Imaging quality of F-18-FDG PET/CT in the inpatient versus outpatient setting

Objective

The purpose of this study is to investigate potential differences in the image quality of inpatient versus outpatient F-18-FDG PET/CT to provide evidence for appropriate policies and procedures to be promulgated on inpatient referrals.

Methods

100 consecutive inpatient and 100 outpatient F-18-FDG PET/CT scans were compared from the same time period and PET/CT scanner. Each study was evaluated for a subjective overall rating (optimal vs. suboptimal), and also by objective measurements (SUVmean) in four background structures (brain, blood pool, liver, and muscle).

Results

96 outpatient scans were rated optimal and 4 suboptimal whereas corresponding numbers for inpatient scans were 77 and 23 (p < 0.001). Of the objective indices, cerebellar SUV was significantly different in inpatient versus outpatient (5.3 vs. 6.9; p < 0.001) as well as suboptimal versus optimal rated groups (4.8 vs. 6.3; p < 0.001). While mean blood glucose was higher for inpatients (108.01 vs. 101.49 mg/dl; p = 0.017), it was not significantly different between optimal and suboptimal exams. Linear regression analysis between blood glucose levels and cerebellar uptake revealed an inverse relationship (R = ?0.38, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

There was a significantly higher number of inpatient PET/CT scans rated as suboptimal in comparison to outpatient scans. Decreased cerebellar uptake was present in suboptimal rated studies and in inpatient studies. Altered biodistribution is thus a potential etiology of reduced scan quality among inpatients. These findings, if duplicated among other readers and centers, may form the basis of quality control recommendations for inpatient PET/CT ordering patterns.     

Serologic Survey of Plague in Animals,Western Iran

Disease caused by Powassan virus (POWV), a tick-borne flavivirus, ranges from asymptomatic to severe neurologic compromise and death. Two cases of POWV meningoencephalitis in New York, USA, highlight diagnostic techniques, neurologic outcomes, and the effect of POWV on communities to which it is endemic.     

Molecular and phylogenetic evidences of dispersion of human-infecting microsporidia to vegetable farms via irrigation with treated wastewater: One-year follow up

Background

Human-infecting microsporidia are a group of spore-forming eukaryotic microorganisms that can infect both animals and humans. Recent evidences indicate waterborne transmission of microsporidia spores to human via either drinking water or irrigation of vegetable farms with contaminated water resources. The current study aimed to evaluate the presence of human-infecting microsporidia in treated wastewater (TW) and vegetable farms irrigated with treated wastewater during a year.

Iranome: A catalog of genomic variations in the Iranian population

Considering the application of human genome variation databases in precision medicine, population‐specific genome projects are continuously being developed. However, the Middle Eastern population is underrepresented in current databases. Accordingly, we established Iranome database ( www.iranome.com ) by performing whole exome sequencing on 800 individuals from eight major Iranian ethnic groups representing the second largest population of Middle East. We identified 1,575,702 variants of which 308,311 were novel (19.6%). Also, by presenting higher frequency for 37,384 novel or known rare variants, Iranome database can improve the power of molecular diagnosis. Moreover, attainable clinical information makes this database a good resource for classifying pathogenicity of rare variants. Principal components analysis indicated that, apart from Iranian‐Baluchs, Iranian‐Turkmen, and Iranian‐Persian Gulf Islanders, who form their own clusters, rest of the population were genetically linked, forming a super‐population. Furthermore, only 0.6% of novel variants showed counterparts in “Greater Middle East Variome Project”, emphasizing the value of Iranome at national level by releasing a comprehensive catalog of Iranian genomic variations and also filling another gap in the catalog of human genome variations at international level. We introduce Iranome as a resource which may also be applicable in other countries located in neighboring regions historically called Greater Iran (Persia).     

The potential role of toll-like receptor 4 Asp299Gly polymorphism and its association with recurrent cystic echinococcosis in postoperative patients

Parasitology Research - The study of pathogenesis mechanisms of larval stages in the Taeniidae has recently focused on host genetic factors, particularly toll-like receptor (TLR) variations....     

THE IMPACT OF MACROECONOMIC CONDITIONS ON OBESITY IN CANADA

The paper used longitudinal Canadian data from the National Population Health Survey to estimate the impact of macroeconomic conditions measured by provincial unemployment rate on individual obesity and BMI. To control for individual‐specific unobserved heterogeneity, the study utilized the conditional fixed effect logit and fixed effects models. The study found that unemployment rate had a significant positive impact on the probability of being severely obese. The study also found that unemployment rate significantly increased BMI. However, the study did not find any significant impact of unemployment rate on the probability of being overweight or obese. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.