New Perspectives on the Importance of Cell-Free DNA Biology.

Body fluids are constantly replenished with a population of genetically diverse cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragments, representing a vast reservoir of information reflecting real-time changes in the host and metagenome. As many body fluids can be collected non-invasively in a one-off and serial fashion, this reservoir can be tapped to develop assays for the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of wide-ranging pathologies, such as solid tumors, fetal genetic abnormalities, rejected organ transplants, infections, and potentially many others. The translation of cfDNA research into useful clinical tests is gaining momentum, with recent progress being driven by rapidly evolving preanalytical and analytical procedures, integrated bioinformatics, and machine learning algorithms.

Pharmaceutical interviews to overcome digestive artefacts on [ Tc]Tc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.

What Is Known And Objectives: Poor image quality was randomly seen in [ Tc]Tc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion scintigraphic imaging. The interference hampered or even precluded medical interpretation. Our objective was to identify the cause of the random interferences.

"Real-world" evaluation of F-Choline PET/CT practices in prostate cancer patients and impact on changes in therapeutic strategy.

Objectives: The role of F-fluorocholine positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-Choline PET/CT) in different clinical situations remains controversial and current practices are very heterogeneous. The aim of this study was to evaluate the "real-world" practice of F-Choline PET/CT in patients with prostate cancer and its potential impacts on therapeutic strategy.

Methods And Materials: This is a retrospective multicenter observational study including 265 consecutive men who underwent F-Choline PET/CT for prostate cancer between November 2014 and November 2015.

"Being in Control of My Asthma Myself" Patient Experience of Asthma Management: A Qualitative Interpretive Description.

Asthma control can be achieved with effective and safe medication use; however, many patients are not controlled. Patients' perceptions of asthma, asthma treatment, and pharmacist roles can impact patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore patients' experiences and patient⁻pharmacist relationships in asthma care.

Prospective evaluation of Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in limited disease neuroendocrine tumours and/or elevated serum neuroendocrine biomarkers.

Context: The Ga-labelled somatostatin analogues ( Ga-DOTA-SSAs) is becoming popular as an important diagnostic tool in neuroendocrine tumours as evidenced by a growing number of reports detailing institutional experience with various DOTA peptides. However, only few prospective studies have compared Ga-DOTA-SSAs and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs) and pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours.

Objective: The aim of our prospective study was to perform head-to-head comparison between Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and standard imaging work-up (SI) that included multiphasic CT, liver MRI and SRS using single photon emission computed tomography.

Prospective comparison of (68)Ga-DOTATATE and (18)F-FDOPA PET/CT in patients with various pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas with emphasis on sporadic cases.

Purpose: Pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PHEOs/PGLs) overexpress somatostatin receptors and recent studies have already shown excellent results in the localization of these tumors using (68)Ga-labeled somatostatin analogs ((68)Ga-DOTA-SSA), especially in patients with germline succinate dehydrogenase subunit B gene (SDHB) mutations and head and neck PGLs (HNPGLs). The value of (68)Ga-DOTA-SSA has to be established in sporadic cases, including PHEOs. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT, (18)F-FDOPA PET/CT, and conventional imaging in patients with various PHEOs/PGLs with a special emphasis on sporadic cases, including those located in the adrenal gland.

Preoperative imaging for focused parathyroidectomy: making a good strategy even better.

Objective: Surgical treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) has undergone a major paradigm shift during the last decades from bilateral cervicotomy with four-gland neck exploration to image-guided focused approaches. The primary objective of the present study was to compare the performances of parathyroid scintigraphy (PS), parathyroid ultrasonography (US), and the combination of both procedures for guiding a focused approach on the basis of modified interpretation criteria.

Methods: Data from 199 patients operated for apparent sporadic pHPT and evaluated with US and PS using dual-isotope (123)I/(99m)Tc-sestamibi planar pinhole and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) acqusitions were evaluated.

18F-FDG PET/CT as a predictor of hereditary head and neck paragangliomas.

Background: Hereditary head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs) account for at least 35% of all HNPGLs, most commonly due to germline mutations in SDHx susceptibility genes. Several studies about sympathetic paragangliomas have shown that (18)F-FDG PET/CT was not only able to detect and localize tumours, but also to characterize tumours ((18)F-FDG uptake being linked to SDHx mutations). However, the data concerning (18)F-FDG uptake specifically in HNPGLs have not been addressed.

18F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine PET/CT in patients with neuroendocrine tumors of unknown origin: relation to tumor origin and differentiation.

Unlabelled: This work was performed to evaluate the performance of (18)F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine ((18)F-FDOPA) PET/CT in detecting primary neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) occult on morphologic and functional imaging, in relation to tumor origin and differentiation.

Methods: A retrospective study of NET patients who were investigated with (18)F-FDOPA PET/CT imaging in 2 academic endocrine tumor centers was conducted. Only patients with negative conventional and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) results were studied.

Functional characterization of nonmetastatic paraganglioma and pheochromocytoma by (18) F-FDOPA PET: focus on missed lesions.

Aims And Methods: To evaluate the clinical value of (18) F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine ((18) F-FDOPA) PET in relation to tumour localization and the patient's genetic status in a large series of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PHEO/PGL) patients and to discuss in detail false-negative results. A retrospective study of PGL patients who were investigated with (18) F-FDOPA PET or PET/CT imaging in two academic endocrine tumour centres was conducted (La Timone University Hospital, Marseilles, France and National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA).

Results: One hundred sixteen patients (39·7% harbouring germline mutations in known disease susceptibility genes) were evaluated for a total of 195 PHEO/PGL foci.

Radiation doses to cohabitants of patients undergoing radioiodine ablation for thyroid cancer: poor compliance with radiation protection guidelines but low radiation exposure.

Background: The drive to reduce hospital stay after radioiodine remnant ablation in patients with thyroid cancer may increase the risk of radiation exposure to family members. The aim of this study was to evaluate the key determinants of dose exposure to familial members, with particular reference to the degree of adherence to current radiation safety guidelines.

Methods: All participants prospectively received our standard departmental oral and written safety instructions, with a mandatory 3-day restriction period.