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Abstract Background Macular edema (ME) results from hyperpermeability of retinal vessels, leading to chronic extravasation of plasma components into the retina and hence potentially severe visual acuity loss. Current standard of care consists in using intravitreal injections (IVI), which results in a significant medical and economic burden. During diabetic retinopathy (DR) or retinal vein occlusion (RVO), it has recently been shown that focal vascular anomalies (capillary macro-aneurysms, also termed TelCaps) for telangiectatic capillaries may play a central role in the onset, early recurrence, and/or persistence of ME. Since targeted photocoagulation of TelCaps may improve vision, identification, and photocoagulation of TelCaps, it may represent a way to improve management of ME. Objective The Targeted Laser in (Diabetic) Macular Edema (TalaDME) study aims to evaluate whether ICG-guided targeted laser (IGTL), in association with standard of care by IVI, allows reducing the number of injections during the first year of treatment compared with IVI only, while remaining non-inferior for visual acuity. Methods TalaDME is a French, multicentric, two-arms, randomized, sham laser-controlled, double-masked trial evaluating the effect of photocoagulation of TelCaps combined to IVI in patients with ME associated with TelCaps. Patients with vision loss related to center involved ME secondary to RVO or DR and presenting TelCaps are eligible. Two hundred and seventy eyes of 270 patients are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to standard care, i.e., IVI of anti-VEGF solely (control group) or combined with IGTL therapy (experimental group). Stratification is done on the cause of ME (i.e., RVO versus diabetes). Anti-VEGF IVI are administered to both groups monthly for 3 months (loading dose) and then with a pro re nata regimen with a monthly follow-up for 12 months. The primary endpoint will be the number of IVI and the change in visual acuity from baseline to 12 months. Secondary endpoints will be the changes in central macular thickness, impact on quality of life, cost of treatment, and incremental cost-utility ratio in each groups. Key safety Rare but severe AE linked to the use of IVI and laser, and previously described, are expected. In the sham group, rescue laser photocoagulation may be administered by the unmasked investigator if deemed necessary at month 3. Discussion The best management of ME associated with TelCaps is debated, and there have been no randomized study designed to answer this question. Given the fact that TelCaps may affect 30 to 60% of patients with chronic ME due to DR or RVO, a large number of patients could benefit from a specific management of TelCaps. TalaDME aims to establish the clinical and medico-economic benefits of additional targeted laser. The results of TalaDME may raise new recommendations for managing ME and impact healthcare costs. Trial registration EudraCT: 2018-A00800-55/ NCT03751501. Registration date: Nov. 23, 2018.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of Pixon-based reconstruction method on planar somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS).MethodsAll patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) disease who were referred for SRS to our department during 1-year period from January to December 2015 were consecutively included. Three nuclear physicians independently reviewed all the data sets of images which included conventional images (CI; 15 min/view) and processed images (PI) obtained by reconstructing the first 450 s extracted data using Oncoflash® software package. Image analysis using a 3-point rating scale for abnormal uptake of 111 Indium-DTPA-Phe-octreotide in any lesion or organ was interpreted as positive, uncertain, or negative for the evidence of NET disease. A maximum grade uptake of the radiotracer in the lesion was assessed by the Krenning scale method. The results of image interpretation by the two methods were considered significantly discordant when the difference in organ involvement assessment was negative vs. positive or in lesion uptake was ≥2 grades. Agreement between the results of two methods and by different scan observers was evaluated using Cohen κ coefficients.ResultsThere was no significant (p = 0.403) correlation between data acquisition protocol and quality image. The rates of significant discrepancies for exam interpretation and organs involvement assessment were 2.8 and 2.6%, respectively. Mean κ values revealed a good agreement for concordance between CI and PI interpretation without difference of agreement for inter/intra-observer analysis.ConclusionOur results suggest the feasibility to use a Pixon-based reconstruction method for SRS planar images allowing a twofold reduction of acquisition time and without significant alteration of image quality or on image interpretation.

Objective: Morphological changes affecting small arteries are recognized surrogates of end-organ damage due to aging and/or hypertension. However, the corresponding structural modifications of the wall of microvessels are poorly known. Here, using adaptive optics (AO) infrared imaging, we analyzed the vascular microstructures in subjects with various degree of hypertensive retinopathy. Methods: The wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR) of the superotemporal artery was measured in 40 normotensive or treatment-naïve hypertensive subjects using a semi-automated procedure. Areas of focal vascular damage were also analyzed. Results: Intra- and interobserver reproducibility was high (ICC over 0.8 for all parameters measured). In treatment-naïve subjects, the WLR of the superotemporal artery (mean ± SD 0.31 ± 0.08) was independently correlated with diastolic blood pressure (p

Although renovascular disease remains defined as a stenosis of the main renal artery or its proximal branches (renal artery stenosis [RAS]), its clinical overview has changed dramatically over the last 15-20 years and its management is more controversial than ever before. The clinical problems, not only diagnosis and treatment but also the relative contribution of different pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the progression of kidney disease, have shifted dramatically. This presentation aims to emphasize the paradigm change revisiting the (recent) past focused on renovascular hypertension (RVH) to the current context of preservation or recovery of threatened renal function in patients with progressive atherosclerotic renovascular disease until its last stage of irreversible “ischemic nephropathy.” In the past, the foreground was occupied by RVH, a very rare disease, where the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) was supposed to play the major, if not only, role in RVH issues. The retrospective RVH diagnosis was established either on the improvement or, more rarely, on the cure of hypertension after revascularization by, most often, a percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty with or without a stent placement. At this time, captoptril radionuclide renography was an efficient diagnostic tool, because it was a functional (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition), noninvasive test aiming to evidence both the RAAS activation and the lateralization (or asymmetry) of renin secretion by the kidney affected by a “hemodynamically significant” RAS. At present, even if captoptril radionuclide renography could be looked upon as the most efficient (and cost effective in selected high-risk patients) noninvasive, functional test to predict the improvement of hypertension after RAS correction, its clinical usefulness is questioned as the randomized, prospective trials failed to demonstrate any significant benefits (either on blood pressure control or on renal function protection) of the revascularization over current antihypertensive therapy. Today many patients with RVH remain undetected for years because they are treated successfully and at low expense with these new blockers of RAAS. In addition to its well-known role in hemodynamics, angiotensin II promotes activations of profibrogenic and inflammatory factors and cells and stimulates reactive oxygen species generation. The “atherosclerotic milieu” itself plays a role in the loss of renal microvessels and defective angiogenesis. After an “adaptative” phase, ischemia eventually develops and induces hypoxia, the substratum of ischemic nephropathy. Because blood oxygen level–dependent MRI may provide an index of oxygen content in vivo, it may be useful to predict renal function outcome after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty. New PET tracers, dedicated to assess RAAS receptors, inflammatory cell infiltrates, angiogenesis, and apoptose, would be tested in this context of atherosclerotic renovascular disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objective of this work is to compare the characteristics of various techniques for functional renal imaging, with a focus on nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging. Even with low spatial resolution and rather poor signal-to-noise ratio, classical nuclear medicine has the advantage of linearity and good sensitivity. It remains the gold standard technique for renal relative functional assessment. Technetium-99m (99mTc)-labeled diethylenetriamine penta-acetate remains the reference glomerular tracer. Tubular tracers have been improved: 123I- or 131I-hippuran, 99mTc-MAG3 and, recently, 99mTc-nitrilotriacetic acid. However, advancement in molecular imaging has not produced a groundbreaking tracer. Renal magnetic resonance imaging with classical gadolinated tracers probably has potential in this domain but has a lack of linearity and, therefore, its value still needs evaluation. Moreover, the advent of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis has delayed its expansion. Other developments, such as diffusion or blood oxygen level-dependent imaging, may have a role in the future. The other modalities have a limited role in clinical practice for functional renal imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]