Major depressive disorder patients on antidepressant treatments display higher number of regulatory T cells

INTRODUCTION

Regulatory T cell (Treg) is a subtype of T lymphocyte that plays a crucial role in establishing immunologic self-tolerance and maintaining immune homeostasis. In this study, we set out to investigate the percentage and absolute count of Tregs in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and their correlation with disease severity.

MATERIALS & METHODS

This is a case-control study consisting of 47 MDD patients and 47 healthy controls. MDD patients were treated with antidepressant drugs according to their physician's choice. The severity of MDD was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at the time of recruitment. Healthy controls completed the Depression Anxiety Scoring System (DASS21) questionnaire to ensure they were in good mental health without history of MDD. The percentage and absolute count of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Tregs and CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FOXP3⁺ Tregs were identified by multiparameter flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The percentage and absolute count of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Treg cells were significantly higher in MDD patients than in healthy controls (P<0.001, in both cases). Likewise, the percentage and absolute count of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FOXP3⁺ Treg cells were also significantly higher in MDD patients compared to healthy controls (P=0.003 and P=0.002, respectively). However, there was no significant correlation between the percentage and absolute count of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Treg and CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FOXP3⁺ Treg cells with BDI or MADRS score.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that antidepressant treatments contributed to an upregulation of Tregs in MDD patients.

Molecular detection of Enterobacteriaceae isolates producing blaOXA-48 and blaOXA-181 genes: A single centre study

INTRODUCTION

OXA-48, a carbapenem-hydrolysing class D β-lactamase, and its variant, OXA-181, are increasingly reported worldwide. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and distribution of OXA-48 and OXA-181 carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in a tertiary medical centre in Malaysia.

MATERIALS & METHODS

A total of 13,098 Enterobacteriaceae isolates from various clinical samples were sent to our laboratory between January 2011 and December 2012. Of these, 90 demonstrated reduced susceptibility to at least one carbapenem and were included in this study. Only 88 isolates were successfully subcultured on blood agar (BA). Another 2 isolates failed to grow and were excluded. Of the 88, 2 isolates had the same identification number (repetitive isolates); therefore, 1 isolate was excluded from further analyses. Only 87 isolates were subjected to molecular detection of the bla_OXA-48 and bla_OXA-181 genes by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven non-repetitive isolates grew following subculture on BA. Of these, 9 (10.34%) were positive for OXA-48 (7 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 2 Escherichia coli). Each isolate originated from different patients. All patients had a history of treatment with at least one cephalosporin and/or carbapenem prior to the isolation of OXA-48 CRE. OXA-181 was detected in one (1.15%) out of the 87 isolates; CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of OXA-48 and OXA-181 CRE among all Enterobacteriaceae isolates in our institution is 0.069% and 0.008%, respectively. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that OXA-48 and OXA-181 carbapenemases appear to be important and possibly under-recognised causes of carbapenem resistance in Malaysia.

The impact of infection and inflammation in oncologic 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging

Sites of infection and inflammation can be misleading in oncology PET/CT imaging because these areas commonly show ¹⁸F-FDG activity. Caution in the interpretation must be taken to avoid the misdiagnosis of malignancy. Utilization of both CT findings as well as patient history can help differentiate benign infectious and inflammatory processes from malignancy, although occasionally additional work-up may be required. This article discusses the mechanism of ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in infection and inflammation with illustrative examples.

Healthcare utilisation patterns for respiratory and gastrointestinal syndromes and meningitis in Msunduzi municipality, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, 2013

BACKGROUND

Public health facilities are used by the majority of South Africans, and healthcare utilisation surveys have been a useful tool to estimate the burden of disease in a given area.

OBJECTIVES

To describe care-seeking behaviour in a periurban site with a high prevalence of HIV infection, as well as barriers to seeking appropriate healthcare.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional household survey in 22 wards of the Msunduzi municipality in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, from October to December 2013 using a simple random sample of households selected from a 2011 census enumeration. A primary caregiver/adult decision-maker was interviewed regarding demographic data as well as health status and recent self-reported episodes of selected illnesses and healthcare utilisation.

RESULTS

Of the 2 238 eligible premises visited, 1 936 households (87%) with a total of 9 733 members were enrolled in the study. Of these, 635 (7%) reported one or more episodes of infectious illness during the study period. Public health clinics were most frequently consulted for all illnesses (361/635, 57%). Private healthcare (general practitioner, private clinic, private hospital) was sought by 90/635 of individuals (14%), only 13/635 (2%) reported seeking care from traditional healers, religious leaders or volunteers, and 71/635 (11%) did not seek any medical care for acute illnesses. Individuals in the lowest income group were more likely to seek care at public health facilities than those in the highest income group (70% v. 32%).

CONCLUSIONS

Public health facility-based surveillance may be representative of disease patterns in this community, although surveillance at household level shows that high-income individuals may be excluded because they were more likely to use private healthcare, and the proportion of individuals who died at home would have been missed by facility-based surveillance. Data obtained in such surveys may be useful for public health planning.

Synthesis of 6-(Fluoromethyl)-19-norcholest-5(10)-en-3-ol, a Fluorinated Analogue of NP-59, using the Mild Fluorinating Reagent, TBAF(Pinacol)2

For 45 years, efforts to prepare a fluorinated analogue of the scintiscanning/SPECT agent 6-(iodomethyl)-19-norcholest-5(10)-en-3-ol (NP-59) for development of a PET imaging agent have failed due to undesired elimination reactions and unexpected rearrangements observed­ while utilizing a wide variety of fluorinating conditions (e.g., cesium­ fluoride, silver fluoride, (2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)diethylamine (FAR), diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST), and hexa­fluoro­propene diethylamine FPA). Herein, we report the full synthesis of NP-59, followed by the four-step synthesis of 6-(fluoromethyl)-19-norcholest-5(10)-en-3-ol (FNP-59) using a recently developed mild fluorinating reagent, less prone to producing elimination reactions in the preparation of primary fluorides, TBAF(pinacol)2, with an overall yield of 16% (four steps). Also included is an evaluation of the TBAF(pinacol)2 reagent on eight test substrates to investigate its scope.

Effects of plasma glucose levels on regional cerebral 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake: Implications for dementia evaluation with brain PET imaging

Purpose:

Hyperglycemia affects FDG uptake in the brain, potentially emulating Alzheimer’s disease in normal individuals. This study investigates global and regional cerebral FDG uptake as a function of plasma glucose in a cohort of patients.

Methods:

120 consecutive male patients with FDG PET/CT for initial oncologic staging (July-Dee 2015) were reviewed. Patients with dementia, cerebrovascular accident, structural brain lesion, prior oncology treatment or high metabolic tumor burden (recently shown affecting brain FDG uptake) were excluded. 53 (24 nondiabetic) eligible patients (age 65.7 ± 2.8 mean ± SE) were analyzed with parametric computer software, MIMneuro™. Regional Z-scores were evaluated as a function of plasma glucose and age using multi variable linear mixed effects models with false discovery analysis adjusting for multiple comparisons. If the regression slope was significantly (p < 0.05) different than zero, hyperglycemia effect was present.

Results:

There was a negative inverse relationship (p < 0.001) between global brain FDG uptake and hyperglycemia. No regional hyperglycemia effect on uptake were present when subjects were normalized using pons or cerebellum. However, regional hyperglycemia effects were seen (p < 0.047–0.001) when normalizing by the whole brain. No obvious pattern was seen in the regions affected. Age had a significant effect using whole brain normalization (p < 0.04–0.01).

Conclusions:

Cortical variation in FDG uptake were identified when subjects were hyperglycemic. However, these variations didn’t fit a particular pattern of dementia and the severity of the affect is not likely to alter clinical interpretation.

Abstract P1-05-05: eEF1A2 facilitates PTEN-GSK3β mediated Aurora-A protein degradation during S-G2 phase inactivated in PTEN-deficient breast cancer

The AURKA gene, encoding Aurora kinase-A (Aurora-A), is frequently amplified and overexpressed across multiple cancer types correlating with poor prognosis. Although the AURKA gene is frequently amplified in human cancers, underlying mechanism(s) for Aurora-A protein stability through different phases of cell cycle are not well elucidated. Inhibiting the kinase activity and promoting protein degradation are two well-validated conceptual strategies for targeting protein kinases in cancers. Here, we demonstrate that Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 1 Alpha 2 (eEF1A2) facilitates PTEN-GSK3β mediated Aurora-A protein degradation through the SCF complex (SKP1-Cul1-FBXW7) during the S/G2 phase of proliferating cells. In contrast, this mechanism is inactivated in cancer cells accompanying PTEN-GSK3β pathway deficiency. Mechanistically, eEF1A2 interacts with Aurora-A, GSK3β, FBXW7 and Cul1-E3 ligase, as the SCF complex, to facilitate Aurora-A polyubiquitination for 26S proteasomal degradation. eEF1A2 promotes PTEN phosphorylation at T366 and stability, inactivates AKT and activates GSK3β which in turn phosphorylates Aurora-A at S283, S284 and S342. The phosphorylation of Aurora-A at S342 is detected during S/G2 phase of cell mitosis in parallel with eEF1A2-SCF complex formation with active form of GSK3β and neddylated Cul1. Conversely, genetic ablation of EEF1A2 and PTEN, activation of AKT, inhibition of GSK3β, expression of Aurora-A phosphodeficient-mutant attenuates the Aurora-A protein degradation which is corroborated in Aurora-A overexpressing mouse mammary carcinomas and human breast carcinomas. This study identifies a novel mechanism of Aurora-A protein degradation mediated eEF1A2-PTEN-GSK3β pathway and provides a framework for the discovery of Aurora-A therapeutic targets in breast cancer that harbors deficiency of PTEN tumor suppressor pathway.

Citation Format: Treekitkarnmongkol W, Solis LM, Kai K, Thompson AM, Tian W, Wistuba II, Sasai K, Jltsumori Y, Sahin AA, Hawke DH, Lee JM, Qin L, Bawa-Khalfe T, Rad R, Wong KK, Abbott CM, Katayama H, Sen S. eEF1A2 facilitates PTEN-GSK3β mediated Aurora-A protein degradation during S-G2 phase inactivated in PTEN-deficient breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-05-05.

Gardnerella vaginalis in perinatology: An overview of the clinicopathological correlation

Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) is a facultatively anaerobic gram-variable bacillus and is the major organism involved in bacterial vaginosis. GV-associated bacterial vaginosis has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes include preterm parturition and subclinical chorioamnionitis. Inflammatory response induced by GV presents paediatric problems as well. Studies had shown that increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines include TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 following fetal inflammatory response syndrome secondary to GV-induced intrauterine infection may result in the development of periventricular leukomalacia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the infected fetus. There is increasing evidence that GV-associated BV infection serves as a risk factor for long-term neurological complications, such as cerebral palsy and learning disability. GV is fastidious and could elude conventional detection methods such as bacterial cultures. With current more sophisticated molecular biology detection methods, its role and pathogenic effects have been shown to have a greater impact on intrauterine inflammation and fetal/neonatal infection. This review gives an overview on the characteristics of GV and its virulence properties. Its detrimental role in causing unfavourable GV-related perinatal outcomes, with emphasis on the possible mechanistic pathways is discussed. The discovery of disease mechanisms allows the building of a strong platform where further research on innovative therapies can be based on, for instance, an anti-TLR monoclonal antibody as therapeutic agent to halt inflammation-precipitate adverse perinatal outcomes.

Efficacy of radioactive iodine treatment of graves' hyperthyroidism using a single calculated 131I dose

Objective

To evaluate the success rate of therapeutic administration of a single calculated ¹³¹I activity for eliminating hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease.

Methods and materials

Patients with Graves’ hyperthyroidism underwent pinhole thyroid imaging, 24-h radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) measurements and clinical examination and received a calculated ¹³¹I activity of 0.2 mCi per estimated gram of thyroid tissue, adjusted for the 24-h RAIU. The goal of RAI treatment was to achieve hypothyroidism within 3–6 months of ¹³¹I administration. Response to RAI therapy was assessed at 7 weeks and 3 months by clinical and biochemical follow-up.

Results

The study included 316 hyperthyroid patients with Graves’ disease (F238:M78, mean age 42.1 ± 16 y, 4–94). 179 patients (56.6%) had no prior therapeutic intervention (treatment-naive patients), whereas 6 patients had prior thyroid surgery, and 131 (41.5%) had been treated with anti-thyroid medications.

The mean estimated thyroid gland size was 50.2 g ± 18, range 15–100. Mean RAIU was 0.57 ± 0.17 (normal 0.07–0.30). RAI doses ranged from 5 to 70 mCi (mean dose = 18.1 mCi). Successful treatment of hyperthyroidism at our institution was obtained after a single therapeutic 131-I activity administration in 295 of 316 (93.3%) patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that failure of ¹³¹I therapy was associated with previous PTU therapy (p <  0.001).

The mean response time after successful RAI therapy was 110.2 days, with cumulative response of 25% at 61 days, 50% by 84 days and 75% by 118 days after radioiodine administration. The mean time to respond for those on prior PTU medications was 297 days compared to 116 days for those on MMI and 109 days for those not previously treated with antithyroid medications. In patients with persistent hyperthyroidism, failure of RAI therapy was documented in 16 patients (76.2%) within (less than) one year after ¹³¹I administration and in 5 patients (23.8%) more than one year after initial therapy, considered late failure.

Conclusion

Successful ¹³¹I therapy for Graves’ hyperthyroidism with a single calculated dose can be achieved in the majority (> 90%) of patients, adjusting for the thyroid size and 24 h uptake measurement.

H3K9 methyltransferases and demethylases control lung tumor-propagating cells and lung cancer progression

Epigenetic regulators are attractive anticancer targets, but the promise of therapeutic strategies inhibiting some of these factors has not been proven in vivo or taken into account tumor cell heterogeneity. Here we show that the histone methyltransferase G9a, reported to be a therapeutic target in many cancers, is a suppressor of aggressive lung tumor-propagating cells (TPCs). Inhibition of G9a drives lung adenocarcinoma cells towards the TPC phenotype by de-repressing genes which regulate the extracellular matrix. Depletion of G9a during tumorigenesis enriches tumors in TPCs and accelerates disease progression metastasis. Depleting histone demethylases represses G9a-regulated genes and TPC phenotypes. Demethylase inhibition impairs lung adenocarcinoma progression in vivo. Therefore, inhibition of G9a is dangerous in certain cancer contexts, and targeting the histone demethylases is a more suitable approach for lung cancer treatment. Understanding cellular context and specific tumor populations is critical when targeting epigenetic regulators in cancer for future therapeutic development.

The utility of bone scintigraphy with SPECT/CT in the evaluation and management of frostbite injuries

OBJECTIVE:

Frostbite is a localized cold-thermal injury resulting from prolonged exposure of flesh to freezing and near freezing temperatures. The depth and extent of frostbite injuries are not easily assessed, from a clinical standpoint, at the time of injury making it challenging to plan appropriate management and treatment.

METHODS:

A review of the literature of management of cold-related injuries and retrospective case review of the imaging and clinical course of frostbite injury.

RESULTS:

Bone scintigraphy with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT was performed in the acute and subacute course of frostbite injuries, subsequently leading to earlier definitive management and shorter hospital stay.

CONCLUSION:

Multiphase technetium-99m-methylenediphosphonate (⁹⁹mTc-MDP) bone scintigraphy with SPECT/CT can expedite clinical management of frostbite injuries by determining the extent of injury and can accurately predict the level of amputation if needed.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:

 SPECT/CT is underutilized at many facilities but can have a profound and immediate impact on clinical management of patients with frostbite when used in combination with physiological bone scan imaging.

IL-6 Mediates Cross-Talk between Tumor Cells and Activated Fibroblasts in the Tumor Microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a major role in the pathogenesis of multiple cancer types, including upper-gastrointestinal (GI) cancers that currently lack effective therapeutic options. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are an essential component of the TME, contributing to tumorigenesis by secreting growth factors, modifying the extracellular matrix, supporting angiogenesis, and suppressing antitumor immune responses. Through an unbiased approach, we have established that IL-6 mediates cross-talk between tumor cells and CAF not only by supporting tumor cell growth, but also by promoting fibroblast activation. As a result, IL-6 receptor (IL6Rα) and downstream effectors offer opportunities for targeted therapy in upper-GI cancers. IL-6 loss suppressed tumorigenesis in physiologically relevant three-dimensional (3D) organotypic and 3D tumoroid models and murine models of esophageal cancer. Tocilizumab, an anti-IL6Rα antibody, suppressed tumor growth in vivo in part via inhibition of STAT3 and MEK/ERK signaling. Analysis of a pan-cancer TCGA dataset revealed an inverse correlation between IL-6 and IL6Rα overexpression and patient survival. Therefore, we expanded evaluation of tocilizumab to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patient-derived xenografts and gastric adenocarcinoma xenografts, demonstrating suppression of tumor growth and altered STAT3 and ERK1/2 gene signatures. We used small-molecule inhibitors of STAT3 and MEK1/2 signaling to suppress tumorigenesis in the 3D organotypic model of esophageal cancer. We demonstrate that IL6 is a major contributor to the dynamic cross-talk between tumor cells and CAF in the TME. Our findings provide a translational rationale for inhibition of IL6Rα and downstream signaling pathways as a novel targeted therapy in oral-upper-GI cancers.Significance: These findings demonstrate the interaction of esophageal cancer and cancer-associated fibroblasts through IL-6 signaling, providing rationale for a novel therapeutic approach to target these cancers. Cancer Res; 78(17); 4957-70. ©2018 AACR.

Jaundice in infants and children: causes, diagnosis, and management

Jaundice is caused by an accumulation of bilirubin in the blood. The presentation in infants and children can be indicative of a wide range of conditions, with some self-limiting and others potentially life-threatening. This article aims to provide a concise review of the common medical and surgical causes in children and discuss their diagnosis and management.

Effects of Tumor Burden on Reference Tissue Standardized Uptake for PET Imaging: Modification of PERCIST Criteria

Purpose To examine the effect metabolic burden (tumor and/or cardiac myocyte uptake) has on fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) distribution in organs and tissues of interest. Materials and Methods Positron emission tomographic (PET)/computed tomographic (CT) scans at the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs hospital from January to July 2015 were reviewed. A total of 107 scans (50 patients; mean age, 64.3 years ± 13.2 [standard deviation]) had metabolic tissue burden assessed by using total lesion glycolysis (TLG) obtained from autosegmentation of the tumor and/or cardiac tissue. Standardized uptake value (SUV) and subsequent normalized SUV uptake in target organs and tissues were compared with 436 FDG PET/CT scans previously reported in 229 patients as a function of TLG to describe the effect(s) that metabolic burden has on reference tissue (blood pool, liver, and brain) FDG uptake. Subsequent regression by using linear mixed-effects models was used. If the slope of the regression was significantly (P < .05) different than zero, then an effect from TLG was present. Results There was a negative inverse relationship (P < .0001) between FDG uptake within reference tissues (blood pool, liver, and brain) and TLG in comparison to the study population at similar blood glucose levels. This TLG effect was no longer statistically significant (P > .05) when FDG uptake was normalized to a reference tissue (eg, blood pool or liver). Conclusion Metabolic tissue burden can have a significant effect on SUV measurements for PET imaging. This effect can be mitigated by normalizing FDG uptake to a reference tissue. ^© RSNA, 2018.

A 15-year single centre retrospective study of antiphospholipid syndrome patients from Northern Malaysia

BACKGROUND

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterised by thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) based on the Sydney criteria. We aimed to explore the clinico-laboratory features and treatment strategies of APS patients retrospectively.

METHODOLOGY

The medical records of APS patients registered under Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (Kelantan state) between 2000 and 2015 were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 17 APS subjects (age 40.7 ± 12.8 years) including 11 primary (64.7%) and six secondary APS (35.3%) patients were identified. The follow-up period was 9.5 ± 6.7 years with male:female ratio of 1.0:4.7. Pregnancy morbidity was the most common clinical manifestation (11/14; 78.6%) followed by recurrent venous thrombosis (10/17; 58.8%). For other clinical features, menorrhagia was the most frequently observed manifestation (4/14; 28.6%) followed by aPLs-associated thrombocytopenia (4/17; 23.5%) and ovarian cyst (3/14; 21.4%). LA and aCL were positive in 94.1% (16/17) and 81.8% (9/11) of the patients, respectively. APTT value (76.7 ± 17.0 sec) was significantly high (p < 0.05). Low intensity warfarin alone was successful to maintain target INR (2.0 - 3.0) and prevent recurrence of thrombosis.

CONCLUSION

The tendency of pregnancy morbidity in this cohort of Malaysian Kelantanese APS patients was high compared to other previously reported APS cohorts. Low intensity warfarin was successful in preventing recurrence of thrombosis, however, APS women receiving long-term anticoagulants should be monitored for possible occurrence of menorrhagia and ovarian cysts.

Positron emission tomography-CT prediction of occult nodal metastasis in recurrent laryngeal cancer

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of positron emission tomography (PET)-CT in identifying occult nodal metastasis in clinically and radiographically N0 patients with recurrent laryngeal cancer undergoing salvage laryngectomy.

METHODS

Retrospective review of 46 clinically and radiographically N0 patients with recurrent laryngeal cancer who underwent a PET-CT examination before salvage laryngectomy with neck dissection from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2014, was performed.

RESULTS

Two patients (16.7%) had true-positive PET-CT results, whereas 10 patients (83.3%) had false-negative scans, 1 patient (2.9%) had a false-positive result and 33 patients (97.1%) had a true-negative PET-CT. The sensitivity of PET-CT was 16.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.5% to 46.0%) with a specificity of 97.1% (95% CI, 83.8% to 99.9%), positive predictive value (PPV) of 66.7% (95% CI, 20.2% to 94.4%), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 76.7% (95% CI, 62.1% to 87.0%).

CONCLUSION

PET-CT has poor sensitivity and NPV making PET-CT an imperfect predictor of nodal disease in recurrent laryngeal cancer. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 980-987, 2017.

Effect of hyperglycemia on brain and liver 18F-FDG standardized uptake value (FDG SUV) measured by quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) imaging

PURPOSE

Blood glucose is routinely measured prior to ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) administration in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to identify hyperglycemia that may affect image quality. In this study we explore the effects of blood glucose levels upon semi-quantitative standardized uptake value (SUV) measurements of target organs and tissues of interest and in particular address the relationship of blood glucose to FDG accumulation in the brain and liver.

METHODS

436 FDG PET/CT consecutive studies performed for oncology staging in 229 patients (226 male) at the Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Healthcare System were reviewed. All patients had blood glucose measured (112.4±34.1mg/dL) prior to injection of 466.2±51.8MBq (12.6±1.4mCi) of FDG. SUV measurements of brain, aortic arch blood-pool, liver, and spleen were obtained at 64.5±10.2min' post-injection.

RESULTS

We found a negative inverse relationship of brain SUV with increasing plasma glucose, levels for both absolute and normalized (either to blood-pool or liver) values. Higher blood glucose levels had a mild effect upon liver and blood-pool SUV. By contrast, spleen SUV was independent of blood glucose, but demonstrated the greatest variability (deviation on linear regression). In contrast to other tissues, liver and spleen SUV normalized to blood-pool SUV were not dependent upon blood glucose levels.

CONCLUSION

The effects of hyperglycemia upon FDG uptake in brain and liver, over a range of blood glucose values generally considered acceptable for clinical PET imaging, may have measurable effects on semi-quantitative image analysis.

Contemporary imaging of incidentally discovered adrenal masses

Adrenal lesions are routinely encountered incidentally in clinical practice. Although most of these lesions are benign, malignancy needs to be excluded. Therefore, the initial clinical workup is to exclude aggressive characteristics suggesting malignancy and to identify characteristics predictive of the most common benign lesion, an adrenal adenoma. Predicting a benign adenoma using a variety of imaging modalities has been widely studied using unenhanced computed tomography (CT), contrast enhanced CT, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. This review article describes the currently used imaging protocols and clinical interpretation criteria of common adrenal lesions. An adenoma can be predicted if a homogenous soft tissue adrenal mass demonstrates low attenuation (upper threshold value of 10 Hounsfield Units) on unenhanced CT, demonstrates an absolute enhancement washout of ≥ 60% and/or relative enhancement washout of ≥ 40% on adrenal washout contrast enhanced CT, or demonstrates signal loss in opposed-phased MR imaging. If an adrenal adenoma cannot be predicted based upon these criteria, the lesion should be evaluated for other imaging characteristics that suggest a specific pathology, such as an adrenal cyst or myelolipoma. Although nonspecific and with limitations, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT has a potential role for differentiating benign from malignant lesions based upon the amount of radiopharmaceutical uptake with malignant lesions generally having greater uptake. If clinical and/or hormonal screening suggests a pheochromocytoma, consideration can be given to 18F-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) or 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) in addition to CT and MR. Finally, this review proposes a diagnostic work-up strategy for routine use in clinical practice.

Personnel dose reduction in 90Y microspheres liver-directed radioembolization: from interventional radiology suite to patient ward

OBJECTIVE

To describe a method to reduce the external radiation exposure emitted from the patient after liver-directed radioembolization using ⁹⁰Y glass microspheres, to quantitatively estimate the occupational dose of medical personnel providing patient care to the patient radioembolized with the use of the method and to discuss radiation exposure to patients who are adjacent if the patient radioembolized needs hospitalization.

METHODS

A lead-lined blanket of lead equivalence of 0.5 mm was used to cover the patient abdomen immediately after the ⁹⁰Y radioembolization procedure, in order to reduce the radiation emitted from the patient. The interventional radiologist used a rod-type puncture site compressor for haemostasis to avoid direct contact with possible residual radioactivity at the puncture site. Dose rates were measured at the interventional radiologist chest and hand positions during puncture site pressing for haemostasis with and without the use of the blanket. The measurement results were applied to estimate the occupational dose of colleagues performing patient care to the patient radioembolized. The exposure to patients adjacent in the ward was estimated if the patient radioembolized was hospitalized.

RESULTS

The radiation exposures measured at the radiologist chest and hand positions have been significantly reduced with the lead-lined blanket in place. The radiologist, performing puncture site pressing at the end of radioembolization procedure, would receive an average hand dose of 1.95 μSv and body dose under his own lead apron of 0.30 μSv for an average ⁹⁰Y microsphere radioactivity of 2.54 GBq. Other medical personnel, nurses and porters, would receive occupational doses corresponding to an hour of background radiation. If the patient radioembolized using ⁹⁰Y needs hospitalization in a common ward, using the lead-lined blanket to cover the abdomen of the patient and keeping a distance of 2 m from the patient who is adjacent would reduce the exposure by 0.42% of dose limit for the general public.

CONCLUSION

By placing a lead-lined blanket on the patient abdominal region after ⁹⁰Y radioembolization, hospital staff receive minimal radiation exposure in order to comply with the radiation protection "as low as reasonably achievable" principle. There will be no increase in radiation level in ward if the patient radioembolized using ⁹⁰Y needs to be hospitalized. Therefore, the patient radioembolized can be accommodated alternatively at a corner bed of a common ward if an isolation room with private toilet facility is not available. Advances in knowledge: To reduce exposure to personnel providing patient care to patients radioembolized using ⁹⁰Y.