Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients with fusariosis: initial findings of a case series review.

Background: Fusariosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that affects mostly leukemic and hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. Locally invasive and disseminated infection may occur. Treatment is challenging, and besides evaluation of immune status, one also needs to take into account organ involvement to predict the duration and prognosis.

Homocysteine levels in Takayasu arteritis -- a risk factor for arterial ischemic events.

Objective: To evaluate homocysteine levels in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) and in controls, and to analyze associations between homocysteine levels and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, cysteine levels, methotrexate use, disease activity, extent of arterial involvement, and ischemic events in patients with TA.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with 29 patients with TA and 30 controls who underwent clinical evaluation and blood sample collection in the fasting state.

Results: Among patients with TA, active disease was observed in 9 (31.

A new myocardial perfusion scintigraphy stress protocol combining dipyridamole-dobutamine-atropine.

Background: Pharmacological stress is often used, and the drugs most frequently utilized are dipyridamole (Dip) and dobutamine (Dob). We aimed to evaluate the safety and the results obtained with a new protocol associating Dip, Dob, and atropine, compared with the Dip protocol.

Methods: Thirty-two patients underwent rest Tl/Dip stress Tc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion tomography on the same day.