Dynamic evaluation of 18F-FDG uptake by microPET and whole-body autoradiography in a fibrosarcoma-bearing mouse model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fluorine-18-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) has been used in the clinic as a diagnostic radiotracer for monitoring many kinds of tumors, but its value for monitoring fibrosarcoma is not well established. METHODS: In this study, the uptake of 18F-FDG in a fibrosarcoma-bearing mouse model was evaluated using the high resolution positron emission tomography (PET) system microPET. Tumor cells were implanted in 3 FVB/N mice, and static microPET scanning was performed on day 1, 7, 12 and 15 after implantation. A dynamic microPET image was scanned on day 12 to determine the 18F-FDG uptake in 3 other tumor-bearing mice. Time-activity curves were plotted by drawing regions of interest in the tumor, liver, kidneys and muscles. The mice were sacrificed after dynamic microPET imaging and whole-body autoradiography (WBAR) was performed. For biodistribution study, 9 tumor-bearing mice, 3 per experimental group, were studied at 3 time points and the results were compared with the static microPET images. RESULTS: MicroPET images suggested that 18F-FDG could be used to monitor the growth of tumors 7 days after implantation. Dynamic scans of 18F-FDG uptake reached a plateau in the tumor after 20 minutes on day 12 after implantation. Both microPET and WBAR revealed evidence of tumor necrosis. The results of biodistribution and WBAR agreed with those from microPET images. CONCLUSION: MicroPET was useful for monitoring the growth of fibrosarcoma and determination of the maximal uptake time point of 18F-FDG in tumors in this tumor-bearing mouse model.     

A retrospective analysis of the stability and relapse of soft and hard tissue change after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for mandibular setback of 64 Taiwanese patients.

PURPOSE: This study was an analysis of the soft and hard tissue changes of the facial profile after bilateral sagittal splitting osteotomy for mandibular setback of Taiwanese patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected pre- and postsurgical lateral cephalographs of 64 patients (28 males, 36 females) with skeletal Class III malocclusion who received combined orthodontic-surgical treatment with bilateral sagittal splitting osteotomy mandibular setback at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 1994 and 2000. Nineteen cephalometric parameters of (14 linear, 4 angular, and the BS index) soft and hard tissues were measured at 1 week before treatment, and 2 months and 1 year after surgery, and analyzed by paired t test. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 20.0 +/- 1.6 years. The patients underwent an average of 7 mm mandibular setback at the osseous pogonion (Pog). Average setbacks at Pog and soft tissue pogonion (pog) were 5.54 mm and 4.85 mm, respectively, at 1 year after surgery. The setback ratio of Pog/pog was 1:0.88. The hard tissue relapse at Pog was 21% at 1 year after surgery. Improvement in prognathic profile was demonstrated by significant changes in the positions of Pog and pog, ANB angle, the distance from lower lip to esthetic line (E-L lip), and the BS index after surgery. However, compared with parameters obtained from a normal Taiwanese population, the cephalometric data of Pog, pog, and BS index still indicated mild prognathism. CONCLUSION: Although mandibular prognathism could be grossly improved by bilateral sagittal splitting osteotomy mandibular setback, a significant amount of relapse occurred within 1 year after surgery. The extent of the postoperatively preserved features showing mandibular prognathism should be a concern for both patients and physicians.     

The effects of hyperthyroidism on oesophageal motility.

This study, evaluating the effects of hyperthyroidism (HT) in oesophageal motility, depended on an oesophageal radionuclide transit test. A modified standard method was used to calculate: (a) total mean transit time (MTT), (b) residual fraction (RF) and (c) retrograde index (RI) in a supine position. Eighteen untreated patients with HT and 25 normal volunteers (NV) with a similar age distribution were included in this study. The results showed that oesophageal motility in patients with HT was worse than in the normal controls (P < 0.05 by Student's t-test). The correlation of MTT, RF and RI with size and function of thyroid glands in the patients with HT were calculated to explain the effects of HT in oesophageal motility. The results showed that neither the size nor the function of the thyroid glands in HT affected oesophageal motility.     

Effect of total parenteral nutrition with intravenous fat on lipids and high density lipoprotein heterogeneity in neonates

Plasma lipid concentrations and high density lipoprotein (HDL) subclass distributions were evaluated in 22 newborn infants nourished with intravenous (iv)-fat. The majority of infants were premature with respiratory distress syndrome. Based on baseline (prior to iv-fat) HDL subclass profiles determined by gradient gel electrophoresis (GGE), infants fell into two classes, one with two or more pronounced peaks within the normal HDL spectrum (group I, 17 subjects) and the other with highly unusual HDL distribution (group II, five subjects). Total plasma cholesterol increased in both groups during low and high fat intravenous feeding. HDL-cholesterol, however, did not change with iv-fat where mean values for groups I and II at baseline, iv-low fat and -high fat were: group I, 31.2 +/- 7.1, 30.0 +/- 8.8, and 36.6 +/- 16.7 mg/dl, respectively; and group II, 20.0 +/- 7.8, 20.2 +/- 7.4, and 19.8 +/- 8.8 mg/dl, respectively. Unlike HDL-cholesterol levels that remained constant with iv-fat, apolipoprotein (apo) AI concentrations increased significantly: group I, 73.0 +/- 11.0, 88.3 +/- 15.9, and 93.1 +/- 21.9 mg/dl, respectively; and group II, 31.8 +/- 10.5, 41.0 +/- 12.8, and 59.3 +/- 18.5 mg/dl, respectively. In group I infants, iv-fat is associated with an increase in larger-sized particles, particularly in the (HDL2b)gge range; in group II there is an increase in (HDL3b)gge and (HDL3c)gge components and a disappearance of particles that fall outside of the size range of normal HDL. In both groups, enteral feeding is associated with a further normalization of HDL subclass distribution. The aberrant GGE profiles and very low apoAI levels of group II infants at baseline were associated with unusual HDL morphology determined by electron microscopy where discoidal structures were prominent. With iv-fat, discoidal particles decline in number while normal spherical structures increase. Prevalence of discoidal HDL at baseline was associated with low concentrations of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) (1.12 +/- 0.5 micrograms/ml); with iv-fat this enzyme rose to 1.61 +/- 0.18 micrograms/ml. Increased LCAT is associated with the normalization of HDL morphology. It is likely that iv-fat improves the nutritional status of premature infants, thereby stimulating increased liver synthesis of important proteins, including apoAI and LCAT, associated with HDL metabolism.     

洁尔阴体外抑菌作用的实验研究

用国产恩威牌洁尔阴对阴道常见七种细菌进行抑菌试验,结果该药对其中五种细菌有明显抑菌作用,本文为洁尔阴治疗细菌性阴道炎提供了实验依据。     

Sympathetic skin response and R–R interval variation in chronic uremic patients

Sympathetic skin response (SSR) and R–R interval variation (RRIV) were studied in 36 chronic, nondiabetic uremics to compare with their nerve conduction studies (NCS) and clinical dysautonomia. Abnormal SSR was noted in 5 (13.9%) patients, abnormal RRIV in 14 (38.9%), and abnormal NCS in 26 (72.2%). The patients were classified into three groups: group (GP) 1: “normal,” n = 21 (58.3%), normal RRIV and SSR; GP 2: “isolated parasympathetic dysfunction,” n = 10 (27.8%), abnormal RRIV and normal SSR; and GP 3: “sympathetic sudomotor dysfunction,” n = 5 (13.9%), abnormal SSR. A significant difference in age was found among the three groups (GP 3 > GP 2 > GP 1; P < 0.0001, ANOVA). After controlling the age factor, we still noted a tendency toward increasing NCS disturbances (distal latency and nerve conduction velocity of peroneal nerve; P < 0.05, multiple regression analysis) and frequencies of clinical autonomic symptoms (postural dizziness and impotence; P < 0.05, Mantel–Hanszel test) from GP 1 to GP 3. Patients with abnormal SSR (GP 3) displayed significantly higher frequencies of postural dizziness and impotence, indicating the relationship between an absence of SSR and clinical dysautonomia. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Mucocele of the sphenoid sinus with the apex orbitae syndrome

A mucocele of the sphenoid sinus with visual impairment and headache is presented. Mucocele of the sphenoid sinus is relatively rare. The preoperative diagnosis was uncertain in this case but sphenoid sinus mucocele was considered. The transnasal surgical approach is considered to be best for treatment.     

Tumor vascular signals in renal masses: detection with Doppler US

The vascularity of 49 renal masses (26 malignant and 23 benign lesions) was investigated with duplex Doppler ultrasound. Doppler signals obtained at the margins of renal masses were defined as "tumor signals" when the Doppler-shifted frequency of the lesion exceeded the frequency shift in the ipsilateral main renal artery. These exceeded 2.5 kHz with a 3-MHz insonating frequency. Among the 26 renal masses that subsequently proved to be malignant, tumor signals were obtained in 15 of 18 (83%) untreated renal cell carcinomas, in three of four Wilms tumors, and in two patients with metastases to the kidney, but not in the one patient with lymphoma. None of the 23 benign renal masses demonstrated tumor signals. Tumor vascularity in malignant lesions gives rise to abnormal, high-velocity, Doppler-shifted signals that can help in the differential diagnosis of renal masses.     

Striatal homogenates from animals chronically treated with haloperidol stimulate dopamine and GABA uptake in cultures of rostral mesencephalic tegmentum

The effect of pharmacologic denervation of striatal tissue on the production of growth promoting factors was examined in a cell culture system. Relative to saline-treated controls, rats were rendered behaviorally hypersensitive to a subsequent apomorphine challenge by 2 months of chronic treatment with haloperidol. Four days following chronic treatment, the animals were killed and the striata and cerebella were homogenized in Hank's Balanced Salt solution. The supernatants of these crude homogenates were then added to E-13 rostral mesencephalic tegmentum cultures for 6 days. Within 24 h, the haloperidol-treated striatal supernatants induced an overt increase in culture growth relative to all other supernatants. After 6 days, cultures incubated with haloperidol-treated striatal supernatants exhibited a significant increase in dopamine and GABA uptake relative to cultures incubated with all other supernatants. This effect was observed in the presence and absence of glia. The relative degree of this increased uptake was dependent upon the amount of haloperidol-treated striatal supernatant added. Boiling the supernatant removed the growth promoting effect. These results suggest that pharmacologic denervation of striatal tissue leads to a "target-specific" increase in growth promoting activity that may play a role in the pharmacologic and behavioral effects of haloperidol.