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Background/objectives: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) may predispose patients to malnutrition. CT-defined sarcopenia and myosteatosis are common in other tumour types and recognized adverse prognostic factors. However, the prevalence and prognostic impact of sarcopenia and myosteatosis remain undetermined in NEN patients to date. Methods: A retrospective study of NEN patients treated with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) at a tertiary institution from 2012 to 2017. Patients with PET/CT imaging at baseline and follow-up were included. The L3 slice of the co-localizing CT was analysed using the Alberta Protocol. Skeletal muscle cross-sectional area and muscle attenuation were measured and compared with pre-defined cut-offs. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of sarcopenia and myosteatosis according to previously published cut-offs. Results: Fourty-nine patients (median age 64 (range 26–80) years) were included. The most common primary sites of tumour were the small bowel (51%) and pancreas (26%). Baseline sarcopenia was prevalent in 67% of patients and myosteatosis in 71%. Forty-five percent of patients gained weight over the course of PRRT. The presence of baseline sarcopenia was not associated with progression-free survival (20.8 mo vs. 20.7 mo, HR 0.86, p= 0.70) nor overall survival. Similarly, baseline myosteatosis (PFS 19.5 mo vs. 20.8 mo, HR 0.77, p= 0.47) was not significantly associated with survival outcomes. The mean (SD) age of those with myosteatosis was 60.8 ± 11.6 years compared to 49.7 ± 12.7 years for those without (p= 0.003). Conclusions: Body composition analysis is feasible using routinely acquired PET/CT data for patients with NEN. CT-defined sarcopenia and myosteatosis are prevalent in NEN patients, although myosteatosis is more common with increasing age. These findings were not associated with worsened overall or progression-free survival in the current study.

In this review we provide a general review of current research themes where complex surface topography plays a role. Recent innovations and research possibilities have opened up using modern micro topography creation techniques. We are considering a large range of themes in limited depth in order to provide an introduction and to illustrate how broad the field is and to those already working in the area to help gain a broad perspective. Due to the breadth of scope this review will not go into much depth into any given area. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding and practical guidance on the modern use of micro and nano-topography to control water, adhesion, wettability, control of biological adhesion including implants, cell culture and biofouling and directional fluid transport. The broad range of functionality is highlighted in the many interfacial interactions, however, the manufacturing scale to allow these surfaces to be commonly used is still in development. In order to make it more accessible we have chosen to concentrate on open access articles to cite.

Objective:Our study aimed to analyse temporal trends in radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for thyroid cancer over the past decade; to analyse key factors associated with clinical decisions in RAI dosing; and to confirm lower activities of RAI for low-risk patients were not associated with an increased risk of recurrence. Methods:Retrospective analysis of 1,323 patients who received RAI at a quaternary centre in Australia between 2008 and 2018 was performed. Prospectively collected data included age, gender, histology, and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (7th ed). American Thyroid Association risk was calculated retrospectively. Results:The median activities of RAI administered to low-risk patients decreased from 3.85 GBq (104 mCi) in 2008–2016 to 2.0 GBq (54 mCi) in 2017–2018. The principal driver of this change was an increased use of 1 GBq (27 mCi) from 1.3% of prescriptions in 2008–2011 to 18.5% in 2017–2018. In patients assigned as low risk per ATA stratification, lower activities of 1 GBq or 2 GBq (27 mCi or 54 mCi) were not associated with an increased risk of recurrence. In patients assigned to intermediate- or high-risk categories who received RAI as adjuvant therapy, there was no difference in risk of recurrence between 4 GBq (108 mCi) and 6 GBq (162 mCi). Conclusions:Our data demonstrate an evolution of RAI activities consistent with translation of ATA guidelines into clinical practice. Use of lower RAI activities was not associated with an increase in recurrence in low-risk thyroid cancer patients. Our data also suggest lower RAI activities may be as efficacious for adjuvant therapy in intermediate- and high-risk patients.

Baroreflex control of heart rate, vascular resistance and norepinephrine is impaired in patients with heart failure, but recent animal studies demonstrate preserved baroreflex control of sympathetic nerve activity in this disorder. Studies were therefore performed to compare baroreflex control of efferent sympathetic nerve activity to muscle in 10 normal subjects (age mean [+ or -] SEM 21 [+ or -] 1 years) and in 11 patients with moderate to severe heart failure (age 48 [+ or -] 5 years, New York Heart Association class II to IV, left ventricular ejection fraction 19 [+ or -] 2%, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure 27 [+ or -] 2 mm Hg, cardiac index 2.04 [+ or -] 0.22 liters/min/[m.sup.2]). Baroreflex activation was produced by intravenous infusion of phenylephrine (0.5 to 2.0 [microgram]/kg/min) and deactivation by infusion of nitroprusside (0.4 to 2.5 [microgram]/kg/min). During phenylephrine infusion, comparable increases in mean arterial pressure were produced in normal subjects (89 [+ or -] 2 to 99 [+ or -] 3 mm Hg, p

The current challenge in fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) for prostate cancer (PCa) is in the design of imaging probes with high selectivity, clear visualization of tumour margins, and minimal toxicity. This report aims to design and develop a novel NIR-nanoprobe, and evaluate its potential in the penetration of PCa tumour tissues. The PSMA receptor-targeted quantum dot (PSMA-QD655) is a NIR, deep-tissue imaging agent, which has the potential for intraoperative navigation during surgery and improved detection specificity for PCa. The probe was designed and synthesized by conjugating functionalized amino-PEG quantum dots (QDs) through a heterobifunctional linker to a DUPA targeted polypeptide construct. The nanoprobe was evaluated in vitroin PSMA+PCa cell lines for specificity and its binding affinity was determined by flow cytometric analysis. The penetration efficacy was tested further on large PCa 3D tumour spheroids (dia ∼1200 μm, thickness ∼450 μm) by deep tissue multiphoton imaging. PSMA-QD655 was found to be an efficient deep tissue intra-operative guided surgical tool with a high affinity (KD= 15.3 nM) and penetrative capacity. The results have been demonstrated in vitroin 2D and 3D tissue models, mimicking cancer lesions in vivo. In summary, we have developed a deep-tissue imaging NIR nanoprobe targeting prostatic lesions that (i) binds to PSMA+tumour with sub-nanomolar affinity and high specificity, (ii) shows an excellent safety profile in primary cell lines in vitroand (iii) shows high penetrative capacity in a 3D prostate tumour model (∼450 μm tissue depth).

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Conventional imaging using CT and bone scan has insufficient sensitivity when staging men with high-risk localised prostate cancer. We aimed to investigate whether novel imaging using prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET-CT might improve accuracy and affect management.

AbstractThe potential for B-vitamins to reduce plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been described previously. However, the role of Apolipoprotein E є4 (APOE4) in this relationship has not been adequately addressed. This case-control study explored APOE4 genotype in an Australian sample of 63 healthy individuals (female = 38; age = 76.9 ± 4.7 y) and 63 individuals with AD (female = 35, age = 77.1 ± 5.3 y). Findings revealed 55 of 126 participants expressed the APOE4 genotype with 37 of 126 having both AD and the APOE4 genotype. Analysis revealed an increased likelihood of AD when Hcy levels are >11.0 µmol/L (p = 0.012), cysteine levels were <255 µmol/L (p = 0.033) and serum folate was <22.0 nmol/L (p = 0.003; in males only). In females, dietary intake of total folate <336 µg/day (p=0.001), natural folate <270 µg/day (p = 0.011), and vitamin B2 < 1.12 mg/day (p = 0.028) was associated with an increased AD risk. These results support Hcy, Cys, and SF as useful biomarkers for AD, irrespective of APOE4 genotype and as such should be considered as part of screening and managing risk of AD.

Abstract

We bought lots of kit to use with our new Bailey Pegasus Bologna, including a window airer. To prevent it from being blown against the sidewall by the wind, I [...]

Two patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma relapsing as neurolymphomatosis diagnosed on FDG PET/CT are presented. Both patients were treated initially with chemotherapy and had a complete metabolic response. Patient 1 represented with lower-limb pain. An FDG PET/CT demonstrated intense uptake throughout the sciatic nerves bilaterally extending distally with relapse confirmed on biopsy. Patient 2 represented to hospital with worsening mobility, neuropathic pain, and facial asymmetry. An FDG PET/CT demonstrated relapse within the spinal cord, left sciatic nerve, and facial nerve branches. Neurolymphomatosis is an uncommon finding on FDG PET/CT and can be the only site of relapse.

This report describes methods for fabricating substrates with anisotropic order from a single solution of high concentration collagen. By exploiting the intrinsic property of collagen to behave as a cholesteric liquid crystal, we demonstrate first the production of dense collagen films containing anisotropic fibers by simple dialysis and polymerization in ammonia vapor. We then utilized shear driven alignment of collagen using viscous extrusion to produce aligned collagen fibers. Next we describe an evaporation technique to observe crystalline growth into the collagen, which serves to template the substrate prior to fibrillogenesis. The ordered substrates supported osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs and also oriented growth of hMSCs. We also demonstrate using Raman spectroscopy that the local protein concentration in the substrates influenced the molecular orientation of collagen, Finally, we compare the resultant textures in the substrates with section of native cornea and tendon using polarized light microscopy, which showed remarkable similarities in terms of both anisotropy and second order chiral structure. These rapid, cost-effective methods could potentially serve a range of different applications in tissue engineering.

The aim of this study is to explore whether a methylation diet influences risk for adenomatous polyps (AP) either independently, or interactively with one-carbon metabolism-dependent gene variants, and whether such a diet modifies blood homocysteine, a biochemical phenotype closely related to the phenomenon of methylation.

The American collectable comic book is an unconventional investment of growing importance and cultural significance. Here the price history of the comic book is analysed into three markets, that of the new, the collectors’ market, and the investors’. System dynamics is employed to model these markets, and different dynamic hypotheses are employed to distinguish between them in structural, as well as historical, terms. The model is tested against real-world data, and used to identify factors other than supply and demand that are important determinants of goods value. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the more general market for collectables.

Six different factors involved in the extraction of catechins from green tea using water were examined for their impact on the yield of catechins and on the efficiency of water use. The best temperature and time combination for catechin extraction was at 80°C for 30 min. The yield of catechins was also optimal with a tea particle size of 1 mm, a brewing solution pH <6 and a tea‐to‐water ratio at 50:1 (mL/g). In terms of efficient use of water in a single extraction, a water‐to‐tea ratio of 20:1 (mL/g) gave the best results; 2.5 times less water was used per gram of green tea. At the water‐to‐tea ratio of 20:1 mL/g, the highest yield of catechins per gram of green tea was achieved by extracting the same sample of green tea twice. However, for the most efficient use of water, the best extraction was found to be once at a water‐to‐tea ratio of 12:1 (mL/g) and once at a water‐to‐tea ratio of 8:1 (mL/g). Therefore, all six of the factors investigated had an impact on the yield of catechins extracted from green tea using water and two had an impact on the efficiency of water use.

Information about the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM) annual scientific meeting held in Darwin, Northern Territory from July 14 to 18, 2011 is presented. It highlights the awarding of five different papers that explore nuclear medicine, the controversy debate about positron emission tomography (PET) and role of physical and biochemical measurements in nuclear medicine. It also featured Michael Hoffman, Dr. Hussein Kartamihardja and Barry Elison.

Theanine is a unique non‐protein amino acid found in tea (Camellia sinensis). It contributes to the favourable umami taste of tea and is linked to various beneficial effects in humans. There is an increasing interest in theanine as an important component of tea, as an ingredient for novel functional foods and as a dietary supplement. Therefore, optimal conditions for extracting theanine from tea are required for the accurate quantification of theanine in tea and as an efficient first step for its purification. This study examined the effects of four different extraction conditions on the yield of theanine from green tea using water and applied response surface methodology to further optimise the extraction conditions. The results showed that temperature, extraction time, ratio of water‐to‐tea and tea particle sizes had significant impacts on the extraction yield of theanine. The optimal conditions for extracting theanine from green tea using water were found to be extraction at 80°C for 30 min with a water‐to‐tea ratio of 20:1 mL/g and a tea particle size of 0.5–1 mm.

Objective: The aim of this investigation is to determine the impact of hybrid single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) on the detection of parathyroid adenoma. Materials and methods: 16 patients presented with suspected parathyroid adenoma localised within the neck. All patients were injected with Tc-99m sestamibi and were scanned with a GE Infinia Hawkeye SPECT/CT. There were six negative and ten positive confirmed cases. Five expert radiologists specializing in nuclear medicine were asked to report on the 16 planar and SPECT data sets and were then asked to report on the same randomly ordered data sets with the addition of CT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed using the Dorfman-Berbaum-Metz multireadermulticase methodology and sensitivity and specificity values were generated. A significance level of p ≤ 0.05 was set for all comparisons. Results: ROC analysis demonstrated an AUC of 0.64 and 0.69 for SPECT and SPECT/CT respectively (p = 0.31). Mean sensitivity scores increased from 0.64 to 0.80 (p = 0.17) and specificity scores decreased from 0.57 to 0.40 (p = 0.17) with the addition of the CT data. Conclusion: This preliminary investigation suggests that extra CT information may increase lesion detection as well as false positive rates for SPECT-based investigations of a single parathyroid adenoma. However the difference in diagnostic efficacy between the two groups was not found to be statistically significant therefore requiring further investigation. These findings have implications beyond the clinical situation described here.

Tea is a major source of catechins, which have become well known for their antioxidant potential. Numerous human, animal, and in vitrostudies have linked tea catechins with prevention of certain types of cancers, reduction of the risks for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and improvement of the immune system. Tea catechins are widely used in various neutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics for either enhancing product shelf‐life or for enhancing human health. Thus, the demand for catechins has increased considerably. Catechins have been extracted and isolated from tea leaves by numerous methods through several steps including: treatment of the tea leaves, extraction of catechins from teas into solvents, isolation of catechins from other extracted components, and drying the preparations to obtain catechin extracts in a powder form. This paper outlines the physical and chemical properties of the tea catechins and reviews the extraction steps of the various extraction methods, as a basis to improve and further develop the extraction and isolation of the tea catechins.

This study aims to compare dual tracer, dual phase pinhole technetium-99m labelled 2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) imaging (including oblique imaging), with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and dual phase planar 99mTc-MIBI images, and combined SPECT, dual phase planar 99mTc-MIBI images and anterior pinhole thyroid images for the localization of parathyroid adenomas in the neck in primary hyperparathyroidism.

To compare interpretation of traditional planar ventilation–perfusion lung scan images with planar images reformatted from single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) data using two different techniques.

To evaluate the incremental benefit in routine clinical practice of computed tomography (CT) scans acquired for anatomical localization on an integrated SPECTCT which incorporates a spiral CT scanner, in comparison with conventional planar and SPECT scanning.

We have used commercially available molecular sieves (zeolites) to adsorb radioactivity onto small (~2.1 mm diameter) beads for use in various applications in nuclear medicine. Soaking the beads in [^99mTc]-NaTcO₄ solution of ~3 GBq ml⁻¹ for 1–2 min can produce point sources containing 3–6 MBq total. Radioactive uptake was strongly dependent on bead size. We have employed the sources for gamma camera uniformity and as point source markers for interactive identification of anatomical landmarks. Due to their small size (≪system spatial resolution), relatively high uptake and negligible scattering contribution they provide excellent devices with which to measure spatial resolution, detector uniformity and energy resolution. The molecular sieves are inexpensive and readily usable with both single photon and positron emitting radionuclides.

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The binding and uptake of chylomicron remnants by human macrophages was studied in order to resolve paradoxical observations that have described the putative mechanisms by which postprandial lipoproteins induce foam cell formation. Chylomicron remnants bound to human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMMs) and to the transformed monocytic cell line THP-1 with high affinity (Kd of approx. 5.5 µg of chylomicron remnant protein/ml). Binding was found to be saturable for both cell types, and was strongly inhibited in the presence of unlabelled chylomicron remnants. Ligand blot studies with colloidal-gold-labelled chylomicron remnants identified two cell surface binding sites on both HMMs and THP-1 cells, with molecular masses of approx. 128 kDa and 43 kDa. The high-molecular-mass binding site was found to be the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, based on the strong inhibition of chylomicron remnant binding in the presence of unlabelled LDL, Fab2 antibody fragments to the LDL receptor or calcium chelators. Competition studies suggested that, in HMMs, the LDL receptor appeared to facilitate approximately half of the total chylomicron remnant uptake. In contrast, the LDL receptor was not significantly involved in macrophage uptake of chylomicron remnants by THP-1 cells. The identity of the 43 kDa binding site is presently unknown, but, importantly, expression was not inhibited as a consequence of sterol loading, which was induced by incubating HMMs and THP-1 cells with 25-hydroxycholesterol. In contrast, the expression of the LDL receptor was substantially attenuated following lipid loading. Collectively, our data suggest that, while the macrophage LDL receptor can bind chylomicron remnants and facilitate uptake in non-lipid-loaded HMMs, other sterol-insensitive sites are responsible for the unabated uptake of chylomicron remnants by macrophages. We propose that the 43 kDa macrophage chylomicron remnant binding protein may be a candidate for the sterol loading of macrophages.

The rice Waxy gene encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) necessary for the synthesis of amylose in endosperm tissue. We have previously shown that a CT microsatellite near the transcriptional start site of the GBSS gene can distinguish 7 alleles that accounted for more than 80% of the variation in apparent amylose content in an extended pedigree of 89 US rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.). Furthermore, all the cultivars with 18% or less amylose were shown to have the sequence AGTTATA at the putative leader intron 5′ splice site, while all cultivars with a higher proportion of amylose had AGGTATA. Here we demonstrate that this single-base mutation reduces the efficiency of GBSS pre-mRNA processing and results in alternate splicing at three cryptic sites. The predominant 5′ splice site in CT18 low-amylose varieties is 93 bp upstream of the splice site used in intermediate and high amylose varieties and is immediately 5′ to the CT microsatellite that we previously demonstrated to be tightly correlated with amylose content. Use of the leader intron 5′ splice site at either -93 or -1 in conjunction with the predominant 3′ splice site results in formation of a small open reading frame 38 bp upstream of the normal ATG and out of frame with it. This open reading frame is not produced when any of the 5′ leader intron splice sites are used in conjunction with an alternate 3′ splice site five bases further downstream which was observed in all rice varieties tested.

Rats were fed either a standard ration diet or that diet supplemented with 8% by wt of a marine fish oil or safflower oil. After 10 days, plasma triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, hepatic cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis and hepatic low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity were significantly depressed while HDL receptor activity was significantly increased in rats fed fish oil. Fish oil-induced effects on cholesterol metabolism in the rat therefore include reciprocal changes in the activities of hepatic LDL and HDL receptors.

The mobility of positive ions in essentially pure 3He and in solutions with 100, 300, 1000, 3000, and 10,000 ppm of 4He has been studied at pressures of 60 Torr, 10, 20, and 25.6 bar. For temperatures below about 100 mK the pureliquid mobility data are consistent with a ln (T0/T) behavior except at the very lowest temperatures, where field-dependent effects may cause departures; both phenomena are in agreement with recent calculations of Bowley based on the Josephson-Lekner formalism. In the more concentrated solutions an increase in the ion radius (corresponding to a decrease in the mobility) is observed starting below ~200mK; this is interpreted as a polarization-potentialinduced phase separation resulting in a liquid 4He-rich “halo” about the solid ion core. At still lower temperatures a vanishing 4He content causes the solution data to rather abruptly rejoin the pure-liquid data. At still higher 4He concentrations additional very low-mobility species are observed which are likely ions with large metastable halos produced by a large 4He concentration at the field-emission tip where the ions are created.

In an effort to better understand the various factors involved in refrigeration by adiabatic demagnetization, we have set up a computer model of a paramagnetic salt in contact with liquid3He. This model has been used to study the cooling of the3He from an initial temperature of 20 mK, which is typical of the temperature achieved in a dilution refrigerator. The effects of various demagnetization schedules, heat leaks, and varying ratios of salt to liquid have been studied. The model was used to simulate an actual demagnetization and gave excellent agreement with measured temperatures. We also show how the model can be extended to the case of nuclear demagnetization.

Solubilized membrane proteins of Hep G2 cells were electrophoretically separated on polyacrylamide gels and electrotransferred onto nitrocellulose paper. Overlaying the nitrocellulose with human high density lipoproteins conjugated to colloidal gold revealed the presence of a single protein band with an apparent molecular mass of 80 kDa. Binding of the conjugates to this protein was specific for high density lipoproteins in as much as it was effectively displaced by an excess of unlabelled high density lipoproteins but not by a similar excess of unlabelled low density lipoproteins. Binding was not dependent on Ca 2+as 10 mM EDTA had no effect. The binding activity of the solubilized membranes was increased by incubating the cells with non-lipoprotein cholesterol. This was detected on electroblots and quantified with a new dot blot assay using the colloidal gold-high density lipoprotein conjugates.

To determine if circulating levels of atrial natriuretic factor comparable with those seen in pathophysiologic states alter autonomic control of the circulation, direct recordings of hemodynamic variables and efferent sympathetic nerve activity to muscle (microneurography) were obtained during two separate protocols in a total of 21 normal men (age 25 ± 1 years). In protocol 1, the responses of 10 men were compared during incremental mechanical unloading of cardiopulmonary baroreceptors with lower body negative pressure versus responses to comparable unloading during infusion of alpha-human atrial natriuretic factor. Lower body negative pressure decreased pulmonary artery diastolic and right atrial pressures, did not alter arterial pressure or heart rate and increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity from 205.2 ± 36.3 to 438.7 ± 100.2 units/min (p < 0.01). Intravenous infusion of atrial natriuretic factor (25 ng/kg per min) increased plasma levels of the hormone from 24 ± 4 to 322 ± 34 pg/ml (p < 0.01, n = 6), produced similar decreases in pulmonary artery diastolic and right atrial pressures, did not alter arterial pressure, increased heart rate and increased sympathetic nerve activity from 233.1 ± 35.6 to 387.2 ± 64.9 units/min (p < 0.05). Thus, during similar hemodynamic perturbations produced by lower body negative pressure or infusion of atrial natriuretic factor at the dose used in this study, these subjects exhibited comparable sympathoexcitatory responses, with a 109 ±23% increase in sympathetic activity during lower body negative pressure and a 76 ± 19% increase during atrial natriuretic factor infusion (p = NS).

Adult male rats were fed a purified diet containing rice bran or wheat bran with or without a marine fish oil to investigate the possible effects of such dietary combinations on lipid metabolism. Plasma and hepatic triacylglycerols and hepatic lipogenesis were lowered significantly by feeding fish oil with rice bran but not with wheat bran. Plasma cholesterol and hepatic cholesterol synthesis were significantly lower in animals fed fish oil with either bran. Liver microsomal free cholesterol was significantly lower in rats fed rice bran alone than in all other groups. Hepatic low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity was significantly higher in the two groups fed rice bran than in the two groups fed wheat bran. Fish oil significantly decreased hepatic LDL receptor activity and increased hepatic high density lipoprotein (HDL) binding activity with wheat bran but had no significant effects on these parameters when added to the rice bran diet. However, when the data for all groups were pooled, there was a significant negative correlation between hepatic HDL binding activity and LDL receptor activity. Cecal volatile fatty acids were significantly higher in rats fed rice bran, were unaffected by adding fish oil to either bran diet and did not appear to mediate any of the effects of the brans and fish oil on plasma lipids and hepatic lipid metabolism. The combination of rice bran plus fish oil therefore appears to have more beneficial effects on lipid metabolism than wheat bran plus fish oil.

Switching between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity in porous materials was predicted theoretically and demonstrated experimentally with the example of thermally induced contact angle change; tunability of this system was also demonstrated.

A 68-year-old female was referred for assessment of multiple myeloma. A large myelomatous infiltrate involving the left triceps muscle showed avid uptake on both thallium-201 and gallium-67 scintigraphy. Following radiotherapy, imaging with both radiopharmaceuticals showed resolution of disease; however, tumour recurrence in the bone marrow was seen only on thallium-201 imaging. This observation suggests that while soft-tissue myeloma shows similar appearances on thallium-201 and gallium-67 scintigraphy, both at baseline and following therapy, gallium-67 may not demonstrate bone marrow infiltration which is visualized on thallium-201 imaging. Therefore, thallium-201 appears to be superior to gallium-67 in evaluation of patients with multiple myeloma when soft tissues and bone marrow are involved.

68Ga DOTATATE PET/CT is an imaging technique used in the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors. We report a case of 66-year-old woman with a history of surgically removed renal cell carcinoma who presented for a DOTATATE PET/CT scan to characterize a newly diagnosed pancreatic lesion. DOTATATE-avid lesions were identified in the thyroid gland and pancreas. Subsequent biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma at both sites. It is important to be aware that tumors other than neuroendocrine tumors may also show uptake on DOTATATE PET/CT scan. A biopsy may be required if lesions are identified at atypical sites.

Fibrinogen is a protein being of prime importance for the initiation of clotting and thrombus formation, readily adsorbed onto surfaces presenting both hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature. The mechanism of adsorption, and thus the final presentation of this protein are therefore important for subsequent involvement for, for example, platelet adhesion. Biological activity can be controlled through careful consideration of material design; here we report kinetic assessment of fibrinogen adsorption onto plasma polymerised allylamine (hydrophilic) and hexane (hydrophobic) surfaces, using FTIR-ATR to inform on kinetics of adsorption, secondary structure evaluation, and orientational variation. Fibrinogen was found to respond differently to these two surfaces, adsorbing more rapidly to hydrophilic surfaces and losing an ordered secondary structure over a much longer timescale compared to hydrophobic surfaces.