Usefulness of (99m)Tc(V)-dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy in the assessment of response to external radiation therapy in soft tissue sarcoma in Giant Snauzer dog

A nine-year-old male black Giant Schnauzer dog was referred for the scintigraphic evaluation with a history of malignant fibrosarcoma with a rapidly growing non painful mass on the left shoulder region quite near to the site of an operation performed four months ago. We carried out oncological scintigraphy using pentavalent (99m)Technetium labelled dimercaptosuccinic acid [(99m)Tc(V)-DMSA], a tumour localising radiopharmaceutical agent. The study was performed to assess the margins, vascularity of the tumour and response to the cancer therapy. Uniform intense radiopharmaceutical uptake was observed in the lesion indicating its margins, vascularity and malignant nature. The dog was subjected to external radiation therapy to control the growth of the cancer and to bring the tumour mass to an operable size. The dog was followed up with (99m)Tc(V)-DMSA scintigraphy pre-irradiation and post-irradiation. Immediately after the post-irradiation scintigraphy, the dog was operated on. During the surgery, resection of the tumour margins was performed carefully using a hand held gamma probe to assure that no tumour tissue was left inside. In conclusion, the authors would like to state that (99m)Tc(V)-DMSA oncoscintigraphy is valuable in the assessment and evaluation of therapy in canine soft tissue cancer.     

Our experiences with nephrectomy with special emphasis on using biocompatible materials

We performed 43 open partial nephrectomies with different indications between 1996 and 2004, most of them (29) for renal cancer. We used different types of biocompatible materials for haemostasis. We describe our own recommendations and what is described in literature.     

On-line hemodiafiltration does not induce inflammatory response in end-stage renal disease patients: results from a multicenter cross-over study

BACKGROUND: On-line hemodiafiltration (HDF) represents the supreme blood purification modality for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Large-volume infusion of on-line prepared substitution fluid may, however, expose patients to inflammatory contaminants. As a result, on-line HDF might aggravate chronic inflammation, which correlates with malnutrition, cardiovascular disease, and mortality among ESRD patients. METHODS: In a multicenter cross-over study, 27 ESRD patients were randomly assigned to treatment with on-line HDF and low-flux hemodialysis (HD). After 6 months, patients were crossed to the other treatment modality, and treatment continued for another 6 months. Both on-line HDF and low-flux HD were conducted with polysulfone membranes and ultrapure dialysis fluid. Samples were drawn at the end of each treatment period. RESULTS: Inflammatory parameters were elevated in the study population when compared to healthy controls. Induction of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was comparable for on-line HDF and low-flux HD, and there was no intradialytic increase in cytokine production. As a result, interleukin-6 (IL-6) plasma levels did not differ significantly between the two treatment modalities. Similarly, no difference between on-line HDF and low-flux HD was observed for C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin. Markers of endothelial cell activation (soluble intercellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) as well as the cardiovascular risk marker cardiac troponin T (cTnT) remained elevated compared to healthy subjects, but showed no difference between the two treatment modalities. CONCLUSIONS: On-line HDF, as the most effective renal replacement therapy, does not provoke inflammatory response and is both safe and highly biocompatible.     

Regulation of myocardial oxygen consumption by perfusion pressure in isolated fibrillating canine heart

In order to evaluate whether perfusion pressure or coronary flow affect myocardial oxygen metabolism, oxygen consumption of the isolated fibrillating blood-perfused canine heart was investigated at perfusion pressures of 100, 150, and 200 mm Hg. To obtain different coronary flow rates at a given coronary perfusion pressure, -adrenergic blockade by phenoxybenzamine (10 mg/kg b.w.) was applied, resulting in an increase in coronary flow and a decrease in myocardial oxygen extraction. Myocardial oxygen consumption was increased by elevation of perfusion pressure in both the control and phenoxybenzamine-pretreated group. At the same level of perfusion pressure there was no significant difference between the oxygen consumption of control and phenoxybenzaminepretreated preparations. It can be concluded that in the isolated fibrillating canine heart oxygen consumption is primarily regulated by perfusion pressure, and is independent from coronary blood flow.