A randomized study of the effect of carbonated water prior to myocardial SPECT.

Objective: In myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), abdominal activity often interferes with the evaluation of perfusion in the inferior wall, especially after pharmacological stress. In this randomized study, we examined the effect of carbonated water intake versus still water intake on the quality of images obtained during myocardial perfusion images (MPI) studies.

Methods: A total of 467 MIBI studies were randomized into a carbonated water group and a water group.

[Discovery and follow-up of a lead-poisoning outbreak in a shantytown of Le Port, Reunion Island].

Background: A national survey conducted in 2008-2009 by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance for detection of lead impact in childhood identified a high blood lead level in a young boy living in the town of "Le Port", Reunion Island. Previously, cases of lead-poisoning on the island had been exceptional; only a dozen cases were reported in the 1980s in adults, related to the use of lead-containing instruments for food preparations.

Methods: The family of the index case was invited to participate in screening tests and an environmental investigation was conducted using a standardized questionnaire.

In vivo measurements of blood flow and bone metabolism in osteoarthritis.

With increasing age, there may be a decrease in femoral blood flow. In some patients, this may result in local ischaemia, which subsequently may lead to local degenerative changes. Consequently, bone blood flow may play an important role in the aetiology of osteoarthritis of the hip.

Increase in brown adipose tissue activity after weight loss in morbidly obese subjects.

Context: Stimulation of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a potential target to treat obesity. We earlier demonstrated that BAT activity is relatively low in obese subjects. It is unknown whether BAT can be recruited in adult humans.

Long-term prognosis of patients with cardiac syndrome X: a review.

Aims: Follow-up studies of patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX) generally report good prognosis. However, some recent studies report an adverse outcome for women.

Methods And Results: Structured literature search and meta-analysis for studies regarding prognosis of cardiac syndrome X patients.

Hard beta and gamma emissions of 124I. Impact on occupational dose in PET/CT.

Aim: The hard beta and gamma radiation of 124I can cause high doses to PET/CT workers. In this study we tried to quantify this occupational exposure and to optimize radioprotection.

Methods: Thin MCP-Ns thermoluminescent dosimeters suitable for measuring beta and gamma radiation were used for extremity dosimetry, active personal dosimeters for whole-body dosimetry.

Brown adipose tissue in morbidly obese subjects.

Background: Cold-stimulated adaptive thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) to increase energy expenditure is suggested as a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity. We have recently shown high prevalence of BAT in adult humans, which was inversely related to body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%), suggesting that obesity is associated with lower BAT activity. Here, we examined BAT activity in morbidly obese subjects and its role in cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) after applying a personalized cooling protocol.

Potential of integrated [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/CT in identifying vulnerable carotid plaques.

Background And Purpose: There is a need for improved risk stratification of patients with TIA/stroke and carotid atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the potential of integrated (18)F-FDG PET/MDCT in identifying vulnerable carotid plaques.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients with TIA/stroke with an ipsilateral carotid plaque causing <70% stenosis and a plaque on the contralateral asymptomatic side underwent integrated (18)F-FDG PET/MDCT within 36.

Effect of the positron range of 18F, 68Ga and 124I on PET/CT in lung-equivalent materials.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of positron range on visualization and quantification in (18)F, (68)Ga and (124)I positron emission tomography (PET)/CT of lung-like tissue.

Methods: Different sources were measured in air, in lung-equivalent foams and in water, using a clinical PET/CT and a microPET system. Intensity profiles and curves with the cumulative number of annihilations were derived and numerically characterized.

Blocking the saphenofemoral junction during ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy-- assessment of a presumed safety-measure procedure.

Objectives: Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) is a technique in which a mixture of sclerosing drug and gas is used to treat varicose veins. Several authors have demonstrated transient systemic effects after UGFS. These effects are not well understood but probably originate from a systemic distribution of the sclerosing foam.

Definitions and incidence of cardiac syndrome X: review and analysis of clinical data.

There is no consensus regarding the definition of cardiac syndrome X (CSX). We systematically reviewed recent literature using a standardized search strategy. We included 57 articles.

Multimodality imaging of carotid artery plaques: 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.

Background And Purpose: This study's objective was to compare (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET), CT, and MRI of carotid plaque assessment.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients with symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT and MRI. Correlations and agreement between imaging findings were assessed by Spearman and Pearson rank correlation tests, t tests, and Bland-Altman plots.

Identification of a shine-through artifact in the trachea with (124)I PET/CT.

Unlabelled: The presence of (124)I in tissue near the trachea can cause a phenomenon that might be called shine-through. The effect is due to high-energy positrons that cross the air-filled trachea and annihilate at the opposite tracheal wall, incorrectly suggesting uptake at that location.

Methods: We investigated shine-through using (124)I, (68)Ga, and (18)F PET/CT scans of a neck phantom.

Cold-activated brown adipose tissue in healthy men.

Background: Studies in animals indicate that brown adipose tissue is important in the regulation of body weight, and it is possible that individual variation in adaptive thermogenesis can be attributed to variations in the amount or activity of brown adipose tissue. Until recently, the presence of brown adipose tissue was thought to be relevant only in small mammals and infants, with negligible physiologic relevance in adult humans. We performed a systematic examination of the presence, distribution, and activity of brown adipose tissue in lean and obese men during exposure to cold temperature.

99mTc Nanocoll: a radiopharmaceutical for sentinel node localisation in breast cancer--in vitro and in vivo results.

This study evaluated labelling efficiency and radiochemical purity of (99m)Tc colloid albumin to identify an optimal labelling protocol for sentinel node detection. Results indicate that a 72 h eluate is not recommended for high specific labelling of (99m)Tc colloid albumin. Ex vivo, significantly higher count rates were reached using a 2h eluate in vacuum or nitrogen.

Association between anxiety disorder and the extent of ischemia observed in cardiac syndrome X.

Background: A possible link between the heart and brain has been reported for cardiac syndrome X. Anxiety disorder could be a pathophysiological mechanism for this cardiac chest pain. To the authors' knowledge, a quantitative analysis correlating anxiety with the extent of ischemia has not been done.

Bone metabolism after total hip revision surgery with impacted grafting: evaluation using H2 15O and [18F]fluoride PET; a pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate bone blood flow and bone formation in patients after total hip revision surgery with impacted bone grafting using H2 15O and [18F]fluoride positron emission tomography (PET).

Procedures: To asses bone blood flow and bone metabolism in bone allograft after impaction grafting, four patients treated with total hip revision surgery were enrolled prospectively in this study. Six patients scheduled for primary hip arthroplasties were included as a control group.

Identifying vulnerable carotid plaques by noninvasive imaging.

Stroke results in considerable morbidity and mortality. Prevention is therefore of particular importance. On the basis of large clinical trials, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is performed in selected patient groups to prevent stroke.

The role of (124)I-PET in diagnosis and treatment of thyroid carcinoma.

Iodine-124 is a positron-emitting iodine isotope, enabling measurement of iodine uptake using positron emission tomography (PET). There is a number of situations where the use of (124)I-PET/computed tomography (CT) can improve the current clinical practice in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer. Firstly, (124)I-PET/CT can aid in the staging of patients, because of better detection of metastatic disease and measurement of metabolic tumour volume, and thus separate low-risk from high risk patients.

Is subendocardial ischaemia present in patients with chest pain and normal coronary angiograms? A cardiovascular MR study.

Aims: On the basis of an MRI study it has been suggested that subendocardial hypoperfusion is present in patients with cardiac syndrome X. However, further work is required to test whether these findings can be generalized.

Methods And Results: MRI was used to visually and semi-quantitatively assess subendocardial and subepicardial perfusion, at rest and during an infusion of adenosine, in 20 patients with angina pectoris and normal coronary angiograms.

Attenuation-corrected vs. nonattenuation-corrected 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose-positron emission tomography in oncology: a systematic review.

Purpose: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the diagnostic accuracy of attenuation-corrected (AC) vs. nonattenuation-corrected (NAC) 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in oncological patients.

Procedures: Following a comprehensive search of the literature, two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of eligible studies.

(99M)Technetium-sestamibi scintimammography in non-palpable breast lesions found on screening X-ray mammography.

Objective: The sensitivity and specificity of (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintimammography in patients with non-palpable breast lesions diagnosed by screening mammography and the value of (99m)Tc-sestamibi to detect axillary lymph node metastases was determined.

Methods: Between September 2000 and December 2003, 103 females with non-palpable breast lesions were included for further evaluation. X-ray mammography was repeated and 99mTc-sestamibi scintimammography performed within one-week.

Acquisition settings for PET of 124I administered simultaneously with therapeutic amounts of 131I.

Unlabelled: Radiation dosimetry of thyroid cancer therapy with 131I can be performed by coadministration of 124I followed by longitudinal PET scans over several days. The photons emitted by 131I may affect PET image quality. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of large amounts of 131I on PET image quality and accuracy with various acquisition settings.

Traditional versus up-front [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography staging of non-small-cell lung cancer: a Dutch cooperative randomized study.

Purpose: We investigated whether application of positron emission tomography (PET) immediately after first presentation might simplify staging while maintaining accuracy, as compared with traditional strategy in routine clinical setting.

Methods: At first presentation, patients with a provisional diagnosis of lung cancer without overt dissemination were randomly assigned to traditional work-up (TWU) according to international guidelines or early PET followed by histologic/cytologic verification of lesions, or imaging and follow-up. Patients with [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) -avid, noncentral tumors without suspicion of mediastinal or distant metastases on PET proceeded directly to thoracotomy.