Reduction in mdx mouse muscle degeneration by low-intensity endurance exercise: a proteomic analysis in quadriceps muscle of exercised compared with sedentary mdx mice.

In our recent study was shown a significant recovery of damaged skeletal muscle of mice with X-linked muscular dystrophy (mdx) following low-intensity endurance exercise, probably by reducing the degeneration of dystrophic muscle. Consequently, in the present work, we aimed to identify proteins involved in the observed reduction in degenerating fibres. To this end, we used proteomic analysis to evaluate changes in the protein profile of quadriceps dystrophic muscles of exercised compared with sedentary mdx mice.

111In-Pentetreotide SPECT/CT in Pulmonary Carcinoid.

Aim: We evaluated somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) with (111)In-pentetreotide incremental value in pulmonary carcinoid (PC) diagnosis compared to contrast enhanced Computed Tomography (ceCT).

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 81 patients with ascertained PC, 39 at initial staging and 42 in follow-up; the primary tumor had already been excised in 68 cases. Single Photon emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) images were reconstructed with the iterative method and fused with non-enhanced Computed tomography (CT) images.

The role of (18)F-FDG positron emission tomography in the follow-up of liver tumors treated with (90)Yttrium radioembolization.

In the last years, radioembolization (RE) has emerged as a novel technique for the treatment of malignant hepatic lesions using (90)Y embedded in spheres, which are infused directly into the hepatic arterial circulation. (90)Y-spheres, once implanted in liver, can release a significant radiation burden to neoplastic cells with a relative low dose to normal parenchyma. (90)Y RE results as a combination of embolization and radiation therapy, thus the standard radiologic follow up modalities may be not sufficiently accurate to assess tumor response to treatment.

Involvement of multiple myeloma cell-derived exosomes in osteoclast differentiation.

Bone disease is the most frequent complication in multiple myeloma (MM) resulting in osteolytic lesions, bone pain, hypercalcemia and renal failure. In MM bone disease the perfect balance between bone-resorbing osteoclasts (OCs) and bone-forming osteoblasts (OBs) activity is lost in favour of OCs, thus resulting in skeletal disorders. Since exosomes have been described for their functional role in cancer progression, we here investigate whether MM cell-derived exosomes may be involved in OCs differentiation.

D2-40 negative pyogenic granuloma-like Kaposi's sarcoma: Diagnostic features and histogenetic hypothesis of an uncommon skin tumor in HIV-negative patients.

Pyogenic granuloma-like Kaposi's sarcoma (PGLKS) is a recently described skin tumor showing features both of pyogenic granuloma (PG) and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). The differential diagnosis is often challenging. We reviewed a series of 50 PG and 23 Ks located on distal extremities with the aid of an immunohistochemical panel comprising CD34, CD31, FVIII, SMA, D2-40, HHV8.

Prognostic impact of location and extent of vessel-related ischemia at myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients with or at risk for coronary artery disease.

Background: Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) has an established diagnostic and prognostic role in patients with or at risk for coronary artery disease, with ischemia severity and extent having already been identified as key predictors. Whether this is affected by the location of myocardial ischemia is uncertain. We aimed at comparing the prognostic outlook of patients undergoing MPS according to the site of ischemia.

Cortical activity during olfactory stimulation in multiple chemical sensitivity: a (18)F-FDG PET/CT study.

Purpose: To investigate the differences in brain glucose consumption during olfactory stimulation between subjects affected by multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and a group of healthy individuals.

Methods: Two (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed in 26 subjects (6 men and 20 women; mean age 46.7 ± 11 years) with a clinical diagnosis of MCS and in 11 healthy controls (6 women and 5 men; mean age 45.

Incidental detection of colorectal cancer via 1(8)F-choline PET/CT in a patient with recurrent prostate cancer: usefulness of early images.

A 74-year-old man with history of prostate cancer underwent F-choline PET/CT for restaging. Early acquisition of the pelvic region revealed intense uptake in prostate, with infiltration of the posterior wall of the bladder. Furthermore, focal uptake in the thickened anterior wall of the rectum was detected.

Functional correlates of t-Tau, p-Tau and Aβ₁₋₄₂ amyloid cerebrospinal fluid levels in Alzheimer's disease: a ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT study.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of t-Tau, p-Tau and amyloid-β (Aβ₁₋₄₂) amyloid peptide and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) brain distribution in a group of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Materials And Methods: The study included 81 newly diagnosed Alzheimer's disease patients according to the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 70 (±6) years; 44 were male and 37 were female.

Factors affecting ¹⁸F FDOPA standardized uptake value in patients with primary brain tumors after treatment.

Aim: To investigate the factors affecting (18)F FDOPA uptake in patients with primary brain tumors (PBT) after treatment.

Materials And Methods: 97 patients with PBT (6 were grade I, 40 were grade II, 29 were grade III and 22 were grade IV) underwent (18)F FDOPA positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) after treatment. Intervals from surgery, chemotherapy (CHT) and radiotherapy (RT) were 41.

Brain metabolic changes in Hodgkin disease patients following diagnosis and during the disease course: An F-FDG PET/CT study.

The aim of the present study was to investigate brain glucose metabolism in patients with Hodgkin disease (HD) after diagnosis and during chemotherapy treatment. Following the administration of first-line doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy, 74 HD patients underwent F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography brain scans, both baseline (PET0) and interim (PET2) at the Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata (Rome, Italy). Fifty-seven patients were further evaluated 15±6 days after four additional cycles (PET6).

Time to and risk of cardiac events after myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.

Background: The burden of cardiovascular disease is increasing, yet it remains difficult to focus preventive strategies on populations at highest absolute and relative risks. We compared absolute and relative cardiovascular event counts, plus time to first event, among patients undergoing myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS).

Methods And Results: Our database was queried to identify subjects without myocardial necrosis or recent revascularization, focusing on cardiac death (CD) or myocardial infarction (MI).

Cortical metabolic arrangement during olfactory processing: proposal for a 18F FDG PET/CT methodological approach.

The aim of this article is to investigate the cortical metabolic arrangements in olfactory processing by using F fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography.Twenty-six normosmic individuals (14 women and 12 men; mean age 46.7 ± 10 years) were exposed to a neutral olfactory condition (NC) and, after 1 month, to a pure olfactory condition (OC) in a relatively ecological environment, that is, outside the scanner.

May positron emission tomography reveal ectopic or active thymus in preoperative evaluation of non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis?

Background: In myasthenia gravis (MG) both native and ectopic thymic tissue containing germinal centers should show greater metabolism compared to adjacent tissues. We evaluated whether preoperative standardized uptake value (SUV) of 18fluoro-deoxy-glucose on Positron Emission Tomography (PET) might be increased and correlated with the presence of native or ectopic germinal centers.

Methods: From 2005 to 2012 we performed extended thymectomy in 68 patients with non-thymomatous MG.

Initial staging of Hodgkin's disease: role of contrast-enhanced 18F FDG PET/CT.

The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of positron emission tomography/low-dose computed tomography (PET/ldCT) versus the same technique implemented by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (ceCT) in staging Hodgkin's disease (HD).Forty patients (18 men and 22 women, mean age 30 ± 9.6) with biopsy-proven HD underwent a PET/ldCT study for initial staging including an unenhanced low-dose computed tomography for attenuation correction with positron emission tomography acquisition and a ceCT, performed at the end of the PET/ldCT scan, in the same exam session.

18-Fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography: an additional tool in the diagnosis of prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET-CT) in the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis (IE).

Methods: We retrospectively examined 27 consecutive patients who were admitted to the Infectious Diseases Department of Tor Vergata University Hospital between 2009 and 2013 with a suspicion of IE. The final IE diagnosis was defined according to the modified Duke criteria, and the microbiological and diagnostic results were collected for each patient.

Cerebellar metabolic involvement and its correlations with clinical parameters in vestibular neuritis.

Although vestibular neuritis (VN) cortical models are described in the literature, there is lack of knowledge regarding the exclusive cerebellar involvement. The aim of the present study was to analyze, by [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/computer tomography, regional cerebellar FDG uptake in eight right-handed VN patients (five females; three males; mean age 48 ± 7 years) during the first few days (PET0) and after 1 month (PET1) since symptoms onset. At both phases, patients underwent otoneurological examination and filled in a battery of validated questionnaires.