Combined IgE neutralization and Bifidobacterium longum supplementation reduces the allergic response in models of food allergy.

IgE is central to the development of allergic diseases, and its neutralization alleviates allergic symptoms. However, most of these antibodies are based on IgG1, which is associated with an increased risk of fragment crystallizable-mediated side effects. Moreover, omalizumab, an anti-IgE antibody approved for therapeutic use, has limited benefits for patients with high IgE levels.

Key Factors to Attract More U.S. Diagnostic Radiology Residents into the Field of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging: A National Survey.

Rationale And Objectives: To understand the current state of radiology residents' exposure to nuclear medicine and molecular imaging (NM/MI), determine key factors that may attract more trainees into the field, and identify differentiating aspects between those specializing in NM/MI and those who are not.

Materials And Methods: An anonymous web-based survey was sent to contacts at all diagnostic radiology residency programs in the United States for dissemination to their residents, collecting information about trainees' NM/MI exposure during residency and factors that may attract them to NM/MI.

Results: A total of 198 trainees responded to the survey, 34 of whom plan on pursuing a career in NM/MI.

COVID Lessons Continue: Postvaccination Somatostatin Receptor-Positive Axillary Nodes on DOTATATE Imaging.

COVID vaccination has begun in most of the countries. Older population and high-risk groups are prioritized for vaccination. Postvaccination imaging in cancer patients may show effects of the immune response to the vaccine.

PET/computed tomography in inpatients: part 1, international survey.

Purpose: The purposes of this study are to (1) identify patterns of inpatient PET/computed tomography (CT) use in and outside of the USA and (2) characterize inpatient PET/CT use by location and indication.

Materials And Methods: The study was deemed exempt by the Institutional Review Board. A survey link through REDCap was emailed to the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) members and PET Centers of Excellence members and posted on the SNMMI website.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Academic Nuclear Medicine: National Survey of Nuclear Medicine Residency Program Directors.

A diverse health-care workforce is a necessary component of equitable care delivery to an increasingly diverse U.S. population.

Assessment of tumor hypoxia and perfusion in recurrent glioblastoma following bevacizumab failure using MRI and F-FMISO PET.

Tumoral hypoxia correlates with worse outcomes in glioblastoma (GBM). While bevacizumab is routinely used to treat recurrent GBM, it may exacerbate hypoxia. Evofosfamide is a hypoxia-targeting prodrug being tested for recurrent GBM.

F-18 FDG perfusion PET: intraprocedural assessment of the liver tumor ablation margin.

Purpose: To evaluate F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) perfusion PET during FDG PET/CT-guided liver tumor microwave ablation procedures for assessing the ablation margin and correlating minimum margin measurements with local progression.

Methods: This IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant study included 20 adult patients (11 M, 9 F; mean age 65) undergoing FDG PET/CT-guided liver microwave ablation to treat 31 FDG-avid tumors. Intraprocedural FDG perfusion PET was performed to assess the ablation margin.

Assessing ablation margins of FDG-avid liver tumors during PET/CT-guided thermal ablation procedures: a retrospective study.

Background: To retrospectively assess liver tumor ablation margins using intraprocedural PET/CT images from FDG PET/CT-guided microwave or cryoablation procedures and to correlate minimum margin measurements with local progression outcomes.

Methods: Fifty-six patients (ages 36 to 85, median 62; 32 females) with 77 FDG-avid liver tumors underwent 60 FDG PET/CT guided, percutaneous microwave, or cryoablation procedures. Single breath-hold PET/CT images were used for intraprocedural assessment of the tumor ablation margin: liver tumors remained visible on PET immediately following ablation; microwave ablation zones were visible using contrast-enhanced CT; cryoablation zones (ice balls) were visible using unenhanced CT.

US Trainee and Faculty Perspectives on Exposure to Nuclear Medicine/Molecular Imaging During Medical School.

Purpose: (1) To identify key factors, especially during medical school, driving trainees to pursue nuclear medicine/molecular imaging (NM/MI) as a career. (2) To understand the current state of medical student exposure to NM/MI.

Methods: We disseminated 2 surveys by email.

Extraprostatic Uptake of F-Fluciclovine: Differentiation of Nonprostatic Neoplasms From Metastatic Prostate Cancer.

Fluciclovine is a synthetic radiolabeled amino acid analog used for imaging of biochemical recurrent prostate cancer. Uptake of fluciclovine is mediated by several amino acid transporters, including alanine-serine-cysteine transporter 2 and large neutral amino acid transporters, which are known to be overexpressed in other malignancies. Knowledge of the common patterns of prostate cancer recurrence, in addition to what other neoplasms can show uptake, is critical for accurate study interpretation.

Quantitative [F]florbetapir PET/CT may identify lung involvement in patients with systemic AL amyloidosis.

Purpose: The clinical diagnosis of pulmonary involvement in individuals with systemic AL amyloidosis remains challenging. [F]florbetapir imaging has previously identified AL amyloid deposits in the heart and extra-cardiac organs. The aim of this study is to determine quantitative [F]florbetapir pulmonary kinetics to identify pulmonary involvement in individuals with systemic AL amyloidosis.

Feasibility of somatostatin receptor-targeted imaging for detection of myocardial inflammation: A pilot study.

Background: Gallium-68 Dotatate binds preferentially to somatostatin receptor (sstr) subtype-2 (sstr-2) on inflammatory cells. We aimed at investigating the potential clinical use of sstr-targeted imaging for the detection of myocardial inflammation.

Methods: Thirteen patients, with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) based on clinical history and myocardial uptake on recent fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET, were enrolled to undergo Dotatate PET after FDG-PET (median time 37 days [IQR 25-55]).

Early Detection of Multiorgan Light-Chain Amyloidosis by Whole-Body F-Florbetapir PET/CT.

Immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis affects multiple systemic organs. However, determination of the precise extent of organ involvement remains challenging. Targeted amyloid imaging with F-florbetapir PET/CT offers the potential to detect AL deposits in multiple organs.

18F-FDG Uptake in Subcutaneous Fat Preceding Clinical Diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Lipodystrophy.

A 62-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on long-standing highly active antiretroviral therapy presented for F-FDG PET/CT evaluation of a pulmonary nodule. The examination showed unusual radiotracer distribution accumulating in the subcutaneous and visceral fat with low cerebral and skeletal muscle uptake. Imaging features were consistent with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, an unsuspected diagnosis that was later confirmed on physical examination.

P2RX7-MAPK1/2-SP1 axis inhibits MTOR independent HSPB1-mediated astroglial autophagy.

Recently, we have reported that heat shock protein B1 (HSPB1) and purinergic receptor P2X7 (P2RX7) are involved in astroglial autophagy (clasmatodendrosis), following status epilepticus (SE). However, the underlying mechanisms of astroglial autophagy have not been completely established. In the present study, we found that the lacking of P2rx7 led to prolonged astroglial HSPB1 induction due to impaired mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 (MAPK1/2)-mediated specificity protein 1 (SP1) phosphorylation, following kainic acid-induced SE.

PLPP/CIN Regulates Seizure Activity by the Differential Modulation of Calsenilin Binding to GluN1 and Kv4.2 in Mice.

Calsenilin (CSEN) binds to Kv4.2 (an A-type K channel) as well as -methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), and modulates their activities. However, the regulatory mechanisms for CSEN-binding to Kv4.

Leptomycin B attenuates neuronal death via PKA- and PP2B-mediated ERK1/2 activation in the rat hippocampus following status epilepticus.

Leptomycin B (LMB), originally developed as an anti-fungal agent, has potent neuroprotective properties against status epilepticus (SE, a prolonged seizure activity). However, the pharmacological profiles and mechanisms of LMB for neuroprotection remain elusive. In the present study, we found that LMB increased phosphorylation levels of protein kinase A (PKA) catalytic subunits, protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B, calcineurin) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) under normal condition, and abolished SE-induced neuronal death.

Sustained HSP25 Expression Induces Clasmatodendrosis via ER Stress in the Rat Hippocampus.

Heat shock protein (HSP) 25 (murine/rodent 25 kDa, human 27 kDa) is one of the major astroglial HSP families, which has a potent anti-apoptotic factor contributing to a higher resistance of astrocytes to the stressful condition. However, impaired removals of HSP25 decrease astroglial viability. In the present study, we investigated whether HSP25 is involved in astroglial apoptosis or clasmatodendrosis (autophagic astroglial death) in the rat hippocampus induced by status epilepticus (SE).

PDI regulates seizure activity via NMDA receptor redox in rats.

Redox modulation of cysteine residues is one of the post-translational modifications of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Protein disulfide isomerases (PDI), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone, plays a crucial role in catalyzing disulfide bond formation, reduction, and isomerization. In the present study, we found that PDI bound to NMDAR in the normal hippocampus, and that this binding was increased in chronic epileptic rats.

CDK5 inhibitors prevent astroglial apoptosis and reactive astrogliosis by regulating PKA and DRP1 phosphorylations in the rat hippocampus.

Status epilepticus (SE) results in the unique pattern of dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1)-mediated mitochondrial dynamics, which is associated with astroglial apoptosis and reactive astrogliosis in the regional-specific pattern representing the differential astroglial properties. However, less defined are the epiphenomena/upstream effecters for DRP1 phosphorylation in this process. Since cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is involved in reactive astrogliosis, CDK5 is one of the possible upstream regulators for DRP1 phosphorylation.

Clinical Applications of a CT Window Blending Algorithm: RADIO (Relative Attenuation-Dependent Image Overlay).

A methodology is described using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Extendscript to process DICOM images with a Relative Attenuation-Dependent Image Overlay (RADIO) algorithm to visualize the full dynamic range of CT in one view, without requiring a change in window and level settings. The potential clinical uses for such an algorithm are described in a pictorial overview, including applications in emergency radiology, oncologic imaging, and nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.

The Differential DRP1 Phosphorylation and Mitochondrial Dynamics in the Regional Specific Astroglial Death Induced by Status Epilepticus.

The response and susceptibility to astroglial degenerations are relevant to the distinctive properties of astrocytes in a hemodynamic-independent manner following status epilepticus (SE). Since impaired mitochondrial fission plays an important role in mitosis, apoptosis and programmed necrosis, we investigated whether the unique pattern of mitochondrial dynamics is involved in the characteristics of astroglial death induced by SE. In the present study, SE induced astroglial apoptosis in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, accompanied by decreased mitochondrial length.

PLPP/CIN regulates bidirectional synaptic plasticity via GluN2A interaction with postsynaptic proteins.

Dendritic spines are dynamic structures whose efficacies and morphologies are modulated by activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. The actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in stabilization and structural modification of spines. However, the regulatory mechanism by which it alters the plasticity threshold remains elusive.