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Biomedical subjects

Dominique Le Guludec

Publications and source records attributed to Dominique Le Guludec.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

99mTc-annexin-V functional imaging of luminal thrombus activity in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The mural thrombus of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is involved in aneurysm progression via several interdependent biological processes including platelet activation. 99mTc-annexin V (ANX) is a scintigraphic tracer that binds to phosphatidylserine exposed on activated platelets and apoptotic cells. Here, we evaluated the potential of ANX imaging to assess mural thrombus biological activity in an experimental AAA model. The clinical applicability was further tested ex vivo on human samples of excised AAA thrombi. METHODS AND RESULTS: Experimental AAA was created by infusing elastase into infrarenal abdominal aorta in 17 rats, and 6 sham-operated rats were used as controls. Abdominal ANX scintigraphy was performed 2 weeks later followed by quantitative autoradiography and histological studies. Among the 13 rats which developed AAA, 11 displayed intense ANX uptake within AAA by scintigraphy. ANX uptake in the aneurysms on planar and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging was higher than that observed in infrarenal aorta of sham-operated controls (target/background ratio: 5.7+/-0.9 versus 1.33+/-0.21; P<0.005 for SPECT). Aneurysm-to-background activity ratios obtained by scintigraphy correlated with ANX activity in corresponding autoradiograms (R=0.69; P<0.02). This activity was located in the thrombus area where activated platelets and polymorphonuclear leukocytes accumulated. Similar patterns were also found in all of the 7 human AAA thrombi harvested during surgery. CONCLUSIONS: ANX imaging may assess mural thrombus renewal activity linked to permanent flowing blood interface.

Animals↗

Impact of liver transplantation on cardiac autonomic denervation in familial amyloid polyneuropathy.

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) is a rare and severe hereditary form of amyloidosis, due to the deposition of a genetic variant transthyretin essentially produced by the liver, and characterized by both sensorimotor and autonomic neuropathy. Liver transplantation (LT) is the most effective treatment to stop the progression of the disease. Cardiac amyloid infiltration is usually associated with cardiac denervation, restrictive cardiomyopathy, conduction disturbances, and sometimes sudden death. Whether the cardiac involvement related to amyloid deposition may be altered after LT remains unclear. We conducted the present study to define the outcome of cardiac involvement after LT in 31 patients with FAP (age, 39 +/- 12 yr). Patients were evaluated before and after LT (24 +/- 15 mo). Cardiac sympathetic denervation was assessed by both iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy and heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. The scintigraphic importance of sympathetic denervation was evaluated globally on planar imaging using heart-to-mediastinum activity ratio (H/M) measured 4 hours after injection, and regionally using single-photon emission tomography (SPET) imaging. Amyloid myocardial infiltration was assessed by echocardiography. Diffuse sympathetic denervation was found when using cardiac MIBG planar imaging in patients evaluated before LT and compared with 12 control subjects (H/M: 1.45 +/- 0.29 vs. 1.98 +/- 0.35, p < 0.001). On SPET images, defects were diffuse in 12 patients and focal in 19 patients, with predominance at the inferior and apical segments. No change in sympathetic innervation was found in patients after LT as assessed either with planar imaging (H/M after LT: 1.46 +/- 0.28, p = not significant vs. H/M before LT) or with SPET imaging. HRV nonspectral indexes showed that the standard deviation of all cycles was significantly lower in patients compared with control subjects, and remained unchanged after LT. Conduction disturbances and ventricular arrhythmias were associated with low cardiac MIBG uptake, and progressed after LT. The left ventricular wall was slightly thickened in patients, and a further increase was observed after LT (posterior wall from 9.2 +/- 1.8 to 10.1 +/- 2.3 mm, p = 0.02; septal wall from 10.6 +/- 2.7 to 12.1 +/- 4, p = 0.046). Neurologic status stabilized in 26 patients, but worsened in the 5 patients who had the most severe cardiac sympathetic denervation before LT as measured by MIBG imaging. The magnitude of the cardiac sympathetic denervation remained stable 2 years after LT in patients with FAP, whereas the cardiac amyloid infiltration progressed. The importance of cardiac sympathetic denervation found in FAP patients before LT was associated with a neurologic worsening after LT.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

Increased uptake of 111In-octreotide in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

UNLABELLED: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by an uncontrolled accumulation and activation of lung fibroblasts. A modulation of fibroblast activation has been observed in various systems with octreotide, a synthetic somatostatin analog with strong affinity for the somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (sst2). One aim of our study was to evaluate the expression of somatostatin receptors in the lungs of patients with IPF. A second aim was to evaluate the relationship between 111In-octreotide uptake and the effect of pulmonary fibrosis as assessed by lung function tests and parameters and by radiologic findings. METHODS: We investigated 11 patients with IPF, 6 patients with pulmonary fibrosis associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and 19 patients with disease not of the lung (control patients). The expression of somatostatin receptors was evaluated in vivo using 111In-octreotide scintigraphy. We evaluated the relationship between 111In-octreotide uptake and the activity of pulmonary fibrosis as assessed by lung function tests, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cellularity, and high-resolution CT (HRCT) of the chest. Planar images and thoracic SPECT (24 h) were performed after injection of 222 MBq of 111In-octreotide. Lung uptake was quantified using the lung-to-background ratio (L/B). In addition, the expression of sst2 was evaluated in vitro, in frozen lung-tissue samples using autoradiography, and in human cultures of lung fibroblasts using a ligand-binding assay. RESULTS: Compared with lung uptake in control patients (median L/B, 1.25; range, 1.14-1.49), lung uptake was increased in all 11 IPF patients (median L/B, 2.63; range, 1.59-3.13; P < 0.001) and in 4 of 6 SSc patients (median L/B, 1.68; range, 1.42-2.16). The L/B was lower in SSc patients than in IPF patients (P = 0.011). Increased uptake correlated with the alteration of lung function (carbon monoxide diffusing capacity [rho = -0.655; P = 0.038], diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide and alveolar volume ratio [rho = -0.627; P = 0.047], vital capacity [rho = -0.609; P = 0.054], and total lung capacity [rho = -0.598; P = 0.058]) and with the intensity of alveolitis (total BAL cellularity [rho = 0.756; P = 0.045], neutrophil counts [rho = 0.738; P = 0.05]), and HRCT fibrosis score (rho = 0.673; P = 0.007). Autoradiography suggested that vascular structures were a prominent binding site. Lung fibroblasts expressed somatostatin receptors in vitro as measured by binding assay. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results identified an increased expression of sst2 in (mainly idiopathic) pulmonary fibrosis. Lung uptake correlates with the alteration of lung function and with the intensity of alveolitis.

Adult↗

(99m)Tc-annexin V and (111)In-antimyosin antibody uptake in experimental myocardial infarction in rats.

PURPOSE: (99m)Tc-annexin V (ANX) allows scintigraphic detection of apoptotic cells via specific binding to exposed phosphatidylserine. In myocardial infarction, apoptosis of myocytes is variable and depends especially on the presence or absence of coronary reperfusion. In this study, ANX uptake in non-reperfused experimental myocardial infarcts was compared with uptake of a marker of myocyte necrosis ((111)In-antimyosin antibodies, AM) and an immunohistochemical marker of apoptosis (Apostain). METHODS: The left anterior coronary artery was ligated in 47 Wistar rats, which were then injected with ANX (n=20), AM (n=21) or both (n=6). Myocardial uptake of ANX and AM was determined at 2 h (n=14), 4 h (n=14) and 24 h (n=19) after coronary ligation (CL), by quantitative autoradiography with (n=23) or without (n=24) gamma imaging. Heart-to-lung ratios (HLRs) and infarct-to-remote myocardium activity ratios (INRs) were calculated on the scintigrams and autoradiograms respectively. Cardiac sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin and Apostain. The above studies were repeated in 12 normal rats. RESULTS: All rats with CL showed increased ANX and AM uptake in cardiac areas on scintigrams 24 h after CL, with HLRs higher than in controls: 3.1+/-0.6 versus 1.5+/-0.3 (p=0.001) for ANX and 1.99+/-0.44 versus 1.01+/-0.05 (p<0.0005) for AM. Autoradiography showed intense ANX and AM uptake in infarcts, with comparable topography and INRs at 2 h, 4 h and 24 h after CL (4.6+/-0.9 versus 5.0+/-1.8 at 24 h), while Apostain staining was very low (0.06+/-0.06% of cells). CONCLUSION: In this model of persistent CL, we observed increased ANX uptake in injured myocardium, comparable in intensity, topography and kinetics to that of AM. There was only minimal Apostain staining in the same areas.

Animals↗

Noninvasive evaluation of acute capillary permeability changes during high-volume ventilation in rats with and without hypercapnic acidosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether hypercapnic acidosis attenuates acute alterations of pulmonary capillary permeability due to high lung stretch in rats using a simple, noninvasive, scintigraphic method. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Male adult Wistar rats weighing 291 +/- 7.5 g. INTERVENTIONS: Three groups of rats were studied: controls ventilated with a low (6 mL/kg body weight) tidal volume and rats ventilated with a high (38 mL/kg body weight) tidal volume under normocapnic (Paco(2) = 35.2 +/- 1.65 mm Hg) or hypercapnic (Paco(2) = 102.5 +/- 5.63 mm Hg) conditions. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pulmonary capillary permeability alterations were assessed by monitoring the rate of (111)In-transferrin accumulation in lung tissue. Respiratory system pressure-volume curves were registered and analyzed. High tidal volume ventilation increased In-transferrin plasma to lung flux in such a way that I(111)In-transferrin behaved like a marker of water. The rate of initial (first 30 mins of high tidal volume ventilation) lung transferrin accumulation measured by scintigraphy (standardized lung/heart ratio) was steady, correlated with the percent decrease in respiratory system compliance (a marker of edema progression), and did not differ between normocapnic and hypercapnic groups (18.9 +/- 3.97 vs. 14.2 +/- 2.89%/hr, not significant). However, lung In-tranferrin accumulation rate was highly scattered due to variable interindividual mechanical properties of the respiratory system. This rate was correlated with initial values of volume of the upper inflection point of the pressure-volume curve (r = -.53, p < .001) and end-inspiratory pressure (r = .54, p < .001). Mechanical properties were similar in normocapnic and hypercapnic rats. There was no difference between In-transferrin accumulation rates in these rats when a stringent selection was made based on end-inspiratory pressure (28-32 cm H(2)O) or body weight (330-360 g). CONCLUSIONS: Hypercapnic acidosis does not influence in vivo the acute increase in pulmonary capillary permeability due to high-volume ventilation.

Acidosis, Respiratory↗

Effects of carvedilol on myocardial sympathetic innervation in patients with chronic heart failure.

UNLABELLED: Carvedilol is a beta-blocking agent with antioxidant properties that has been shown to improve survival in chronic heart failure (CHF). Previous open-label studies have suggested that its use may have positive effects on the abnormalities of cardiac sympathetic innervation integrity and functioning. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that carvedilol exerts its beneficial effects on hemodynamics in parallel with an action on myocardial sympathetic activity and with its antioxidant property. METHODS: A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of carvedilol was conducted on 64 CHF patients. Patients underwent-before and after 6 mo of therapy with either carvedilol or placebo-measurements of cardiac sympathetic activity, circulating catecholamine level, and hemodynamic indices. Myocardial meta-(123)I-iodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG) uptake was used to assess the changes in myocardial sympathetic activity. The antioxidant properties of the plasma were assessed by measuring the percentage of nonhemolyzed erythrocytes and the volume of plasma capable of inhibiting 50% of hemolysis after an oxidative stress. Echographic left ventricular (LV) diameters, radionuclide LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and exercise cardiopulmonary capacity were measured to evaluate the hemodynamic response. RESULTS: End-diastolic and end-systolic LV diameters decreased (both P < 0.05) and LVEF increased (P = 0.03) in the carvedilol group, whereas these parameters remained unchanged in the placebo group. Carvedilol did not alter the submaximal exercise cardiopulmonary capacity or the circulating catecholamine level. The beneficial hemodynamic effects in the carvedilol group were associated with an increase in myocardial (123)I-MIBG uptake as assessed by both planar and tomographic imaging (P < 0.01). Carvedilol had no detectable effect on antioxidant properties of the plasma. CONCLUSION: The benefits of carvedilol on resting hemodynamics appear to be associated with a partial recovery of cardiac adrenergic innervation functioning without detectable antioxidant effect in the plasma.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Imaging apoptosis with (99m)Tc-annexin-V in experimental subacute myocarditis.

UNLABELLED: 99mTc-Annexin-V (ANX), which allows in vivo detection of apoptotic cells, is potentially a promising noninvasive tool to diagnose myocarditis. To test this assumption, we compared the myocardial uptake of ANX (imaging and quantitative autoradiography) in experimental subacute myocarditis (Wistar Bonn/Kobori rats [WBN/Kob]) and in normal Wistar rats. WBN/Kob is an inbred strain of Wistar rat in which myocardial injury mimicking subacute catecholamine-induced myocarditis spontaneously develops (course duration, 18 mo). The apoptotic myocardial rates were determined by immunohistochemical studies. METHODS: Fourteen WBN/Kob rats (8-10 mo old) and 12 control rats were injected with ANX (7.4 MBq/100 g). Ten-minute anterior planar thoracic images (matrix, 128 x 128) were obtained using a pinhole collimator, 1 and 4 h after injection. Heart-to-lung activity ratios were calculated on the scintigrams. Four hours after ANX injection, quantitative autoradiography of myocardial slices was performed, as well as histologic studies with hematoxylin-eosin and with a staining assay specific for apoptotic cells. RESULTS: Heart-to-lung activity ratios were higher in WBN/Kob rats than in control rats on 4-h images (2.07 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.66 +/- 0.06, P = 0.0007). Autoradiographic studies showed moderate diffuse, homogeneous myocardial ANX uptake significantly higher in WBN/Kob rats than in control rats: 54 +/- 4 versus 37 +/- 3 counts/mm(2) (P < 0.007). The apoptotic rate, evaluated with an apoptotic cell-staining assay, was 0.51% +/- 0.14% of cells in WBN/Kob rats versus 0.0042% +/- 0.0008% in control rats (P < 0.008). CONCLUSION: Compared with control rats, rats with subacute myocarditis mimicking catecholamine-induced myocarditis showed increased ANX myocardial uptake. This suggests a potential role for ANX imaging in the diagnosis of myocarditis.

Animals↗

Optimisation of the OS-EM algorithm and comparison with FBP for image reconstruction on a dual-head camera: a phantom and a clinical 18F-FDG study.

Iterative reconstruction algorithms, such as the ordered subsets expectation maximisation (OS-EM), are a promising alternative to filtered backprojection (FBP). The aims of this study were first to optimise the OS-EM algorithm in terms of iteration number and to study the usefulness of post-filtering, and second to compare OS-EM and FBP for image reconstruction on a fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) dual-head camera (DHC). These two goals were addressed using phantom acquisitions. The performances of these algorithms were also studied in patient acquisitions performed on a DHC and a PET on the same day. Phantom experiments were performed on a DHC using a Jaszczak phantom containing six spheres filled with (18)F-FDG, two background levels (0.95, 6.80 kBq/ml) and three object contrasts (5.9, 3.7, 2.7). The reconstruction algorithms were FBP with a Gaussian filter (FWHM 0.5-2 pixel width) and OS-EM using 8-128 equivalent iterations (equivalent to the ML-EM algorithm) with and without Gaussian post-filtering [OS-EM (iterations, pixel width)]. Contrast recovery coefficient (CRC) and noise characteristics were assessed. Twenty-two patients (21 male, one female; age 55+/-15 years) with lung cancer underwent, on the same day, PET (1 h post injection of 37 MBq/kg (18)F-FDG) and DHC acquisitions (3 h post injection). DHC data were reconstructed using six methods: FBP (1), OS-EM (16), (40), (40,1), (64) and (64,1). These sets were evaluated by two observers and compared to PET reconstructed with OS-EM (16). The number of detected lesions and the visual quality were assessed. A marked improvement in CRC was observed with OS-EM as compared with FBP when more than 24 iterations were used. The CRC increased markedly from 8 to 40 iterations and then reached a plateau. The noise was stable until 40 iterations and then increased. The best compromise was obtained for OS-EM (32) and OS-EM (40,1). For the patient study, OS-EM provided images of better visual quality, but with no significant difference in detection sensitivity. OS-EM was superior to FBP in terms of contrast recovery and noise level. The optimal compromise between contrast recovery and noise was obtained for OS-EM (32) and (40,1) on the phantom study. The clinical study showed that OS-EM yielded images of better visual quality but with no improvement in terms of detection of lung cancer.

Algorithms↗

Incomplete resolution of ST-segment elevation is a marker of transient microcirculatory dysfunction after stenting for acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Incomplete ST-segment resolution (STR) after successful primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with a poor prognosis. We used intracoronary Doppler velocimetry to investigate whether incomplete STR after primary angioplasty is a marker of severe microcirculatory dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty patients with < or =12-hour AMI underwent successful primary angioplasty and systematic stenting with a Doppler guidewire. Patients with incomplete (<50%) STR 60 minutes after TIMI 3 flow was restored had flow velocity features suggestive of severe microcirculatory dysfunction, including a higher incidence of early systolic retrograde flow (41% versus 9%, P=0.007) and lower coronary flow velocity reserve (CVR, 1.3 versus 1.6, P<0.001). CVR improved immediately after stenting in patients with > or =50% STR but not in patients with <50% STR. There was a significant correlation between STR and poststent CVR. At 3 months, CVR was similar in patients with <50% and > or =50% STR. However, left ventriculography indicated lower global (42% versus 55%, P=0.001) and regional (16% versus 20%, P=0.03) left ventricular ejection fractions and 201Tl rest-redistribution scintigraphy indicated a larger infarct size (34% versus 16% 201Tl defect, P=0.007) in patients with <50% STR. CONCLUSIONS: After successful primary angioplasty with systematic stenting, <50% STR is a marker of severe albeit transient microcirculatory dysfunction in patients with AMI and is associated with more extensive myocardial damage.

Aged↗

Comparative value of ECG-gated blood pool SPET and ECG-gated myocardial perfusion SPET in the assessment of global systolic left ventricular function.

Both electrocardiographically (ECG) gated blood pool SPET (GBPS) and ECG-gated myocardial perfusion SPET (GSPET) are currently used for the measurement of global systolic left ventricular (LV) function. In this study, we aimed to compare the value of GSPET and GBPS for this purpose. The population included 65 patients who underwent rest thallium-201 GSPET imaging at 15 min after (201)Tl injection followed by planar (planar(RNA)) and GBPS equilibrium radionuclide angiography immediately after 4-h redistribution myocardial perfusion SPET imaging. Thirty-five patients also underwent LV conventional contrast angiography (X-rays). LV ejection fraction (EF) and LV volume [end-diastolic (EDV) and end-systolic (ESV) volumes] were calculated with GBPS and GSPET and compared with the gold standard methods (planar(RNA) LVEF and X-ray based calculation of LV volume). For both LVEF and LV volume, the inter-observer variability was lower with GBPS than with GSPET. GBPS LVEF was higher than planar(RNA) (P<0.01) and GSPET LVEF (P<0.01). Planar(RNA) LVEF showed a slightly better correlation with GBPS LVEF than with GSPET LVEF: r=0.87 and r=0.83 respectively. GSPET LV volume was lower than that obtained using X-rays and GBPS (P<0.01 for both). LV volume calculated using X-rays showed a slightly better correlation with GBPS LV volume than with GSPET LV volume: r=0.88 and r=0.83 respectively. On stepwise regression analysis, the accuracy of GSPET for the measurement of LVEF and LV volume was correlated with a number of factors, including planar(RNA) LVEF, signal to noise ratio, LV volume calculated using X-rays, summed rest score and acquisition scan distance (i.e. the radius of rotation). The accuracy of GBPS for the measurement of LVEF and LV volume was correlated only with the signal level, the signal to noise ratio and the acquisition scan distance. Both GSPET and GBPS provide reliable estimation of global systolic LV function. The better reliability of GBPS and in particular its lower sensitivity to different variables as compared with GSPET favours its use when precise assessment of global systolic LV function is clinically indicated.

Adult↗

Activity and diffusion of tigecycline (GAR-936) in experimental enterococcal endocarditis.

The activity of tigecycline (GAR-936), a novel glycylcycline, was investigated in vitro and in experimental endocarditis due to the susceptible Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2 strain, its VanA type transconjugant BM4316, and a clinical VanA type strain, E. faecium HB217 resistant to tetracycline. MICs of GAR-936 were 0.06 micro g/ml for the three strains. In vitro pharmacodynamic studies demonstrated a bacteriostatic effect of GAR-936 that was not enhanced by increasing concentrations to more than 1 micro g/ml and a postantibiotic effect ranging from 1 to 4.5 h for concentrations of 1- to 20-fold the MIC. Intravenous injection of [(14)C]GAR-936 to five rabbits with enterococcal endocarditis sacrificed 30 min, 4 h, or 12 h after the end of the infusion evidenced a lower clearance of GAR-936 from aortic vegetations than from serum and a homogeneous diffusion of GAR-936 into the vegetations. In rabbits with endocarditis, GAR-936 (14 mg/kg of body weight twice a day [b.i.d.]) given intravenously for 5 days was bacteriostatic against both strains of E. faecalis. Against E. faecium HB217, bacterial counts in vegetations significantly decreased during therapy (P < 0.01), and the effect was similar with GAR-936 at 14 mg/kg b.i.d., 14 mg/kg once a day (o.d.), and 7 mg/kg o.d., which provided concentrations in serum constantly above the MIC. Mean serum elimination half-life ranged from 3.3 to 3.6 h. No GAR-936-resistant mutants were selected in vivo with any regimen. We concluded that the combination of prolonged half-life, significant postantibiotic effect, and good and homogeneous diffusion into the vegetations may account for the in vivo activity of GAR-936 against enterococci susceptible or resistant to glycopeptides and tetracyclines, even when using a o.d. regimen in rabbits.

Animals↗

Performance of OSEM and depth-dependent resolution recovery algorithms for the evaluation of global left ventricular function in 201Tl gated myocardial perfusion SPECT.

UNLABELLED: It is unknown whether the use of ordered-subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) and depth-dependent resolution recovery (RR) will increase the accuracy of (201)Tl electrocardiogram-gated SPECT (GSPECT) for the measurement of global left ventricular (LV) function. METHODS: Fifty-six patients having both rest (201)Tl GSPECT and planar equilibrium radionuclide angiography (planar(RNA)) on the same day were studied. Twenty-nine patients also had LV conventional contrast angiography (Rx). LV ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic volume (EDV), and end-systolic volume (ESV) were calculated with the quantitative gated SPECT software (QGS) using 4 different processing methods: filtered backprojection (FBP), OSEM, RR + FBP, and RR + OSEM. LVEF calculated with planar(RNA) and LV EDV and ESV calculated with Rx were considered gold standards. LVEF and volumes provided with the GSPECT methods were compared with the gold standard methods. RESULTS: LVEF calculated with GSPECT methods (FBP, OSEM, RR + FBP, and RR + OSEM) were similar (not statistically significant) and correlated well with planar(RNA). On Bland-Altman analysis, the mean +/- SD of absolute difference in LVEF with GSPECT FBP, OSEM, RR + FBP, and RR + OSEM methods versus planar(RNA) were similar, with relatively large limits of agreement. LV volumes calculated with the 4 GSPECT methods were significantly lower but correlated well with Rx LV volumes. LV volumes calculated with FBP and OSEM were lower than those calculated with RR + FBP and RR + OSEM (P < 0.01). On Bland-Altman analysis, the mean +/- SD of absolute difference in LV volumes with FBP, OSEM, RR + FBP, and RR + OSEM versus Rx was, respectively, 56 +/- 45 mL (P < 0.01 vs. the other 3 methods), 57 +/- 45 mL (P < 0.01 vs. the other 3 methods), 43 +/- 48 mL, and 46 +/- 47 mL, with correspondingly large limits of agreement. The variance of random error did not differ between FBP, OSEM, RR + FBP, and RR + OSEM for either LVEF or volumes. CONCLUSION: OSEM and FBP presented similar accuracy for LVEF and volume measured with the QGS software. Their combination with depth-dependent RR provided similar LVEF but more accurate LV volumes.

Algorithms↗

Inability of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin scintigraphy to discriminate between septic and sterile osteoarticular diseases.

UNLABELLED: Ciprofloxacin labeled with (99m)Tc specifically binds to various bacteria. Thus, it potentially constitutes a specific marker allowing discrimination between septic arthritis/osteomyelitis and aseptic osteoarticular diseases. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate such properties in patients with skeletal diseases. METHODS: We prospectively investigated 2 groups of patients: patients with suspected osteoarticular infections (G1, n = 16) and a control group of patients with a presentation of osteoarticular diseases and no sign suggestive of infection (G2, n = 11). All had clinical, biologic, and radiologic evaluations and had 1-, 4-, and 24-h images from (99m)Tc-ciprofloxacin scintigraphy (370 MBq) before planned biopsy or surgery. For 23 patients, the scintigraphic results were compared with histologic and bacteriologic analyses of biopsy tissue samples; for 4 patients, the scintigraphic results were compared with the findings from 23 +/- 5 mo of follow-up. RESULTS: In G1, (99m)Tc-ciprofloxacin findings were true-positive in all 11 infected sites, true-negative in 2 cases, and false-positive in 3. In G2, (99m)Tc-ciprofloxacin was true-negative in 4 cases and false-positive in 7. Neither the location of (99m)Tc-ciprofloxacin activity nor its intensity or kinetics between 1, 4, and 24 h allowed discrimination between infection and aseptic diseases (sterile loosened joint replacement, pseudoarthrosis, or arthrosis). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 100%, 37.5%, and 63%. CONCLUSION: (99m)Tc-Ciprofloxacin scintigraphy showed good sensitivity and a high negative predictive value for the detection of bone and joint infection, but it did not discriminate between infected and aseptic osteoarticular diseases in symptomatic patients referred for surgery.

Adult↗

Evaluation of (99m)Tc-ciprofloxacin scintigraphy in a rabbit model of Staphylococcus aureus prosthetic joint infection.

UNLABELLED: Ciprofloxacin, a quinolone antibiotic drug, binds to DNA topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase of various bacteria. Thus ciprofloxacin labeled with (99m)Tc could potentially act as a specific marker allowing discrimination between infection and sterile inflammation. We evaluated these properties on a rabbit model of prosthetic joint infection previously validated. We compared the images obtained in 2 groups of animals: rabbits with infected (G1; n = 6) and uninfected (G2; n = 7) prosthesis. METHODS: Partial right-knee arthroplasty was performed on 13 New Zealand White female rabbits, with a tibial silicone-elastomer implant fitting into the intramedullary canal of the tibia. After the surgical wound was closed, 10(7) cfu of a clinical strain of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus were injected into the joint in G1 rabbits. G2 rabbits were injected with sterile saline. No antibiotic therapy was given to the animals. (99m)Tc-ciprofloxacin planar imaging was performed on days 5, 12, and 19 after surgery, and after 3 mo in 1 uninfected rabbit. Images were obtained 1, 4, and 24 h after injection (147 +/- 13 MBq). RESULTS: In G1, increased right knee (99m)Tc-ciprofloxacin uptake was observed in 3 of 5 rabbits on day 5, and in all cases on days 12 and 19. Killing of the animals revealed purulent arthritis, osteitis, and tibial myelitis. In G2, significant right-knee uptake was found on days 12 and 19 in 5 of 6 rabbits, and after 3 mo in 1; all sets of images were negative in 1 animal. Bacteriologic studies after the animals were killed were negative in G2. Mean right/left knee uptake ratios on day 19 (4-h images) were 1.8 +/- 0.4 in G1 versus 1.4 +/- 0.3 in G2 (not significant). Late images did not discriminate between infected and uninfected arthroplasty. CONCLUSION: Results of (99m)Tc-ciprofloxacin imaging in rabbits with infected/uninfected knee prosthesis suggest good sensitivity but lack of specificity for the detection of S. aureus infection.

Animals↗

Detection of neuroendocrine tumors: 99mTc-P829 scintigraphy compared with 111In-pentetreotide scintigraphy.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of a new somatostatin analog, 99mTc-P829, compared with that of 111In-pentetreotide. METHODS: Forty-three patients (32 men, 11 women; age range, 24-78 y; mean age, 56 y) with biologically or histologically proven neuroendocrine tumors were prospectively included: 11 patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, 16 patients with carcinoid tumors, and 16 patients with other types of functioning (n = 6) or nonfunctioning (n = 10) endocrine tumors. 111In-Pentetreotide planar images (head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis) were obtained 4 and 24 h after injection of 10 microg somatostatin analog labeled with 148 +/- 17 MBq 111In, and SPECT was performed 24 h after injection. Similar (99m)Tc-P829 planar images were obtained at 1, 4-6, and 24 h after injection of 50 microg peptide labeled with 991.6 +/- 187.59 MBq 99mTc. Abdominal SPECT was performed 4-6 h after injection. RESULTS: 111In-Pentetreotide detected 203 tumoral sites in 39 (91%) of 43 patients, whereas 99mTc-P829 detected 77 sites in 28 (65%) of 43 patients (P < 0.005). In the liver, 129 sites (in 24 patients) were detected by 111In-pentetreotide scintigraphy and 34 sites (in 10 patients) were detected by 99mTc-P829 scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: In patients with endocrine tumors, the detection rate of 99mTc-P829 scintigraphy was lower than that of 111In-pentetreotide scintigraphy, which appeared to be more sensitive, especially for liver metastases.

Carcinoid Tumor↗

Discordance between exercise SPECT lung Tl-201 uptake and left ventricular transient ischemic dilation in patients with CAD.

BACKGROUND: In patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), the characteristics of those with discordant exercise thallium 201 single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) lung uptake (lung-to-heart [L/H] ratio) and left ventricular (LV) transient ischemic dilation (LVTID) are not well defined. METHODS AND RESULTS: The population included 310 patients having exercise Tl-201 SPECT and coronary angiography. The population was subclassified into 4 subgroups: increased L/H ratio only, increased LVTID only, both, and neither. The L/H ratio was weakly correlated to LVTID (r = 0.18). The L/H ratio was correlated to the summed difference score (r = 0.26), summed rest score (r = 0.31), summed stress score (r = 0.5), and rest and stress LV volume (r = 0.5 and r = 0.54, respectively). LVTID was only correlated to the summed difference score (r = 0.32) and stress LV volume (r = 0.17). Increased LVTID only was associated with more frequent ischemia and patients with it tended to be more extensively ischemic, as compared with patients with increased L/H ratio only, but had a similar angiographic extent of CAD. These results were independent of prior myocardial infarction variable. CONCLUSIONS: As compared with patients with increased L/H ratio alone, patients with increased LVTID alone are more frequently ischemic but have a similar angiographic extent of CAD. Increased L/H ratio was correlated to both rest and postexercise LV volume, whereas increased LVTID was correlated only to postexercise LV volume.

Aged↗

Automatic quantification of right ventricular function with gated blood pool SPECT.

BACKGROUND: Quantification of right ventricular (RV) function is clinically relevant for the risk stratification and follow-up of patients with a wide spectrum of disease. This can be achieved with electrocardiography-gated blood pool single photon emission computed tomography (GBPS). We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the completely automatic QBS GBPS processing software as compared with equilibrium planar radionuclide angiography (RNA) and with a GBPS manual segmentation method (GBPS(35%)) for the measurement of global RV ejection fraction (EF), taking the first-pass RNA (FP-RNA) as the gold standard. In parallel, we compared the RVEF, RV end-diastolic volume (EDV), and RV end-systolic volume (ESV) provided by QBS and GBPS(35%). METHODS AND RESULTS: The population included 85 patients with chronic post-embolic pulmonary hypertension. Twenty-one patients were excluded because of unsuccessful FP-RNA. Intraobserver and interobserver RVEF, RVEDV, and RVESV reproducibilities encountered with planar RNA, QBS, and GBPS(35%) were similar and compared favorably with those calculated with FP-RNA for RVEF. Mean RVEF was different between all methods. RVEF calculated with FP-RNA was better correlated to QBS (r = 0.68) and GBPS(35%) (r = 0.70) than to planar RNA (r = 0.59). RVEDV and RVESV with QBS were lower than with GBPS(35%), by 29% +/- 14% and 36% +/- 13%, respectively. RVEDV and RVESV with QBS were highly correlated to corresponding GBPS(35%) values: r = 0.88 and r = 0.91, respectively. CONCLUSION: As opposed to FP-RNA, GBPS is highly successful for the quantification of RV function. Both QBS and GBPS(35%) provide RVEF values similarly well correlated to FP-RNA and performed better than planar RNA. RVEF, RVEDV, and RVESV provided by QBS and GBPS(35%) are highly correlated. All of these RV functional measurements require further validation versus a better gold standard before their accuracy can be established.

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