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- O uso de Ferramentas Tecnológicas no Ensino Superior Moderno: abordagem integrada e perspectivas de aplicação em caso práticoPublication . Vieira, Domingos; Costa, Pedro; Cunha, Lídia; Lemos, Joana; Ferreira, Sara; Metello, Luís F.A utilização de ferramentas tecnológicas no Ensino Superior como metodologia de ensino/aprendizagem apresenta-se cada vez mais generalizada. Consciente do facto, a Área Técnico-Científica de Medicina Nuclear da ESTSP.IPP, tem vindo a evoluir na integração gradual de algumas ferramentas tecnológicas na sua realidade específica quotidiana, sempre no sentido de aumentar a qualidade dos serviços que presta e a eficiência do processo, encarado na sua globalidade, acreditando na importante contribuição que podem vir a representar em termos de aumento da competitividade e da facilitação do alcance dos objectivos assumidos, particularmente em termos de ensino à distância e de internacionalização dos diversos projectos pedagógicos em que esta Área se encontra envolvida. Este trabalho tem como objectivo partilhar a experiência adquirida e o estado actual do uso de ferramentas tecnológicas no quotidiano, assim como os próximas etapas previstas no desenvolvimento de este projecto, considerado, por definição, como de longo-prazo. Serão apresentadas uma série de considerações, particularmente em termos da eficácia, inerentes à utilização quotidiana das várias ferramentas que foram já implementadas, sendo ainda tecidas uma série de recomendações e alertas, decorrentes da nossa experiência prática e potencialmente úteis aos que se estão a (ou pretendem) iniciar. O Espaço Europeu do Ensino Superior é declaradamente um desafio major para o qual temos que nos preparar da forma mais eficaz e competitiva, acreditando que a adopção de ferramentas tecnológicas – de uma forma atempada e sobretudo adequada aos objectivos específicos concretos de cada projecto pedagógico – pode vir a constituir um factor decisivo em termos do respectivo sucesso.
- Study of the Influence of Patient Hydration in Bone ScintigraphyPublication . Ferreira, Sara; Cunha, Lídia; Osório, Soraia; Matias, Mariana; Lemos, Joana; Vieira, Domingos; Soares, Sofia; Fonseca, Abigaíl; Silva, José Alexandre; Amorim, Inês; Castro, Rosa; Metello, Luís F.The bone scintigraphy is a diagnosis method noninvasive and sensitive in detecting early bone lesions, constituting about 35% of all tests performed in the Service of Nuclear Medicine, of the Hospital of Santo Antonio, in the city of Porto, where the following study took place. One of the important technical details in preparing the patient for this examination is the hydration following the administration of the radiopharmaceutical. The aim of this study focused on assessing the value of hydration on the quality of the image in a bone scintigraphy.
- Preclinical Imaging: an Essential Ally in Modern BiosciencesPublication . Cunha, Lídia; Horvath, Ildiko; Ferreira, Sara; Lemos, Joana; Costa, Pedro; Vieira, Domingos; Veres, Dániel S.; Szigeti, Krisztián; Summavielle, Teresa; Máthé, Domokos; Metello, Luís F.Translational research is changing the practice of modern medicine and the way in which health problems are approached and solved. The use of small-animal models in basic and preclinical sciences is a major keystone for these kinds of research and development strategies, representing a bridge between discoveries at the molecular level and clinical implementation in diagnostics and/or therapeutics. The development of high-resolution in vivo imaging technologies provides a unique opportunity for studying disease in real time, in a quantitative way, at the molecular level, along with the ability to repeatedly and non-invasively monitor disease progression or response to treatment. The greatest advantages of preclinical imaging techniques include the reduction of biological variability and the opportunity to acquire, in continuity, an impressive amount of unique information (without interfering with the biological process under study) in distinct forms, repeated or modulated as needed, along with the substantial reduction in the number of animals required for a particular study, fully complying with 3R (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) policies. The most suitable modalities for small-animal in vivo imaging applications are based on nuclear medicine techniques (essentially, positron emission tomography [PET] and single photon emission computed tomography [SPECT]), optical imaging (OI), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI), and ultrasound. Each modality has intrinsic advantages and limitations. More recently, aiming to overcome the inherent limitations of each imaging modality, multimodality devices designed to provide complementary information upon the pathophysiological process under study have gained popularity. The combination of high-resolution modalities, like micro-CT or micro-MRI, with highly sensitive techniques providing functional information, such as micro-PET or micro-SPECT, will continue to broaden the horizons of research in such key areas as infection, oncology, cardiology, and neurology, contributing not only to the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of disease, but also providing efficient and unique tools for evaluating new chemical entities and candidate drugs. The added value of small-animal imaging techniques has driven their increasing use by pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and research institutions.
- In the Way to ISO 9001:2008: Obtaining the Quality Certification in Public Higher EducationPublication . Metello, Luís F.; Cunha, Lídia; Lemos, Joana; Lourenço, Leonel; Ferreira, Sara; Nogueira, Fábio; Vieira, Domingos; Pinto, HelenaQuality Management in Higher Education is a rather complex and each day more challenging process. Nevertheless, it is believed to soon become the cornerstone for the development of modern Higher Education, so with an increasing role on Society itself; the clear assumption of this might be the – so needed - turning point in the relations between Academy and the “Real World”, helping to fill the gap.
- The Road to Telemedicine: mobile solutions for Nuclear MedicinePublication . Vieira, Domingos; Costa, Pedro; Cunha, Lídia; Metello, Luís F.The present dimension of the concept “Telemedicine” includes the application of mobile communication technologies and information systems to provide Health Care at distance. In the medical imaging field, and particularly in Nuclear Medicine, this concept is broader, involving the application of a variety of software and mobile applications at several steps of the process: digital imaging display and processing, data transfer and storage, but also decay calculations and inherent corrections, often in real-time and automatically performed, as well as the exchange of theoretical information. This paper aims to review the current status concerning available software and applications, with a clear accent on those with a close relation to cloud computing and interfacing with smart phones and/or tablets
- Machine Learning Algorithms at Myocardial Perfusion Imaging - a Preliminary StudyPublication . Vieira, Domingos; Silva, Emanuel; Machado, Maria; Cunha, Lídia; Metello, Luís F.A major focus of data mining process - especially machine learning researches - is to automatically learn to recognize complex patterns and help to take the adequate decisions strictly based on the acquired data. Since imaging techniques like MPI – Myocardial Perfusion Imaging on Nuclear Cardiology, can implicate a huge part of the daily workflow and generate gigabytes of data, there could be advantages on Computerized Analysis of data over Human Analysis: shorter time, homogeneity and consistency, automatic recording of analysis results, relatively inexpensive, etc.
- Analysing the usefulness of motion correction software in myocardial perfusion imagingPublication . Cunha, Lídia; Lamego, Juliana; Ferreira, Sara; Lemos, Joana; Vieira, Domingos; Metello, Luís F.Introduction Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) is a very important tool in the assessment of Coronary Artery Disease ( CAD ) patient s and worldwide data demonstrate an increasingly wider use and clinical acceptance. Nevertheless, it is a complex process and it is quite vulnerable concerning the amount and type of possible artefacts, some of them affecting seriously the overall quality and the clinical utility of the obtained data. One of the most in convenient artefacts , but relatively frequent ( 20% of the cases ) , is relate d with patient motion during image acquisition . Mostly, in those situations, specific data is evaluated and a decisi on is made between A) accept the results as they are , consider ing that t he “noise” so introduced does not affect too seriously the final clinical information, or B) to repeat the acquisition process . Another possib ility could be to use the “ Motion Correcti on Software” provided within the software package included in any actual gamma camera. The aim of this study is to compare the quality of the final images , obtained after the application of motion correction software and after the repetition of image acqui sition. Material and Methods Thirty cases of MPI affected by Motion Artefacts and repeated , were used. A group of three, independent (blinded for the differences of origin) expert Nuclear Medicine Clinicians had been invited to evaluate the 30 sets of thre e images - one set for each patient - being ( A) original image , motion uncorrected , (B) original image, motion corrected, and (C) second acquisition image, without motion . The results so obtained were statistically analysed . Results and Conclusion Results obtained demonstrate that the use of the Motion Correction Software is useful essentiall y if the amplitude of movement is not too important (with this specific quantification found hard to define precisely , due to discrepancies between clinicians and other factors , namely between one to another brand); when that is not the case and the amplitude of movement is too important , the n the percentage of agreement between clinicians is much higher and the repetition of the examination is unanimously considered ind ispensable.
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists Basic and Advanced Practice: What Does it Really Means?Publication . Metello, Luís F.; Costa, Pedro; Lemos, Joana; Ferreira, Sara; Vieira, Domingos; Fonseca, Abigaíl; Soares, Sofia; Cunha, LídiaNuclear Medicine is an independent medical specialty for almost fifty years. If that is quite clear and widely accepted, being in the basis and the justification for specialization between the distinct professionals involved, in many countries there is one exception: the Technologists. Since, in some countries, Nuclear Medicine is part of Medical Imaging area (which could include different specialties such as Radiology or Ultrasonography and, in a more restrict number of countries, even Radiotherapy), the “versatility” of Technologists might be somehow appreciated by some of the parts involved. Nevertheless, there are critical issues that need to be addressed - like the ability and capacity to perform distinct Practices at a certain level of autonomy and responsibility - and the final positions might be very distinct from one to another country.
- Should new Nuclear Reactors be considered as an option to solve Technetium shortage problem?Publication . Metello, Luís F.; Cunha, Lídia; Costa, Pedro; Vieira, Domingos; Alves, Francisco; Botelho, Maria Filomena; Gelbart, W.; Artner, Christoph; Nader, Michael; Schibli, Roger; Jensen, MikaelWorldwide, more than 80% of Nuclear Medicine procedures use a radiotracer produced through a 99Mo/99mTc generator - 99mTc – Technetium 99metastable. Most of the radiochemistry and equipments is optimized for this radioisotope characteristics already for more than 35 years, making it very difficult to replace. Worldwide production of 99Mo is based essentially with only five Nuclear Reactors that are becoming obsolete and fragile with aging, shutting down more and more frequently as they approach the end of their shelf-life. Seeking for solutions, some Governments – and the EU – plan to build new dedicated Nuclear Reactor(s). Our work defends another option.
- Nuclear medicine technologists' education and training: Where are we…and where do we intend to go?Publication . Metello, Luís; Vieira, Domingos; Ferreira, Sara; Lemos, Joana; Costa, Pedro; Cunha, LídiaThis work aims to promote Critical Thinking and to sustain discussion about distinct methods and options for Education and Training of Nuclear Medicine Technologists.