Surface functionalized cryogels - characterization methods, recent progress in preparation and application.

Cryogels are polymeric materials with a sponge-like microstructure and have attracted significant attention in recent decades. Research has focused on their composition, fabrication techniques, characterization methods as well as potential or existing fields of applications. The use of functional precursors or functionalizing ligands enables the preparation of cryogels with desired properties such as biocompatibility or responsivity.

Cryogels Based on Poly(2-oxazoline)s through Development of Bi- and Trifunctional Cross-Linkers Incorporating End Groups with Adjustable Stability.

1,4-Bis(iodomethyl)benzene and 1,3,5-tris(iodomethyl)benzene were used as initiators for the cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline (EtOx) and its copolymerization with -butyl (3-(4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)propyl)carbamate (BocOx) or methyl 3-(4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)propanoate (MestOx). Kinetic studies confirmed the applicability of these initiators. Termination with suitable nucleophiles resulted in two- and three-armed cross-linkers featuring acrylate, methacrylate, piperazine-acrylamide, and piperazine-methacrylamide as polymerizable ω-end groups.

Evaluation of reproducible cryogel preparation based on automated image analysis using deep learning.

Cryogels represent a class of porous sponge-like materials possessing unique properties including high-fidelity reproduction of tissue structure and maximized permeability. Their architecture is mainly based on an interconnected network of macropores that provides sufficient stability while allowing the movement of substances through the material. In most cryogel applications, the pore size is very important, especially when the material is used as a 3D scaffold for tissue culture, applied as a filter, or utilized as a membrane.

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate decorated cryogels as synthetic spatially structured habitats of marine bacterial communities.

In microbial consortia bacteria often settle on other organisms that provide nutrients and organic material for their growth. This is true for the plankton where microalgae perform photosynthesis and exude metabolites that feed associated bacteria. The investigation of such processes is difficult since algae provide bacteria with a spatially structured environment with a gradient of released organic material that is hard to mimic.

PSA levels, PSA doubling time, Gleason score and prior therapy cannot predict measured uptake of [68Ga]PSMA-HBED-CC lesion uptake in recurrent/metastatic prostate cancer.

Aim: To assess whether clinical prostate cancer (PCA) related factors and therapy status can predict the degree of tracer uptake on [Ga]PSMA-HBED-CC PET/CT.

Materials & Methods: We retrospectively studied 124 patients with recurrent an/or metastatic PCA who underwent [Ga]PSMAHBED-CC PET/CT. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was determined in the prostate bed as well as in three size categories (≤ 5 mm, > 5-15 mm, > 15 mm) in pelvic lymph node, extrapelvic lymph node, bone and visceral metastases.

The reconstruction algorithm used for [Ga]PSMA-HBED-CC PET/CT reconstruction significantly influences the number of detected lymph node metastases and coeliac ganglia.

Purpose: To investigate whether the numbers of lymph node metastases and coeliac ganglia delineated on [Ga]PSMA-HBED-CC PET/CT scans differ among datasets generated using different reconstruction algorithms.

Methods: Data were constructed using the BLOB-OS-TF, BLOB-OS and 3D-RAMLA algorithms. All reconstructions were assessed by two nuclear medicine physicians for the number of pelvic/paraaortal lymph node metastases as well the number of coeliac ganglia.

Metabolic tumour volume of anal carcinoma on (18)FDG PET/CT before combined radiochemotherapy is the only independant determinant of recurrence free survival.

Aim: to determine whether [(18)F]2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography and X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) findings and metabolic parameters before combined chemo- and radiotherapy (CRT) have a prognostic value in patients with anal carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: 45 patients with anal cancer who underwent pre-treatment FDG-PET/CT were included. Metabolic parameters, recurrence and anal carcinoma specific survival were analyzed.

No clinically relevant differences between positron emission tomography (PET) reconstructions based on low-dose or contrast-enhanced CT in combined integrated multiphase (18) F-Fluorethylcholine PET/CT for prostate cancer.

Objectives: To qualitatively and quantitatively compare the reconstructions of (18) F-Fluorethylcholine (FCH) positron emission tomography (PET) based on the non-enhanced X-ray computed tomography (neCT) and contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT) acquired in integrated PET/CT in prostate cancer (PCA) patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed FCH-PET/CTs of 63 PCA patients. PET images were reconstructed using either neCT or ceCT for attenuation correction.

Detection of recurrent prostate cancer lesions before salvage lymphadenectomy is more accurate with (68)Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC than with (18)F-Fluoroethylcholine PET/CT.

Aim: [(68)Ga]PSMA-HBED-CC ((68)Ga-PSMA) is a novel and promising tracer for highly sensitive combined integrated positron emission tomography and X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) diagnosis of recurrent prostate cancer (PCA). Our aim was to assess the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value (PPV/NPV), and accuracy per lesion, as well as the positive predictive value per patient of (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT using post-lymphadenectomy histology as a standard, and to compare these values to those obtained in a patient collective scanned using (18)F-Fluoroethylcholine ((18)FEC) PET/CT.

Methods: Thirty eight patients had (18)FEC and 28 patients had (68)Ga-PSMA.

Extent of disease in recurrent prostate cancer determined by [(68)Ga]PSMA-HBED-CC PET/CT in relation to PSA levels, PSA doubling time and Gleason score.

Purpose: To examine the relationship between the extent of disease determined by [(68)Ga]PSMA-HBED-CC-PET/CT and the important clinical measures prostate-specific antigen (PSA), PSA doubling time (PSAdt) and Gleason score.

Methods: We retrospectively studied the first 155 patients with recurrent prostate cancer (PCA) referred to our university hospital for [(68)Ga]PSMA-HBED-CC PET/CT.

Results: PET/CT was positive in 44%, 79% and 89% of patients with PSA levels of ≤1, 1-2 and ≥2 ng/ml, respectively.

Phantom studies and clinical application of high resolution, image reconstruction using (18)F-fluoromethylcholine PET/CT for prostate cancer.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of a high resolution (HR) image reconstruction with a voxel size of 2mm in comparison to the most routinely used standard reconstruction with 4mm voxels in patients suffering from prostate cancer having undergone (18)F-methylcholine PET/CT. Phantom studies were performed using a Jaszczak phantom and a custom made phantom containing small hot lesions (size 2-10mm). Clinical evaluation was performed on PET/CT scans of 50 patients.

[(68)Ga]PSMA-HBED uptake mimicking lymph node metastasis in coeliac ganglia: an important pitfall in clinical practice.

Purpose: To determine the frequency of seemingly pathological retroperitoneal uptake in the location of the coeliac ganglia in patients undergoing [(68)Ga]PSMA-HBED PET/CT.

Methods: The study included 85 men with prostate cancer referred for [(68)Ga]PSMA-HBED PET/CT. The PET/CT scans were evaluated for the local finding in the prostate and the presence of lymph node metastases, distant metastases and coeliac ganglia.

Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: conventional ventilation/perfusion SPECT is superior to the combination of perfusion SPECT and nonenhanced CT.

Background: Ventilation/perfusion single-emission photon CT (V/P-SPECT) is widely used to detect pulmonary embolism (PE). Any pathological deficit on P-SPECT with a corresponding unremarkable V-SPECT is considered an embolism. This means that a deficit on P-SPECT with a corresponding deficit on the ventilation scan correlates with other lung pathologies such as pneumonia, bullous emphysema or tumor.

Maximum dose rate is a determinant of hypothyroidism after 131I therapy of Graves' disease but the total thyroid absorbed dose is not.

Context: The determinants of successful (131)I therapy of Graves' disease (GD) are unclear.

Objective: To relate dosimetry parameters to outcome of therapy to identify significant determinants eu- and/or hypothyroidism after (131)I therapy in patients with GD.

Setting And Design: A retrospective study in which 206 Patients with GD treated in University Hospital between November 1999 and January 2011.

(68)Ga-DOTATATE-positron emission tomography imaging in spinal meningioma.

Imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) and (68)Ga-DOTA peptides is a promising method in intracranial meningiomas. Especially in recurrent meningioma discrimination between scar tissue and recurrent tumor tissue in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often difficult. We report the first case of (68)Ga-DOTATATE-PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging in recurrent spinal meningioma.

Thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology: molecular imaging with ⁹⁹mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) is more cost-effective than the Afirma gene expression classifier.

Purpose: To compare the cost-effectiveness of (99m)Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) thyroid scintigraphy and the Afirma gene expression classifier for the assessment of cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules.

Methods: A decision tree model was used. Costs were calculated from the perspective of the German health insurance system.

Prognostic relevance of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in carcinoma of unknown primary.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether F-FDG PET combined with x-ray CT (F-FDG PET/CT) findings have a prognostic impact in patients with carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP).

Patients And Methods: Seventy patients with CUP who were referred for F-FDG PET/CT were included. F-FDG PET/CT results were checked against available histologic diagnosis and follow-up data.

Negative 18F-2-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT predicts good cancer specific survival in patients with a suspicion of recurrent ovarian cancer.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of combined (18)F-2-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and contrast enhanced X-ray computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in women with a suspicion of recurrent ovarian cancer.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 48 patients with a suspicion of recurrent ovarian cancer who were referred to our department for combined FDG-PET/CT.

Results: Median follow-up was 25 months.

Relationship between positive thyroglobulin doubling time and 18F-FDG PET/CT-positive, 131I-negative lesions.

Aim: In patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), metastases can either show iodine-131 (I) uptake on whole-body scintigraphy or F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-FDG) uptake on combined PET and X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT), or a mix of both. The present study investigates the relationship between uptake patterns and prognosis in DTC patients, using thyroglobulin doubling time (TgDT) as a surrogate marker of prognosis.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively examined F-FDG PET/CT and I WBS in 65 DTC patients who were referred to our department of nuclear medicine for F-FDG PET/CT between May 2007 and June 2011.

A low molecular weight zinc2+-dipicolylamine-based probe detects apoptosis during tumour treatment better than an annexin V-based probe.

Objectives: Molecular imaging of apoptosis is frequently discussed for monitoring cancer therapies. Here, we compare the low molecular weight phosphatidylserine-targeting ligand zinc2+-dipicolylamine (Zn2+-DPA) with the established but reasonably larger protein annexin V.

Methods: Molecular apoptosis imaging with the fluorescently labelled probes annexin V (750 nm, 36 kDa) and Zn2+-DPA (794 nm, 1.