Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine
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The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the degeneration of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway in Parkinson's disease by using the cocaine derivative [123I]beta-CIT (2-beta-carbomethoxy-3-beta(4-iodophenyl)-tropane or RTI-55) and SPECT and to relate the findings to the severity of the disease (Hoehn and Yahr scale, H/Y) and to clinical data such as motor score and activities of daily living. ⋯ The present study demonstrates that it is possible to visualize and quantify the degeneration of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons in PD using [123I]beta-CIT and SPECT with good correlation to clinical parameters.
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To visualize the regional localization of glutathione (GSH) in the brain, the relationship between the concentrations of tissue GSH and uptake of [99mTc]meso-hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime ([99mTc] meso-HMPAO) or [99mTc]d,l-hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime ([99mTc]d,l-HMPAO) was studied in mice. ⋯ Technetium-99m-meso-HMPAO may be a potential tool to assess GSH content and to estimate antioxidative ability in the brain.
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Comparative Study
Decision tree sensitivity analysis for cost-effectiveness of FDG-PET in the staging and management of non-small-cell lung carcinoma.
Preliminary studies have shown that PET is more accurate than CT for the staging of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). However, the potential effect of PET on the management of these patients and its cost-effectiveness has not been rigorously studied. Thus, we have used decision tree sensitivity analysis to assess the cost-effectiveness of a PET based strategy for staging of NSCLC. ⋯ These results show through rigorous decision tree analysis, the potential cost-effectiveness of using FDG PET in the management of NSCLC. These results form a basis for detailed study of the results obtained from multicenter trials on the accuracy of PET in NSCLC management. Furthermore, the techniques utilized for decision tree analysis have broad range of applicability to the entire field of nuclear medicine.
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Comparative Study
Bone scintigraphy evaluated in diagnosing and staging Langerhans' cell histiocytosis and related disorders.
An analysis of patients with proven Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) was undertaken with the aim of evaluating the role of bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis and staging of LCH. ⋯ Our results support the use of radiographic skeletal survey in the initial diagnosis of LCH. Bone scintigraphy may have a role in monitoring a patient's progress in which the initial scintigram and radiographic survey show good correlation.