Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) regulates S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), a methyl donor in methylation. Over-expressed SAMe may cause neurogenic capacity reduction and memory impairment. GNMT knockout mice (GNMT-KO) was applied as an experimental model to evaluate its effect on neurons. In this study, proteins from brain tissues were studied using proteomic approaches, Haemotoxylin and Eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and ingenuity pathway analysis. The expression of Receptor-interacting protein 1(RIPK1) and Caspase 3 were up-regulated and activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) was down-regulated in GNMT-KO mice regardless of the age. Besides, proteins related to neuropathology, such as excitatory amino acid transporter 2, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit alpha, and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase were found only in the group of aged wild-type mice; 4-aminobutyrate amino transferase, limbic system-associated membrane protein, sodium- and chloride-dependent GABA transporter 3 and ProSAAS were found only in the group of young GNMT-KO mice and are related to function of neurons; serum albumin and Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor 1 were found only in the group of aged GNMT-KO mice and are connected to neurodegenerative disorders. With proteomic analyses, a pathway involving Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signal was found to be associated with aging. The GnRH pathway could provide additional information on the mechanism of aging and non-aging related neurodegeneration, and these protein markers may be served in developing future therapeutic treatments to ameliorate aging and prevent diseases.

Background Mucosal melanomas are rare and have a high potential for metastasizing. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for single distant metastases. Malignant melanoma usually shows the highest uptake of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG). 18 F- FDG positron emission tomography /computed tomography (PET/CT) is usually used for melanoma staging. An extensive literature review revealed only 4 published case reports and an original paper involving 8 cases (12 cases in total) of patients with skin melanomas in whom pigmented villous nodular synovitis (PVNS) mimicked metastatic melanoma, however, none of the melanomas reported were of rectal mucosal origin. Case presentation A 60-year-old woman presented with recent diagnosis of rectal mucosal melanoma, two additional 18 F-FDG-avid lesions in the left ankle and left foot were detected on 18 F-FDG PET/CT. Metastases were initially suspected; however, the final diagnosis was PVNS. Conclusions This is the first report of PVNS mimicking metastases on 18 F-FDG PET/CT in a patient with rectal mucosal melanoma. Although high 18 F-FDG-avid lesions in patients with rectal mucosal melanoma are highly suspected to be metastasis and warrant an meticulous examination, the present case is a reminder that in such patients, not all lesions with high 18 F-FDG uptake, especially those near a joint, are metastases and that more extensive resection is unnecessary.

We present a 56-year-old woman with metastatic follicular thyroid cancer at the nose tip with I uptake that is clinically rare, mimicking physiological uptake in the nose, a common finding seen after routine I therapeutic imaging. The lesion revealed a metastatic follicular thyroid cancer with I uptake and response to I therapy. Surgical removal, however, was not performed due to cosmetic and functional considerations. Active surveillance is warranted owing to its relative aggressiveness in nature.

Prior reports have demonstrated the improved ability of delayed fluorine-18 (18F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging (dual-time-point imaging) in detecting more patients with liver metastases. To evaluate whether routine triple-time-point FDG PET/CT imaging improves the detection of liver metastasis not visualized on initial imaging. To our knowledge, no triple-time-point imaging has been reported. This retrospective study included total 310 patients with various malignancies who underwent PET/CT scans. Triple-time-point imaging including the liver was obtained. The comparison between negative and positive liver lesions on delayed imaging for patients with initial negative imaging were analyzed. Of the 310 patients, 286 did not exhibit liver lesions on initial imaging, but six of the 286 patients exhibited lesions on delayed imaging. No additional liver lesions were detected on further delayed imaging in the 286 patients. The other 24 patients with liver lesions identified on initial imaging still showed lesions on delayed and further delayed imaging. The analysis showed a significant difference in the percentage of colorectal cancer (66.7%) and liver lesions before the PET scan (50.0%) compared with unchanged results (22.1% and 3.9%, respectively). Routine triple-time-point imaging did not improve the detection of liver metastases; however, it may be recommended in patients with colorectal cancer and liver lesions before the PET scan.

In this paper, we used the horn-like polycrystalline-silicon nanowire field-effect transistor (poly-Si NW FET) biosensors to detect ferritin. It employs the trapezoidal-shape dummy gate structure fabricated at the spacer wire process to form the shape of horn-like nanowires. The horn-like poly-Si NW FET using a channel length of 2 mu m exhibited better electrical characteristics, such as a smaller threshold voltage of 1.1 V and a higher I-on/I-off of 3.47 x 10(5), compared to other channel lengths. In addition, the horn-like poly-Si NW FET sensor exhibited a high sensitivity of 133.47 mV/pH exceeding the Nernst limit. This result is attributed to the higher capacitive-coupling ratio (top-gate capacitance to bottom-gate capacitance). Moreover, we used a horn-like poly-Si NW FET biosensor to detect the ferritin in buffer solution due to its label-free, real-time, and high-sensitive. We modified 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane on the SiO2/Si3N4/SiO2 stacked surface followed by glutaraldehyde functionalized, and the ferritin antibodies were immobilized on the aldehyde terminal. While the serum ferritin antigen was prepared in the buffer, the results indicated that the sensor could detect serum ferritin below 50 pg/mL in a micro-fluidic channel. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical role of technetium-99m pertechnetate (Tc-99m) imaging in thyroidectomized differentiated thyroid cancer patients immediately before radioiodine-131 (I-131) treatment (Tx). Patient and methods Eighty-six consecutive post-total-thyroidectomy patients (15 men, 71 women; mean age: 46.8 years) with pathologically diagnosed differentiated thyroid cancer were retrospectively studied. Tc-99m imaging immediately before I-131 Tx using both patient-based and lesion-based measurements were analyzed and were further compared with those of post-Tx I-131 whole-body scans. Results For patients with unequivocally positive Tc-99m uptake, the sensitivity was 77% (patient-based) and 59% (site-based). The positive predictive value (PPV) was 100% for both patient-based and site-based measurements. If equivocal Tc-99m uptake was counted as positive, the sensitivity was 83 and 67%, and the PPV was 100 and 99% for patient-based and site-based measurements, respectively. Conclusion (a) To increase sensitivity yet maintaining high PPV, equivocal Tc-99m uptake should be considered a positive finding. (b) The nearly 100% PPV of Tc-99m imaging immediately before I-131 Tx for remnant detection suggests that Tc-99m imaging not only serves as an alternative to low-dose I-131 scanning in the low-risk post-thyroidectomy patients but also provides a clue for the subsequent I-131 therapeutic dosage and even for the outcome prediction.

Radioiodine whole-body scintigraphy is indispensable for the management of patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma who underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy. Recently, additional imaging of SPECT/ CT has been increasingly utilized for a more optimal interpretation. Previous literatures reported that SPECT/ CT had incremental diagnostic values compared to planar scintigraphy on the therapeutic management of thyroid cancer. We presented the case of a post-treatment thyroid cancer patient with whom skull metastasis was detected on a recently performed SPECT/CT, even though two days ago the patient had a negative result on the 150 mCi post-therapy I-131 whole body scan. To the best of our knowledge, this kind of cases where patients with welldifferentiated thyroid carcinoma presented with a positive I-131 SPECT/CT for skull metastasis but had a negative planar image has not been reported in the literature before.

We describe 3 cases of peritoneal carcinomatosis revealed by FDG PET/CT with somewhat different scenarios. Case 1 is confirmed respectively by biopsy and ultrasound to have hepatic and ovarian metastases following the suspicion raised by PET/CT. And there is discrepancy between the findings of CT and PET/CT in the second case, where the clinical picture of peritoneal spread is later established in reference to a second PET/CT scan. The last one shows a typical sign indicative of peritoneal seeding. These cases altogether demonstrate that, concerning peritoneal carcinomatosis, PET/CT substantially aids in restaging the disease as well as altering the treatment.

OBJECTIVE:To calculate the time sensitivity factor (S) for discriminating the solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) by FDG PET at different time points.METHODS:The multiple time-point FDG PET images from 41 patients for evaluating SPN seen on chest X-ray or CT were prospectively analyzed to calculate and evaluate S against the gold standard of tissue histology (n = 38) or long term clinicoradiographic follow-up (n = 3). The maximal standardized uptake values (SUV) at the 3 hourly time points were measured. The S was calculated using S = d{ln⁡(SUV)}/d{ln⁡(t)} at 3 different time intervals. ROC analysis of the S parameters was performed to evaluate the optimal cut-off value and their accuracy in classifying the SPN.RESULTS:The SUV in malignant SPN was higher than the corresponding value in benign lesions at all 3 hourly time points (P < 0.003). The S parameters using 3 different time intervals all significantly separated the two groups (P < 0.0005) with an optimal cut-off point near the theoretical value of zero with a high sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 86%. CONCLUSION. The S can be calculated for SPNs using multiple time-point FDG PET, providing a tumor characteristic metabolic parameter with high discrimination power using a simple positive value representing malignancy.

In this article, we report an improvement in the pH sensitivity of low-temperature polycrystalline-silicon (poly-Si) thin-film transistor (TFT) sensors using an H2 sintering process. The low-temperature polycrystalline-silicon (LTPS) TFT sensor with H2 sintering exhibited a high sensitivity than that without H2 sintering. This result may be due to the resulting increase in the number of Si–OH2+ and Si–O− bonds due to the incorporation of H in the gate oxide to reduce the dangling silicon bonds and hence create the surface active sites and the resulting increase in the number of chemical reactions at these surface active sites. Moreover, the LTPS TFT sensor device not only offers low cost and a simple fabrication processes, but the technique also can be extended to integrate the sensor into other systems.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is an effective mode of treatment for end-stage renal disease. Dialysate leakage represents a major noninfectious complication of this procedure. We report a 49-year-old man who was undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) had scrotal swelling on the 2nd day of initiation of the procedure. Peritoneoscrotal scintigraphy after intraperitoneal injection of 3 mCi Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid revealed gradual pooling of radiotracer containing dialysate via the right inguinal canal and reaching the right scrotum by 22 hour. Patient underwent right inguinal herniorrhaphy. One month post-surgery, peritoneal dialysis was resumed and the scrotal swelling did not recur.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with Tc-99m TRODAT-1 as ligand can be used to evaluate striatal dopamine transporters (DAT) in young subjects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT in DAT binding in healthy young men. Fourteen healthy young men were recruited. The test–retest studies were performed 1week apart. Specific uptake ratios (SUR) of the striatum (ST) and its subregions, the caudate (CA) and the putamen (PU), were measured using the occipital cortex as the reference tissue. The reliability of the two measurements between test and retest, showed significant correlations for the ST, CA and PU, was demonstrated by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Thus, 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT might provide a reproducible and reliable tool in clinical management of young patients with DAT-related disorders.

OBJECTIVE:Gallium-67 scintigraphy is more sensitive than chest radiography in a single concurrent detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). As for inflammation, the intensity of pulmonary uptake of 67Ga citrate theoretically is a function of the inflammation level in the lung. To maximize clinical applicability of 67Ga scintigraphy in the evaluation of pulmonary TB, we prospectively assessed serial qualitative associations between intensity of the uptake of 67Ga citrate and the severity of lung inflammation, reflected by the burden of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the sputum of patients undergoing anti-TB chemotherapy.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:Each enrolled patient had chest radiographic, microbiologic, 67Ga imaging, and semiquantitation of sputum acid-fast bacillus (AFB) assessments before and at the third and sixth months after receiving anti-TB chemotherapy. The burden of pulmonary M. tuberculosis (presumably, in proportion to the semiquantitation of AFB in sputum) and the intensity of 67Ga citrate uptake in the lung at each synchronized assessment were regarded as a paired variable. Odds ratios were obtained from odds (derived using generalized estimating equations) in favor of higher pulmonary 67Ga uptake in differing scores of semiquantitation of sputum AFB. Linear trend for pulmonary 67Ga citrate uptake corresponding to varied pulmonary M. tuberculosis burdens was assessed using contrast analysis of their odds ratios.RESULTS:Thirty patients (24 men and six women) with pulmonary TB were enrolled. Eighty-six paired semiquantitations of sputum AFB-67Ga-scintigraphic studies were collected. Twenty-six patients were cured of their pulmonary TB. The pulmonary 67Ga uptake increased in proportion to the higher score of semiquantitation of sputum AFB (p = 0.009, for trend).CONCLUSION:In patients with pulmonary TB, the higher the burden of M. tuberculosis in the lung, the higher the intensity of pulmonary 67Ga citrate uptake. Serial 67Ga-scintigraphy examinations are helpful in evaluations of the effectiveness of anti-TB therapy when assessments based on chest radiography are difficult.

Purpose: To evaluate the parotid function after parotid-sparing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods and Materials: From March 2003 to May 2004, 16 patients with nonmetastatic NPC underwent parotid-sparing IMRT. Eight of these patients had Stage III or IV NPC based on the 1997 American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. The post-IMRT parotid function was evaluated by quantitative salivary scintigraphy and represented by the maximal excretion ratio (MER) of the parotid gland after sialogogue stimulation. The parotid function of 16 NPC patients who were previously treated with conventional radiotherapy was reviewed as the historical control.Results: In the parotid-sparing IMRT group, all 16 patients were alive and without cancer at the end of follow-up period (median, 24.2 months). The mean parotid MER was 53.5% before radiotherapy, 10.7% at 1 month post-IMRT, and 23.3% at 9 months post-IMRT. In the conventional radiotherapy group, the mean parotid MER was 0.6% at 6 to 12 months postradiotherapy. The difference was statistically significant (23.3% vs. 0.6%, p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney test). In the IMRT group, the mean parotid doses ranged from 33.2 Gy to 58.8 Gy (average, 43.9 Gy). The correlation between the mean parotid dose and the percentage decrease of parotid MER at 9 months post-IMRT (dMER) was statically significant (p = 0.008, Pearson correlation).Conclusions: Although the mean parotid doses are relatively high, the significant preservation of parotid function is achieved with IMRT for NPC patients. The significant correlation between mean parotid dose and parotid dMER demonstrates the dose-function relationship of the parotid gland. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc.

Biliary atresia, malrotation, meconium peritonitis and transient hypothyroidism are occasionally seen in neonatal infants. Biliary atresia associated with malrotation has been reported in some patients with polysplenia syndrome, but biliary atresia associated with meconium peritonitis has only been described by a few investigators. Here we present a case of meconium peritonitis due to malrotation with volvulus, followed by biliary atresia and transient hypothyroidism during early infancy.

OBJECTIVES:Findings on imaging of dopamine transporter (DAT) activity in patients with Tourette's syndrome remain inconclusive. The present study was carried out to observe DAT activity in patients with well-controlled Tourette's syndrome by using (99m)Tc-TRODAT-1 single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). METHODS:Six drug-naive patients with Tourette's syndrome (mean age+/-SD, 21.2+/-1.5 years) were recruited. All met the criteria for Tourette's syndrome established in the DSM-IV. Seventeen age-matched and sex-matched healthy subjects served as the controls. Brain SPECT were acquired 165-195 min after administrating 740 MBq of (99m)Tc-TRODAT-1, using a double-headed camera equipped with ultra-high-resolution fan-beam collimators. The specific uptake ratio was calculated by subtracting the mean counts per pixel in the occipital cortex from the mean counts per pixel in the striatum, putamen or caudate nucleus and by dividing the result by the mean counts per pixel in the occipital cortex. Tic-severity scores were also measured and correlated with the specific uptake ratios. RESULTS:No significant difference in DAT activity between patients with Tourette's syndrome and control subjects was found in the striatum and its sub-regions. Tic-severity scores were also not correlated with specific uptake ratios measured from the striatum and its sub-regions. CONCLUSIONS:In conjunction with previous findings, our results suggested that functional abnormality of the dopamine system in patients with Tourette's syndrome might be evident only in its early stage. Adaptation to tic symptoms might play a role in regulating the neural system.

We describe a case of a 72-year-old female who underwent dipyridamole (superscript 201)TI myocardial perfusion imaging for the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). The images showed no transient or fixed defect, but ST-segment depression on electrocardiography was noted after dipyridamole administration. Coronary angiography demonstrated multiple significant stenosis in the left main, left circumflex, and left anterior descending coronary arteries. Thus, dipyridamole-induced ST-segment depression (DISTD) helped to identify the multivessel CAD. In this article, we emphasize that normal dipyridamole (superscript 201)TI myocardial perfusion images with DISTD still suggests the presence of CAD.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimmer ((superscript 99m)Tc-ECD) performed in a 45-year-old male patient with delayed neurological sequelae after carbon monoxide (CC) poisoning about one month after anoxic insult. The initial brain SPECT at delayed onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms showed high-grade hypoperfusion images throughout the cerebral cortex. The follow- up SPECT examination performed 3 months after initial scan showed the diffuse hypoperfusion images had become lighter but remained to a degree in bilateral frontal lobes, paralleled by clinical outcome. Any change in cerebral blood flow was correlated with clinical or brain CT or MRI evidence of delayed deficits in this case. The high utility of SPECT brain imaging in determining the diagnosis or prognosis of CO poisoning was discussed in comparison with brain CT or MRI findings.

Received 9/8/2004; revised 11/20/2004; accepted 11/28/2004. For correspondence or reprints contact: Chiang-Hsuan Lee, M.D., Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123 Ta-Pei-Road, Niao-Sung, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan, ROC. Tel: (886)7-7317123 ext. 2627, Fax: (886)77317123 ext. 2631, E-mail: lee4cgmh@mail.ht.net.tw Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimmer (Tc-ECD) performed in a 45-year-old male patient with delayed neurological sequelae after carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning about one month after anoxic insult. The initial brain SPECT at delayed onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms showed high-grade hypoperfusion images throughout the cerebral cortex. The followup SPECT examination performed 3 months after initial scan showed the diffuse hypoperfusion images had become lighter but remained to a degree in bilateral frontal lobes, paralleled by clinical outcome. Any change in cerebral blood flow was correlated with clinical or brain CT or MRI evidence of delayed deficits in this case. The high utility of SPECT brain imaging in determining the diagnosis or prognosis of CO poisoning was discussed in comparison with brain CT or MRI findings.