Predictors of death without prior appropriate therapy in ICD recipients: the comorbidities, frailty and functional status (COMFFORT study).

Objective: Most patients who have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implant do not receive life-prolonging therapy from it. Little research has been undertaken to determine which patients benefit the least from ICD therapy. As patients age and accumulate comorbidities, the risk of death increases and the benefit of ICDs diminishes.

The CONFIRM trial protocol: the utility of prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography in active surveillance for prostate cancer.

Objectives: Primary objectives: To determine the additive value of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the risk stratification of men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer (PCa) who would have otherwise been deemed suitable for active surveillance (AS). Specifically, we aim to determine if PSMA PET/CT can detect a cohort of men on AS that are in fact high risk and likely to experience unfavourable outcomes should they remain on their current treatment pathway.

Secondary Objectives: to determine the additive value of PSMA PET/CT to repeat multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the prostate and explore whether a confirmatory biopsy may be avoided in men with a negative PSMA PET/CT and a negative repeat mpMRI of the prostate (Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System score of <3).

Gallbladder lymphoma detected by F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

Gallbladder involvement in lymphoma is rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature, predominately in the pre positron emission tomography (PET) era. F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT) has now become the modality of choice in the staging of lymphoma. We report a case of gallbladder involvement by high-grade B-cell lymphoma detected by PET/CT.

Prevalence and distribution of functional splenic tissue after splenectomy.

Background: Individuals splenectomised for trauma have lower infection rates than those splenectomised for other conditions. Residual functional splenic tissue (FST) after splenectomy may provide ongoing immunological protection.

Aims: To quantify the prevalence and volume of residual FST post-splenectomy using standard testing.

Prevalence of non F-fluorodeoxyglucose-avid incidental findings of clinical significance on whole body positron emission tomography/computed tomography: A review of 500 consecutive cases.

Introduction: The prevalence of incidental F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid findings on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) has been extensively described. Few studies, however, have assessed the prevalence and significance of non-FDG-avid findings; pathology that is identified on review of the low-dose, non-contrast CT. The aim of this study was to determine the overall prevalence of non FDG-avid incidental findings on PET/CT and the prevalence of 'clinically significant' non FDG-avid pathology.

Detection of Helicosporidium spp. in metagenomic DNA.

Distinct isolates of the invertebrate pathogenic alga Helicosporidium sp., collected from different insect hosts and different geographic locations, were processed to sequence the 18S rDNA and β-tubulin genes. The sequences were analyzed to assess genetic variation within the genus Helicosporidium and to design Helicosporidium-specific 18S rDNA primers.