Long-Term Prognostic Value of Automated Measurements in Nuclear Cardiology: Comparisons with Expert Scoring.

: Automated methods for the analysis of myocardial perfusion studies have been incorporated into clinical practice, but they are currently used as adjuncts to the visual interpretation. We aimed to investigate the role of automated measurements of summed stress score (SSS), summed rest score (SRS), and summed difference score (SDS) as long-term prognostic markers of morbidity and mortality, in comparison to the prognostic value of expert reading. : The study was conducted at the Nuclear Medicine Laboratory of the University of Thessaly, in Larissa, Greece.

Automated Analysis vs. Expert Reading in Nuclear Cardiology: Correlations with the Angiographic Score.

: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has an important role in the non-invasive investigation of coronary artery disease. The interpretation of MPI studies is mainly based on the visual evaluation of the reconstructed images, while automated quantitation methods may add useful data for each patient. However, little evidence is currently available regarding the actual incremental clinical diagnostic performance of automated MPI analysis.

Anosognosia in Dementia: Evaluation of Perfusion Correlates Using 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT and Automated Brodmann Areas Analysis.

(1) Background: Considerable inconsistency exists regarding the neural substrates of anosognosia in dementia in previous neuroimaging studies. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of anosognosia perfusion correlates across various types of dementia using automated Brodmann areas (BAs) analysis and comparison with a database of normal subjects. (2) Methods: We studied 72 patients: 32 with Alzheimer's disease, 26 with frontotemporal dementia-FTD (12 behavioral FTD, 9 semantic FTD, 5 Progressive Non-Fluent Aphasia), 11 with corticobasal syndrome, and 3 with progressive supranuclear palsy.

Correlation of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Dementia with Brain Perfusion: A 99mTc-SPECT-HMPAO Study with Brodmann Areas Analysis.

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) are common in dementia. Their evaluation is based on Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Neuroimaging studies have tried to elucidate the underlying neural circuits either in isolated NPSs or in specific forms of dementia.

Age, gestational and heat stress effects on ghrelin secretion in dairy cattle.

It is known that heat stress decreases dry matter intake in cattle with impacts on milk production and fertility. Ghrelin is an orexigenic hormone with suppressive effects on reproduction. In this study, we investigated the effects of heat stress and gestational status on ghrelin secretion and its possible associations with DMI in Holstein cattle.

Eating Disorders in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: Evaluation of Brain Perfusion Correlates Using 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT with Brodmann Areas Analysis.

Background: Eating disorders (ED) in dementia represent a significant impairment affecting patients' and caregivers' lives. In frontotemporal dementia (FTD), ED include overeating, sweet food preference, stereotypical eating, and hyperorality, while in Alzheimer's disease (AD), anorexia and appetite loss are the most common ED.

Objective: The aim of our study was to highlight Brodmann areas (BAs) implicated specifically in the appearance of ED in FTD and AD.

Differences of apathy perfusion correlates between Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. A 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT study with automated Brodmann areas analysis.

Objectives: To explore differences of apathy perfusion correlates between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) using perfusion SPECT.

Methods: We studied 75 FTD and 66 AD patients. We evaluated apathy using Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI).

Detection of Extramedullary Hematopoietic Tissue in a Patient with Beta-Thalassemia Major on Tc99m-Sestamibi Parathyroid Scintigraphy.

A 50-year-old man with beta-thalassemia major underwent Tc-99m sestamibi parathyroid scintigraphy due to elevated parathyroid hormone and calcium serum levels. Single-photon emission computed tomography imaging of neck and thorax revealed a parathyroid adenoma, as well as increased tracer uptake in a paraspinal region in the right hemithorax, where X-ray and computed tomography of the thorax had shown previously a mass compatible with extramedullary hematopoietic tissue.

SPECT and PET imaging in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia. Beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of abnormal hyperphosphorylated tau protein are the pathological hallmarks of the disease, accompanied by other pathological processes such as microglia activation. Functional and molecular nuclear medicine imaging with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) techniques provides valuable information about the underlying pathological processes, many years before the appearance of clinical symptoms.

A Novel Metal-Based Imaging Probe for Targeted Dual-Modality SPECT/MR Imaging of Angiogenesis.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with well-integrated multimodality imaging properties have generated increasing research interest in the past decade, especially when it comes to the targeted imaging of tumors. Bevacizumab (BCZM) on the other hand is a well-known and widely applied monoclonal antibody recognizing VEGF-A, which is overexpressed in angiogenesis. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to develop a dual-modality nanoplatform for targeted single photon computed emission tomography (SPECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of tumor vascularization.

Impact of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system polymorphisms on myocardial perfusion: Correlations with myocardial single photon emission computed tomography-derived parameters.

Background: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) has an important role in atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of six RAAS gene polymorphisms on myocardial perfusion.

Methods And Results: We examined 810 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) using stress-rest myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography.

Myocardial perfusion and left ventricular quantitative parameters obtained using gated myocardial SPECT: Comparison of three software packages.

Background: The aim of the present study was to compare Emory Cardiac Toolbox, Myovation, and Quantitative Gated SPECT software regarding the automatic measurements of perfusion and functional left ventricular (LV) quantitative parameters, summed stress score (SSS), perfusion defect score, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic volume, and end-systolic volume (ESV).

Methods And Results: mTc-tetrofosmin gated SPECT studies were performed in 634 consecutive patients based on the one-day stress/rest protocol. Participants were divided into subgroups according to heart size (ESV cut-off value: 25 mL), perfusion (SSS >/≤3), and other patient/protocol-related factors.

Clinical Evaluation of Brain Perfusion SPECT with Brodmann Areas Mapping in Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) based on clinical criteria alone may be problematic, while current and future treatments should be administered earlier in order to be more effective. Thus, various disease biomarkers could be used for early detection of AD. We evaluated brain perfusion with 99mTc-HMPAO single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and Brodmann areas (BAs) mapping in mild AD using an automated software (NeuroGam) for the semi-quantitative evaluation of perfusion in BAs and the comparison with the software's normal database.

Evaluation of ανβ3-mediated tumor expression with a 99mTc-labeled ornithine-modified RGD derivative during glioblastoma growth in vivo.

In this study, a novel way of distinguishing the intrinsic relationship between ανβ3 integrin targeting and detection of tumor growth by using a radiolabeled tracer based on a cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide was provided. The potential of the in vivo scintigraphic imaging of the developing vasculature from the early stage of tumor growth was evaluated. Alongside with the scintigraphic images, biodistribution studies were performed at distinct time points to validate this noninvasive imaging approach.

Brain perfusion SPECT with Brodmann areas analysis in differentiating frontotemporal dementia subtypes.

Despite the known validity of clinical diagnostic criteria, significant overlap of clinical symptoms between Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) subtypes exists in several cases, resulting in great uncertainty of the diagnostic boundaries. We evaluated the perfusion between FTD subtypes using brain perfusion (99m)Tc-HMPAO SPECT with Brodmann areas (BA) mapping. NeuroGam software was applied on single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) studies for the semi-quantitative evaluation of perfusion in BA and the comparison with the software's normal database.

(99m)Tc-labeled aminosilane-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for molecular imaging of ανβ3-mediated tumor expression and feasibility for hyperthermia treatment.

Hypothesis: Dual-modality imaging agents, such as radiolabeled iron oxide nanoparticles (IO-NPs), are promising candidates for cancer diagnosis and therapy. We developed and evaluated aminosilane coated Fe3O4 (10±2nm) as a tumor imaging agent in nuclear medicine through 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) functionalization. We evaluated this multimeric system of targeted (99m)Tc-labeled nanoparticles (NPs) conjugated with a new RGD derivate (cRGDfK-Orn3-CGG), characterized as NPs-RGD as a potential thermal therapy delivery vehicle.

In vivo anticancer evaluation of the hyperthermic efficacy of anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted PEG-based nanocarrier containing magnetic nanoparticles.

Polymeric nanoparticles with targeting moieties containing magnetic nanoparticles as theranostic agents have considerable potential for the treatment of cancer. Here we report the chemical synthesis and characterization of a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-based nanocarrier containing iron oxide nanoparticles and human epithelial growth factor receptor on the outer shell. The nanocarrier was also radiolabeled with (99m)Tc and tested as a theranostic nanomedicine, ie, it was investigated for both its diagnostic ability in vivo and its therapeutic hyperthermic effects in a standard A431 human tumor cell line.

Comparative in vitro stability and scintigraphic imaging for trafficking and tumor targeting of a directly and a novel ⁹⁹mTc(I)(CO)₃ labeled liposome.

Liposomes radiolabelling with diagnostic radionuclides is an excellent tool for studying pharmacokinetics with the view of developing liposome-based drug delivery agents. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo behavior of a (99m)Tc-labeled liposome by applying either a direct labeling strategy via a carboxyl group, LP-COOH, or a surface chelating method via pyridyl ethyl cysteine compound (with the intermediate [⁹⁹mTc(I)(CO)₃(H₂O)(3)](+)), LP-PEC. ⁹⁹mTc-LP-COOH was obtained in high radiolabelling yield and radiochemical purity, while ⁹⁹mTc(I)(CO)₃-LP-PEC was initially purified before being in vitro and in vivo evaluated.

Targeted delivery of silver nanoparticles and alisertib: in vitro and in vivo synergistic effect against glioblastoma.

Aim: Targeted biocompatible nanoplatforms presenting multiple therapeutic functions have great potential for the treatment of cancer.

Materials & Methods: Multifunctional nanocomposites formed by polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) containing two cytotoxic agents - the drug alisertib and silver nanoparticles - were synthesized. These PNPs have been conjugated with a chlorotoxin, an active targeting 36-amino acid-long peptide that specifically binds to MMP-2, a receptor overexpressed by brain cancer cells.

Radiochemical and radiobiological assessment of a pyridyl-S-cysteine functionalized bombesin derivative labeled with the (99m)Tc(CO)3(+) core.

Bombesin is a neuropeptide widely studied due to its ability to target various types of cancers. Technetium-99m on the other hand is ideal for diagnostic tumor targeting. The aim of the present study is the investigation of the coupling of the ligand (S)-(2-(2'-pyridyl)ethyl)-d,l-cysteine with the BN-peptide Gln-Arg-Leu-Gly-Asn-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-Met(CONH2) through the spacer aminohexanoic acidand the labeling of the resulting derivative MBN with the synthon [M(CO)3(H2O)3](+) (M=(99m)Tc, Re).