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There is strong evidence of the impact of opinion leaders in health promotion programs. Early work by Burke-Garcia suggests that social media influencers are the opinion leaders of the digital age as they come from the communities they influence, have built trust with them, and may be useful in combating misinformation by disseminating credible and timely health information and prompting consideration of health behaviors. AI has contributed to the spread of misinformation, but it can also be a vital part of the solution, informing and educating in real time and at scale. Personalized, empathetic messaging is crucial, though, and research supports that individuals are drawn to empathetic AI responses and prefer them to human responses in some digital environments. This mimics what we know about influencers and how they approach communicating with their followers. Blending what we know about social media influencers as opinion leaders with the power and scale of AI can enable us to address the spread of misinformation. This paper reviews the knowledge base and proposes the development of something we term "Health Communication AI" – perhaps the newest form of opinion leader – to fight health misinformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) delivers targeted radiation to Somatostatin Receptor (SSR) expressing Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NEN). We sought to assess the predictive and prognostic implications of tumour dosimetry with respect to response by 68 Ga DOTATATE (GaTate) PET/CT molecular imaging tumour volume of SSR (MITVSSR) change and RECIST 1.1, and overall survival (OS). Methods: Patients with gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) NEN who received LuTate followed by quantitative SPECT/CT (Q-SPECT/CT) the next day (Jul 2010 to Jan 2019) were retrospectively reviewed. Single time-point (STP) lesional dosimetry was performed for each cycle using population-based pharmacokinetic modelling. MITVSSR and RECIST 1.1 were measured at 3-months post PRRT. Results: Median of 4 PRRT cycles were administered to 90 patients (range 2–5 cycles; mean 27.4 GBq cumulative activity; mean 7.6 GBq per cycle). 68% received at least one cycle with radiosensitising chemotherapy (RSC). RECIST 1.1 partial response was 24%, with 70% stable and 7% progressive disease. Cycle 1 radiation dose in measurable lesions was associated with local response (odds ratio 1.5 per 50 Gy [95% CI: 1.1–2.0], p = 0.002) when adjusted by tumour grade and RSC. Median change in MITVSSR was -63% (interquartile range -84 to -29), with no correlation with radiation dose to the most avid lesion on univariable or multivariant analyses (5.6 per 10 Gy [95% CI: -1.6, 12.8], p = 0.133). OS at 5-years was 68% (95% CI: 56–78%). Neither baseline MITVSSR (hazard ratio 1.1 [95% CI: 1.0, 1.2], p = 0.128) nor change in baseline MITVSSR (hazard ratio 1.0 [95% CI: 1.0, 1.1], p = 0.223) were associated with OS when adjusted by tumour grade and RSC but RSC was (95% CI: 0.2, 0.8, p = 0.012). Conclusion: Radiation dose to tumour during PRRT was predictive of radiologic response but not survival. Survival outcomes may relate to other biological factors. There was no evidence that MITVSSR change was associated with OS, but a larger study is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B A. A Alizadeh b Foresight Diagnostics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in private company, Patents & Royalties; Gilead: Consultancy, Divested equity in a private or publicly-traded company in the past 24 months, Patents & Royalties; Syncopation: Current equity holder in private company, Patents & Royalties; Roche: Consultancy; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy; Cibermed Inc: Consultancy, Current equity holder in private company, Patents & Royalties. B Conflicts of interests pertinent to the abstract b B D. M. Kurtz b Other remuneration: Roche: Consultancy; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy; Foresight Diagnostics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in private company, Patents & Royalties; Genentech: Consultancy. B W. Wilson b Other remuneration: Foresight Diagnostics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in private company, Patents & Royalties; Gilead: Consultancy, Divested equity in a private or publicly-traded company in the past 24 months, Patents & Royalties; Syncopation: Current equity holder in private company, Patents & Royalties; Roche: Consultancy; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy; Cibermed Inc: Consultancy, Current equity holder in private company, Patents & Royalties. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: The goal of this guideline/procedure standard is to assist nuclear medicine physicians, other nuclear medicine professionals, oncologists or other medical specialists for recommended use of [18F]FDG PET/CT in oncological patients undergoing immunotherapy, with special focus on response assessment in solid tumors. Methods: In a cooperative effort between the EANM, the SNMMI and the ANZSNM, clinical indications, recommended imaging procedures and reporting standards have been agreed upon and summarized in this joint guideline/procedure standard. Conclusions: The field of immuno-oncology is rapidly evolving, and this guideline/procedure standard should not be seen as definitive, but rather as a guidance document standardizing the use and interpretation of [18F]FDG PET/CT during immunotherapy. Local variations to this guideline should be taken into consideration. Preamble: The European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) is a professional non-profit medical association founded in 1985 to facilitate worldwide communication among individuals pursuing clinical and academic excellence in nuclear medicine. The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and professional organization founded in 1954 to promote science, technology and practical application of nuclear medicine. The Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM), founded in 1969, represents the major professional society fostering the technical and professional development of nuclear medicine practice across Australia and New Zealand. It promotes excellence in the nuclear medicine profession through education, research and a commitment to the highest professional standards. EANM, SNMMI and ANZSNM members are physicians, technologists, physicists and scientists specialized in the research and clinical practice of nuclear medicine. All three societies will periodically put forth new standards/guidelines for nuclear medicine practice to help advance the science of nuclear medicine and improve service to patients. Existing standards/guidelines will be reviewed for revision or renewal, as appropriate, on their fifth anniversary or sooner, if indicated. Each standard/guideline, representing a policy statement by the EANM/SNMMI/ANZSNM, has undergone a thorough consensus process, entailing extensive review. These societies recognize that the safe and effective use of diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging requires particular training and skills, as described in each document. These standards/guidelines are educational tools designed to assist practitioners in providing appropriate and effective nuclear medicine care for patients. These guidelines are consensus documents based on current knowledge. They are not intended to be inflexible rules or requirements of practice, nor should they be used to establish a legal standard of care. For these reasons and those set forth below, the EANM, SNMMI and ANZSNM caution against the use of these standards/guidelines in litigation in which the clinical decisions of a practitioner are called into question. The ultimate judgment regarding the propriety of any specific procedure or course of action must be made by medical professionals considering the unique circumstances of each case. Thus, there is no implication that an action differing from what is laid out in the guidelines/procedure standards, standing alone, is below standard of care. To the contrary, a conscientious practitioner may responsibly adopt a course of action different from that set forth in the standards/guidelines when, in the reasonable judgment of the practitioner, such course of action is indicated by the condition of the patient, limitations of available resources or advances in knowledge or technology subsequent to publication of the guidelines/procedure standards. The practice of medicine involves not only the science, but also the art of dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, alleviation and treatment of disease. The variety and complexity of human conditions make it impossible for general guidelines to consistently allow for an accurate diagnosis to be reached or a particular treatment response to be predicted. Therefore, it should be recognized that adherence to these standards/ guidelines will not ensure a successful outcome. All that should be expected is that practitioners follow a reasonable course of action, based on their level of training, current knowledge, clinical practice guidelines, available resources and the needs/context of the patient being treated. The sole purpose of these guidelines is to assist practitioners in achieving this objective. The present guideline/procedure standard was developed collaboratively by the EANM, the SNMMI and the ANZSNM, with the support of international experts in the field. They summarize also the views of the Oncology and Theranostics and the Inflammation and Infection Committees of the EANM, as well as the procedure standards committee of the SNMMI, and reflect recommendations for which the EANM and SNMMI cannot be held responsible. The recommendations should be taken into the context of good practice of nuclear medicine and do not substitute for national and international legal or regulatory provisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Implementation facilitation is an effective strategy that increases uptake of behavioral health interventions. Facilitation is grounded in partnerships with leadership and clinical stakeholders. Researchers have documented some negative consequences of facilitation-time, financial, and opportunity costs. Clinical leaders often agree to facilitation with the promise of increased implementation of an intervention. This study examined whether unintended positive consequences of facilitation might offset known costs.Methods: This study was part of a stepped-wedge, hybrid type 2, pragmatic trial that used implementation facilitation to implement primary care mental health integration (PCMHI) via telehealth technology in six satellite Veterans Health Administration (VHA) clinics. Two facilitators provided facilitation for at least 6 months. This study included a focused analysis of an emerging phenomenon captured through weekly debriefing interviews with facilitators: unintended positive consequences of implementation facilitation, termed "lagniappes" here. A rapid content analysis was conducted to identify and categorize these consequences.Results: The authors documented unintended positive consequences of the facilitation across the six VHA sites and categorized them into three clinically relevant domains: supporting PCMHI outreach at other clinics not in the original catchment area (e.g., providing tools to other sites), strengthening patient access (e.g., resolving unnecessary patient travel), and improving or modifying work processes (e.g., clarifying suicide assessment protocols). The positive consequences benefited sites and strengthened ongoing partnerships.Conclusions: Documenting unintended positive consequences of implementation facilitation may increase leadership engagement. Facilitators should consider leveraging unintended positive consequences as advantages for the site that may add efficiency to facility processes and workflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Employment holds many benefits for people living with psychosis. However, significant barriers to employment for this cohort appear to exist, notably stigma and discrimination against people living with serious mental health conditions. We asked: Would a qualitative sample including multiple stakeholder groups reveal similar results and if so, what would be the main impacts of such stigma and discrimination? Method: This analysis used data from a qualitative study that had employed focus groups and interviews to investigate the employment barriers and support needs of people living with psychosis, including views of the multiple stakeholders (those living with mental health conditions, health professionals, care-givers, employments consultants and community members and employers). Results: The impacts of workplace stigma and discrimination on people living with psychosis included work avoidance, reluctance to disclose mental health conditions to employers, work-related stress, and reduced longevity of employment. Conclusions: Significant impacts from such stigma and discrimination were found in this study. The findings indicate a need to provide support mechanisms and to change the culture of workplaces to improve employment opportunities and outcomes for people living with psychosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report on the outcome of the 2nd International Danube Symposium on advanced biomarker development that was held in Vienna, Austria, in early 2018. During the meeting, cross-speciality participants assessed critical aspects of non-invasive, quantitative biomarker development in view of the need to expand our understanding of disease mechanisms and the definition of appropriate strategies both for molecular diagnostics and personalised therapies. More specifically, panelists addressed the main topics, including the current status of disease characterisation by means of non-invasive imaging, histopathology and liquid biopsies as well as strategies of gaining new understanding of disease formation, modulation and plasticity to large-scale molecular imaging as well as integrative multi-platform approaches. Highlights of the 2018 meeting included dedicated sessions on non-invasive disease characterisation, development of disease and therapeutic tailored biomarkers, standardisation and quality measures in biospecimens, new therapeutic approaches and socio-economic challenges of biomarker developments. The scientific programme was accompanied by a roundtable discussion on identification and implementation of sustainable strategies to address the educational needs in the rapidly evolving field of molecular diagnostics. The central theme that emanated from the 2nd Donau Symposium was the importance of the conceptualisation and implementation of a convergent approach towards a disease characterisation beyond lesion-counting "lumpology" for a cost-effective and patient-centric diagnosis, therapy planning, guidance and monitoring. This involves a judicious choice of diagnostic means, the adoption of clinical decision support systems and, above all, a new way of communication involving all stakeholders across modalities and specialities. Moreover, complex diseases require a comprehensive diagnosis by converging parameters from different disciplines, which will finally yield to a precise therapeutic guidance and outcome prediction. While it is attractive to focus on technical advances alone, it is important to develop a patient-centric approach, thus asking "What can we do with our expertise to help patients?" [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A capacitively coupled, atmospheric pressure plasma has been developed that produces a high concentration of reactive species at a gas temperature below 300 °C. The concentration of ground-state oxygen atoms produced by the discharge was measured by NO titration, and found to equal 1.2 vol %, or 1.2±0.4×1017 cm-3, using 6.0 vol % O2 in argon at 150 W/cm3. The ozone concentration determined at the same conditions was 4.3±0.5×1014 cm-3. A model of the gas phase reactions was developed and yielded O atom and O3 concentrations in agreement with experiment. This plasma source etched Kapton® at 5.0 μm/s at 280 °C and an electrode-to-sample spacing of 1.5 cm. This fast etch rate is attributed to the high O atom flux generated by the plasma source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wafer bonding and hydrogen implantation exfoliation techniques have been used to fabricate a thin InP template layer on GaAs with intermediate silicon nitride bonding layers. This template layer was used to directly compare subsequent metal organic vapor phase epitaxial growth of InGaAs/InAlAs quantum-well structures on these wafer-bonded templates to growth on a standard InP substrate. Chemical mechanical polishing of the bonded structure and companion InP substrates was assessed. No effects from the coefficient of thermal mismatch are detected up to the growth temperature, and compositionally equivalent structures are grown on the wafer-bonded InP template and the bare InP substrate. However, after growth dislocation, loops can be identified in the InP template layer due to the ion implantation step. These defects incur a slight mosaic tilt but do not yield any crystalline defects in the epitaxial structure. Low-temperature photoluminescence measurements of the InGaAs grown on the template structure and the InP substrate exhibit near-band-edge luminescence on the same order; this indicates that ion implantation and exfoliation is a viable technique for the integration of III-V materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indium phosphide (001) surfaces were exposed to 0.61-mTorr trimethylantimony in a metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy reactor. The antimony surface composition increased rapidly with dosage and saturated at 22.0 at. % for temperatures between 450 and 600 °C. The results indicate that a thin layer of InSb formed on the surface, ~6.8 Å thick. Strain from the lattice mismatch caused faceting in the [110] direction, whereas the formation of Sb dimer bonds relieved the strain in the [-110] direction. As a result, narrow ridges formed that ranged from 4 to 10 nm wide and from 3.0 to 18.0 Å high, depending on the antimony coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of an initial saturation coverage of antimony on the growth of indium arsenide quantum dots on gallium arsenide has been studied during metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy. After depositing one to two bilayers of InAs at 723 K, the samples were quenched, transferred to ultrahigh vacuum, and characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It has been found that the critical thickness for onset of quantum dot formation is 33% less with Sb present as compared to without Sb. The antimony incorporates into the quantum dots, increasing their density and total volume, and causing them to be more densely clustered together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physics of helium and argon rf discharges have been investigated in the pressure range from 50 to 760 Torr. The plasma source consists of metal electrodes that are perforated to allow the gas to flow through them. Current and voltage plots were obtained at different purity levels and it was found that trace impurities do not affect the shape of the curves. The electron temperature was calculated using an energy balance on the unbound electrons. It increased with decreasing pressure from 1.1 to 2.4 eV for helium and from 1.1 to 2.0 for argon. The plasma density calculated at a constant current density of 138 mA/cm2 ranged from 1.7×1011 to 9.3×1011 cm-3 for helium and from 2.5×1011 to 2.4×1012 cm-3 for argon, increasing with the pressure. At atmospheric pressure, the electron density of the argon plasma is 2.5 times that of the helium plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium phosphide(001) surfaces have been prepared by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy, and characterized in situ by low-energy electron diffraction, x-ray photoemission spectroscopy, and reflectance difference spectroscopy. Three stable phases were observed: (2×1), (1×1), and (2×4) with phosphorus coverages of 1.00, 0.67, and 0.13 ML, respectively. Reflectance difference spectra obtained at coverages intermediate between these three values were found to be linear combinations of the spectra of the pure phases. In particular, ΔR/R[sub (mixed)]=mΔR/R[sub (1×1)]+(1-m)ΔR/R[sub (2×1) or (2×4)], where m is a weighting factor. The weighting factors were used to estimate the phosphorus coverage, and these results agreed to within 5.0% of the values measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra of a novel series of neutral α, ω-bis(mesitylthio)oligothiophenes and some α,ω-bis(mesitylthio)oligothiophenes containing ethylenedioxy groups at the β positions, with various chain lengths have been investigated. Because these compounds contain carbon-sulfur linkages they can be viewed as models for prototypical surface-bound molecular wires in which the oligomer is linked to the surface by a thiol-metal bond. Thus, interactions between the conjugated moiety and the metallic surface or cluster can be simulated. These studies are very important in order to apply molecular systems in micro and optoelectronic devices. The statements of effective conjugation coordinate theory and density functional theory calculations let us describe the specific electronic interactions between the mesitylthio groups and the oligothiophene backbone. An increased π-electron delocalization or conjugation length with respect to the α,ω-bis(alkyl)oligothiophenes of the same length has been noticed. The inclusion of C-S bridges between the end groups and the central π-conjugated backbone increases the π-electron delocalization within the oligomeric chain and precludes the oligothiophene moiety from conjugative interactions with the mesityl rings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation of anion- and cation-rich indium phosphide (001) has been investigated by exposure to unexcited molecular oxygen. Indium phosphide oxidation is an activated process and strongly structure sensitive. The In-rich δ(2 x 4) surface reacts with oxygen at 300 K and above. Core level x-ray photoemission spectra have revealed that the O[sub 2] dissociatively chemisorbs onto the δ(2 x 4), inserting into the In-In dimer and In-P back bonds. By contrast, the P-rich (2 x 1) reconstruction does not absorb oxygen up to 5 x 10[sup 5] Langmuir at 300 K, as judged by the unperturbed reflectance difference spectrum and low energy electron diffraction pattern. Above 455 K, oxygen reacts with the (2 x 1) inserting preferentially into the In-P back bonds and to a lesser extent into the phosphorus dimer bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discharge phenomena of a nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma source have been studied. An atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) operates using rf power and produces a stable homogeneous discharge at atmospheric pressure. After breakdown, the APPJ operation is divided into two regimes, a "normal" operating mode when the discharge is stable and homogeneous, and a "failure" mode when the discharge converts into a filamentary arc. Current and voltage (I-V) characteristics and spatially resolved emission intensity profiles have been measured during the normal operating mode. These measurements show that the APPJ produces an alpha (α) mode rf capacitive discharge. Based upon a dimensional analysis using the observed I-V characteristics, a rough estimate is made for plasma density of 3x10[sup 11] cm[sup -3] and an electron temperature of 2 eV. In addition, the gas temperature of 120 °C has been spectroscopically measured inside the discharge. These plasma parameters indicate that the APPJ shows promise for various materials applications as it can produce substantial amounts of reactive species and avoid thermal damages, while having the advantage of atmospheric pressure operation. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are common in immunocompromised patients. While early diagnosis can reduce otherwise high morbidity and mortality, conventional CT has suboptimal sensitivity and specificity. Small studies have suggested that the use of FDG PET/CT may improve the ability to detect IFI. The objective of this study was to describe the proven and probable IFIs detected on FDG PET/CT at our centre and compare the performance with that of CT for localization of infection, dissemination and response to therapy.Methods: FDG PET/CT reports for adults investigated at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre were searched using keywords suggestive of fungal infection. Chart review was performed to describe the risk factors, type and location of IFIs, indication for FDG PET/CT, and comparison with CT for the detection of infection, and its dissemination and response to treatment.Results: Between 2007 and 2017, 45 patients had 48 proven/probable IFIs diagnosed prior to or following FDG PET/CT. Overall 96% had a known malignancy with 78% being haematological. FDG PET/CT located clinically occult infection or dissemination to another organ in 40% and 38% of IFI patients, respectively. Of 40 patients who had both FDG PET/CT and CT, sites of IFI dissemination were detected in 35% and 5%, respectively (p < 0.001). Of 18 patents who had both FDG PET/CT and CT follow-up imaging, there were discordant findings between the two imaging modalities in 11 (61%), in whom normalization of FDG avidity of a lesion suggested resolution of active infection despite a residual lesion on CT.Conclusion: FDG PET/CT was able to localize clinically occult infection and dissemination and was particularly helpful in demonstrating response to antifungal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac events are a common cause of peri-operative morbidity. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing can objectively assess risk, but it does not quantify myocardial ischaemia. With appropriate dietary preparation to suppress basal myocardial glucose uptake, positron emission tomography with 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose can identify post-ischaemic myocardium, providing an attractive complement to exercise testing. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of this diagnostic algorithm. Patients referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing before major cancer surgery were prospectively recruited. Exercise testing and positron emission tomography imaging were performed after a high fat-low carbohydrate meal. Protocol feasibility (primary end-point) included compliance with pre-test diet instructions and the completion of tests. Stress myocardial perfusion imaging was performed if either exercise testing or positron emission tomography was equivocal or positive for ischaemia. We recorded cardiac complications for 30 postoperative days. We enrolled 26 participants, 20 of whom completed protocol. Twenty-one participants proceeded to surgery: myocardial injury or infarction was diagnosed in three participants, two of whom had positive or equivocal positron emission tomography but negative myocardial perfusion imaging. We have shown that pre-operative cardiac positron emission tomography after cardiopulmonary exercise testing is feasible; protocol deviations were minor and did not affect image quality. Our findings warrant further investigation to compare the diagnostic utility of cardiac positron emission tomography imaging with standard pre-operative stress tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors comment on different imaging methods for diagnosing cancer. They compare the use of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). They also discuss the goal of technological progress in diagnostic medicine to enhance diagnostic quality, patient management and benefit wellbeing.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of PET on the management of primary tumours of the thymus. Patients with a primary tumour of the thymus who underwent PET were identified from a prospective database. Forty-three PET scans were carried out on 26 patients with primary thymic tumours. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 79, 100 and 85%, respectively. Conventional imaging and PET findings were discordant in 10 cases (23%). PET appropriately changed patient management in three (7.0%) cases based on accurate results that differed from pre-PET imaging. Most PET scans carried out (88%) did not influence clinical management. Patient comorbidities, limited treatment options and already planned surgery are factors that may hinder the effect of PET in the setting of thymic tumours. The potential for false-negative results, probably because of a combination of low-fluorodeoxyglucose avidity and small volume residual disease, needs to be considered in management planning. However, the positive predictive value of PET is high and enables appropriate modification of management in a small, but potentially important subset of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a collaborative perspective of the discussions and conclusions from the fifth international workshop of combined positron emission tomorgraphy (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that was held in Tübingen, Germany, from February 15 to 19, 2016. Specifically, we summarise the second part of the workshop made up of invited presentations from active researchers in the field of PET/MRI and associated fields augmented by round table discussions and dialogue boards with specific topics. This year, this included practical advice as to possible approaches to moving PET/MRI into clinical routine, the use of PET/MRI in brain receptor imaging, in assessing cardiovascular diseases, cancer, infection, and inflammatory diseases. To address perceived challenges still remaining to innovatively integrate PET and MRI system technologies, a dedicated round table session brought together key representatives from industry and academia who were engaged with either the conceptualisation or early adoption of hybrid PET/MRI systems. Discussions during the workshop highlighted that emerging unique applications of PET/MRI such as the ability to provide multi-parametric quantitative and visual information which will enable not only overall disease detection but also disease characterisation would eventually be regarded as compelling arguments for the adoption of PET/MR. However, as indicated by previous workshops, evidence in favour of this observation is only growing slowly, mainly due to the ongoing inability to pool data cohorts from independent trials as well as different systems and sites. The participants emphasised that moving from status quo to status go entails the need to adopt standardised imaging procedures and the readiness to act together prospectively across multiple PET/MRI sites and vendors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Preoperative radiotherapy (RT) is commonly used to treat localised soft-tissue sarcomas (STS). Hypoxia is an important determinant of radioresistance. Whether antiangiogenic therapy can 'normalise' tumour vasculature, thereby improving oxygenation, remains unknown.Methods:Two cohorts were prospectively enrolled. Cohort A evaluated the implications of hypoxia in STS, using the hypoxic tracer 18F-azomycin arabinoside (FAZA-PET). In cohort B, sunitinib was added to preoperative RT in a dose-finding phase 1b/2 design.Results:In cohort A, 13 out of 23 tumours were hypoxic (FAZA-PET), correlating with metabolic activity (r2=0.85; P<0.001). Two-year progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival were 61% (95% CI: 0.44-0.84) and 87% (95% CI: 0.74-1.00), respectively. Hypoxia was associated with radioresistance (P=0.012), higher local recurrence (Hazard ratio (HR): 10.2; P=0.02), PFS (HR: 8.4; P=0.02), and OS (HR: 41.4; P<0.04). In Cohort B, seven patients received sunitinib at dose level (DL): 0 (50 mg per day for 2 weeks before RT; 25 mg per day during RT) and two patients received DL: −1 (37.5 mg per day for entire period). Dose-limiting toxicities were observed in 4 out of 7 patients at DL 0 and 2 out of 2 patients at DL −1, resulting in premature study closure. Although there was no difference in PFS or OS, patients receiving sunitinib had higher local failure (HR: 8.1; P=0.004).Conclusion:In STS, hypoxia is associated with adverse outcomes. The combination of sunitinib with preoperative RT resulted in unacceptable toxicities, and higher local relapse rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photofabrication techniques have been used to produce a nickel-iron microelectrode array on Kapton film specifically designed for biological implantation. The probe is 2·5 mm×2 mm and carries four tissue terminals, each 2 μm in width. Both spontaneous and evoked potentials have been recorded from frog sciatic nerve. Developmental possibilities for the probe are fully discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Patients (pts) with metastatic rectal cancer and symptomatic primary, require local and systemic control. Chemotherapy used during chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is adequate for radiosensitisation, but suboptimal for systemic control. The aim of this phase II study was to assess tolerability, local/systemic benefits, of a novel regimen delivering interdigitating intensive chemotherapy with radical CRT.Methods:Eligible pts had untreated synchronous symptomatic primary/metastatic rectal cancer. A total of 12 weeks of treatment with split-course pelvic CRT (total 50.4 Gy with concurrent oxaliplatin and 5-FU infusion) alternating with FOLFOX chemotherapy. All pts staged with CT, MRI and FDG-PET pre and post treatment.Results:Twenty-six pts were treated. Rectal primary MRI stage: T3 81% and T4 15%. Liver metastases in 81%. Twenty-four pts (92%) completed the 12-week regimen. All patients received planned RT dose, and for both agents over 88% of patients achieved a relative dose intensity of >75%. Grade 3 toxicities: neutropenia 23%, diarrhoea 15%, and radiation skin reaction 12%. Grade 4 toxicity: neutropenia 15%. FDG-PET metabolic response rate for rectal primary 96%, and for metastatic disease 60%.Conclusions:Delivery of interdigitating chemotherapy with radical CRT was feasible to treat both primary and metastatic rectal cancer. High completion and response rates were encouraging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Organisation Engagement Survey (OES) was designed to measure engagement and its predictors (drivers) within a large retail travel organisation in Australia. It includes a specially-developed 5-item engagement scale (ES) and a forty-item 8-factor drivers-of-engagement scale (the eight factors are: senior leadership, team leadership, continuance, work support, work demands, employee empowerment, customer focus, financial rewards). This paper reports findings in this case study of the organisation on what were the drivers or predictors of engagement within the organisation (of over 4000 people, as obtained from over 400 responses reasonably representative of the overall organisation). It also provides some insights into how the OES and its parts are related to external selected common European and US scales that are used to assess engagement (specifically, The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale- short form of 9 items; the Cook and Wall Organisational Commitment Scale of 9 items; and the Three Component Model of Commitment- Revised Scale- 18 items). Confirmatory factor analysis validated the relationship of the drivers in the organisation in predicting engagement; and there were strong relationships found between the ES and the selected external scales. The OES differs from the other available scales in its integration of several thrusts as exemplified in part separately by the common engagement scales- no other available full engagement scale at the time of writing appears to have integrated and examined under research conditions the measures involved in the OES including aspects related to emotional commitment, organisational loyalty, customer focus, workplace support, and workplace leadership. The results from this case study appear to have value also for other organisations and for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Enhanced fatty-acid desaturation by stearoyl-CoA desaturase enzyme-1 (SCD1) is associated with obesity. This study determined desaturation in the cord plasma of newborns of mothers with and without gestational diabetes (GDM).Study design:Newborns of mothers with GDM (n=21) and without (control, n=22) were recruited. Cord plasma fatty-acid desaturation indices (palmitoleic/palmitic, oleic/stearic ratios) were compared, and correlated with anthropometrics and biochemical measures. A subset of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) desaturation indices were determined to approximate the liver SCD1 activity.Result:The total oleic/stearic index was higher in GDM, despite adjustment for cord glucose concentrations. Among GDM and controls, the oleic/stearic index correlated with cord glucose concentrations (rs=0.36, P=0.02). Both palmitoleic/palmitic and oleic/stearic indices correlated with waist circumference (r=0.47, P=0.001; r=0.37, P=0.01). The VLDL oleic/stearic index was higher in GDM.Conclusion:The elevated total oleic/stearic index suggests increased lipogenesis in GDM newborns. Factors in addition to glucose supply may influence fetal SCD1 activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the qualitative aspects of the simultaneous multiple surface (SMS) design method. The SMS method is a powerful and complex tool, whose abilities and limitations we feel are not yet fully understood. Here, we view the SMS method as an iterative dynamical system, consider the physical boundaries on which the method applies and show that in some cases, attractors occur on the boundaries of these regions. One consequence of our viewpoint is numerical evidence of the impossibility of perfectly imaging three points to three points using only two reflectors. Another consequence is that SMS may be viewed as a means for designing a primary component that essentially separates the bundles in such a way that a continuous secondary component exists that images the two separate bundles appropriately. In other words, a clever choice of the primary component decouples the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]