Abstract Objective: To develop an automated co-registration system and test its performance, with and without a fiducial marker, on single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images. Materials and Methods: Three SPECT/CT scans were acquired for each rotation of a Jaszczak phantom (to 0°, 5°, and 10° in relation to the bed axis), with and without a fiducial marker. Two rigid co-registration software packages-SPM12 and NMDose-coreg-were employed, and the percent root mean square error (%RMSE) was calculated in order to assess the quality of the co-registrations. Uniformity, contrast, and resolution were measured before and after co-registration. The NMDose-coreg software was employed to calculate the renal doses in 12 patients treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE, and we compared those with the values obtained with the Organ Level INternal Dose Assessment for EXponential Modeling (OLINDA/EXM) software. Results: The use of a fiducial marker had no significant effect on the quality of co-registration on SPECT images, as measured by %RMSE (p = 0.40). After co-registration, uniformity, contrast, and resolution did not differ between the images acquired with fiducial markers and those acquired without. Preliminary clinical application showed mean total processing times of 9 ± 3 min/patient for NMDose-coreg and 64 ± 10 min/patient for OLINDA/EXM, with a strong correlation between the two, despite the lower renal doses obtained with NMDose-coreg. Conclusion: The use of NMDose-coreg allows fast co-registration of SPECT images, with no loss of uniformity, contrast, or resolution. The use of a fiducial marker does not appear to increase the accuracy of co-registration on phantoms.

Resumo Objetivo: Desenvolver corregistro automático e testar seu desempenho com ou sem marcador fiducial em imagens de tomografia computadorizada de emissão de fóton único (SPECT). Materiais e Métodos: Três SPECT/CTs foram adquiridas para cada rotação de um simulador de Jaszczak em relação ao eixo da maca (0°, 5° e 10°), com e sem fiducial. Dois métodos de corregistro inelástico foram aplicados - SPM12 e NMDose-coreg -, e a porcentagem do erro quadrático médio (%RMSE) foi usada para analisar a qualidade do corregistro. Uniformidade, contraste e resolução foram medidos antes e após o corregistro. NMDose com corregistro automático foi usado para calcular a dose renal de 12 pacientes tratados com 177Lu-DOTATATE e comparado com OLINDA/EXM. Resultados: A marcação fiducial não modificou a qualidade do corregistro das imagens SPECT, medida pela %RMSE (p = 0,40). Não houve impacto na uniformidade, contraste e resolução após o corregistro de imagens adquiridas com ou sem fiduciais. Aplicação clínica preliminar mostrou tempo total de processamento de 9 ± 3 min/paciente para NMDose e 64 ± 10 min/paciente para OLINDA/EXM, com alta correlação entre ambos, apesar de menor dose renal em NMDose. Conclusão: NMDose-coreg permite o corregistro rápido de imagens SPECT, sem perda de uniformidade, contraste ou resolução. O uso da marcação fiducial não aumentou a precisão do corregistro em fantomas.

ABSTRACT: This paper explores the process of "content prosodization" introduced by Claude Zilberberg in the course of the formulation of his tensive semiotics. Inspired by the prosodic functioning of natural languages, with their ascending and descending accents and modulations, the author proposed various combinations of what he called "increments" (plus minus, minus plus, minus minus, etc.) to describe the modulations of content that sometimes rise toward the "meaning accent" (the most impactful content) and sometimes decline and move away from it. These movements are always associated with the oscillations of human sensibility both in the plane of expression and in the plane of content. But it is in the latter that we can evaluate our daily mechanisms of meaning appreciation, attributing greater or lesser prominence to it by making use of the increments. It is, therefore, a special way of expanding the theoretical and analytical potential of the semiotic model from categories that previously belonged only to the plane of expression. These theoretical propositions are illustrated here by some analyses of columns published in Brazilian newspapers.

RESUMO: Este texto busca explicar o processo de “prosodização do conteúdo” introduzido por Claude Zilberberg durante a formulação de sua semiótica tensiva. Com efeito, inspirado no funcionamento prosódico das línguas naturais com seus acentos e modulações, ascendentes e descendentes, o autor propôs diversas combinações do que chamou de "incrementos" (mais menos, menos mais, menos menosetc.) para descrever as modulações de conteúdo que ora se elevam em direção ao “acento da significação” (o conteúdo mais impactante), ora declinam e se afastam dele. Esses movimentos estão sempre associados às oscilações da sensibilidade humana tanto no plano da expressão quanto no plano do conteúdo. Mas é neste último que, fazendo uso dos referidos incrementos, podemos avaliar os nossos mecanismos cotidianos de apreciação do sentido, atribuindo-lhe maior ou menor destaque. Trata-se, pois, de um modo especial de ampliar o potencial teórico e analítico do modelo semiótico a partir de categorias que antes pertenciam apenas ao plano da expressão. Essas proposições teóricas são aqui ilustradas por algumas análises de colunas publicadas em jornais brasileiros.

Résumé Dans ce texte, l’auteur révèle quelques-unes des étapes décisives qui ont marqué l’entrée de la pensée tensive dans la sémiotique d’Algirdas Julien Greimas. Le principal responsable de ce récit n’est autre que le français Claude Zilberberg qui a su diriger le contre-point de la sémiotisation fondée par le théoricien lituanien avec la temporalisation pratiquée par Paul Valéry, grâce à l’idée d’accentuation préconisée chez Ernst Cassirer et la musicalité découverte chez Gisèle Brelet. Zilberberg et qui a abouti petit à petit à une grammaire tensive où s’articulent l’intensité (force affective) et l’extensité (but des faits) et, en même temps, à une grammaire de l’attente qui répond par la coexistence des concepts antagoniques, incluant bien évidemment ses propres concepts contraires, le tels que l’« événement » et la « surprise ».

Abstract In this paper, the author reveals some of the decisive steps that marked the entry of the tensive thinking into the greimasian semiotics. The main subject of this narrative was the Frenchman Claude Zilberberg, who knew how to conduct the counterpoint of the semiotization founded by the Lithuanian theorist with the “temporalization” practiced by Paul Valéry, with the idea of accentuation professed by Ernst Cassirer and also with the musicalization found in Gisèle Brelet. Step by step, Zilberberg went on to a tensive grammar, in which intensity (affective force) and extension (field of comprehension of facts) are articulated, and at the same time to a grammar of expectation that responds to the coexistence of antagonistic concepts, including, of course, their own contrary concepts, such as “event” and “surprise”.

Resumen En este texto, el autor revela algunas de las etapas decisivas que marcaron el ingreso del pensamiento tensivo en la semiótica de Algirdas Julien Greimas. El principal sujeto de ese relato fue el francés Claude Zilberberg, quien supo dirigir el contrapunto de la semiotización fundada por el teórico lituano con la temporalización practicada por Paul Valéry, con la idea de acentuación preconizada en Ernst Cassirer y con la musicalización encontrada en Gisèle Brelet. Zilberberg llegó, paso a paso, a una gramática tensiva, en la que se articulan intensidad (fuerza afectiva) y extensidad (alcance de los hechos) y, al mismo tiempo, a una gramática de la espera que responde por la coexistencia de los conceptos antagónicos, que incluye, evidentemente, sus propios conceptos contrarios, como los de evento y sorpresa.

Résumé : Épicentre des réflexions de la sémiotique d’Algirdas Julien Greimas, depuis ses origines, la narrativité est analysée sur trois directions pro-positives : (i) comprendre la tensivité implicite dans le modèle narratif greimassien à partir des propositions heuristiques de Claude Zilberberg ; (ii) incorporer à la narrativité —conçue comme une anthropologie de l’imaginaire humain— le régime thymico-pulsionnel défendu par Jean Petitot ; (iii) suggérer l’entrée de la sémiotique dans le début sur les « grands récits de l’anthropogenèse » —récits scientifico-évolutionnistes de l’espèce humaine, récits humanistes de « l’exception humaine », récit phénoménologiques de la « différence anthropologique »— afin d’instruire un tel débat grâce à la proposition d’un récit sémiologique qui mette en évidence la présence et l’action du langage dans l’anthropogenèse.

Abstract: Having been the epicenter of Algirdas Julien Greimas’ reflections on Semiotics since its origins, the narrativity is here investigated in three propositive directions: (i) To understand the implicit tensivity in the Greimasian narrative model, from Claude Zilberberg’s heuristic proposals; (ii) to incorporate into narrativity —conceived as the anthropology of human imaginary— the thymic-drive regime, as defended by Jean Petitot; (iii) to suggest the entry of semiotics point of view into the debate over the “great stories of anthropogenesis” —such as the scientific-evolutionary narratives of human species, the humanist narratives of the “human exception”, the phenomenological narrative of “anthropological difference”, among others— to instruct such debate with the proposal of a “semiological narrative” that evidences the fundamental presence and action of language in this anthropogenesis.

Resumen: Epicentro de las reflexiones de la semiótica de Algirdas Julien Greimas, desde sus orígenes, la narratividad se investiga aquí en tres direcciones propositivas: (i) comprender la tensividad implícita en el modelo narrativo greimasiano, a partir de las propuestas heurísticas de Claude Zilberberg; (ii) incorporar a la narratividad —concebida como antropología de lo imaginario humano— el régimen tímico-pulsional, defendido por Jean Petitot ; (iii) sugerir la entrada de la semiótica en el debate sobre los “grandes relatos de la antropogénesis” —relatos científico-evolucionistas de la especie humana, relatos humanistas de la “excepción humana”, relatos fenomenológicos de la “diferencia antropológica”— para instruir tal debate con la propuesta de un relato semiológico que ponga en evidencia la presencia y acción del lenguaje en la antropogénesis.

Ao estabelecer a relação entre melodia e letra, o cancionista combina recursos naturais, procedentes da sua fala cotidiana (linguagem verbal com suas entoações), com recursos musicais de estabilização sonora (afinação das alturas, definição das durações rítmicas etc.) e ainda programa o andamento (mais rápido ou mais lento) das canções com suas recorrências temáticas ou suas curvas melódicas passionais para conduzir letras que falam ora de encontros afetivos eufóricos, ora de desencontros e sofrimentos. Embora os compositores e intérpretes criem dominâncias no uso desses recursos (mais fala e menos música ou vice-versa; mais tematização e menos passionalização ou vice-versa) a cada canção produzida, quase sempre promovem diferentes graus de mistura entre eles para obter um resultado artístico mais eficaz.

By establishing the relationship between melody and lyrics, the songwriter combines natural resources coming from their everyday speech (verbal language and its intonations), with sound stabilization music features (pitch heights, setting the rhythmic durations etc.). Moreover, plans the tempo (faster or slower) of the songs with their thematic recurrences or their passionate melodic curves to drive lyrics that speak sometimes of euphoric affective encounters, sometimes misunderstandings and sufferings. Although composers and performers create dominances in the use of these resources (more talk and less music or vice versa; more thematisation and less passionalisation or vice versa) every song produced, almost always provide different degrees of mixing between them to get a more effective artistic result.

Destacam-se neste trabalho as decorrências enunciativas da inevitável presença da fala na linguagem da canção. Ao conceber uma letra, o compositor não apenas propõe um conteúdo, mas também as unidades entoativas (modos de dizer) que figurativizam a melodia e lhe atribuem um valor oral. São essas entoações que fazem do intérprete o foco de toda canção. Além das marcas enunciativas da letra, que muitas vezes já definem um "eu" lírico, as modulações da voz completam para o ouvinte a sensação de que os sentimentos descritos nos versos são vivenciados aqui e agora pelo cantor. Os exemplos aqui citados provêm do repertório brasileiro.

Study about enunciative results of the inevitable presence of talking in the language of songs. While conceiving the lyrics, the composer not only proposes its content but also voice modulation unities (ways of saying) that imply in melodic depiction, attributing oral value to it. These voice modulations elect the performer as the focus of the song. Besides the enunciative marks of the lyrics, which many times define a lyrical "me" by themselves, voice modulations contribute to the listener's sensations that described feelings in the verses are experienced here and now by the singer. It includes examples from the Brazilian repertory.

Les opérations structurelles fondées sur les relations d'identité et d'altérité entre leurs éléments ont composé une sorte d'accord du sens qui a été conservé tout au long de l'évolution de la sémiotique greimassienne. Les dépendances et les oppositions présentes dans la structure élémentaire de la signification deviennent des consonances et des dissonances qui assurent et déclenchent les processus narratifs, sans oublier l'explication de la configuration des états passionnels du sujet. Grâce à l'incorporation des quantifications subjectives, exprimées en variations en plus ou en moins, la théorie a pu démontrer que l'accord du sens peut être «affiné» à travers le texte au moyen d'ajustements tensifs du tempo, de la tonicité, des contractions, des expansions, etc. dosant les relations du sujet avec les autres et avec lui-même.

Structural operations based on the relations of identity and otherness among its elements composed a kind of agreement-chord of sense that was maintained throughout the evolution of Greimatian semiotics. Dependencies and oppositions present in the basic structure of significance become consonances and dissonances respectively that ensure and trigger narrative processes, besides explaining the configuration of the passionate states of the subject. With the addition of subjective quantifications, expressed in oscillations of more and less, the theory has demonstrated that the agreement-chord of consciousness can be "tuned" in the course of the text by means of intensive adjustments of tempo, tone, contractions, expansions, etc., that dose the relation of the subject with others and with himself.

Las operaciones estructurales fundadas en las relaciones de identidad y alteridad entre sus elementos compusieron una especie de acorde del sentido que se mantuvo a lo largo de la evolución de la semiótica greimasiana. Las dependencias y oposiciones presentes en la estructura elemental de la significación se vuelven respectivamente consonancias y disonancias que aseguran y desencadenan los procesos narrativos, además de explicar la configuración de los estados pasionales del sujeto. Con la incorporación de las cuantificaciones subjetivas, expresadas en oscilaciones de más y menos, la teoría ha venido demostrando que el acorde del sentido puede ser "afinado" en el transcurrir del texto por medio de ajustes tensivos de tempo, tonicidad, contracciones, expansiones, etc., que dosifican las relaciones del sujeto con los otros y consigo mismo.

INTRODUCTION: Renal artery stenosis can lead to renovascular hypertension; however, the detection of stenosis alone does not guarantee the presence of renovascular hypertension. Renovascular hypertension depends on activation of the renin-angiotensin system, which can be detected by functional tests such as captopril renal scintigraphy. A method that allows direct measurement of the baseline and post-captopril glomerular filtration rate using chromium-51 labeled ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (51Cr-EDTA) could add valuable information to the investigation of hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis. The purposes of this study were to create a protocol to measure the baseline and post-captopril glomerular filtration rate using 51Cr-EDTA, and to verify whether changes in the glomerular filtration rate permit differentiation between hypertensive patients with and without renal artery stenosis. METHODS: This prospective study included 41 consecutive patients with poorly controlled severe hypertension. All patients had undergone a radiological investigation of renal artery stenosis within the month prior to their inclusion. The patients were divided into two groups: patients with (n=21) and without renal artery stenosis, (n=20). In vitro glomerular filtration rate analysis (51Cr-EDTA) and 99mTc-DMSA scintigraphy were performed before and after captopril administration in all patients. RESULTS: The mean baseline glomerular filtration rate was 48.6±21.8 ml/kg/1.73 m² in the group wuth renal artery stenosis, which was significantly lower than the GFR of 65.1±28.7 ml/kg/1.73m² in the group without renal artery stenosis (p=0.04). Captopril induced a significant reduction of the glomerular filtration rate in the group with renal artery stenosis (to 32.6±14.8 ml/kg/1.73m², p=0.001) and an insignificant change in the group without RAS (to 62.2±23.6 ml/kg/1.73m², p=0.68). Scintigraphy with technetium-99m dimercapto-succinic acid (DMSA) did not show significant differences in differential renal function from baseline to post-captopril images in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Captopril induced a decrease in the GFR that could be quantitatively measured with 51Cr-EDTA. The reduction is more pronounced in hypertensive patients with RAS.

OBJETIVO: O trabalho teve por objetivo padronizar o método e estabelecer valores normais da captação renal absoluta do99mTc-DMSA em crianças. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Vinte e duas crianças (idade de 7 meses a 10 anos; média de 4,5 anos) sem doença renal prévia foram submetidas a cintilografia renal estática com 99mTc-DMSA. Dezoito apresentavam ultra-sonografia, uretrocistografia miccional, "clearance" de creatinina e padrão visual da cintilografia renal estática normais. Quatro crianças foram excluídas por não terem completado ou por apresentarem redução do "clearance" de creatinina. A captação absoluta de DMSA (DMSA-Abs) foi calculada como a porcentagem da atividade administrada retida em cada rim após seis horas da administração do radiofármaco. RESULTADOS: Os valores de DMSA-Abs foram de 21,8% ± 3,2% para o rim direito e de 23,1% ± 3,3% para o rim esquerdo. Os valores da captação absoluta não mostraram correlação com a idade dos pacientes estudados, apesar da tendência de aumento do "clearance" de creatinina com a idade. CONCLUSÃO: A definição de valores normais da DMSA-Abs permite o emprego deste parâmetro na avaliação inicial e acompanhamento de doenças renais, principalmente em pacientes com acometimento bilateral ou com rim único (nos quais a função diferencial direita X esquerda tem valor limitado).

OBJECTIVE: To standardize a method and determine normal values for absolute renal uptake of 99mTc-DMSA in children with normal creatinine clearance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two children (between 7 months and 10 years of age; mean 4.5 years) without clinical evidence of renal disease were studied using 99mTc-DMSA scintigraphy. Eighteen had normal renal ultrasonography, micturating urethrocystography, creatinine clearance and visual interpretation of the scintigraphy with 99mTc-DMSA. Four children were excluded, one with incomplete creatinine clearance and three due to reduction in the creatinine clearance. Absolute renal uptake of 99mTc-DMSA (DMSA-Abs) was expressed as the fraction of the administered dose retained by each kidney six hours after administration of the radiopharmaceutical. RESULTS: DMSA-Abs was 21.8 ± 3.2% for the right kidney and 23.1 ±3.3% for the left kidney. There was no correlation between renal uptake and the age groups studied, although there was a tendency to an increase in the creatinine clearance with age. CONCLUSION: Normal values of DMSA-Abs can be used as an additional parameter for the initial diagnostic evaluation and during follow-up of renal diseases, mainly when bilateral impairment of renal function is suspected or in a patient with a single functioning kidney (in which renal differential function is of limited value).

Neste trabalho são apresentados dados relativos a síntese do complexo [Cu(MIBI)4]BF4 e à utilização do mesmo para produção de kit liofilizado para obtenção do radiofármaco [[99mTc](MIBI)6]+. No processo de síntese foi utilizado radiação de microondas como fonte de aquecimento em uma etapa do processo, permitindo que a reação fosse executada em 25 segundos, obtendo rendimento de 68 %. Na preparação dos kits liofilizados, um deles denominado FULL, nos quais a quantidade dos componentes foi mantida igual ao produto comercial Cardiolite®, e outro denominado FRACTION, nos quais as quantidades foram reduzidas a 1/5 do total, foram adicionadas quantidades extras de SnCl2.2H2O. Deste modo, tornou-se possível marcar os kits liofilizados com atividades máximas de 55,5 GBq e 8,14 GBq, respectivamente. A biodistribuição dos produtos marcados, em camundongos e coelhos, não mostrou diferença estatística (p>0,05), para o teste t de Student, quando comparada ao produto obtido pela reconstituição do Cardiolite®.

The [Cu(MIBI)4]BF4 complex was synthesized and different formulations for lyophilized kits that could be cost-effectively used with different routines in nuclear medicine laboratories were investigated. In one preparation the kit components were kept similar to the Cardiolite® , except that the SnCl2.2H2O concentration was increased to 0.150 mg. In a second formulation, component concentrations were reduced to 1/5 of the original value and the SnCl2.2H2O concentration was adjusted to 0.04 mg. These products were labeled with maximum activities of 55.5 GBq and 8.14 GBq, respectively, and have shown an average radiochemical purity of 95 %. Biodistribution of the products was assessed by dissection in mice and in rabbits, and did not show any statistical difference when compared to Cardiolite®. In the synthesis of [Cu(MIBI)4]BF4 a new procedure was introduced for the synthesis of N-(2-methyl-propenyl)-formamide, with the use of microwave radiation as heat source. This modification reduced the reaction time to 25 seconds, while maintaining a yield of 68%.