Search Results (16)

Gallium-68 is a widely used positron-emitting radionuclide in nuclear medicine, traditionally obtained from ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga generators. However, increasing clinical demand has driven interest in alternative production methods, such as medical cyclotrons equipped with solid targets. This study evaluates the functional equivalence of gallium-68 chloride obtained from cyclotron solid target and formulated to be equivalent to the eluate from a germanium-gallium generator, aiming to determine whether this production method can serve as a reliable alternative for PET radiopharmaceutical applications. Preparations of [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-DOTATOC, labeled with cyclotron-derived gallium-68 chloride, were subjected to quality control analysis using radio thin layer chromatography and radio high performance liquid chromatography. Subsequently, biodistribution studies were performed in mouse oncological models of expression of PSMA antigen and SSTR receptor to compare uptake of preparations produced with generator and cyclotron-derived isotopes. All tested formulations met the required radiochemical purity specifications. Moreover, tumor accumulation of the radiolabeled compounds was comparable regardless of the isotope source. The results support the conclusion that gallium-68 produced via cyclotron is functionally equivalent to that obtained from a generator, demonstrating its potential for interchangeable use in clinical and research radiopharmaceutical applications. Full article

Manual calibration of nuclear medicine scanners currently relies on handling phantoms containing radioactive sources, exposing personnel to high radiation doses and elevating cancer risk. We designed an automated detection framework for robotic inspection on the YOLOv8n foundation. It pairs a lightweight backbone with a shape-aware geometric attention module and an anchor-free head. Facing a small training set, we produced extra images with a GAN and then fine-tuned a pretrained network on these augmented data. Evaluations on a custom dataset consisting of PET/CT gantry and table images showed that the SAM-YOLOv8n model achieved a precision of 93.6% and a recall of 92.8%. These results demonstrate fast, accurate, real-time detection, offering a safer and more efficient alternative to manual calibration of nuclear medicine equipment. Full article

Understanding the utilization patterns of nuclear medicine (NM) services is essential for optimizing resource allocation and service provision. This study aimed to address the regional evidence gap by reporting the demand for NM services by sex and age at a public hospital in Jamaica. This was a non-experimental, retrospective study of NM scans that were completed at the University Hospital of the West Indies from 1 June 2022 to 31 May 2024. While all scans were reported in the descriptive totals, for patients with multiple scans during the study period, only the data from the first visit was used in the inferential statistical analysis. This was performed with the IBM SPSS (version 29.0) software and involved the use of chi-square goodness of fit and multinomial logistic regression. A total of 1135 NM scans for 1098 patients were completed (37 patients had more than one scan); 596 (54.3%) were female and 502 (45.7%) were male, with the ages ranging from 3 days to 94 years old. Among the female patients, there was a greater demand in the ≥60 years age group for cardiac amyloid scans (χ² = 6.40, p < 0.05), while females 18–59 years had a greater demand for thyroid scans (χ² = 7.714, p < 0.05) and bone scans (χ² = 3.904, p < 0.05). On the other hand, significantly more males in the ≥60 age group presented for cardiac amyloid (χ² = 4.167; p < 0.05) and bone scans (χ² = 145.79, p < 0.01). Males were significantly less likely to undergo a thyroid scan than females (p < 0.01, OR = 0.072, 95% CI: 0.021, 0.243) while individuals aged 18–59 years were more likely to undergo this scan than patients aged 60 or older (p = 0.02, OR = 3.565, 95% CI: 1.258, 10.104). Males were more likely to do a cardiac amyloid scan (p < 0.05, OR = 2.237, 95% CI: 1.023, 4.891) but less likely to undergo a cardiac rest/stress test than females (p = 0.02, OR = 0.307, 95% CI: 0.114, 0.828). Prolonged life expectancy and an aging population have the potential to impact NM utilization, thus requiring planning for infrastructure, equipment, work force, and supplies. Cancer-related and cardiovascular indications are a top priority at this facility; hence, age- and sex-specific analysis are useful in establishing models for policy makers with regard to the allocation of economic and human resources for the sustainability of this specialized service. Full article

Objective: Current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) guidance for positron emission tomography (PET) drugs has been established in Europe and the United States. In Japan, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) approved the use of radiosynthesizers as medical devices for the in-house manufacturing of PET drugs in hospitals and clinics, regardless of the cGMP environment. Without adequate facilities, equipment, and personnel required by cGMP regulations, the quality assurance (QA) and clinical effectiveness of PET drugs largely depend on the radiosynthesizers themselves. To bridge the gap between radiochemistry standardization and site qualification, the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine (JSNM) has issued guidance for the in-house manufacturing of small-scale PET drugs under academic GMP (a-GMP) environments. The goals of cGMP and a-GMP are different: cGMP focuses on process optimization, certification, and commercialization, while a-GMP facilitates the small-scale, in-house production of PET drugs for clinical trials and patient-specific standard of care. Among PET isotopes, N-13 has a short half-life (10 min) and must be synthesized on site. [¹³N]Ammonia ([¹³N]NH₃) is used for myocardial perfusion imaging under the Japan Health Insurance System (JHIS) and was thus selected as a working example for the manufacturing of PET drugs in an a-GMP environment. Methods: A [¹³N]NH₃-radiosynthesizer was installed in a hot cell within an a-GMP-compliant radiopharmacy unit. To comply with a-GMP regulations, the air flow was adjusted through HEPA filters. All cabinets and cells were disinfected to ensure sterility once a month. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) were applied, including analytical methods. Batch records, QA data, and radiation exposure to staff in the synthesis of [¹³N]NH₃ were measured and documented. Results: 2.52 GBq of [¹³N]NH₃ end-of-synthesis (EOS) was obtained in an average of 13.5 min in 15 production runs. The radiochemical purity was more than 99%. Exposure doses were 11 µSv for one production run and 22 µSv for two production runs. The pre-irradiation background dose rate was 0.12 µSv/h. After irradiation, the exposed dosage in the front of the hot cell was 0.15 µSv/h. The leakage dosage measured at the bench was 0.16 µSv/h. The exposure and leakage dosages in the manufacturing of [¹³N]NH₃ were similar to the background level as measured by radiation monitoring systems in an a-GMP environments. All QAs, environmental data, bacteria assays, and particulates met a-GMP compliance standards. Conclusions: In-house a-GMP environments require dedicated radiosynthesizers, documentation for batch records, validation schedules, radiation protection monitoring, air and particulate systems, and accountable personnel. In this study, the in-house manufacturing of [¹³N]NH₃ under a-GMP conditions was successfully demonstrated. These findings support the international harmonization of small-scale PET drug manufacturing in hospitals and clinics for future multi-center clinical trials and the development of a standard of care. Full article

(1) Background: Targeted alpha therapy is an emerging field in nuclear medicine driven by two advantages: overcoming resistance in cancer-suffering patients to beta therapies and the practical application of lower activities of ²¹²Pb- and ²²⁵Ac-labelled peptides to achieve the same doses compared to beta therapy due to the highly cytotoxic nature of alpha particles. However, quality control of the ²¹²Pb/²²⁵Ac-radiopharmaceuticals remains a challenge due to the low activity levels used for therapy (100 kBq/kg) and the formation of several free daughter nuclides immediately after the formulation of patient doses; (2) Methods: The routine alpha detection on thin-layer chromatograms (TLC) of ²¹²Pb- and ²²⁵Ac-labelled peptides using a MiniScanPRO+ scanner combined with an alpha detector head was compared with detection using an AR-2000 scanner equipped with an open proportional counter tube. Measurement time, resolution and validity were compared for both scanners; (3) Results: For ²²⁵Ac, the quality control values of the radiochemical purity (RCP) were within the acceptance criteria 2 h after TLC development, regardless of when the TLC probe was taken. That is, if the TLC probe was taken 24 h after radiosynthesis, the true value of the RCP was not measured until 5 h after TLC development. For ²¹²Pb-labelled peptides, the probe sampling did not have a high impact on the value of the RCP for the MiniScanPRO+ and AR-2000. A difference was observed when measuring TLC with the AR-2000 in different modes; (4) Conclusions: The MiniScanPRO+ is fast, does not require additional equipment and can also measure the gamma spectrum, which may be important for some radiopharmaceutical production sites and regulatory authorities. The AR-2000 has a better signal-to-noise ratio, and this eliminates the need for additional waiting time after TLC development. Full article

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated during normal cellular energy production and play a critical role in maintaining cellular function. However, excessive ROS can damage cells and tissues, contributing to the development of diseases such as cardiovascular, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative disorders. This review explores the potential of nuclear medicine imaging techniques for detecting ROS and evaluates various radiopharmaceuticals used in these applications. Radiopharmaceuticals, which are drugs labeled with radionuclides, can bind to specific biomarkers, facilitating their identification in vivo using nuclear medicine equipment, i.e., positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography, for diagnostic purposes. This review includes a comprehensive search of PubMed, covering radiopharmaceuticals such as analogs of fluorescent probes and antioxidant vitamin C, and biomarkers targeting mitochondrial complex I or cystine/glutamate transporter. Full article

Athletes with heart disease are at increased risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death compared to their sedentary counterparts. When athletes have symptoms or abnormal findings at preparticipation screenings, a precise diagnosis by differentiating physiological features of the athlete’s heart from pathological signs of cardiac disease is as important as it is challenging. While traditional imaging methods such as echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and computed tomography are commonly employed, nuclear medicine offers unique advantages, especially in scenarios requiring stress-based functional evaluation. This article reviews the use of nuclear medicine techniques in the diagnostic work-up of athletes with suspected cardiac diseases by highlighting their ability to investigate myocardial perfusion, metabolism, and innervation. The article discusses the application of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) using radiotracers such as [99mTc]MIBI, [99mTc]HDP, [18F]FDG, and [123I]MIBG. Several clinical scenarios are explored, including athletes with coronary atherosclerosis, congenital coronary anomalies, ventricular arrhythmias, and non-ischemic myocardial scars. Radiation concerns are addressed, highlighting that modern SPECT and PET equipment significantly reduces radiation doses, making these techniques safer for young athletes. We conclude that, despite being underutilized, nuclear medicine provides unique opportunities for accurate diagnosis and effective management of cardiac diseases in athletes. Full article

Background/Objectives: As a primary source of mortality and disability, bacterial infections continue to develop a severe threat to humanity. Nuclear medicine imaging (NMI) is known for its promising potential to diagnose deep-seated bacterial infections. This work aims to develop a new technetium-99m (^99mTc) labeled tigecycline radiopharmaceutical as an infection imaging agent. Methods: Reduced ^99mTc was used to make a coordinate complex with tigecycline at pH 7.7–7.9 at room temperature. Instantaneous thin-layer chromatography impregnated with silica gel (ITLC-SG) and ray detector equipped high-performance liquid chromatography (ray-HPLC) was performed to access the radiolabeling yield and radiochemical purity (RCP). Results: More than 91% labeling efficiency was achieved after 25 min of mild shaking of the reaction mixture. The radiolabeled complex was found intact up to 4 h in saline. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection-induced rats were used to record the biodistribution of the radiopharmaceutical and its target specificity; 2 h’ post-injection biodistribution revealed a 2.39 ± 0.29 target/non-target (T/NT) ratio in the E. coli infection-induced animal model, while a 2.9 ± 0.31 T/NT value was recorded in the S. aureus bacterial infection-induced animal model. [^99mTc]Tc-tigecycline scintigraphy was performed in healthy rabbits using a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) camera. Scintigrams showed normal kidney perfusion and excretion into the bladder. Conclusion: In conclusion, the newly developed [^99mTc]Tc-tigecycline radiopharmaceutical could be considered to diagnose broad-spectrum bacterial infections. Full article

The development of efficient sensors able to detect alcoholic compounds has great relevance in many fields including medicine, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, safety, and security. In addition, the measurements of alcohols in air are significant for environmental protection because volatile alcohols can have harmful effects on human health not only through ingestion, but also through inhalation or skin absorption. The analysis of alcohols in breath is a further expanding area, being employed for disease diagnoses. The analyses performed by using chromatography, mass-spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, or Raman spectroscopy often require complex sampling and procedures. As a consequence, many research groups have focused their efforts on the development of efficient portable sensors to replace conventional methods and bulky equipment. The ability to operate at room temperature is a key factor in designing portable light devices suitable for in situ real-time monitoring. In the present review, we provide a survey of the recent literature on the most efficient chemiresistive materials for alcohol sensing at room temperature. Remarkable gas-sensing performances have mainly been obtained by using metal oxides semiconductors (MOSs), metal organic frameworks (MOFs), 2D materials, and polymers. Among 2D materials, we mainly consider graphene-based materials, graphitic carbon nitride, transition metal chalcogenides, and MXenes. We discuss scientific advances and innovations published in the span of the last five years, focusing on sensing mechanisms. Full article

The most effective diagnostic methods in the medical field are diagnostic imaging techniques such as radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear medicine, which are used to visualize internal body to diagnose it, determine potential treatment, and evaluate and forecast care results. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to assess the diagnostic imaging sector, at three major public hospitals in the northern part of Jordan, according to regional and global requirements. The assessment approach was based on knowledge of the accessibility of diagnostic imaging equipment and its quality assurance and performance, the quantity and efficiency of radiological technologists, and the design of radiology units and medical imaging chambers in many aspects based on the use of two tools, a questionnaire and checklists, to accomplish a comprehensive evaluation. The response rate of radiological technologists was 66%. The assessment reveals a noticeable increase in the number of radiological technologists in general with high academic qualification level. Additionally, the number of diagnostic imaging equipment in Jordan revealed a large deficiency in the population–device balance, and through checklists that evaluated both CT and MRI units, it was revealed that the rate of following global requirements and occupational health and safety (OHS) standards was high. The basic supplies available in both the CT and MRI units alike were high, which indicates the high quality of healthcare provided in Jordan. Full article

Radiation emergency medicine (REM) systems are operated around the world to provide specialized care for injured individuals who require immediate medical attention in accidents. This manuscript describes the current status of REM safety regulation in Korea and summarizes an assessment of the effects of this regulation. Responding to the requests of people for stronger safety regulations related to radiation exposure, a unique REM safety regulation for nuclear licensees, which is enforceable by laws, has been established and implemented. It is not found in other countries. It can provide a good example in practice for sustainable REM management including document reviews on medical response procedures and inspections of equipment and facilities. REM preparedness of nuclear or radiologic facilities has been improved with systematic implementation of processes contained in the regulation. In particular, the medical care system of licensees has become firmly coordinated in the REM network at the national level, which has enhanced their abilities by providing adequate medical personnel and facilities. This legal regulation service has contributed to preparing the actual medical emergency response for unexpected accidents and should ultimately secure the occupational safety for workers in radiation facilities. Full article

This study aimed to perform an investigation for the potential implementation of bismuth silicate glasses as novel shield equipment instead of ordinary shields in nuclear medicine facilities. Accordingly, a group of Bi₂O₃ reinforced silicate glass system were investigated and compared with ordinary shields in terms of their gamma-ray attenuation properties in diagnostic nuclear medicine radioisotope energies emitted from ^99mTc, ¹¹¹In, ⁶⁷Ga, ¹²³I, ¹³¹I, ^81mKr, ²⁰¹Tl, ¹³³Xe. Mass attenuation coefficient $({\mathsf{\mu }}_{\mathrm{m}})$results for glass samples were calculated comparatively with the XCOM program and MCNPX code. The gamma-ray attenuation parameters such as half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), mean free path (MFP), effective atomic number (Z_eff) were obtained in the diagnostic gamma ray energy range from 75 to 336 keV. To confirm the attenuation performance of superior sample, obtained results were extensively compared with ordinary shielding materials. According to the results obtained, BISI6 glass sample with the highest Bi₂O₃ additive has an excellent gamma-ray protection. Full article

Mössbauer (nuclear γ-resonance) spectroscopy is a powerful technique which is actively used in various fields from physics and chemistry to biology and medicine. Rudolf L. Mössbauer, who observed nuclear γ-resonance and published his results in 1958, got a Nobel Prize in physics in 1961 for this discovery. ⁵⁷Fe is the most widely used nucleus in Mössbauer spectroscopy. Therefore, a large variety of compounds containing iron can be studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. It is well known that planetary matter contains various iron-bearing phases and minerals. Therefore, the extraterrestrial material from different meteorites, asteroids, and planets can be studied using ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy as an additional powerful technique. Two parts of this review consider the results of more than 50 years of experience of Mössbauer spectroscopy applied for the studies of various meteorites, soils and rocks from the Moon and a recent investigation of the Martian surface using two rovers equipped with miniaturized Mössbauer spectrometers. Part I considered the results of Mössbauer spectroscopy of undifferentiated meteorites. Part II discusses the results of Mössbauer spectroscopy of differentiated meteorites formed in asteroids and protoplanets due to matter differentiation, as well as Lunar and Martian matter. Full article

Mössbauer (nuclear γ-resonance) spectroscopy is a powerful technique that is actively used in various fields, from physics and chemistry to biology and medicine. Rudolf L. Mössbauer, who observed nuclear γ-resonance and published his results in 1958, received a Nobel Prize in physics in 1961 for this discovery. The ⁵⁷Fe is the most widely used nucleus in Mössbauer spectroscopy. Therefore, a large variety of compounds containing iron can be studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. It is well known that planetary matter contains various iron-bearing phases and minerals. Therefore, the extraterrestrial material from different meteorites, asteroids, and planets can be studied using ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy as additional powerful technique. Two parts of this review consider the results of more than 50 years of experience of Mössbauer spectroscopy applied for the studies of various meteorites, soils and rocks from the Moon and recent investigation of the Mars surface using two rovers equipped with miniaturized Mössbauer spectrometers. Part I will discuss known results on Mössbauer spectroscopy of undifferentiated meteorites, which are the most primitive and formed with the solar system. Full article

⁴⁴Sc has favorable properties for cancer diagnosis using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) making it a promising candidate for application in nuclear medicine. The implementation of its production with existing compact medical cyclotrons would mean the next essential milestone in the development of this radionuclide. While the production and application of ⁴⁴Sc has been comprehensively investigated, the development of specific targetry and irradiation methods is of paramount importance. As a result, the target was optimized for the ⁴⁴Ca(p,n)⁴⁴Sc nuclear reaction using CaO instead of CaCO₃, ensuring decrease in target radioactive degassing during irradiation and increased radionuclidic yield. Irradiations were performed at the research cyclotron at the Paul Scherrer Institute (~11 MeV, 50 µA, 90 min) and the medical cyclotron at the University of Bern (~13 MeV, 10 µA, 240 min), with yields varying from 200 MBq to 16 GBq. The development of targetry, chemical separation as well as the practical issues and implications of irradiations, are analyzed and discussed. As a proof-of-concept study, the ⁴⁴Sc produced at the medical cyclotron was used for a preclinical study using a previously developed albumin-binding prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligand. This work demonstrates the feasibility to produce ⁴⁴Sc with high yields and radionuclidic purity using a medical cyclotron, equipped with a commercial solid target station. Full article