Significant increase in detection of prostate cancer recurrence following radical prostatectomy with an early imaging acquisition protocol with <Superscript>18</Superscript>F-fluorocholine positron emission tomography/computed tomography

Purpose

To highlight a new imaging acquisition protocol during ¹⁸F-fluorocholine PET/CT in patients with biochemical recurrence after RP.

Methods

A total of 146 patients with PSA levels between 0.2 and 1 ng/ml with negative conventional imaging who did not receive salvage treatment were prospectively enrolled. Imaging acquisition protocol included an early dynamic phase (1–8 min), a conventional whole body (10–20 min), and a late phase (30–40 min). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were measured. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of positive PET/CT.

Results

The median trigger PSA was 0.6 ng/ml (IQR 0.43–0.76). Median PSA doubling time (PSA DT) was 7.91 months (IQR 4.42–11.3); median PSA velocity (PSAV) was 0.02 ng/ml per month (IQR 0.02–0.04). Overall, ¹⁸F-fluorocholine PET/CT was positive in 111 of 146 patients (76 %). Out of 111 positive examinations, 80 (72.1 %) were positive only in the early dynamic phase. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy were 78.9, 76.9, 97.2, 26.3, and 78.7 %, respectively. At multivariable logistic regression, trigger PSA ≥ 0.6 ng/ml [odds ratio (OR) 3.13; p = 0.001] and PSAV ≥ 0.04 ng/ml per month (OR 4.95; p = 0.004) were independent predictors of positive PET/CT. The low NPV remains the main limitation of PET/CT in this setting of patients.

Conclusions

The increased sensitivity, thanks to the early imaging acquisition protocol, makes ¹⁸F-fluorocholine PET/CT an attractive tool to detect prostate cancer recurrences in patients with a PSA level <1 ng/ml.

     

A new strategy for label-free detection of lymphoma cancer cells

In this paper, a new strategy for highly selective and sensitive direct detection of lymphoma cells by exploiting the interaction between a peptide and its B-cell receptor, has been evaluated. In particular, an idiotype peptide, able to specifically bind the B-cell receptor of A20 cells in mice engrafted with A20 lymphoma, has been used as molecular probe. The new detection technique has been demonstrated on a planar crystalline silicon chip. Coverage of 85% of silicon surface and detection efficiency of 8.5 × 10⁻³ cells/μm² were obtained. The recognition strategy promises to extend its application in studying the interaction between ligands and their cell-surface receptors.OCIS codes: (000.1430) Biology and medicine, (280.1415) Biological sensing and sensors     

Endoscopic access to fascia lata for use in static facial reanimation—a cadaveric and clinical study

Background

Current methods of autogenous fascia lata harvest for the static surgical treatment of longstanding facial paralysis often result in a high level of donor site morbidity and unsightly visual scarring on the patient’s lateral thigh due to the open technique traditionally used. With endoscopic access already being widely used in other areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, it was hypothesised that it would be feasible to retrieve sufficient amounts of fascia lata endoscopically to achieve satisfactory static facial reanimation.

Methods

In the first instance, we used an 85-year-old female cadaver selected from the regular stock at the University of Glasgow to establish if retrieval of fascia lata endoscopically was feasible. Through two small incisions on the lateral aspect of the thigh (proximally and distally), we successfully retrieved a strip of fascia lata measuring 9?×?2.5 cm. Due to the ease of access, one of the authors then performed endoscopic retrieval of the fascia lata for five patients requiring static facial reanimation.

Results

It was shown that in all cases it was feasible to retrieve sufficient amounts of fascia lata to perform static facial reanimation with a similar operating time compared to the open technique which is currently used. In addition, there were no complications related to donor site morbidity.

Conclusions

We have shown that endoscopic access to the fascia lata for use in static facial reanimation is perfectly feasible, with no complications, minimal scarring and no significant increase in operating time compared to the traditional open technique currently used. Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.     

Anomalous boron isotope effects on electronic structure and lattice dynamics of CuB2O4

Copper metaborate had a unique crystal structure and exhibited noteworthy magnetic phase transitions at 21 and 10 K. The electronic structure and lattice dynamics of copper metaborate Cu¹¹B₂O₄ single crystals were investigated and compared with the optical properties of CuB₂O₄, to assess the boron isotope effect. The optical absorption spectrum at room temperature revealed two charge-transfer bands at approximately 4.30 and 5.21 eV with an extrapolated direct optical band gap of 3.16 ± 0.07 eV. Compared with the data on CuB₂O₄, the electronic transitions were shifted to lower energies upon the replacement of a heavier boron isotope. The band gap was also determined to be lower in Cu¹¹B₂O₄. Anomalies in the temperature dependence of the optical band gap were observed below 21 K. Furthermore, 38 Raman-active phonon modes were identified in the room-temperature Raman scattering spectrum of Cu¹¹B₂O₄, which were also observed in CuB₂O₄ with a shift to lower frequencies. No broadening caused by isotopic changes was observed. As the temperature decreased, phonon frequencies shifted to higher wavenumbers and the linewidth decreased. Anomalous softening in the Raman peaks below 21 K was also revealed.

Copper metaborate had a unique crystal structure and exhibited noteworthy magnetic phase transitions at 21 and 10 K.     

Postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula: analysis of risk factors and the role of bronchial stump coverage

Surgery Today - Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a potentially fatal complication of pneumonectomy. We analyze its occurrence rate, risk factors, and the methods used for its prevention. We reviewed...