[Effect of spinal CSF dynamics on the subarachnoid diffusion of a substance applied close to the spinal cord]. / Der Einfluss der spinalen Liquordynamik auf die subarachnoidale Ausbreitung rückenmarksnah applizierter Substanzen.

In order to better understand the effects and side effects of intraspinal administration of morphine we studied the rostral spread of a comparable substance within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This study was performed in connection with nuclear medical diagnostics ruling out possible rhinorrhoea or disturbances of CSF-circulation in 14 patients: Following lumbar intrathecal injection of the tracer 111-Indium-DTPA, the radioactivity over the medulla oblongata was measured continuously for 2 1/2 hours with a single probe scintillation counter; thereafter the distribution of activity over the total spinal canal was determined; finally the spread of activity was registered with the gamma scintillation camera in the 3rd, 24th and 48th hour. The diffusion of the tracer was followed in a model of the subarachnoid space. A few minutes after injection, activity over the medulla oblongata could be detected; initially it increased markedly, later less so; at the end of the 2 1/2 h observation time, approximately 8% of the total activity had reached this level. The timing of activity increase and the peak activity over the medulla oblongata varied between the individuals. Up to 48 hours the activity continued to shift from the spinal canal to the endocranium. Diffusion played a secondary role. These results are further evidence that morphine is transported cephalad within the CSF rather quickly and may act on cervical spinal cord and brainstem.

[Treatment of pains from bone metastases with 90Y (author's transl)]. / Yttrium-90 zur Schmerztherapie von Knochenmetastasen.

For palliation of pain caused by bone metastases beta radiation isotope therapy was successful. As shown in experimental work on animals bone uptake of 90Y with its shorter half-life is high when it is administered as a citrate complex. 90Y can be eluted with high purity from a 90Sr "cow". The retention in man was found by whole-body counting to be higher than 80%. In preliminary trials on 16 patients the analgetic effect was the same as that of 89Sr. The properties of 90Y therapy are discussed.

[The radiation dose to the foetus during isotope investigations of the mother]. / Die Strahlenbelastung des Föten bei nuklearmedizinischen Untersuchungen von Graviden.

The radiation dose to the foetus from the application of five different 99mTechnetium compounds during isotope investigation of the mother was investigated. After i-v injection of 100 muCi (3.7 MBq) of 99mTc-compounds into pregnant rats, these were sacrificed during the first, second and third week of pregnancy and radioactivity was determined in the foetuses and in the blood and organs of the mother. From these measurements the proportion of total body activity in individual organs and their specific activity was calculated. From this data the radiation burden to the rat foetuses from the various 99mTc compounds could be evaluated. Making use of phantom studies and the known biokinetic data of technetium compounds in man it was possible to calculate the radiation dose to the human foetus during isotope investigations of the mother.

[Sequential scintigraphy of four different 99mTc human albumen preparations used for lung scanning]. / Sequenzszintigraphische Untersuchungen zum biologischen Verhalten von vier verschiedenen, zur Lungenszintigraphie verwendeten 99mTc-Human-Albuminpräparationen

The biological behaviour of four 99mTc-marked human albumen preparations, prepared by different methods, were studied by serial scintigraphy and excretion measurements. Three preparations consisted of particles of irregular albumen macroaggregates, the fourth was in the form of spherical albumen particles (microspheres). Forty-five patients with various pulmonary abnormalities were examined. The following parameters were used for comparison: half-life of pulmonary activity, changes in activity in liver and spleen as a measure for the formation of Tc-containing particle fragments, uptake in the thyroid and stomach and urinary excretion as an indication of the stability of the nucleid fixation. Despite marked differences in their biological behaviour, all four substances provide comparable information and lack of toxicity and are suitable for lung scintigraphy. Because of the rapid initial decline in activity in the lung, microspheres are more suitable for use with a gamma camera, whereas the other three preparations, in view of their long persistence in the lung can be conveniently used for the slower examinations with a conventional scanner.