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Estimating the pose, motion, and structure of noncooperative dynamic targets using on board sensors is a challenging problem. This work suggests using multiple-baseline stereovision for noncooperative dynamic target relative pose, motion, and structure estimation, with a particular emphasis on space applications. A computer-vision feature-matching algorithm is designed, which produces input data for a recursive filtering algorithm. A newly-developed initialization scheme is proposed, which decreases the ambiguity in the target center of mass location. An extensive numerical study is provided, comparing between two estimators and different relative motion models. It is shown that a simple kinematic model can work well when combined with initial structure estimation. The effect of varying the number of cameras and stereo-rig geometry is investigated. The proposed vision-based relative motion estimation method was validated at the Technion’s Distributed Space Systems Laboratory. A scalability analysis indicates that the proposed method may be potentially useful for space applications.

Ziel und Methode: Die wissenschaftlichen Veroffentlichungen der Zeitschrift Nuklearmedizin Molecular Imaging and Therapy des Zeitraumes 2004/2005 werden retrospektiv hinsichtlich der Zuordenbarkeit zu molekularer Bildgebung und molekular gefuhrter Therapie sowie funktioneller Bildgebung und Therapie untersucht und fruheren Analysen gegenubergestellt. Ergebnisse: Von den 57 untersuchten Originalarbeiten werden 36 (63%) der Kategorie molekulare Bildgebung / molekular gefuhrte Therapie zugeordnet. Innerhalb dieser Kategorie nehmen die Arbeiten zur molekular gefuhrten Therapie gegenuber den Vorjahreszeitraumen auf 19% aller Originalarbeiten zu; dieses bei insgesamt ansteigendem Anteil an experimentellen Arbeiten und wachsendem Einbezug von Grundlagenfachern. Schlussfolgerung: Die Entwicklung der molekularen Bildgebung als direktes Instrument der Therapiesteuerung fuhrt weiter zur Starkung der molekular gefuhrten Therapie. Der strukturelle Vorteil der Nuklearmedizin, methodisch gepragt Diagnostik und Therapie innerhalb einer Fachrichtung zu vereinen, pradestiniert sie dazu, die molekulare Bildgebung und molekular gefuhrte Therapie voranzutreiben.

ZusammenfassungZiel und Methode: In einer retrospektiven Analyse wurden die wissenschaftlichen Veröffentlichungen der Zeitschrift Nuklearmedizin. Journal of Functional and Molecular Imaging der Jahrgänge 2002 und 2003 hinsichtlich der Entwicklung informationstechnologischer Methoden ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Von 79 Original-arbeiten und Kasuistiken wurden 9 (11%) als Original-arbeiten mit Informationstechnologie als Untersuchungsobjekt, davon 5 (56%) mit Fusion von molekularer und morphologischer Bildgebung als Thema, klassifiziert. Dabei entstanden 7 (78%) der 9 Arbeiten unter Mitautorenschaft anderer medizinischer Fachrichtungen; von 8 der Originalarbeiten waren 4 (50%) prospektiv angelegt. Von den 59 Originalarbeiten dienten 28 (47%) vorwiegend der methodischen Entwicklung. 46/59 (78%) Originalarbeiten waren klinische und 2 (3%) experimentelle Forschung. Schlussfolgerung: Obwohl ein hoher Anteil aller Arbeiten der methodischen Entwicklung diente, ist der Anteil der Entwicklung informationstechnologischer Methoden relativ gering.

Purpose: With conventional planar imaging, preoperative anatomic localization of a sentinel lymph node is possible in only two dimensions. To improve spatial localization of sentinel lymph nodes, a dual-head camera equipped with a transmission source was used to create combined transmission-emission SPECT images in a patient with a malignant melanoma of the left forearm. Methods: Lymph node scintigraphy was performed after injection of Tc-99m-labeled nanocolloid around the tumor site 1 day before operation. SPECT was performed using a gamma camera equipped with a transmission collimator system originally designed to correct attenuation. Transmission and emission images were created simultaneously, matched, and displayed in three dimensions. Results: In the combined emission-transmission images, the sentinel lymph node was clearly located in the left axilla. The lymph nodes could be identified during operation at the same location as that detected by SPECT. Based on preoperative information, the sentinel lymph node was identified rapidly and the extent and duration of the operation were minimized. Conclusions: This method provides better anatomic information, especially in deep structures such as the axilla or pelvis. With accurate three-dimensional preoperative information, intraoperative access is quicker and less invasive for the patient.

Ziel, Methode: In einer retrospektiven Analyse wurden die wissenschaftlichen Veroffentlichungen der Zeitschrift Nuklearmedizin. Journal of Functional and Molecular Imaging der Jahrgange 2001 und 2002 hinsichtlich der inhaltlichen Zuordenbarkeit zu molekularer Bild-gebung/ Therapie ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Von 82 Ori-ginalarbeiten und Kasuistiken wurden 57% als mole-kulare Bildgebung, 11% als molekulare Therapie, 12% als funktionelle Bildgebung und 2% als funktionelle Therapie klassifiziert. In der Summe verwendeten 83% der Arbeiten eine molekulare oder funktionelle methodi-sche Basis. Von den Veroffentlichungen mit molekularer oder funktioneller methodischer Basis verwendeten 91% ein etabliertes Verfahren. Der Anteil experimentel-ler Arbeiten betrug 3%. Unter Mitautorenschaft anderer medizinischer Fachrichtungen entstanden 71% der molekularen/funktionellen Arbeiten, dabei 16% mit Autoren von medizinischen Grundlagenfachern. Von den Originalarbeiten dienten 51% vorwiegend der metho-dischen Entwicklung, 49% waren prospektiv angelegt. Schlussfolgerung: Die Zeitschrift Nuklearmedizin. Jour-nal of Functional and Molecular Imaging wird dem im Untertitel dokumentierten Anspruch der molekularen und funktionellen Bildgebung gerecht. Die Integration anderer Fachrichtungen zeigt, dass molekulare Bild-gebung verwirklichte Integration der Disziplinen ist. Eine starkere Einbeziehung der medizinischen Grundlagen-facher ist jedoch unabdingbar. Die Nuklearmedizin tragt zum Verstandnis molekularer Bildgebung bei und damit zum molekular orientierten Denken, insbesondere in der Ubertragung und Anwendung am Menschen.

Background Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a disorder of orthostatic intolerance characterised by excessive tachycardia of unknown aetiology. Whether this condition involves abnormal cardiac sympathetic innervation or function remains elusive. Meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) resembles guanethidine and is a pharmacologically inactive analogue of norepinephrine, which is similarly metabolised in noradrenergic neurons. MIBG myocardial scintigraphy is used clinically to estimate local myocardial sympathetic nerve damage in some forms of heart disease and autonomic neuropathy. The objective of this study was to evaluate cardiac sympathetic innervation in patients with POTS. Methods 20 patients with POTS were studied using 123 I-MIBG-single photon emission computed tomography, standardised autonomic testing, assessment of catecholamine plasma levels and sympathetic skin response. Results In four POTS patients (20.0%), myocardial MIBG uptake was markedly decreased. The mean heart to mediastinum ratio was reduced to 1.22±0.08 compared with the normal range of >1.7. No correlation was found between myocardial MIBG uptake and degree of postural tachycardia, baroreflex sensitivity, catecholamine plasma levels or other autonomic parameters. Sympathetic skin responses were normal in all patients. Conclusions These findings suggest that POTS may be, in part, a manifestation of autonomic cardiac neuropathy. MIBG myocardial scintigraphy may be helpful to distinguish patients with neuropathic POTS from patients with orthostatic intolerance of other origin.

Myocardial 123I-Meta-iodobenzylguanidine uptake was markedly reduced in a patient with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). This finding suggests that loss of sympathetic autonomic neurons in the heart may play a role in the etiology of POTS.

Scientific publications in the journal of Nuklearmedizin Molecular Imaging and Therapy during 2004/2005 were retrospectively examined for their potential classification to molecular imaging or molecular guided therapy, functional imaging and therapy, and were compared to earlier analyses.Of the 57 original papers examined, 36 (63%) were assigned to the category of molecular imaging/molecular guided therapy. Within this category, the number of original papers on molecular guided therapy increased by 19% compared to preceding periods. There was a general overall increase in the proportion of experimental papers and more frequent inclusion of basic background subjects.The development of molecular imaging as a direct instrument in therapy planning leads to further promotion of molecular guided therapy. The structural advantage of nuclear medicine, uniting method-lead diagnosis and therapy within one specialist subject, predestines it to advance molecular imaging and molecular guided therapy.

AIM, METHOD: The scientific publications in the 2003 and 2004 issues of the journal Nuklearmedizin were analyzed retrospectively with regard to the proportion of medical technology research.Out of a total of 73 articles examined, 9 (12%) were classified as medical technology research, that is, 8/15 of the original papers (16%) and one of the case reports (5%). Of these 9 articles, 44% (4/9) focused on the combination of molecular and morphological imaging with direct technical appliance or information technology solutions.Medical technology research is limited in the journal's catchment area. The reason for this is related to the interdependency between divergent development dynamics in the medical technology industry's locations, the many years that the area of scintigraphic technology has been underrepresented, research policy particularly in discrepancies in the promotion of molecular imaging and a policy in which health is not perceived as a predominantly good and positive economic factor, but more as a curb to economic development.

AIM, METHOD: The scientific publications in the 2002 and 2003 issues of the journal Nuklearmedizin. Journal of Functional and Molecular Imaging were analyzed retrospectively with regard to the development of information technology methods.Out of a total of 72 original papers and case reports 9 (11%) were classified having information technology as their subject, 5 (56%) of them the fusion of molecular and morphological imaging. Researchers from medical specialities other than nuclear medicine were co-authors in 7 (78%) of the 9 articles, out of the 8 original papers 4 (50%) were prospective studies. Of the 59 original papers, 28 (47%) were predominantly dedicated to methodological development; 46/59 (78%) of them were clinical studies and 2 (3%) experimental research.Although a high proportion of the papers were dedicated to methodological development, the proportion dedicated to development of information technology methods was relatively low.

The paper reviews current scientific publishing practice in the journal Nuklearmedizin.The scientific publications in the 2000 and 2001 issues of the journal were analyzed retrospectively with regard to their authors, formal content criteria and citation practice.102 articles (69 original papers, 29 case reports, 4 review articles) were published. Of a total of 561 authors, 80 first authors came from Germany, 9 from Austria, 3 from Switzerland, and 10 from other countries. In 58 out of the 102 publications, researchers from other medical specialties were co-authors. The first authors were based at university hospitals or research centers in the case of 88 out of 102 publications. The author of one article had his own practice. Of the 102 first authors, 24 were female with a statistically significantly (p = 0.04) higher proportion in case reports compared to original papers. A total of 88/98 original papers and case reports were categorized as clinical research, 2 out of 69 original papers as experimental research, and 8 as management, health policy and radiation protection. 36 out of 102 articles were in English. The 69 original papers included a median of 48 investigated patients (range 4-991). A total of 2555 other papers with a median of 19 (range 3-230) was cited, comprising 212 citations of the journal Nuklearmedizin, i.e. 8.3% (range 0-56%).The number of authors per paper documents the tendency to team work with a major participation of other specialties; university hospitals and research centers are represented more often. There is a predominance of clinical research with a high average number of patients per study. The percentage of first female authors are proportionate to their percentage membership in the learned societies. The relatively high percentage of papers in English raises the potential to increase the scientific response to publication of the content.