Physiological myocardial F-FDG uptake pattern in oncologic PET/CT: comparison with findings in cardiac sarcoidosis.

Objectives: Physiological myocardial F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) uptake in oncologic positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is commonly observed with multiple variations under clinical fasting conditions. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate physiological myocardial F-FDG uptake pattern by comparing with the results in cardiac sarcoidosis.

Methods: A total of 174 examinations in 174 patients without cardiac disease and 27 examinations in 17 patients with cardiac sarcoidosis were performed.

Association of Preoperative Depression Score With Outcomes of Transfibular Total Ankle Arthroplasty.

Favorable short-term results of transfibular total ankle arthroplasty have been reported in several studies; however, the factors affecting these results have not been elucidated. This study aimed to determine whether preoperative depression affects the outcome of transfibular total ankle arthroplasty and whether depression changes with surgery. Scores from the Japanese Society of Surgery of the Foot Ankle/Hindfoot scale (JSSF scale), Self-Administered Foot Evaluation Questionnaire (SAFE-Q), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Timed Up & Go test (TUG) were collected preoperatively, at 6 months, and at 1 year postoperatively from 20 patients.

Evaluating the effect of high-density measurement mode on patient-specific quality assurance for head and neck cancer with ArcCHECK.

The high-density measurement (HDm) mode of the ArcCHECK device can achieve a twofold resolution enhancement compared to the standard measurement (Sm) mode. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of HDm on the gamma passing rate (GPR) for the patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) in head and neck cancer. We retrospectively evaluated 30 patients who underwent volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for head and neck cancer.

[Influence of the Imaging Method on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Value in Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL): Comparison of Pulsed-ASL with Two-dimensional Acquisition and Pseudo-continuous-ASL with 3D Spiral Acquisition].

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to compare regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) images acquired by the pulsed arterial spin labeling with two-dimensional acquisition (PASL-2D) and the pseudo-continuous-ASL with three-dimensional spiral acquisition (pCASL-3D spiral), and to clarify the characteristics of rCBF values in both ASL methods.

Methods: PASL-2D and pCASL-3D spiral were performed in five healthy volunteers with no history of brain disease using 3T scanners from two venders in the same center. 3D T-weighted images and rCBF images were acquired by both ASL methods for a total of 3 sessions: twice at the initial visit (1st and 2nd), and 1 hour and 1 week later.

Supplement of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Endovenous Thermal Ablation for Varicose Veins: Overuse for the Inappropriate Indication.

While endovenous thermal ablation (ETA) become first choice of treatment for varicose veins, overuse of ETA for the inappropriate indication is growing problem. ETA is performed not only on varicose cases without symptom but also non diseased cases with segmental reflux of saphenous veins or no reflux. Indications of ETA was demonstrated in "the Clinical Practice Guidelines for ETA for Varicose Veins 2019" by Japanese Society of Phlebology.

[Investigation of the Administration Accuracy of an Auto Infusion Device in F-FDG PET].

Purpose: The administration accuracy of the automated infusion device for the positron emission radiopharmaceutical affects to calculation of the standardized uptake value (SUV) in F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET examination. The purpose of this study was to investigate the administration error in the clinical use of an automated infusion device for quantitative management in PET examination.

Methods: We assumed clinical use of the automated infusion device and investigated two types of administration errors.

Texture Indices of 18F-FDG PET/CT for Differentiating Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of the Oropharynx.

We assessed the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT texture indices for the differentiation of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the oropharynx. 18F-FDG PET/CT data for 27 patients with SCC and 25 patients with NHL in the oropharynx were investigated. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and six texture indices (homogeneity, entropy, short-run emphasis, long-run emphasis, low gray-level zone emphasis [LGZE], and high graylevel zone emphasis [HGZE]) were derived from PET images.

Effect of quantitative values on shortened acquisition duration in brain tumor C-methionine PET/CT.

Background: The amount of signal decreases when the acquisition duration is shortened. However, it is not clear how this affects the quantitative values. This study aims to clarify the effect of acquisition time shortening in brain tumor PET/CT using C-methionine on the quantitative values.

Fine-tuning of antigen-specific immune responses by regulatory T cells activated via antigen recognition-independent and humoral factor-dependent mechanisms.

CD4 CD25 Foxp3 regulatory T cells (Tregs) are highly sensitive to IL-2, one of the many cytokines produced during immune responses, for their development, survival and functions. Although the effects of IL-2 administration on Tregs in vivo are well characterized, the effects on Tregs elicited by IL-2 produced during an immune response have not been elucidated. Hence, in this study, Treg behaviour during IL-2-producing immune responses was explored using in vivo and in vitro murine systems.

[Creation of Stereo-paired Bone Anatomical Charts Using Human Bone Specimens for Radiation Education].

In radiological examinations of patients, we often take stacked images and three-dimensional (3D) images of human bone radiological images such as X-ray images and CT images. In general, learning of bone structure using specialized anatomy books is currently performed at medical radiological technologist education facilities. In the anatomy education of the medical school, in order to understand the structure of human and the individual bone shapes in detail, a real human bone specimen is used to gain knowledge of skeleton, bone shape, bone name and bone function.

Accuracy of target delineation by positron emission tomography-based auto-segmentation methods after deformable image registration: A phantom study.

Purpose: Diagnostic positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) images can be fused to the planning CT images by a deformable image registration (DIR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the standardized uptake value (SUV) and target delineation on deformed PET images.

Methods: We used a cylindrical phantom and removable inserts of four spheres (16-38 mm in diameter) and three ellipsoids with a volume equal to the 38-mm-diameter sphere (S38) in each.

Efficacy of a Nonrigid Image-registration Method in Comparison to Readout-segmented Echo-planar Imaging for Correcting Distortion in Diffusion-weighted Imaging.

We evaluated the effectiveness of distortion correction using a nonrigid image registration method in diffusion-weighted imaging, comparing it with readout-segmented echo planar imaging (RS-EPI). Unlike the RS-EPI, the effectiveness of the distortion correction of the nonrigid registration method depended on the slice level, being most accurate at the level of the basal ganglia, lateral ventricle, and centrum semiovale.

Heparin affects the induction of regulatory T cells independent of anti-coagulant activity and suppresses allogeneic immune responses.

Heparin is a widely used anti-coagulant that enhances anti-thrombin (AT) activity. However, heparin also suppresses immune and inflammatory responses in various rodent models and clinical trials, respectively. The mechanism by which heparin suppresses immune responses is unclear.

[Resection of Metastatic Lung Tumor with a Right Displaced Segmental Bronchus (B1+3);Report of a Case].

We experienced a resected case of metastatic lung tumor with a right displaced segmental bronchus (B1+3). The patient was an 82-year-old woman who had a history of surgery for transverse colon cancer. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a nodular shadow with an irregular margin( 3.

Integrated GWAS and mRNA Microarray Analysis Identified IFNG and CD40L as the Central Upstream Regulators in Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in European and East Asian populations have identified more than 40 disease-susceptibility genes in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). The aim of this study is to computationally identify disease pathways, upstream regulators, and therapeutic targets in PBC through integrated GWAS and messenger RNA (mRNA) microarray analysis. Disease pathways and upstream regulators were analyzed with ingenuity pathway analysis in data set 1 for GWASs (1,920 patients with PBC and 1,770 controls), which included 261 annotated genes derived from 6,760 single-nucleotide polymorphisms ( < 0.

Effectiveness of Early Rehabilitation for Vertebral Compression Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background And Purpose: Most patients become physically inactive after vertebral compression fracture and thus need help for early mobilization. This study sought to investigate the effect of early rehabilitation on activities of daily living in patients following acute vertebral compression fracture.

Methods: We conducted this retrospective cohort study with a hospital-based database created by the Japan Medical Data Center and comprising data from a Diagnosis Procedure Combination survey from more than 100 acute care hospitals across Japan.

New score including daily life independence levels with dementia is associated with the onset of deep vein thrombosis in frail older adults.

Aim: The detailed risk factors of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) remain unknown, and no efficient tool to assess the risk of the development of DVT among older adults has been established. This study aimed to clarify the risk factors, including the level of daily life independence, and develop an assessment score for DVT in older patients.

Methods: We recruited 252 patients aged ≧65 years with suspected deep vein thrombosis.

[Investigation of Radioactivity Concentration of the Normal Brain Region for the Phantom Experiment in Brain Tumor PET Imaging].

Purpose: There are few reports focusing on the radioactivity concentration in the normal brain region for the phantom experiment. We investigated the radioactivity concentration of normal brain regions for the phantom experiment of brain tumor PET imaging.

Methods: A total of 30 patients (age: 53±19 years old, body weight: 58±11 kg) underwent the brain tumor PET examinations using F-fluorothymidine (F-FLT), F-fluoromisonidazole (F-FMISO) and C-methionine (C-MET) during April 1, 2017-October 1, 2017.

[Lung Adenocarcinoma Combined with Minute Pulmonary Meningothelial-like Nodule (MPMN) in Young Patient;Report of a Case].

We report a rare case of lung adenocarcinoma combined with minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodule (MPMN) in a young adult. A 39-year-old woman was referred to our department for abnormal shadow of the right lower lobe. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a mass shadow, 11 mm in size, in right S6.