Shozo Tamura

Kanazawa University, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa-ken, Japan

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Publications (53)108.67 Total impact

  • Article: The usefulness of (18)F-FDG PET/MRI fusion image in diagnosing pancreatic tumor: comparison with (18)F-FDG PET/CT.
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    ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: This study aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of retrospectively fused (18)F FDG-PET and MRI (PET/MRI fusion image) in diagnosing pancreatic tumor, in particular differentiating malignant tumor from benign lesions. In addition, we evaluated additional findings characterizing pancreatic lesions by FDG-PET/MRI fusion image. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 119 patients: 96 cancers and 23 benign lesions. FDG-PET/MRI fusion images (PET/T1 WI or PET/T2WI) were made by dedicated software using 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI image and FDG-PET images. These images were interpreted by two well-trained radiologists without knowledge of clinical information and compared with FDG-PET/CT images. We compared the differential diagnostic capability between PET/CT and FDG-PET/MRI fusion image. In addition, we evaluated additional findings such as tumor structure and tumor invasion. RESULTS: FDG-PET/MRI fusion image significantly improved accuracy compared with that of PET/CT (96.6 vs. 86.6 %). As additional finding, dilatation of main pancreatic duct was noted in 65.9 % of solid types and in 22.6 % of cystic types, on PET/MRI-T2 fusion image. Similarly, encasement of adjacent vessels was noted in 43.1 % of solid types and in 6.5 % of cystic types. Particularly in cystic types, intra-tumor structures such as mural nodule (35.4 %) or intra-cystic septum (74.2 %) were detected additionally. Besides, PET/MRI-T2 fusion image could detect extra benign cystic lesions (9.1 % in solid type and 9.7 % in cystic type) that were not noted by PET/CT. CONCLUSIONS: In diagnosing pancreatic lesions, FDG-PET/MRI fusion image was useful in differentiating pancreatic cancer from benign lesions. Furthermore, it was helpful in evaluating relationship between lesions and surrounding tissues as well as in detecting extra benign cysts.
    Annals of Nuclear Medicine 04/2013; · 1.50 Impact Factor
  • Article: Pharmacokinetic Alteration of (99m)Tc-MAG3 using Serum Protein Binding Displacement Method.
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    ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: When a radiopharmaceutical is simultaneously administered with a medicine that has high affinity for the same plasma protein, the radiopharmaceutical is released at higher concentrations in blood, leading to enhanced transfer into target tissues. This is known as the serum protein binding displacement method. In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetic alteration of technetium-99m-labeled mercaptoacetylglycylglycylglycine ((99m)Tc-MAG3) using the serum protein binding displacement method. METHODS: Rat and human serum protein binding rates of (99m)Tc-MAG3 were measured by ultrafiltration with or without displacers of human serum albumin (HSA) binding sites I and II (200μM and 400μM loading). Male Wistar rats were injected with (99m)Tc-MAG3 (740kBq/0.3mL saline) via the tail vein, and biodistribution was assessed at 2, 5, 10 and 15min. Dynamic whole-body images were obtained for (99m)Tc-MAG3 (11.1MBq/0.3mL saline)-injected rats, with or without HSA displacers. RESULTS: (99m)Tc-MAG3 strongly bound to HSA (87.37%±2.13%). Using HSA site I displacers, the free fraction of (99m)Tc-MAG3 increased significantly (1.20 to 1.47 times) when compared with controls. For biodistribution and imaging, rapid blood clearance was observed with bucolome (BCL) loading, which is an HSA site I displacer. With BCL loading, peak times for rat renograms were respectively shifted from 240s to 110s, and from 170s to 120s. CONCLUSIONS: We found that (99m)Tc-MAG3 bound to the HSA binding site I. It was confirmed that pharmacokinetic distribution of (99m)Tc-MAG3 is altered by presence of BCL, which leads to increases in the free fraction of (99m)Tc-MAG3, and BCL produced rapid blood clearance and fast peak times on rat renograms. The serum protein binding displacement method using (99m)Tc-MAG3 and BCL, a safe displacer for humans, may be applicable to clinical study and lead to better diagnostic images with shorter waiting times and lower radiation doses for patients.
    Nuclear Medicine and Biology 01/2013; · 3.02 Impact Factor
  • Article: The reproducibility of deep-inspiration breath-hold 18F-FDG PET/CT technique in diagnosing various cancers affected by respiratory motion
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    ABSTRACT: BackgroundThe deep-inspiration breath-hold PET/CT (DIBH PET/CT) technique improves the limitations of diagnosing a lesion located in an area influenced by respiratory motion that results in spatial misregistrations caused by respiration between PET and CT. However, its reproducibility with regard to calculating the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and metabolic volume (MV) in DIBH PET/CT has not been elucidated. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the reproducibility of the DIBH PET/CT technique including calculating the SUVmax and the MV. MethodsSixty patients with various cancers were enrolled. The subjects had 47 abdominal lesions and 28 chest lesions. All patients demonstrated a misregistered image in the early whole-body image taken 50min after FDG intravenous infusions. We added the delayed spot images40min after the first image. On the delayed image, we performed both conventional techniques with non-breath-hold (NBH) and the DIBH technique. In the four times DIBH technique, we obtained the coefficient of variance (CV) in calculating these indices for evaluating reproducibility. ResultsThe SUVmax value with DIBH showed an increase of 16.1–60.1% compared with that measured by NBH. The mean value of CV was 5.5 in thoracic lesions and 6.3 in abdominal lesions. The values of MV with DIBH showed a decrease of 14.0–20.1% compared with those measured by NBH. Regarding reproducibility, mean value of CV was 7.1 in thoracic lesions and 11.9 in abdominal lesions. ConclusionThe DIBH technique improves the inaccurate quantification of both SUVmax and MV. Although the CV value of SUVmax with DIBH technique is better in thoracic lesions compared with that in abdominal lesions, the reproducibility was acceptable. Keywords 18F-FDG PET/CT-Deep-inspiration breath-hold-Reproducibility
    Annals of Nuclear Medicine 04/2012; 24(3):171-178. · 1.50 Impact Factor
  • Article: Loss of cellular viability in areas of ground-glass opacity on computed tomography images immediately after pulmonary radiofrequency ablation in rabbits.
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    ABSTRACT: To determine cellular viability of lung parenchyma and neoplastic cells in areas of ground-glass opacity (GGO) on computed tomography (CT) images immediately after pulmonary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in rabbits. A LeVeen RFA electrode was placed percutaneously into rabbit lungs with or without metastatic VX2 tumors. Five minutes later, seven isolated lungs were imaged by use of a multi-detector row CT scanner, and the images were compared with histological features. The cellular viability of the lung tissues was assessed by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen (NADH) staining in eight normal lungs and in three lungs with multiple metastatic tumors. All lung lesions appeared as bilayered structures with a central, dense, attenuated area and an outer area of GGO on CT images, and as three-layered structures on macroscopic and microscopic images 5 min after RFA. The GGO areas approximately corresponded to the outer two layers in macroscopic images that were exudative and congestive on microscopic images. Staining for NADH was significantly reduced in the GGO and densely attenuated areas with or without tumor tissue staining compared with the non-ablated area. Our results suggest that an area of GGO that appears on CT immediately after RFA can be effectively treated by RFA.
    Japanese journal of radiology 02/2012; 30(4):323-30. · 0.65 Impact Factor
  • Article: The agreement of left ventricular function parameters between (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin gated myocardial SPECT and gated myocardial MRI.
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    ABSTRACT: The aim is to compare and evaluate the agreement of quantification of left ventricular functional parameters obtained by two different methods, (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Ten healthy male volunteers participated. Gated MPS data were acquired using 32 frames, which were also combined into 16- and 8-frame data set for the investigation. Gated CMR data were acquired using 8, 16 and 32-frame for the different sets. All examinations were conducted in resting and at exercise conditions. Quantitative measurements of end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), peak ejection rate (PER), peak filling rate (PFR) and time to peak filling (TTPF) were done for each study, respectively. Finally, we evaluated the concordance of parameters between gated MPS and gated CMR by % difference and Bland-Altman plot analysis. LVEF showed favorable concordance in both rest and exercise conditions (% differences were around 10%). PER, PFR and TTPF also showed good concordances in rest conditions, under 32-frame gated collections particularly (% differences were around 10%). In exercise conditions, although the concordances were relatively good, certain variances were noted (% differences were around 20-25%). Regarding left ventricular volumes, the concordance were worse in both conditions (% differences were around 30-40%). In quantifying of left ventricular function parameter, gated CMR provides similar quantitative values comparing with gated MPS except for ventricular volumes in rest conditions. In contrast, there were certain variations except for LVEF in exercised examinations. When we follow patients by the same cardiac parameters with CMR and MPS, using parameters across the two modalities proved to be possible under rest condition. However, it is limited at exercise condition.
    Annals of Nuclear Medicine 11/2011; 26(2):147-63. · 1.50 Impact Factor
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    Article: Comparison of diagnostic and prognostic capabilities of ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT, ¹³¹I-scintigraphy, and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for postoperative thyroid cancer.
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    ABSTRACT: The first aim of this study was to compare the detectability of metastasis of postoperative differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) among (131)I whole body scintigraphy (IWBS), fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT), and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI). The second aim was to clarify the association between the image pattern and prognosis. We evaluated 70 postoperative DTC patients on both a patient basis and an organ basis (lymph nodes, lung, bone), and we analyzed the correlation between the image pattern and the prognosis. For the patient-basis analysis, the detectability by IWBS, PET/CT, and DWI was 67.1%, 84.2%, and 57.6%, respectively. IWBS provided complementary information to that provided by PET/CT in 11 of 70 (15.7%) cases. For the organ-basis analysis, IWBS was the best detector for lymph node metastasis (72.4%). PET/CT was superior to IWBS for detecting metastasis of bone (85.7% vs. 71.4%) and lung (94.1% vs. 62.7%). For the correlation analysis, PET and DWI positivity were the factors predicting a poor prognosis. PET/CT was the best modality for detecting metastases in postoperative DTC patients, although IWBS provided complementary information. Because PET/CT and DWI gave similar information (e.g., positivity) suggesting poor prognoses, the combination of IWBS and DWI might be the method of choice for monitoring postoperative DTC.
    Japanese journal of radiology 07/2011; 29(6):413-22. · 0.65 Impact Factor
  • Article: MR signal change in venous thrombus relates organizing process and thrombolytic response in rabbit.
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    ABSTRACT: Venous thrombus is subsequently organized and replaced by fibrous connective tissue. However, the sequential changes in venous thrombi are not reliably detected by current noninvasive diagnostic techniques. The purpose of this study is to reveal whether magnetic resonance (MR) can detect venous thrombus, define thrombus age and predict thrombolytic responses. Thrombus in the rabbit jugular vein was imaged with a 1.5-T MR system at 4 h and at 1, 2 and 4 weeks using three-dimensional (3D) fast asymmetric spin echo T2-weighted (T2W) and 3D-gradient echo T1-weighted (T1W) sequences. The jugular veins were histologically assessed at each time point. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was also performed in vivo before and 30 min after tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) administration. The thrombi in MRI were comparable in size to histological sections. The signal intensity (SI) of thrombi at 4 h was heterogeneously high or low on T2W or T1W images, respectively. The SI of thrombi on T2W images decreased time-dependently, but increased on T1W images at 1 and 2 weeks. Morphological analysis showed time-dependent decreases in erythrocyte, platelet and fibrin areas and time-dependent increases in smooth muscle cell, macrophage, collagen and iron areas. The t-PA administration significantly decreased thrombus volume at 4 h but not at 1, 2 and 4 weeks. Venous thrombosis can be reliably and noninvasively detected by MRI. Measurement of SI might support assessments of thrombus age and thrombolytic response.
    Magnetic Resonance Imaging 06/2011; 29(7):975-84. · 1.99 Impact Factor
  • Article: Predictive value of Tc-99m galactosyl human serum albumin liver SPECT on the assessment of functional recovery after partial hepatectomy: a comparison with CT volumetry.
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    ABSTRACT: Predicting liver functional reserve is important before partial hepatectomy. However, it is difficult to predict using morphologic imaging modalities, such as CT and MRI. In this study, we assess the usefulness of galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA) scintigraphy in predicting liver function recovery. We performed 99mTc-GSA scintigraphy before operation in 56 patients. Each patient was administered 185 MBq of 99mTc-GSA by intravenous injection. Serial images were taken immediately after the administration for 40 min. SPECT images were obtained to make a functional map. We calculated the functioning parameter residual GSA-Rmax (GSA-RL) using analysis software developed by Dr.N. Shuke. In addition, we compared GSA-RL with the morphological parameter residual liver volume (RLV-CT) calculated by conventional CT and serum albumin (Alb) or cholinesterase (ChE). We analyzed the correlation between imaging parameters and the postoperative recovery periods of serum albumin (r-Alb) and cholinesterase (r-ChE) and the values at 1 and 3 months for serum albumin (1M-Alb, 3M-Alb) and cholinesterase (1M-ChE, 3M-ChE). We found significant correlations between GSARL and r-Alb, r-ChE, 1M-Alb, 3M-Alb, 1M-ChE and 3M-ChE, but not between RLV-CT and the same parameters. The GSA-RL calculated by 99mTc GSASPECT was a useful parameter for predicting postoperative liver function recovery that should be implemented before partial hepatectomy.
    Annals of Nuclear Medicine 11/2010; 24(10):729-34. · 1.50 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Usefulness of metabolic volume and total lesion glycolysis for predicting therapeutic response in cancer therapy by 18F-FDG PET/CT].
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    ABSTRACT: The current study was done to evaluate the usefulness of predicting capability of FDG PET/CT indices in therapeutic response of malignant tumor. Series of FDG PET/CT were performed at both pre- and after therapy for 70 lesions of 58 patients with malignant tumor. Three months after the 2nd PET/CT, follow up CT was performed for determining the final therapeutic effect. We calculated various indices including SUVmax, the metabolic volume (MV) and the total lesion glycolysis (TLG). We calculated four kinds of indices, TLG50, TLG75, MV50 and MV75 based on the different threshold. Then we calculated deltaSUVmax, deltaMV50, deltaMV75, deltaTLG50 and deltaTLG75 from a change of these indices. Finally, we compared the predictive capability of these five indices in therapeutic response of malignant tumor. In the cancer therapy effect prediction, both deltaTLG75 and deltaTLG50 were significantly higher than SUVmax by using receiver operating-characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The prognostic capability of deltaSUVmax for therapeutic response with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 85.7%, 59.5%, 58.5%, 86.2% and 70.0%; deltaTLG75 96.4%, 69.0%, 67.5%, 96.7% and 80.0%; and deltaTLG50 96.4%, 76.2%, 73.0%, 97.0% and 84.3%, respectively. By the use of deltaTLG75 or deltaTLG50, the predictive ability for therapeutic response improved significantly compared to that by the use of deltaSUVmax. In the prediction for therapeutic response of various cancers by using FDG PET/CT, Total lesion glycolysis (TLG) was the most useful index.
    Kaku igaku. The Japanese journal of nuclear medicine 11/2010; 47(4):453-61.
  • Article: MR and US imaging for breast cancer patients who underwent conservation surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: comparison of triple negative breast cancer and other intrinsic subtypes.
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    ABSTRACT: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is commonly utilized to treat operable breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to review the findings of ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients treated with breast conservation surgery (BCS) after NAC with a focus on intrinsic subtypes. Eighty-six patients underwent BCS after NAC. The tumors were classified into four subgroups by receptor status. US and MR were performed before and after NAC. The tumor diameters in US and MR after NAC were examined for correlations with pathological tumor distances in the specimens from BCS after NAC. The correlation coefficient (r) of US to pathological tumor size was 0.3 in all tumors, 0.6 in HER2-type tumors, and 0.7 in triple negative breast cancers (TNBC). The correlation coefficient of tumor size in MR to pathological tumor size was 0.9 in TNBC, and other correlations were not statistically significant. The correlation between tumor size in MR and pathological tumor size in triple negative breast cancers corresponded best. This information is one of the clues to selecting patients for BCS after NAC.
    Breast Cancer 11/2010; 18(3):152-60. · 1.36 Impact Factor
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    Article: The reproducibility of deep-inspiration breath-hold (18)F-FDG PET/CT technique in diagnosing various cancers affected by respiratory motion.
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    ABSTRACT: The deep-inspiration breath-hold PET/CT (DIBH PET/CT) technique improves the limitations of diagnosing a lesion located in an area influenced by respiratory motion that results in spatial misregistrations caused by respiration between PET and CT. However, its reproducibility with regard to calculating the maximal standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) and metabolic volume (MV) in DIBH PET/CT has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reproducibility of the DIBH PET/CT technique including calculating the SUV(max) and the MV. Sixty patients with various cancers were enrolled. The subjects had 47 abdominal lesions and 28 chest lesions. All patients demonstrated a misregistered image in the early whole-body image taken 50 min after FDG intravenous infusions. We added the delayed spot images 40 min after the first image. On the delayed image, we performed both conventional techniques with non-breath-hold (NBH) and the DIBH technique. In the four times DIBH technique, we obtained the coefficient of variance (CV) in calculating these indices for evaluating reproducibility. The SUV(max) value with DIBH showed an increase of 16.1-60.1% compared with that measured by NBH. The mean value of CV was 5.5 in thoracic lesions and 6.3 in abdominal lesions. The values of MV with DIBH showed a decrease of 14.0-20.1% compared with those measured by NBH. Regarding reproducibility, mean value of CV was 7.1 in thoracic lesions and 11.9 in abdominal lesions. The DIBH technique improves the inaccurate quantification of both SUV(max) and MV. Although the CV value of SUV(max) with DIBH technique is better in thoracic lesions compared with that in abdominal lesions, the reproducibility was acceptable.
    Annals of Nuclear Medicine 03/2010; 24(3):171-8. · 1.50 Impact Factor
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    Article: Atherosclerotic lesions rich in macrophages or smooth muscle cells discriminated in rabbit iliac arteries based on T1 relaxation time and lipid content.
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    ABSTRACT: Atherothrombosis usually occurs on macrophage- and lipid-rich unstable plaque, but rarely on smooth muscle cell (SMC)-rich stable plaque. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been extensively applied for noninvasive vascular imaging. We therefore investigated whether MRI provides valuable information about the characteristics of atherosclerotic vessels using rabbit models of macrophage-rich or SMC-rich atherosclerotic arteries. Rabbits were fed with a conventional (CD group, n = 3) or 0.5% cholesterol (ChD group, n = 3) diet for 1 week before and 3 weeks after balloon injury of the left iliac arteries. Three weeks later, these arteries were investigates by 1.5 T MRI and by conventional angiographic imaging, followed by histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Three weeks after balloon injury, injured iliac arteries of both groups formed neointima with luminal stenosis. Conventional and MRI angiographic findings of the luminal diameter significantly and positively correlated. T1 relaxation time was significantly shorter and the lipid content was much higher in injured arteries from the ChD than from the CD group. The injured arteries from the ChD also contained more macrophages and less SMCs that those from the CD group. The T1 relaxation time and lipid content in injured arteries negatively and positively correlated with the degree of macrophage accumulation, respectively. These results showed that MRI could provide valuable information about luminal stenosis and the characteristics of atherosclerotic vessels in rabbits.
    Academic radiology 11/2009; 17(2):230-8. · 2.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Competitive displacement of serum protein binding of radiopharmaceuticals with amino acid infusion investigated with N-isopropyl-p-123I-iodoamphetamine.
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    ABSTRACT: When a therapeutic drug is competitively displaced at the binding sites of serum proteins, the free fraction of the drug will be increased, with an increase in the manifestation of pharmacologic properties. In the case of molecular imaging probes, total clearance and tissue distribution are increased in such circumstances. The aim of this study was to observe the increase in cerebral accumulation of N-isopropyl-p-(123)I-iodoamphetamine ((123)I-IMP) using the protein-binding displacement method with amino acid infusion. (123)I-IMP binding to human serum was investigated and identified. In addition, protein-binding sites and the specific binding sites of human serum albumin (HSA) and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) were examined by ultrafiltration. Then, serum-binding sites and the displacement effects of amino acid infusion, including Proteamin 12X Injection and Kidomin, were confirmed in vitro. Subsequently, displacement of (123)I-IMP serum protein binding with Proteamin amino acid infusion was tested in monkeys. A scintigraphic study of (123)I-IMP in monkeys loaded with or without Proteamin was performed, and time-activity-curves of (123)I-IMP brain accumulation in monkeys were evaluated. (123)I-IMP was bound to HSA site II and AGP to nearly equal extents. Compared with control conditions, loading with Proteamin and Kidomin markedly increased free fractions of binding site markers for HSA site II ((14)C-diazepam: 0.95% +/- 0.04% for control, 1.40% +/- 0.06% for Proteamin, 1.62% +/- 0.05% for Kidomin) and AGP ((3)H-propranolol: 10.60% +/- 0.32% for control, 13.18% +/- 0.14% for Proteamin, 13.82% +/- 0.72% for Kidomin). Amino acid infusions were thus suitable for use as displacers for binding site II and AGP. With use of Proteamin amino acid infusion to displace protein binding, the free fraction of (125)I-IMP (14.95% +/- 0.74%) was significantly increased in serum (19.24% +/- 0.87%). In a (123)I-IMP scintigraphic study of monkeys, average cerebral uptake in 2 monkeys increased by 1.34-fold with Proteamin. Our findings suggested that Proteamin treatment increased the free fraction of (123)I-IMP, yielding rapid and pronounced cerebral accumulation in vivo. Amino acid infusion can improve brain accumulation by competitive displacement of serum protein binding in vivo. Further similar studies are needed with other radiopharmaceuticals.
    Journal of Nuclear Medicine 09/2009; 50(8):1378-83. · 6.38 Impact Factor
  • Article: Factor VIII contributes to platelet-fibrin thrombus formation via thrombin generation under low shear conditions.
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    ABSTRACT: Thrombus growth under low blood flow velocity plays an important role in the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Increased plasma levels and activities of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) comprise risk factors for DVT and pulmonary thromboembolism. To localize FVIII in human venous thrombi of DVT and to determine whether FVIII contributes to thrombus formation under low shear conditions. The localization of FVIII in venous thrombi obtained from patients with DVT was examined by immunohistochemistry. The role of FVIII in thrombus formation was investigated using a flow chamber system. Venous blood from healthy volunteers were incubated with an anti-FVIII monoclonal antibody (VIII-3776) or non-immunized mouse IgG(1). Blood samples were perfused on immobilized type III collagen at wall shear rates of 70/s and 400/s and then the surface area covered by platelets and fibrin was morphometrically evaluated. Prothrombin fragment 1+2 (PF1+2) generation was measured before and after perfusion. Venous thrombi of DVT comprised a mixture of platelets, fibrin and erythrocytes. Factor VIII appeared to be colocalized with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, fibrin and von Willebrand factor in the thrombi. VIII-3776 specifically recognized the light chain of FVIII and prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), but not prothrombin time (PT). The antibody significantly reduced platelets and fibrin covering, as well as PF1+2 generation at wall shear rates of 70/s and 400/s. These results suggest that FVIII contributes to platelet aggregation and fibrin formation via thrombin generation under low shear conditions.
    Thrombosis Research 09/2009; 124(5):601-7. · 2.44 Impact Factor
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    Article: Usefulness of a deep-inspiration breath-hold 18F-FDG PET/CT technique in diagnosing liver, bile duct, and pancreas tumors.
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    ABSTRACT: The deep-inspiration breath-hold F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography (DIBH F-FDG PET/CT) technique improves the limitations of diagnosing a lesion located in an area influenced by respiratory motion that brings about spatial misregistration caused by respiration between PET and CT. However, its clinical effectiveness with regard to abdominal lesions has not been elucidated. The influence of respiratory motion for calculating the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and metabolic volume (MV) in DIBH F-FDG PET/CT has not been investigated either. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of the DIBH F-FDG PET/CT technique in diagnosing liver tumors, bile duct cancers, and pancreas tumors. In addition, we compared the values of SUVmax and MV between DIBH and nonbreath-hold (NBH). Forty patients with various abdominal malignancies including liver tumors, bile duct cancers, and pancreas tumors were enrolled. In total, the patients had 47 abdominal lesions. All patients showed a misregistered image in the early whole-body image taken 50 min after intravenous F-FDG infusions. We added the delayed images 40 min after the first image. On the delayed image, we carried out both conventional techniques with normal respiration (NBH) and the DIBH technique. Finally, we compared two kinds of images in each patient. At the same time, we compared both SUVmax and MV of cancer obtained by the two kinds of imaging methods. In 14 lesions (29.8%), we corrected the anatomical tumor location, from the incorrect to the correct organ, by the DIBH technique. In 22 lesions (46.8%), we corrected the tumor location within the organ. Consequently, tumor staging also changed in 11 patients (23.4%) after correction by the DIBH technique. Regarding the SUVmax value by DIBH, it showed an increase of approximately 15.0-58.6% compared with that measured by NBH. In contrast, the value of MV by DIBH showed a decrease of 20% compared with that measured by NBH. The DIBH F-FDG PET/CT technique is feasible for accurate localization when diagnosing of liver tumors, bile duct cancers, and pancreas cancers. The DIBH technique also improves the inaccurate quantification of both SUVmax and MV.
    Nuclear Medicine Communications 04/2009; 30(5):326-32. · 1.40 Impact Factor
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    Article: Serum protein binding displacement: theoretical analysis using a hypothetical radiopharmaceutical and experimental analysis with 123I-N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine.
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    ABSTRACT: The binding of radiopharmaceutical to serum proteins is thought to be an important factor that restricts its excretion and accumulation in tissue. We calculated the effect of inhibitors of serum protein binding using a hypothetical radiopharmaceutical. In vitro experiments and protein binding inhibitor-loaded monkey scintigraphy were then conducted using (123)I-N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine (IMP) as the radiopharmaceutical. Free fraction ratios of radiopharmaceutical were calculated with one radiopharmaceutical, two serum proteins and two specific inhibitors in the steady state at various serum protein concentrations. In vitro protein binding inhibition studies using human, rat and monkey sera were performed with site-selective displacers of specific binding sites: 400 microM 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid (6MNA; a major nabumeton metabolite) as a serum albumin Site II inhibitor and 400 microM erythromycin (ETC) as an alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) site inhibitor. Scintigraphy with or without 6MNA loading of monkeys was performed. The theoretical findings roughly corresponded to the experimental results. Approximately 75% of IMP bound to serum albumin Site II and AGP in the species examined. The free fraction of IMP (25.0+/-0.6% for human, 22.8+/-0.4% for monkey, 23.7+/-0.3% for rat) increased with loading of specific protein binding inhibitors (6MNA: 28.0+/-0.3% for human, 24.5+/-0.7% for monkey, 24.3+/-0.2% for rat; ETC: 26.3+/-0.4% for human, 29.5+/-1.1% for monkey, 26.0+/-0.7% for rat) and was serum protein concentration dependant based on the results of calculations. Simultaneous administration of 6MNA and ETC produced a higher free fraction ratio of IMP (31.9+/-1.0% for human, 34.6+/-0.4% for monkey, 27.0+/-0.3% for rat) than summation of the single administrations of 6MNA and ETC (domino effect) in human, rat and monkey sera. Rapid cerebral accumulation was observed with 6MNA loading in monkey scintigraphy. 6MNA appears to change the pharmacokinetics and brain accumulation of IMP in monkeys. Further studies in human are required.
    Nuclear Medicine and Biology 02/2009; 36(1):99-106. · 3.02 Impact Factor
  • Article: Usefulness of triple-phase thallium-201 SPECT in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): association with proliferative activity.
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    ABSTRACT: The conventional delayed scan in dual phase of thallium-201 ((201)Tl) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is useful for estimating the viability of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the influence of tumor blood flow cannot be ignored by the scan at 4 h after the tracer injection. For the purpose of improving the diagnostic capability and for clarifying the association between (201)Tl uptake and proliferative activity, we investigated the usefulness of super-delayed scan obtained at 24 h in triple-phase (201)Tl SPECT. A total of 122 patients with lung nodule, 106 of NSCLC and 16 of benign nodule, were given (201)Tl SPECT before the tumor resection. Early image (15 min), delayed image (4 h), and super-delayed image (24 h) were obtained after intravenous injection of (201)Tl chloride (111 MBq). On the each SPECT image, regions of interest (ROIs) were placed over the tumor contour (T) and contra-lateral normal lung tissue (N) area on one transverse view clearly defined lesions, and T/N ratio on the early image (ER), the delayed image (DR), and the super-delayed image (sDR), and retention indexes (RI and sRI) were calculated. All patients underwent subsequent surgical excision, and the specimens were immunostained for Ki-67 and CD34. The proliferative capability was measured as a percentage of positive nuclear area for Ki-67 (MIB-1 index). The angiogenesis was measured density of positive micro-vessels for CD34 (micro-vessel density, MVD). Correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between the MIB-1 index, MVD, and SPECT parameters. The diagnostic accuracy of sDR in the differential of NSCLC was higher than that of DR (83.6% vs. 91.8%). Both DR and sDR were positively correlated with MIB-1 index. The correlation coefficient was higher in sDR (0.53 vs. 0.69). The MIB-1 index of the increasing pattern (RI < sRI) group was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that of the decreasing pattern (RI > sRI) group. The super-delayed scan in the triple-phase (201)Tl SPECT is more useful than conventional delayed scan for both the diagnostic capability and assessing proliferation of NSCLC.
    Annals of Nuclear Medicine 12/2008; 22(10):833-9. · 1.50 Impact Factor
  • Article: Metastatic disease involving the discovertebral junction of the spine.
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    ABSTRACT: To investigate the use of magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of metastatic tumors involving the discovertebral junction of the spine in cadaveric specimens and patients, with histologic findings as the reference standard. Magnetic resonance imaging studies were performed on 30 DVJs in 10 cadavers with documented metastatic bone disease. Anatomic sectioning and histologic evaluations were performed, and anatomic slices were correlated with the magnetic resonance images. For clinical study, magnetic resonance imaging examinations in three patients with vertebral metastasis were reviewed. On magnetic resonance imaging, the signal intensity characteristics of vertebral body metastases were variable. Magnetic resonance imaging failed to detect metastatic foci invading the cartilaginous endplates. On microscopic examination, infiltration of the discovertebral junction by tumorous tissue was found in 11 (69%) of the 16 discovertebral junctions that had an irregular contour, and in 5 (31%) disrupted discovertebral junctions. In three specimens and three patients, microscopic examination revealed tumor metastasis to the intervertebral disc. In no specimen magnetic resonance imaging afforded depiction of discal invasion by tumor. Our results lend further support to the theory that metastatic tumors can invade the cartilaginous endplate through defects in its substance, allowing direct contact of tumor and disc. Minimal tumor invasion of the discovertebral junction may not be identified at magnetic resonance imaging or gross anatomic inspection, or both, because small metastatic foci may be obscured by abnormalities in the morphology of the cartilaginous endplate.
    Joint, bone, spine: revue du rhumatisme 11/2008; 76(1):50-6. · 2.25 Impact Factor
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    Article: Usefulness of rCBF analysis in diagnosing Parkinson's disease: supplemental role with MIBG myocardial scintigraphy.
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    ABSTRACT: (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy is a useful tool for differentiating idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) from parkinsonism (PS) caused by other disorders. However, cardiac MIBG uptake is affected by various causes. Alternatively, hypoperfusion in the occipital lobe of PD is reported recently. The objective is to clarify the correlation between regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) alteration and cardiac MIBG uptake in PD. In addition, we examined whether additional brain perfusion analysis improved the differential diagnostic ability for PD from PS when compared with MIBG scintigraphy alone. Forty-nine patients with PD (27 mild groups: Hoehn and Yahr stages I, II; 22 severe groups: Hoehn and Yahr stages III, IV) and 28 patients with PS participated. We compared absolute rCBF values between PD and PS. In addition, we determined correlation between MIBG parameters and each rCBF value. Finally, we compared the diagnostic ability for the differentiation of PD from PS between two diagnostic criteria, each MIBG index abnormality alone [heart-to-mediastinum ratio, H/M (E) < 1.9, H/E (D) < 1.7, washout rate > 40%] and each MIBG index abnormality or occipital lobe hypoperfusion (<36 ml/100 g per min). Absolute rCBF value of occipital lobe was significantly lower in severe PD as compared with PS or mild PD. In the correlation analysis, rCBF of occipital lobe correlated positively with MIBG parameters (H/M). Regarding the diagnostic ability, sensitivity improved by accounting for occipital hypoperfusion as compared with MIBG indices alone. In contrast, neither specificity nor accuracy improved by adding occipital lobe analysis. MIBG parameters (H/M) correlated positively with occipital hypoperfusion in PD. In the differential diagnosis between PD and PS, although its usefulness might be limited, analysis of rCBF in the occipital lobe added to (123)I-MIBG myocardial imaging can be recommended.
    Annals of Nuclear Medicine 09/2008; 22(7):557-64. · 1.50 Impact Factor
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    Article: Effect of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy on gastrointestinal motility: evaluation by gastric-emptying scintigraphy.
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    ABSTRACT: Firstly, to assess the effect of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement on gastric emptying, gastrointestinal (GI) tract motility and the rate of gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Secondly, to confirm whether correlations exist between drug absorption behaviour and GI tract motility using the combination method of absorption function analysis with the motility study. Subjects comprised 11 patients with neurological dysphagia. Gastric-emptying scintigraphy was performed both before PEG via nasogastric tube feeding and after PEG placement. After fasting for more than 8 h, each patient was administered 111 MBq of 99mTc-labelled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) with a 100 ml liquid meal via a nutrition tube. Dynamic imaging was performed immediately after administration of a radiolabelled liquid meal for a 1 h period and static imaging was performed after 1, 2, 3 and 6 h. Gastric emptying half-time (T50) was calculated in each patient, and GER ratio and GI transit rate were also evaluated. Simultaneously, we administered 10 mg of famotidine in six of the 11 patients and measured serum concentrations of famotidine at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 6 h. Using the time-concentration curve of famotidine, the maximum concentration of famotidine (Cmax) and area under the curve of famotidine (AUCf) were calculated for each patient. In seven of 11 patients, T50 changed after PEG placement, but not significantly. The GER ratio was significantly decreased and complicated pneumonia improved after PEG placement. GI transit rate for each GI segment was unchanged after PEG placement. Significant linear correlations were identified between T50 and both Cmax and AUCf. Gastric-emptying scintigraphy with Tc-DTPA was effective in the evaluation of GI transit before and after PEG, as well as in assessing GER. Motility and famotidine absorption were maintained after PEG placement. Significant linear correlations were found between T50 and both Cmax and AUCf. These findings suggest that drug absorption may have some relationship between T50. The result may be more reliable with a larger population.
    Nuclear Medicine Communications 07/2008; 29(6):562-7. · 1.40 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2013
    • Kanazawa University
      • School of Health Sciences
      Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa-ken, Japan
  • 2005–2013
    • Miyazaki University
      Miyazaki-shi, Miyazaki-ken, Japan
    • Social Insurance Chukyo Hospital
      Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan
  • 2005–2012
    • University of Miyazaki
      Miyazaki-shi, Miyazaki-ken, Japan
  • 2008
    • Naval Medical Center San Diego
      • Department of Radiology
      San Diego, CA, USA