Predictor of abnormal gallbladder ejection fraction in patients with atypical biliary pain: Histopathological point of view.

Cholescintigraphy has traditionally been used as a tool to select patients with biliary pain for elective cholecystectomy. However, atypical biliary pain presents a clinical challenge and there is no literature evaluating the factors of the gallbladder (GB) wall related to abnormal ejection fraction of cholescintigraphy in such patients. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate characteristics of the GB wall in patients with abnormal gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) on cholescintigraphy and atypical biliary pain.

Prevalence and Predictors of Sjögren's Syndrome in Patients with Burning Mouth Symptoms.

Aims: To investigate the prevalence and predictive factors of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in a cohort of patients with burning mouth symptoms.

Methods: A total of 125 patients with burning mouth symptoms were enrolled in a prospective study and assessed for the presence of SS. The severity of oral symptoms was evaluated by using questionnaires.

Predictive value of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: We investigated the prognostic role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the prediction of progression-free survival (PFS) and chemotherapeutic response in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Methods: We enrolled 21 newly diagnosed patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT scanning before palliative gemcitabine-based chemotherapy between 2006 and 2012. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the primary tumor was measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Tc-99m diphosphonate as a potential radiotracer to detect sentinel lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of Tc-99m diphosphonate as a tracer for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer.

Methods: Lymphoscintigraphs of 35 patients (50.9 ± 10.

Comparison of subareolar injection lymphoscintigraphy with the 1-day and the 2-day protocols for the detection of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer.

Objective: Lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel node biopsy are used for the detection of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients. However, currently there is no standardized technique. For the detection of axillary lymph node metastasis by lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel node biopsy, in patients with breast cancer, we compared the results of subareolar injections administered on the day of surgery (1-day protocol) with injections administered on the day before surgery (2-day protocol).

Heart in the heart: dual faced primary cardiac lymphoma on PET-CT.

We describe a 71 year-old woman with primary cardiac lymphoma which was diagnosed by multimodality imaging particularly with PET/CT scan and finally confirmed by open biopsy. "Heart-shaped" bright signal in the right heart on PET-CT scan was another face of an aggressive cancer: primary cardiac lymphoma which is extremely rare and fatal.

[18F]Fluorothymidine positron emission tomography before and 7 days after gefitinib treatment predicts response in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine (FLT)-positron emission tomography (PET) for predicting response and patient outcome of gefitinib therapy in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Experimental Design: Nonsmokers with advanced or recurrent adenocarcinoma of the lung were eligible. FLT-PET images of the thorax were obtained before and 7 days after the start of gefitinib (250 mg/d) therapy, the maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of primary tumors were measured, and the percent changes in SUVmax were calculated.

Factors affecting accuracy of ventricular volume and ejection fraction measured by gated tl-201 myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography.

The electrocardiogram-gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) measurement of left ventricular end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume and ejection fraction may contain substantial errors. We evaluated whether patient-related factors affect the accuracy of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction measured by gated Tl-201 SPECT. A total of 518 patients without perfusion defects on Tl-201 SPECT or coronary artery disease were studied.

Factors associated with decreased cerebral blood flow in congestive heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is decreased and cognitive dysfunction develops in the advanced stages of heart failure. However, few data are available regarding the factors associated with decreased CBF. Fifty-two patients with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Use of 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine PET to monitor early responses to radiation therapy in murine SCCVII tumors.

Purpose: 3'-Deoxy-3'-[(18)F]fluorothymidine (FLT) is a promising new radiopharmaceutical for imaging cell proliferation. We evaluated whether FLT PET can be used to monitor early responses to radiation treatment.

Methods: C3H/HeN mice bearing murine squamous cell carcinomas were randomized to irradiation with 0, 10, or 20 Gy.

Imaging of human sodium-iodide symporter gene expression mediated by recombinant adenovirus in skeletal muscle of living rats.

Purpose: We evaluated the feasibility of non-invasive imaging of recombinant adenovirus-mediated human sodium-iodide symporter (hNIS) gene expression by (99m)TcO(4)(-) scintigraphy in skeletal muscle of rats.

Methods: Replication-defective recombinant adenovirus encoding hNIS gene [Rad-CMV-hNIS 5x10(7), 2x10(8) or 1x10(9) plaque forming units (pfu)] or beta-galactosidase gene (Rad-CMV-LacZ 1x10(9) pfu) was injected into the right biceps femoris muscle of rats ( n=5-6 for each group). Three days after gene transfer, scintigraphy was performed using a gamma camera 30 min after injection of (99m)TcO(4)(-) (1.