[ C]Carfentanil PET Whole-Body Imaging of Mu-Opioid Receptors: A First In-Human Study.

Introduction: Mu-opioid receptors (MORs) are G-coupled protein receptors with a high affinity for both endogenous and exogenous opioids. MORs are widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), peripheral organs, and the immune system. They mediate pain and reward and have been implicated in the pathophysiology of opioid, cocaine, and other substance use disorders.

Endoluminal radiofrequency ablation with stenting versus stenting alone in patients with malignant biliary obstruction: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Endoluminal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a palliative treatment for patients suffering from malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of RFA on stent patency, patient survival, and adverse events.

Methods: Major databases were searched through December 2023 for patients who had undergone stenting with or without RFA for extrahepatic MBO.

Pharmacokinetic effects of a single-dose nutritional ketone ester supplement on brain ketone and glucose metabolism in alcohol use disorder - a pilot study.

Introduction: Acute alcohol intake decreases brain glucose metabolism and increases brain uptake of acetate, a metabolite of alcohol. Individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) show elevated brain acetate metabolism at the expense of glucose, a shift in energy utilization that persists beyond acute intoxication. We recently reported that nutritional ketosis and administration of ketone bodies as an alternative energy source to glucose reduce alcohol withdrawal severity and alcohol craving in AUD.

Molecular Imaging of Pulmonary Inflammation in Users of Electronic and Combustible Cigarettes: A Pilot Study.

Electronic cigarette (EC) use has increased dramatically, particularly among adolescents and young adults, and, like cigarette use, can cause pulmonary inflammation and increase the risk of lung disease. This preliminary study used PET with F-6-(1/2)(2-fluoro-propyl)-4-methylpyridin-2-amine (F-NOS) to quantify inducible nitric oxide synthase expression to characterize oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs in vivo in 3 age- and sex-matched groups: 5 EC users, 5 cigarette smokers, and 5 controls who had never smoked or vaped. EC users showed greater F-NOS nondisplaceable binding potential (BP) than cigarette smokers ( = 0.

Effect of Immunosuppressive Therapy and Biopsy Status in Monitoring Therapy Response in Suspected Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Background: Patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis frequently undergo fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging to assess disease activity at baseline and after treatment initiation.

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of immunosuppressive therapy and biopsy status to achieve complete treatment response (CTR), partial treatment response (PTR), or no response (NR) on myocardial FDG-PET/CT.

Methods: This study analyzed 83 patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis (aged 53 ± 1.

Positron Emission Tomography of Neuroimmune Responses in Humans: Insights and Intricacies.

The brain's immune system plays a critical role in responding to immune challenges and maintaining homeostasis. However, dysregulated neuroimmune function contributes to neurodegenerative disease and neuropsychiatric conditions. In vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the neuroimmune system has facilitated a greater understanding of its physiology and the pathology of some neuropsychiatric conditions.

[F]NOS PET Brain Imaging Suggests Elevated Neuroinflammation in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease.

Neuroinflammation is implicated as a key pathologic mechanism in many neurodegenerative diseases and is thought to be mediated in large part by microglia, native phagocytic immune cells of the CNS. Abnormal aggregation of the protein α-synuclein after phagocytosis by microglia is one possible neuropathophysiological mechanism driving Parkinson's disease (PD). We conducted a human pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of targeting the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase using the [F]NOS radiotracer to measure neuroinflammation in idiopathic PD.

Perfusion-only imaging in pregnant women: A comparative reader study with implications for practice patterns.

This study seeks to understand the value of ventilation imaging in pregnant patients imaged for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). Ventilation-perfusion (VQ) scans in this high-risk population were compared to ventilation-only scans. We hypothesize that in this relatively healthy population, the exclusion of ventilation scans will not impact the rate of scans interpreted as positive.

Self- and Partner-Reported Subjective Memory Complaints: Association with Objective Cognitive Impairment and Risk of Decline.

Background: Episodic memory decline is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) may represent one of the earliest signs of impending cognitive decline. The degree to which self- or partner-reported SMCs predict cognitive change remains unclear.

Gait abnormalities and non-motor symptoms predict abnormal dopaminergic imaging in presumed drug-induced Parkinsonism.

Drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) can be clinically indistinguishable from degenerative parkinsonism, and bedside assessments are needed to differentiate between these conditions. We examined 34 U.S.

Stable Extent of Recurrently Active Cardiac and Cutaneous Sarcoidosis.

Recurrent or persistently active sarcoidosis is a risk factor for permanent organ damage. Whether this damage is due to accumulated focal injuries or progressive disease extent is not known, as the natural history of chronic inflammation in sarcoidosis is poorly characterized. The objective of this study is to determine the pattern of disease in recurrently active sarcoidosis.

Evolving Bilateral Hypermetabolic Axillary Lymphadenopathy on FDG PET/CT Following 2-Dose COVID-19 Vaccination.

A 50-year-old woman with stage IV sigmoid adenocarcinoma presented for restaging FDG PET/CT status post neoadjuvant chemotherapy/immunotherapy and diverting sigmoid colostomy. FDG PET/CT demonstrated FDG uptake in the known sigmoid mass and in abdominopelvic lymph node metastases. Bilateral, asymmetric, hypermetabolic axillary lymphadenopathy was also observed, an atypical pattern of spread for colon cancer.

Rates of longitudinal change in F-flortaucipir PET vary by brain region, cognitive impairment, and age in atypical Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) studies of tau accumulation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have noted reduced increases or frank decreases in tau signal. We investigated how such reductions related to analytical confounds and disease progression markers in atypical AD.

Methods: We assessed regional and interindividual variation in longitudinal change on F-flortaucipir PET imaging in 24 amyloid beta (Aβ)+ patients with atypical, early-onset amnestic or non-amnestic AD plus 62 Aβ- and 132 Aβ+ Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants.

Incremental prognostic value of visually estimated coronary artery calcium in patients undergoing positron emission tomography imaging.

Objective: Visually estimated coronary artery calcium (VECAC) from chest CT or attenuation correction (AC)/CT obtained during positron emission tomography (PET)-myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is feasible. Our aim was to determine the prognostic value of VECAC beyond conventional risk factors and PET imaging parameters, including coronary flow reserve (CFR).

Methods: We analysed 608 patients without known coronary artery disease who underwent PET-MPI between 2012 and 2016 and had AC/CT and/or chest CT images.

Quantitative FDG PET asymmetry features predict long-term seizure recurrence in refractory epilepsy.

Objective: Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is an established, independent, strong predictor of surgical outcome in refractory epilepsy. In this study, we explored the added value of quantitative [F]FDG-PET features combined with clinical variables, including electroencephalography (EEG), [F]FDG-PET, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) qualitative interpretations, to predict long-term seizure recurrence (mean post-op follow-up of 5.85 ± 3.

Frontiers in Neuroscience Imaging: Whole-Body PET.

Since its inception, PET imaging of the nervous system and neuropsychiatric disease has focused on the brain. Although this has resulted in many important contributions to basic science and clinical medicine, PET has not been used to explore nervous system physiology and disease throughout the remainder of the body. Our understanding of neurologic disorders has also changed during this period, and we are beginning to realize that many neuropsychiatric diseases manifest throughout the entire body.

99mTc-Mebrofenin SPECT/CT in Hepatic Infarction.

A 68-year-old man with hereditary hypercoagulability was referred to nuclear medicine for elevated aminotransferases after a recent living-donor liver transplant. A hepatic infarction was suspected. A Tc-mebrofenin SPECT/CT was performed and showed decreased radiotracer uptake in a wedge-shaped distribution in the anterior liver suggestive of a hepatic infarction.

EANM practice guideline/SNMMI procedure standard for dopaminergic imaging in Parkinsonian syndromes 1.0.

Purpose: This joint practice guideline or procedure standard was developed collaboratively by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). The goal of this guideline is to assist nuclear medicine practitioners in recommending, performing, interpreting, and reporting the results of dopaminergic imaging in parkinsonian syndromes.

Methods: Currently nuclear medicine investigations can assess both presynaptic and postsynaptic function of dopaminergic synapses.