Automated radiosynthesis of [11C]UCB-J for imaging synaptic density by positron emission tomography

An automated radiosynthesis of carbon-11 positron emission tomography radiotracer [¹¹C]UCB-J for imaging the synaptic density biomarker synaptic vesicle glycoprotein SV2A was established using Synthra RNPlus synthesizer. Commercially available trifluoroborate UCB-J analogue was used as a radiolabelling precursor, and the desired radiolabelled product was isolated in 11 ± 2% (n = 7) nondecay corrected radiochemical yield and formulated as a 10% EtOH solution in saline with molar activities of 20 to 100 GBq/μmol. The method was based upon the palladium(0)-mediated Suzuki cross-coupling reaction and [¹¹C]CH₃I as a radiolabelling synthon. The isolated product was cGMP compliant as demonstrated by the results of quality control analysis.     

Effect of fluoridated salt intake in infancy: a blind caries and fluorosis study in 8th grade Hungarian pupils

Salt fluoridation is effective at inhibiting caries, but fluorosis prevalence data are deficient. OBJECTIVES: The purpose was to undertake a blind study of caries and tooth mottling in 8th grade school pupils from south-east Hungary who had resided (test) or not resided (control), until November 1985, in a 350 ppm F-/kg domestic salt-fluoridated area during their early years of life. METHODS: In Szeged, blind clinical caries and anterior tooth mottling scoring (+10% repeats) of 49 previously salt-fluoridated (mean age 14.14 years) and 59 non-salt-fluoridated subjects (mean age 14.08 years) were undertaken by one examiner, in June 1997. In addition, radiographic and photographic recordings were taken. In Glasgow, four dental and two lay staff scored the projected 35 mm colour transparencies (+10% repeats) of each pupil's six upper anterior teeth, for tooth mottling. All clinical, radiographic and photographic data were then analysed. RESULTS: Mean DMFS scores were 9.18 (SD=10.72) for test users and 4.51 (SD=6.24) for control users (P<0.01) and, based on repeat observations, clinical reliability=0.99; X-ray reliability=0.95. Clinically, three test children had fluorosis of 10 teeth, with eight teeth in two controls. Photographic scoring by the clinical examiner gave a 97.2% clinical match, while photographic agreements for all four dentist pairs were 92.5%-97.2%, with lay observers' agreements at 89.8%. For both groups, 10% repeats produced 98.5% agreements. In a sole test case "fluorosis" photographic unanimity was obtained, and non-unanimous "possible fluorosis" was recorded by two to four panel members for only three other test and two control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence was found that significant anterior tooth fluorosis resulted in subjects exposed previously to 350 ppm F-/kg domestic salt from birth to 2.3-4.8 years of age. However, no caries benefit was demonstrated after the 11.5-year salt fluoridation gap. Caries differences seemed social class-related, city-based controls having less disease than rural test subjects, in spite of an identical F- tablet regimen in all schools from 1987, until subjects were 10 years old. These data emphasise (a) the superiority of sustained community-delivered fluoridation and (b) the need to maintain constant fluoride delivery to tooth surfaces, certainly well beyond 10 years of age.     

Organ donation and transplant: The Islamic perspective

Islam is the second most practiced religion globally, and the number of Muslims in Western countries has been increasing due to recent trends in migration. Studies have shown that Muslims in the Western world have more negative attitudes toward organ donation and transplantation compared with individuals from other religious backgrounds. Multiple barriers have been postulated that may prevent Muslims from exploring organ donation or transplantation. We conducted a literature review with the goal of summarizing the opinions of major Sunni and Shia scholars and Islamic bodies about organ donation and transplantation, including their opinions and rulings on the neurological determination of death to inform healthcare professionals, community members, and leaders. We also identified factors and attitudes that may prevent members of the Muslim community from achieving equitable access to transplantation or from consenting to donate organs during life or after death. Key factors or concerns identified included: lack of information regarding organ donation, mistrust of the healthcare system, family opinions, sacredness of the body, lack of clear understanding of religious rulings, and opinions of religious leaders. Studies have suggested that partnering with religious leaders to address these concerns may help foster positive attitudes toward organ donation and transplantation.     

Essential role of using virtual pyeloscopy in the diagnosis of small satellite renal pelvic tumour in solitary kidney patient

Virtual pyeloscopy (VP) plays an important role in the organ-sparing nephroscopic tumour resection and traditional pole resection, especially when a fibreoptic ureteroscopic examination cannot be performed. A 67-year-old man developed macroscopic hematuria. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and cystoscopy revealed a lower calix renal stone and a 20-mm lower pyelon mass suggesting transitional cell cancer. An additional small satellite lesion in the pelvico-ureteral junction was supposedly present. Three-phase MultiDetector CT with VP showed a solitary 3 to 4-mm renal pelvic lesion beyond the known calix stone and lower pole mass. In our case, VP played an important role in the organ-sparing nephroscopic tumour resection and traditional pole resection.     

Effects of nebivolol on left ventricular function in elderly patients with chronic heart failure: results of the ENECA study

AIM: To examine the effect of the beta(1)-selective beta-blocker nebivolol, administered as add-on therapy, on left ventricular function in 260 elderly patients (>65 years) with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS: The principal inclusion criteria were (1) NYHA class II-IV CHF and (2) a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <= 35%. The primary end-point was the change in LVEF in response to nebivolol treatment for 8 months. RESULTS: Baseline LVEF values in the two groups were as follows: nebivolol 25.41+/-7.09% and control 26.41+/-5.55%. LVEF improved significantly (p=0.027) more in the nebivolol group (6.51+/-9.15%) than in the control group (3.97+/-9.20%), the relative improvement (percentage increase in the initial value) being 35.70+/-57.62% in the nebivolol group and 19.19+/-40.96% (p=0.008) in the placebo group. Examination of different subgroups did not reveal any heterogeneity in the effects of nebivolol treatment vs. placebo treatment. There were no significant differences between the nebivolol and placebo groups as concerns the changes in clinical status, quality of life, or safety parameters. CONCLUSION: The findings of the ENECA study confirmed that nebivolol significantly improved cardiac function and proved to be safe and well tolerated in elderly patients with signs of CHF and an impaired LVEF.