Failure of ablation of a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma by repeated contrast staining

In a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism an attempt was made to ablate a middle mediastinal parathyroid gland by forceful staining with radiographic contrast material. The gland was stained on two separate occasions, two weeks apart. Both times the serum calcium level temporarily fell to the normal range but reverted to abnormal levels. The patient ultimately required surgery for correction of hypercalcemia. The mechanism of staining and possible reasons for failure as well as potential complications are discussed.     

Gallium-67 lung uptake: conjugate-view technique

A conjugate-view technique is derived for calculation of absolute gallium-67 (Ga-67) uptake from scintillation-camera images. The technique combines counts of posterior and anterior images of the lung with an attenuation correction obtained from cobalt-57 (Co-57) transmission imaging. The formulation is such that the effects of Compton scatter build-up are accounted for. Studies utilizing a canine model indicated that, normally, more activity is located in the chest wall than in the lungs. The quantitative technique must therefore accurately account for a variety of Ga-67 distributions, including that in the chest wall. Calculations were performed using a three-component model comparing results obtained with the conjugate-view approach to the actual uptake. These calculations suggest that an assumption of uniform activity distribution allows an accuracy of approximately +/- 10% over a broad range of body-part thicknesses and uptake by the lungs. It was concluded that the conjugate-view technique is necessarily approximate but can provide clinically useful results.     

Detection of experimental brain tumor in rat by computed tomography

The feasibility of the use of computerized tomographic (CT) scanning for detecting an experimental brain tumor in rats was evaluated. Tumors were induced in newborn rats by intracerebral inoculation of Rous sarcoma virus. At varying times contrast-enhanced scans were obtained on an Ohio Nuclear 2010 scanner, the brains examined, and the findings at autopsy correlated with the CT findings. Five tumors were demonstrated by CT scans and their presence confirmed at autopsy. Four small tumors were not detected by CT scans. In 1 animal, multiple tumors were demonstrated by a CT scan, and in another a large cyst was correctly diagnosed. It is concluded that the technology currently available can be used to identify some tumor-bearing animals and should be useful for following the change in size of tumors in response to therapy. Further improvements in scanner resolution should make this technique more useful for animal research.     

Idiopathic granulomatous hepatitis

A 12-year-old male child reported with history of fever for last seven years. Hepatosplenomegaly, hepatic and bone marrow granulomas were the main features. Idiopathic Granulomatous Hepatitis (IGH), a rare syndrome amenable to immunosuppressive therapy was diagnosed.     

Synthesis of some new 2,4-disubstituted thiazoles as possible antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents

A series of arylthioureas (1), aromatic aldehyde thiosemicarbazones (2) and 5-aryl-2-furfuraldehyde thiosemicarbazones (3) were condensed with 2,4-dichloro-5-fluorophenacyl bromide to yield respective arylaminothiazoles, arylidene/5-aryl-2-furfurylidene hydrazinothiazoles (4). The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR and mass spectral studies. These compounds were also screened for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. Two of the newly synthesized compounds showed anti-inflammatory activity comparable with that of Ibuprofen.     

Synthetic and antibacterial studies on some new furanopeptides

A series of new furanopeptides (3) are prepared by the coupling of arylsubstituted furoic acids (1) with amino acid methyl esters, di and tetra-peptide methyl esters using dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC) as coupling agent. Some of the newly synthesized compounds are characterized on the basis of IR, 1H NMR, mass spectral data and elemental analysis. Some of the selected compounds are also tested for their antibacterial properties.     

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia studied by gallium-67 scanning

The validity and reliability of gallium-67 (Ga-67) scanning for diagnosis and follow-up of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) were assessed in 34 patients thought to have pulmonary complications of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Overall sensitivity was 94% and specificity 74%. Among patients with normal or equivocal chest radiographs at the time of admission, sensitivity was 86% and specificity 85%. The authors consider Ga-67 scanning a valid and reliable adjunct in the diagnosis of PCP in AIDS patients with respiratory symptoms when the chest radiograph is normal or equivocal.