Ortiz Connolly (latheopen1)

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this work was to assess the feasibility of acquisition time reduction in MPI-SPECT imaging using deep leering techniques through two main approaches, namely reduction of the acquisition time per projection and reduction of the number of angular projections. METHODS SPECT imaging was performed using a fixed 90° angle dedicated dual-head cardiac SPECT camera. This study included a prospective cohort of 363 patients with various clinical indications (normal, ischemia, and infarct) referred for MPI-SPECT. For each patient, 32 projections for 20 seconds per projection were acquired using a step and shoot protocol from the right anterior oblique to the left posterior oblique view. SPECT projection data were reconstructed using the OSEM algorithm (6 iterations, 4 subsets, Butterworth post-reconstruction filter). For each patient, four different datasets were generated, namely full time (20 seconds) projections (FT), half-time (10 seconds) acquisition per projection (HT), 32 full projectioed significantly (P value less then .05) for predicted FT (8.0 ± 3.6) relative to predicted FP (6.8 ± 2.7). CONCLUSION Reducing the acquisition time per projection significantly increased the error metrics. The deep neural network effectively recovers image quality and reduces bias in quantification metrics. Further research should be undertaken to explore the impact of time reduction in gated MPI-SPECT.BACKGROUND Regional cardiac sympathetic denervation is predictive of sudden cardiac arrest in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. The reproducibility of denervation scores between automated software programs has not been evaluated. This study seeks to (1) compare the inter-rater reliability of regional denervation measurements using two analysis programs FlowQuant® and Corridor4DM®; (2) evaluate test-retest repeatability of regional denervation scores. METHODS N = 190 dynamic [11C]meta-hydroxyephedrine (HED) PET scans were reviewed from the PAREPET trial in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF ≤ 35%). N = 12 scans were excluded due to non-diagnostic quality. N = 178 scans were analyzed using FlowQuant and Corridor4DM software, each by two observers. Test-retest scans from N = 20 patients with stable heart failure were utilized for test-retest analysis. Denervation scores were defined as extent × severity of relative uptake defects in LV regions with less then 75% of maximal uptake. KN-62 price Results were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman coefficient of repeatability (RPC). RESULTS Inter-observer, inter-software, and test-retest ICC values were excellent (ICC = 94% to 99%) and measurement variability was small (RPC less then 11%). Mean differences between observers ranged .2% to 1.1% for Corridor4DM (P = .28), FlowQuant (P less then .001), and between software programs (P less then .001). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated HED scores from both programs were predictive of SCA. CONCLUSION Inter-rater reliability for both analysis programs was excellent and test-retest repeatability was consistent. The minimal difference in scores between FlowQuant and Corridor4DM supports their use in future trials.The decline in bee populations worldwide has been associated with the use of pesticides in crop systems where these insects forage. The use of biopesticides, like spinosad, is preferred as an alternative method to control pests, because it is considered safer to non-target insects. In this study, we evaluated the lethal and sublethal effects of the spinosad-based formulation Tracer® on foragers of the stingless bee Plebeia lucii Moure (Apidae Meliponini). Groups of bees were fed a pure diet (negative control) or a diet at different concentrations of spinosad. Positive control groups consisted of bees orally exposed to a diet with the neonicotinoid imidacloprid. Next, flight behavior, body mass, and respiration ra