaluating striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) binding. Recently, for the early diagnose of Parkinson's disease, many researchers focused on the diagnosis of synucleinopathy in organs involved in non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. We investigated the feasibility of salivary gland uptake on F-FP-CIT PET as a new biomarker in patients with parkinsonism.

Significance of surgical first assistant expertise for surgical site infection prevention: Propensity score matching analysis.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common postoperative complications in patients undergoing major operations, such as spinal fusion surgery, and a major contributor to patient morbidity and mortality. SSI is considered the most preventable type of infection; however, the risk of SSI is multifactorial. This study aimed to determine the extent to which the expertise of the surgical first assistant (SFA) affected SSI rates.

In vivo tissue pharmacokinetics of ERBB2-specific binding oligonucleotide-based drugs by PET imaging.

Although aptamers have shown excellent target specificity in preclinical and clinical studies either by themselves or as aptamer-drug conjugates, their in vivo tissue pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis is still problematic. We aimed to examine the utility of image-based positron emission tomography (PET) to evaluate in vivo tissue PK, target specificity, and applicability of oligonucleotides. For this, fluorine-18-labeled aptamers with erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2)-specific binding were synthesized by base-pair hybridization using a complementary oligonucleotide platform.

Clinical Impact of SPECT/CT in Evaluation of Abdominothoracic Fistula.

Abdominothoracic fistula is rarely observed but can be life-threatening. Pleuroperitoneal communication, known to occur in 1.6% of all patients who undergo continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, is an uncommon but well-recognized complication.

The serpentine pattern on MRI as an early prognostic factor after fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the serpentine pattern nerve roots (SNR) and prognosis after lumbar fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) by comparing clinical outcomes in patients with or without a serpentine pattern. LSS patients with neurological symptoms often present with SNRs. Several studies have shown that LLS symptoms are worse in patients with SNRs.

Elucidating the mechanisms of post-stroke motor recovery mediated by electroacupuncture using diffusion tensor tractography.

Acupuncture has been commonly used for post-stroke patients, and electroacupuncture allows simultaneous application of acupuncture and electrical stimulation. We aimed to elucidate the mechanism of electroacupuncture on post-stroke motor recovery using diffusion tensor tractography. A total of 33 subacute stroke patients were recruited.

Prognostic value of myopic disk deformation in myopic choroidal neovascularization: A 6-year follow-up study.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) according to peripapillary atrophy (PPA) and optic disk tilt and to explore whether those myopic disk deformations are associated with the prognosis of mCNV.

Methods: Patients with subfoveal mCNV who received intravitreal bevacizumab injection and followed for ≥3 years were included. PPA was quantified as area of the ß-zone PPA/disk area ratio (PDR) and optic disk tilt as the tilt ratio (the longest/shortest disk diameter).

Potential Utility of SPECT/CT for Early Detection of Spontaneous Osteonecrosis of the Knee.

Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) is the most common phenotype of osteonecrosis of knee joints in older adults. Early diagnosis with appropriate management is crucial for improving the prognosis of the SONK. We present SONK in bone scintigraphy and SPECT/CT in 65-year-old man with sudden worsening knee pain and normal radiographs.

Feasibility of F-Fluorocholine PET for Evaluating Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in a Starved Rat Model.

Imaging techniques for diagnosing muscle atrophy and sarcopenia remain insufficient, although various advanced diagnostic methods have been established. We explored the feasibility of F-fluorocholine (F-FCH) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for evaluating skeletal muscle atrophy, as an imaging technique that tracks choline level changes in muscles. Cell uptake in L6 cells by F-FCH was performed in a complete medium containing serum (untreated group, UN) and a serum-free medium (starved group, ST).

Difference in the Cobb Angle Between Standing and Supine Position as a Prognostic Factor After Vertebral Augmentation in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.

Objective: We retrospectively analyzed patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) undergoing vertebral augmentation to compare the Cobb angle changes in the supine and standing positions and the clinical outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively extracted the data of OVCF patients who underwent vertebral augmentation. Back pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS).

Clinical Usefulness of 18 F-FET PET in a Pediatric Patient With Suspected Demyelinating Disease.

An 11-year-old boy who presented with headache and progressive right-sided weakness exhibited cortical swelling in the parafalcine area of both frontoparietal high convexity and splenium portion of corpus callosum on brain MRI. This suggested the possibility of encephalopathy, but required differential diagnosis from brain tumor. 18 F-FET ( O -(2-[ 18 F]fluoroethyl)- l -tyrosine) PET/CT identified increased uptake along the parafalcine area of the frontoparietal lobes and the splenium portion of the corpus callosum.

Effects of taurine and ginseng extracts on energy metabolism during exercise and their anti-fatigue properties in mice.

Background/objectives: Ginseng extract (GSE) and taurine (TR) are widely used antifatigue resources in functional foods. However, the mechanism underlying the antifatigue effects of GSE and TR are still unclear. Hence, we investigated whether GSE and TR have synergistic effects against fatigue in mice.

Acupuncture and electroacupuncture for stroke: A protocol for overview of systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The aim of this study was to undertake a systematic overview of meta-analyses and published systematic reviews to identify whether and when acupunctureand electroacupuncture are deemed efficacious treatment options for stroke and stroke-related disorders.

Methods: Four databases, namely, PubMed, AMED, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library will be searched from their inception. Two reviewers will independently perform study selection, data extraction, and assessment.