Reproducibility of proton density fat fraction assessment of thigh muscle in a multi-site, multi-vendor cohort study at 10 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background: Dixon-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) intramuscular proton density fat fraction (PDFF) is a potentially useful imaging biomarker of muscle quality. However, multi-vendor, multi-site reproducibility of intramuscular PDFF quantification, required for large clinical studies, can be strongly dependent on acquisition and processing. The purpose of this study was (I) to develop a 6-point Dixon MRI-based acquisition and processing technique for reproducible multi-vendor, multi-site quantification of thigh intramuscular PDFF; and (II) to evaluate the ability of the technique to detect differences in thigh muscle status between operated .

Higher Computed Tomography (CT) Scan Resolution Improves Accuracy of Patient-specific Mandibular Models When Compared to Cadaveric Gold Standard.

Background: 3D-printed patient-specific anatomical models are becoming an increasingly popular tool for planning reconstructive surgeries to treat oral cancer. Currently there is a lack of information regarding model accuracy, and how the resolution of the computed tomography (CT) scan affects the accuracy of the final model.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to determine the CT z-axis resolution necessary in creating a patient specific mandibular model with clinically acceptable accuracy for global bony reconstruction.

Multi-vendor multi-site quantitative MRI analysis of cartilage degeneration 10 Years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: MOON-MRI protocol and preliminary results.

Objective: To describe the protocol of a multi-vendor, multi-site quantitative MRI study for knee post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), and to present preliminary results of cartilage degeneration using MR T and T imaging 10 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

Design: This study involves three sites and two MR platforms. The patients are from a nested cohort (termed as Onsite cohort) within the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) cohort 10 years after ACLR.

Cytidine 5'-Diphosphocholine Corrects Alveolar Type II Cell Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Influenza-infected Mice.

Development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in influenza A virus (IAV)-infected mice is associated with inhibition of ATII (alveolar type II) epithelial cell phosphatidylcholine synthesis, and administration of the phosphatidylcholine precursor cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) attenuates IAV-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome in mice. We hypothesized inhibition of phosphatidylcholine synthesis would also impact the function of ATII cell mitochondria. To test this hypothesis, adult C57BL/6 mice of both sexes were inoculated intranasally with 10,000 pfu/mouse influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1).

[F] Sodium Fluoride Dose Reduction Enabled by Digital Photon Counting PET/CT for Evaluation of Osteoblastic Activity.

The aim of the study was to assess the quality and reproducibility of reducing the injected [F] sodium fluoride ([F]NaF) dose while maintaining diagnostic imaging quality in bone imaging in a preclinical skeletal model using digital photon counting PET (dPET) detector technology. Beagles ( = 9) were administered three different [F]NaF doses: 111 MBq ( = 5), 20 MBq ( = 5), and 1.9 MBq ( = 9).

Radioiodine Labeling Reagents and Methods for New Chemical Entities and Biomolecules.

Several radioisotopes of iodine (I, I, I, and I) are available for medical use. One of them can be used, depending on the application, for radioiodine labeling of New Chemical Entities (NCEs) and biomolecules (peptides, proteins, protein fragments, monoclonal antibodies, etc.) for the development of novel imaging and therapeutic pharmaceuticals.

Radiolabeled Compounds for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer.

Nuclear medicine was recognized as a potential medical field a long time ago when I was used in thyroid cancer patients [...

Precision Nuclear Medicine: The Evolving Role of PET in Melanoma.

The clinical management of melanoma patients has been rapidly evolving with the introduction of new targeted immuno-oncology (IO) therapeutics. The current diagnostic paradigms for melanoma patients begins with the histopathologic confirmation of melanoma, initial staging of disease burden with imaging and surgical approaches, treatment monitoring during systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy or IO therapeutics, restaging after completion of adjuvant systemic, surgical, and/or external radiation therapy, and the detection of recurrent malignancy/metastatic disease following therapy. New and evolving imaging approaches with positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging technologies, imaging methodologies, image reconstruction, and image analytics will likely continue to improve tumor detection, tumor characterization, and diagnostic confidence, enabling novel precision nuclear medicine practices for managing melanoma patients.

A Novel Reagent for Radioiodine Labeling of New Chemical Entities (NCEs) and Biomolecules.

Radioiodine labeling of peptides and proteins is routinely performed by using various oxidizing agents such as Chloramine T, Iodobeads, and Iodogen reagent and radioactive iodide (I), although some other oxidizing agents were also investigated. The main objective of the present study was to develop and test a novel reagent, inorganic monochloramine (NHCl), for radioiodine labeling of new chemical entities and biomolecules which is cost-effective, easy to make and handle, and is selective to label amino acids, peptides, and proteins. The data presented in this report demonstrate that the yields of the non-radioactive iodine labeling reactions using monochloramine are >70% for an amino acid (tyrosine) and a cyclic peptide (cyclo Arg-Gly-Asp-d-Tyr-Lys, cRGDyK).

Case Report: Use of PET/CT to Guide Treatment in a Cat With Presentation Consistent With Hodgkin's-Like Lymphoma.

An 8-year-old male neutered Domestic Long Hair cat was presented for a cervical swelling that was suspected to be an enlarged left retropharyngeal lymph node. In the absence of other lymphadenopathy, this was initially suspected to be Hodgkin's-like lymphoma. A positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) scan was performed using 2-deoxy-2-[F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) to assess for evidence of disease in other locations to guide treatment.

Radiochemistry, Production Processes, Labeling Methods, and ImmunoPET Imaging Pharmaceuticals of Iodine-124.

Target-specific biomolecules, monoclonal antibodies (mAb), proteins, and protein fragments are known to have high specificity and affinity for receptors associated with tumors and other pathological conditions. However, the large biomolecules have relatively intermediate to long circulation half-lives (>day) and tumor localization times. Combining superior target specificity of mAbs and high sensitivity and resolution of the PET (Positron Emission Tomography) imaging technique has created a paradigm-shifting imaging modality, ImmunoPET.

Prevalence of cancer and the benign call rate of afirma gene classifier in F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography positive cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules.

Background: F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) positive (PET+) cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs) have variable cancer risk in the literature. The benign call rate (BCR) of Afirma Gene Classifier (Gene Expression Classifier, GEC, or Genome Sequence Classifier, GSC) in (PET +) ITNs is unknown.

Methods: This is a retrospective study at our institution of all patients with (PET+) ITNs (Bethesda III/IV) from 1 January 2010 to 21 May 2019 who underwent Afirma testing and/or surgery or repeat FNA with benign cytology.

Alternatives to Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents.

Gadolinium-based contrast agents have been used in hundreds of millions of patients in the past 30 years, with an exemplary safety record. However, assumptions made at their inception have been recently challenged, rekindling innovation efforts. This critical review outlines the motivations, technical obstacles, problems, and the most recent published progress toward the creation of alternatives to the existing gadolinium-based contrast agent.

The Current Status of the Production and Supply of Gallium-68.

Gallium-68 (Ga) is an important radionuclide due to its successful use in the clinic. Currently, Ga is produced and supplied by using germanium-68/Gallium-68 (Ge/Ga) generator systems in the preclinical and clinical environments. Until recently, the supply of Ge/Ga generators, specifically the good manufacturing practices (GMP) grade, had a long lead time (up to 18 months).

Periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction acquisition to improve motion-induced artifacts in bladder cancer imaging: Initial findings.

Motion-induced artifacts have been a major drawback in bladder cancer imaging. This study is to evaluate the clinical utility of periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) acquisition in improving motion-induced artifacts in T2-weighted (T2W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of bladder cancer at 3T.Sixteen patient MRI exams were included.

F-Sodium fluoride PET/CT predicts overall survival in patients with advanced genitourinary malignancies treated with cabozantinib and nivolumab with or without ipilimumab.

Purpose: We evaluated the prognostic value of F-sodium fluoride (NaF) PET/CT in patients with urological malignancies treated with cabozantinib and nivolumab with or without ipilimumab.

Methods: We prospectively recruited patients with advanced urological malignancies into a phase I trial of cabozantinib plus nivolumab with or without ipilimumab. NaF PET/CT scans were performed pre- and 8 weeks post-treatment.

Novel Peptide NIRF Optical Surgical Navigation Agents for HNSCC.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) survival rates have not improved in a decade, with a 63% 5-year recurrence rate after surgery, making HNSCC a compelling indication for optical surgical navigation (OSN). A promising peptide, HN1, targeted and internalized in human HNSCC cells in multiple laboratories, but was slow (24 h) to accumulate. We modified HN1 and explored structural variables to improve the uptake kinetics and create IRdye800 adducts useful for OSN.

Stability Evaluation and Stabilization of a Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor (GRPR) Targeting Imaging Pharmaceutical.

The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) are identified as important targets on prostate cancer. Receptor-targeting radiolabeled imaging pharmaceuticals with high affinity and specificity are useful in studying and monitoring biological processes and responses. Two potential imaging pharmaceuticals, AMBA agonist (where AMBA = DO3A-CH2CO-G-[4-aminobenzyl]- Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-Met-NH) and RM1 antagonist (where RM1 = DO3A-CHCO-G-[4-aminobenzyl]-D-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Sta-Leu-NH), have demonstrated high binding affinity (IC) to GRP receptors and high tumor uptake.

Connectivity-based selection of optimal deep brain stimulation contacts: A feasibility study.

Background: The selection of optimal deep brain stimulation (DBS) parameters is time-consuming, experience-dependent, and best suited when acute effects of stimulation can be observed (e.g., tremor reduction).

MRI-based methodology to monitor the impact of positional changes on the airway caliber in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

Purpose: To develop a non-invasive MRI-based methodology to visually and quantitatively assess the impact of head and chest rotations on the airway caliber.

Methods: An MRI table set-up was developed for independent rotations of the head and chest along B field and tested for feasibility using phantom scans. The accuracy of the head and chest rotations was validated with ten volunteer scans.

Emerging Opportunities for Digital PET/CT to Advance Locoregional Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer.

The purpose of this article is to present the recent imaging advancements enabled by digital photon counting positron emission tomography detector technology and discuss its potential applications in the clinical management of head and neck cancer (HNC) and nodal metastases. F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography is a clinically useful biomarker for the detection, targeted biopsy, treatment planning, and therapeutic response assessment of HNC. This article highlights the current state of F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography imaging in HNC management as well as the emerging capabilities of the recently introduced digital photon counting positron emission tomography/computed tomography platform for more effective molecular and functional HNC imaging.

Performance evaluation of the next generation solid-state digital photon counting PET/CT system.

Background: The first solid-state silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) digital photon counting (DPC) clinical PET/CT system was introduced by Philips in recent years. The system differs from other SiPM-based PET/CT systems and uses lutetiumyttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) scintillators directly coupled with their own individual SiPM DPC detectors eliminating the need for Anger-logic positioning decoding. We evaluated the system performance, characteristics, and stability of the next generation DPC clinical PET/CT based on NEMA NU2-2012 tests, NEMA NU2-2018 test (timing resolution) and human studies.

Integration of cardiac energetics, function and histology from isolated rat hearts perfused with doxorubicin and doxorubicin-ol; a model for use in drug safety evaluations.

The isolated rat heart (Langendorff) assay combined with NMR spectroscopy and histology were used to elucidate functional, metabolic, and histological signs of cardiotoxicity resulting from acute exposure to clinically relevant concentrations of doxorubicin and its metabolite dox-ol. Doxorubicin blood concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters were assessed following a clinically relevant dose of 2 mg/kg in order to select concentrations for isolated heart perfusions. Isolated rat hearts were exposed to 1 or 10 μM of doxorubicin or 0.