Nuclear Medicine Physics

Nuclear medicine uses many different radioactive isotopes for radiation diagnostics and for therapy. The amount of
radioactivity has to be determined exactly before it is applied to a patient. The Dose calibrators have to measure the radioactivity of gamma and beta with different energies precisely for high quality imaging and for applying the right amount of radiation to treat disease. This study was carried out to assess the performance of dose calibrators which work in nuclear medicine departments in Khartoum state. Two departments were included in this study, Radiation and isotopes center of Khartoum (RICK) and Elnileen medical
diagnostic center. Four quality control tests were carried out using two standard Radionuclides, 137Cs and 57Co, which were accuracy, constancy, linearity and geometry. All results that obtained from the study has been compared with the international standard (±5%) and the results showed that all dose calibrators has good performance and there is no need for any correction tables or factors or maintenance.

A superluminal quantum-vortex model of the electron and the positron is produced from a superluminal double-helix model of the photon during electron-positron pair production. The two oppositely-charged (with Q = ±e sqrt (2/α) = 16.6e) open-helix spin-½ half-photons compose the double-helix photon. These half-photons separate and curl up their separated superluminal single-helical trajectories to form an electrically-charged superluminal closed-helix spin-½ quantum-vortex electron model and a corresponding positron model. The helical radius and the Dirac equation's zitterbewegung angular frequency of the quantum vortex electron and positron models equal the helical radius and zitterbewegung angular frequency of the two spin-½ half-photons, each of energy E = mc^2 , that composed the double-helix photon model of energy E = 2mc^2 from which the electron and positron models were produced. The photon and electron models are also compatible when a photon of energy E > 2mc^2 produces a relativistic electron-positron pair. Implications of the quantum vortex electron model for electron stability are discussed.

A software program, SpekCalc, is presented for the calculation of x-ray spectra from tungsten anode x-ray tubes. SpekCalc was designed primarily for use in a medical physics context, for both research and education purposes, but may also be of interest to those working with x-ray tubes in industry. Noteworthy is the particularly wide range of tube potentials (40-300 kVp) and anode angles (recommended: 6-30 degrees) that can be modelled: the program is therefore potentially of use to those working in superficial/orthovoltage radiotherapy, as well as diagnostic radiology. The utility is free to download and is based on a deterministic model of x-ray spectrum generation (Poludniowski 2007 Med. Phys. 34 2175). Filtration can be applied for seven materials (air, water, Be, Al, Cu, Sn and W). In this note SpekCalc is described and illustrative examples are shown. Predictions are compared to those of a state-of-the-art Monte Carlo code (BEAMnrc) and, where possible, to an alternative, wide...

Three experimental techniques based on automatic swept-frequency network and impedance analysers were used to measure the dielectric properties of tissue in the frequency range 10 Hz to 20 GHz. The technique used in conjunction with the impedance analyser is described. Results are given for a number of human and animal tissues, at body temperature, across the frequency range, demonstrating that good agreement was achieved between measurements using the three pieces of equipment. Moreover, the measured values fall well within the body of corresponding literature data.

Aims: Understanding the knowledge gaps among the public regarding radiation protection of each modality has helped to assess the community awareness and perception, which reflects our urgent need for more education for the public. This project aims to evaluate the knowledge levels of patients undergoing medical imaging procedures is regarding the risk and benefits by providing sufficient information regarding their specific medical imaging technique upon examination. Study Design: A prospective study with a special questionnaire to collect data. Place and Duration of Study: Subjects: Different departments of Radiology in different hospitals, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for 3 months. Methodology: The survey was conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to include four major hospitals. The sample of the study included 500 patients (125 for each hospital). Patients are aged 18 years and over were referred by physicians for a radiological examination, including different radiologic modalities. Results: It was found that 52% of patients were provided the information about radiology examination. The mean scores of questions ranged from 69% to 76%. So, there was a strong positive correlation between the radiology examination information received by patients and the radiation questions' score.

A parametric model was developed to describe the variation of dielectric properties of tissues as a function of frequency. The experimental spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz was modelled with four dispersion regions. The development of the model was based on recently acquired data, complemented by data surveyed from the literature. The purpose is to enable the prediction of dielectric data that are in line with those contained in the vast body of literature on the subject. The analysis was carried out on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Parameters are given for 17 tissue types.

Diffraction-enhanced imaging (DEI) is an analyser-based x-ray imaging method that produces separate images depicting the projected x-ray absorption and refractive properties of an object. Because the imaging model of DEI does not account for ultra-small-angle x-ray scattering (USAXS), the images produced in DEI can contain artefacts and inaccuracies in medical imaging applications. In this work, we investigate an extended DEI method for concurrent reconstruction of three images that depict an object's projected x-ray absorption, refraction and USAXS properties. The extended DEI method can be viewed as an implementation of the recently proposed multiple-image radiography paradigm. Validation studies are conducted by use of computer-simulated and synchrotron measurement data.

The purpose of this book is to introduce the professionals of Nuclear Medicine to the frecuencial language which is used in describing filters. Filters are commonly used in tomographic reconstruction  but they can be also viewed as a tool to describe several aspects of the imaging process.
Explanations are rigorous without mathematical expressions making extensively use of images and graphics. No technical background in mathematics is necessary.
The book is written in Spanish.

Changes are studied that appear on the electrocardiogram due to the effect of electromagnetic waves emitting by mobile devices. The research was carried out at Fallujah Teaching Hospital by using a MAC1600-Morta ECG device. The work included a study on the effect of the presence of mobile devices during the measurement of electrocardiograms and the discussion of all cases, as well as the impact of the ordinary watch near the electrodes. The results showed a disturbance in the electric waves and return wave will return to its normal shape after the demise of the effect.

Introduction: In the current study, we compared h5-index provided by Google Scholar (GS), impact factor (IF) provided by web of sciences (WOS), and SCImago journal rank indicator (SJR) provided by SCOPUS for quality assessment of nuclear medicine journals.
Methods: 2013 h5-index, 2012 IF, and 2011 SJR of nuclear medicine journals were extracted from their publishers namely GS, WOS, and SCOPUS. Rank of each journal according to each index was provided. Spearman correlation was used for evaluation of the correlation between metrics.
Results: Overall 22 journals were identified. Spearman correlation coefficients between h5-index and other journal metrics were 0.907 for 2012 IF, 0.979 for 2011 JCR, and 0.978 for 2011 SCOPUS h-index (all p-values<0.00001). Wilcoxon signed ranks test showed no statistically meaningful difference between rankings according to h5-index and other journal metrics (p values of 0.589, 0.565, and 0.542 for 2012 IF, 2011 SJR, and 2011 SCOPUS h-index respectively).

Conclusion: The new GS journal metrics are reliable tools for quality assessment of the nuclear medicine journals. In our opinion, h5-index, IF, and SJR should be used in a combination as their combination would give a more holistic view of journal quality. Development of new journal metrics in addition to SJR and IF by GS should be welcomed by the scientific community.

This research was funded by, and implemented within, a UK national research organisation, while the author was the KE and Impact Evaluation Manager responsible for assessing impact on a £15m UK government-funded research programme.

This work was also submitted as the authors MBA dissertation which was accepted and awarded in 2009.

ABSTRACT: A methodology and methods ‘toolbox’ is proposed for conducting impact research and assessment from within research programmes. The emphasis is upon how to clarify and assess the wider impacts from the early stages onwards.

The approach explicitly acknowledges, and attempts to address, the known issues and challenges of impact assessment while drawing upon the resources and opportunities available to research managers and researchers within such programmes.

The study has two triangulating foundations. Firstly, it examines the academic literature to help identify and design the pilot methodology and methods. Secondly it trials these in a real programme to both test and improve them.

The study was conducted over one year within one leading UK research organisation, where two research programmes (and around 60 research projects of £15m total value) were being assessed for their impacts. The study draws upon actual impact management experience and reflection, prospective (ex ante) and retrospective (ex post) assessments, participatory contributions from leading researchers undergoing assessment, and consultation with external users. The findings of this study outline the pilot and its first iteration. Recommendations are made for improvement to the methodology and methods.

A subsequent follow-on bid to UK government incorporating the impacts identified from implementing this methodology, successfully led to a further £15m of government funding.

It is expected the pilot methodology and methods will be applicable to other organisations, conducting and funding such research programmes, required to research and assess the wider research impacts.

Although primary focus of implemetation trials was upon research in physical sciences, technology, high-tech engineering, computing/IT, and environment, the wider literature study, the methodology design and justification, the methods proposed and used, and the resulting general recommendations and lessons are expected to apply more broadly to many other research areas, where the impact is to be found more widely in the society, economy, government or public sector or within organizations, policies, professions or the public.

Interest in this work is expected from research programme managers, impact managers and assessors, management consultants advising in this area, and government funding managers, all seeking to embed a developing approach to understand, capture, and enhance wider impact.

Diabetic patients frequently suffer from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The current study aimed to investigate the role of curcumin and the response of hepatic stellate cells in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hepatic damage. Sixty male rats were divided into three groups. The normal control injected with a citrate buffer vehicle and the diabetic control group which was injected intraperitoneally (IP) with a single-dose of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight) and a diabetic group was treated with an oral dose of curcumin at 80 mg/kg body weight daily for 60 days. Results. Curcumin effectively counteracts oxidative stress-mediated hepatic damage and improves biochemical parameters. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was significantly reduced, and insulin antibodies showed strong positive immunoreactivity with curcumin administration. These results optimistically demonstrate the potential use of curcumin, which is attributed to its antiradical/ antioxidant activities and its potential β-cell regenerative properties. Also, it has the capability to encourage the trans-differentiation of hepatic stellate cells into insulin-producing cells for a period of time. In addition, as it is an anti-fibrotic mediator that inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation and the transition to myofibroblast-like cells, this suggests the possibility of considering curcumin's novel therapeutic effects in reducing hepatic dysfunction in diabetic patients. Body and liver weight of different groups. The mean is given in columns, and error bars represent the standard deviation (SD). Fig. 2 Plasma glucose and insulin of different groups. The mean is given in columns, and error bars represent the standard deviation (SD). Fig. 3 Biochemical parameters of different groups. The mean is given in columns, and error bars represent the standard deviation (SD).

Expert landmark correspondences are widely reported for evaluating deformable image registration (DIR) spatial accuracy. In this report, we present a framework for objective evaluation of DIR spatial accuracy using large sets of expert-determined landmark point pairs. Large samples (>1100) of pulmonary landmark point pairs were manually generated for five cases. Estimates of inter- and intra-observer variation were determined from repeated registration. Comparative evaluation of DIR spatial accuracy was performed for two algorithms, a gradient-based optical flow algorithm and a landmark-based moving least-squares algorithm. The uncertainty of spatial error estimates was found to be inversely proportional to the square root of the number of landmark point pairs and directly proportional to the standard deviation of the spatial errors. Using the statistical properties of this data, we performed sample size calculations to estimate the average spatial accuracy of each algorithm with 95% confidence intervals within a 0.5 mm range. For the optical flow and moving least-squares algorithms, the required sample sizes were 1050 and 36, respectively. Comparative evaluation based on fewer than the required validation landmarks results in misrepresentation of the relative spatial accuracy. This study demonstrates that landmark pairs can be used to assess DIR spatial accuracy within a narrow uncertainty range.