Direct technetium radiopharmaceuticals production using a 30MeV Cyclotron

Technetium-99m is the major radionuclide used in the world and mainly is provided by fission product. However extensive research has been conducted on the use of accelerators for production of [99m]Tc. This investigation reports the production of [99m]Tc radioisotope using cyclotrons followed by the preparation, quality control and biodistribution studies of four major Tc-radiopharmaceuticals. The high purity molybdenum natural target [130mg/cm[2]] was irradiated in a Cyclone 30 accelerator using 160 microA of 25 MeV proton beam energy for 1000 microA-h. After dissolution, the technetium radionuclides were extracted using methyl ethyl ketone [MEK] followed by preparation of Tc-MIBI, Tc-DTPA, Tc-DMSA and Tc-phytate as radiopharmaceutical samples. The results of quality controls and animal biodistribution studies showed successful production of Tc radionuclides [including [99m]Tc] in the bombarded target and subsequent labelling of the kit with Tc. The developed high power Mo target if constructed using enriched [100]Mo, could be a practical method for large-scale production of [99m]Tc and promising as an alternative to fission product [99m]Mo- [99m]Tc generators for local applications near cyclotron facilities

effect of short-term resistance training on left ventricular structure of non-athletic healthy male students by echocardiography

Background and Purpose: Resistance training [RT] is known as weight or strength training. In response to this kind of training, both skeletal and cardiac muscles adapt. The purpose of the present study was to determine of effect of short-term resistance training on left ventricular structure of non-athletic male healthy students by echocardiography

Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study involved thirty volunteer participants with an age range of 19 to 25 years Mean +/- SD:21.8 +/- 1.62. They were randomly divided into two groups of 15 [resistance training and control]. Training program was performed 3 times a week for 12 weeks followed by 10 stations with 50% to 80% with one repetition maximum [1RM]. M and B-mode echocardiographic variables were measured at rest. The data were analyzed using dependant t-test and independent t-test

Results: Training caused a significant increase in the mean absolute and relative values of left ventricular mass [LVM], left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions [LVEDd], end-diastolic interventricular Septum thickness [EDIVT] [P=0.000], and left ventricular posterior wall thickness end-diastolic [LVPWd] in the training group [P=0.044, P=0.000]. Absolute and relative values of left ventricular end-systolic dimensions [LVESd] decreased significantly after training [P=0.001, P=0.018]. Between-group comparison of absolute and relative values of LVM, EDIVT and LVPWd in the training group showed a significant increase as compared with the control group [P=0/000] also, there was a significant increase in the absolute value of LVEDd [P=0.002]

Conclusion: Modification of resistance training can induce changes in the left ventricular structure of non-athletic people

Preparation and biodistribution of [67Ga]-labeledoxytocin for SPECT purposes

Oxytocin [OT] is a paracrine hormone with various biological activities and many sex organs in both sexes, as well as many tumor cells have shown to have related receptors. In this study the development of a receptor imaging tracer for possible tumor imaging has been described. OT was successively labeled with [67Ga]-gallium chloride after conjugation with freshly prepared cyclic DTPA-dianhydride. The best results of the conjugation were obtained by the addition of 1 ml of a OT pharmaceutical solution [2 mg/ml, in phosphate buffer, pH=8] to a glass tube pre-coated with DTPA-dianhydride [0.02 mg] at 25°C with continuous mild stirring for 30 min. Radiochemical purity [RCP] of the labeled compound was determined, using RTLC and ITLC followed by stability tests and animal biodistribution studies. Radiolabeling took about 60 minutes with a RCP higher than 98% at optimized conditions [specific activity = 1000 Ci/mM, labeling efficiency 80%]. The stability of the tracer at room temperature was significant, up to an hour. Preliminary in vivo studies in normal female rat model showed ovary/blood and ovary/muscle ratio uptake of the tracer in 60 minutes to be 4.53 and 9.18, respectively. The result was consistent with the reported OT receptor distribution in normal female mammals. The radiolabeled oxytocin, prepared in this study, was a possible fast acting tracer for OT receptor imaging; studies however, more studies are required to determine the best imaging conditions especially in larger mammal animals

[Evaluation of antimicrobial effects of different calcium hydroxide preparation methods with direct exposure test]

Calcium hydroxide has a pronounced antimicrobial activity against most of the bacterial species found in the root canal and now is widely used as an intracanal medicament in endodontic therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of different calcium hydroxide preparations with Normal saline, Lidocaine 2%, Chlorhexedin 2% and 0/2%, Iodine Potassium Iodide 2% and Glycerin on Entrococcus faeealis with direct exposure method. For conducting this experimental in-vitro study 375 sterile paper points were contaminated with the microbial suspension of Entrococcus faecalis. The samples were placed in sterile dishes and covered with creamy mixture of six different calcium hydroxide preparations. After 1.3, and 7 days tile paper points were immersed in test tubes containing BHI. Microbial growth was evaluated by turbidity in culture mediums. Data obtained showed that all of tested materials had perfect antimicrobial action but only in calcium hydroxide with Chlorhexidine 2% and 0.2% groups perfect antimicrobial action and no microbial growth was observed after 24 hours. Regarding the results of this study it is concluded that the vehicle of calcium hydroxide has not any significant effect on its antimicrobial activity, however, more studies on the effect of vehicles of chemical properties of calcium hydroxide such as its diffusion in similar conditions of root canal system, are needed

Invitro comparitive study of the efficacy of licorice decoctant and choice antibiotics on helicobacter pylori growth

Glycyrrhiza Glabra [Licorice] root, a member of the pea family has been used since ancient times as both food and medicine. Licorice has been used as an antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti inflammatory in researches.Extraction of this medical plant is used as the basis of anti-ulcer medicine for treatment of peptic ulcer. In the present study, licorice decoction [20gr/dl,33gr/dl] was prepared and anti microbial activity on helicobacter pylori growth was studied by disk diffusion method and cup plate method. The results showed that licorice decoction 33gr/dl by disk diffusion method inhibited growth of helicobacter pylori in vitro the same as metronidazole.[P value=0.709] However, it does not have anti bacterial activity against helicobacter pylori like amoxicillin and clarythromycin [Pvalue-0.000]. Decoction licorice [20gr/dl, 33gr/dl] can not be used as an alternative to choice antibiotic [amoxicillin, clarythromycin] in vitro