Objective: to evaluate the feasibility of the intra-operative application of a specimen PET/CT imager in a clinical setting. Materials and methods: this is a pilot analysis performed in three patients who received an intra-operative administration of 68Ga-PSMA-11 (n=2) and 68Ga-DOTA-TOC (n=1), respectively. Patients were administrated with PET radiopharmaceuticals to perform radio-guided surgery with a beta-probe detector during radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer (PCa) and salvage lymphadenectomy for recurrent neuroendocrine tumor (NET) of the ileum, respectively. All procedures have been performed within two ongoing clinical trials in our Institute (NCT05596851 and NCT05448157). Pathologic assessment with immunohistochemistry (PSMA-staining and SSA immunoreactivity) was considered as standard of truth. Specimen images were compared with baseline PET/CT images and histopathological analysis. Results: Patients received 1 MBq/Kg of 68Ga-PSMA-11 (PCa) or 1.2 MBq/Kg of 68Ga-DOTA-TOC (NET) prior to surgery. Specimens were collected, positioned in the dedicated specimen container, and scanned to obtain high resolution PET/CT images. In all cases a perfect match was observed between the findings detected by the specimen imager and histopathology. Overall, the PET spatial resolution was sensibly higher for the specimen images compared to the baseline whole-body PET/CT images. Furthermore, the use of the PET/CT specimen imager did not significantly interfere with any procedures, and the overall length of the surgery was not affected using the PET/CT specimen imager. Finally, the radiation exposure of the operating theater staff was lower than 40 µSv per procedure (range 26 – 40 Sv). Conclusion: the image acquisition of specimens obtained by patients who received intra-surgery injection of 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 68Ga-DOTA-TOC was feasible and reliable also in a live-experience session and has been easily adapted to surgery daily-practice. The high sensitivity, together with the evaluation of intra-lesion tumor heterogeneity, were the most relevant results since the data derived from specimen PET/CT imaging matched perfectly with the histopathological analysis.

In this study dual PET and contrast enhanced MRI were combined to investigate their correlation per voxel in patients at initial diagnosis with suspected glioblastoma. Correlation with contrast enhancement (CE) as an indicator of BBB leakage was further used to evaluate whether PET signal is likely caused by BBB disruption alone, or rather attributable to specific binding after BBB passage. PET images with [18F]GE180 and the amino acid [18F]FET were acquired and normalized to healthy background (TBR). Contrast enhanced images were normalized voxel by voxel with the pre-contrast T1-weighted MRI to generate relative CE values (rCE). Voxel-wise analysis revealed a high PET signal even within the sub-volumes without detectable CE. No to moderate correlation of rCE with TBR voxel-values and a small overlap as well as a larger distance of the hotspots delineated in rCE and TBR-PET images were detected. In contrast, voxel-wise correlation between both PET modalities was strong for most patients and hotspots showed a moderate overlap and distance. The high PET signal in tumor sub-volumes without CE observed in voxel-wise analysis as well as the discordant hotspots emphasize the specificity of the PET signals and the relevance of combined differential information from dual PET and MRI images.

Total-body PET/CT scanners provide increased sensitivity, enabling the adjustment of imaging parameters by reducing injected activity or shortening acquisition time. This study aimed to evaluate the limitations of reduced [18F]FDG activity doses on image quality, lesion detectabil-ity, and quantification of lesion uptake in the Biograph Vision Quadra, as well as to assess the benefits of the recently introduced ultra-high sensitivity mode in a clinical setting. A number of 26 patients who underwent [18F]FDG-PET/CT (3.0 MBq/kg, 5 min. scan time) were included in this analysis. PET raw data was rebinned for shorter frame durations to simulate 5 min. scans with lower activities in high sensitivity (HS) and ultra-high sensitivity (UHS) modes. Image quality, noise, and lesion detectability (n=82) were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. The co-efficient of variation (CoV), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), tumor-to-background ratio (TBR), and standardized uptake values (SUV) including SUVmean, SUVmax, and SUVpeak were evaluated. Sub-jective image ratings were generally superior in UHS compared to HS mode. At 0.5 MBq/kg, le-sion detectability decreased to 95% (HS) and 98% (UHS). SNR was comparable at 1.0 MBq/kg in HS (5.7±0.6) and 0.5 MBq/kg in UHS (5.5±0.5). With lower doses, there were negligible reductions in SUVmean and SUVpeak, whereas SUVmax increased steadily. Reducing [18F]FDG activity to 1.0 MBq/kg (HS/UHS) in a total-body PET/CT provides diagnostic image quality without statistical-ly significant changes in uptake parameters. UHS mode improves image quality, noise, and le-sion detectability compared to HS mode.

Theranostics covers combination of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for various cancers throughout body using suitable drug combination. This review covers well-known treatment of thyroid cancer and pheochromocytoma with I-131 compounds and also new radiopharmaceuticals for prostatic cancer and pancreatic cancer. Of particular, new trends toward patient outcome has been focused. A recent clinical study highlighted the ability of alpha-radiotherapy with high LET to overcome treatment resistance to beta--particle therapy. The theranostics will become an ever-increasing part of clinical nuclear medicine these days.

Despite the increasing prevalence of pet ownership in Chinese societies, standardized tools to assess grief from pet loss remain lacking. Research predominantly focuses on Western populations, creating a gap in understanding pet bereavement in Chinese cultural settings. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire (PBQ-C) for a Chinese context to create a culturally appropriate assessment tool. A total of 245 participants with companion animal loss experiences were recruited through the university of the research team. They were invited to complete an online survey including the Chinese PBQ, the Depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG). Both Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the PBQ-C and the findings supported a three-factor structure—grief, anger, and guilt—aligned with the original PBQ, with three items were reassigned to different factors. Despite these adjustments, the PBQ-C showed strong internal consistency, split-half reliability, and concurrent validity. The validated PBQ-C provides a culturally sensitive tool for assessing pet bereavement in Chinese society that can promote research and counselling support for this under-researched and under-recognized type of loss of human-animal relationships.

This study aimed to conduct a cross-cultural adaptation of the development of the cat-owner/dog-owner relationship scales. The method encompassed several stages: conceptual, item, semantic, operational, measurement, and functional equivalence. Processes included translations, synthesis of translations, back-translations, consensus on the English versions, external evaluation by the original authors, expert committee evaluation, and pre-tests. The study involved surveying 342 pet owners throughout Brazil using a 20-item questionnaire. Data analyses utilized confirmatory factor analysis, covariance-based modeling, and multigroup analysis. The techniques confirmed that the scale preserved its psychometric properties and showed no variance between dog and cat owners, indicating that the measured constructs are universal and unaffected by specific cultural nuances. Hence, the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the scale facilitate applying and testing concepts and measures in diverse contexts, enriching our understanding of the dynamics between owners and their pets (dogs and cats) in different living situations. In addition, this research holds particular significance in Brazil, given the country’s vast cultural diversity.

Breast cancer has become the most diagnosed cancer in women globally with 2.3 million new diagnosis each year. Accurate early staging is essential for improving survival rates with metastatic spread from loco regional to distant metastasis decreasing rates by 50%. Current guidelines do not advice the routine use of Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-Computed Tomography (CT) in staging of early breast cancer in the absence of symptoms. However, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that PET-CT used in this early stage can benefit the patient by improving staging and as a result treatment and outcome as well as psychological burden without increasing costs to the health service. Ongoing research in PET radiomics and artificial intelligence is showing promising future prospects in its use in diagnosis, staging, prognosticatication and assessing response to treatment in breast cancer. Furthermore ongoing research to address current limitations of PET-CT by improving techniques and tracers is encouraging.

46 patients with a newly diagnosed, histologically verified glioma that was visually classified as [18F]FET-negative were included. Tumor volumes were defined using routine T2/FLAIR MRI data and applied to extract information from dynamic [18F]FET PET data, i.e. early and late tu-mor-to-background (TBR5-15, TBR20-40) images and time-to-peak (TTP) images. Radiomic features of healthy background were calculated from the tumor volume-of-interest mirrored to the con-tralateral hemisphere. Differences between tumor and healthy tissue features were compared us-ing Wilcoxon test. Additionally, the ability to distinguish tumor from healthy tissue was assessed using logistic regression. 5 % of features derived from TBR20-40 images were significantly differ-ent; 16 % of features derived from TBR5-15 images and 69 % of features derived from TTP images. The high number of significantly different features derived from TTP images was even found in isometabolic gliomas (after exclusion of photopenic gliomas) with visually normal [18F]FET up-take in static images. However, the differences did not reach satisfactory predictability for ma-chine learning based identification of tumor tissue. In conclusion, radiomic features derived from dynamic [18F]FET PET data may extract additional information even in [18F]FET-negative glio-mas, which should be investigated in larger cohorts and correlated with histological and out-come features in future studies.

Neuroinflammation is one disease hallmark on the road to neurodegeneration in primary tauopathies. Thus, immunomodulation might be a suitable treatment strategy to delay or even prevent the occurrence of symptoms and thus relieve the burden for patients and caregivers. In the last years, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) received increasing attention as it is immediately involved in the regulation of the immune system and can be targeted by the anti-diabetic drug pioglitazone. Previous studies have shown significant immunomodulation in amyloid-β (Aβ) mouse models by pioglitazone. In this study, we performed long-term treatment over six months in P301S mice as a tauopathy model with either pioglitazone or placebo. We performed serial 18 kDa translocator protein positron-emission-tomography (TSPO-PET) imaging and terminal immunohistochemistry to assess microglial activation during treatment. Tau pathology was quantified via immunohistochemistry at the end of the study. Long-term pioglitazone treatment had no significant effect on TSPO-PET, immunohistochemistry read-outs of microglial activation, or tau pathology levels in P301S mice. Thus, we conclude that pioglitazone modifies the time course of Aβ-dependent microglial activation, but does not significantly modulate microglial activation in response to tau pathology.

Enzymatic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling processes are gaining interest for their low environmental impact, use of mild conditions, and specificity. Furthermore, PET hydrolase enzymes are continuously being discovered and engineered. In this work, we studied a PET hydrolase (PET2), initially characterized as an alkaline thermostable lipase. PET2 was produced in a fusion form with a 6-histidine tag in the N-terminal. The PET2 activity on aromatic terephthalate and new indole-based polyesters was evaluated using polymers in powder form. Compared with IsPETase, an enzyme derived from Ideonella sakaiensis, PET2 showed a lower PET depolymerization yield. However, interestingly, PET2 gave significantly higher polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyhexylene terephthalate (PHT) depolymerization yields. A clear preference was found for aromatic indole-derived polyesters over non-aromatic ones. No activity was detected on Akestra™, an amorphous copolyester with spiroacetal structures. Docking studies suggest that a narrower and more hydrophobic active site reduces its activity on PET but favours its interaction with PBT and PHT. Understanding the enzyme preferences of polymers will contribute to their effective use to depolymerize different types of polyesters.

In neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), the use of new radiopharmaceuticals has improved the accuracy of diagnosis and staging, refined surveillance approaches, and introduced specific and personalized radiation therapies. Nuclear medicine has therefore acquired a crucial role in the management of NENs patients by improving their risk stratification and personalized therapies. Artificial intelligence (AI) and radiomics can enable physicians to further improve the overall efficiency and accuracy of the use of these tools in both di-agnostic and therapeutic settings by improving the prediction of tumor grade, differential diagnosis from other malignancies, assessment of tumor behavior and aggressiveness, and prediction of treatment response. This systematic review aims to describe the state-of-the-art on AI and radiomics applications in molecular imaging of NENs.

Purpose: Prostate cancer is the most common male prevalent malignancy in Europe. Biological recurrence occurs in 20-40% of patients within 10 years following treatment. [18F]F-Choline PET/CT is the most used technique for detecting recurrent disease but is rarely positive for low PSA levels. [18F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT allows early detection of recurrence sites. Methods: We conducted a prospective multicenter study. Each patient had access to a [18F]F-Choline and [18F]PSMA PET/CT. The primary endpoint was to determine the therapeutic impact of the [18F]PSMA comparative to [18F]F-Choline PET/CT. Secondary endpoints were the diagnostic performance and the correlation between PET/CT parameters and prognostic factors of prostate disease. Results: 47 patients were included. A therapeutic modification was observed in 36% of them between what the clinicians expected after the [18F]F-Choline PET/CT and what they finally decided after the [18F]PSMA PET/CT. Diagnostic performance of [18F]F-Choline was 28% versus 70% for [18F]PSMA with a significant difference. With [18F]PSMA PET/CT, there was a significative correlation between PSA level of biological recurrence and SUVmax but not between ISUP score and SUVmax of the selected lesion. Conclusion: This study found a modification in therapeutic management following [18F]PSMA PET/CT in one third of patients. This change could result in earlier and better management with detection of lesions at a lower PSA level than is possible with [18F]F-Choline.

Inhalation allergies caused by cats and dogs can lead to a range of discomforting symptoms, such as rhinitis and asthma, in humans. Given the increasing popularity and care provided to these companion animals, the allergens they produce pose a growing threat to the health of susceptible patients. Allergens from cats and dogs have emerged as significant risk factors for triggering asthma and allergic rhinitis worldwide; however, there remains a lack of systematic measures aimed at assisting individuals in recognizing and preventing allergies caused by these animals. This review provides comprhensive insights into the classification of cat and dog allerges, alongwith their pathogenic mechanisms. The study also discusses implementation strategies for prevention and control measures, including physical methods, gene editing technology, immunological approaches, as well as potential strategies for enhancing allergen immunotherapy combined with immunoinformatics. Finally, it presents future prospects for the prevention and treatment of human allergies caused by cats and dogs. This review will improve knowledge regarding allergies to cats and dogs, while identifying potential targets for the development of next-generation treatments.

Dogs and cats have become the most influential and successful pets through long-term domestication. People keep them for various reasons, such as their functional roles or for physical or psychological support. However, why humans are so attached to dogs and cats remains unclear. A comprehensive understanding of the current state of human preferences for dogs and cats and the potential influential factors behind it is required. Here, we investigate this question using two independent online datasets and anonymous questionnaires. We find that current human preferences for dogs and cats are relatively higher than for most other interests, such as games and music. Genetic variations, gender, age, and economic development levels notably influence these preferences for dogs and cats. Specifically, dog and cat ownership is significantly heritable (h2 = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.35 -0.51) and further analysis found that women, young people, and those with higher incomes are more likely to keep dogs and cats, and the primary reason is to gain emotional support. Our study provides insights into why humans get so attached to dogs and cats and establishes a foundation for developing co-evolutionary models.

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a serine protease characterized by its high expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and near absence in adult normal tissues and benign lesions. This unique expression pattern positions FAP as a prospective biomarker for targeted tumor radiodiagnosis and therapy. The advent of FAP-based radiotheranostics is anticipated to revolu-tionize cancer management. Among various types of FAP ligands, peptides and antibodies, have shown advantages over small molecules, exemplifying prolonged tumor retention in human volunteers. Within its scope, this review summarizes the recent research progress of the FAP radiopharmaceuticals based on antibodies and peptides, on tumor imaging and therapy. Additionally, it incorporates insights from recent studies, providing valuable perspectives on the clinical utility of FAP-targeted radiopharmaceuticals.

To investigate whether high body mass index (BMI) increases the risk of recurrence and corre-lates with higher glucose uptake in recurrent lesions in post-menopausal female patients with breast cancer. The hospital database was searched to retrieve breast cancer patients, who had undergone an [18F]FDG PET/CT scan before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and curative-intent sur-gery. BMI was calculated at the baseline [18F]FDG PET/CT scan. There was a median follow-up of 5 years after the baseline PET/CT scan to identify: recurrence in the breast (T_rec); lymph nodes (N_rec); distant locations (M_rec). Furthermore, SUVmax was measured in the sites of recur-rence. A chi-square test was used to investigate any difference in the frequency of any recur-rence, T_rec, N_rec, and M_rec between overweight women (BMI≥25 kg/m2) and women with a BMI<25 kg/m2 (p<0.05). SUVmax, was compared using a t-test (p<0.05) between the two groups. A total of post-menopausal 142 women (BMI: 26.84±5.59; 84 overweight and 58 with normal weight) were retrieved. There were 48 recurrences at the follow-up. The chi-square test demon-strated in overweight women an increased frequency of any recurrence (35 vs. 13; p=0.025) and T_rec (15 vs. 2; p=0.018) and a higher T_rec SUVmax (4.74±2.90 vs. 1.85 ± 0.63; p=0.09) compared to women with a BMI<25 kg/m2. BMI seems to correlate with an increased rate of recurrence, espe-cially in the breast, and a higher glucose uptake in post-menopausal patients with recurrent breast cancer.

Manufactured nanoplastic particles (NPs) are indispensable for in vitro and in vivo testing and health risk assessment of this emerging environmental contaminant. High surface area and inherent hydrophobicity of plastic material, makes production of NPs devoid of any contaminants very challenging. In this study we produced nanoprecipitated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) NPs (300 nm hydrodynamic diameter) and characterized presence of ionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) by 1H NMR. Relative ratio of NP/surfactant was monitored on the basis of chemical shifts characteristic for PET and SDS. For a wide range of surfactant/NP ratio (1:17 to 1:1.2), measured zeta potential changed from -42.10 to -34.93 mV, but no clear differences were observed in cellular assays performed in protein-rich media on primary human cells. The remaining impurities contributed to the outcome of biological assays applied in protein-free buffers, such as human red blood cells hemolysis. As size, shape, zeta potential and contaminants of NPs may all be relevant parameters for biological effects of NPs, relative quantification of impurities exemplified in our work by application of 1H NMR for PET NPs and ionic surfactant SDS could be a valuable auxiliary method in quality control of manufactured NPs.

Imaging-based biomarkers have developed as an effective tool in neurology, providing vital understandings of the structural, functional, and molecular changes associated with neurological disorders. Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and computed tomography (CT) have been widely employed to record disease-related alterations in the brain. These techniques provide a wide range of biomarkers, such as functional connectivity patterns, volumetric measurements, molecular imaging agents, and perfusion parameters, enabling the correct identification of neurological disorders. These biomarkers have proven useful in early diagnosis, disease progression tracking, therapy response prediction, and surgical planning. This review emphasizes the various obstacles and limitations that are associated with imaging-based biomarkers. Technical constraints, standardization obstacles, ethical concerns, regulatory challenges, and cost-effectiveness concerns all offer substantial barriers to wider use. It is vital to overcome these challenges if imaging biomarkers are to be successfully integrated into routine clinical practice. Imaging technology advancements like high-resolution imaging, multimodal imaging, and artificial intelligence-based analysis hold immense promise for imaging-based biomarkers in the future. While more study and standardization are needed, their ongoing development and integration into clinical practice have the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis, treatment, and management of neurological disorders, resulting in better patient care and outcomes.

Summarizing radiological characteristics between primary lung adenocarcinoma subtypes and correlate them with FDG uptake on PET-CT are important for further treatment. A PET-CT examination was performed on some of the patients and the values of SUV-max were also correlated with the histological and morphological characteristics of masses in the lungs. Results of this analysis showed that the mean size of AIS-MIA cancer was significantly lower than for all other cancer types, while mean size of the acinar cancer was smaller than in solid type of cancer. Metastases were significantly more frequent in solid adenocarcinoma than in acinar, lepidic and AIS-MIA cancer subtypes. The maximum standardized FDG uptake was significantly lower in AIS-MIA than in all other cancer types, and in acinar compared to solid cancer. Papillary adenocarcinoma had higher odds to develop contralateral lymph node involvement compared to other types. Solid adenocarcinoma was associated with higher odds of having metastases and with higher SUVmax. AIS-MIA was associated with lower odds of one unit increase in tumour size, ipsilateral lymph node involvement. Radiology has a significant role in the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease, and in determining its prognosis, and influence on the decision on the method of treatment.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is nowadays one of the most used polymers for packaging applications. Modifications induced by service conditions and the optimal mean to recycle this matter several times have to be perfectly understood to allow a reuse for similar application (from bottle to bottle for example). The present study aims to compare physico-chemical properties, crystalline organization, and mechanical behaviour of virgin (vPET) and recycled PET (rPET). Using different combined experimental methods (Calorimetry, Small Angle X-ray Scattering, Atomic Force Microscopy, DMA, and uni-axial tensile test), it has been proven that even if there is no change in the crystallinity of PET, the crystallisation process shows some differences (size and number of spherulites). The potential impact of these differences on local mechanical characterization, at the lamella scale, is explored and tends to demonstrate the development of homogeneous microstructure, leading to well-controlled and relevant local mechanical properties. This approach increases the understanding of crystallisation of PET and recycled PET during forming processes such as thermoforming or injection stretch blow moulding (ISBM) where elongation at break can depend on the microstructure conditioned by the crystallisation process.

Objectives: Prostate cancer is well known to express high levels of somatostatin receptors and preliminary data suggests that PET imaging with the somatostatin analog, 68Ga-DOTATATE, may allow for whole body staging of patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NePC). This study explores the utility of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-CT to identify metastatic deposits in men with mCRPC and NePC and prognosticate disease progression. Methods: 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-CT was performed in 17 patients with mCRPC and of those 2/17 had NePC. Semiquantitative analysis with standardized uptake values (SUV) (e.g. SUVmax, SUVmean) was performed for each metastatic lesion and reference background tissues. 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake in metastatic deposits was further classified as: mild (less than liver), moderate (up to liver average), or marked (greater than liver). Serial prostate-specific antigen measurements and patient survival were followed up to 3 years after PET imaging to assess response to standard of care treatment. Results: All patients had at least one metastic lesion with identifiable 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake. Marked 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake was found in 7/17 patients, including both NePC patients, and all were non-responders to systemic therapy and died within the follow up period, with a mean time to death of 8.1 months. 3 patients had mild 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake, and all were responders to systemic therapy and were alive 36 months after 68Ga-DOTATATE imaging. Conclusions: 68Ga-DOTATATE is able to identify mCRPC and NePC metastatic deposits, and lesions with 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake > liver may portend poor outcomes in patients with mCRPC.

There is a need for versatile in vivo nuclear imaging reporter systems to foster preclinical and clinical research. We explore the applicability of the SNAPTag and novel radiolabeled small-molecule ligands as a versatile reporter gene system for in vivo nuclear imaging. SNAPTag is a high-affinity protein tag used in a variety of biochemical research areas and based on the suicide DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine methyl transferase (MGMT). Its ligands are well suited for reporter gene imaging as the benzyl guanine core scaffold can be derivatized with fluorescent or radiolabeled moieties for various applications. Three guanine-based SNAPTag ligands ([18F]FBBG, [18F]pFBG and [18F]mFBG) were synthesized in high yields and were (radio)chemically characterized. HEK293 cells were engineered to express the SNAPTag on the cell surface and served as cell model to assess target affinity by radiotracer uptake assays, Western blotting and SDS-PAGE autoradiography. A subcutaneous HEK293-SNAPTag xenograft model in immunodeficient mice was used for in vivo evaluation of [18F]FBBG amd [18F]pFBG while the biodistribution of [18F]mFBG was characterized in naïve animals. The results were validated by ex vivo biodistribution studies and immunofluorescence staining of the xenografts. All three radiotracers were produced in high radiochemical purity, molar activity and good yields. Western blot analysis revealed successful SNAPTag expression by the transfected HEK293 cells. In vitro testing revealed high target affinity of all three tracers with an up to 191-fold higher signal in the HEK293-SNAPTag cells compared to untransfected cells. This was further supported by a prominent radioactive protein band at the expected size in the SDS-PAGE autoradiograph of cells incubated with [18F]FBBG or [18F]pFBG. The in vivo studies demonstrated high uptake in HEK293-SNAP xenografts compared to HEK293 xenografts with excellent tumor-to-muscle ratios (7.5 ± 4.2 for [18F]FBBG and 10.6 ± 6.2 for [18F]pFBG). In contrast to [18F]pFBG and its chemical analogue [18F]mFBG, [18F]FBBG showed no signs of unspecific bone uptake and defluorination in vivo. Radiolabeled SNAPTag ligands bear great potential for clinical applications such as in vivo tracking of cell populations, antibody fragments and targeted radiotherapy. With excellent target affinity, good stability, and low non-specific binding, [18F]FBBG is a highly promising candidate for further preclinical evaluation.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death and it is usually diagnosed in advanced stages (stage III or IV). Recently, the availability of targeted strategies and of immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has favorably changed patient prognosis. Treatment outcome is closely related to tumor biology and interaction with the host immune microenvironment (TME). Whether for targeted therapies the response relies on the presence of specific genetic alterations in tumor cells, for ICI accurate biomarkers of response are lacking and clinical outcome likely depends on multiple factors, host and tumor-related. This paper is an overview of the ongoing research on predictive factors both from in-vitro/ex-vivo analysis (ranging from conventional pathology to molecular biology) and in-vivo analysis, where molecular imaging is showing an exponential growth and use due to the technological advancement and to the new bioinformatics approaches applied to image analyses that allow specific features recovery in specific tumor subclones.

Advanced MRI methods and PET using radiolabeled amino acids provide valuable information in addition to conventional MR imaging for brain tumor diagnostics. These methods are particularly helpful in challenging situations such as the differentiation of malignant processes from benign lesions, the identification of non-enhancing glioma subregions, the differentiation of tumor progression from treatment-related changes, and the early assessment of response to anticancer therapy. The debate over which of the methods is preferable in which situation is ongoing and has been addressed in numerous studies. Currently, most radiology and nuclear medicine departments perform these examinations independently of each other leading to multiple examinations for the patient. The advent of hybrid PET/MRI allowed a convergence of the methods but to date simultaneous imaging has reached little relevance in clinical neuro-oncology. This is partly due to the limited availability of hybrid PET/MRI scanners, but is also due to the fact that PET is a second-line examination in brain tumors. PET is only required in equivocal situations, and spatial co-registration of PET examinations of the brain to previous MRI is possible without disadvantage. A key factor for the benefit of PET/MRI in neuro-oncology is a multimodal approach that provides decisive improvements in the diagnostics of brain tumors compared with a single modality. This systematic review focuses on studies that were able to demonstrate the additive value of amino acid PET and ‘advanced’ MRI in the diagnosis of brain tumors. Available studies suggest that the combination of amino acid PET and advanced MRI improves grading and the histomolecular characterization of newly diagnosed tumors. However, data concerning the delineation of tumor extent and biopsy guidance are of limited value. A clear additive diagnostic value of amino acid PET and advanced MRI can be achieved regarding the differentiation of tumor recurrence from treatment-related changes. Here, PET-guided evaluation of advanced MR methods seems to be helpful. In summary, there is growing evidence that a multimodal approach can achieve decisive improvements in the diagnostics of brain tumors, for which hybrid PET/MRI offers optimal conditions.

PET imaging of bacterial infection could potentially provide added benefit for patient care by non-invasive means. [68Ga]Ga-desferrioxamine B – a radiolabelled siderophore – shows specific uptake by human-pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as sufficient serum stability for clinical application. Here, we provide data for automated production of [68Ga]Ga-desferrioxamine B on two different cassette based synthesis modules (Modular-Lab PharmTracer and GRP 3V) using commercially available cassettes together with an approved 68Ge/68Ga radionuclide generator. Quality control including determination of radiochemical purity as well as a system suitability test was set up via RP-HPLC on a C18 column. The two described production processes, using an acetic acid/acetate buffer system with ascorbic acid as a radiation scavenger for radiolabelling, yield ready-to-use formulations with sufficient activity yield. Batch data showed radiochemical purity of &gt;95 % as determined by RP-HPLC and ITLC as well as excellent stability over 2 hours post production. Specifications for routine production were set up and validated with four master batches for each synthesis module. Based on this study, an academic clinical trial for imaging of bacterial infection was initiated. Both described synthesis methods enable reproducible, automated in-house production of [68Ga]Ga-desferrioxamine B for clinical application.

Lately, radiomic studies featuring the development of a signature to use in prediction models in diagnosis or prognosis outcomes are being published increasingly. While the results are shown to be promising, these studies still have many pitfalls and limitations. One of the main issues of this methodology is that radiomic features depend on how the images are preprocessed before their computation. Since, in widely known and used software for radiomic features calculation, it is possible to set these preprocessing parameters before the calculation of the radiomic feature, there are ongoing studies assessing the stability and repeatability of radiomic features to find the most suitable preprocessing parameters for every used imaging modality. This review examines the impact of preprocessing parameters on the reproducibility and reliability of radiomic features extracted from multimodality imaging (CT, MRI, CBCT, PET/CT). Standardized preprocessing is crucial for consistent radiomic feature extraction. Key preprocessing steps include voxel resampling, normalization, and discretization, which influence feature robustness and reproducibility. From our work, we highlighted the need to harmonize the use of preprocessing parameters and their values, especially in light of future studies of prospective studies, which are still lacking in the current literature.

Objectives: To study the differences between malignant hypermetabolic axillary lymphadenopathy (MHL) and COVID-19 vaccine-associated axillary hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy (VAHL) using clinical imaging. Methods: A total of 1,096 patients underwent Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) between June 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022, at Ehime University Hospital. In total, 188 patients with axillary lymphadenopathy after the COVID-19 vaccination were evaluated. The patients were classified into three groups such as VAHL (n=27), MHL (n=21), and equivocal hypermetabolic axillary lymphadenopathy (EqHL; n=140). Differences in lymph nodes (LNs) swellings were statistically analyzed using clinical imagings (echography, CT, and 18F-FDG PET) statistically. Results: MHL included a higher female population (90.5%) owing to a higher frequency of breast cancer frequency (80.9%). Axillary LNs of MHL did not show any LN fatty hilums (0%); however, those of VAHL and EqHL did (15.8 and 36%, respectively). After the logistic regression analysis of the patients who had axillary lymphadenopathy without any LN fatty hilums, the minor axis length and ellipticity (minor axis/major axis) in the largest axillary LN, SUVmax, and Tissue-to-Background Ratio (TBR) were useful in distinguishing malignant lymphadenopathies. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that a cut-off value of ≥7.3 mm for the axillary LN minor axis (sensitivity: 0.714, specificity: 0.684) and of ≥0.671 for ellipticity (0.667 and 0.773, respectively) in the largest LN with the highest SUVmax and TBR were predictive of MHL. Conclusion: Axillary lymphadenopathy ≥7.3 mm of the minor axis and ≥0.671 of ellipticity in LN without fatty hilum suggests malignancy even in patients who have received COVID-19 vaccination. Further examinations such as 18F-FDG PET are recommended for such patients

A new sustainable polypropylene terephthalate (PPT) coating was synthesized from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and applied on hydraulic concrete substrate to improve its durability. First step, PET bottles wastes were grinded and depolymerized by glycolysis using propylene glycol (PG), in a Vessel-type reactor (20–180 °C) to synthesize bis(2-hydroxypropyl)-terephthalate (BHPT), which was applied as coating to one-three layers on hydraulic concrete substrate, by brushing technique and polymerized (150 °C for 15 h) to obtain PPT. PET, BHPT and PPT were characterized by FT-IR, PET and PPT by TGA, and the PPT coatings by SEM (thickness), by ASTM-D3359-17 (adhesion) and by water contact angle (wettability). The durability of hydraulic concrete coated with PPT was studied by resist chloride ion penetration (ASTM-C1202-17), carbonation depth at 28 days (RILEM-CPC-18), and absorption water ratio (ASTM-C1585-20). The results demonstrated that the BHPT and PPT were synthetized (FT-IR), PPT had a similar thermal behaviour to PET (TGA); the PPT coatings had good adhesion to the substrate, with thicknesses of micrometric units; hydrophilic (similar to PET coatings), and the durability of hydraulic concrete coated with PPT (2-3 layers) improved (migration of chloride ions decreased, carbonation depth was negligible, and the absorption water ratio decreased).

Accurate evaluation of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) is crucial for personalized treatment. However, misdiagnosis remains a serious issue. Neuroimaging methods could observe the conscious activity in patients who have no evidence of consciousness in behavior, and provide objective and quantitative indexes to assist doctors in their diagnosis. In the review, we discussed the current research based on the evaluation of consciousness rehabilitation after DoC using EEG, fMRI, PET, and fNIRS, as well as the advantages and limitations of each method. Nowadays single-modal neuroimaging can no longer meet the researchers` demand. Considering both spatial and temporal resolution, recent studies have attempted to focus on the multi-modal method which can enhance the capability of neuroimaging methods in the evaluation of DoC. As neuroimaging devices become wireless, integrated, and portable, multi-modal neuroimaging methods will drive new advancements in brain science research.

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is generally represented by low-FDG avidity, and [18F]FDG-PET/CT is not recommended to stage the primary tumor. However, its role to assess metastases is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of [18F]FDG-PET/CT to correctly identify RCC lung metastases using histology as standard of truth. Records of 350 patients affected by RCC and with CT evidence of at least one lung nodule, were retrospectively analyzed. Inclusion criteria were: a) histologically proven RCC; b) [18F]FDG-PET/CT performed prior to lung surgery; c) lung surgery with histological analysis of surgical specimens; d) complete follow-up available. A per-lesion analysis was performed, and diagnostic accuracy was reported as sensitivity and specificity, using histology as standard of truth. [18F]FDG-PET/CT semiquantitative parameters (Standardized Uptake Value [SUVmax], Metabolic Tumor Volume [MTV] and Total Lesion Glycolysis [TLG]) were collected for each lesion. Sixty-seven (n=67) patients with a total of 107 lesions were included: lung metastases from RCC were detected in 57/107 of cases, while 50/107 lesions were related to others lung malignancies. Applying a cut-off of SUVmax ≥2, the sensitivity and the specificity of [18F]FDG-PET/CT for detect RCC lung metastases were 33.3% (95% CI: 21.4% - 47.1%) and 26% (95%CI: 14.6% - 40.3%), respectively. The analysis demonstrated sub-optimal diagnostic accuracy of [18F]FDG-PET/CT to discriminate between RCC lung metastases versus other malignancies. However, semiquantitative analysis including also volumetric parameters (MTV and TLG) can support [18F]FDG-PET/CT image interpretation.

Circular Economy involves structural changes in traditional business models and consumers’ behaviour toward recycled products. The recycling of PET products has been increasing but there is still a gap between consumption and demand for PET packaging in Brazil. In this research, the waste reduction was examined under a projective scenario to the current ecological purposes in Brazil for reducing environmental pollution. In that manner, this paper aimed to comprehend the intention to purchase recycled PET products of Brazilian consumers. With a non-probabilistic and convenience sample, the study counts 422 participants. The method employed was based on Structural Equation Modelling and Partial Least Squares, used to test the hypotheses of causality among the variables. Results showed the perception of low quality about recycled products reduced consumers’ intention to purchase. Also, the sustainability of recycled products positively influenced the intention to purchase. In addition, recycled products presented a negative impact on the perceived safety, which could influence the purchase of recycled products in Brazil. We conclude that the image that Brazilian consumers have about recycled products positively affects the intention to purchase.

In this work, oligoesters with terminal hydroxyl groups were obtained by directed glycolytic degradation of polyethylene terephthalate. The possibility of obtaining bifunctional reactive oligomers with an average molecular weight of 865 g mol-1 by directed glycolytic destruction via a dissolution-degradation strategy in dimethyl sulfoxide at a low concentration of ethylene glycol (32.3 mass parts per 100 mass parts of polyethylene terephthalate) was shown. This process allows us to partially solve the urgent problem of recycling post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate.

The pandemic respiratory disease COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in Wuhan in December 2019 and then spread throughout the world; Italy was the most affected European country. Despite the close pet-human contact, little is known about the predisposition of pets to SARS-CoV-2. Among these, felines are the most susceptible. In this study, a domestic cat with clear symptoms of pneumonia, confirmed by Rx imaging, was found to be infected by SARS-CoV-2 using quantitative RT–qPCR from a nasal swab. This is the first Italian study reporting on the request of the scientific community to focus attention on the possible role of pets as a SARS-CoV-2 reservoir. An important question remains unanswered: did the cat die from SARS-CoV-2 infection?

The thermal degradation behaviour of 10:90 and 90:10 blends of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and petroleum coke has been investigated using mechanical alloying (milling) at 300 rpm and for periods up to 1-10 hours. Milled specimens were characterised using SEM and x-ray diffraction; their thermal degradation behaviour was investigated using thermo-gravimetric analyser (TGA) for temperatures up to 1200°C. Whereas PET specimens showed a tendency towards flattening out and increased surface area during collisions in ball mills, petroleum coke particles tended to break down into smaller particles. 10:90 and 90:10 blends of PET and coke showed significant microstructural evolution with increasing speeds and time including fracture, strain hardening and re-welding. X-ray diffraction results showed clear evidence for increasing amorphous component in petroleum coke without much influence on PET crystallinity. Thermo-gravimetric results showed a significant increase in the overall degradation and much higher weight losses associated with mechanical alloying. This study has shown that mechanical alloying could be used to modify the degradation behaviour of coke/plastic blends and corresponding yield during pyrolysis with implications for plastic waste management.

Penile cancer (PeCa) is a rare urological malignancy characterized by significant geographic variations in both incidence and mortality rates. Due to its rarity and the consequent lack of randomized trials, current management is based on retrospective studies and small prospective trials. In addition, the diagnostic pathways and treatment strategies exhibit substantial heterogeneity, differing significantly between less developed and well-developed countries. The prognosis of PeCa is determined by the presence and extent of regional lymph node (LN) involvement. Therefore, early detection and treatment of LN metastasis is paramount to ensure better outcomes. In recent decades, the overall survival for PeCa has increased, mainly due to advancements in imaging techniques and risk stratification. We aim to provide an overview of the current role of PET CT imaging in the management of patients with PeCa.

Abstract: Imaging of low (LGG) to high (HGG) grade gliomas is conventionally performed with MRI, which is the non-invasive gold-standard imaging modality to derive data. Gliomas (Grade 1,2,3,4) are lethal and demonstate poor outcomes despite novel therapies. Integrins compose of heterodimeric parasympathetic nervous system; the aVb3 (RGD i.e. Galacto-Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid) have been displayed as a potential biomarker that can be imaged via PET in order to trace the angiogenetic pathway. Gliomas are common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumours which are often pose a diagnostic challenge, even to stage and manage because of their heterogeneity in molecular aberrations. Several core mutational core hallmarks of gliomas are inducing/accessing vasculature, tumour promoting inflamation, polymorphic microbes and avoiding/resisting cell death; these ultimately lead to poor prognosis. In 2007, the classification of diffuse gliomas was based on the histopathology and subtype e.g. Pilocytic astrocytoma and low cell proliferation, in 2016, the classification of diffuse gliomas was based on the IDH status, 1p/19q codeletion, subtype and grade; then in 2021, the IDH status (wild-type or mutant), molecular profile, subtype and grade were added in order to improve the classification of diffuse gliomas. Imaging (MRI) techniques progress stalled despite the imperfections in MRI e.g distinguishing RN (radionecrosis) and PsP (Pseudoprogression) hence the exploration of PET probes that detect important hallmarks of gliomas e.g. techniques such as [68Ga]68Ga-RGD positron emission tomography (PET) to be utilised to assess vasculature. This case report aimed to determine the potential clinical utility of molecular imaging with 68Ga-RGD PET used in complementary to traditional MRI techniques.

Microbiota-based strategies are a novel auxiliary therapeutic and preventative way of moderating chronic kidney disease. Lactobacillus mixture (Lm) was previously demonstrated to exert a renal-protective function in the CKD mice model. The efficacy of probiotics in pet foods is a relatively new area of study, and thus verifying the potential health benefits is necessary. This study evaluated the efficacy of Lm treats in feline CKD and elucidated the mechanisms underlying host-microbe interactions. CKD cats (2 and 3 stages) were administrated probiotic pet treats daily (10 g) for 8 weeks. The results demonstrated that during the eight weeks of Lm administration, creatinine was reduced or maintained in all cats with CKD. Similarly, gut-derived uremic toxins (GDUT), IS, and TMAO were significantly downregulated in the serum (confidence intervals = 90%). The life quality of the cats also improved. Feline gut microbiome data, KEGG pathway, and renal function indicator analyses revealed the possible mechanisms involved in modulating CKD feline microbial composition. Further regulation of the microbial functions in amino acid metabolism after Lm administration contributed to downregulating deleterious IS, PCS, and TMAO. The current study provides potential adjuvant therapeutic insights into probiotic pet foods or treats for pets with CKD.

As one of the important wastes, waste PET pollutes human living and natural environment seriously. PET is an important solid waste that needs to be recycled at present. The complete degradation of PET was realized at low temperature. The lipophilic hydrophobic membrane was formed on the surface of stainless steel mesh (SSM) by a simple dip coating method, and the oil-water separation material was successfully prepared. Due to the load of degradation products, the surface roughness of SSM increased from 19.09 μm increased to 62.33 μm. The surface changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, and the water contact angle increased to 123o. The oil-water separation flux of modified SSM is 9825 L/(m2·h) and the separation efficiency is 98.99%. The modified SSM has good reuse performance. This hydrophobic modification method can also be used to modify other porous substrates, such as activated carbon, filter paper, foam, and other materials. In this study, the porous substrate modified by the degradation product of waste PET was used to prepare oil-water separation materials, which not only solved the problem of white pollution, but also reduced the dependence on non renewable resources in the conventional preparation methods of oil-water separation materials. The research provided new raw materials and methods for the industrial production of oil-water separation materials, and had important application prospects.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pollution poses significant environmental consequences, and thus new degradation methods must be explored to mitigate this problem. We previously demonstrated that a consortium of three Pseudomonas and two Bacillus species can synergistically degrade PET in culture. The consortium more readily consumes Bis(2-Hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET), a byproduct made in PET depolymerization, compared to PET, and can fully convert BHET into metabolically usable monomers terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG). Because of its crystalline structure, the main limitation of the biodegradation of post-consumer PET is the initial transesterification from PET to BHET, depicting the need for the transesterification step in the degradation process. Additionally, there have been numerous studies done on the depolymerization reaction of PET to BHET, yet few have tested the biocompatibility of that product with a bacterial consortium. In this report, a two-step process was implemented for sustainable PET biodegradation, where PET is first depolymerized to form BHET using an Orange Peel Ash (OPA) catalyzed glycolysis reaction, followed by complete degradation of the BHET glycolysis product by the bacterial consortium. Results show that OPA-catalyzed glycolysis reactions can fully depolymerize PET, with an average BHET yield of 92% (w/w) and that the reaction product is biocompatible with the bacterial consortium. After inoculation with the consortium, 19% degradation of the glycolysis product was observed in 2 weeks, for a total degradation percentage of 17% when taking both steps into account. Furthermore, the 10-week total BHET degradation rate was 35%, demonstrating that the glycolysis products are biocompatible with the consortium for longer periods of time, for a total two-step degradation rate of 33% over 10 weeks. While we predict complete degradation is achievable using this method, further experimentation with the consortium can allow for a circular recycling process, where TPA can be recovered from culture media and reused to create new materials.

In this study, various percentage combinations of waste aggregates such as PET and crumb rubber were used to replace coarse and fine aggregates in natural rubber latex (NRL) modified concretes. Engineering properties such as compressive and flexural strengths, modulus of elasticity, and toughness obtained from compressive- and flexural stress-strain curves were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed to examine the microstructural properties and to study the strength development of the studied concretes. The results indicated that both the compressive and flexural strengths of NRL-modified concretes with PET and crumb rubber aggregate replacements decreased with increasing replacement ratios. SEM analysis indicated that PET and crumb rubber (hydrophobic and non-polar materials) can affect the microstructure of the studied concrete by creating a weak interface between the aggregate and cement pastes, leading to reducing strength development. With the addition of the NRL additive, the film formation was found to act as a bridge and improved the bond strength of aggregates and hydration products of NRL-modified concrete. Furthermore, the integration of PET and crumb rubber aggregate can enhance the ability of the concrete to absorb energy and improve ductility. It was found that 10% of PET and crumb rubber aggregate replacement can be used for NRL-modified concrete as a rigid pavement, as its compressive and flexural strengths met the minimum requirement specified by the Department of Highways, Thailand. This research helps repurpose waste materials and reduce the environmental footprint of concrete production.

Aim: to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature concerning the applications of positron emission tomography (PET)-radiomics in lung cancer patients candidates or undergoing immunotherapy. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted on databases and web sources. English-language original articles were considered. The title and abstract were in-dependently reviewed to evaluate study inclusion. Papers duplicate, out-of-topic, review or edi-torials articles and letters to editors were excluded. For each study, the radiomics analysis was assessed based on the relies on radiomics quality score (RQS 2.0). The review was registered on the PROSPERO database with the number CRD42023402302. Results: 15 papers were included, 13 were qualified as conventional radiomics approaches, and two were as Deep Learning radiomics. The content of each study was different, indeed, 7 papers investigated the potential role of radiomics to predict PD-L1 expression and tumor microenvironment before starting immunotherapy. Moreo-ver, 2 were relative to the prediction of response and 4 investigated the utility of radiomics to predict the response to immunotherapy. Finally, 2 papers were relative to the prediction of adverse events due to the immunotherapy. Conclusions: radiomics is promising in the evaluation of TME and for the prediction of response to immunotherapy, but some limitations should be overpassed.

Compartmental analysis is the mathematical framework for the modelling of tracer kinetics in dynamical Positron Emission Tomography. This paper provides a review of how compartmental models are constructed and numerically optimized. Specific focus is given on the identifiability and sensitivity issues and on the impact of complex physiological conditions on the mathematical properties of the models.

TSPO-PET tracers are sensitive to a single-nucleotide-polymorphism (rs6971-SNP) resulting in low (LAB), medium (MAB) and high (HAB) affinity binders, but the clinical relevance for [18F]GE-180 is still unclear. We evaluate the impact of rs6971-SNP on in vivo [18F]GE-180 binding in healthy brain and in pseudo-reference tissue in neurooncological and neurodegenerative diseases. Standardized uptake values (SUV) of [18F]GE-180-PET were assessed using a manually drawn region of interest in the fronto-parietal and cerebellar hemisphere. SUVs were compared between LAB, MAB and HAB in controls, glioma, 4-repeat tauopathies (4RT) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) subjects. Second, SUVs were compared between patients and controls within their rs6971-subgroup. After exclusion of patients with prior therapy, n=24 LABs (n=7 controls, n=5 glioma, n=6 4RT, n=6 AD) were analysed. Age- and sex-matched MABs (n=38) and HABs (n=50) were selected. LABs had lower fronto-parietal and cerebellar SUVs when compared to MABs and HABs, but no significant difference was observed between MABs and HABs. Within each rs6971 group no SUV difference between patients and controls was detected in the pseudo-reference tissues. The rs6971-SNP affects [18F]GE-180 quantification, revealing lower binding in LABs when compared to MABs/HABs. Fronto-parietal and cerebellar ROIs were successfully validated as pseudo-reference regions.

With a global estimate of tens of thousands of arachnid enthusiasts, spiders and scorpions are gaining increasing popularity as pets in industrialised countries in Europe, Northern America and Asia. As most spiders and all scorpions are venomous and due to their mostly negative image in the public media, several governments are already considering introducing legislation to regulate the domestic care of potentially dangerous captive animals. We aimed to investigate the circumstances and effects of exposure to arachnids kept in captivity. Thus, we collected and analysed data from 354 self-reported bites and stings attributed to pet arachnids. Our data revealed that on average there were less than 20 recorded envenomations per year with ~90% preventable by due care. We also categorized the severity of the resulting symptoms and found that the vast majority of symptoms were either local (60.7%) or minor (32.8%), 5.4% were asymptomatic, only 1.1% were severe and no fatalities were recorded. Based on our database of bite and sting reports, we performed a risk assessment for arachnid pet ownership and concluded that, with the proper care, arachnids can be safely kept as pets and pose a lower risk than many other recreational activities.

The design of an antimicrobial coating materials becomes ideal in order to prevent infections caused by the transmision of pathogens coming from human’s contact with contaminated surfaces. In that aim layered single hydroxides (LSH) and layered double hydroxides (LDH) containing Zn and Cu, in nitrate form and intercalated with antimicrobial molecules, were synthe-sized and characterized. Cinnamate and salicylate anions were chosen to be intercalated in the fillers because of their well known antimicrobial activity. Several coatings based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and LDH or LSH with increasing amounts of filler were prepared and filmed on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. Coatings were characterized and their antimi-crobial activity was evaluated against pathogens critical in nosocomial infections, giving interesting results.

TAFRO syndrome (TS) is a rare variant of idiopathic multicentric Castleman's disease (iMCD) characterized by a confluence of symptoms: thrombocytopenia (T), anasarca (A), fever (F), reticulin myelofibrosis (R), and organomegaly (O). First described in Japan in 2010, the pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear. Due to its heterogeneous presentation and potential life-threatening delays in diagnosis, precise diagnosis is essential. According to the literature, no specific imaging modality has been recommended for the work-up of patients with suspected TS. Here, we report a case of TS and its management using 18F-FDG-PET/CT imaging as an attractive complementary diagnostic tool.

The short-lived positron-emitter carbon-11 (t1/2 = 20.4 min; b+, 99.8%) is prominent for labeling tracers for use in biomedical research with positron emission tomography (PET). Carbon-11 is produced for this purpose with a cyclotron, nowadays almost exclusively by the 14N(p,a)11C nuclear reaction, either on nitrogen containing a low concentration of oxygen (0.1–0.5%) or hydrogen (~ 5%) to produce [11C]carbon dioxide or [11C]methane, respectively. These primary radioactive products can be produced in high yields and with high molar activities. However, only [11C]carbon dioxide has some utility for directly labeling PET tracers. Primary products are required to be converted rapidly and efficiently into secondary labeling synthons to provide versatile radiochemistry for labeling diverse tracer chemotypes at molecular positions of choice. This review surveys known gas phase transformations of carbon-11 and summarizes the important roles that many of these transformations now play for producing a broad range of labeling synthons in carbon-11 chemistry.

Some bispecific radiotracers have been developed to overcome the limitations of monospecific tracers and improve detection sensitivity for heterogeneous tumor lesions. Here we aim to synthesize two bispecific tracers targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which are key markers expressed in prostate cancer. A pyridine-based FAP-targeted ligand was synthesized through multi-step organic synthesis, and then connected to the 2-Nal-containing PSMA-targeted motif. Ki(PSMA) values of Ga-complexed bispecific ligands, Ga-AV01084 and Ga-AV01088, were 11.6 ± 3.25 and 28.7 ± 6.05 nM, respectively, and the IC50(FAP) values of Ga-AV01084 and Ga-AV01088 were 10.9 ± 0.67 and 16.7 ± 1.53 nM, respectively. The uptake values for PSMA-expressing LNCaP tumor xenografts were 9.05 ± 1.54 and 8.85 ± 1.25 %ID/g for [68Ga]Ga-AV010184 and [68Ga]Ga-AV01088, respectively, which were lower than the monospecific PSMA-targeted tracer [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-617 (16.7 ± 2.30 %ID/g). The uptake values for FAP-expressing HEK293T:hFAP tumor xenografts were 1.90 ± 0.41 and 1.20 ± 0.25 %ID/g for [68Ga]Ga-AV01084 and [68Ga]Ga-AV01088, respectively, which were also lower than the monospecific FAP-targeted tracer, [68Ga]Ga-AV02070 (7.93 ± 1.88 %ID/g). Further investigations are needed to optimize the selection of linkers and targeted pharmacophores to improve the tumor uptake of PSMA/FAP bispecific tracers for prostate cancer imaging.

Abstract: This study presents a methodological framework for AD and MCI diagnosis using radiomic analysis of 18FDG-PET imaging and conducts non-invasive predictions and in-depth analysis of AD and MCI and the associated small number of regions and features. Our methodology follows a structured process commencing with data preprocessing and labeling, facilitating segmentation through FastSurfer, a tool that efficiently segments the brain into 95 ROIs using the DKT-atlas. Subsequently, Feature extraction was carried out using PyRadiomics, calculating 120 features for each of the 95 ROIs (11,400 per image). These extracted features form the foundation of our radiomics analysis, primarily for early diagnostic purposes. In the feature selection phase, we explored a set of eight commonly employed techniques, including ANOVA, PCA, and LASSO, originating from the four main categories, namely filtered, embedded, wrapper, and hybrid methods, to identify a pertinent subset of features. Our evaluation assessed the performance of nine classification methods, such as GradientBoosting, RandomForest, and GaussianNB, in conjunction with eight feature selection techniques. The choice of feature selection method and classifiers was predicated on their ability to achieve the best area under the ROC curve with independent data. For all three predictions AD vs. CN, AD vs. MCI, and CN vs. MCI the Random Forest (RF) classifier with LASSO feature selection demonstrated the highest accuracy with an AUC of 0.976 for AD vs CN, AUC=0.917 for AD vs MCI, and AUC=0.877 for MCI vs CN. In conclusion, our RAB-PET platform enables efficient AD and MCI diagnosis from FDG-PET images using a radiomics pipeline. It also offers a general hardware and software tool for the investigation of other brain disorders.

Pet ownership is common in modern society. In Portugal, 38% and 31% of all households own, at least, one dog or cat, respectively. Few studies have ascertained the knowledge of pet owners about pet ownership and zoonoses, and none of them was carried out in Portugal. The aim of the present study was to assess household knowledge and practices related to pet ownership and zoonoses in the North of Portugal. A questionnaire was completed by 424 pet owners, during November 2019 to February 2020. Most respondents (97.2%) considered pets as an important part of the family, especially women (p = 0.036); 73.1% allowed their pets free access to indoors; 41.3% denied sharing the bed with their pets and 29% assumed they did it daily; 20.3% reported never kissing their pets/pets licking their faces; 73.6% considered animals as potential sources of diseases to humans, but only 25.9% reported knowing the definition of zoonoses; 96.9% considered important the role of veterinarians in protecting public health. The low level of knowledge of pet owners and the occurrence of high-risk behaviors indicate a need to strengthen communication between veterinarians, physicians, pet owners and the general public to reduce the risk of acquisition and transmission of zoonoses.

In the field of 18F-chemistry for the development of radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography (PET), various labeling strategies by the use of prosthetic groups have been im-plemented, including chemoselective 18F-labeling of biomolecules. Among those, chemoselec-tive 18F-fluoroglycosylation methods focus on the sweetening of pharmaceutical radiochemistry by offering a highly valuable tool for the synthesis of 18F-glycoconjugates with suitable in vivo properties for PET imaging studies. A previous review covered the various 18F-fluoroglycosylation methods that have been developed and applied as of 2014 [Maschauer and Prante, BioMed. Res. Int. 2014, 214748]. This paper is an updated review, providing the recent progress in 18F-fluoroglycosylation reactions and the preclinical application of 18F-glycoconjugates, including small molecules, peptides, and high-molecular-weight proteins.

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults characterized by insidious onset and poor prognosis strongly associated with tumor size and the presence of distant metastases, most commonly in the liver. Contrary to most tumor identification, biopsy followed by pathological exam is not recommended in ophthalmic oncology. Therefore, early and non-invasive diagnosis is essential to enhance patients’ chances for early treatment possibilities. We reviewed imaging modalities currently used in the diagnosis of uveal melanoma, i.e., fundus imaging, ultrasonography (US), optical coherence tomography (OCT), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), fundus autofluorescence (FAF). The principle of imaging techniques was briefly explained, along with their role in the diagnostic process and a summary of their advantages and limitations. Further, the experimental data and the advancements in imaging modalities were searched. We described their innovations, showed current usage and research, and explained the possibilities of utilizing them to diagnose uveal melanoma and their potential application in personalized medicine such as theranostics.

Dogs are considered property under UK law, while current discourses of pet ownership place canine companions as part of an extended family. This means sentences for those who steal dogs are not reflective of a dogs’ sentience and agency, rather reflecting the same charges for those who steal a laptop or wallet. This is particularly problematic as dog theft is currently on the rise in England and Wales and led to public calls to change the law. Recognizing that a more robust analysis of dog theft crime statistics is required, we gathered dog theft data for 2015, 2016 and 2017 from 37 of 44 police forces through FOI requests. This paper uses this data to examine how dog theft crime statistics are constructed; assesses the strengths and weaknesses of this data; and categorizes, maps and measures dog theft changes temporally per police force in England and Wales. Our findings reveal there has been an increase in dog theft crimes, 1,294 in 2015, 1,525 in 2016 (+17.85%), and 1,678 in 2017 (+10.03%); and a decrease in court charges related to dog theft crimes, 62 (4.7%) in 2015, 48 (3.14%) in 2016, 37 (2.2%) in 2017. There were police force inconsistencies in recording dog theft crime which meant some data was unusable or could not be accessed or analysed. There is a need for a qualitative study to understand dog theft crime in different areas, and standardised approach to recording the theft of a dog by all forces across England and Wales.

Among extensive studies on click chemistry the inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction between 1,2,4,5-tetrazine (Tz) and trans-cyclooct-2-en (TCO) has gained increasing attraction due to its exceptionally fast reaction kinetics and high selectivity for in vivo pretargeting applications including PET imaging. The facile two-step approach utilizing TCO-modified antibodies as targeting structures has not made it into clinic though as the increase in blood volume from mice to human seems to be the major limitation. This study aimed to show if the design of multimeric Tz-ligands by chelator scaffolding can improve the binding capacity and may lead to enhanced PET imaging with gallium-68. For this purpose we utilized the macrocyclic siderophore Fusarinine C (FSC) which allows to conjugate up to three Tz-residues due to three primary amines available for site specific modification. The resulting mono- di- and trimeric conjugates were radiolabelled with gallium-68 and characterized in vitro (logD, protein binding, stability, binding towards TCO modified rituximab (RTX)) and in vivo (biodistribution- and imaging studies in normal BALB/c mice using a simplified RTX-TCO tumour surrogate). The 68Ga-labelled FSC-based Tz-ligands showed suitable hydrophilicity, high stability, high targeting specificity and the binding capacity to RTX-TCO was increased by the grade of multimerization. Corresponding in vivo studies showed a multimerization typical profile but generally suitable pharmacokinetics with low accumulation in non-targeted tissue. Imaging studies in RTX-TCO tumour surrogate bearing BALB/c mice confirmed this trend and revealed improved targeting by multimerization as increased accumulation in RTX-TCO positive tissue was observed.

Radiolabelled tracers targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) have become important radiopharmaceuticals for the PET-imaging of prostate cancer. In this connection we recently developed the fluorine-18 labelled PSMA-ligand [¹⁸F]PSMA-1007 as next generation radiofluorinated Glu-ureido PSMA inhibitor after [¹⁸F]DCFPyL and [¹⁸F]DCFBC. Since radiosynthesis so far was suffering for rather poor yields novel procedures for the automated radiosyntheses of [¹⁸F]PSMA-1007 have been developed. We herein report on both the two-step and the novel one-step procedures, which have been performed on different commonly used radiosynthesisers. Using the novel one-step procedure the [¹⁸F]PSMA-1007 was produced in good radiochemical yields ranging from 30-70 % and synthesis times less than 55 minutes. Furthermore, upscaling to product activities up to 50 GBq per batch was successfully conducted. All batches passed quality control according to European Pharmacopoeia standards. Therefore, we were able to disclose a new, simple and at the same time high yielding production pathway for the next generation PSMA radioligand [¹⁸F]PSMA-1007. Actually it turned out that the radiosynthesis is as easily realised as the well-known [¹⁸F]FDG synthesis and thus transferable onto all currently available radiosynthesisers. Using the new procedures, clinical daily routine can be sustainably supported in-house even in larger hospitals by a single production batch.

Citizens face online privacy threats from social media, organisations and governments. Privacy-enhancing tools (PETs) can help people to preserve their privacy, but the uptake of these is limited. We developed a conceptual framework for privacy self-protection, using a classification framework of four distinct privacy threats and our own novel staged model of PET adoption requisites. Through an expert survey (N = 12) and a lay user survey (N = 500), we identified suitable PETs for non-expert users and identified potential barriers to PET adoption. Based on the studies and our theoretical framework, we then developed and implemented a PET decision support tool called PEDRO, and conducted expert evaluations (N = 10).

This research has developed a process for producing ZnO thin film from DEZn deposited onto a PET substrate with low-pressure, high-frequency Ar + O2 plasma using a chemical vapor deposition technique. The aim is to study the film production conditions that affect electrical properties, optical properties, and thin film surfaces. This work highlights the use of plasma energy produced from a mixture of gases between Ar + O2. Plasma production is stimulated with an RF power supply to deliver high chemical energy and push ZnO atoms from the cathode inside the reactor onto the substrate through surface chemical reactions. The results showed that increasing the RF power in plasma production affected the chemical reactions on the substrate surface of film formation. The film preparation at RF power 300 W will give the thickest films. The film has a continuous columnar formation, and the surface has a granular structure. This results in the lowest electrical resistivity of 1.8 x 10-4 Ω-cm. In addition, when fabricated into a DSSC device, the device tested the PCE value and showed the highest value at 5.68%. This is due to the very rough surface nature of the ZnO film, which increases the scattering and storage of sunlight, making cells more efficient. Therefore, the benefit of this research is that it will be a highly efficient prototype of thin film production technology using a chemical process that reduces production costs and can be used in the industrial development of solar cells.

Gliomas are common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumours which are often very difficult to diagnose, stage and manage because of their heterogeneity and molecular aberrations. The notable hallmark of gliomas is integrated genome mutations and methylome that correlates with distinctive patterns of transcription that potentiates glioma heterogeneity, angiogenesis and ultimately poor prognosis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to reclassify gliomas based on molecular markers rather than the traditional anatomical basis; use of Nuclear Medicine techniques e.g. SPECT/PET and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques based on molecular markers is set to become the future gold standards. This has led to the investigations on potential for the use of non-invasive imaging techniques such as [68Ga]68Ga-RGD positron emission tomography (PET) to be utilised routinely in clinical practice based on angiogenic markers and also the potential to add information that may assist in drug-design and therapeutic decision making. This review aims to provide an overview of the basis of recent advances in glioma imaging using molecular targeting with positron emission tomography and SPECT imaging, as well as the role in patient management i.e. diagnosis, staging, recurrence detection etc.

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) represents a common form of fungal infection caused by various species of Aspergillus that most frequently affect immunocompromised patients. Typically, this disease occurs preferentially in high-risk groups including patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), leukemia, autoimmune diseases, and organ transplant patients undergoing medical immunosuppression. Considered the second most common cause of op-portunistic fungal infection in humans after Candida albicans, this pathogen predominantly affects the lungs, but may also spread by hematogenous route to various organs and have a heterogenous presentation. Owing to its high iodine levels, high perfusion, and enclosed capsule, the thyroid gland is considered to have a lower susceptibility to microbial invasion and it is fairly uncommon to find associated infectious nodules. In metabolic imaging, 18F-FDG-PET/CT has become increasingly useful for detecting a wide range of infectious and inflammatory diseases and is already the gold standard for certain indications. According to the literature, no studies of hypermetabolic nodular thyroid aspergillosis on 18F-FDG-PET/CT confirmed on histology have yet been reported. Here, we report the first case of a patient with a heterogeneous presentation of IA and the presence of a hypermetabolic nodule in the thyroid with a surprising result.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) requires a complete staging at diagnosis that may have prognostic and therapeutic implications. The role of bone marrow (BM) biopsy (BMB) is contro-versial in the era of nuclear-imaging techniques. We performed a comparative review of 25 studies focused on BM evaluation at DLBCL diagnosis, including at least two of the following techniques: BMB, flow cytometry, and positron emission tomography (PET-FDG). The report about BM involvement (BMi), diagnostic accuracy and prognostic significance was collected and compared among techniques. A concordance analysis between BMB, FCM and PET was also per-formed, and we deeply evaluated the implications of the different types of BMi: concordant by LBCL or discordant by low-grade B-cell lymphoma for both BMB and FCM, and focal or diffuse uptake pattern for PET. As main conclusion, BMB, FCM and PET are complementary tools which provide different and clinically relevant information in the assessment of BMi in newly DLBCL.

Conventional MRI sequences are standard methods to monitor patients with brain tumors but have significant limitations especially after irradiation. Currently, the role of FET-PET in radiotherapy of glioblastoma is emerging, starting from target definition, response assessment and in distinguishing progression from post-irradiation changes. Recently a PET RANO criteria have been published providing optimal strategy for treatment evaluation with amino-acid PET. Earlier, a PET/RANO group reported contribution of PET imaging to radiotherapy planning and monitoring in glioma patients. Also, increasing evidence have showed advantages of amino-acid PET vs. RANO MRI for prediction of overall survival. In this narrative review we aimed to summarize published data on FET-PET based treatment response assessment to radiotherapy and focused on details in protocols.

Following the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), and the European Society of Pathology (ESP) joint guide-lines (2018) for the management of patients with cervical cancer, treatment decisions should be guided by modern imaging techniques. After five years (2023), an update of the ES-GO-ESTRO-ESP recommendations was performed furtherly confirming this statement. Trans-vaginal/transrectal ultrasound (TRS/TVS) or pelvic magnetic resonance (MRI) enables tumour delineation and precise assessment of its local extent, including the evaluation of the depth of infiltration in the bladder- or rectal wall. Additionally, both techniques have very high specificity to confirm the presence of metastatic pelvic lymph nodes but fail to exclude them due to insuffi-cient sensitivity to detect small-volume metastases, as any other currently available imaging modality. In early-stage disease (T1a to T2a1, except T1b3) with negative lymph nodes on TVS/TRS or MRI, surgicopathological staging should be performed. In all other situations, con-trast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in combination with CT (PET-CT) are recommended to assess extrapelvic spread. The aim of this paper is to review the evidence supporting the implementation of diagnostic imaging with a focus on ultrasound at primary diagnostic workup of cervical cancer.

Aim of the study: To draw inferences from a retrospective evaluation of PSMA PET CT scans performed for the evaluation of biochemical recurrence. Material and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 295 PSMA PET CT scans spanning 3 years between 2020 and 2022 was undertaken. Results: Of 295 PET CT scans, 179 were positive, 66 negative and 50 had indeterminate findings. In positive group, 67 had radical prostatectomy and PSMA avid lesions were seen most commonly in pelvic lymph nodes. Remaining 112 positive scans, in non-radical prostatectomy group; 25 had recurrence only in prostate, 17 had recurrence involving prostate bed; 28 had no recurrence in prostate gland, while 42 had recurrence in prostate as well as extra prostatic sites. Overall, in non-prostatectomy group, 75 % population was harbouring a PSMA avid lesion in prostate gland while in remaining 25% population recurrence did not involve prostate gland. Majority of indeterminate findings were seen in small pelvic or retroperitoneal lymph nodes or skeletal regions (ribs/others) and in 9 patients indeterminate focus was seen in the prostate bed only. Follow up PSMA PET CT was helpful in prior indeterminate findings and unexplained PSA rise. Conclusion: A higher recurrence in prostate bed while evaluating biochemical recurrence prompts us to think; whether prostatectomy should be offered more proactively? Follow up PSMA PET CT is helpful for indeterminate findings; a PSA rise of 0.7 ng/ml in 6 months can result in positive PSMA PET CT while negative scan can be seen upto 2ng/ml PSA rise in 6 months.

SMARCA4-deficient non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a more recently recognized subset of NSCLC. We describe the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT findings in a rare case of SMARCA4-deficient NSCLC and response to therapy. A 45-year-old male patient with a history of heavy smoking (10 years) underwent an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT dynamic (chest) + static (whole-body) scan for diagnosis and pre-treatment staging. 18F-FDG PET/CT showed an FDG-avid mass in the upper lobe of the left lung (SUVmax of 22.4) and FDG-avid lymph nodes (LN) in the left pulmonary hilar region (SUVmax of 5.7). In addition, there are multiple metastases throughout the body, including distant LNs, adrenal glands, bone, and brain. Pathological findings confirmed SMARCA-4 deficient NSCLC. After 4 cycles of chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors（ICI）, the patient underwent again an 18F-FDG PET/CT scan (including dynamic scan) for efficacy evaluation. We report cases that deepen the understanding of the 18F-FDG PET/CT presentation of SMARCA4-deficient NSCLC as well as dynamic imaging features and parametric characteristics.

Mechanical recycling of solid plastic wastes on a small-scale level can be accomplished with the correct approaches. Thermoplastics are mostly considered for mechanical recycling because of their physical properties and ease of reprocessing. This paper reviews the mechanical reprocessing techniques of selected thermoplastics (polyethylene terephthalate and polyolefins) since they constitute a significant proportion of plastics used commercially. Furthermore, necessary considerations for effective operation of small-scale plants, including energy requirements of machinery and optimisation in order to improve efficiency and product quality, are discussed. A clearer understanding and addressing of the process-related challenges will lead to successful establishment and management of small-scale mechanical recycling facilities to benefit communities. Efficient small-scale mechanical reprocessing establishments have become essential in reducing the environmental impacts of solid plastic wastes and for energy conservation.

Gastric emptying rate (GER) may impact diabetes and obesity in humans and could provide a method to reduce canine weight gain. Starch, the most common source of carbohydrates (CHOs) in pet food, is classified as rapidly or slowly digestible, or resistant to digestion. This study investigated starch source effects in commercial extruded dog foods on the GER of 11 healthy adult Siberian Huskies (5.63±0.72 years; mean±SEM). Test diets were classified as traditional, grain-free, whole-grain, and vegan. Dogs received each diet once, a glucose control twice, and acetaminophen (Ac) as a marker for GER in a randomized, partially-replicated, 6x6 Latin square design. Pre- and post-prandial blood samples were collected at 16 timepoints from -15 to 480 minutes. Serum Ac concentrations were assessed via standard spectrophotometric assays and fitted with a mathematical model to estimate parameters of GER. Data was analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA, followed by a Tukey-Kramer post-hoc test when significant (p<0.05). More total emptying (p= 0.0430) occurred at faster rate (p=0.0668) in dogs fed the grain-free diet, which contained the lowest total starch (34.03 ± 0.23%) and highest resistant starch (0.52 ± 0.007%). This research may benefit future diet formulations to reduce the prevalence of canine weight gain.

(1) Background: The evaluation of ventricular assist devices requires the usage of biocompatible and chemically stable materials. The commonly used polyurethanes are characterized by versatile properties making them well suited for heart prostheses applications but simultaneously they show low stability in biological environment. (2) Methods: An innovative material - copolymer of poly(ethylene-terephthalate) and dimer linoleic acid - with controlled and reproducible physico-mechanical and biological properties was developed for medical applications. Biocompatibility (cytotoxicity, surface thrombogenicity, hemolysis and biodegradation) were evaluated. All results were compared to medical grade polyurethane currently used in the extracorporeal heart prostheses. (3) Results: No cytotoxicity was observed and no significant decrease of cells density as well as no cells growth reduction was noticed. Thrombogenicity analysis showed that the investigated copolymers have the thrombogenicity potential similar to medical grade polyurethane. No hemolysis was observed (the hemolytic index was under 2% according to ASTM 756-00 standard). These new materials revealed excellent chemical stability in simulated body fluid during 180 days ageing. (4) Conclusions: The biodegradation analysis showed no changes in chemical structure, molecular weight distribution, good thermal stability and no changes in surface morphology. Investigated copolymers revealed excellent biocompatibility and great potential as materials for blood contacting devices.

The incidence of cancer in organ transplant patients is higher than in the non-transplanted population. The incidence increases with increasing age. The use of Fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) is sensitive and specific to detect PTLD LD compared with conventional CT imaging. We analyzed the medical data of 127 patients aged over 60 years, who underwent heart transplantation in the above period, who have been practicing early CT-PET for diagnostic purposes between February 2007 and October 2018. Of 127 consecutive patients who underwent CT-PET, SUVs up than 4, were found in 84 patients of which 20 were affected by PTLDs, seven patients were affected by chronic non neoplastic inflammatory diseases, the remainder were affected by other neoplasms. The favorable effect of physical activity programs on cardiorespiratory and psychomotor function occur in all patients. In conclusion, CT-PET at the first doubts about the possibility of the development of neoplasms has allowed a diagnosis and then a treatment more quickly. Education in behavioral norms that improve the patient's quality of life is necessary.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic remitting and relapsing inflammation of the lower gastrointestinal tract. The etiology underlying IBD remains unknown but is thought to involve a hypersensitive immune response to environmental antigen, including the microbiota. Diagnosis and monitoring of disease is heavily reliant on endoscopy, which is invasive and does not provide information regarding specific mediators. This review describes recent developments in imaging of IBD with a focus on PET and SPECT imaging of inflammatory mediators, and how this may be applied to the microbiota.

Abstract: Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is an autoimmune/autoinflammatory disease affecting large vessels in patients over 50 years old. The disease presents as an acute inflammatory response with two phenotypes, cranial-GCA and Large Vessel Vasculitis (LV)-GCA, involving the thoracic aor-ta and its branches. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomogra-phy (18F-FDG PET-CT) is among the imaging techniques contributing to diagnosis of patients with systemic disease. However, its association with soluble inflammatory markers is still elu-sive. This proof-of-concept study aims to identify novel soluble serum biomarkers in PET/CT pos-itive patients with LV-GCA and associate them with active (0 months) and inactive disease (6 months following treatment), in sequential samples. The Most-Disease-Segment Target-to-Background Ratio (TBRMDS) was calculated for 9 LV-GCA patients, while 12 cranial-GCA and 7 Polymyalgia Rheumatica patients with negative initial PET/CT served as disease controls. Serum macrophage-related cytokines were evaluated by Cytometric Bead Array (CBA). Finally, previously published NMR-metabolomics data acquired at the same blood sampling were associated with PET/CT findings. TBRMDS was significantly increased in active versus inactive disease (3.45 vs. 2.55, p=0.008). The analysis identified 6 serum metabolites, as more sensitive to change from the active to inactive state. Among them, choline levels were exclusively altered in the LV-GCA group, but not the disease controls. Cytokine levels were not associated with PET/CT activity. Combining with CRP, ESR, and TBRMDS a composite index was generated to depict well the differences between active and inactive systemic LV-GCA (25.45 vs 11.45, p=0.0039). These preliminary results could pave the way for more extensive studies integrating serum metabolomic parameters with PET/CT imaging data to extract sensitive composite disease indexes useful for the everyday clinical practice.

This study was performed to synthesize multimodal radiopharmaceutical designed for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. To achieve this goal, Super Paramagnetic Iron Oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles were used as a platform for targeting molecule (PSMA-617) and for complexation of two scandium radionuclides, 44Sc for PET imaging and 47Sc for radionuclide therapy. TEM and XPS images showed that the Fe3O4 NPs have a uniform cubic shape and a diameter from 38 to 50 nm. The Fe3O4 core are surrounded by SiO2 and an organic layer. The saturation magnetization of the SPION core was 60 emu/g. However, coating the SPIONs with silica and polyglycerol reduces the magnetization significantly. The obtained bioconjugates were labeled with 44Sc and 47Sc, with a yield higher than 97%. The radiobioconjugate exhibited high affinity and cytotoxicity towards the human prostate cancer LNCaP (PSMA+) cell line, much higher than for PC-3 (PSMA-) cells. High cytotoxicity of the radiobioconjugate was confirmed by radiotoxicity studies on LNCaP 3D-spheroids. In addition, the magnetic properties of the radiobioconjugate should allow for its use in guide drug delivery driven by magnetic field gradient.

Season plays a key role in the development of outdoor spaces for pedestrians in hot humid cities. This research studies the influence of seasonal variations on pedestrian thermal comfort on the pedestrian level by means of meteorology and field observations of selected footpaths in the major tourist area of Malacca. This experiment was carried out on selected clear calm days indicative of each season during the development of a research project, and hourly meteorological transects from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and questioned 200 respondents on their thermal awareness, comfort, and preferences were conducted. Adaptation, thermal comfort vote, thermal preference, age, season and hour of the day were significant non-meteorological factors, apart from meteorological information. The findings of analyzes showed that the thermal experience and expectation existed and in different seasons people changed perceptions for the outside thermal environment. Almost 80% local tourist and 55 % international tourist was accepted Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) range affected by the local climate and thermal adaptation. The subjective thermal sensation on physiological equivalent temperature generated an acceptable physiological equivalent temperature of 32.6°C to 36.8°C based on the seasonal variations for Malacca tourist zone in Malaysia. These findings shed light on the optimal design of outdoor spaces for increasing the utilization rate. The seasonal variation must be taken into account so that the outdoor landscape design provides more opportunities for different seasons to communicate with the atmosphere and so enhance thermal comfort and utilization.

Two cases of cutaneous nocardiosis in a cat and in a dog have been described. Diagnosis was made on basis of direct microscopy and cultural mycological analysis. Phenotypic characteristics of two indigenous Nocardia strains are presented. The strain isolated from cat was presumably identified as N. asteroids. There have been no reports of suchlike cases in pets in Russia so far.

1) Background: We analyzed, by PET-SCAN, how growth hormone (GH) could act on the brain of an older woman, not GH-deficient, which was beginning to show some cognitive deficiencies and presented an ApoE genotype 4/3; 2) Methods: After performing a first psychometric study (TAVEC verbal learning test), the metabolic activity of brain structures related to knowledge, memory, and behavior was analyzed using 18-F Fluorodeoxyglucose PET-SCAN. The patient was then treated with GH (0.4 mg/day) for three weeks and on the last day under this treatment, a new PET-SCAN was performed. One month after beginning treatment with GH, a new TAVEC test was performed; 3) Results: GH administration normalized the cognitive deficits observed in the first psychometric test and increased significantly (P < 0.025) the metabolic activity in practically all brain cortical areas, specifically in the left hippocampus and left amygdala, although not in the left parahippocampus; and 4) Conclusions: This is the first study in which the positive effects of GH on cerebral metabolism have been visualized in a human patient. Our data confirm the positive effects of this hormone on cognition, memory and behavior in patients affected by mild cognitive impairments.

This paper adopts a systems firm-centered perspective on the environmental assessment of recyclable glass and PET soft drink containers. We employ LCA and discrete-event simulation modelling for the environmental assessment of the two soft drinks packaging alternatives in operational terms, over the entire supply chain, over a period of three years. The assessment is based on real data collected from a large soft-drinks producer and its suppliers. The research and practice contribution of the paper is twofold: first, it introduces a methodological framework for environmental assessment of companies’ packaging environmental impact under different product and operations strategies, and secondly, it provides a holistic environmental assessment of the two packaging materials (PET and glass) taking into account specific operational issues, such as product mix and recycling and reuse options, and activity interdependences and stochasticity. The results of the simulation experiments confirm at system level, for glass, the importance for sustainability, to increase the number of reuse cycles and the percentage of used bottles collected for refilling, whereas for PET, to increase the percentage of recycled PET in new bottles.

Synaptic transmission is essential for nervous system function and the loss of synapses is a known major contributor to dementia. Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD) is characterized by synaptic loss in the mesial temporal lobe and cerebral neocortex, brain areas associated with memory and cognition. The association of synaptic loss and ADD was established in the late 1980s and it has been estimated that 30-50% of neocortical synaptic protein is lost in ADD, but there has not yet been a quantitative profiling of different synaptic proteins in different brain regions in ADD from the same individuals. Very recently, PET imaging of synapses is being developed, accelerating the focus on the role of synaptic loss in ADD and other conditions. In this study, we quantified densities of two synaptic proteins, the presynaptic protein SNAP25 and the postsynaptic protein PSD95 in human brain using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Protein was extracted from the cingulate, hippocampus, frontal, visual, and entorhinal cortex from cognitively unimpaired controls, subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and demented subjects with different levels of Alzheimer’s pathology. SNAP25 is significantly reduced in ADD when compared to controls in frontal cortex, visual cortex and cingulate; while hippocampus showed a smaller, non-significant reduction and entorhinal cortex concentrations were not different. In contrast, all brain areas showed lower PSD95 concentrations in ADD when compared to non-demented controls, although in hippocampus this failed to reach significance. Interestingly, cognitively unimpaired cases with high levels of AD pathology had higher levels of both synaptic proteins in all brain regions. SNAP25 and PSD95 concentrations significantly correlated with densities of neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid plaques and Mini Mental State Examination scores. Our results suggest that synaptic transmission is affected by ADD in multiple brain regions. Differences were less marked in entorhinal cortex and hippocampus, most likely due to a ceiling effect imposed by the very early development of neurofibrillary tangles in older people in these brain regions.

Esterases are hydrolases that catalyze the hydrolysis of esters into the corresponding acids and alcohols. The development of fluorescent probes for detecting esterases is of great importance due to their wide spectrum of biological and industrial applications. These probes can provide a rapid and sensitive method for detecting the presence and activity of esterases in various samples, including biological fluids, food products, and environmental samples. Fluorescent probes can also be used for monitoring the effects of drugs and environmental toxins on esterase activity, as well as to study the functions and mechanisms of these enzymes in several biological systems. Additionally, fluorescent probes can be designed to selectively target specific types of esterases, such as those found in pathogenic bacteria or cancer cells. In this review, we summarize the recent fluorescent probes described for the visualization of cell viability and some applications for in vivo imaging. On the other hand, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a nuclear-based molecular imaging modality of great value to study the activity of enzymes in vivo. We provide some examples of PET probes for imaging acetylcholinesterases and butyrylcholinesterases in brain, which are valuable tools for diagnosing dementia and monitoring the effects of anticholinergic drugs on the central nervous system.

Global use of single-use non-biodegradable plastics, like bottles made of polyethylene tereph-thalate (PET), have contributed to catastrophic levels of plastic pollution. Fortunately, microbi-al communities are adapting to assimilate plastic waste. Previously, our work showed a full consortium of five bacteria capable of synergistically degrading PET. Using omics approaches we identified key genes implicated in PET degradation within the consortium’s pangenome and transcriptome. This analysis led to the discovery of a novel PETase, EstB, discovered to hydrolyze oligomer BHET, and polymer PET. Besides genes implicated in PET degradation, many other biodegradation genes were discovered. Over 200 plastic and plasticizer degrada-tion related genes were discovered through the Plastic Microbial Biodegradation Database (PMBD). Diverse carbon source utilization was observed by a microbial community-based as-say, which paired with an abundant number of plastic and plasticizer degrading enzymes in-dicates a promising possibility for mixed plastic degradation. Using RNAseq differential analysis, several genes were predicted to be involved in PET degradation including aldehyde dehydrogenases and several classes of hydrolases. Active transcription of PET monomer me-tabolism was also observed, including the generation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bi-opolymers. These results present an exciting opportunity for the bio-recycling of mixed plastic waste with upcycling potential.

Evaluation of the usefulness of [18F]FDG-PET/CT in the short-term follow-up of patients admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia and to explore the association of findings with clinical prognostic markers. Prospective study included 20 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia between November 2020 and March 2021. Clinical and laboratory test findings were gathered at admission, 48-72h post-admission, and 2-3 months post-discharge. [18F]FDG-PET/CT and respiratory function tests were performed at 2-3 months post-discharge. Lung volumes (TLC), spirometry (FVC, FEV1), lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and respiratory muscle strength were measured. PET/CT images were qualitatively and semi-quantitatively interpreted. Volumetric [18F]FDG-PET/CT results were correlated with laboratory test and respiratory parameters. Eleven [18F]FDG-PET/CT (55%) were positive. The main finding was hypermetabolic lymphade-nopathy in the mediastinum (90.9%). SUVpeak of the target mediastinum lesion was correlated with neutrophil and lymphocyte counts. Eleven (55%) patients had impaired respiratory function, most frequently a reduced DLCO (35%). SUVpeak was positively correlated with %predict-ed-DLCO values. Pulmonary TLG was negatively correlated with %predicted-DLCO and TLC values. In the short-term follow-up of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia, [18F]FDG-PET/CT findings revealed significant detectable inflammation in lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes that correlated with pulmonary function impairment in more than half of the patients.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) surrounding tumor cells is a complex and highly dynamic system that promotes tumorigenesis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key elements in TME playing a pivotal role in cancer cells’ proliferation and metastatic spreading. Considering the high expression of the fibroblast activation protein (FAP) on cell membrane, CAFs emerged as appealing TME targets, namely for molecular imaging, leading to a pan-tumoral approach. Therefore, FAP inhibitors (FAPis) have been recently developed for PET imaging and radioligand therapy, exploring the clinical application in different tumor sub-types. The present review aimed to describe recent developments on radiolabeled FAP inhibitors and evaluate the possible translation of this pan-tumoral approach in clinical practice. At present, the application of FAPi-PET has been explored mainly in single-center studies, generally performed in small and heterogeneous cohorts of oncological patients. However, preliminary results were promising, in particular in low FDG-avid tumors such as primary liver and gastro-entero-pancreatic cancer, or in regions with unfavorable tumor-to-background ratio at FDG-PET/CT (i.e. brain), as well as in radiotherapy planning of head and neck tumors. Further promising results have been obtained in the detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis, especially in ovarian and gastric cancer. Data regarding the theranostics approach are still limited at presents, and definitive conclusion about its efficacy cannot be drawn at present. Nevertheless, the use of FAPi-based radio-ligand to treat the TME has been evaluated in first-in-human studies and appears feasible. Although the pan-tumoral approach in molecular imaging showed promising results, its real impact in day-to-day clinical practice has yet to be confirmed, and multi-center, prospective studies powered for efficacy are needed.

Background and objectives: Induction chemotherapy (ICT) before definitive chemoradiation (CRT) gives high response rates in LA-SCCHN. However, pre-ICT gross tumour volume (GTV) for radiotherapy (RT) planning is still recommended. As ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT has an advantage of biological tumour information comparing to standard imaging methods, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT-based post-ICT GTV delineation for RT planning in LA-SCCHN and to assess the prognostic value of PET parameters: maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max), metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). Methods: 47 LA-SCCHN patients were treated with 3 cycles of ICT (docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil) followed by CRT (70 Gy in 35 fractions with weekly cisplatin). Pre- and post-ICT PET/CT examinations were acquired. Planning CT was co-registered with post-ICT PET/CT and RT target volumes were contoured according to post-ICT PET. Post-ICT percentage decrease of SUV_max, MTV and TLG in primary tumour and metastatic regional lymphnodes (LN) was counted. Loco-regional failure patterns, 3-year progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Results: 3-year PFS and OS rates for study population were 67% and 61% respectively. 31.9% of patients progressed loco-regionally. All progresses were localised in high-to-intermediate dose (60–70 Gy) RT volumes and none in low dose (50 Gy) volumes. Decrease of SUV_max ≥74% (p = 0.03), MTV ≥ 68% (p = 0.04), TLG ≥ 76% (p = 0.02) in primary tumour, and LN TLG decrease ≥74% (p = 0.03) were associated with PFS. Decrease of primary tumour SUV_max ≥ 74% (p = 0.04), MTV ≥ 69% (p = 0.04), TLG ≥ 74% (p = 0.02) and LN TLG ≥ 73% (p = 0.02) were prognostic factors for OS. Conclusions: According to our results, 18F-FDG PET/CT-based post-ICT GTV delineation is feasible strategy without negative impact on loco-regional control and survival. Percentage decrease of metabolic PET parameters SUV_max, MTV and TLG has a prognostic value in LA-SCCHN.

An important aspect of PET imaging in clinical application is the localization and detection of tumors and lesions by administering a predetermined amount of radiotracer. This allows for example, a detailed view of what is going inside the patient body in cellular level. The quality of PET image is strongly dependent on the amount of administrated radiotracer and the patient’s body parameters. As the amount of injection radiotracer increases, the quality of resulting image increases and the lesion detection efficiency increases. The PET examiner society recognizes that any dose of radiotracer is associated with some possible radiation risks. It can harmful to the patient if essential PET imaging session is not made due to fear of radiation risk. In order to ensure the highest quality diagnosis and the smallest radiation risk, the patient should receive the smallest amount of radiotracer that provide image with sufficient quality. Our study is focused on proposing an efficient PET simulation tool that predict the smallest possible amount of administrated radiotracer to provides the appropriate diagnostic information based on significant patient’s body parameters (weight, age) at fixed scanning to improve the clinical diagnostic process in term of tumor detecting and localization. We have built a model of particular PET scanner and model of patient based on real MRI image and digital anthropomorphic phantom of our region of interest (brain). We have performed Monte Carlo simulation for whole PET procedure with special parameter In evaluating stage, a dataset of 60 patient is used and 11 independent dose prediction simulation for each patient are performed. We conclude that our simulator perform a desirable and efficient prediction of injection radiotracer amount that optimizes the current clinical amount up to 28%. In addition, we found that the total injected radiotracer dosage for adult patients are mostly affected when considering patient weight rather than patient age.

Primary bone lymphoma of the spine (PBL) is a rare entity and the most shared type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (LNH) appearing in bone lesions deprived of nodal or extra-nodal in-volvement and accounting for approximately 2% of all lymphomas. Most PBL are diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) and commonly involve the appendicular skeleton. Due to its atypical location and non-specific clinical imaging features mimicking certain neoplastic or infectious processes, this pathology may be misdiagnosed, thus complicating and delaying diagnosis. Our case reports a patient in her sixties who had been suffering from chronic low back pain for a year, and had gradually started to develop cruralgia and fever. She underwent a blood sample, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) which revealed significant inflammatory syndrome, a pattern of spondylodiscitis at the L3-L4 level associated with morphological and metabolic invasion extending posteriorly, raising suspicion of epiduritis. No other lesions were found on the rest of the body. Neurosurgical management was performed and a biopsy was made. Histological results showed aggressive and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, suggesting a diagnosis of PBL. This case highlights the first case of spondylodiscitis mimicking PBL in the lumbar spine, the intricacies of the diagnostic work-up, and the complexity of discriminating with an infectious process in the spine, as both have a similar, non-specific clinical presentation with different prognosis and therapeutic management.

We previously found that chronic adenosine A1 receptor stimulation with N6-Cyclopentyladenosine increased α-synuclein misfolding and neurodegeneration in a novel α-synucleinopathy model, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. Here, we aimed to synthesize a dimer caffeine-indan linked by a 6-carbon chain to cross the blood-brain barrier and tested its ability to bind α-synuclein, reducing misfolding, behavioural abnormalities, and neurodegeneration in our rodent model. Behavioural tests and histological stains assessed neuroprotective effects of the dimer compound. A rapid synthesis of the 18F-labelled analogue enabled Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography imaging for biodistribution measurement. Molecular docking analysis showed that the dimer binds to α-synuclein N- and C-termini and the non-amyloid-β-component (NAC) domain, similar to 1-aminoindan, and this binding promotes a neuroprotective α-synuclein “loop” conformation. The dimer also binds to the orthosteric binding site for adenosine within the adenosine A1 receptor. Immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging showed the dimer abolished α-synuclein upregulation and aggregation in the substantia nigra and hippocampus, and the dimer mitigated cognitive deficits, anxiety, despair, and motor abnormalities. The 18F-labelled dimer remained stable post-injection and distributed in various organs, notably in the brain, suggesting its potential as a Positron Emission Tomography tracer for α-synuclein and adenosine A1 receptor in Parkinson’s disease therapy.

There are various approaches to managing polyethylene terephthalate waste, including methods for recycling PET. However, at present, only the cleanest wastes that can already be efficiently recycled using known methods are considered in the scientific literature. The study aims to look at other forms of polyethylene terephthalate waste that pose a challenge: low quality PET flakes, polyester tire cord, PET dust and prepolymer waste. The waste was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, viscosimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, laser diffraction and sieve analysis. The findings describe the composition and properties of various forms of polyethylene terephthalate waste. Low quality PET flake waste and polyethylene terephthalate dust have been shown to be suitable for all chemical recycling methods. When recycling waste polyester tire cord, it is difficult to completely separate the rubber, so its presence in the final product must be taken into account. The most promising way to process a prepolymer is its depolymerization by hydrolysis, alcoholysis or glycolysis to produce monomers for the synthesis of PET, similar in properties to the primary one.

As brachycephalic dog breed ownership increases, there is a growing concern for the welfare of these breeds due to extreme brachycephalism. Understanding the motivations and behaviours of those choosing to own these breeds is important if we wish to address these concerns. The aim of this study was to investigate how owners of brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dog breeds use social media dog breed groups to discuss common health issues. The purpose of Facebook posts in relation to common health issues, owner awareness of health issues, and the role of Facebook facilitated social support were explored between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dog owners. Twelve Facebook breed groups were selected (brachycephalic breed groups, n=6, non-brachycephalic breed groups, n=6). Using key word searches we extracted the first twenty posts from each group. Thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes: advice seeking, advice giving and community bonding mechanisms. Whilst the purpose of posting did not differ between groups, non-brachycephalic owners appeared to display greater awareness of breed-specific health issues, whilst social support played a more prominent role in brachycephalic groups. This research highlights that social media groups can act as platforms for knowledge exchange and emotional support. These could be utilised by owners, veterinarians and welfare organisations to more effectively enhance dog health and wellbeing.

Background and purpose: Dynamic 18F-FDG PET-CT scanning can accurately quantify 18F-FDG uptake and has been successfully applied in diagnosing and evaluating therapeutic effects in various malignant tumors. There is no conclusion as to whether it can accurately distinguish benign and malignant lymph nodes in nasopharyngeal cancer. The main purpose of this study is to reveal the diagnostic value of dynamic PET-CT in cervical lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal cancer through analysis. Method: We first searched for cervical lymph nodes interested in static PET-CT, measured their SUV-Max values, and found the corresponding lymph nodes in magnetic resonance images before and after treatment. The valid or invalid groups were included according to the changes in lymph node size before and after treatment. Their Ki values were measured on dynamic PET-CT and compared under different conditions. Then, we conducted a correlation analysis between different factors and Ki values. Finally, diagnostic tests were conducted to compare the sensitivity and specificity of Ki and SUV-Max. Result: We included 67 cervical lymph nodes from different regions of 51 nasopharyngeal cancer patients and divided them into valid and invalid groups based on changes before treatment. The valid group includes 50 lymph nodes, while the invalid group includes 17. Significant differences (P<0.001) between the two groups in SUV-Max, Ki-Mean, and Ki-Max values. When the SUV-Max≤4.5, there was no significant difference in the Ki-Mean and Ki-Max between the two groups (P>0.05). When SUV-Max≤4.5 and pre-treatment lymph nodes<1.0cm, the valid group had significantly higher Ki-Mean (0.00910) and Ki-Maximum (0.01004) values than the invalid group (Ki-Mean=0.00716, Ki -Max=0.00767) (P<0.05). When SUV-Max≤4.5, pre-treatment lymph nodes<1.0cm, and EBV DNA replication was normal, Ki-Mean (0.01060) and Ki-Max (0.01149) in the valid group were still significantly higher than the invalid group (Ki-Mean=0.00670, Ki-Max=0.00719) (P<0.05). The correlation analysis between different factors (SUV-Max, T-stage, normal EB virus DNA replication, age, pre-treatment lymph node<1.0cm) and Ki value showed that SUV-Max and pre-treatment lymph node<1.0cm were related to Ki-Mean and Ki-Max. Diagnostic testing was conducted, the AUC value of the SUV-Max value was 0.8259 (95% confidence interval: 0.7296-0.9222), the AUC value of the Ki-Mean was 0.8759 (95% confidence interval: 0.7950-0.9567), and the AUC value of the Ki-Max was 0.8859 (95% confidence interval: 0.8089-0.9629). It was found that the sensitivity of SUV-Max was 88%, the specificity was 76%, the sensitivity of Ki-Mean was 88%, the specificity was 80%, the sensitivity of Ki-Max was 94%, the specificity was 76%, the specificity of Ki-Mean was better than SUV-Max, the sensitivity of Ki-Max was better than SUV-Max. Conclusion: Dynamic PET-CT has shown significant diagnostic value in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal cancer, especially for the small SUV value, and lymph nodes do not meet the metastasis criteria before treatment, and EBV DNA replication is normal. Moreover, its sensitivity and accuracy are superior to static PET-CT.

Seasonal changes and varying degree of corneal hydration has been linked to excimer laser corneal ablation rates. Use of PMMA as calibration material in refractive lasers is well established. However, PMMA ablation may be equally affected by seasonal variations in temperature and humidity, intern affecting the calibration process. Aim of this work is to analyze the effect of seasonal changes in PMMA Performance using SCHWIND AMARIS laser system. PET and PMMA ablations conducted in climate-controlled environment with 826 consecutive AMARIS systems manufactured over 6 years were retrospectively analyzed. Lasers were stratified depending on seasons and months of the year. Metrics like Single laser pulse fluence, nominal number of laser pulses, mean performance, standard deviation, and technical performance of system were compared to global average values. Cyclic winter-summer variation was confirmed with seasons winter and summer showing statistically significant variations with respect to global values. Metric technical performance showed deeper PMMA ablation performance in summertime, with maximum seasonal deviation of 6%. Results were consistently confirmed in seasonal as well as monthly analyses. These findings could help minimize variance among laser systems by implementing compensation factors depending on seasons such that laser systems installed worldwide follow the same trend line of variation.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate whether baseline 18F-FDG PET-derived semiquantitative parameters could predict disease-free survival in patients with grade III breast cancer of different molecular subtypes undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Materials and Methods: Patients were retrospectively retrieved from the databases of two Italian hospitals (University of Padua and University Hospital of Ferrara). Inclusion criteria were: 1) histologically proven diagnosis of grade III breast cancer; 2) history of NAC; 3) execution of a baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT scan before the start of NAC; 4) adequate follow-up time to compute the 3Y-DFS. For each 18F-FDG-PET/CT scan, the following parameters were calculated in the primary tumor (SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV, TLG) and whole-body (WB_SUVmax, WB_MTV, and WB_TLG). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used for each parameter to assess the prediction capability for 3Y-DFS. DFS differences between groups were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and compared by log-rank test. Results: Ninety-five grade III breast cancer patients with different molecular types were retrieved (luminal A: 5; luminal B: 34; luminal B-HER2: 22; HER2-enriched: 7; triple-negative: 27). In the whole group of patients, WB_SUVmax was the best predictor of recurrence (AUC: 0.66; best cut-off: WB_SUVmax>9.43; SS: 96%; SP: 38.1%; p<0.008). Patients with luminal A and Her-2-enriched breast cancer types were excluded from the molecular subgroup analysis due to the small study samples (5 and 7, respectively). In luminal B patients (n=34), WB_MTV (AUC: 0.75; best cut-off: WB_MTV>195.33; SS: 55.56%, SP: 100%; p=0.002) and WB_TLG (AUC: 0.73; best cut-off: WB_TLG>1066.21; SS: 55.56%, SP: 100%; p=0.05) were the best predictors of 3Y-DFS. Patients had a higher probability of DFS in case of a WB_MTV≤195.33 (3429±210 vs. 446±144 days; p<0.001) or WB_TLG≤ 1066.33 (937.35±19 vs. 496±131 days; p<0.001). In luminal B-HER2 patients (n=22), WB_SUVmax was the only predictor of 3Y-DFS (AUC: 0.857; best cut-off: WB_SUVmax>13.12; SS: 100%; SP: 71.43%; p<0.001); patients with WB_SUVmax≤13.12 had a significantly longer DFS (3857 days) than patients with a WB_SUVmax >13.12 (1693±430 days; p<0.004). No parameter resulted significant in the prediction of 3Y-DFS in patients with grade III triple-negative cancer. Conclusion: Volume-based parameters, extracted from baseline 18F-FDG PET, seem to be promising tools in the prediction of recurrence within 3 years in patients with grade III luminal B and luminal B- HER2 breast cancer undergoing NAC. Larger study samples are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

PET imaging with [¹⁸F]F-DOPA has demonstrated high potential for the evaluation and management of pediatric brain gliomas. Manual extraction of PET parameters is time-consuming, lacks reproducibility, and varies with operator experience. In this study, we tested whether a semi-automated image processing framework could overcome these limitations. Pediatric patients with available static and/or dynamic [¹⁸F]F-DOPA PET studies were evaluated retrospectively. We developed a Python software to automate clinical index calculations, including preprocessing to delineate tumor volumes from structural MRI, accounting for lesions with low [¹⁸F]F-DOPA uptake. 73 subjects with treatment-naïve low and high-grade gliomas, who underwent brain MRI within two weeks of [¹⁸vF]F-DOPA PET, were included and analyzed. Static analysis was conducted on all subjects, while dynamic analysis was performed on 32 patients. For 68 subjects, the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient for T/S between manual and ground truth segmentation was 0.91. Using our tool, ICC improved to 0.94. Our method demonstrated good reproducibility in extracting static tumor-to-striatum ratio (p = 0.357), though significant differences were observed in tumor slope (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in time-to-peak (p = 0.167) and striatum slope (p = 0.36). Our framework aids in analyzing [¹⁸F]F-DOPA PET images of pediatric brain tumors by automating clinical score extraction, simplifying segmentation and Time Activity Curve extraction, reducing user variability, and enhancing reproducibility.

Since the 2005 discovery of the first enzyme capable of depolymerizing polyethylene terephthalate (PET), an aromatic polyester once thought to be non-biodegradable, extensive research has been undertaken to identify and engineer new biocatalysts for plastic degradation. This effort was directed towards developing efficient enzymatic recycling technologies that could overcome the limitations of mechanical and chemical methods. These enzymes are versatile molecules obtained from microorganisms living in various environments, including soil, compost, surface seawater, and extreme habitats such as hot springs, hydrothermal vents, deep-sea regions, and Antarctic seawater. Among various plastics, PET and polylactic acid (PLA) have been the primary focus of enzymatic depolymerization research, greatly enhancing our knowledge of enzymes that degrade these specific polymers. They often display unique catalytic properties that reflect their particular ecological niches. This review explores recent advancements in marine-derived enzymes that can depolymerize synthetic plastic polymers, emphasizing their structural and functional features that influence the efficiency of these catalysts in biorecycling processes. Current status and future perspectives of enzymatic plastic depolymerization are also discussed, with a focus on the underexplored marine enzymatic resources.

Our study aimed to identify predictors for the effectiveness of tumor regression in lung cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant treatment and cancer resections. Patients admitted between 2016 and 2022 were included in the study. Based on the histology of the tumor, patients were categorized into lung adenocarcinoma group (LUAD), and squamous cell carcinoma group (SQCA). Ninety-five patients with non-small cell lung cancer were included in the study. Fifty-eight (61.1%) and 37 (38.9%) patients were included in the LUAD and SQCA groups, respectively. Nine (9.5%), 56 (58.9%), and 30 (31.6%) patients were categorized with a tumor regression score of I, II, and III respectively. In multivariable analyses, histology of the primary tumor (SQCA), lymph node size in the preoperative CT scan (>1.7cm) and absolute tumor size reduction after neoadjuvant treatment (>2.6 cm) independently predict effectiveness of tumor regression (OR, [95% Confidence interval, p-value] of 6.88 [2.40-19.77, p70 years, extended resection >one lobe, and tumor recurrence or metastasis were identified as significant independent predictors of reduced overall survival. Assessment of tumor size before and after neoadjuvant treatment might help to identify high-risk patients with decreased survival and to improve patient management and care.

Kisspeptin (KISS1) and its cognate receptor (KISS1R) are implicated in the progression of various cancers. However, a theranostic radiopharmaceutical targeting the KISS1 receptor (KISS1R) has yet to be explored. A gallium-68 labelled kisspeptin-10 (KP10) has potential as a pan-tumor radiopharmaceutical for the detection of cancers. Furthermore, a lutetium-177 labelled KP10 could find therapeutic application in treating oncological diseases. We attached DOTA to the NH2-terminus of KP10 as we posited that this modification would not impair biological activity and showed that receptor stimulation of inositol phosphate accumulation in HEK293 transfected with the KISS1R gene was similar for KP10 and DOTA-KP10. We describe optimization of radiolabeling with gallium-68 and lutetium-177 and stability in serum, plasma, and whole blood. Pharmacokinetics was established with µPET/CT and ex vivo measurements. Dynamic studies with µPET/CT demonstrated that background clearance for the radiopharmaceutical was rapid with a blood half-life of 18 ± 3 minutes. DOTA-KP10 demonstrated preserved functionality at KISS1R and good blood clearance. These promising results advocate the further development of KP10 structures which have high binding affinity along with proteolytic resistance.

Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) have emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for various incurable conditions including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To study its safety and efficacy, we analyzed 1011 patients who underwent intrathecal administration of autologous BMMNCs along with neurorehabilitation. At mean follow-up of 19.3 months after intervention, 90.6% patients showed overall improvement. Improvements were observed in attention concentration, command following, eye contact, sitting tolerance, social interaction, hyperactivity, communication, speech, aggressiveness, stereotypical and self-injurious behavior. Statistically significant changes were observed in scores of Indian Scale of Autism Assessment and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (p<0.05). On subgroup analysis, improvements were recorded irrespective of age and disease severity and better outcome was observed in patients who took multiple doses of cell therapy compared to single dose. Comparative Brain PET-CT scan of 401 patients showed improved brain metabolism after the intervention. No major adverse events were reported. Only 9 out of 1011 patients experienced seizures which were managed using medications. 4 out of 9 had history of seizures while 5 had normal EEG with no history. However, improvements were still observed in these 9 patients. Thus, intrathecal transplantation of autologous BMMNCs along with neurorehabilitation is safe and efficacious in patients with ASD.

Scintillators play a key role in the detection chain of several applications which rely on the use of ionizing radiation, and it is often mandatory to extract and detect the generated scintillation light as efficiently as possible. In positron emission tomography (PET), for example, both energy resolution and coincidence resolving time, two of the key detection parameters, depend strongly on the total amount of light which reaches the photodetector surface as well as its spatial and temporal distribution. Typical inorganic scintillators do however feature a high index of refraction, which impacts light extraction efficiency in a negative way. Furthermore, several applications such as preclinical PET rely on pixelated scintillators with small pitch. In this case, applying reflectors on the crystal pixel surface, as done conventionally, can have a dramatic impact of the packing fraction and thus the overall system sensitivity. This paper presents a study on light extraction techniques, as well as combinations thereof, for two of the most used inorganic scintillators (LYSO and BGO). Novel approaches, employing distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs), metal coatings, and a modified Photonic Crystal (PhC) structure, are described in detail and compared with commonly used techniques. The nanostructure of the PhC is surrounded by a hybrid organic/inorganic silica sol-gel buffer layer which ensures robustness while maintaining its performance unchanged. We observed in particular a maximum light gain of about 41% on light extraction and 21% on energy resolution for BGO, a scintillator which has gained interest in the recent past due to its prompt Cherenkov component and lower cost.

This study explores the potential to reach a circular economy for post-consumer recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) packaging and bottles by using it as a distributed recycling for additive manufacturing (DRAM) feedstock. Specifically, rPET is processed using only an open source toolchain with fused particle fabrication (FPF) or fused granular fabrication (FGF) processing. In this study, first the impact of granulation, sifting and heating (and their combination) is quantified on the shape and size distribution of the rPET flakes. Then feeding studies were performed to see if they could be printed through an external feeder or needed to be direct printed with a hopper using two Gigabot X machines, one with extended part cooling and one without. Print settings were optimized based on thermal characterization and for the latter which was shown to print rPET directly from shredded water bottles mechanical testing is performed. The results showed that geometry was important for extended feeding tubes and direct printed using a hopper. Further there is a wide disparity in the physical properties of rPET from water bottles depending on source and the history of the material. Future work is needed to enable water bottles to be used as a widespread DRAM feedstock.

Coronary artery lesions (CALs) after Kawasaki disease present complex coronary hemodynamics. We investigated the relationship between coronary fractional flow reserve (FFR), myocardial blood flow reserve (MFR), and myocardial blood flow volume fraction (MBF), and their clinical usefulness in CALs after Kawasaki disease. Nineteen patients (18 male, 1 female) who underwent cardiac catheterization and 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography, with 24 coronary artery branches, were included. Five branches had inconsistent FFR and MFR values, two had normal FFR but abnormal MFR, and three had abnormal FFR and normal MFR. The abnormal MFR group had significantly higher MBF at rest than the normal group (0.86±0.13 vs. 1.08±0.09, p=0.001). The abnormal FFR group had significantly lower MBF at adenosine loading than the normal group (2.23±0.23 vs. 1.88±0.29, p=0.021). The three branches with abnormal FFR only had stenotic lesions, but the MFR may have been normal because blood was supplied by collateral vessels. Combining FFR, MFR, and MBF will enable a more accurate assessment of peripheral coronary circulation and stenotic lesions in CALs and help determine treatment strategy and timing of intervention.

Dogs population increased exponentially in the past decade while the birth rate decreased gradually, especially in the developed countries. Due to dogs’ characteristics of loyalty and obedience, most pet owners treated their dogs as their family members or companions, therefore they are willing to select and purchase safe, high quality and nutrition dog food to their dogs. However, there is lack of regulation or standard to reinforce the production or distribution of dog food in Hong Kong. Consequently, this paper will first review the relationship between high dog population and declining birth rate, types of dog food and typical ingredients. Secondly, the potential health implications of various “toxic” food ingredients for dog, hazard analysis of dog food and its testing methods will be investigated. Lastly, this paper will summarize worldwide existing standards and regulations, quality and hygiene management system related to dog food safety to provide insights and suggestions to Hong Kong government about the importance and urgency of implementing regulations and policies to oversee the imported and local manufactured dog food.

Background/Objectives: Although the role of F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging is well established in oncology, its diagnostic value in routine monitoring for recurrent colorectal cancer (CRC) is still controversial. The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic value of FDG PET/CT in detecting recurrent CRC in correlation with CEA, CA 19-9 levels, and conventional imaging modalities (CIM). Methods: Between 2009 and 2023, we retrospectively studied 134 CRC patients referred for FDG PET/CT imaging on the suspicion of recurrence based on elevated CEA and/or CA 19-9, and/or equivocal radiological findings. According to the Institutional Tumor Board CRC protocol, after initial treatment which was dependent on TNM stage (neoadjuvant therapy, primary resection or adjuvant treatment), patients underwent a standard 5-year surveillance including CEA and CA 19-9 measurements, CIM, and colonoscopy every 6 months. The statistics including univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted using the IBM SPSS 20.0 statistical software. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Recurrent CRC was confirmed in 54/134 (40.3%) patients with elevated tumor markers. FDG PET/CT shows high diagnostic performance in detecting recurrent CRC with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 94.4%, 82.5%, 78.5%, 95.7%, and 87.3%, respectively. The CEA shows a high sensitivity of 98.1%, but both low specificity and accuracy of 15% and 48.5%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, for CA 19-9 and CIM for the correct diagnosis in CRC patients were: 44.4%, 67.5%, 58.2%, and 51.9%, 98.8%, 79.9%, respectively. The AUC for FDG PET/CT, elevated CEA levels, CIM, and elevated CA 19-9 levels was 0.885 (95% CI: 0.824-0.946; p<0.001), 0.844 (95% CI: 0.772-0.916; p<0.001), 0.753 (95% CI: 0.612-0.844; p<0.001); and 0.547 (95% CI: 0.442-0.652; p=0.358). Univariate analysis shows that both FDG PET/CT- and CIM-positive results were highly associated with CRC recurrence (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively), while gender, mucinous tumor type, presence of initial lymph node metastasis (N+), and presence of initial distant metastasis (M+) have no significance (p=0.211, p=0.158, p=0.583, and p=0.201, respectively). Our multivariate analysis shows that independent predictors for CRC recurrence are: positive FDG PET/CT scans (p<0.001), positive CIM results (p=0.001) and elevated CA19-9 levels (p=0.023). Although CA 19-9 was not detected as a statistically significant predictor in the univariate analysis (p=0.358), in a multivariate analysis it was recognized as a significant predicting factor in detecting CRC recurrence (p=0.023). Conclusions: FDG PET/CT shows a high diagnostic efficacy in CRC recurrence detection, in correlation with CEA levels, CA 19-9 levels, and CIM. This imaging modality should be routinely integrated into the postoperative follow-op in patients with elevated tumor markers.

Deep learning (DL) algorithms used for DOTATATE PET lesion detection typically require large, well-annotated training datasets. These are difficult to obtain due to low incidence of gastroenteopancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), and the high cost of manual annotation. Furthermore, networks trained and tested with data acquired from site specific PET/CT instrumentation, acquisition and processing protocols have reduced performance when tested with offsite data. This lack of generalizability requires even larger, more diverse training datasets. The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of improving DL algorithm performance by better matching the background noise in training datasets to higher noise, out-of-domain testing datasets. 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT datasets were obtained from two scanners: Scanner1, a state-of-the-art digital PET/CT (GE DMI PET/CT; n=83 subjects), and Scanner2, an older-generation analog PET/CT (GE STE; n=123 subjects). Set1, the data set from Scanner1 was reconstructed with standard clinical parameters (5 minutes; Q.Clear) and list-mode reconstructions (VPFXS 2, 3, 4, and 5-minutes). Set2, data from Scanner2, representing out-of-domain clinical scans, used standard iterative reconstruction (5 minutes; OSEM). Reconstructed datasets were divided into training, validation, and testing datasets in a 60%, 20%, 20% proportion, and a deep neural network was trained with each: Network1 for Scanner1 and Network2 for Scanner2. DL performance (Network1) was tested with out-of-domain test data (Set2). To evaluate the effect of training sample size, we tested DL model performance using a fraction (25%, 50%, and 75%) of Set1 for training. Scanner1, list-mode 2-minute reconstructed data demonstrated the most similar noise level compared that of Set2, resulting in the best performance (F1=0.713). This was not significantly different compared to the highest performance, upper-bound limit using in-domain training for Network2 (F1=0.755; p-value=0.103). Regarding sample size, the F1 score significantly increased from 25% training data (F1=0.478) to 100% training data (F1=0.713; p&lt;0.001). List-mode data from modern PET scanners can be reconstructed to better match the noise properties of older scanners. Using existing data and their associated annotations dramatically reduces the cost and effort in generating these datasets, and significantly improves the performance of existing DL algorithms. List-mode reconstructions can provide an efficient, low-cost method to improve DL algorithm generalizability.