Diagnostic Reference Levels for nuclear medicine imaging in Austria: A nationwide survey of used dose levels for adult patients.

Purpose: To assess dose levels in routine nuclear medicine (NUC) procedures in Austria as a prior to a legislative update of the National Diagnostic Reference Levels (NDRL).

Method: As part of a nationwide survey of common NUC-examinations between June 2019 and November 2019, data sets were collected from 33 Austrian hospitals with NUC equipment. All hospitals were asked to report the NUC imaging devices in use (model, type, year of manufacture, detector material, collimators), the standard protocol parameters for selected examinations (standard activity, collimator, average acquisition time, reconstruction type, use of time-of-flight) and to report data from 10 representative examinations (e.

[Inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases in children : Radiological diagnosis].

Background/clinical Issue: Inflammatory bowel diseases are frequently seen in the clinical routine of a pediatric radiologist. The timely diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases in children is particularly important in acute cases.

Standard Radiological Methods/methodological Innovations: This nonsystematic article intends to give an overview of the radiologic imaging methods for the diagnosis and work-up of pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Fine-Needle Aspiration with Immunohistochemistry Using a Modified Scrape Cell Block Technique for the Diagnosis of Thyroid and Parathyroid Nodules.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a modified scrape cell block (SCB) technique in a large series of patients. The technique was especially developed and tested for fine-needle aspiration of thyroid and parathyroid nodules.

Study Design: Eighty-two ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration specimens with the sonographic aspect of a thyroid (n = 33) or a possible parathyroid nodule (n = 49) were studied.

FDG PET and FDG PET/CT in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are fairly rare neoplasms, constituting less than 3 % of all gastrointestinal malignancies. The integration of molecularly targeted treatment regimes (i.e.

Nuclear medicine in NET.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are, despite increasing incidence, still rare, usually slow growing neoplasms with resemblance to nerve cells and the endocrine capability of hormone production. In contrast to commonly used conventional imaging procedures, nuclear imaging is feasible to visualize the presence of molecular biomarkers, particularly the overexpression of somatostatin receptors (sstr) with high diagnostic accuracy which has led to the establishment of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) as essential component and gold standard of functional imaging in the workup of NET. Another major feature is the selection of patients with inoperable or metastasized tumors showing sufficient uptake for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT).

Differentiation of fresh and frozen/thawed fish, European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), cod (Gadus morhua) and salmon (Salmo salar), using volatile compounds by SPME/GC/MS.

Background: A simple method based on solid phase microextraction/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME/GC/MS) was applied for studying the volatile profiles of whole fish samples of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and fillets of cod (Gadus morhua) and salmon (Salmo salar) during frozen storage in order to be able to differentiate a fresh product from one that has been frozen. Analysis of volatile compounds was performed on these two product types, fresh and after freezing/thawing following storage at - 20 °C for 30 and 90 days.

Results: More than a hundred volatile compounds were found by SPME/GC/MS.

Evaluation of most-probable-number-PCR method with internal amplification control for the counting of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in frozen shrimps.

The most-probable-number (MPN) method is often time-consuming for the isolation, detection, and quantification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from natural sources. MPN counting of V. parahaemolyticus bacteria usually involves the isolation of typical V.

A risk-based sampling plan for monitoring of histamine in fish products.

In 2008, the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance reported an increase in the number of histamine food poisoning outbreaks and cases in France. The aim of this study was to propose a new monitoring plan for characterizing consumers' exposure to histamine through fishery products. As fish products of concern are numerous, we proposed that the number of samples allocated for a fish category be chosen based on the risk associated with the category.

Total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in shrimp: fast and reliable quantification by real-time PCR.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is found in aquatic environments and is the leading cause of gastroenteritis due to seafood consumption worldwide. We evaluated a quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) assay with hydrolysis probes, to determine whether this method could be used for the efficient counting of total, tdh and trh-positive V. parahaemolyticus in shrimps.

Freshness characterisation of whiting (Merlangius merlangus) using an SPME/GC/MS method and a statistical multivariate approach.

Background: The freshness of whiting was studied at five stages of ice storage by comparing the analysis of volatile compounds obtained through solid phase microextraction/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME/GC/MS) with two sensory methods.

Results: Of the volatile compounds identified, 38 were analysed using a statistical multivariate approach and classified according to their role in the estimation of freshness during storage as markers of freshness or spoilage. Regarding the evolution of the presence or absence of individual compounds, three categories were defined.

Quantitative PCR method for evaluating freshness of whiting (Merlangius merlangus) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa).

We have developed a method for rapid quantification of fish spoilage bacteria based on quantitative PCR with degenerated oligonucleotides that hybridize on the torA gene coding for trimethylamine N-oxide reductase, one of the major bacterial enzymes in fish spoilage. To show the utility of this gene, we used a regular PCR with DNA extracts from whiting (Merlangius merlangus) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) stored in ice. Quantitative PCR showed that the number of copies of the torA gene, i.

Impact of -2 degrees C superchilling before refrigerated storage (4 and 8 degrees C) on the microbiological and sensory qualities of cold-smoked salmon.

Detection and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes and total spoilage bacteria in 40 batches of cold-smoked salmon (one batch = 42 products from the same day of manufacture) straight from the factory were carried out. If L. monocytogenes was detected in at least one of the nine samples analyzed on receipt at the laboratory, 9 products of the same batch were stored for 10 days at 4 degrees C, which was followed by 18 days at 8 degrees C (control), 12 products were superchilled for 14 days at -2 degrees C, and 12 other products were superchilled for 28 days at -2 degrees C and then stored under the same conditions as the control was stored.

Variable adhesion of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from food-processing facilities and clinical cases to inert surfaces.

One hundred one strains of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from seafood and cheese industry samples and from patients with listeriosis were assessed using a microtiter plate method for adhesion to polystyrene and stainless steel surfaces. The adhesion rate for these strains ranged from 3.10 to 35.

Evaluation of the international reference methods NF EN ISO 11290-1 and 11290-2 and an in-house method for the isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from retail seafood products in france.

Retail seafood products were analyzed on their use-by date using the international reference methods NF EN ISO 11290-1 and 11290-2 (collectively method R) or an in-house method (method B) for the isolation of Listeria monocytogenes. The sensitivity of the methods was about 78%. Method R detected more positive samples of smoked salmon and herb-flavored slices of smoked salmon than did method B, whereas the reverse was true for samples of carpaccio-like salmon, herb-flavored slices of raw salmon, and smoked trout.

Modification of a virulence-associated phenotype after growth of Listeria monocytogenes on food.

Aim: To assess the effect of different foods, which have been implicated or not in cases of listeriosis, on the in vitro virulence-associated phenotype level of different Listeria monocytogenes strains.

Methods And Results: The virulence-associated phenotype level of L. monocytogenes was studied with the in vitro cell test based on a plaque-forming assay with a human adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29) monolayer.

Determination of volatile compounds in whiting (Merlangius merlangus) using headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A method using headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to extract volatile compounds from whiting is developed. Several parameters such as sorption time, desorption time, fiber type, and matrix form are optimized to achieve better sensitivity in minimal analysis time. The efficiency of the method is determined by the linear range and repeatability; a mean relative standard deviation of approximately 7% is measured.

Amino acid decarboxylase activity and other chemical characteristics as related to freshness loss in iced cod (Gadus morhua).

Biogenic amine levels and other biochemical indicators were measured to study the safety of and the loss of freshness in iced Atlantic cod. Biogenic amine content exhibited high variability during iced storage of Atlantic cod. Ornithine and lysine decarboxylase activity apparently increased at the end of the storage period.

Use of PFGE typing for tracing contamination with Listeria monocytogenes in three cold-smoked salmon processing plants.

The sites of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in three cold-smoked salmon (Salmo salar) processing plants were detected by sampling salmon and the plant's environment and equipment at different production stages. Of the 141 samples collected from three processing plants, 59 (42%) were contaminated with L. monocytogenes.

Use of biogenic amines to evaluate spoilage in plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and whiting (Merlangus merlangus).

Fish muscle decarboxylases generate biogenic amines during spoilage. We monitored spoilage in plaice and whiting by assaying biogenic amines represented by the amine index (AI), and by using expert assessors to determine a freshness index (FI) for each fish. First we characterized the assessor- and fish species-related effects on FI, and then we sought to correlate changes in AI and FI by statistical data analysis.

Assay of biogenic amines involved in fish decomposition.

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for quantitative determination of putrefaction amines: putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, spermidine, and spermine. These amines are extracted from fish by grinding with perchloric acid at -20 degrees C. The amines are reacted with dansyl chloride at alkaline pH, dried under a stream of nitrogen, placed in an automatic injector at -20 degrees C, and separated in a Kromasil C18 reversed-phase column at 25 degrees C.

Cryptic Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in rat liver canalicular plasma membranes: evidence for its basolateral origin.

Controversy exists concerning the localization of the enzyme Na+,K(+)-ATPase to canalicular membranes in hepatocytes. Most studies find enzyme activity only at the basolateral plasma membrane domain of the hepatocyte. However, Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity has been detected recently in a canalicular membrane fraction prepared by Mg++ precipitation, suggesting that differences in membrane domain fluidity account for these discrepancies.

A New Chemical Criterion for the Quality Control of Fish: Trimethylamine/Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (%).

Trimethylamine (TMA) and the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) were determined in 169 samples of sea-fish (herring, cod, whiting, and mackerel) at all stages of decomposition. The comparison of these two parameters with the ratio P=TVBN/TMA (%) showed that P provides a useful index of freshness. It is relatively constant between species, its dispersion is less than that of TMA and it increases more rapidly than TVBN at the start of decomposition.

Rapid Quantitative Determination of Trimethylamine using Steam Distillation.

A simple, rapid and inexpensive method is proposed for determination of trimethylamine (TMA) in fish muscle. This procedure includes a deproteinization step with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) followed by blocking of primary and secondary amines using formaldehyde at alkaline pH and finally steam distillation of TMA. No statistically significant differences were found between this new optimized procedure and either the Conway microdiffusion method or the colorimetric method.