Comparison of two peptide radiotracers for prostate carcinoma targeting

OBJECTIVES: Scintigraphy is generally not the first choice treatment for prostate cancer, although successful studies using bombesin analog radiopeptides have been performed. Recently, a novel peptide obtained using a phage display library demonstrated an affinity for prostate tumor cells. The aim of this study was to compare the use of a bombesin analog to that of a phage display library peptide (DUP-1) radiolabeled with technetium-99m for the treatment of prostate carcinoma. The peptides were first conjugated to S-acetyl-MAG3 with a 6-carbon spacer, namely aminohexanoic acid. METHODS: The technetium-99m labeling required a sodium tartrate buffer. Radiochemical evaluation was performed using ITLC and was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The coefficient partition was determined, and in vitro studies were performed using human prostate tumor cells. Biodistribution was evaluated in healthy animals at various time points and also in mice bearing tumors. RESULTS: The radiochemical purity of both radiotracers was greater than 95 percent. The DUP-1 tracer was more hydrophilic (log P = -2.41) than the bombesin tracer (log P = -0.39). The biodistribution evaluation confirmed this hydrophilicity by revealing the greater kidney uptake of DUP-1. The bombesin concentration in the pancreas was greater than that of DUP-1 due to specific gastrin-releasing peptide receptors. Bombesin internalization occurred for 78.32 percent of the total binding in tumor cells. The DUP-1 tracer showed very low binding to tumor cells during the in vitro evaluation, although tumor uptake for both tracers was similar. The tumors were primarily blocked by DUP1 and the bombesin radiotracer primarily targeted the pancreas. CONCLUSION: Further studies with the radiolabeled DUP-1 peptide are recommended. With further structural changes, this molecule could become an efficient alternative tracer for prostate tumor diagnosis.

Outcome of parapneumonic empyema.

OBJECTIVE: Empyema thoracis is known to have variable age group affection, causative agents and controversy regarding primary mode of management. To look into current demography, bacteriology and treatment outcome. METHODS: Prospective study made on admitted cases of parapneumonic empyema from July 2001 to June 2003. All cases were treated with chest tube drainage, parenteral antibiotics or thoracotomy in multiloculated or non-improving cases. RESULTS: 0.8% (C.I. 0.6-1.0) of total pediatric admission had empyema, who were more likely to be females (P< 0.05), under-weight (P< 0.05) compared to children admitted for other reasons. Staphylococcus aureus is still the commonest isolate (13.2%). All cases received antibiotics prior to hospitalisation. Majority of cases (90.5%) could be successfully managed with antibiotics and chest tube drainage alone. 9.4% cases needed thoracotomy. 5.8% cases needed salvage thoracotomy following non-improvement with chest tube drainage. Fever remission time and duration of hospital stay were comparable in both groups. Thoracotomy cases required antibiotics for shorter period (P=0.04). Two cases died due to reasons other than mode of management. Radiological and lung function recovery was excellent in most of the cases. CONCLUSION: Chest tube drainage is a safe, efficacious primary method of empyema management.

Severe falciparum malaria.

Falciparum malaria affect all ages with multiple-systemic complications which varies in different age group. We studied 242 children with complicated Falciparum malaria with a median age of 6.5 years to look for occurrence of different complications in younger and older age groups and overall mortality picture. Unarousable coma (40.5%), severe anemia (26.03%), repeated seizures (46.2%) and hepatopathy (32.2%) were commonest complications. Under five children had higher risk of development of cerebral malaria (P<0.01), severe anemia (P<0.05) and seizures (P<0.001); whereas above five children had higher risk of acute renal failure (P<0.05) and malarial hepatopathy (P<0.02). Over all mortality was 9.9%, cerebral malaria being the commonest cause (6.6%). Multi-system involvement was seen in 58.4% cases of death. Children having pulmonary edema, shock and cerebral malaria had high case fatality rate.

Comparison of the incidence of colour blindness between sections of Libyan and Indian populations.

Incidence of Red-Green colour blindness was studied in a Libyan population and was then compared with the same in two samples of Indian population. The incidence of the Red-Green colour defect was found to be 2.209% amongst the males and 0.0% amongst the females in the Libyan study. However, the incidence was only 1.841% amongst the ethnic Libyan males. This incidence was comparable with those reported from other African countries like Congo and Uganda. The incidence of Red-Green colour defect amongst the Indian males was found to be 2.295% while it was 0.840% amongst the Indian females.

Immediate effect of tobacco chewing in the form of 'paan' on certain cardio-respiratory parameters.

Immediate effect of tobacco in the form of chewing was evaluated in 40 healthy males (mean age 26.27 yrs.) not habituated to tobacco, who were given paan containing 200 mg of tobacco to chew (group T). Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1 and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were measured twice for each subject, once before chewing and again immediately after completion of chewing. Another 24 age and sex matched controls (group C) were given paan without tobacco to chew and cardiorespiratory parameters were recorded as for group T subjects. Electrocardiography was recorded in 10 group T and 10 group C subjects. Effect of tobacco chewing was also evaluated in 10 habitual tobacco chewers. Results showed statistically significant increments in HR and BP as well as a decline in T wave amplitude in ECG following tobacco chewing (group T subjects). The changes in HR and BP lasted for 15-30 mins, as observed in 10 of group T subjects. The FVC, FEV1 and PEFR showed marginal, though non-significant, increments after tobacco chewing. No significant difference in the cardiorespiratory responses to tobacco chewing could be seen between habitual and nonhabitual (group T) tobacco chewers. The changes in cardiovascular and respiratory parameters following paan (without tobacco) chewing in the control subjects were negligible and nonsignificant.

FEF200-1200, FEF25-75% and FEF75-85% in non-smokers of either sex and in male smokers residing at an altitude of 2150 M above MSL in Himachal Pradesh.

Forced expiratory flow (FEF) rates were determined for 170 (130 males and 40 females) healthy adults of Himachal Pradesh in the age group of 19-26 years for males and 19-22 years for females. The subjects had been staying at an altitude of 2150 M above mean sea level (MSL) for at least three years prior to the conduct of the study. FEF200-1200, FEF25-75% and FEF75-85% were found to be high as compared to those reported from most other parts of the country. The results were found comparable with those reported from certain populations in U.S.A. Further, the flow rates of the non-smoker males were compared with those of the male smokers. FEF75-85% in smokers was significantly less than that of non-smokers, whereas the differences in FEF200-1200 and FEF25-75% were found to be nonsignificant.