The Current State of Nuclear Nephrology in Modern Medicine.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the most reliable parameter of renal function. Regarding the complexity of the gold standard inulin clearance, different estimating equations have been developed with CKD-EPI creatinine equation recommended as the most reliable one. In some clinical situations where creatinine based equations might not be valid, alternative methods are needed.

Comparative analysis of different nuclear medicine techniques in evaluation of renal function.

Introduction: Nuclear medicine (NM) methods play an important role in the evaluation of renal function in a wide range of clinical indications. The aim of our study was to evaluate the correlation between measured GFR (mGFR) obtained by the three-plasma sample slope-intercept NM method (TPSM) - reference method vs. estimated GFR (eGFR) using Fleming's single plasma sample method (SPSM) at 120 min, 180 min, and 240 min and correlation of reference method with eGFR with camera-based Gates' protocol.

The Evaluation of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Using Radiocolloid in First Stage Endometrial Cancer.

Objectives: Detection of a sentinel lymph node (SLN) in patients with endometrial cancer (EC) reduces the rate of unnecessary systemic lymph dissection. The aim of this study was to assess the SLN detection rate, accuracy of the method using Tc-99m-SENTI-SCINT and the rate of metastatic nodal involvement in patients with preoperative first stage EC.

Methods: A prospective study of SLN biopsy of 41 patients with stage I EC was conducted after cervical application of 4mCi Tc-99m-SENTI-SCINT.

Molecular imaging of HER2 receptor: Targeting HER2 for imaging and therapy in nuclear medicine.

Targeting HER 2 for imaging and therapy in nuclear medicine has been used with a special emphasis on developing more powerful radiopharmaceuticals. Zirconium-89 plays an essential role in immune PET imaging so was used labeled with anti-HER2 antibody (Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab). Also there were attempts with other PET tracers as Cuprum-64 and Galium-68, as well as SPECT radiopharmaceuticals Indium-111 and Technetium- 99m.

Decoupling channel count from field of view and spatial resolution in single-sensor imaging systems for fluorescence image-guided surgery.

Significance: Near-infrared fluorescence image-guided surgery is often thought of as a spectral imaging problem where the channel count is the critical parameter, but it should also be thought of as a multiscale imaging problem where the field of view and spatial resolution are similarly important.

Aim: Conventional imaging systems based on division-of-focal-plane architectures suffer from a strict relationship between the channel count on one hand and the field of view and spatial resolution on the other, but bioinspired imaging systems that combine stacked photodiode image sensors and long-pass/short-pass filter arrays offer a weaker tradeoff.

Approach: In this paper, we explore how the relevant changes to the image sensor and associated image processing routines affect image fidelity during image-guided surgeries for tumor removal in an animal model of breast cancer and nodal mapping in women with breast cancer.

Ultrasound features and preoperative accuracy of the fine needle aspiration biopsy in detection of thyroid carcinomas.

Objective: To analyze the ultrasound (US) characteristics and fine needle biopsy (FNAB) of thyroid carcinomas (TCs) prior to surgery and compare with postoperative histopathology and to determine FNAB sensitivity and specificity.

Material And Methods: Retrospective analysis of the US data during 1999-2015 was performed, as well as analysis of FNAB results and using histopathology report as "gold standard" the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of this method was evaluated.

Results: Data revealed that tumors >51 mm were declining by 50% in the period 2011-2015 compared to 2005-2010 or by 18% 2011-2015 compared to 1999-2004 and significant increase was detected in diagnosis of multicentric tumors.

Universal salt iodization potentially contributes to health equity: socio-economic status of children does not affect iodine status.

Objectives: Many studies have shown that socio-economic status (SES) contributes to health inequalities, with nutrition as one of the major risk factors. Iodine intake entirely depends on external sources, and deficiencies are known to be more prevalent in lower social groups, especially in countries with limited access to iodized salt. This study aimed to determine the influence of SES on iodine status and iodine availability from household salt in North Macedonia.

Preoperative detection of sentinel lymph node in patients with endometrial cancer - comparison of planar lymphoscintigraphy, spect and SPECT/CT.

Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping allows minimal invasive assessment of lymph node status in patients with early-stage endometrial cancer (EC). Intraoperative detection of SLNs is based on the results obtained from preoperative nuclear medical images. The purpose of this study was to compare the data obtained from planar lymphoscintigraphy (PL), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and SPECT with computed tomography (SPECT/CT) for preoperative SLN detection in patients with EC.

Hexachromatic bioinspired camera for image-guided cancer surgery.

Cancer affects one in three people worldwide. Surgery remains the primary curative option for localized cancers, but good prognoses require complete removal of primary tumors and timely recognition of metastases. To expand surgical capabilities and enhance patient outcomes, we developed a six-channel color/near-infrared image sensor inspired by the mantis shrimp visual system that enabled near-infrared fluorescence image guidance during surgery.

Platlet-Rich Plasma - Review of Literature.

Wound healing is a dynamic and physiological process for restoring the normal architecture and functionality of damaged tissue. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous whole blood product that contains a large number of platelets in a small volume of plasma with complete set of coagulation factors, which are in physiological concentrations. PRP has haemostatic, adhesive properties and acts supraphysiologically in the process of wound healing and osteogenesis.

Epidemiology of Thyroid Carcinomas in North Macedonia (1999-2015).

Objective: We have set as objective to analyze epidemiological data of diagnosed thyroid carcinoma (TC) cases, incidence and prevalence rate by gender, age, histopathological type, and statistical regions in R. of N. Macedonia during the period 1999 to 2015.

AROME-ESO Oncology Consensus Conference: access to cancer care innovations in countries with limited resources. Association of Radiotherapy and Oncology of the Mediterranean Area (AROME-Paris) and European School of Oncology (ESO - Milan).

Purpose: Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Its incidence is still increasing, particularly in developing countries. Recent progresses further strengthen the differences between low/middle and high-income countries.

Molecular Imaging in Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among females with more than 2 million new cases diagnosed worldwide in 2018. Although the prognosis in the majority of cases in the early stages combined with appropriate treatment is positive, there are still about 30% of patients who will develop locoregional diseases and distant metastases. Molecular imaging is very important in the diagnosis, staging, follow-up, and radiotherapy planning.

Prognostic factors in thyroid carcinomas: a 17-year outcome study.

Objectives The aim of our study was to evaluate the survival rate of all thyroid carcinomas (TCs) diagnosed in the 1999-2015 period in the Republic of North Macedonia and to analyze the prognostic influence of several characteristics on development of distant metastases, as well as to analyze the prognostic effect of seven clinical and constitutional features on mortality. Material and methods A retrospective analysis of medical data from all TCs diagnosed in 1999-2015 was performed. The survival rate of all types of TCs was estimated using the Kaplan Meier method.

Thyroid cancer detection rate and associated risk factors in patients with thyroid nodules classified as Bethesda category III.

Background Ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a standard procedure for thyroid nodules management and selecting patients for surgical treatment. Atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) or follicular lesion of undetermined significance (FLUS), as stated by The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology, is a diagnostic category with an implied malignancy risk of 5-15%. The aim of our study was to review cytology and histopathology reports, as well as clinical and ultrasound data, for thyroid nodules reported as AUS/FLUS, in order to evaluate the malignancy rate and to assess factors associated with malignant outcome.

Absent Tc-MIBI Uptake in the Thyroid Gland during Early Phase of Parathyroid Scintigraphy in Patients with Primary and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Thyroid uptake of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-MIBI) during parathyroid scintigraphy can be affected by various conditions.

Aim: To evaluate the frequency of absent Tc-MIBI uptake by the thyroid gland in the early phase of dual-phase parathyroid scintigraphy.

Methods: The early planar images of dual phase Tc MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy from 217 patients performed between 2014 and 2017 were retrospectively analysed.

Sentinel Lymph Node Detection in Colorectal Cancer - First Experience.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second commonest cancer in women, the third in men, being the fourth commonest cause of cancer death. The most important factor for prognosis and staging in CRC patients is the status of the regional lymph nodes (LN).

Aim: To implement the method for sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in CRC patients using radiocolloid, and test its detection rate, sensitivity, accuracy, negative predictive value and the possibility for upstaging.

Normal Values of Tissue-Muscle Perfusion Indexes of Lower Limbs Obtained with a Scintigraphic Method.

Introduction Muscle perfusion is a physiologic process that can undergo quantitative assessment and thus define the range of normal values of perfusion indexes and perfusion reserve. The investigation of the microcirculation has a crucial role in determining the muscle perfusion. Materials and method The study included 30 examinees, 24-74 years of age, without a history of confirmed peripheral artery disease and all had normal findings on Doppler ultrasonography and pedo-brachial index of lower extremity (PBI).

Synergistic Effect of Hyperoxia and Biotrauma On Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury.

Patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in intensive care units (ICUs) may develop ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Beside the high tidal volume (Vt) and plateau pressure (Pplat), hyperoxia is supposed to precipitate lung injury. Oxygen toxicity is presumed to occur at levels of fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) exceeding 0.

Factor V Leiden is associated with higher risk of deep venous thrombosis of large blood vessels.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of factor V Leiden mutation in patients with different presentation of venous thromboembolic disease and healthy individuals in the Republic of Macedonia.

Methods: The retrospective case control study involved 190 patients with venous thromboembolic disease and 200 healthy individuals, who were screened for the presence of factor V Leiden mutation, using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The prevalence of factor V Leiden was analyzed according to the localization of thrombosis, presence of risk factors, and family history of thrombosis.