18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI as imaging biomarkers in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the use of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET with computed tomography (CT) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI to predict prognosis and monitor treatment in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Patients And Methods: F-FDG PET/CT and DCE-MRI studies carried out as part of the South West Area Mesothelioma Pemetrexed trial were used. F-FDG PET/CT and DCE-MRI studies were carried out before treatment, and after two cycles of chemotherapy, on patients treated with pemetrexed and cisplatin.

UK audit of quantitative thyroid uptake imaging.

Aim: A national audit of quantitative thyroid uptake imaging was conducted by the Nuclear Medicine Software Quality Group of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine in 2014/2015. The aims of the audit were to measure and assess the variability in thyroid uptake results across the UK and to compare local protocols with British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS) guidelines.

Participants And Methods: Participants were invited through a combination of emails on a public mailbase and targeted invitations from regional co-ordinators.

UK audit of glomerular filtration rate measurement from plasma sampling in 2013.

Introduction: An audit was carried out into UK glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculation. The results were compared with an identical 2001 audit.

Methods: Participants used their routine method to calculate GFR for 20 data sets (four plasma samples) in millilitres per minute and also the GFR normalized for body surface area.

An audit of half-count myocardial perfusion imaging using resolution recovery software.

Introduction: The Nuclear Medicine Software Quality Group of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine has conducted a multicentre, multivendor audit to evaluate the use of resolution recovery software from several manufacturers when applied to myocardial perfusion data with half the normal counts acquired under a variety of clinical protocols in a range of departments. The objective was to determine whether centres could obtain clinical results with half-count data processed with resolution recovery software that were equivalent to those obtained using their normal protocols.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen centres selected 50 routine myocardial perfusion studies each, from which the Nuclear Medicine Software Quality Group generated simulated half-count studies using Poisson resampling.

UK audit of quantification of left-ventricular function using gated myocardial perfusion imaging.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate UK-wide interinstitutional reproducibility of left-ventricular functional parameters, end-systolic volume, end-diastolic volume and ejection fraction, obtained from gated myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPI) studies using technetium-99m-labelled radiopharmaceuticals. The study was carried out by the UK Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine Nuclear Medicine Software Quality Group.

Materials And Methods: Ten anonymized clinical GMPI studies, five with normal perfusion and five with perfusion defects, were made available in DICOM and proprietary formats for download and through manufacturers' representatives.

An audit of manufacturers' implementation of reconstruction filters in single-photon emission computed tomography.

Aim: The Nuclear Medicine Software Quality Group of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine has conducted an audit to compare the ways in which different manufacturers implement the filters used in single-photon emission computed tomography. The aim of the audit was to identify differences between manufacturers' implementations of the same filter and to find means for converting parameters between systems.

Methods: Computer-generated data representing projection images of an ideal test object were processed using seven different commercial nuclear medicine systems.

Investigation of normal ranges for left ventricular ejection fraction in cardiac gated blood pool imaging studies using different processing workstations.

Background: An investigation has been undertaken to calculate normal ranges for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by the gated blood pool (GBP) technique. A common set of normal studies was used at 11 hospitals within the south of England to assess the variability of results and normal ranges.

Methods: Normal studies were identified by retrospective review of patients who had undergone a GBP study and echocardiogram at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

Outdoor production of Phaeodactylum tricornutum biomass in a helical reactor.

The production of microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum in an outdoor helical reactor was analysed. The influence of temperature, solar irradiance and air flow rate on the yield of the culture was evaluated. Biomass productivities up to 1.

Outdoor helical tubular photobioreactors for microalgal production: modeling of fluid-dynamics and mass transfer and assessment of biomass productivity.

The production of the microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum in an outdoor helical reactor was analyzed. First, fluid dynamics, mass-transfer capability, and mixing of the reactor was evaluated at different superficial gas velocities. Performance of the reactor was controlled by power input per culture volume.