Dynamic multi-pinhole collimated brain SPECT of Parkinson's disease by [123I]FP-CIT: a feasibility study of fSPECT

We investigated the feasibility of using a dopamine transporter (DaT) tracer ligand ([123I]FP-CIT) along with novel multi-pinhole brain collimators for dynamic brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in suspected Parkinson's disease patients. Thirteen patients underwent dynamic tracer acquisitions before standard imaging. Uptake values were corrected for partial volume effects. Specific binding ratio (SBRcalc) was calculated, reflecting binding potential relative to non-displaceable binding (BPND) in the cortex. Additional pharmacokinetic parameters (BPND, R1, k2) were estimated using the simplified reference tissue model, revealing differences between Kahraman low-score (LS) and high-score (HS) groups. Results showed increasing striatal tracer uptake until 100 min post-injection, with consistent values afterward. Uptake and SBRcalc ratios matched visual assessment. LS patients had lower putamen than caudate nucleus tracer uptake, decreased BPND values, while R1 and k2 values were comparable to HS patients. In conclusion, dynamic multi-pinhole SPECT using DaT tracer with the extraction of pharmacokinetic parameters is feasible and could help enable early differentiation of reduced and normal DaT values.

Glomerular filtration rate: comparison of simultaneous plasma clearance of 99mTc-DTPA and 51Cr-EDTA revisited

The issue of whether ^99mTc-DTPA can replace ⁵¹Cr-EDTA for measurement of plasma clearance as a surrogate for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is of great relevance to daily clinical practice. Prompted by the shortage of ⁵¹Cr-EDTA we conducted a head-to-head comparison in patients attending our department for GFR determination. The two tracers (3.7 MBq of ⁵¹Cr-EDTA and 8 MBq of ^99mTc-DTPA) were administered intravenously immediately after each other, and the standard number of blood samples were drawn. Fifty-four patients were enrolled. In 51 of these, single-sample measurement was performed with the following results: GFR_EDTA was 84.6 ± 23.3 mL/min, GFR_DTPA was 84.2 ± 24.7 mL/min. The mean difference was 0.4 ± 2.8 mL/min, p = 0.32, and results based on the two tracers were highly correlated (r = 0.995). GFR_DTPA exceeded GFR_EDTA at high GFR values (difference < 0 at GFR_EDTA >91.4 mL/min) and vice versa (difference > 0 at GFR_EDTA < 91.4 mL/min). However, differences fell within few GFR units that most often will have no clinical consequence. We therefore conclude that ^99mTc-DTPA can replace ⁵¹Cr-EDTA for single-sample determination of GFR in a clinical setting.

Near-infrared tailored thermal emission from wafer-scale continuous-film resonators

We experimentally investigate the near-infrared emission from simple-to-fabricate, continuous-film Fabry-Perot-type resonators, consisting only of unstructured dielectric and metallic films. We show that the proposed configuration is suitable for realization of narrowband emitters, tunable in ranges from mid- to near-infrared, and demonstrate emission centered at the wavelength of 1.7 μm, which corresponds to the band gap energy of GaSb-based photodetectors. The emission is measured at 748 K and follows well the emissivity as predicted from reflection measurements and Kirchhoff's reciprocity. The considered emitter configuration is spectrally highly tunable and, consisting of only few unstructured layers, is amenable to wafer-scale fabrication at low cost by use of standard deposition procedures.

Surface plasmon polariton propagation in organic nanofiber based plasmonic waveguides

Plasmonic wave packet propagation is monitored in dielectric-loaded surface plasmon polariton waveguides realized from para-hexaphenylene nanofibers deposited onto a 60 nm thick gold film. Using interferometric time resolved two-photon photoemission electron microscopy we are able to determine phase and group velocity of the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) waveguiding mode (0.967c and 0.85c at λ(Laser) = 812nm) as well as the effective propagation length (39 μm) along the fiber-gold interface. We furthermore observe that the propagation properties of the SPP waveguiding mode are governed by the cross section of the waveguide.

Organic nanofibers integrated by transfer technique in field-effect transistor devices

The electrical properties of self-assembled organic crystalline nanofibers are studied by integrating these on field-effect transistor platforms using both top and bottom contact configurations. In the staggered geometries, where the nanofibers are sandwiched between the gate and the source-drain electrodes, a better electrical conduction is observed when compared to the coplanar geometry where the nanofibers are placed over the gate and the source-drain electrodes. Qualitatively different output characteristics were observed for top and bottom contact devices reflecting the significantly different contact resistances. Bottom contact devices are dominated by contact effects, while the top contact device characteristics are determined by the nanofiber bulk properties. It is found that the contact resistance is lower for crystalline nanofibers when compared to amorphous thin films. These results shed light on the charge injection and transport properties for such organic nanostructures and thus constitute a significant step forward toward a nanofiber-based light-emitting device.