Prognostic Value of Response Evaluation Using PSMA PET/CT in Patients with Metastatic Prostate Cancer (RECIP 1.0): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Rationale And Objectives: Recently, the Response Evaluation Using PSMA PET/CT in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (RECIP 1.0) was proposed to better evaluate treatment response in prostate cancer patients using PET/CT with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) than more traditional approaches like metabolic PET evaluation response criteria in solid tumor (PERCIST 1.0).

Opportunistic Screening for Low Bone Mineral Density in Routine Computed Tomography Scans: A Brazilian Validation Study.

Introduction/background: Osteoporotic fractures are a major health concern worldwide due to high mortality rates, deterioration in quality of life, and elevated healthcare costs related to hospital treatment. However, most patients who sustain an osteoporotic fracture have never been formally screened for osteoporosis. Opportunistic screening of osteoporosis through conventional computed tomography (CT) scans performed for unrelated reasons could help identify patients with low bone mass.

Restaging magnetic resonance imaging of the rectum after neoadjuvant therapy: a practical guide.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Rectal cancer accounts for approximately one-third of new colorectal cancer cases, with adenocarcinoma as the predominant subtype. Despite an overall decline in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, due to advancements in screening, early diagnosis, and treatment options, there is a concerning increase in incidence rates among young patients.

Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using the Prostate Imaging for Recurrence Reporting (PI-RR) Scoring System to Detect Recurrent Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: Prostate Imaging for Recurrence Reporting (PI-RR) was introduced in 2021 to standardize the interpretation and reporting of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prostate cancer following whole-gland treatment. The system scores image on a scale from 1 to 5 and has shown promising results in single-center studies. The aim of our systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the diagnostic performance of the PI-RR system in predicting the likelihood of local recurrence after whole-gland treatment.

Computed tomography versus ultrasound for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Some patients undergo both computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) sequentially as part of the same evaluation for acute cholecystitis (AC). Our goal was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the diagnostic performance of US and CT in the diagnosis of AC.

Materials And Methods: Databases were searched for relevant published studies through November 2023.

Split scar sign to predict complete response in rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the modality of choice for rectal cancer initial staging and restaging after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Our objective was to perform a meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of the split scar sign (SSS) on rectal MRI in predicting complete response after neoadjuvant therapy.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant published studies through June 2023.

Understanding the origins of and influences on precipitation major ion chemistry on the Island of O'ahu, Hawai'i.

Precipitation is the primary groundwater source for the Island of O'ahu, Hawai'i, USA, and is an important source of terrestrial nutrients. Since Pacific Islands are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, they are important venues for studying the controls on and fluctuations in precipitation chemistry. Spatial variations in some of the dissolved rainfall ions can also be of value as natural geochemical tracers in examining surface and groundwater flow.

Simplified Phenomenological Model for Ferroelectric Micro-Actuator.

As smart structures are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in our daily life, the need for efficient modeling electromechanical coupling devices is also rapidly advancing. Smart structures are often made of piezoelectric materials such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), which exhibits strong nonlinear behavior known as hysteresis effect under a large applied electric field. There have been numerous modeling techniques that are able to capture such an effect; some techniques are suitable for obtaining physical insights into the micro-structure of the material, while other techniques are better-suited to practical structural analyses.

Parametrization identification and characterization of the radon priority areas for indoor radon risk management.

The aim of work is to contribute to the development of methodologies concerning the selection and characterisation of radon priority areas. The selection of areas was based on risk from indoor radon exposure, expressed in terms of number of expected deaths per year. Radon data come from a survey carried out in the Lazio Region (Italy) and consist of 5297 indoor concentration measurements.

Heparin-Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Theranostic Applications.

In this study, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were engineered with an organic coating composed of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), providing heparin-based nanoparticle systems (LMWH@SPIONs). The purpose was to merge the properties of the heparin skeleton and an inorganic core to build up a targeted theranostic nanosystem, which was eventually enhanced by loading a chemotherapeutic agent. Iron oxide cores were prepared via the co-precipitation of iron salts in an alkaline environment and oleic acid (OA) capping.

Interobserver agreement regarding the Fleischner Society diagnostic criteria for usual interstitial pneumonia patterns on computed tomography.

Objective: To assess interobserver agreement among radiologists regarding the current Fleischner Society diagnostic criteria for usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) patterns on computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: Using the Fleischner Society criteria for UIP CT patterns, five raters, working independently, categorized the high-resolution CT (HRCT) scans of 44 patients with interstitial lung disease who underwent lung biopsy. The raters also evaluated the presence, extent, and distribution of the most relevant imaging findings, as well as indicating their level of confidence in the most likely diagnosis and in up to three diagnostic hypotheses.

Suspended Multifunctional Nanocellulose as Additive for Mortars.

Cellulose derivatives have found significant applications in composite materials, mainly because of the increased mechanical performance they ensure. When added to cement-based materials, either in the form of nanocrystals, nanofibrils or micro/nanofibers, cellulose acts on the mixture with fresh and hardened properties, affecting rheology, shrinkage, hydration, and the resulting mechanical properties, microstructure, and durability. Commercial cotton wool was selected as starting material to produce multifunctional nanocelluloses to test as additives for mortars.

Imaging of chemotherapy-induced liver toxicity: an illustrated overview.

Chemotherapy is a potential cause of focal and diffuse hepatobiliary lesions. Many of these lesions may be demonstrated on imaging, especially computed tomography and MRI. Some of these lesions, especially those of steatosis and sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, are associated with a worse prognosis and risk of hepatic failure in the context of surgical management.

Nanocellulose from Cotton Waste and Its Glycidyl Methacrylate Grafting and Allylation: Synthesis, Characterization and Adsorption Properties.

Nanocellulose (NC) is getting ahead as a renewable, biodegradable and biocompatible biomaterial. The NCs for this study were recovered from industrial cotton waste (CFT) by acid hydrolysis (HNC) and by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) mediated oxidation (ONC). They were functionalized by radical based glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) grafting providing crystalline HNC-GMA and ONC-GMA, and by allylation (ALL) providing amorphous HNC-ALL and ONC-ALL.

Sensitive and accurate methods for determination of low activity level of Sr and Cs in grass/vegetable samples.

Sensitive, precise and accurate methods for determination of low activity level of Sr and Cs in grass/vegetable samples by a low background β-counter were developed. The method for Sr determination was based on coprecipitation as carbonate, elimination of Bi and iron with a Microthene-TOA column, separation of Y with a Microthene-HDEHP column, and source preparation as Y(CO). The method for Cs determination was based on Cs adsorption on ammonium molybdophosphate and precipitation as CsBiI for source preparation.

Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry: New Targets and Mechanisms, New Drugs, New Hopes-7.

Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry [...

Non-Anticoagulant Heparins as Heparanase Inhibitors.

The chapter will review early and more recent seminal contributions to the discovery and characterization of heparanase and non-anticoagulant heparins inhibiting its peculiar enzymatic activity. Indeed, heparanase displays a unique versatility in degrading heparan sulfate chains of several proteoglycans expressed in all mammalian cells. This endo-β-D-glucuronidase is overexpressed in cancer, inflammation, diabetes, atherosclerosis, nephropathies and other pathologies.

The fate of the main naturally occurring radionuclides in mussels (Mytilus edulis) and their radiological impact on human beings.

A comprehensive study was made on the activity concentrations, concentration factors, and radiation exposure impact of the main naturally occurring radionuclides in blue mussels collected in the Mediterranean Sea. The results showed that the concentrations of the measured radionuclides were site-specific and all detectable in gram-size samples of the soft tissues of the mussels, especially, some activity concentrations can reach as high as 16.8-102 Bq kg for Po, 16.

In-depth structural characterization of pentosan polysulfate sodium complex drug using orthogonal analytical tools.

Rapid advances have been made in developing analytical technologies for characterization of highly heterogeneous active ingredients of complex drugs, such as pentosan polysulfate (PPS), active ingredient of the drug Elmiron®, approved by the Food and Drug Administration and marketed in the United States to treat interstitial cystitis. PPS sulfated polysaccharides comprise of a repeat unit of β(1-4)-D-xylopyranoses randomly substituted by 4-O-methyl-glucopyranosyluronic acid. To define the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of such a complex drug, it is critical to develop an approach that integrates data from orthogonal analytical methodologies.

Bacterial Nanocellulose and Its Surface Modification by Glycidyl Methacrylate and Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate. Incorporation of Vancomycin and Ciprofloxacin.

Among nanocelluloses, bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) has proven to be a promising candidate in a range of biomedical applications, from topical wound dressings to tissue-engineering scaffolds. Chemical modifications and incorporation of bioactive molecules have been obtained, further increasing the potential of BNC. This study describes the incorporation of vancomycin and ciprofloxacin in BNC and in modified BNC to afford bioactive BNCs suitable for topical wound dressings and tissue-engineering scaffolds.

Gallbladder protrusion through the groin region-a very unusual femoral hernia.

Groin hernias are among the oldest recorded afflictions of mankind. Most of them protrude through the inguinal canal, and only a few through the femoral canal. Usually, they are present as a painful lump in the groin region, and their complications arise if they become incarcerated or strangulated.

Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry: New Targets and Mechanisms, New Drugs, New Hopes⁻4.

Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry: New Targets and Mechanisms, New Drugs, New Hopes is a series of Editorials, which is published on a biannual basis by the Editorial Board of the Medicinal Chemistry section of the journal . [..

β-Chitin samples with similar microfibril arrangement change mechanical properties varying the degree of acetylation.

Chitin is widespread in nature and is increasingly used in synthetic process for the production of new biomaterials. Chitin degree of acetylation, crystalline structure and microfibril arrangement differentiate chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Nevertheless, no information are available on the relationship between the mechanical properties and the degree of acetylation (DA) in chitin samples in which the microfibril arrangement does not change.