Search Results (8,017)

Background: Fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeted theranostic radiopharmaceuticals have shown desired tumor-to-background organ selectivity due to the ubiquitous presence of FAP within the tumor microenvironment. However, suboptimal tumor retention and fast clearance have hindered their use to deliver effective cancer therapies. With well-documented FAP-targeting moieties and linkers appending them to optimal chelators, the development of copper radiopharmaceuticals has attracted considerable interest, given the fact that an ideal theranostic pair of copper radionuclides (⁶⁴Cu: t_1/2 = 12.7 h; 17.4% β⁺; E_β⁺_max = 653 keV and ⁶⁷Cu: t_1/2 = 2.58 d; 100% β⁻; E_β⁻_max = 562 keV) are available. Herein, we report our design, synthesis, and comparative evaluation of monovalent and divalent FAP-targeted theranostic conjugates constructed from our previously reported bifunctional chelator scaffold (BFS) based on 1,4,8,11-tetraaza-bicyclo [6.6.2]hexadecane-4,11-diacetic acid (CB-TE2A), which forms the most stable complex with Cu(II). Methods: After synthesis and characterization, the monovalent and divalent conjugates were radiolabeled with ⁶⁴Cu for in vitro cell assays, followed by in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging evaluation in relevant mouse models. Results: Both ⁶⁴Cu-labeled conjugates showed high in vitro stability and anticipated FAP-mediated cell binding and internalization. The divalent one showed significantly higher FAP-specific tumor uptake than its monovalent counterpart. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the BFS-based multivalent approach can be practically used to generate FAP-targeted radiotheranostic agents for effective cancer diagnosis and treatment. Full article

In this work, an effective route for achieving high-performance all-polymer materials through the proper manipulation of the material microstructure and starting from a waste material is proposed. In particular, recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) fibers from discarded safety belts were used as reinforcing phase in melt-compounded high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-based systems. The formulated composites were subjected to hot- and cold-stretching for obtaining filaments at different draw ratios. The performed characterizations pointed out that the material morphology can be profitably modified through the application of the elongational flow, which was proven able to promote significant microstructural evolutions of the rPET dispersed domains, eventually leading to the obtainment of micro-fibrillated all-polymer composites. Furthermore, tensile tests demonstrated that hot-stretched and, especially, cold-stretched materials show significantly enhanced tensile modulus and strength as compared to the unfilled HDPE filaments, likely due to the formation of a highly oriented and anisotropic microstructure. Full article

Background: Traditional imaging techniques have limited efficacy in detecting occult cervical lymph node (LN) metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) has demonstrated potential for assessing HNSCC, but the literature on its efficacy for detecting cervical LN metastases is scarce and exhibits varied outcomes, hindering comparisons. Aim: To compare the efficacy of CT, MRI, PET-CT, and US for detecting LN metastasis in HNSCC with clinically negative neck lymph nodes. Methods: A systematic search was performed using Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Studies comparing CT, MRI, PET-CT, or US to detect cervical metastases in HNSCC were identified. The quality of the studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 instrument. The positive likelihood ratios (+LR) and negative likelihood ratios (−LR), sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), with 95% confidence intervals (C.I.), were calculated. Analysis was stratified according to lymph node and patient basis. Results: Fifty-seven studies yielded 3791 patients. At the patient level, PET-CT exhibited the highest diagnostic performance, with a SEN of 74.5% (95% C.I.: 65.4–81.8%) and SPE of 83.6% (95% C.I.: 77.2–88.5%). PET-CT also demonstrated the highest +LR of 4.303 (95% C.I.: 3.082–6.008) and the lowest −LR of 0.249 (95% C.I.: 0.168–0.370), resulting in the highest DOR of 15.487 (95% C.I.: 8.973–26.730). In the evaluation of diagnostic parameters for various imaging modalities on node-based analysis results, MRI exhibited the highest SEN at 77.4%, and PET demonstrated the highest SPE at 96.6% (95% C.I.: 94.4–98%). PET-CT achieved the highest DOR at 24.353 (95% C.I.: 10.949–54.166). Conclusions: PET-CT outperformed other imaging modalities across the majority of studied metrics concerning LN metastasis detection in HNSCC. Full article

The rising challenge of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste necessitates efficient collection methods to mitigate environmental impacts. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is one of the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approaches utilized in this study. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was used to rank each alternative according to the objective weight that AHP had produced. Also, sensitivity analysis was performed to determine how robust the findings were when considering equal weights and entropy weights to maximize PET waste collection techniques. The alternative achieved the objective of obtaining the best collection method, Threshold Plastic Bottle Waste Collection (T_pbw), out of all the three alternatives considered. Another MCDA approach, VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR), was used to compare the results and validate the ranking result achieved by the TOPSIS method. The VIKOR technique’s validation of the TOPSIS approach showed that the outcomes were highly consistent. Data for the study were gathered from the archives of waste management companies on possible practices of plastic waste collection, addressing costs, environmental impacts, social acceptance, feasibility, and efficiency. The findings provide a prioritized framework for enhancing PET waste collection strategies, contributing to sustainable waste management. Many criteria are considered when deciding the best collecting method for PET waste recycling, making it challenging. By using criteria importance, MCDA was applied in this study, and the objective weight of the criteria was determined using the AHP. The five criteria considered in this study are Initial investment cost, operational cost, transportation cost, environmental risk, employment potential, and the objective weights allocated to them. AHP results 0.4952, 0.1997, 0.1565, 0.0870, and 0.0616 are, respectively, determined. Full article

Cardiotoxicity refers to the damage induced by antineoplastic treatments, leading to various cardiovascular conditions. [¹⁸F]FDG PET radiomics analysis could provide relevant information on early onset changes occurring in cardiac metabolism of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Patients’ sociodemographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, laboratory parameters, and left ventricle [¹⁸F]FDG PET radiomic features are analyzed. The H_Rad index for the quantification of the heterogeneity of the metabolic uptake patterns is proposed. Statistical analysis is performed by separating patients according to the diagnosis of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). Baseline, intermediate, and end-of-treatment scans are evaluated as separate groups. Overall, CTRCD+ patients show lower overall mean standardized uptake values (SUV_mean) compared to CTRCD− patients, with statistically significant differences between groups only observed in the intermediate PET study (p = 0.025). A total of 34 radiomic features show statistically significant differences between the CTRCD+ and CTRCD− groups in the intermediate imaging studies. In the CTRCD− group, greater overall heterogeneity of metabolic uptake is observed in the intermediate PET image compared to the CTRCD+ groups (p = 0.025). The assessment of CTRCD through [¹⁸F]FDG PET radiomics analysis could be a potential tool for the identification of a predisposition to the later development of cardiac complications after cardiotoxic treatment. Full article

Currently, polymer actuators capable of photothermal response are being developed to be more sensitive and repeatable. In this work, a three-layered structured soft film actuator (NA/PET/NI-3) was designed by combining poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), poly(N-(2-aminoethyl)-acrylamide) (PANGA) and poly(ethylene glycol-co-terephthalate) (PET) film. Coconut water and PEI were used to synthesize a new kind of carbon nanosheet (PEI-CCS), which, when triggered by near-infrared light, will enable photothermal bending behavior in the micrometer-scale NA/PET/NI-n film, while PET served as the supporting and heat conducting layer. This three-layered actuator utilized the synergistic effects of two kind of polymers, PNIPAM and PNAGA, on either side of PET, with the upper critical solution temperatures and lower critical solution temperatures when subjected to temperature changes. This bilateral polymer design exhibited a rapid response under near-infrared light stimulation, bending to 180° within 4 s and recovering to its original shape within 30 s. When the bending process was set to 90° as in the standard experiment, NA/PET/NI-3 responded within 2 s and recovered within 8 s. NA/PET/NI-3 also demonstrated good reversibility and repeatability, capable of undergoing reversible driving over 120 times. The design and preparation of this actuator provided new ideas for the development of polymer soft actuators. Full article

Youth mental health interventions incorporating trained therapy animals are increasingly popular, but more research is needed to understand the specific interactive behaviors between participants and therapy dogs. Understanding the role of these interactive behaviors is important for supporting both intervention efficacy and animal welfare and well-being. The goal of this study was to develop ethograms to assess interactive behaviors (including both affiliative and stress-related behaviors) of participants and therapy dogs during a social stress task, explore the relationship between human and dog behaviors, and assess how these behaviors may vary between experimental conditions with varying levels of physical contact with the therapy dog. Using video data from a previous experimental study (n = 50 human–therapy dog interactions, n = 25 control group), we successfully developed behavioral ethograms that could be used with a high degree of interrater reliability. Results indicated differences between experimental conditions in dog and human behaviors based on whether participants were interacting with a live or a stuffed dog, and whether they were allowed to touch the dog. These findings suggest that physically interacting with a live dog may be an important feature of these interventions, with participants demonstrating increased positive behaviors such as laughing and smiling in these conditions. Dog behaviors also varied based on whether they were in the touching/petting condition of the study which could indicate reactions to the session and has potential welfare implications for the dogs. Future research should focus on identifying specific patterns of interactive behaviors between dogs and humans that predict anxiolytic outcomes. Full article

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) significantly increases the risk of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST), a rare and aggressive malignancy for which treatment is clinically challenging. This paper presents the case of a 24-year-old male with an NF1 who developed MPNST with lung metastases. Due to the limited effectiveness of systemic therapy in the treatment of MPNST, the patient underwent radical surgical resection and radiotherapy. Pathological evaluation confirmed high-grade MPNST, and PET-CT imaging revealed further metastatic progression. The treatment results for our patient are compared with those of other patients with NF1 who also developed MPNST with lung metastases in the literature. The findings suggest the need for further research into personalized treatment strategies that may improve prognosis and overall survival in patients with NF1 and MPNST, with immunotherapy being a promising therapeutic option. Full article

Dog and cat faeces are a globally neglected issue that demands proper management. The poor handling of pet waste not only impacts environmental health but also contributes to community conflicts due to insufficient waste management practices. The objectives were to investigate the properties of pet wastes compared to livestock wastes (pigs, hens, and cattle) with the intention of formulating an efficient compost product suitable for agricultural applications. Faeces from dogs and cats were collected from the community, while faeces from livestock (pigs, cattle, and hens) were collected from farms. Faeces were mixed with probiotics, rice bran, and rice husk to make compost and used to grow sweet corn plants. The nutrient content was compared between fresh and composted faeces. Composted manure from different animal sources was compared for its effectiveness in promoting sweet corn growth. The results showed that fresh and composted dog and cat manures contained higher levels of nutrients (p < 0.05) compared to livestock manures. Additionally, composted pet manure accelerated (p < 0.05) the growth of the plants compared to composted livestock manures and control groups. This is the first study to conclude that composted pet faeces surpass livestock manure in their higher nutrients and enhance plant growth. The findings could help reduce pet waste and transform it into a valuable recycled resource. However, the safety of composted manure, especially concerning toxoplasmosis from cat faeces, remains a significant concern and requires further investigation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Paediatric PET/CT imaging is crucial in oncology but poses significant radiation risks due to children’s higher radiosensitivity and longer post-exposure life expectancy. This study aims to minimize radiation exposure by generating synthetic CT (sCT) images from emission PET data, eliminating the need for attenuation correction (AC) CT scans in paediatric patients. Methods: We utilized a cohort of 128 paediatric patients, resulting in 195 paired PET and CT images. Data were acquired using Siemens Biograph Vision 600 and Long Axial Field-of-View (LAFOV) Siemens Vision Quadra PET/CT scanners. A 3D parameter transferred conditional GAN (PT-cGAN) architecture, pre-trained on adult data, was adapted and trained on the paediatric cohort. The model’s performance was evaluated qualitatively by a nuclear medicine specialist and quantitatively by comparing sCT-derived PET (sPET) with standard PET images. Results: The model demonstrated high qualitative and quantitative performance. Visual inspection showed no significant (19/23) or minor clinically insignificant (4/23) differences in image quality between PET and sPET. Quantitative analysis revealed a mean SUV relative difference of −2.6 ± 5.8% across organs, with a high agreement in lesion overlap (Dice coefficient of 0.92 ± 0.08). The model also performed robustly in low-count settings, maintaining performance with reduced acquisition times. Conclusions: The proposed method effectively reduces radiation exposure in paediatric PET/CT imaging by eliminating the need for AC CT scans. It maintains high diagnostic accuracy and minimises motion-induced artifacts, making it a valuable alternative for clinical application. Further testing in clinical settings is warranted to confirm these findings and enhance patient safety. Full article

Background/Objectives: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a crucial role in energy expenditure and thermoregulation and has thus garnered interest in the context of metabolic diseases. Segmentation in medical imaging is time-consuming and prone to inter- and intra-operator variability. This study aims to develop an automated BAT segmentation method using the nnU-Net deep learning framework, integrated into the TotalSegmentator software, and to evaluate its performance in a large cohort of patients with lymphoma. Methods: A 3D nnU-Net model was trained on the manually annotated BAT regions from 159 lymphoma patients’ CT scans, employing a 5-fold cross-validation approach. An ensemble model was created using these folds to enhance segmentation performance. The model was tested on an independent cohort of 30 patients. The evaluation metrics included the DICE score and Hausdorff Distance (HD). Additionally, the mean standardized uptake value (SUV) in the BAT regions was analyzed in 7107 FDG PET/CT lymphoma studies to identify patterns in the BAT SUVs. Results: The ensemble model achieved a state-of-the-art average DICE score of 0.780 ± 0.077 and an HD of 29.0 ± 14.6 mm in the test set, outperforming the individual fold models. Automated BAT segmentation revealed significant differences in the BAT SUVs between the sexes, with higher values in women. The morning scans showed a higher BAT SUV compared to the afternoon scans, and seasonal variations were observed, with an increased uptake during the winter. The BAT SUVs decreased with age. Conclusions: The proposed automated BAT segmentation tool demonstrates robust performance, reducing the need for manual annotation. The analysis of a large patient cohort confirms the known patterns of BAT SUVs, highlighting the method’s potential for broader clinical and research applications. Full article

In Japan, when people take their waste bottle caps to designated recycling companies, JPY 5/kg is donated to developing countries for polio vaccine dissemination activities. The waste volume of plastic bottles and caps is increasing every year, and there is not a day that goes by that we do not see more bottles and caps. PET bottles are more easily recycled, as the bottle body is made of a single material. However, bottle caps are made of two different materials (PP and PE), which are difficult to identify perfectly when utilising the existing NIR technology in the recycling field. This is because the designs and colours of PP and PE bottle caps are becoming more diverse, with black and dark-coloured caps being difficult to sort using NIR technology. In addition, their specific gravity is almost the same; therefore, it is difficult to separate them by their water-based specific gravity, which is an approach commonly used by recyclers. Unidentified caps are sent for thermal recycling, which runs counter to the need for decarbonisation. They may also be mixed with identified caps and sold as recycled raw material, resulting in a reduction in the purity of the recycled plastic. If PP and PE caps can be identified using simple technology, it is expected to promote high resource recycling. Therefore, in order to develop such a sorting process, this study proposes a new method for the material identification of waste caps using terahertz waves. Therefore, this research aims to identify a new identification method for waste plastic caps, which has been a challenge both domestically and internationally. Specifically, we describe the limitations of the conventional methods for identifying PP and PE bottle caps according to their weight, specific gravity, and melting point and propose an identification method using terahertz waves, demonstrating its measurement-related merits and high identification accuracy. Full article

Background: Bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins are critical regulators of gene transcription, as they recognize acetylated lysine residues. The BD1 bromodomain of BRD4, a member of the BET family, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for various diseases. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel C-11 labeled PET radiotracer, [¹¹C]YL10, for imaging the BD1 bromodomain of BRD4 in vivo. Methods: [¹¹C]YL10 was synthesized and evaluated for its ability to bind to the BD1 bromodomain selectively. PET imaging studies were conducted in mice to assess brain penetration, pharmacokinetics, and selectivity. In vitro autoradiography and blocking experiments were performed to confirm the tracer’s specificity for the BD1 domain. Results: [¹¹C]YL10 demonstrated good brain penetration, high selectivity for the BD1 bromodomain, and favorable pharmacokinetics in initial PET imaging studies. In vitro autoradiography and blocking experiments confirmed the specific binding of [¹¹C]YL10 to the BD1 domain of BRD4, further validating its potential as a targeted radiotracer. Conclusions: The development of [¹¹C]YL10 provides a new tool for studying BRD4 bromodomains using PET imaging technology. This radiotracer offers potential advancement in the diagnosis and research of neurodegenerative diseases and related disorders involving BRD4 dysregulation. Full article

The health of adult dogs and cats is affected positively or negatively by their development in utero and throughout postnatal growth. Preventive veterinary care is particularly important when animals are physiologically immature and sensitive to modifiable environmental factors. Veterinary nurses/technicians are often at the forefront of promoting healthy development, reinforcing the work of veterinarians and using their knowledge, experience, and passion to lead initiatives with breeders and pet guardians. This opinion article considers the role of qualified veterinary nurses/technicians in the care of puppies and kittens throughout their developmental life stages—gestation, the suckling period, growth post-weaning to puberty or neutering, and late growth to adulthood. Much of their influence is through the education of pet carers; they provide trustworthy information relevant to the individual pet and focused on the practicalities of best husbandry practices. These include practical advice on recognizing dystocia, neonatal care, weaning, introduction to the new home, the prevention and management of infectious diseases, socialization with conspecifics and humans, habituation to potential environmental stresses, nutrition, oral hygiene, and grooming. The veterinary nurse’s goal is not only to see young pets develop into healthy, well-adjusted adults but also to see pet guardians developing sustainable human–animal bonds. Full article

Frozen meat is an important source of protein in pet food, and has attracted much attention in recent years. In this study, we compared the effect of meat meal (MM), frozen meat (FM), and hydrolyzed frozen meat (HFM) as ingredients in extruded pet food on its palatability and apparent digestibility, as well as its effects on the immune response, fecal microbiota, and metabolome of British shorthair cats. A total of 24 British shorthair cats were allocated to the MM, FM, and HFM groups according to body weight and gender. The palatability test lasted 4 days and the feeding test lasted 45 days. The results showed that the FM and HFM diets had better palatability than the MM diet (p < 0.05) and significantly improved dry matter and crude protein digestibility (p < 0.05). The serum IL-10 level was significantly higher in the HFM group compared to the MM and FM groups (p < 0.05). The serum IgM levels were also found to be significantly higher in the FM group compared to the MM and HFM groups (p < 0.05). The blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio was significantly lower in the HFM and FM groups than in the MM group (p < 0.05). Cats fed HFM had a higher abundance of fecal Actinobacteria and Bifidobacterium and a lower content of Bacteroidota (p < 0.05). Furthermore, serum metabolomics analysis revealed that the tryptophan (Trp) metabolism and bile acid metabolism were affected by HFM. Overall, FM and HFM were better for the cat’s health than meat meal, but they also have some potential risks. Full article