Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Greek EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-MY20 instruments. Method. A sample of myeloma patients (N = 89) from two tertiary hospitals were surveyed with the QLQ-C30, QLQ-MY20 and various demographic and disease related questions. The previously validated Greek SF-36 instrument was used as a “gold standard” for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) comparisons. Hypothesized scale structure, internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha) and various forms of construct validity (convergent, discriminative, concurrent and known-groups) were assessed. Results. Multitrait scaling confirmed scale structure of the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-MY20, with good item convergence (96% and 72%) and discrimination (78% and 58%) rates. Cronbach's α was >0.70 for all but one scale (cognitive functioning). Spearman's correlations between similar QLQ-C30 and SF-36 scales ranged between 0.35–0.80 (P < 0.001). Expected interscale correlations and known-groups comparisons supported construct validity. QLQ-MY20 scales showed comparatively lower correlations with QLQ-C30 functional scales, and higher correlations with conceptually related symptom scales. Conclusions. The observed psychometric properties of the two instruments imply suitability for assessing myeloma HRQoL in Greece. Future studies should focus on generalizability of the results, as well as on specific issues such as longitudinal validity and responsiveness.

I retention measurements performed post dialysis; in two of them some additional measurements such as iodine clearances were also performed. rEsULts: None of the patients experienced any short-term side effects, while they all had undetectable thyroglobulin levels on the first post therapy evaluation off thyroxine. 131I elimination in the first haemodialysis was about 60%. staff incidental exposure and 131 I contamination were insignificant. cONcLUsIONs: On the basis of our experience, an empiric activity of 40-50% of that used for normal individuals appears to be effective as well as safe. these encouraging findings are discussed in relation with other reports in the literature.

The method presented here is novel and easy to implement, requiring materials commonly found in clinical practice. Furthermore, this technique which is based on the LSF method reduces measurement noise levels due to the larger amount of data averaging than in the conventional PSF method. Furthermore, MTF can be assessed easily, in three dimensions (3D), by placing the flood source either in sagittal or coronal direction.

In this paper we present the performance evaluation results, in the planar and tomographic modes, of a low-cost positron emission tomography camera dedicated to small-animal imaging. The system consists of two pixelated Lu2SiO5 crystals, two Hamamatsu H8500 position sensitive photomultiplier tubes, fast amplification electronics and an FPGA-USB-based read-out system. The parameters that have been studied are (i) saturation as a function of the head distance and photon acceptance angle, (ii) effect of the number of projections and half or complete head's rotation, (iii) spatial resolution as a function of the head distance, (iv) spatial resolution as a function of acceptance angle, (v) system's sensitivity as a function of these parameters and (vi) performance in small mice imaging. Image reconstruction has been carried out using open source software developed by our group (QSPECT), which is designed mainly for SPECT imaging. The results indicate that the system has a linear response for activities up to at least 2 MBq, which are typical in small-animal imaging. Best tomographic spatial resolution was measured to be ∼2 mm. The system has been found suitable for imaging of small mice both in the planar and tomographic modes.