RESULTS In the SNpc of AAV-hα-syn rats, there was higher in vivo [18F]-DPA-714 BP (p  less then  0.05) and increased number of post-mortem Iba-1+ cells (p  less then  0.05) from second week p.i. onwards, which were highly correlated (p  less then  0.05) between each other. These findings antedated the nigral reduction of TH+ cells that occurs since third week p.i. (p  less then  0.01). In addition, the [18F]-DPA-714 BP was inversely correlated (p  less then  0.05) with the TH+ cells. In contrast, GFAP+ cells only increased at 16 weeks p.i. and did not correlate with the in vivo results. In the striatum, no changes in the number of Iba-1+ and GFAP+ cells were observed, but an increment in the [18F]-DPA-714 BP was found at 16 weeks p.i. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that in vivo PET study with [18F]-DPA-714 is a selective and reliable biomarker of microglial activation and could be used to study preclinical stages of Parkinson's disease (PD) and to monitor the progression of the disease.PURPOSE To compare the prognostic value of imaging biomarkers derived from a quantitative analysis of baseline 18F-FDG-PET/CT in patients with mucosal melanoma (Muc-M) or cutaneous melanoma (Cut-M) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). METHODS In this retrospective monocentric study, we included 56 patients with non-resectable Muc-M (n = 24) or Cut-M (n = 32) who underwent baseline 18F-FDG-PET/CT before treatment with ICIs between 2011 and 2017. Parameters were extracted from (i) tumoral tissues SUVmax, SUVmean, TMTV (total metabolic tumor volume), and TLG (total lesion glycolysis) and (ii) lymphoid tissues BLR (bone marrow-to-liver SUVmax ratio) and SLR (spleen-to-liver SUVmax ratio). Association with survival and response was evaluated using Cox prediction models, Student's t tests, and Spearman's correlation respectively. p  less then  0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS Majority of ICIs were anti-PD1 (92.9%, n = 52/56). All 18F-FDG-PET/CT were positive. Overall (Muc-M to Cut-M), ORR was 33%42%, DCR was 56%69%, median follow-up was 25.028.9 months, median PFS was 4.710.7 months, and median OS was 23.928.3 months. In Muc-M, increased tumor SUVmax was associated with shorter OS while it was not correlated with PFS, ORR, or DCR. In Cut-M, increased TMTV and increased BLR were independently associated with shorter OS, shorter PFS, and lower response (ORR, DCR). CONCLUSION While all Muc-M and Cut-M were FDG avid, prognostic imaging biomarkers differed. For Muc-M patients treated with ICI, the only prognostic imaging biomarker was a high baseline maximal glycolytic activity (SUVmax), whereas for Cut-M patients, baseline metabolic tumor burden or bone marrow metabolism was negatively correlated to ICI response duration.PURPOSE It is challenging to differentiate unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) from bilateral idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia (IAH) and nonfunctional adrenal adenoma (NFA) in primary aldosteronism (PA). In a first primarily ex vivo study detection, CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) expression has been shown to be a valuable tool for the detection of APA. In this study, we aimed to clinically evaluate CXCR4 imaging with 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT for detecting APA. METHODS We prospectively recruited 36 patients with clinical suspicion of PA. All patients underwent 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT. Positive lesions were defined based on higher tracer uptake in adrenal nodular(s) shown on CT than the normal adrenal. These lesions were referred for adrenalectomy subsequently. All patients received clinical follow-up. Semi-quantitative analysis using maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), lesion-to-liver ratio (LLR), and lesion-to-contralateral ratio (LCR) has also been performed. PET/CT results were correlated with clinical presentation and follow-up. RESULTS Thirty-nine adrenal lesions in 36 patients were found; 25 APA, 4 IAH, and 10 NFA according to histopathology and clinical assessment. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT in distinguishing APA by visualization were 100%, 78.6%, and 92.3% respectively. The SUVmax of APA (21.34 ± 9.41, n = 25) was significantly higher than that of non-APA lesions (6.29 ± 2.10, n = 14, P  less then  0.0001). An optimal threshold of SUVmax = 11.18 was determined for predicting APA with a sensitivity of 88.0%, specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 92.3%. A cutoff value for LCR of 2.12 yielded a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 92.9%, whereas a cutoff value for LLR of 2.36 reached at both 100% of sensitivity and specificity. All patients with (removed) positive lesions benefited from surgery. CONCLUSION 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT may be used to non-invasively detect APA in PA patients.Melanins provide fungi protection from environmental stressors, support their ecological roles, and can confer virulence in pathogens. While the function, structure, and synthesis of melanins in fungi are not fully understood, they have been shown to have varied roles. Recent research has revealed a wide range of functions, from radiation resistance to increasing virulence, shedding light on fungal diversity. Understanding fungal melanins can provide useful information, from harnessing the properties of these various melanins to targeting fungal infections.Key Points • Melanotic fungi are widespread in nature.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/kp-457.html  • Melanin functions to protect fungi in the environment from a range of stresses. • Melanin contributes to pathogenesis and drug resistance of pathogenic fungi.Thermal injuries occur in every age group and are caused by flames, fluids, steam and direct contact. They are often trivialized but should actually be treated immediately to reduce secondary complications, such as infections and hypertrophic scars. Besides the pain, large wound areas are given priority. Surgical treatment is necessary if at least second degree (IIb) deep dermal burns are present. In this case the reconstructive surgeon has various techniques in the therapeutic armamentarium. Furthermore, in cases of severe burns a perioperative intensive care monitoring and treatment are obligatory as massive systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), shock, sepsis, organ failure, fluid resuscitation and complications, such as delirium and exacerbation of pain have been proven to negatively influence the outcome.