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Background and Study Aims: There is an academic debate regarding surgical interventions for liver hydatid cystdisease. The purpose of the current systematic review and meta-analysis study was to analyse the pros and cons of open surgery and laparoscopic techniques, considering the outcomes of liver hydatid cysts
Methods: Descriptive Boolean queries were used to search PubMed and Scopus for articles published between January 2000 and December 2016 to evaluate the outcomes of liver hydatid cyst in terms of mortality, post-operative complications, cure rate and recurrences. The data related to the four outcomes of liver hydatid cyst were extracted, assessed and then used as their corresponding effect sizes in the meta-analysis process
Results: Six studies totally consisting of 1028 patients [open surgery group = 816 [+7 converted to lap] and laparoscopic group = 212] were analysed. In this meta-analysis study, random effects models of outcomes [i.e. post-operative complications, mortalities, recurrences and cure rate] of the two procedures were OR = 0.852, LL = 0.469, UL = 1.546, Z = -0.526, p = 0.599 [for post-operative complications]; OR = 0.849, LL = 0.141, UL = 5.105, Z = -0.179, p = 0.858 [for mortality]; OR = 0.903, LL = 0.166, UL = 4.906, Z = -0.119, p = 0.906 [for recurrence]; and OR = 0.459, LL = 0.129, UL = 1.637, Z = -1.201, p = 0.230 [for cure rate]. Meta-analysis and illustrated forest plots showed that there are no superiorities between the two approaches. The results of heterogeneity tests of the above mentioned outcomes were Q = 8.083, df = 5, p = 0.152, I[2] = 38.142% for post-operative complications; Q = 0.127, df = 2, p = 0.938, I[2] = 0% for mortality; Q = 4.984, df = 2, p = 0.083, I[2] = 59.874% for recurrence; and Q = 10.639, df = 5, p = 0.059, I[2] = 53.001% for cure rate. The results of regression tests based on Egger's, smoothed variance based on Egger [SVE] and smoothed variance based on Thomson [SVT] showed that the p values are not significant, and there are neither significant statistical differences nor publication bias between the outcomes of the two treatment procedures
Conclusion: The results show no promising trends towards advantages of open versus laparoscopic surgeries in the treatment of liver hydatid cyst. However, informative measurement values for comparing these surgeries could be derived for complications, recurrence, mortality and cure rates. Furthermore, all three tests, namely Egger's, SVE and SVT regression models, were used to assess publication bias and showed no evidence for the existence of publication bias
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Background: Psychological interventions such as counseling for infertile patients seem to increase pregnancy rate
Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine if counseling improves pregnancy rate among infertile patients. Thus, randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of counseling on pregnancy rate in infertile patients undergoing ART were pooled in a meta-analysis
Materials and Methods: The databases of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and Persian databases including SID, Iran Medex, and Magiran were searched from 1997 to July 2016 to identify relevant articles. Included studies were trials on infertile patients [women or couples] receiving counseling independent of actual medical treatment. The outcome measure was pregnancy rate. Out of 620 relevant published trials, a total of nine RCTs were ultimately reviewed systematically and included in a meta-analysis to measure the efficacy of counseling on pregnancy rate. Odds ratio and Risk difference were calculated for pregnancy rate. All statistical analyses were done by Comprehensive Meta-analysis Version 2
Results: Nine RCTs involving 1079 infertile women/couples were included in the study. The findings from RCTs indicated significant effect of counseling on pregnancy rate so that there was a positive impact of counseling on pregnancy rate [OR= 3.852; 95% CI: 2.492-5.956; p=0.00] and [RD= 0.282; 95%; CI: 0.208-0.355; p=0.00]
Conclusion: Counseling was found to improve patients' chances of becoming pregnant. So counseling represents an attractive treatment option, in particular, for infertile patients who are not receiving medical treatments
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Counseling , Pregnancy Rate , Reproductive Techniques, Assisted , Meta-Analysis as TopicABSTRACT
Background: Hot flashes are the most common symptoms experienced by women around the time of menopause. Many women are interested in herbal medicines because of fear of side effects of hormone therapy
Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of Iranian herbal medicines in alleviating hot flashes
Materials and Methods: MEDLINE [1966 to January 2015], Scopus [1996 to January 2015], and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [The Cochrane Library, issue 1, 2015] were searched along with, SID, Iran Medex, Magiran, Medlib and Irandoc. Nineteen randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria
Results: Overall, studies showed that Anise [Pimpinella anisum], 60Tlicorice [Glycyrrhizaglabra]60T, Soy, Black cohosh, Red clover, Evening primrose, Flaxseed, Salvia officinalis, Passiflora ¡itex Agnus Castus, Piascledine [Avacado plus soybean oil], 60TSt. John's wort [Hypericum perforatum]60T, and valerian can alleviate the side effects of hot flashes
Conclusion: This research demonstrated the efficacy of herbal medicines in alleviating hot flashes, which are embraced both with people and health providers of Iran Therefore, herbal medicine can be seen as an alternative treatment for women experiencing hot flashes
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Introduction: The integration of behavioral and social sciences [BSS] into the curriculum of medical students in order to equip them with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes is an essential issue, emphasized in many researches. Our aim is to investigate the barriers to integrate BSS into the general medicine curriculum as well as the recommended strategies to overcome such barriers through a systematic review of literature
Methods: PubMed, ERIC, Scopus, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and OPENGREY were searched for studies on the barriers to integration of BSS into the general medicine curriculum as well as the strategies employed to overcome them until August 28, 2015
Results: Sixteen relevant studies were included and the related domains were categorized as barriers and some strategies were recommended to overcome them. In addition, the quality of the included studies was assessed
Conclusion: Despite the prominent role of BSS in the effectiveness of health care, these sciences have not been included in the curriculum of medical students effectively. The identified barriers and the strategies used to overcome them should be considered for all integration programs. Future studies should focus on the process of BSS integration in the medical curricula and should evaluate the efficacy of this integration in more detail
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Introduction: Susceptibility to tuberculosis [TB] infection varies in individuals and is linked to genetic variations in the toll-like receptors [TLRs] genes. The current study employed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to describe the most prevalent single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] from various TLRs and to assess the association between these polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility
Methods: The PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ISI Web of Knowledge databases were searched for all articles published before May 25, 2015, that contained the target keywords. Following the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 37 relevant articles were identified that examined the association between the TLRs gene polymorphism and susceptibility to tuberculosis
Result: A meta-analyses approach to the research determined that there is a statistically significant association between TLR1 rs4833095, TLR6 rs5743810, and TLR8 rs3788935 in the allelic model and also TLR1 rs4833095, TLR1 rs5743018, TLR2 rs5743708, TLR6 rs5743810, and TLR8 rs3761624 in the co-dominant model with increased or decreased susceptibility to tuberculosis. No associations were observed between the other TLRs polymorphisms and tuberculosis risk
Discussion: Several studies have found that host genetic factors, such as SNPs in TLRs gene, may increase an individual's susceptibility to tuberculosis. Therefore, the identification of these SNPs is important to investigate immune responses to TB
Conclusion: The present study concluded that there is an association between some polymorphisms of TLRs and tuberculosis risk. Thus, for a better understanding about the role of SNPs to TB susceptibility, additional studies on alternative TLRs SNPs are needed
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Introduction: This systematic review studies the prognostic value of two conventional imaging tools, sestamibi and gallium scans, for predicting how patients with Hodgkin lymphoma will respond to treatment
Methods: The PubMed database was searched for English-language articles that contained the following search terms: [Hodgkin AND [mibi OR sestamibi OR gallium OR spect] AND response]. All articles that were identified during this search were included in the study, regardless of date published. The inclusion criteria were as follows: articles that described studies that were limited to Hodgkin patients and that reported the predictive value of conventional imaging tools. Articles about other types of lymphoma and/or those that focused on the diagnostic and staging accuracy of mibi and gallium scans were excluded
Result: In total, 14 articles were retrieved. Of these, the majority met the inclusion criteria of the systematic review with the exception of two, which were limited to an examination of the reliability of performing sestamibi scans to predict the response to treatment. All remaining 12 articles considered both the sestamibi scans and the gallium scintigraphy. The results of the systematic review indicate that positive gallium scan results can be proposed as a poor prognostic factor that is associated with partial or full recurrence of Hodgkin disease, a reduction in overall survival rate, and progression-free survival compared with patients with a negative scan
Discussion: Both sestamibi and gallium scans revealed high sensitivity and specificity in predicting the response to treatment including complete remission, partial remission, and recurrence of the disease
Conclusion: These imaging tools can appropriately assess how Hodgkin patients will respond to chemotherapy. As such, clinicians can use these tools to devise appropriate treatment strategies
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Introduction: Sentinel node mapping is a new technique of lymph nodal staging in solid tumors, which can decrease the morbidity of regional lymph node dissection considerably. Intra-thoracic tumors including non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] and esophageal carcinoma [EC] are among the solid tumors in which sentinel node [SN] mapping has been applied. In the current systematic review, we gathered the best available evidence [systematic reviews] in this regard and presented the results in a systematic review format
Material and methods: We searched MEDLINE and SCOPUS since the inception till 13 December 2014 using the following keywords: [lung OR esophagus OR esophageal] AND sentinel AND [systematic review OR meta-analysis OR metaanalysis]. No language limit was imposed on the search strategy. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses on SN mapping in EC or NSCLC were included in the current study. Narrative review articles were excluded from the study
Results: Overall five systematic review were included. One of the included studies was on SN mapping in NSCLC and four were on EC. Overall detection rate and sensitivity for EC and NSCLC were high and both were related to mapping technique, pathological involvement of the mediastinal nodes, size and location of the tumors
Conclusion: SN mapping is feasible and highly accurate in EC and NSCLC. Attention to the technique [using radiotracers, peri-tumoral injection] and restriction of the patients to less advanced cases [cN0 and T1, 2] would ensure the best results with high detection rate and sensitivity
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Vulvar cancer is a rare gynecological malignancy with mainly lymphatic spread. Sentinel node mapping plays an important role in the management of this gynecological malignancy. In the current study, we reported our experience in sentinel node mapping of vulvar cancer and review the literature accordingly. Since the introduction of sentinel node mapping to the surgical oncology community of our university in 2004, we had two operable vulvar cancer patients who were candidate for sentinel node mapping for inguinal lymph node staging. In the current study, we reported these two cases in details and a brief review of literature on sentinel node mapping in vulvar cancer was done. We specifically discussed the overall accuracy, importance of blue dye injection, learning curve effect, frozen section, excisional biopsy and location of the tumors. Overall sentinel node mapping is a safe and effective method for inguinal lymph node staging in vulvar cancers. In order to perform sentinel node mapping efficiently, paying attention to the details is of utmost importance
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In the current study we evaluated the incremental value of lateral pelvic lymphoscintigraphy imaging of endometrial or cervical cancer patients who underwent sentinel node mapping. Operable endometrial and cervical cancer patients without clinical or paraclinical evidence of lymph node involvement were included in the study. The day before surgery the patients were sent to the nuclear medicine department for injection of the radiotracer. All patients received two intra-cervical injection of 1 mCi/0.2 cc radiotracer in the 6 and 12 hour locations. 18-24 hours after the radiotracer, lymphoscintigraphy imaging in anterior/posterior and lateral views was done. After induction of anesthesia, 2 mL Methylene blue in two aliquots was injected intra-cervically in the same location as the radiotracers. During operation, any hot and/or blue node was harvested as sentinel nodes. Overall 40 patients were included in the study [30 endometrial and 10 cervical cancers]. Sentinel node visualization was achieved in 30 patients. These sentinel nodes were all visualized on the ANT/POST views. Only in 7 patients sentinel nodes could be visualized on the lateral views. Intra-operative sentinel node detection rate was 38 out of 40 [95%]. Radiotracer detection rate was 37/40 [92.5%] and blue dye detection rate was 17/40 [42.5%]. Anterior/Posterior pelvic lymphoscintigraphy imaging is sufficient for imaging in cervical and endometrial cancer patients undergoing sentinel node mapping. Lateral views can be omitted due to limited valued of these projections
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Introduction: Hepatopulmonary syndrome [HPS] is known as a chronicliver disease associated with severe pulmonary deoxygenation due tointrapulmonary vascular vasodilation. Although liver transplantationis accepted as a main treatment of HPS, identifying effective drugs forrecovery of HPS can be effective in postponing the transplantation anddecreasing the mortality rate of patients before the transplantation. In thisstudy we briefly reviewed the pathogenesis of HPS and also systematicallyreviewed the current pharmacological treatment of HPS
Method: Pubmed, Scopus, and Google scholar were searched for therelevant English language clinical and experimental articles about themedications used in the treatment of HPS
Results: A total of 38 articles were included in this study which mostlyresulted in decreasing NOS expression, NO production, endothelin-1activation, intrapulmonary angiogenesis and increasing oxygenation
Conclusion: Various drugs have been proposed in treatment of HPS butmore large controlled trial studies, is necessary to determine the exactefficacy of each drugs for HPS recovery
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Herein, we report a case of sentinel lymph node mapping in a uterine cervix cancer patient, referring to the nuclear medicine department of our institute. Lymphoscintigraphy images showed inappropriate intra-cervical injection of radiotracer. Blue dye technique was applied for sentinel lymph node mapping, using intra-cervical injection of methylene blue. Two blue/cold sentinel lymph nodes, with no pathological involvement, were intra-operatively identified, and the patient was spared pelvic lymph node dissection. The present case underscores the importance of lymphoscintigraphy imaging in sentinel lymph node mapping and demonstrates the added value of blue dye injection in selected patients. It is suggested that preoperative lymphoscintigraphy imaging be considered as an integral part of sentinel lymph node mapping in surgical oncology. Detailed results of lymphoscintigraphy images should be provided for surgeons prior to surgery, and in case the sentinel lymph nodes are not visualized, use of blue dye for sentinel node mapping should be encouraged
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Phytic Acid , Lymphoscintigraphy , Methylene Blue , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy , Radioactive TracersABSTRACT
We aimed to investigate the effect of right bundle branch block [RBBB] on perfusion and functional parameters in dipyridamole stress/rest Tc99m-MIBI gated myocardial perfusion SPECT [GSPECT] which may be helpful in interpretation of myocardial perfusion imaging. We studied 73 patients with low pre-test likelihood of coronary artery disease in two groups: 38 patients with RBBB and 35 subjects with normal ECG. Both groups underwent two-day dipyridamole stress-rest Tc99m-MIBI GSPECT. Two groups were matched. There was no significant difference in sex and age variable between two groups. Visual calculated SSS and SRS in all patients were between 0 and 3. Regarding the prone images, diaphragmatic attenuation and breast attenuation, all patients GSPECT findings were within normal limits. There was no significant difference in TID ratio between two groups: RBBB group: TID ratio= 1.02 +/- 0.16 and control group: TID ratio= 0.96 +/- 0.14 [P=0.09]. There was no significant difference in left ventricular end-systolic volume, end-diastolic volume, ejection fraction, summed stress and rest motion and thickening scores between RBB patients group and control group. No regional LV wall motion abnormality was noticed in any patient in either group. High normality rate of the LV myocardial perfusion and functional indices in the presence of RBBB was noticed in gated Dipyridamole stress/rest Tc-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion SPECT. No remarkable false positive perfusion findings or abnormal LV functional indices acquired by GSPECT in this group of patients
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Cardiac-Gated Single-Photon Emission Computer-Assisted Tomography , Myocardial Perfusion Imaging , Coronary Artery Disease , Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi , Dipyridamole , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
We aimed to investigate of effect of left bundle branch block [LBBB] on perfusion and functional parameters in dipyridamole Tc99m-MIBI gated myocardial perfusion SPECT which may be helpful in interpretation of myocardial perfusion imaging. We studied 70 patients with low pre-test probability of coronary artery disease in two groups: 35 patients with LBBB and 35 subjects with normal ECG. Both groups underwent two-day dipyridamole stress-rest Tc99m-MIBI GSPECT. From 35 patients with LBBB, 6, 12, and 3 patients had reversible, fixed and partially reversible defects respectively. In 35 patients with LBBB, 8 [22.9%], 6[17.1%] 15[42.9%] and 10 [28.6%] patients had perfusion defects in the apicoseptal, mid-anterior segments, mid-anteroseptal and mid-inferoseptal segments respectively. There was significant difference in TID ratio between two groups: LBBB group: 1.07 +/- 0.21 and control group: 0.96 +/- 0.14 [P=0.01]. There was a significant difference in end systolic volume and ejection fraction between LBBB patients group and control group, while no significant difference was noticed in end-diastolic volume. Nineteen, 14 and 2 from 35 patients with LBBB had normal LV wall motion, paradoxical septal wall motion, and septal hypokinesia, respectively. False positive septal, anterior and apicoseptal perfusion abnormalities are frequently seen on Tc99m-MIBI GSPECT, in patients with LBBB without CAD. Moreover reversible defects are frequently seen with Tc99m-MIBI. Even Tc99-MIBI and vasodilator stress do not increase diagnostic accuracy to clinically useful levels. Lower systolic performance and higher TID ratio could be seen in these patients
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Cardiac-Gated Single-Photon Emission Computer-Assisted Tomography , Myocardial Perfusion Imaging , Coronary Artery Disease , Electrocardiography , Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi , DipyridamoleABSTRACT
Although coronary artery disease [CAD] is the leading cause of death in type 2 diabetic patients, it is frequently asymptomatic. Myocardial perfusion imaging [MPI] is reported to show ischemia in a significant number of asymptomatic diabetic patients. We studied the prevalence and severity of myocardial perfusion defects in asymptomatic diabetic patients and its clinical impact. One hundred thirty consecutive asymptomatic patients, aged 35-65 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus and with no history of CAD and no cardiac symptoms were recruited in the study. Echocardiography, electrocardiography [ECG], routine laboratory tests and exercise treadmill test [ETT] were performed and patients with weakly positive or negative ETT underwent Dipyridamole MPI. Patients with positive ETT were referred to coronary angiography. Patients were followed for at least 17 months [mean 21.7 months] and any cardiac event was recorded. We studied 81 female and 49 male patients with mean age of 51.8 years. Negative, weakly positive and positive ETT result was noted in 74.3%, 15% and 10.7% respectively.75% of patients with positive ETT had coronary artery disease in angiography. Gated myocardial perfusion SPECT was done in 106 patients. MPI showed reversible defect in 26.9% of the patients with a mean summed stress score of 3.3 +/- 1.8. Follow up completed in 112 patients and only one patient with abnormal MPI underwent coronary angiography followed by PTCA. No cardiac death, MI, UA or hospital admission occurred among our patients during follow up [17-26 months]. Mean stress end diastolic volume [EDV] was significantly higher in patients with reversible defect compared to patients without reversible defect based on MPI findings [62.0 +/- 31.6 Vs 48.5 +/- 18.4 ml, P=0.04]. Blood glucose and HA1c were significantly higher in patients with ischemia compared to patients without ischemia [P<0.05]. Meanwhile the ratio of TG to HDL was 6.06 +/- 3.2 in ischemic patients compared to 4.8 +/- 2.3 in normal subjects [P=0.03]. Reversible defects are commonly seen in myocardial perfusion SPECT in asymptomatic diabetic patients and are mild in severity and not associated with adverse cardiac events. Routine approach for detection of CAD beginning with ETT seems to be appropriate in these patients
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Myocardial Perfusion Imaging , Exercise Test , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Diabetes Mellitus , Cardiac-Gated Single-Photon Emission Computer-Assisted Tomography , Myocardial IschemiaABSTRACT
Multidrug resistance [MDR], which may be due to the over expression of P-glycoprotein [Pgp] and/or MRP, is a major problem in neoadjuvant chemotherapy of osteosarcoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Tc-99m MIBI scan for predicting the response to pre-operative chemotherapy. Twenty-five patients [12 males and 13 females, aged between 8 and 52y] with osteosarcoma were studied. Before the chemotherapy, planar [99m]Tc-MIBI anterior and posterior images were obtained 10-min [tumor-to-background ratio: [T[1]/B[1]][10min]] and 3-hr after tracer injection. After completion of chemotherapy, again [99m]Tc-MIBI scan was performed at 10-min after tracer injection. In addition to calculation of decay corrected tumor to background [T/B] ratios, using the 10-min and 3-hr images of the pre-chemotherapy scintigraphy, percent wash-out rate [WR%] of [99m]Tc-MIBI was calculated. Using the 10-min images of the pre- and post-chemotherapy scans, the percent reduction in uptake at the tumor site after treatment [Red%] was also calculated. Then after surgical resection, tumor response was assessed by percentage of necrosis. All patients showed significant [99m]Tc-MIBI uptake in early images. Only 9 patients showed good response to chemotherapy [necrosis >/= 90%] while 16 patients were considered as non-responder [necrosis <90%]. There was no statistical significant difference between non-responders and responders in [T[1]/B[1]] [10min].There was a significant negative correlation between WR% and percentage of necrosis [P=0.001]. On the other hand, there was a significant correlation between Red% and percentage of necrosis [P<0.001].There was also statistical significant difference in WR% and Red% between non-responders and responders [both P< 0.001]. Washout rate of [99m]Tc-MIBI in pre-chemotherapy scintigraphy as well as Red% using pre- and post-chemotherapy MIBI scintigraphy are useful methods for predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Male , Neoadjuvant Therapy , Bone Neoplasms , Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi , Chemotherapy, Adjuvant , Osteosarcoma/surgeryABSTRACT
Solitary pulmonary nodule [SPN] is a frequent finding on the chest x-ray and computed tomography. Nuclear medicine techniques play an important role in the diagnosis and management of SPN. In the current review, we briefly will explain the different nuclear medicine modalities in this regard including positron emission tomography [PET] using 18-F-FDG, and 11-C-Methionine, and single photon emission computerized tomography [SPECT] using somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, 201-Thallium, and 99m-Tc-MIBI
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Citation tracking is a bibliometrics method to analyze the scientific impact of journal articles which can be done through Scopus [SC], Google Scholar [GS], or ISI web of knowledge [WOS]. In the current study, we analyzed the citations to 2006-2012 articles of Iranian Journal of Nuclear Medicine [IJNM] in the SC and GS. We retrieved the relevant data from SC and GS official websites. The search was done on 10/2012. Total number of citations, their overlap and unique citations of SC and GS were evaluated in detail. SC and GS covered 100% and 99% of articles and identified 53 and 62 citations to IJNM articles respectively with the overlap of 44 citations. Original articles were the main types of cited articles followed by review articles. Despite considerable overlap between GS and SC, they provide important unique citations to IJNM articles. Due to differences between citation analysis information in each database, authors should consider all the indexing databases when evaluating the scientific impact of the individual journal. Editors should consider original and review articles to increase long term visibility and hopefully impact factor of IJNM in the future
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Several radiotracers are being used for sentinel node mapping in patients with breast cancer. In the current study, we reported our experience with 99m-Tc Phytate for sentinel node mapping in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All breast cancer patients who underwent sentinel node mapping using 99m-Tc Phytate were included. All patients received intradermal peri-areolar injection of 0.5 mCi/0.lcc 99m-Tc Phytate. Lymphoscintiraphy was performed for 145 patients 5-10 minutes post-injection. The sentinel nodes were found during surgery using a hand-held gamma probe as well as blue dye technique. In total 165 patients were evaluated. Lymphoscintigraphy showed axillary sentinel nodes in 135 out of 145 patients [93%] following imaging. At least one sentinel node could be detected in all these 135 patients during surgery. In the remaining 10 patients with sentinel node non-visualization, 5 had sentinel node harvesting failure during surgery. Median number of sentinel nodes on the lymphoscintigraphy images was 1. Sentinel node detection rate was 95% [157/165]. In the 8 patients with sentinel node harvesting failure, 7 had pathologically involved axilla. Median number of harvested sentinel nodes was 1. Mean sentinel node to background count ratio was 10 +/- 2. 99m-Tc Phytate is an effective and highly successful radiotracer for sentinel node mapping. Sentinel node can be visualized in a short time after 99m-Tc Phytate injection on the lymphoscintigraphy images. The sentinel to background count during surgery is high which results in more convenient sentinel node harvesting and high detection rate
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Nuclear medicine imaging is routinely used for evaluation of perfusion and function of the transplanted kidneys. At present, the radiopharmaceutical of choice for this study in our center is Tc 99m-Ec. Complications of the kidney graft are demonstrable in the early and delayed images. One of these complications is vesicoureteral reflux to the graft or to the native kidneys. We present a 27 year old patient with elevated BUN and Cr ten days after kidney transplantation. He previously had failed renal transplantation due to rejection. Tc-99m EC renal scan revealed decreased perfusion and function suggesting acute rejection. In the late functional images [at 24 minute], vesicoureteral reflux to the previous non-functioning graft was also noticed on the right side of the pelvis. We recommend considering vesicouretral reflux while interpreting renal transplant imaging since this can be easily mistaken with other complications such as urine leakage
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In the current study, we compared the h-indices of Web of Science [WOS], SCOPUS, and GS of the Iranian nuclear medicine scientists. Full time members of two major nuclear medicine research centers of Iran with more than 5 year of experience [Nuclear Medicine Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, and Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine of Tehran University of Medical Sciences] were included for h-index evaluation. H-indices of SCOPUS, WOS and GS were retrieved using their specific websites. Correlations of h-indices with each other were evaluated using spearman correlation coefficient. Overall 11 researchers were included in the study. SCOPUS, WOS, and GS provided somehow different h-indices for each researcher. Spearman's correlation coefficients between different h-indices were high: 0.834, 0.817, 0.857 between SCOPUS and WOS, SCOPUS and GS, and GS and WOS respectively. Rankings of researchers according to different database however, were acceptably identical. H-indices provided by SCOPUS, Web of Science WOS, and Google Scholar [GS] for Iranian nuclear medicine researchers can be used interchangeably. However these h-indices can be different according to which database is used. Setting up "ReasercherID" in WOS and "User profile" in GS, as well as giving regular feedback to SCOPUS managers can increase the accuracy of h-indices calculation