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K L Greer

Publications and source records attributed to K L Greer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Cardiac phantom evaluation of simultaneously acquired dual-isotope rest thallium-201/stress technetium-99m SPECT images.

Simultaneously acquired dual-isotope 201Tl/99mTc SPECT studies were performed using cardiac and thoracic phantoms to evaluate the dual-isotope myocardial perfusion technique. Cardiac phantom images representing infarction, viable myocardium and various levels of ischemia were analyzed. Studies with and without attenuating media were performed, and myocardium-to-defect count ratios and defect sizes from dual-isotope SPECT images were compared to myocardium-to-defect count ratios and defect sizes from single-isotope (201Tl and 99mTc) SPECT images. Dual-isotope studies also were interpreted qualitatively. Studies with background activity simulating clinical conditions were performed and interpreted qualitatively. Myocardium-to-defect count ratios from both 99mTc and 201Tl were similar in single-isotope and dual-isotope SPECT images. Thallium-201 and 99mTc defect sizes were decreased slightly (mean +/- s.d., 1.0 +/- 1.7 cc for 201Tl and 0.7 +/- 1.0 cc for 99mTc) on dual studies when compared to single studies but were not statistically significant. Dual-isotope image simulations of normal, ischemic and infarcted and viable myocardium were correctly identified by experienced clinicians in 95% of the cases (21/22). Simultaneous dual-isotope 201Tl/99mTc SPECT imaging of cardiac phantoms produced images that had similar myocardium-to-defect count ratios to those produced using single-isotope techniques and were correctly evaluated on qualitative analysis. Changes in defect size related to dual-isotope imaging were minimal and not qualitatively important.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1993

Fast transmission CT for determining attenuation maps using a collimated line source, rotatable air-copper-lead attenuators and fan-beam collimation.

We describe a technique using a line source and a rotatable air-copper-lead assembly to acquire gamma transmission computed tomographic (TCT) data for determining attenuation maps to compensate SPECT emission scans. The technique minimizes problems associated with discriminating 99mTc transmission and 201Tl emission photons and requires only a modest increase in total study time. A 99mTc line source and a stacked foil ("multislat") collimator are placed near the focal line of a fan-beam collimator (114 cm focal length) mounted on one detector of a triple-camera SPECT system. We acquired TCT data of plastic rod and anthropomorphic thorax phantoms to investigate the capability of the line source and rotatable air-copper-lead attenuators to determine attenuation maps. The data were acquired with and without 5.4 MBq (145 microCi) of 201Tl placed in the myocardial chamber of the thorax phantom. Phantoms also were scanned using a curved transmission slab source mounted to a parallel-hole collimator. Fan-beam TCT images have improved resolution compared with parallel-beam TCT images. Two patient scans also were performed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of fan-beam TCT. The rotatable air-copper-lead attenuator method eliminates contamination of emission data by transmission photons and reduces spill-over of emission data into the transmission energy window for some cases. Results show the feasibility of using fast, sequential or interlaced transmission scans of a line source within a rotatable air-copper-lead attenuator assembly to obtain accurate attenuation maps for SPECT attenuation compensation.

Female↗
PubMed1992

Conserved relationship between psbH and petBD genes: presence of a shared upstream element in Prochlorothrix hollandica.

Prochlorophytes are an unusual group of prokaryotic oxygenic photoautotrophs that morphologically appear to bridge the gap between cyanobacteria and the chloroplasts of eukaryotic plants. Molecular data place this group evolutionarily within the cyanobacteria, but they have a photosynthetic apparatus that is very similar to that found in chloroplasts. We have sequenced from the prochlorophyte Prochlorothrix hollandica a set of genes (psbB, psbH, petB and petD) that has a conserved organization in chloroplast genomes that is different from the organization in cyanobacterial genomes. The four genes are linked as an operon in chloroplasts, but only petB and petD are closely linked and cotranscribed in cyanobacteria. Although the prochlorophyte gene arrangement resembles that of cyanobacteria, one feature suggests the coordinated regulation of the unlinked genes. A 93 bp region of absolute conservation occurs upstream of the psbH gene and the petBD operon, near the site of transcription initiation in each gene set. This conserved element may indicate an alternative to cotranscription for achieving co-regulation of the psbH and petBD genes in the prochlorophyte.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Quantitative SPECT reconstruction of iodine-123 data.

Many clinical and research studies in nuclear medicine require quantitation of iodine-123 (123I) distribution for the determination of kinetics or localization. The objective of this study was to implement several reconstruction methods designed for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using 123I and to evaluate their performance in terms of quantitative accuracy, image artifacts, and noise. The methods consisted of four attenuation and scatter compensation schemes incorporated into both the filtered backprojection/Chang (FBP) and maximum likelihood-expectation maximization (ML-EM) reconstruction algorithms. The methods were evaluated on data acquired of a phantom containing a hot sphere of 123I activity in a lower level background 123I distribution and nonuniform density media. For both reconstruction algorithms, nonuniform attenuation compensation combined with either scatter subtraction or Metz filtering produced images that were quantitatively accurate to within 15% of the true value. The ML-EM algorithm demonstrated quantitative accuracy comparable to FBP and smaller relative noise magnitude for all compensation schemes.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Noise characteristics for cone beam collimators: a comparison with parallel hole collimator.

In order to evaluate the properties of a cone beam (CB) collimator and three-dimensional filtered backprojection algorithm, the noise characteristics of this collimator configuration were determined and comparisons with a parallel hole (PH) collimator were made. Noise characteristics were evaluated using two approaches: the first consisted of assessing the magnitude of local random fluctuations in the reconstructed images, and the second consisted of assessing the noise texture in these images in the frequency domain by evaluating the noise power spectrum. Data used for these measurements were simulated using Monte Carlo models of SPECT systems equipped with cone beam and parallel hole collimators. Finally, to compare experimentally a specially designed high resolution CB collimator with a high resolution (HRES) PH collimator, measurements of a physical phantom were performed. Results of our studies show better noise magnitude for CB collimators; however, for CB collimators with short focal lengths (40-60 cm) the shape of %RMS noise distributions differs from slice to slice.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed1988

SPECT using a specially designed cone beam collimator.

A specially designed high resolution converging collimator having a focal length of 50 cm has been evaluated for cone beam single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The focal region was investigated by imaging a point source placed at the expected focal point and along the central ray of the collimator in front of and behind the focal point. Technetium-99m point source sensitivities measured in air at 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm from the collimator surface are 4.2, 5.5, 7.3, and 10.5 cts.sec-1.microCi-1 when used with a single camera SPECT system. A commercially available parallel hole collimator, with similar resolution characteristics has a measured sensitivity of 3.3 cts.sec-1.microCi-1. Volume sensitivities of 9,780 and 4,945 (cts.sec-1)/(microCi.ml-1) were measured for the cone beam and parallel hole collimators, respectively, using a 17-cm-diameter spherical source. Reconstructed spatial resolution (FWHM) on the axis-of-rotation ranged between 10 and 11 mm for both collimators when the radius of rotation was equal to 15 cm. Using equal acquisition times SPECT images of phantoms scanned with the cone beam collimator were visually improved compared with images acquired using the parallel hole collimator. These results demonstrate that a factor of 2 improvement in volume sensitivity can be demonstrated with a cone beam collimator compared with a commercially available parallel hole collimator. Further improvements are possible using shorter focal lengths, astigmatic focusing, and larger field of view cameras.

Brain↗
PubMed1987

Experimentally measured scatter fractions and energy spectra as a test of Monte Carlo simulations.

A method for the validation of Monte Carlo photon transport calculations is presented, with particular emphasis on the scatter component of such calculations. The method is based on a quantitative comparison of calculated and experimental scatter fractions. In addition, the method includes a qualitative comparison of point spread functions and energy spectra. An application of the method is demonstrated by comparing the results of an existing Monte Carlo code with experimental results obtained with a gamma camera viewing a point source of 99Tcm (140 keV gamma rays) centred within a water-filled cylinder. The results of the comparisons show good agreement between experiment and calculation. These results allow the code to be used with increased confidence in a variety of situations, and they define more precisely the region of applicability of the code. In addition, the determination of scatter fractions and energy spectra is useful for other applications. For example, scatter fractions can be a useful parameter for evaluating possible techniques for scatter compensation.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed1987

Brain phantom: high-resolution imaging with SPECT and I-123.

Inverse Monte Carlo (IMOC) is a unified reconstruction algorithm for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) that provides simultaneous compensation for attenuation and collimator divergence. IMOC was applied to the reconstruction of SPECT images of a brain phantom with iodine-123 and high-resolution collimation. Projection sets containing 80,000, 540,000, and 5.2 million counts were reconstructed. Comparison with filtered back-projection reconstructions showed that the IMOC reconstructions provided superior noise and resolution characteristics at all three photon densities. Results of this study indicate that IMOC may allow the use of high-resolution, low-sensitivity collimation for SPECT studies, which have traditionally provided photon yields too low for useful imaging.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1987

Nonisotropic attenuation in SPECT: phantom tests of quantitative effects and compensation techniques.

A quantitative study of nonisotropic attenuation in SPECT imaging is presented. The study includes a case where the spatial distribution of the attenuation coefficient is nonuniform, as well as a case where the photon path length in the attenuating medium is variable as a function of direction. The effects are studied using phantoms with known source activity and density distributions. Reconstructed images of the phantoms with and without attenuation compensation are compared with the source distribution. Three methods are used to provide partial attenuation compensation, using effective attenuation coefficients. These coefficients include some of the effects of photon scatter, but scatter is not explicitly treated. One attenuation compensation method involves a multiplicative postprocessing correction using an assumed constant attenuation coefficient. A modification of this technique is implemented using the correct nonuniform attenuation map to determine the multiplication factors. A single-iteration technique is used to provide a more complete compensation. The results indicate that nonuniform attenuation can produce significant distortion in line spread functions and in larger distributed sources. This distortion can alter volume determinations, quantitation measurements, and the shape of small objects, and can cause misplacement of counts into regions of low density. The distortion cannot be eliminated by the multiplicative postprocessing correction, but the single-iteration technique can significantly decrease the distortion.

Models, Structural↗
PubMed1986

The Water Oxidation Complex of Chlamydomonas: Accumulation and Maturation of the Largest Subunit in Photosystem II Mutants.

Photosystem II particles of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contain three extrinsic polypeptides of 29, 20, and 16 kilodaltons, whose functions are incompletely defined. We prepared a monospecific polyclonal antibody against the 29 kilodalton protein and determined that it also specifically recognizes a protein of approximately 33 kilodaltons in thylakoid membrane fractions of several vascular plants, eukaryotic algae, and a cyanobacterium. The cross-reacting 33 kilodalton protein of pea was removed from inverted thylakoid vesicles by CaCl(2) washes demonstrating the structural relationship between the Chlamydomonas polypeptide and the largest subunit of the water oxidation complex of vascular plants. Functional identity of the Chlamydomonas polypeptide was confirmed by antibody inhibition of O(2) evolution in inverted pea vesicles. In contrast to wild-type cells, only low levels of the 29 kilodalton polypeptide are recovered with purified thylakoid membranes of the mutants examined. However, we show that the mature form of the 29 kilodalton polypeptide accumulates to wild-type levels in whole cell extracts of photosystem II deficient mutants and a water oxidation mutant of Chlamydomonas. Impaired membrane assembly has no effect on the maturation or stability of this component of the multi-subunit water oxidation complex.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Inverse Monte Carlo as a unified reconstruction algorithm for ECT.

Tomographic reconstruction for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with simultaneous compensation for attenuation, scatter, and distance dependent collimator resolution is provided by an Inverse Monte Carlo (IMOC) reconstruction algorithm. A detection probability matrix is formed by Monte Carlo solution to the photon transport equation for SPECT acquisition from a unit source activity in each reconstruction source voxel. The measured projection vector will equal the product of this detection probability matrix with the unknown source distribution vector. The resulting large, nonsparse system of equations is solved for the source distribution using an iterative Maximum Likelihood EM estimator. Reconstruction of experimentally acquired projections from phantoms shows quantitative compensation for scatter and attenuation. Comparison with filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstruction shows an improvement in resolution recovery, contrast, and signal-to-noise for the IMOC algorithm. Reconstruction of clinical studies shows improved contrast, structural resolution, and noise characteristics.

Humans↗
PubMed1985

Deconvolution of Compton scatter in SPECT.

A deconvolution algorithm has been developed which compensates for Compton scattering in SPECT images. Compton scatter is modeled as a convolution of the nonscattered projection data with an exponential function. Deconvolution of the total (scatter + nonscatter) projection data yields compensated true projection. Using Monte Carlo methods, the scattered and nonscattered components of a SPECT image are simulated thus allowing a comparison of scatter compensated results with direct nonscatter results. The quality of the compensation is evaluated by comparing the ratio of total to direct counts with the ratio of compensated to direct counts. This deconvolution technique has been developed and evaluated for experimentally acquired SPECT data as well as for simulated data.

Filtration↗
PubMed1984

Effects of characteristic x-rays on assay of I-123 by dose calibrator.

Large differences in dose-calibrator readings are obtained if "high-purity" I-123 is assayed in different containers. Large correction factors are necessary for assaying another isotope of iodine, I-125, in a dose calibrator, because of absorption of the low-energy (28.4-keV, weighted mean) emissions. We found that up to 70% of the dose-calibrator response to I-123 can be due to characteristic x-rays with energies exactly the same as those emitted by I-125, and that dose-calibrator response to I-123 is also strongly affected by the absorption properties of the vial. An appropriate method to define I-123 activity uses a gamma camera with a medium-energy collimator to establish correction factors for dose-calibrator assay of I-123 in different containers. Correction factors for a plastic syringe and a thick-wall glass vial, were determined using this method. Measurement of I-123 activity in a copper absorber will eliminate the response to x-rays, and the gamma camera is useful in establishing the necessary correction factors.

Calibration↗
PubMed1984

Improved SPECT quantification using compensation for scattered photons.

SPECT images are degraded by the inclusion of Compton-scattered photons within the pulse-height window. Phantom and patient studies with Tc-99m were used to evaluate a compensation method that consists of subtracting a fraction of the image reconstructed using events recorded within a secondary pulse-height window (92-125 keV) from that derived from the photopeak pulse-height window (127-153 keV). Images of line sources in air and in a water-filled phantom were stored. The compensated line spread functions (LSFs) were evaluated. In water, the absolute counting rates for the SPECT LSFs were within 10% of the rates measured in air. The phantom consisted of six solid acrylic spheres (diameters 10, 13, 16, 19, 25, 32 mm) placed within a cylindrical (22 cm diam) distribution of Tc-99m. For sphere diameters greater than 25 mm, the measured image contrasts were within 8% of the true uptake ratios. Our results have shown that high-quality, camera-based SPECT systems can reconstruct artifact-free images by making additional use of projection data acquired in a pulse-height window other than that over the primary photopeak. This compensation method results in qualitative and quantitative improvements for the limited source geometries investigated. Further studies are required to optimize this heuristic approach for other source geometries.

Humans↗