New methodology for pancreatic scintiscanning imaging using 125I-L-3 iodo-alpha-methyl tyrosine

The difficulty of a reliable diagnosis of pancreatic diseases by scintiscanning, is mainly derived from the lack of adequate radiopharmaceuticals. With this purpose (125) I-L(-3) Iodo-a-Methyl Tyrosine ((125) I-IMT) has been studied, which has also been used for the diagnosis of different kind of brain tumors. The purpose of this work is the development of a quick and easy method for the synthesis and purification of the (125) I-IMT in order to be used in a Nuclear Medicine Service. The L-(-Methly Tyrosine was labeled with (125) I using I-/I03 and afterwards purified by an aniomic exchange resin. The labeling yield obtained was (96.0+0.5) per cent when the incubation time was 15 minutes. No significant statistical differences were observed when the incubation time was extended to 1 hour. Biodistribution studies in mice show that the percentage of activity concentration in pancreas is (34.24+14.03) per cent at 15 minutes post injection, remaining constant for 30 minutes. The pancreas/liver ratio 15 minutes after the injection of the labeled product was (12.22+3.59) and it remained constant for 45 minutes more. These results show that (125) I-IMT cab be used as a diagnostic agent for pancreatic diseases. Since (123) I was not avilable at the moment, this new methodology was developed with (125) I.

Great particles (32P) chromic phosphate for treatment of solid tumors

With the purpose studying the effectivity of an intratumoral single dose of chromic [(32)P] phosphate with great particles for the treatment of solid tumors, studies of biolimination, biodistribution and therapeutic action were carried out. Only for comparative purpose, similar studies were undertaken using a solution of sodium [(32)P] orthophosphategelatine. The results show that when sodium [(32)P] orthophosphategelatine is used, the percentage of total elimination is (85.90+8,70) per cent with a higler percentage in urine (64.50+13.70) per cent than in faeces (21.40+4.50) per cent. In biodistribution studies, the greater percentage is found in bone (15.54+2.21) per cent while only a (2.51+0.39) per cent remains in the tumor. When great particles chromic [(32)P] phosphate was intratumorally injected, we determined that the total elimination is equal (36.28+6.27) per cent, finding a higler amount in faeces (29.44+5.26) per cent than in urine (6.84+2.21) per cent. Biodistribution studies demonstrated that (49.82+5.41) per cent remains in the tumor and (9.63+4.89) per cent of the injected activity is found in the liver. On the other hand, when therapeutic action was evoluted, we observed that the percentage of tumor regression (P.T.R) is 52.0 per cent for the tumors injected with chromic [(32)P] phosphate and 0.0 per cent for those injected with sodium [(32)P] orthophosphate-gelatine. These results show that the great particles colloid of chromic [(32)P] phosphate is not safe enough for the tratment of solid tumors, since it is mobilezed from the injection point, delivering a high dose to the whole organism.

Alteración del metabolismo histamínico en tumores experimentales / Alteration of histamine metabolism in experimental tumors

Adenocarcinomas mamarios fueron inducidos en ratas Sprague-Dawley mediante N-nitraso-N-metil-urea (NMV). Una vez que el primer tumor se hacía evidente, los animales fueron tratados diariamente con una dosis oral de 4 mg/kg de animal de Levamisol (Leva). La actividad de histidina decarboxilasa (HDC), expresada dpm/(g,h), se determinó en el tumor y en el intestino con C-histidina por medición de actividad de CO2 con espectrometría de centelleo líquido. La histopatología demostró que todos los tumores inducidos eran adenocarcinomas mamarios más o menos diferenciados. Como fuera observado en otros casos, la actividad de HDC tumoral fue alta comparada con la de tejidos normales. El tratamiento con Leva durante 7 y 14 días no produjo influencias significativas sobre la actividad de HDC, si bien se evidenció una disminución de la actividad enzimática. La administración de Leva durante más de 20 días provocó una disminución significativa de la actividad de HDC. La actividad de dicha enzima dependió, en todos los casos, de la masa total del tumor (MTT). La actividad de HDC en función de MTT es una función lineal con coeficientes de correlación superiores a 0,9. Para las ratas tratadas con Leva durante 20 días o más, la pedndiente fue de 1,93 ñ 0,89. Para animales no tratados, la pendiente fue de 7,37 ñ 1,23. La diferencia es estadisticamente significativa de acuerdo al criterio de la distribución F (P <0,001). Nuestros resultados demuestran que un agente inmunomodulador exhibe un definido tiempo de retraso antes de ejercer su influencia sobre el metbolismo de la histamina, el cual anormal en diferentes tipos de tumores. En trabajos futuros se estudiará si este efecto está relacionado con la acción inmunomoduladora de la droga