Understanding Factors Associated with Motivation to Quit Vaping among Vapers in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The prevalence of vaping worldwide is showing an upward trend. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with motivation to quit vaping among vapers in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, through a cross-sectional, purposive sampling study. Respondents were required to complete a questionnaire consisting of vapers' sociodemographic questions, habitual behavioral pattern questions, the e-Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence, the Glover-Nilsson Smoking Behavioral Dependence Questionnaire, perception questions, motivation to quit questions, and withdrawal symptom questions. A total of 311 vapers participated in this study. The majority of the vapers were male (84.6%), younger (18-25 years) (55.3%), and with monthly income less than RM 4000 (USD 868; 83.9%). The level of motivation to quit vaping was found to have a significant association with the perception of vaping being as satisfying as cigarette smoking (p = 0.006) and mild to very strong nicotine dependence (p = 0.001). Participants who recorded moderate and strong habitual vaping behaviors had lower odds of having high motivation to quit vaping compared to those recording slight habitual behaviors (OR = 0.279, 95%CI(0.110-0.708), p = 0.007 and OR = 0.185, 95%CI(0.052-0.654), p = 0.009, respectively). Factors associated with higher motivation to quit vaping could be explored to gain better understanding of how to increase their motivation level for future quit attempts.

Development and physicochemical characterization of a biodegradable microspheres formulation loaded with samarium-153 and doxorubicin for chemo-radioembolization of liver tumours.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) are promising treatments for unresectable liver tumours. Some recent studies suggested that combining TACE and TARE in one treatment course might improve treatment efficacy through synergistic cytotoxicity effects. Nonetheless, current formulations do not facilitate a combination of chemo- and radio-embolic agents in one delivery system. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesise a hybrid biodegradable microsphere loaded with both radioactive agent, samarium-153 (153 Sm) and chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin (Dox) for potential radio-chemoembolization of advanced liver tumours. 152 Sm and Dox-loaded polyhydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) microspheres were prepared using water-in-oil-in-water solvent evaporation method. The microspheres were then sent for neutron activation in a neutron flux of 2 × 1012 n/cm2 /s. The physicochemical properties, radioactivity, radionuclide purity, 153 Sm retention efficiency, and Dox release profile of the Dox-153 Sm-PHBV microspheres were analysed. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity of the formulation was tested using MTT assay on HepG2 cell line at 24 and 72 h. The mean diameter of the Dox-153 Sm-PHBV microspheres was 30.08 ± 2.79 µm. The specific radioactivity was 8.68 ± 0.17 GBq/g, or 177.69 Bq per microsphere. The 153 Sm retention efficiency was more than 99%, tested in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and human blood plasma over 26 days. The cumulative release of Dox from the microspheres after 41 days was 65.21 ± 1.96% and 29.96 ± 0.03% in PBS solution of pH 7.4 and pH 5.5, respectively. The Dox-153 Sm-PHBV microspheres achieved a greater in vitro cytotoxicity effect on HepG2 cells (85.73 ± 3.63%) than 153 Sm-PHBV (70.03 ± 5.61%) and Dox-PHBV (74.06 ± 0.78%) microspheres at 300 µg/mL at 72 h. In conclusion, a novel biodegradable microspheres formulation loaded with chemotherapeutic drug (Dox) and radioactive agent (153 Sm) was successfully developed in this study. The formulation fulfilled all the desired physicochemical properties of a chemo-radioembolic agent and achieved better in vitro cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the biosafety, radiation dosimetry, and synergetic anticancer properties of the formulation.

Facile Preparation of Samarium Carbonate-Polymethacrylate Microspheres as a Neutron-Activatable Radioembolic Agent for Hepatic Radioembolization.

Radioembolization shows great potential as a treatment for intermediate- and advanced-stage liver cancer. However, the choices of radioembolic agents are currently limited, and hence the treatment is relatively costly compared to other approaches. In this study, a facile preparation method was developed to produce samarium carbonate-polymethacrylate [152Sm2(CO3)3-PMA] microspheres as neutron activatable radioembolic microspheres for hepatic radioembolization. The developed microspheres emits both therapeutic beta and diagnostic gamma radiations for post-procedural imaging. The 152Sm2(CO3)3-PMA microspheres were produced from commercially available PMA microspheres through the in situ formation of 152Sm2(CO3)3 within the pores of the PMA microspheres. Physicochemical characterization, gamma spectrometry and radionuclide retention assay were performed to evaluate the performance and stability of the developed microspheres. The mean diameter of the developed microspheres was determined as 29.30 ± 0.18 µm. The scanning electron microscopic images show that the spherical and smooth morphology of the microspheres remained after neutron activation. The 153Sm was successful incorporated into the microspheres with no elemental and radionuclide impurities produced after neutron activation, as indicated by the energy dispersive X-ray analysis and gamma spectrometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that there was no alteration to the chemical groups of the microspheres after neutron activation. After 18 h of neutron activation, the microspheres produced an activity of 4.40 ± 0.08 GBq.g-1. The retention of 153Sm on the microspheres was greatly improved to greater than 98% over 120 h when compared to conventionally radiolabeling method at ~85%. The 153Sm2(CO3)3-PMA microspheres achieved suitable physicochemical properties as theragnostic agent for hepatic radioembolization and demonstrated high radionuclide purity and 153Sm retention efficiency in human blood plasma.

Patient-Specific 3D-Printed Low-Cost Models in Medical Education and Clinical Practice.

3D printing has been increasingly used for medical applications with studies reporting its value, ranging from medical education to pre-surgical planning and simulation, assisting doctor-patient communication or communication with clinicians, and the development of optimal computed tomography (CT) imaging protocols. This article presents our experience of utilising a 3D-printing facility to print a range of patient-specific low-cost models for medical applications. These models include personalized models in cardiovascular disease (from congenital heart disease to aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection and coronary artery disease) and tumours (lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and biliary disease) based on CT data. Furthermore, we designed and developed novel 3D-printed models, including a 3D-printed breast model for the simulation of breast cancer magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and calcified coronary plaques for the simulation of extensive calcifications in the coronary arteries. Most of these 3D-printed models were scanned with CT (except for the breast model which was scanned using MRI) for investigation of their educational and clinical value, with promising results achieved. The models were confirmed to be highly accurate in replicating both anatomy and pathology in different body regions with affordable costs. Our experience of producing low-cost and affordable 3D-printed models highlights the feasibility of utilizing 3D-printing technology in medical education and clinical practice.

Evaluation of Therapeutic Efficacy and Imaging Capabilities of 153Sm2O3-Loaded Polystyrene Microspheres for Intra-Tumoural Radionuclide Therapy of Liver Cancer Using Sprague-Dawley Rat Model.

Introduction: Neutron-activated samarium-153-oxide-loaded polystyrene ([153Sm]Sm2O3-PS) microspheres has been developed in previous study as a potential theranostic agent for hepatic radioembolization. In this study, the therapeutic efficacy and diagnostic imaging capabilities of the formulation was assessed using liver cancer Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model. Methods: Twelve male SD rats (150-200 g) that implanted with N1-S1 hepatoma cell line orthotopically were divided into two groups (study versus control) to monitor the tumour growth along 60 days of treatment. The study group received an intra-tumoural injection of approximately 37 MBq of [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres, while control group received an intra-tumoural injection of 0.1 mL of saline solution. A clinical single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) system was used to scan the rats at Day 5 post-injection to investigate the diagnostic imaging capabilities of the microspheres. All rats were monitored for change in tumour volume using a portable ultrasound system throughout the study period. Histopathological examination (HPE) was performed after the rats were euthanized at Day 60. Results: At Day 60, no tumour was observed on the ultrasound images of all rats in the study group. In contrast, the tumour volumes in the control group were 24-fold larger compared to baseline. Statistically significant difference was observed in tumour volumes between the study and control groups (p < 0.05). The SPECT/CT images clearly displayed the location of [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS in the liver tumour of all rats at Day 5 post-injection. Additionally, the [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres was visible on the CT images and this has added to the benefits of 153Sm as a CT contrast agent. The HPE results showed that the [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres remained concentrated at the injection site with no tumour cells observed in the study group. Conclusions: Neutron-activated [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres demonstrated excellent therapeutic and diagnostic imaging capabilities for theranostic treatment of liver cancer in a SD rat model. Further studies with different animal and tumour models are planned to validate this finding.

Operational nuclear research reactors in the Asia-Pacific with potential for medical radionuclide production.

Personalised cancer treatment is of growing importance and can be achieved via targeted radionuclide therapy. Radionuclides with theranostic properties are proving to be clinically effective and are widely used because diagnostic imaging and therapy can be accomplished using a single formulation that avoids additional procedures and unnecessary radiation burden to the patient. For diagnostic imaging, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) is used to obtain functional information noninvasively by detecting the gamma (γ) rays emitted from the radionuclide. For therapeutics, high linear energy transfer (LET) radiations such as alpha (α), beta (ß - ) or Auger electrons are used to kill cancerous cells in close proximity, whereas sparing the normal tissues surrounding the malignant tumour cells. One of the most important factors that lead to the sustainable development of nuclear medicine is the availability of functional radiopharmaceuticals. Nuclear research reactors play a vital role in the production of medical radionuclides for incorporation into clinical radiopharmaceuticals. The disruption of medical radionuclide supplies in recent years has highlighted the importance of ongoing research reactor operation. This article reviews the current status of operational nuclear research reactors in the Asia-Pacific region that have the potential for medical radionuclide production. It also discusses the different types of nuclear research reactors, their operating power, and the effects of thermal neutron flux in producing desirable radionuclides with high specific activity for clinical applications.

A Systematic Review of Molecular Hydrogen Therapy in Cancer Management.

BACKGROUND: Cancer remains a challenging target to cure, with present therapeutic methods unable to exhibit restorative outcomes without causing severe negative effects. Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been reported to be a promising adjunctive therapy for cancer treatment, having the capability to induce anti-proliferative, anti-oxidative, pro-apoptotic and anti-tumoural effects. This review summarises the findings from various articles on the mechanism, treatment outcomes, and overall effectiveness of H2 therapy on cancer management. METHODS: Using Cochrane, PubMed, and Google Scholar as the search engines, full-text articles in the scope of the study, written in English and within 10 years of publication were selected. RESULTS: Out of the 677 articles, 27 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria, where data was compiled into a table, outlining the general characteristics and findings. Throughout the different forms of H2 administration, study design and types of cancers reported, outcomes were found to be consistent. CONCLUSION: From our analysis, H2 plays a promising therapeutic role as an independent therapy as well as an adjuvant in combination therapy, resulting in an overall improvement in survivability, quality of life, blood parameters, and tumour reduction. Although more comprehensive research is needed, given the promising outcomes, H2 is worth considering for use as a complement to current cancer therapy.

Development of neutron-activated samarium-153-loaded polystyrene microspheres as a potential theranostic agent for hepatic radioembolization.

PURPOSE: Hepatic radioembolization is an effective minimally invasive treatment for primary and metastatic liver cancers. Yttrium-90 [90Y]-labelled resin or glass beads are typically used as the radioembolic agent for this treatment; however, these are not readily available in many countries. In this study, novel samarium-153 oxide-loaded polystyrene ([153Sm]Sm2O3-PS) microspheres were developed as a potential alternative to 90Y microspheres for hepatic radioembolization. METHODS: The [152Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres were synthesized using solid-in-oil-in-water solvent evaporation. The microspheres underwent neutron activation using a 1 MW open-pool research reactor to produce radioactive [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres via 152Sm(n,γ)153Sm reaction. Physicochemical characterization, gamma spectroscopy and in-vitro radionuclide retention efficiency were carried out to evaluate the properties and stability of the microspheres before and after neutron activation. RESULTS: The [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres achieved specific activity of 5.04 ± 0.52 GBq·g-1 after a 6 h neutron activation. Scanning electron microscopy and particle size analysis showed that the microspheres remained spherical with an average diameter of ~33 µm before and after neutron activation. No long half-life radionuclide and elemental impurities were found in the samples. The radionuclide retention efficiencies of the [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres at 550 h were 99.64 ± 0.07 and 98.76 ± 1.10% when tested in saline solution and human blood plasma, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A neutron-activated [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microsphere formulation was successfully developed for potential application as a theranostic agent for liver radioembolization. The microspheres achieved suitable physical properties for radioembolization and demonstrated high radionuclide retention efficiency in saline solution and human blood plasma.

3D-Printed Coronary Plaques to Simulate High Calcification in the Coronary Arteries for Investigation of Blooming Artifacts.

The diagnostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is significantly affected by high calcification in the coronary arteries owing to blooming artifacts limiting its accuracy in assessing the calcified plaques. This study aimed to simulate highly calcified plaques in 3D-printed coronary models. A combination of silicone + 32.8% calcium carbonate was found to produce 800 HU, representing extensive calcification. Six patient-specific coronary artery models were printed using the photosensitive polyurethane resin and a total of 22 calcified plaques with diameters ranging from 1 to 4 mm were inserted into different segments of these 3D-printed coronary models. The coronary models were scanned on a 192-slice CT scanner with 70 kV, pitch of 1.4, and slice thickness of 1 mm. Plaque attenuation was measured between 1100 and 1400 HU. Both maximum-intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR) images (wide and narrow window widths) were generated for measuring the diameters of these calcified plaques. An overestimation of plaque diameters was noticed on both MIP and VR images, with measurements on the MIP images close to those of the actual plaque sizes (<10% deviation), and a large measurement discrepancy observed on the VR images (up to 50% overestimation). This study proves the feasibility of simulating extensive calcification in coronary arteries using a 3D printing technique to develop calcified plaques and generate 3D-printed coronary models.

Laser-heated needle for biopsy tract ablation: In vivo study of rabbit liver biopsy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of a newly-developed laser-heated core biopsy needle in the thermal ablation of biopsy tract to reduce hemorrhage after biopsy using in vivo rabbit's liver model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five male New Zealand White rabbits weighed between 1.5 and 4.0 kg were anesthetized and their livers were exposed. 18 liver biopsies were performed under control group (without tract ablation, n = 9) and study group (with tract ablation, n = 9) settings. The needle insertion depth (~3 cm) and rate of retraction (~3 mm/s) were fixed in all the experiments. For tract ablation, three different needle temperatures (100, 120 and 150 °C) were compared. The blood loss at each biopsy site was measured by weighing the gauze pads before and after blood absorption. The rabbits were euthanized immediately and the liver specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) for further histopathological examination (HPE). RESULTS: The average blood loss in the study group was reduced significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. The highest percentage of bleeding reduction was observed at the needle temperature of 150 °C (93.8%), followed by 120 °C (85.8%) and 100 °C (84.2%). The HPE results show that the laser-heated core biopsy needle was able to cause lateral coagulative necrosis up to 14 mm diameter along the ablation tract. CONCLUSION: The laser-heated core biopsy needle reduced hemorrhage up to 93.8% and induced homogenous coagulative necrosis along the ablation tract in the rabbits' livers. This could potentially reduce the risk of tumor seeding in clinical settings.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of the Severity of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Low-Income Community-Dwelling Adults in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Growing prevalence of mental illnesses and the role they play in the global disease burden is an emerging public health issue. The prevalence of depression and anxiety is on the rise in Malaysia. Low-income urban communities are among the key affected populations with regards to mental health problems. This cross-sectional study was aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety and stress, and their associated factors among adults in the low-income community of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A total of 248 participants aged 18-60 years old were recruited. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21). Chi-squared test was used to examine the association between the variables. Multiple ordinal regression model was introduced to identify the predictors of depression, anxiety and stress. The proportions of participants with depression, anxiety and stress were 24.2% (95% CI: 19.6-30.4), 36.3% (95% CI: 29.9-43.0), and 20.6% (95% CI: 15.4-26.5), respectively. There was a statistically significant association of ethnicity (p = 0.002) and age (p = 0.014) with the severity of depression, ethnicity (p = 0.001) and age (p = 0.024) with the severity of anxiety, and ethnicity (p < 0.001) and marital status (p = 0.006) with the severity of stress. In a multivariable analysis, only non-Malay ethnicity was an independent predictor of the severity of depression [OR = 2.43, 95% CI (1.25, 4.72), p = 0.009], anxiety [OR = 2.55, 95% CI (1.41, 4.62), p = 0.002] and stress [OR = 4.28, 95% CI (2.06, 8.89), p = <0.001]. Mental health interventions should target low-income communities to address social inequalities of mental health within economically disadvantaged populations.

Neutron-activated theranostic radionuclides for nuclear medicine.

Theranostics in nuclear medicine refers to personalized patient management that involves targeted therapy and diagnostic imaging using a single or combination of radionuclide (s). The radionuclides emit both alpha (α) or beta (ß-) particles and gamma (γ) rays which possess therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities, respectively. However, the production of these radionuclides often faces difficulties due to high cost, complexity of preparation methods and that the products are often sourced far from the healthcare facilities, hence losing activity due to radioactive decay during transportation. Subject to the availability of a nuclear reactor within an accessible distance from healthcare facilities, neutron activation is the most practical and cost-effective route to produce radionuclides suitable for theranostic purposes. Holmium-166 (166Ho), Lutetium-177 (177Lu), Rhenium-186 (186Re), Rhenium-188 (188Re) and Samarium-153 (153Sm) are some of the most promising neutron-activated radionuclides that are currently in clinical practice and undergoing clinical research for theranostic applications. The aim of this paper is to review the physical characteristics, current clinical applications and future prospects of these neutron activated radionuclides in theranostics. The production, physical properties, validated clinical applications and clinical studies for each neutron-activated radionuclide suitable for theranostic use in nuclear medicine are reviewed in this paper.

Quantitative Measurement of Breast Density Using Personalized 3D-Printed Breast Model for Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Despite the development and implementation of several MRI techniques for breast density assessments, there is no consensus on the optimal protocol in this regard. This study aimed to determine the most appropriate MRI protocols for the quantitative assessment of breast density using a personalized 3D-printed breast model. The breast model was developed using silicone and peanut oils to simulate the MRI related-characteristics of fibroglandular and adipose breast tissues, and then scanned on a 3T MRI system using non-fat-suppressed and fat-suppressed sequences. Breast volume, fibroglandular tissue volume, and percentage of breast density from these imaging sequences were objectively assessed using Analyze 14.0 software. Finally, the repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to examine the differences between the quantitative measurements of breast volume, fibroglandular tissue volume, and percentage of breast density with respect to the corresponding sequences. The volume of fibroglandular tissue and the percentage of breast density were significantly higher in the fat-suppressed sequences than in the non-fat-suppressed sequences (p < 0.05); however, the difference in breast volume was not statistically significant (p = 0.529). Further, a fat-suppressed T2-weighted with turbo inversion recovery magnitude (TIRM) imaging sequence was superior to the non-fat- and fat-suppressed T1- and T2-weighted sequences for the quantitative measurement of breast density due to its ability to represent the exact breast tissue compositions. This study shows that the fat-suppressed sequences tended to be more useful than the non-fat-suppressed sequences for the quantitative measurements of the volume of fibroglandular tissue and the percentage of breast density.

Development of patient-specific 3D-printed breast phantom using silicone and peanut oils for magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing reports of 3D printing in medical applications, the use of 3D printing in breast imaging is limited, thus, personalized 3D-printed breast model could be a novel approach to overcome current limitations in utilizing breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for quantitative assessment of breast density. The aim of this study is to develop a patient-specific 3D-printed breast phantom and to identify the most appropriate materials for simulating the MR imaging characteristics of fibroglandular and adipose tissues. METHODS: A patient-specific 3D-printed breast model was generated using 3D-printing techniques for the construction of the hollow skin and fibroglandular region shells. Then, the T1 relaxation times of the five selected materials (agarose gel, silicone rubber with/without fish oil, silicone oil, and peanut oil) were measured on a 3T MRI system to determine the appropriate ones to represent the MR imaging characteristics of fibroglandular and adipose tissues. Results were then compared to the reference values of T1 relaxation times of the corresponding tissues: 1,324.42±167.63 and 449.27±26.09 ms, respectively. Finally, the materials that matched the T1 relaxation times of the respective tissues were used to fill the 3D-printed hollow breast shells. RESULTS: The silicone and peanut oils were found to closely resemble the T1 relaxation times and imaging characteristics of these two tissues, which are 1,515.8±105.5 and 405.4±15.1 ms, respectively. The agarose gel with different concentrations, ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 wt%, was found to have the longest T1 relaxation times. CONCLUSIONS: A patient-specific 3D-printed breast phantom was successfully designed and constructed using silicone and peanut oils to simulate the MR imaging characteristics of fibroglandular and adipose tissues. The phantom can be used to investigate different MR breast imaging protocols for the quantitative assessment of breast density.

Income and obesity in an urban poor community: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Recent studies have shown that higher income is associated with a higher risk for subsequent obesity in low- and middle-income countries, while in high-income countries there is a reversal of the association - higher-income individuals have a lower risk of obesity. The concept of being able to afford to overeat is no longer a predictor of obesity in developed countries. In Malaysia, a trend has been observed that the prevalence of obesity increases with an increase in income among the low-income (B40) group. This trend, however, was not further investigated. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the association of income and other sociodemographic factors with obesity among residents within the B40 income group in an urban community.  Methods: This cross-sectional study used a systematic sampling technique to recruit participants residing in a Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The sociodemographic characteristics were investigated through face-to-face interviews. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated and coded as underweight, normal, overweight and obese according to the cut-off points for the Asian population. A chi-squared test was used to compare the prevalence of obesity in this study with the national prevalence. A generalized linear model was introduced to identify BMI predictors. Results: Among the 341 participants, 25 (7.3%) were underweight, 94 (27.6%) had normal weight, 87 (25.5%) were overweight, and 135 (39.6%) were obese. The proportion of obese adults (45.8%) was significantly higher than the national prevalence of 30.6% (p<0.001). Among all the tested variables, only income was significantly associated with BMI (p=0.046). Conclusion: The proportion of obesity in this urban poor community was higher compared with the national average. BMI increased as the average monthly household income decreased.

Neutron-activated biodegradable samarium-153 acetylacetonate-poly-L-lactic acid microspheres for intraarterial radioembolization of hepatic tumors.

BACKGROUND: Liver cancer is the 6th most common cancer in the world and the 4th most common death from cancer worldwide. Hepatic radioembolization is a minimally invasive treatment involving intraarterial administration of radioembolic microspheres. AIM: To develop a neutron-activated, biodegradable and theranostics samarium-153 acetylacetonate (153SmAcAc)-poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) microsphere for intraarterial radioembolization of hepatic tumors. METHODS: Microspheres with different concentrations of 152SmAcAc (i.e., 100%, 150%, 175% and 200% w/w) were prepared by solvent evaporation method. The microspheres were then activated using a nuclear reactor in a neutron flux of 2 × 1012 n/cm2/s1, converting 152Sm to Samarium-153 (153Sm) via 152Sm (n, γ) 153Sm reaction. The SmAcAc-PLLA microspheres before and after neutron activation were characterized using scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, particle size analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis and gamma spectroscopy. The in-vitro radiolabeling efficiency was also tested in both 0.9% sodium chloride solution and human blood plasma over a duration of 550 h. RESULTS: The SmAcAc-PLLA microspheres with different SmAcAc contents remained spherical before and after neutron activation. The mean diameter of the microspheres was about 35 µm. Specific activity achieved for 153SmAcAc-PLLA microspheres with 100%, 150%, 175% and 200% (w/w) SmAcAc after 3 h neutron activation were 1.7 ± 0.05, 2.5 ± 0.05, 2.7 ± 0.07, and 2.8 ± 0.09 GBq/g, respectively. The activity of per microspheres were determined as 48.36 ± 1.33, 74.10 ± 1.65, 97.87 ± 2.48, and 109.83 ± 3.71 Bq for 153SmAcAc-PLLA microspheres with 100%, 150%, 175% and 200% (w/w) SmAcAc. The energy dispersive X-ray and gamma spectrometry showed that no elemental and radioactive impurities present in the microspheres after neutron activation. Retention efficiency of 153Sm in the SmAcAc-PLLA microspheres was excellent (approximately 99%) in both 0.9% sodium chloride solution and human blood plasma over a duration of 550 h. CONCLUSION: The 153SmAcAc-PLLA microsphere is potentially useful for hepatic radioembolization due to their biodegradability, favorable physicochemical characteristics and excellent radiolabeling efficiency. The synthesis of the formulation does not involve ionizing radiation and hence reducing the complication and cost of production.

Preparation and In Vitro Evaluation of Neutron-Activated, Theranostic Samarium-153-Labeled Microspheres for Transarterial Radioembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Liver Metastasis.

INTRODUCTION: Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) has been proven as an effective treatment for unresectable liver tumor. In this study, neutron activated, 153Sm-labeled microspheres were developed as an alternative to 90Y-labeled microspheres for hepatic radioembolization. 153Sm has a theranostic advantage as it emits both therapeutic beta and diagnostic gamma radiations simultaneously, in comparison to the pure beta emitter, 90Y. METHODS: Negatively charged acrylic microspheres were labeled with 152Sm ions through electrostatic interactions. In another formulation, the Sm-labeled microsphere was treated with sodium carbonate solution to form the insoluble 152Sm carbonate (152SmC) salt within the porous structures of the microspheres. Both formulations were neutron-activated in a research reactor. Physicochemical characterization, gamma spectrometry, and radiolabel stability tests were carried out to study the performance and stability of the microspheres. RESULTS: The Sm- and SmC-labeled microspheres remained spherical and smooth, with a mean size of 35 µm before and after neutron activation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that the functional groups of the microspheres remained unaffected after neutron activation. The 153Sm- and 153SmC-labeled microspheres achieved activity of 2.53 ± 0.08 and 2.40 ± 0.13 GBq·g-1, respectively, immediate after 6 h neutron activation in the neutron flux of 2.0 × 1012 n·cm-2·s-1. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and gamma spectrometry showed that no elemental and radioactive impurities were present in the microspheres after neutron activation. The retention efficiency of 153Sm in the 153SmC-labeled microspheres was excellent (~99% in distilled water and saline; ~97% in human blood plasma), which was higher than the 153Sm-labeled microspheres (~95% and ~85%, respectively). CONCLUSION: 153SmC-labeled microspheres have demonstrated excellent properties for potential application as theranostic agents for hepatic radioembolization.

Experimental assessment on feasibility of computed tomography-based thermometry for radiofrequency ablation on tissue equivalent polyacrylamide phantom.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of various computed tomography (CT) acquisition parameters and metal artifacts on CT number measurement for CT thermometry during CT-guided thermal ablation. Methods: The effects of tube voltage (100-140 kVp), tube current (20-250 mAs), pitch (0.6-1.5) and gantry rotation time (0.5, 1.0 s) as well as metal artifacts from a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) needle on CT number were evaluated using liver tissue equivalent polyacrylamide (PAA) phantom. The correlation between CT number and temperature from 37 to 80 °C was studied on PAA phantom using optimum CT acquisition parameters. Results: No statistical significant difference (p > 0.05) was found on CT numbers under the variation of different acquisition parameters for the same temperature setting. On the other hand, the RFA needle has induced metal artifacts on the CT images of up to 8 mm. The CT numbers decreased linearly when the phantom temperature increased from 37 to 80 °C. A linear regression analysis on the CT numbers and temperature suggested that the CT thermal sensitivity was -0.521 ± 0.061 HU/°C (R2 = 0.998). Conclusion: CT thermometry is feasible for temperature assessment during RFA with the current CT technology, which produced a high CT number reproducibility and stable measurement at different CT acquisition parameters. Despite being affected by metal artifacts, the CT-based thermometry could be further developed as a tissue temperature monitoring tool during CT-guided thermal ablation.

Personalized Three-Dimensional Printed Models in Congenital Heart Disease.

Patient-specific three-dimensional (3D) printed models have been increasingly used in cardiology and cardiac surgery, in particular, showing great value in the domain of congenital heart disease (CHD). CHD is characterized by complex cardiac anomalies with disease variations between individuals; thus, it is difficult to obtain comprehensive spatial conceptualization of the cardiac structures based on the current imaging visualizations. 3D printed models derived from patient's cardiac imaging data overcome this limitation by creating personalized 3D heart models, which not only improve spatial visualization, but also assist preoperative planning and simulation of cardiac procedures, serve as a useful tool in medical education and training, and improve doctor-patient communication. This review article provides an overall view of the clinical applications and usefulness of 3D printed models in CHD. Current limitations and future research directions of 3D printed heart models are highlighted.

Patient-specific 3D printed model of biliary ducts with congenital cyst.

BACKGROUND: 3D printing has shown great promise in medical applications, with increasing reports in liver diseases. However, research on 3D printing in biliary disease is limited with lack of studies on validation of model accuracy. In this study, we presented our experience of creating a realistic 3D printed model of biliary ducts with congenital cyst. Measurements of anatomical landmarks were compared at different stages of model generation to determine dimensional accuracy. METHODS: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) images of a patient diagnosed with congenital cyst in the common bile duct with dilated hepatic ducts were used to create the 3D printed model. The 3D printed model was scanned on a 64-slice CT scanner using the similar abdominal CT protocol. Measurements of anatomical structures including common hepatic duct (CHD), right hepatic duct (RHD), left hepatic duct (LHD) and the cyst at left to right and anterior to posterior dimensions were performed and compared between original CT images, the standard tessellation language (STL) image and CT images of the 3D model. RESULTS: The 3D printing model was successfully generated with replication of biliary ducts and cyst. Significant differences in measurements of these landmarks were found between the STL and the original CT images, and the CT images of the 3D printed model and the original CT images (P<0.05). Measurements of the RHD and LHD diameters from the original CT images were significantly larger than those from the CT images of 3D model or STL file (P<0.05), while measurements of the CHD diameters were significantly smaller than those of the other two datasets (P<0.05). No significant differences were reached in measurements of the CHD, RHD, LHD and the biliary cyst between CT images of the 3D printed model and STL file (P=0.08-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows our experience in producing a realistic 3D printed model of biliary ducts and biliary cyst. The model was found to replicate anatomical structures and cyst with high accuracy between the STL file and the CT images of the 3D model. Large discrepancy in dimensional measurements was noted between the original CT and STL file images, and the original CT and CT images of the 3D model, highlighting the necessity of further research with inclusion of more cases of biliary disease to validate accuracy of 3D printed biliary models.