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Background: A series of pneumonia cases with clinical presentations of viral pneumonia secondary to new coronavirus and subsequent global transmission arose in Wuhan, Hubei, China, in December 2019. Several cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been described incidentally in positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18Ffluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) as a result of the pandemic. Herein, we describe the findings of a patient with unknown COVID-19 in PET/CT with the other radiopharmaceutical, 68Ga-labeled prostatespecific membrane antigen (68Ga-PSMA). Case Report: A 69-year-old man had previously undergone radical prostatectomy for adenocarcinoma. 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT imaging was performed due to biochemical recurrence. 68Ga-PSMA uptake in the prostate bed suggestive of local recurrence was detected in PET/CT images. Also, bilateral groundglass opacities with slightly increased 68Ga-PSMA uptake were seen in the lungs, suspected of COVID-19. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test has confirmed the infection. Conclusion: Even in asymptomatic patients, nuclear medicine departments must be aware of the possibility of COVID-19, take appropriate post-exposure procedures, and protect employees and other patients.

Background: The therapeutic approaches of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) are surgery, ablation therapy with the postoperative use of radioiodine-131 (131I), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression therapy. After the surgical therapy, the patient should be assessed for remnants/metastases. Objective: The purpose of this research was to investigate the role of technetium-99m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in the postoperative management of patients with DTC. Methods: The study comprised 22 DTC patients (13 women, 9 men; mean age 46.55 ± 13.27 y) who underwent a total thyroidectomy previously. All patients were investigated for thyroid remnants/ metastases by 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT, posttherapy 131I whole-body scan (WBS) and ultrasound (US). Serum TSH, thyroglobulin and anti-Tg antibody levels were measured. Results of imaging modalities and laboratory measurements were compared with each other. Results: 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT, 131I WBS and US respectively demonstrated thyroid remnants in 15 (68.18%), 22 (100%) and 14 (63.63%) of all patients and metastatic lymph nodes in 8 (100%), 6 (75%) and 6 (75%) of the 8 patients with lymph node metastases. 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT also demonstrated lung metastases in 2 patients (9.09% of all patients). The same result was obtained with 131I WBS. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT can be effective for detecting metastases in patients with DTC who underwent surgery prior to 131I therapy.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between volumetric parameters calculated using semiautomatic quantification of lesions detected in 68Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen PET-computed tomography (68Ga-PSMA PET/CT) and clinical characteristics in prostate cancer (PCa) patients with biochemical recurrence. METHODS A total of 85 consecutive PCa patients with biochemical recurrence who underwent 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT at our institution from January 2019 to March 2020 were retrospectively assessed. 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT-derived volumetric parameters, including whole-body PSMA tumor volume (wbPSMA-TV) and whole-body total lesion PSMA (wbTL-PSMA), as well as the established maximum and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmax and SUVmean), were calculated for each patient. All PET-derived parameters were analyzed for correlation with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and for association with Gleason scores. RESULTS Eighty-five patients with a mean age of 68.9 ± 7.8 years (range, 47-83 years) and a mean PSA level of 40.9 ± 92.1 ng/ml (range, 0.2-533.2 ng/ml) were analyzed. Volumetric parameters, that is, wbPSMA-TV and wbTL-PSMA, demonstrated a statistically significant correlation with PSA levels (r = 0.403 and r = 0.556, respectively, all at P < 0.001) and only the means of wbTL-PSMA were significantly different between the Gleason score groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results of our study indicate that 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT might be a valuable tool for the detection and follow-up of recurrence in PCa patients. 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT-derived quantitative volumetric parameters demonstrated a highly significant correlation with changes in PSA levels. Larger prospective studies are needed to help reveal the full potential of parameters such as PSMA-TV and TL-PSMA derived from PET imaging with 68Ga-PSMA.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of technetium- 99m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-MIBI) single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and ultrasound in preoperative localization of single parathyroid adenomas (PTAs) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) who would be suitable for minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP). Methods A retrospective study of 143 consecutive patients with biochemical evidence of hyperparathyroidism who underwent preoperative localization of parathyroid lesions using Tc-MIBI SPECT/CT and ultrasound, and proceeded to parathyroid surgery at our institution from January 2013 to January 2018. Of these, 125 had single adenomas and are the subject of this study. The sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV) and accuracy of the two imaging techniques for the accurately identification and lateralization of PTAs were determined using histopathology as the criterion standard. Results Of 125 PTAs, the correct identification and lateralization were significantly higher by SPECT/CT than ultrasound. SPECT/CT and ultrasound detected lesions with histopathologically proven PTAs in 116 and 95 patients, respectively. The sensitivity, PPV and accuracy were 92.17, 94.64 and 87.60%, respectively, for SPECT/CT and 75.89, 90.43 and 70.25%, respectively, for ultrasound in lateralization analysis. Conclusions The results of our study indicate that Tc-MIBI SPECT/CT is more accurate than ultrasound for the preoperative identification of single PTAs in patients with pHPT who are candidates for MIP.

The therapeutic approaches of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) are surgery, ablation therapy with the postoperative use of radioiodine-131 (The purpose of this research was to investigate the role of technetium-The study comprised 22 DTC patients (13 women, 9 men; mean age 46.55 ± 13.27 y) who underwent a total thyroidectomy previously. All patients were investigated for thyroid remnants/ metastases byThe findings of this study show that

In this study, an evaluation was made of the relationship between the serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), osteopontin (OPN), and the semi-quantitative parameters of 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) in lung cancer patients with bone metastasis.The evaluation included 42 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 31 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients who were referred to our institution for staging by (18)F-FDG PET/CT. The biochemical parameters measured included CEA and OPN serum levels.Serum levels of OPN in NSCLC patients with and without bone metastasis were 21.20±4.97 ng/ml and 13.33±4.53 ng/ml, respectively (p0.05). In SCLC patients with and without bone metastasis serum OPN levels were 23.95±4.78 ng/ml and 17.30±3.09 ng/ml, respectively (p0.05). Serum levels of CEA in NSCLC patients with and without bone metastasis were 33.79±6.49 ng/ml and 11.74±2.96 ng/ml, respectively (p0.05). In SCLC patients with and without bone metastasis serum levels of CEA were 28.93±4.59 ng/ml and 13.88±4.47 ng/ml, respectively (p0.05). There were no correlations between primary tumor SUVmax, and serum levels of CEA and OPN.Bone metastasis can be detected in patients with lung cancer by measuring CEA and OPN levels. Increased levels of CEA and OPN levels may be considered an early warning sign in patients needing accurate imaging, as they are at higher risk of bone metastasis.

Background: Bone metastasis is common in cancer. Evaluating the metastatic status in cancer is of utmost importance in order to provide the best patient’s management. Discussion: Bone scintigraphy is widely used for evaluation of bone metastasis. It has high sensitivity with limited specificity. Planar bone scintigraphy has been shown to have increased radiotracer uptake without accurate anatomic localization and characterization. Hybrid Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computerized Tomography (SPECT/CT) system has been developed by combination of SPECT and CT. Accurate lesion localization and discrimination of equivocal bone lesions is an advantage in this hybrid technique. It improves diagnostic accuracy by differentiation of benign bone lesions from malignant ones due to their morphological changes. So, SPECT/CT improves the specificity of bone scintigraphy leading to better outcomes in diagnosis and treatment outcomes of bone metastatic cancer patients. Conclusion: In here, we discussed the prognostic value of bone scintigraphy and SPECT/CT in bone metastasis with our clinical experience and review of the literature.

Effects of sleep deprivation (SD), nicotine, and selenium (Se) on wound healing were studied in 50 male rats (Sprague-Dawley strain). Full-skin-thickness burns were produced in animals. Then, SD, nicotine, and Se administrations were applied to animals in different groups. Wound healing was assessed by pathological analysis of wound by counting fibroblasts, capillary vessels, polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PNLs), and by measuring radiolabeled immunoglobulin G (IgG) amount in wound area by radio-pharmaceutical and immunoscintigraphic procedures. The number of fibroblasts and capillary vessels were higher in control and Se groups than in sleep deprivation and nicotine groups, and the number of PNLs and the radiolabeled polyvalent IgG levels were higher in SD and nicotine groups than in control and Se groups. The results suggest that SD and nicotine may delay wound healing and that Se supplementation may accelerate wound healing by preventing nicotine-induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation.

This study was carried out to assess the protective bone-sparing effect of carnitine with anti-inflammatory properties on chronic inflammation-induced bone loss in ovariectomised (OVX) rats. A total of 64 rats were divided into eight groups. Sixteen rats were sham-operated (SH) while the others were ovariectomised (OVX). (1) SH, (2) sham + inflammation (SHinf), (3) OVX, (4) ovariectomy + inflammation (OVXinf), (5) OVX + CAR1, (6) OVX + CAR2, (7) OVXinf + CAR1, (8) OVXinf + CAR2. After the ovariectomy surgery, all the groups (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) were allowed to recover for two months. Sixty days after the OVX, inflammation was induced by subcutaneous injections of talc in groups 2, 4, 7, and 8. Group 5 and 7 were given 50 mg/kg CAR; Group 6 and 8 were given 100 mg/kg CAR from the 60th to the 80th day. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, OP, and OC were assessed to determine inflammation and to evaluate osteoblastic activity. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in femur bones of rats. Carnitine administration was able to restore BMD up to values measured in both the OVX and the SH animals. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were increased significantly in the OVXinf rats compared with the SH group. In OVX rats, inflammation which is evaluated by serum cytokine levels exacerbated this bone loss, as supported by values of BMD of the total femur. The two different doses of carnitine reduced bone loss and improved inflammatory biomarkers.

Background/aim: Accurate measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the evaluation of renal functions in potential kidney donors is associated with important outcomes for both the donor and recipient. We intended to determine the efficacy of various methods while estimating GFR in potential living kidney donors. Materials and methods: Fifty-three potential kidney donors (31 females, 22 males; mean age: 50.1 years) were included in this study. GFR was estimated simultaneously using the following methods: Gates? method, Cockcroft?Gault (CG) and modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) prediction equations, and the two-plasma sample (TPS) technique. Using TPS as the reference method, the estimations of GFR with the other methods were compared with that of TPS. Results: The mean ± SD GFR was 86.43 ± 11.37 mL min?1 1.73 m?2 with TPS. GFR values calculated using Gates? method and MDRD 1, MDRD 2, reexpressed MDRD, and CG prediction equations were 105.25 ± 16.12 mL min?1 1.73 m?2, 114.63 ± 32.51 mL min?1 1.73 m?2, 113.2 ± 35.23 mL min?1 1.73 m?2, 104.23 ± 23.12 mL min?1 1.73 m?2, and 99.35 ± 20.01 mL min?1 1.73 m?2, respectively. While there was a strong statistically significant correlation between the TPS and Gates' methods, moderate correlation was found between TPS and the MDRD 1, MDRD 2, and reexpressed MDRD prediction equations. Conclusion: Our results indicated that the performance of Gates' method in total GFR estimation was better than the prediction equations in potential kidney donors.

WOS:000329790100028 PubMed: 25536747 Aim: To evaluate the role of 99m-technetium methylene diphosphonate (Tc-99m MDP) bone scintigraphy on the detection of joint damage in asymptomatic alpine ski racers. Materials and methods: This study included 20 male asymptomatic alpine ski racers (age range: 18-21 years). None of the skiers had a history of ski crashes. Bone scan findings of the racers were examined with Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy during the active racing season and the inactive training season. Planar anterior and posterior images of hip, knee, and ankle joints were obtained 4 h after intravenous injection of 20 mCi Tc-99m MDP. All images were interpreted visually by 2 experienced nuclear medicine physicians. Free regions of interest were drawn on hip, knee, and ankle joints, as well as background regions. Joint-to-background ratios were calculated for each joint, and the uptake ratios of both right and left joints during active ski season were compared to those during the inactive training period. Results: Uptake ratios of the right and left hip, knee, and ankle joints were significantly higher during the active racing period than those calculated during the inactive period (P < 0.005). Conclusion: Bone scintigraphy may have an important role in detecting joint injuries of hip, knee, and ankle joints in asymptomatic alpine ski racers and can be used successfully when MRI is unavailable.

Objective: Melatonin is a powerful endogenous antioxidant and it may play a role in preventionof radiation-induced damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect ofmelatonin on bone mineral density in rats receiving radiation.Materials and Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Group 1(control group) received neither melatonin nor radiation (control group). Group 2 (Melgroup) was administered intraperitoneal injections of 5mg/kg melatonin daily for ten days.Group 3 (RT group) and Group 4 were exposed to total cranium radiation of 5 Gy in a singledose by using a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit. In addition to irradiation, group 4 (RT + Melgroup) was administered 5mg/kg of melatonin intraperitoneally. At the end of the 10th day,the rats' cranium and vertebrae bone mineral densities (BMDs) were measured.Results: When cranial BMDs were evaluated, statistically more significant BMD increaseswere seen in the Mel group and the RT + Mel groups than in the control group. No significantdifference was seen in the Mel group versus the RT + Mel group; however, there wasa significant difference between RT and RT + Mel groups. When vertebral BMDs wereevaluated, the only significant difference was found between the control and Mel groups.Conclusion: We think that melatonin is a radioprotective agent. However, we would liketo emphasize that further studies are needed before clinical trials with melatonin are initiated.

The aim of the present experimental study was to determine and to compare the effects of vitamin E and of selenium on the blood flow to a wound region in rats, using the xenon-133 (133Xe) clearance technique. Burn wounds were made on the right thighs of rats followed by oral administration of vitamin E or selenium for a period of 10 days. The effect of vitamin E and of selenium individually on blood flow in the wound region was assessed before and after oral administration using the 133Xe clearance technique. Both vitamin E and selenium significantly increased the blood flow in the wound region (P

The purpose of this study was to compare the quantitative parameters of salivary gland functions in patients with allergic rhinitis and healthy volunteers using [99mTc] pertechnetate salivary gland scintigraphy. Thirty-six patients with allergic rhinitis (14 males and 22 females, mean age 30.6 ± 5.2 years) and thirty-nine healthy controls (18 males and 21 females, mean age 32.2 ± 5.6 years) were evaluated. Dynamic salivary gland scintigraphy was performed after intravenous administration of 185 MBq (5 mCi) of [99mTc] pertechnetate for 25 minutes. Lemon juice was used to stimulate the salivary glands. On the basis of the time-activity curves, the following glandular function parameters were calculated for the parotid and submandibular salivary glands: uptake ratio, maximum accumulation, and ejection fraction. Statistically, all the functional parameters of the parotid and submandibular glands obtained for the allergic rhinitis patients were significantly lower than those of the healthy controls group (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that there was a significant difference in salivary gland function between patients with allergic rhinitis and healthy controls, which can easily be evaluated by [99mTc] pertechnetate salivary gland scintigraphy.

Background/aim: Isotretinoin is an effective drug utilized in the management of acne vulgaris and is known to cause dry mouth. In this study, we aimed to evaluate this effect of isotretinoin on the salivary gland function in patients with acne vulgaris using technetium-99m (Tc-99m) pertechnetate imaging of the salivary glands. Materials and methods: The study population consisted of 28 patients with acne vulgaris (6 males and 22 females, mean age 20.2 ± 2.3 years), who were treated with isotretinoin for 6 months. We performed radionuclide imaging of the salivary glands pretreatment and at months 3 and 6 of treatment. After 185 MBq (5 mCi) of Tc-99m pertechnetate was intravenously administered, imaging of the salivary glands was performed over a 25-min period. We measured the following glandular function parameters for the parotid and submandibular salivary glands via time-activity curves: uptake ratio, maximum accumulation, and ejection fraction. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in the values obtained at months 3 and 6 of treatment, compared with the pretreatment values. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that radionuclide imaging of the salivary glands can clearly show the glandular functions that are affected by drugs such as isotretinoin.

OZET Bu calismanin amaci biyomekanik olarak yuz maskesi tarafindan aktive edilen suturalarda meydana gelen kemik ak-tivitesinin degerlendirilmesidir. Onalti yasinda pubertal buyume atilimi sona ermis Sinif III anomaliye sahip bir kiz cocuguna Tubinger tipi yuz maskesi uygulanmistir. Tedavi oncesinde ve 6 ay sonrasinda single-photon emission computerized tomographyography (SPECT) kayitlari alinmistir. Koronal kesitte yapilan kemik aktivasyonu indeksinde Fronto-Maxiller, zygomatico-maxiller sutur ve zygomatico-maxiller suturanin posterior bolgesinde ciddi artislarin oldugu tespit edilmistir. Bu artislar suturalar bolgesinde kemik aktivasyonu olduguna isaret etmektedir.

Radionuclide synovectomy is a reliable therapy in patients with chronic synovitis. However, radiation doses delivered to non-target organ systems due to leakage of radioactive material from the articular cavity are an important disadvantage of this procedure. In this study we compared extraarticular leakage values of the 3 commonly used radiopharmaceuticals;90Y-citrate,90Y-silicate and186Re-sulfide colloid. Thirty-five patients with persistent synovitis were enrolled in the study. Twenty-two hemophilic, 8 rheumatoid arthritis and 5 patients with pigmented villonodular synovitis were studied.90Y labeled silicate and citrate were used for knee joints and186Re-sulfide for intermediate sized joints. Radiocolloid leakage values were evaluated using a gamma camera with 20% window centered over the bremsstrahlung photopeak of90Y and a respective window over the 137 keV photopeak of186Re. Regions of interest were drawn over the injection site, the regional lymph nodes and the background areas. Leakage of radiocolloid was calculated by dividing the counts/pixel in the regional lymph node area to the counts/pixel in the injection site. No visible leakage was observed. The median leakage values calculated for90Y-citrate,90Y-silicate and186Re-sulfide were found as 1.9%, 2.4% and 2.7%, respectively. The difference between the variability of leakage values was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).Conclusion: There was no significant difference in terms of extraarticular leakage between90Y-citrate,90Y-silicate and186Re-sulfide radiocolloids.

The aim of the present study was to investigate sex and handedness differences in the sizes of the right and left thyroid lobes. Subjects were 72 healthy university students (36 female and 36 male), 18 to 23 years of age. Hand preference was assessed using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. The volumes of the right and left thyroid lobes were measured by ultrasonography. The right lobe was larger than the left. The right and left lobes were larger in men than in women. There were no handedness difference in the total thyroid volume and the volume of right lobe. But, the left lobe was larger in right-handed subjects than in the left handed ones. The difference (right minus left) was statistically larger in left-handers than in right-handers. The sex-related differences may be attributed to the sex differences in body weight. It can be stated that handedness is associated with the asymmetry of thyroid lobes.

This article investigates the anti-inflammatory effects of erythromycin (EM) on aseptic inflammation of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space using by Tc-99 m HIG scintigraphy and histopathology. In this experimental study, 33 adult male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three groups. The animals in the first group were treated with EM 25 mg kg(-1); the animals in the second group were treated with methylprednisolone (MP) 2 mg kg(-1) and the animals in the third group were given saline solution (control group). Each drug was given by intraperitoneal injection twice a day for 7 days. Two hours after the last injection, carrageenan was injected into right TMJ of rabbits for aseptic inflammation. After carrageenan injection, each rabbit was given an intravenous injection of 111 Mbq (3 mCi) Tc-99 m human HIG, and scanning was performed 4 h later. Later, all animals were killed and TMJ and periarticular tissues were resected. Histopathologically, the distance between synovial surface epithelium (SSE) and muscle layer (ML) in each section was measured by using SAMBA 200 Cell image processor with software. Scintigraphically, when lesion activity/adjacent region activity (L/N) was evaluated there was a significant difference between the control group and the other two groups (P < 0.05 for EM and MP). However, no significant difference was found between the EM and MP groups. Histopathologically, the mean distance between SSE and ML in the sections was found longer in the control group (78.6 +/- 10.7 microm) than in the EM (44.38 +/- 18.26 microm) and MP (44.05. +/- 18.25 microm) groups. We think that administration of EM, which is a well-known macrolid antibiotic, might be very effective in the treatment of aseptic inflammation of TMJ space. Because corticosteroid administration has many side effects, EM may be a preferable drug in the treatment of inflammation of TMJ.

Thallium-201 (201Tl) has been widely used as a nuclear reagent for myocardial blood flow imaging. The purpose of this study was to investigate genotoxic effects of 201Tl in patients with angina pectoris (n = 21), who had undergone myocardial perfusion imaging. Lymphocytes were isolated from each patient before, and 3, 30 and 90 days after 201Tl administration (111 MBq, 3 mCi) and were analyzed for chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, mitotic index and replicative index. There were significant increases in chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges 3 days after 201Tl administration (p0.001), although no difference was noted in these values after 30 and 90 days (p0.05). Moreover, decreased mitotic index and replicative index were noted after 3 days of 201Tl administration (p0.001). These results suggest that the administration of 201Tl for myocardial blood flow imaging may induce genetic damage.

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a well-recognized condition in the pediatric population, but is less well described in the adult population, and its prevalence decreases with increasing age. We describe the case of a 53-year-old male with nonfunctional kidney in which accumulation of radioactivity was observed in the ureter and renal pelvis owing to VUR, which was detected by technetium-99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid dynamic renal scintigraphy.

Summary To evaluate the effect of septal pathology and surgery on nasal mucociliary clearance. A radioisotope method was used to measure the velocity of nasal mucociliary transport. Nasal mucociliary clearance was measured before and after septal surgery using technetium−99 m macroaggregated albumin. Fifteen patients (mean age: 20 ± 8 years; 11 males, four females) were studied pre-operatively, but scintigraphy could be repeated only in 10 patients, 2 months after surgery. A group of 10 healthy volunteers were also studied. The clearance values obtained from the pre-operative period (26.25 ± 9.45 min) were significantly higher than those of the post-operative period (15.05 ± 6.35 min). The values obtained of control group (13.30 ± 3.15 min) were not significantly different from the post-operative values of the patient group. Septal deviation affects the mucociliary activity. It is improved by surgery. This study showed that nasal septal deviation reduced the nasal mucociliary activity, and this can easily evaluated with scintigraphy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible favorable effect of desloratadine-montelukast combination on salivary glands (SG) function in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) using SG scintigraphy. The study population consisted of 64 patients with AR and 28 healthy controls: 14 males and 14 females, with mean age 32.3±8.6 years. The patients were divided into two groups: the untreated patients group of 32 patients, 16 males and 16 females, mean age 28.5±5.4 years and the treated group, who received the standard clinically recommended oral dose of montelukast 10mg/d and desloratadine 5mg/d for 6 weeks. This group consisted of 32 patients, 16 males and 16 females, mean age 38.3±8.4 years. All patients and healthy controls underwent SG scintigraphy. After the intravenous injection of technetium-99m pertechnetate, ((99m)Tc-P), dynamic SG scintigraphy was performed for 25min. Using the time-activity curves, the following glandular function parameters were calculated for the parotid and the submandibular SG: uptake ratio, maximum accumulation and ejection fraction. Results showed SG hypofunction. All functional parameters obtained for the untreated patients and for the desloratadine-montelukast treated patients were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (P0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between treated and untreated patients (P0.05). In conclusion, our study showed that hypofunction of SG was present in all patients with AR. This hypofunction, as tested by semi-quantitative SG scintigraphy, and also the quality of life did not improve after treatment with montelukast and desloratadine.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) does not often produce optimal results, despite restoration of coronary blood flow at myocardial recovery, because of impaired microvascular perfusion. This study aimed to investigate and evaluate with (99m)Tc-sestamibi scan whether the results of PCI can be changed by maintenance infusion of tirofiban for 24 or 48 h in patients presenting with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).The study included 84 patients with anterior STEMI who were candidates for primary PCI and whose occlusion was in the proximal or mid-left anterior descending artery. Patients were given 25 μg/kg/3 min tirofiban and randomized to receive maintenance infusion at 0.15 μg/kg/min for 24 or 48 h. A resting (99m)Tc sestamibi scan was performed on the 5th day post-procedure before discharge. The primary efficacy endpoint was a patient's score on a 5-point scoring system for perfusion defect severity. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as death from any cause, re-infarction, and clinically driven target-vessel revascularization within the first 6 months.Baseline characteristics of the patients were similar in the two infusion groups (n = 42 per group). There was no significant difference in the symptom onset-to-presentation time or door-to-balloon time between the two groups. With the exception of basal anteroseptal and basal anterior segments, significant reductions were obtained on the 5-point scoring system for perfusion defect severity in segments and in the summed rest scores. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in the incidence of MACE at 6 months. The safety profile did not differ between 24 and 48 h infusions of tirofiban.The use of tirofiban, when administered at a high bolus dose and maintained for 48 h, was safe and significantly reduced perfusion defect severity in patients with anterior STEMI presenting early after symptom onset and undergoing primary PCI.

Chronic renal failure and its treatment can induce oral health problems and salivary glands dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to assess salivary glands function in patients with kidney transplantation using technetium-99m pertechnetate ((99m)Tc-P) salivary glands scintigraphy. We prospectively studied 34 patients with kidney transplantation (30 males and 4 females,mean age 39.76±11.6 years) and 28 healthy controls (12 males and 16 females, mean age 36.1±9.5 years). Salivary gland scintigraphy was performed nearly 4.4±2.9 years after successful kidney transplantation. Dynamic salivary glands scintigraphy was performed during 25min after the intravenous administration of 185MBq of (99m)Tc-P. Time-activity curves and glands functional parameters were calculated for the parotid and submandibular salivary glands: uptake ratio, maximum accumulation of the radionuclide, and excretion fraction. Statistical analysis of the functional parameters showed no significant differences between patients with kidney transplantation and healthy controls (P0.05). In conclusion, this study showed that using (99m)Tc-P salivary gland scintigraphy, salivary glands function of patients with successful kidney transplantation do not differ statistically from those in healthy controls.

The present study gives a detailed report of a patient with atypical Cogan's syndrome with uveitis and sensorineural hearing loss. Cogan's syndrome is characterized by nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis and audiovestibular dysfunction. This syndrome can be divided into two groups, typical and atypical, based on the presence of interstitial keratitis. It may sometimes be associated with systemic vasculitis. Fluoro-D-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) scanning was used to investigate the presence of vasculitis. With FDG-PET/CT scanning, there is no pathological involvement in the walls of the arteries; thus the patient is protected from aggressive and long term immunosuppressive treatment's side effects. Hence, we can conclude that FDG-PET/CT may play an important role in excluding the presence of vasculitis.Çalışmamızda sensorinöral işitme kaybı ve üveiti olan atipik Cogan sendromlu bir hastayı detaylı bir şekilde ele aldık. Cogan sendromu nonsifilitik interstisyel keratit ve odiovestibuler disfonksiyon ile karakterize bir hastalıktır. Interstisyel keratitin varlığına göre Cogan sendromu tipik ve atipik olmak üzere iki gruba ayrılabilir. Bu sendroma bazen sistemik vaskülit eşlik edebilir. Fluoro-D-glucose-positron emission tomografi/bilgisayarlı tomografi (FDG-PET/BT) taraması sistemik vaskülit varlığının araştırılması amacı ile kullanılabilir. Bu amaçla hastaya yapılan FDG-PET/BT taraması ile arter duvarlarında patolojik bulgu saptanmadı. Böylece hasta uzun süreli ve agresif immünsüpresif tedavinin yan etkilerinden korunmuş oldu. Vaskülit varlığını dışlamada FDG-PET/BT taramasının önemli bir yeri olduğunu söyleyebiliriz.

OBJECTIVE To prospectively evaluate the regional myocardial deformation changes and viability in anterior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients before and after primary coronary intervention (PCI) by strain (S)/strain rate (Sr) imaging. METHODS Twenty-one patients presented during the first six hours of an anterior AMI and twenty controls were included in this study. Echocardiographic recordings were obtained from the apical/parasternal images just before PCI, one week and one month after PCI. The S/Sr and velocity (V) were measured from the basal mid and apical segments of the walls supplied by the left anterior descending artery. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy was performed in the 1st month after PCI. Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Acute myocardial infarction resulted in the reduction of deformation indices (S/Sr/V) in all segments. Deformation indices were increased after successful PCI. The S/Sr values of the normal and ischemic segments after PCI were higher compared to the baseline (ischemic Sr:-1.3 ± 0.3 vs. -1.1 ± 0.3, p=0.04). No difference was noted in the S/Sr values of the necrotic segments during the first week (Sr:-1.1 ± 0.3 vs. -1.0 ± 0.3, p=0.054). For V measurements, no difference was observed between the viability types at the follow-up measurements (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION The remedial effect of PCI on the deformation values was observed in the first week and continued during the first month. In the early reperfusion period, S/Sr indices have the potential to differentiate necrotic tissue from other viability types. Strain/Strain rate imaging can be used for determination of myocardial deformation changes and parameters of viability. However, V values were insufficient.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the alterations in salivary gland function in patients who receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for chronic renal failure (CRF) using technetium-99m pertechnetate ((99m)Tc-P) salivary gland scintigraphy. The study population consisted of 36 CAPD patients (16 males and 20 females, ranging in age from 19 to 73 years, mean age 44.94+/-15.01 years) and 20 healthy controls (11 males and 9 females, ranging in age from 31 to 51 years, mean age 41.25+/-5.62 years). All patients and healthy controls underwent salivary gland scintigraphy. After the intravenous administration of 185MBq of (99m)Tc-P, dynamic salivary gland scintigraphy was performed for 25min. On the basis of the time-activity curves, the following glandular function parameters were calculated for the parotid and submandibular salivary glands: uptake ratio, maximum accumulation, and ejection fraction. Our results showed: All functional parameters obtained for CAPD patients were significantly lower than for healthy controls (P0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that salivary gland function, an important determinant of oral health, is impaired among the CRF patients treated with CAPD compared with healthy controls, as evaluated by (99m)Tc-P salivary gland scintigraphy.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of levocetirizine (xyzal) on salivary glands function in patients with allergic rhinitis using technetium-99m pertechnetate ((99m)Tc-P) salivary gland scintigraphy. The study population consisted of 67 patients with allergic rhinitis and 31 healthy controls (14 males and 17 females, mean age 30.1+/-6.8 years). The patients were divided into two groups: an untreated patient Group of 32 patients, 17 males and 15 females, mean age 29.9+/-6.5 years and a levocetirizine-treated with 5mg.day(-1) for 4 weeks patient Group, consisted of 35 patients, 16 males and 19 females, mean age 33.5+/-7.8 years. All patients and healthy controls underwent salivary glands scintigraphy. After the intravenous administration of 185 MBq of (99m)Tc-P, dynamic salivary glands scintigraphy was performed for 25 min. By the time-activity curves, the following glandular function parameters were calculated for the parotid and submandibular salivary glands: uptake ratio, maximum accumulation, and ejection fraction. Our results showed: All functional parameters obtained for the untreated patient Group were significantly lower than for the levocetirizine-treated patient Group and healthy controls (P0.05). There was no significant difference in any functional parameters between the levocetirizine-treated patient Group and healthy controls (P0.05). In conclusion, results of our study indicate that patients with allergic rhinitis treated with levocetirizine showed a significantly higher salivary glands function compared with untreated patients and healthy controls. Levocetirizine treatment showed no side effects on salivary glands function.

The aim of the present experimental study was to determine and compare the effect of Hippophae rhamnoides L. extract (HRe-1) and of dexpanthenol on the blood flow of a wound region, in rats using xenon-133 ((133)Xe) clearance technique.Burn wounds were made on both thighs of rats and, HRe-1 and dexpanthenol were applied topically on the wound region only in the right thigh for a period of 8 days. The effect of HRe-1 and of dexpanthenol on blood flow of the wound region was assessed before and after their topical application by using the (133)Xe clearance technique.HRe-1 increased significantly blood flow of the wound region (P0.05). Dexpanthenol showed a smaller increase in blood flow. In conclusion, our results in rats suggest that HRe-1 increases blood flow of the wound area and can be used for the treatment of skin wound healing, preferably than dexpanthenol.

Nuclear medicine workers are occupationally exposed to chronic ionizing radiation. It is known that ionizing radiation may have damaging effects on chromosomes. In the present study, we investigated the genotoxic effects of ionizing radiation on nuclear medicine workers. We used two different indicators of genotoxicity methods: sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronucleus (MN).The present research was carried out using 21 nuclear medicine workers (11 females and 10 males) during two periods: during normal working conditions and after a 1-month vacation. The radiation dose varied from 1.20 to 48.56 mSv, which accumulated during the occupational exposure time between two vacations. Peripheral blood samples were taken from each subject for two distinct lymphocyte cultures (SCE and MN) in each period.In nearly all subjects, SCE values increased significantly during radiation exposure compared to the postvacation period (P.05). Similarly, MN frequencies in most of the subjects increased significantly during radiation exposure compared to the postvacation period (P.05).This study revealed that both SCE and MN frequencies in most of the subjects were significantly higher during exposure to ionizing radiation than after a 1-month vacation period. However, this genotoxic effect was reversible in most of the subjects.

We report a 23-year-old man presenting with chest pain. He denoted skin eruptions on his hands, lips, mouth, and penis 24 to 36 hours after he had taken flurbiprofen 10 days ago. Detailed examination showed an ulcerated, pitching lesion with a dimension of approximately 2x2 cm on his penis; however, other explained skin lesions were ameliorated. ST elevations were present in the electrocardiogram. Cardiac biomarkers gradually rose. The scintigraphy showed myocardial hypoperfusion in the inferoseptal wall. This phenomenon is a rare case of myocarditis due to hypersensitivity reaction. In the case of nonspecific angina pectoris accompanied by electrocardiogram changes, drug-induced myocarditis must hold a place in differential diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the localization of leukocytes in the pancreas during acute pancreatitis and to evaluate the potential use of 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled leukocytes in the diagnostic assessment of patients with acute pancreatitis. METHODS The study was performed with 20 patients (11 females, nine males; ranging in age from 26 to 86 years, mean 55 years). Labelled leukocyte scintigraphy using planar imaging was performed on all patients, seven of whom were also examined by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). According to Ranson criteria, 10 patients had mild pancreatitis (group A), six had severe pancreatitis (group B) and four had necrotic pancreatitis (group C). Twelve patients had biliary pancreatitis and the other eight patients had no obvious cause. RESULTS All patients of group C, four of group B, two of group A had a positive leukocyte scan. The positive leukocyte scintigraphy value for the detection of a lethal course of acute pancreatitis was 100%; of a severe course, 66.7%; and of a mild course, 20%. These findings are statistically significant (P=0.005 in chi-squared tests result). The results of leukocyte scintigraphy compared with those of CT were also statistically significant (P=0.001 in chi-squared tests). All the patients diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis by CT had a positive leukocyte scan, but only three of 13 patients without pancreatic necrosis that could be detected by computed tomography had a positive leukocyte scan. CONCLUSIONS There was a significant correlation between the severity of the disease and leukocyte infiltration. Considering these results, we believe that leukocyte infiltration in acute pancreatitis can be demonstrated rapidly and accurately and by noninvasive 99mTc-HMPAO labelled leukocyte scintigraphy.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of levocetirizine on nasal mucociliary clearance in allergic rhinitis patients using rhinoscintigraphy.Twenty patients with allergic rhinitis (12 males and eight females, mean age 37.7 +/- 10.5 years) were evaluated. All the patients received levocetirizine (5 mg x day(-1)) for 4 weeks, and the speed of nasal mucociliary clearance was assessed before and after treatment. Twenty healthy controls (11 males and nine females, mean age 39.4 +/- 7.8 years) were also evaluated.The clearance values obtained for the treated group before and after treatment were significantly lower than those of the control group (P = 0.0001), but there was no significant difference in clearance speeds before and after treatment in the patient group (P = 0.444).The study demonstrated that levocetirizine did not affect the speed of nasal mucociliary clearance in allergic rhinitis patients, and that nasal mucociliary clearance can easily be evaluated by rhinoscintigraphy.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the leading cause of death from intoxication. In CO poisoning, it is important to know if there are any symptoms regarding myocardial damage, which are usually unobserved as a result of hypoxia. This study was planned to assess myocardial damage in young healthy patients with CO poisoning. Eighty-three young healthy cases who had been exposed to CO were included in this study. The demographic and clinical characteristics, the origin of CO gas and smoking habits of the patients were recorded. The evaluation of ECG, peripheral ABG, complete blood count and serial cardiac biomarkers (creatine kinase, creatine kinasemyocardial band and troponin I) measurements were performed in all cases. Additionally, echocardiogram (ECHO) and myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were performed at the appropriate times in all cases. The mean age of the patients was 27.39 /10.9 years. The main complaint of the patients was loss of consciousness with a 62.7% rate. The average carboxyhaemoglobin level of the patients was 34.49 /15.9%. Sinus tachycardia was present in 26.5% of patients. Diagnostic ischaemic ECG changes were present in 14.4% of patients. In myocardial SPECT, myocardial ischaemic damage was observed in 9 cases, in 6 of whom ECHO findings were also confirmed. Myocar-dial damage due to CO poisoning should not be ignored. If patients are at risk in terms of myocardial damage, further studies, such as ECHO and scintigraphy are needed to determine myocardial damage resulting from CO poisoning. However, in the young adults of the risk group, if the baseline ECG and serial cardiac biomarkers are normal, further studies such as ECHO and scintigraphy, considering the length of exposure and the severity of poisoning, may not be necessary for the evaluation of myocardial damage due to CO poisoning.

Aim To confirm the usefulness of blood pool scintigraphy with 99m Tc-labelled red blood cells ( 99m Tc-RBCs) in the diagnosis and follow-up of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. Methods A prospective study design was used. 99m Tc-RBCs were prepared by a modified in-vivo method. After the rapid intravenous injection of 370-740 MBq of 99m Tc-RBCs, dynamic imaging of 1-min duration was performed. After dynamic imaging, static acquisitions at 5min (second phase: blood pool phase) and 2h (third phase: static image) were obtained. In addition, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging was performed at 2 h. SPECT images were obtained using a rotating gamma camera (GE-Starcam 4000 XR/T). Results All patients showed no activity in the first phase and mild activity in the second phase (blood pool phase). All patients with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma showed a prominent increased activity in the third phase and in SPECT images. Conclusions This study shows that blood pool scintigraphy with 99m Tc-RBC SPECT is very accurate, easy to perform and a suitable alternative to pre-operative and post-operative imaging techniques, including computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI angiography, for the detection of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

We report a case of a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who presented with back pain related to bone metastasis. HCC metastasizes by hematogenous and lymphatic routes commonly to the lungs, regional lymph nodes, kidney, bone marrow and adrenals. In this extremely rare case, the patient had no known liver disease, but presented with liver lesions and multiple bone lesions involving vertebrae, ribs, pelvic bones and left femur with associated expansile soft-tissue components. These bone lesions were first detected from a positron emission tomography scan. Pathological examination of biopsy material taken from the left eighth rib confirmed metastatic HCC. In conclusion, if a patient has expansile osteolytic bone lesions, bone metastasis from HCC should be included in the differential diagnosis.

To examine the relation of hand preference to bilateral femoral bone mineral density (BMD), the right and left total and regional (neck, trochanter, intertrochanteric, and Ward's triangle) proximal femur BMDs (g/cm 2 ) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorbtiometry (DEXA) in 32 right- and 26 left-handed university students. The mean total BMD of the total right-handers and the mean trochanteric BMD of the right-handed males were greater in the left femur than the right femur. Contrarily, the total left-handers had higher mean intertrochanteric BMD in the right side than in the left side. There were negative correlations between R-L BMD differences and Geschwind scores of total, male, and female subjects. The results suggest that femur-BMD may be related to hand preference.

Hyperphosphatasia is a rare genetic disorder characterized by failure to transform woven bone into lamellar bone. A 12-year-old girl with the complaint of right humeral pain was referred for a bone scan with a suspicion of a right humeral bone cyst with respect to the radiographic examinati

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CLCD) is an autosomal-dominant disorder. There is altered bone formation with clavicular hypoplasia or agenesis with a narrow thorax, causing approximation of the shoulders in front of the chest occurring with delayed ossification of the skull, excessively large fontanelles, and delayed closure of the sutures. More than 100 additional anomalies can be associated, including dental abnormalities, delayed skeletal maturation, hearing deficiency, and mild mental retardation in some cases. Scintigraphic images showed delayed epiphyseal closure, which can be seen in this disease.

Carcinoid tumors are potentially malignant, generally being related to regional lymph node and liver metastases. Rarely, metastases to other sites such as the breast have been reported. Radiolabeled peptide analogs such as In-111 octreotide play a useful role in the localization and potentially in the management of carcinoid tumors and their distant metastases. The authors report a case of ileal carcinoid tumor with unusual presentation of a chest wall metastasis. Chest radiograph was normal. Thoracic CT scanning showed a soft tissue mass in the chest wall. In-111 octreotide scintigraphy revealed increased uptake in the anterior chest wall and liver. A biopsy of the lesion showed carcinoid tumor.