The prognostic value of quantitating and localizing F-18 FDG uptake in cardiac sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: There is no identified level of FDG uptake in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) associated with increased risk of arrhythmias, conduction disease, heart failure, or death. We aim to utilize standardized uptake value (SUV) quantitation and localization to identify patients at increased risk of cardiac events. METHODS AND RESULTS: F18-FDG PET/CT with MPI was used in CS diagnosis (N = 67). Mean and max SUV were measured and grouped as basal, mid, and apical disease. Post-scan ventricular tachycardia, AICD placement, complete heart block, pacemaker placement, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and cardiac-related hospital admissions were recorded (mean follow up 2.98 ± 2 years). Poisson regression analysis revealed that max SUV, mean SUV, as well as mean basal SUV, and LVEF were significantly associated with total cardiac events. Max SUV odds ratio (OR) = 1.068 (95% CI 1.024-1.114, P = 0.002), mean SUV OR = 1.059 (95% CI 1.008-1.113, P = 0.023), mean SUV OR = 1.061 (95% CI 1.012-1.112, P = 0.014), scan LVEF OR = 0.731 (95% CI 0.664-0.805, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: SUV at time of CS diagnosis has significant associations with future cardiac events. Patients with higher SUV, particularly in basal segments, are at increased risk of events. Further studies are needed to identify treatment methods utilizing risk stratification of CS.

An investigation of internal phase losses during the microencapsulation of fragrances.

Prototype fragrances, prepared from common fragrance components, were extracted with water, recovered, and characterized by gas chromatography before and after the water treatment, revealing a significant loss of the more water-soluble components. Unextracted prototype fragrances were also microencapsulated by a gelatin/gum arabic coacervation process. The microencapsulated fragrance oils were recovered from the microcapsules, using pepsin enzyme to open up the capsules. Comparison of GC results of microencapsulated fragrance oil versus unencapsulated oil showed many of the changes could be ascribed to solubility losses of the more water-soluble components to the process water. Deliberate inclusion of toluene as a fragrance component in one of the prototype fragrances showed that some losses of highly volatile fragrance components can be expected during microencapsulation; but because most fragrance components do not approach the volatility of toluene, such losses are expected to be minimal. Chromatograms taken before and after microencapsulation of two commercial fragrances are discussed.