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We provide updated guidance and standards for the indication, acquisition, and interpretation of [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT for plasma cell disorders. Procedures and characteristics are reported and different scenarios for the clinical use of [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT are discussed. This document provides clinicians and technicians with the best available evidence to support the implementation of [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT imaging in routine practice and future research., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Tubular aggregate myopathy (TAM) is a rare myopathy characterized by muscle weakness and myalgia. Muscle fibers from TAM patients show characteristic accumulation of membrane tubules that contain proteins from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Gain-of-function mutations in STIM1 and ORAI1, the key proteins participating in the Store-Operated Ca 2+ Entry (SOCE) mechanism, were identified in patients with TAM. Recently, the CASQ1 gene was also found to be mutated in patients with TAM. CASQ1 is the main Ca 2+ buffer of the SR and a negative regulator of SOCE. Previous characterization of CASQ1 mutants in non-muscle cells revealed that they display altered Ca 2+ dependent polymerization, reduced Ca 2+ storage capacity and alteration in SOCE inhibition. We thus aimed to assess how mutations in CASQ1 affect calcium regulation in skeletal muscles, where CASQ1 is naturally expressed. We thus expressed CASQ1 mutants in muscle fibers from Casq1 knockout mice, which provide a valuable model for studying the Ca 2+ storage capacity of TAM-associated mutants. Moreover, since Casq1 knockout mice display a constitutively active SOCE, the effect of CASQ1 mutants on SOCE inhibition can be also properly examined in fibers from these mice. Analysis of intracellular Ca 2+ confirmed that CASQ1 mutants have impaired ability to store Ca 2+ and lose their ability to inhibit skeletal muscle SOCE; this is in agreement with the evidence that alterations in Ca 2+ entry due to mutations in either STIM1, ORAI1 or CASQ1 represents a hallmark of TAM., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Wild vegetables (WVs) have been an essential source of human nutrition since ancient times. Foraging is a millennia-old practice that has gained more attention recently and is becoming fashionable, especially in restaurants in urban areas, as they attract customers who see WVs as an innovative sensory element and specialty food. Some cooks have used very few WVs for decades, but most chefs have only recently introduced them in their modern restaurants. Our study aims to have a deeper understanding of the diversity of WVs used by restaurants in the Lombardy region in Northern Italy and to know how they are introduced onto different menus, as well as the source of knowledge and the innovation paths related to the use/introduction of WVs in the selected sample of restaurants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 restaurant managers, chefs, and their professional foragers in the Lombardy region in Northern Italy in 2022; fifty-four wild plant taxa were recorded to be used in the considered restaurants. The collected data were analyzed to understand the current situation and the potential developments of this practice by exploring the reasons/motivations that underpin the inclusion of WVs in restaurants. A broad spectrum of restaurants was considered to evaluate the potential differences in handling and sourcing these ingredients. The results demonstrated that this trend has mainly been driven by attempts to revitalize traditional cuisines and to generate a positive impact on health, but the actual culinary preparations based upon WVs are often original and remarkably diverge from the Italian food ethnobotanical heritage. Moreover, concerns related to the environmental sustainability of these practices have been addressed.

Background: Activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase-δ syndrome 2 (APDS2) is characterized by lymphoproliferation and increased risk of malignancy. FDG-PET/CT may represent a helpful diagnostic tool for differentiating these clinical features and correctly diagnosing inborn errors of immunity (IEI). Case report: We present the case of a female patient diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at 19 years of age, although atypical imaging aspects emerged: baseline FDG-PET/CT revealed several hot lymph nodes with a symmetrical distribution, and increased tracer uptake in spleen, axial, and appendicular bone marrow. Imaging repeated after chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation showed persistent increased FDG uptake at multiple supradiaphragmatic nodes and in bone marrow. After the diagnosis of APDS2 and rapamycin treatment, FDG-PET/CT confirmed complete metabolic normalization of all sites. Conclusions: In the IEI scenario, FDG-PET/CT plays an effective role in differentiating malignant proliferation and immune dysregulation phenotypes. Atypical patterns at FDG-PET/CT should be interpreted as a red flag for the need of an early immunological evaluation.

Mediastinal cysts (MCs) are rare lesions that can arise from embryonic remnants of various mediastinal structures. MCs usually are incidental findings in dogs and cats; however, they can reach a mass-like appearance. The description of MCs on CT in dogs is limited. This retrospective, single-center, descriptive, prevalence study aimed to determine the prevalence of presumed mediastinal cysts (PMCs) in dogs and assess their CT characteristics. Dogs that underwent a thoracic CT scan from January 2019 to August 2021 were included. CT images were evaluated for the presence of PMCs by two diagnostic imaging interns, two last year diagnostic imaging residents, and a board-certified veterinary radiologist. Number, location, margins, shape, volume, size, mass effect, and attenuation values of PMCs were assessed. A total of 866 CT scans were reviewed, and 49 PMCs were identified. The prevalence of PMCs in dogs was 5.66%. English Bulldog and mixed-breed dogs were subjectively overrepresented; however, the possibility of population bias could not be excluded. PMCs were subjectively more frequently observed in male dogs. The PMCs were predominantly round, small, solitary fluid-filled findings localized in the cranioventral mediastinum, with well-defined margins, homogeneous attenuation, and no contrast enhancement. The median attenuation value was 6.32 HU (range: -20.16 to 23.45 HU) precontrast and 7.58 HU (range: -2.45 to 20.79 HU) postcontrast, and the median volume was 1.19 cm 3 (range: 0.02-45.32 cm 3 ). Although the prevalence of PMCs was low in our sample population, findings supported prioritizing a differential diagnosis of incidental PMC for dogs with the above imaging characteristics., (© 2024 American College of Veterinary Radiology.)

This study aimed to evaluate psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Short-Form Supportive Care Needs Survey Questionnaire (SCNS-SF34) in a cancer population. A multicenter prospective observational study was carried out in outpatient and inpatient settings. The evaluated psychometric properties were as follows: the five-domain structure, the internal consistency, the convergent validity with the Edmond Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) questionnaire, the discriminant validity and test-retest reliability. A total of 714 patients with different types, stages and treatment settings of cancer were recruited. A total of 56% of participants were women, the median age 59 years (range 18-88). The prevalence of patients reporting at least one unmet need was 78.7%. The factor analysis explained 71.3% of the total variance, confirming the five-domain structure of the original model. Internal consistency was good, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.87 ("psychosocial need", "patient support and health system", "information") to 0.90 ("sexuality"). The convergent validity of the SCNS-SF34-It with the ESAS scale was low, suggesting that these questionnaires cover different concepts. The SCNS-SF34-It was able to discriminate differences between groups, and the test-retest reliability was good (ICC 0.72-0.84). The SCNS-SF34-It proved to be a reliable instrument for use in clinical practice for evaluating unmet needs in the Italian population of cancer patients. This study was not registered.

The diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) is usually based on transrectal or transperineal biopsies (from 12 to 24 samples) in most cases after the performance of a dedicated MRI and/or transrectal ultrasound. A small-dedicated PET scanner could improve spatial resolution and increase sensitivity, allowing a precise detection and location of the PCa foci, thus allowing an image-guided biopsy. In this short review, we will focus our attention on the potential application of a dedicated prostate PET scanner and on the prototype that has been already assembled for this purpose., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors: P. Castellucci, R. Mei, A. Farolfi, C. Nanni have nothing to disclose. S. Fanti is Honorarium/Speakers Bureau/Consultancy for AAA, Astellas, Amgen, Bayer, Debio, GE, Janssen, Novartis, Telix., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In prostate cancer (PCa), questions remain on indications for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and PSMA radioligand therapy, integration of advanced imaging in nomogram-based decision-making, dosimetry, and development of new theranostic applications., Objective: We aimed to critically review developments in molecular hybrid imaging and systemic radioligand therapy, to reach a multidisciplinary consensus on the current state of the art in PCa., Design, Setting, and Participants: The results of a systematic literature search informed a two-round Delphi process with a panel of 28 PCa experts in medical or radiation oncology, urology, radiology, medical physics, and nuclear medicine. The results were discussed and ratified in a consensus meeting., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: Forty-eight statements were scored on a Likert agreement scale and six as ranking options. Agreement statements were analysed using the RAND appropriateness method. Ranking statements were analysed using weighted summed scores., Results and Limitations: After two Delphi rounds, there was consensus on 42/48 (87.5%) of the statements. The expert panel recommends PSMA PET to be used for staging the majority of patients with unfavourable intermediate and high risk, and for restaging of suspected recurrent PCa. There was consensus that oligometastatic disease should be defined as up to five metastases, even using advanced imaging modalities. The group agreed that [ 177 Lu]Lu-PSMA should not be administered only after progression to cabazitaxel and that [ 223 Ra]RaCl 2 remains a valid therapeutic option in bone-only metastatic castration-resistant PCa. Uncertainty remains on various topics, including the need for concordant findings on both [ 18F ]FDG and PSMA PET prior to [ 177 Lu]Lu-PSMA therapy., Conclusions: There was a high proportion of agreement among a panel of experts on the use of molecular imaging and theranostics in PCa. Although consensus statements cannot replace high-certainty evidence, these can aid in the interpretation and dissemination of best practice from centres of excellence to the wider clinical community., Patient Summary: There are situations when dealing with prostate cancer (PCa) where both the doctors who diagnose and track the disease development and response to treatment, and those who give treatments are unsure about what the best course of action is. Examples include what methods they should use to obtain images of the cancer and what to do when the cancer has returned or spread. We reviewed published research studies and provided a summary to a panel of experts in imaging and treating PCa. We also used the research summary to develop a questionnaire whereby we asked the experts to state whether or not they agreed with a list of statements. We used these results to provide guidance to other health care professionals on how best to image men with PCa and what treatments to give, when, and in what order, based on the information the images provide., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)