Variability in subjective review of umbilical cord blood colony forming unit assay.

Background: The goal of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the reproducibility of current manual counting methods of colony forming units (CFUs) from umbilical cord blood samples METHODS: Fresh and reconstituted frozen cells from 10 cord blood samples were cultured under standard conditions. The number of BFU-Es, CFU-GMs, and CFU-GEMMs were counted by three expert reviewers using the standard microscope method and manually traced CFUs on digital images of cell cultures.

Results: The mean colony count based on the traced digital images was 82 (22% CV) and 52 (15% CV) for the fresh and frozen samples, respectively.

Variability in myocardial metabolism on serial tumor (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans.

(18)F Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) scans are performed routinely for oncologic patients. Myocardial uptake can vary among patients and between serial studies in the same patient. Our study aims to evaluate myocardial metabolism on staging FDG PET scans and to analyze factors influencing patterns of cardiac uptake, and their relevance.

¹¹¹In-DTPA cisternography with SPECT/CT for the evaluation of normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Although new MR imaging techniques can provide high-resolution information on CSF dynamics and are not associated with ionizing radiation, SPECT/CT cisternography is a valuable alternative for those with contraindications to MR imaging. SPECT/CT cisternography combines functional and anatomic imaging to provide accurate and detailed information on CSF distribution to be used in conjunction with clinical findings for the diagnosis and evaluation of NPH, as illustrated in this case report.

Sternoclavicular joint reconstruction--a systematic review.

Background: Dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint is a rare injury that has a low incidence of signifcant long-term symptoms. Surgical reconstruction of the joint is indicated in patients with symptomatic, chronic anterior instability or with irreducible or recurrent posterior instability. There have been many reported techniques for stabilization of the joint, but few investigators have reported more than several cases.