Objectives: Small field of view gamma detection and imaging technologies for monitoring in vivo tracer uptake are rapidly expanding and being introduced for bed-side imaging and image guided surgical procedures. The Hybrid Gamma Camera (HGC) has been developed to enhance the localization of targeted radiopharmaceuticals during surgical procedures; for example in sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsies and for bed-side imaging in procedures such as lacrimal drainage imaging and thyroid scanning. In this study, a prototype anthropomorphic head and neck phantom has been designed, constructed, and evaluated using representative modelled medical scenarios to study the capability of the HGC to detect SLNs and image small organs. Methods: An anthropomorphic head and neck phantom has been designed to mimic the adult head and neck including some internal organs and tissues of interest, such as the thyroid gland and sentinel lymph nodes. The design of the head and neck phantom included an adjustable inner jig holding the simulated SLNs and thyroid gland. The simulated thyroid gland was designed and 3D printed taking into consideration the size and the shape of a healthy adult thyroid gland. The inner sealed space of the thyroid was filled with 15MBq of 99mTc through two upper filling valves. Sealed micro-tubes (0.2ml) have been employed to simulate SLNs containing various 99mTc activity concentrations ranging between 0.1MBq and 1MBq, and can be positioned at any desired place in the head and neck region. An active background was simulated through mixing 10MBq of 99mTc solution with the water used to fill the outer shell of the head and neck phantom. Results: The head and neck phantom was employed to simulate a situation where there are four SLNs distributed at two different vertical levels and at two depths within the neck. Contrast to noise ratio (CNR) calculations were performed for the detected SLNs at an 80mm distance between both pinhole collimators (i.e. 0.5mm and 1.0mm diameters) and the surface of the head and neck phantom with a 100s acquisition time. The recorded CNR values for the simulated SLNs are higher when the HGC was fitted with the 1.0mm diameter pinhole collimator. For instance, the recorded CNR values for the superficially simulated SLN containing 0.1MBq of 99mTc using 0.5mm and 1.0mm diameter pinhole collimators are 6.48 and 16.42, respectively (~87% difference). The anatomical context provided by the hybrid imaging aided the localization process of radioactivity accumulation in simulated SLNs. Gamma and hybrid optical images were acquired using the HGC with both available pinhole collimators for the simulated thyroid gland. The thyroid images produced varied in terms of spatial resolution and detectability. The count profiles through the middle of the simulated thyroid gland images provided by both pinhole collimators were obtained. The HGC could clearly differentiate the individual peaks of both thyroid lobes in the gamma image produced by the 0.5mm pinhole collimator. In contrast, the recorded count profile for the acquired image using the 1.0mm diameter pinhole collimator showed broader peaks for both lobes, reflecting the degradation of the spatial resolution with increasing the diameter of the pinhole collimator. Conclusion: The capability of the HGC has been evaluated utilizing a prototype anthropomorphic head and neck phantom, and the gamma and hybrid images obtained demonstrate that it is ideally suited for intraoperative SLNs detection and small organ imaging. The standardization of test phantoms and protocols for SFOV portable gamma systems will provide an opportunity to collect data across various medical centers and research groups. Moreover, it will provide a technical baseline for researchers and clinical practitioners to consider when assessing their SFOV gamma imaging systems. The anthropomorphic head and neck phantom described is cost effective, reproducible, flexible and anatomically representative.
This work aim to prepare Ag/R6G/PMMA nanocomposite thin
films by In-situ plasma polymerization and study the changes in the
optical properties of fluorophore due to the presence of Ag
nanoparticles structures in the vicinity of the R6G laser dye. The
concentrations of R6G dye/MMA used are: 10-4M solutions were
prepared by dissolving the required quantity of the R6G dye in
MMAMonomer. Then Silver nanoparticles with 50 average particles
size were mixed with MMAmonomer with concentration of 0.3, 0.5,
0.7wt% to get R6G silver/MMA in liquid phase. The films were
deposited on glass substrates by dielectric barrier discharge plasma
jet. The Ag/R6G/PMMA nanocomposite thin films were
characterization by UV-Visible
The taxonomy of Ficus L., 1753 species is confusing because of the intense morphological variability and the ambiguity of the taxa. This study handled 36 macro-morphological characteristics to clarify the taxonomic identity of the taxa. The study revealed that Ficus is represented in the Egyptian gardens with forty-one taxa; 33 species, 4 subspecies and 4 varieties, and classified into five subgenera: Ficus Corner, 1960; Terega Raf., 1838; Sycomorus Raf., 1838; Synoecia (Miq.) Miq., 1867, and Spherosuke Raf.,1838; out of them seven were misidentified. Amongst, four new Ficus taxa were recently introduced to Egypt namely: F. lingua subsp. lingua Warb. ex De Wild. & T. Durand, 1901; F. pumila L., 1753; F. rumphii Blume, 1825, and F. su
... Show MoreBackground:Measurement of hemoglobin A1c (A1C) is a renowned tactic for gauging long-term glycemic control, and exemplifies an outstanding influence to the quality of care in diabetic patients.The concept of targets is open to criticism; they may be unattainable, or limit what could be attained, and in addition they may be economically difficult to attain. However, without some form of targeted control of an asymptomatic condition it becomes difficult to promote care at allObjectives: The present article aims to address the most recent evidence-based global guidelines of A1C targets intended for glycemic control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D).Key messages:Rationale for Treatment Targets of A1C includesevidence for microvascular and ma
... Show MoreThis study thoroughly investigates the potential of niobium oxide (Nb2O5) thin films as UV-A photodetectors. The films were precisely fabricated using dc reactive magnetron sputtering on Si(100) and quartz substrates, maintaining a consistent power output of 50W while varying substrate temperatures. The dominant presence of hexagonal crystal structure Nb2O5 in the films was confirmed. An increased particle diameter at 150°C substrate temperature and a reduced Nb content at higher substrate temperatures were revealed. A distinct band gap with high UV sensitivity at 350 nm was determined. Remarkably, films sputtered using 50W displayed the highest photosensitivity at 514.89%. These outstanding optoelectronic properties highlight Nb2O5 thin f
... Show MoreThe current research aims at knowing the impact of the mind-clearing method in teaching second year intermediate students “reading book”. To achieve the study objective, the researchers intentionally chose Arjwan middle school, located in Baghdad Directorate of Education Al-Rusafa/2, which includes five classes for the second intermediate class. Division (A) was chosen randomly to represent the experimental group, which is taught in the mind-clearing method, while Division (B) represented the control group, which is taught in the traditional way. The sample of the research included (79) female students divided into (39) students in the experimental group, and (40) female students in the control group.To achieve the objective of the res
... Show MoreNew Fe(II),Co(II),Ni(II),Cu(II) and Zn(II) Schiff base complexes which have the molar ratio 2:1 metal to ligand of the general formula [M2( L) X4] (where L=bis(2-methyl furfuraldene)-4-4`-methylene bis(cyclo-hexylamine) ) were prepared by the reaction of the metal salts with the ligand of Schiff base derived from the condensation of 2:1 molar ratio of 2-acetyl furan and 4-4`-methylene bis (cyclohexylamine). The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis using atomic absorption spectrophotometer ,molar conductance measurements, infrared, electronic spectra,and magnetic susceptibility measurement. These studies revealed binuclear omplexes. The metal(II) ion in these complexes have four coordination sites giving the most ex
... Show Moreتشغل الفضاءات الداخلية الطبية اهتمام واسع , لما توفره من رعاية صحية للمرضى ,فلابد ان يُهتَمْ بها من الجانب الوظيفي(الادائي), لتحقيق الراحة البصرية والنفسية والجسدية لغرض الوصول الى الاداء الجيد للكادر الطبي, ولهذا وجد ضرورة التعرف على تلك الفضاءات الداخلية بشكل اعمق , وهل انها ملاءمة للمرتكزات التصميمية المتعارف عليها؟ , لذلك تم تسليط الضوء على الفضاءات الداخلية للمختبرات الطبية, وقد تناول البحث المشكلة واه
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