Gallium is a tri-valent p-block metal that closely mimics tri-valent iron. Gallium is internalized into cells via transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis. Both Ga-67 and Ga-68 are radionuclides that can be radiolabeled to various bioactive compounds for clinical imaging procedures to visualize tumors and sites of inflammation. High-dose ascorbate (pharmacological ascorbate) is an emergent glioblastoma therapy that enhances cancer cell-killing through iron-metabolic perturbations. We hypothesized that pharmacological ascorbate treatments might alter Ga-67 uptake in glioblastoma cells. We evaluated the in vitro ability of pharmacological ascorbate to alter gallium uptake in patient-derived glioblastoma cells with variable genetic backgrounds by co-incubating cells with Ga-67 ± pharmacological ascorbate. Surprisingly, we observed increased basal gallium uptake in the glioblastoma cells compared to normal human astrocytes. Further, pharmacological ascorbate treatment stimulated gallium uptake in glioblastoma cells while not affecting uptake in normal human astrocytes. This effect appears to be related to transient increases in transferrin receptor expression. Finally, pharmacological ascorbate treatment appears to stimulate gallium uptake in an iron metabolism-dependent manner. Further mechanistic experiments are required to evaluate the translational utility of ascorbate to impact gallium tumor imaging.
Introduction: In this study, ZnO/Acrylamide composites were considered as gamma and x-ray shielding. The mass attenuation coefficient and half value layer for the bulk of ZnO and various percentages of the ZnO composites were calculated for different range of energy. Materials and methods: In this paper, the Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended (MCNP-X) version 2.4.0T was used as a tool for determining the mass attenuation coefficient and vale layer of the shielding samples. Results: The obtaining data were in good agreement with the data that were come from the X-COM program. Also, the data show that the composite's ability in attenuation of the gamma rays is similar to the bulk of ZnO. Conclusion: The results show the preferences of using composites as a radiation shielding in comparison with the bulk of the ZnO.
In scintigraphy, extra-bone uptake always arouses curiosity in certain clinical situations with a risk of misdiagnosis.We report here a case of extra-osseous fixation giving an atypical image simulating a hyper fixing kidney stone.These images caught our attention for a literary review and discussion.
Objectives: Magnetic Resonance Image Fusion is used to highlight tissue characteristics unrevealed by the individual sequences.We have applied a fusion algorithm merging isotropic sequences T2 Constructive Interference in a Steady State-CISS and contrast-enhanced (CE) T1 to obtain multiplanar (MPR) composed images (CESS) of skull base tumors and the surrounding cranial nerves (CN).We hypothesize that CESS images may complement standard Diffusion-Tensor Tractography and depict the deviated trajectories of CN impaired by space occupying lesions within the subaracnoid cisterns.We describe the fundamentals of this technique and present the cases of several patients in which the information garnered was coincident with CN tractographies and neurosurgical results. Methods:A retrospective and observational study of six patients (three vestibular schwannomas, two petro-clival meningiomas and one difuse epidermoid) was performed, comparing CESS with CN tractographies and intraoperative findings.Isotropic T2-CISS, pos-Gadolinium T1 images and Diffusion-Tensor (DT) tractographies were obtained preoperatively.MPR fused CESS was processed with the MR vendor's proprietary software.Results: All fused imaging sets resulted correctly aligned.The location of the CN on CESS was seen has a fiber of low contrast and increased thickness at the tumor margin, coincident with CN tractographies and surgical results. Conclusion:We speculate that image fusion (CESS) complements CN tractography evaluation and aid in the operative planning.
Objectives: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of MPS when compared to CCA in detecting coronary artery disease and compare it with published data. To compare myocardial perfusion findings (MPS) with conventional coronary angiography (CCA) results according to their territory. Methods: The study included men and women >35 years of age who have undergone MPS and CCA within seven months due to suspected CAD with no interval major cardiac event or intervention between 2013 and 2014 at Royal Hospital, Oman. Results: A total of 95 patients were included in the study. The sensitivity and specificity of MPS for detection of coronary artery stenosis (>=70%) were 95.45% and 47.06% respectively and for detection of coronary artery stenosis (>= 50%) were 82.76% and 43.24% respectively. The sensitivities and specificities of MPS for detection of Left anterior descending (LAD), Right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex (LCX) territory stenosis (>=70%) were (59.38% and 68.25%), (73.08% and 63.77%), and (42.31% and 81.16%) respectively. The agreement between MPs and CCA for coronary artery stenosis >=70% according to territory, the kappa value ranged 0.240.30, p<0.0001. Conclusion: The sensitivity and specificity of MPS at Royal Hospital for detecting critical stenosis was comparable with published data, 95.45% vs. (81%-93%), 47.09% vs. (38%-70%), respectively. There was a fair agreement in results between territory based MPS and CCA for coronary artery disease.
