Biodistribution of 99m technetium- labeled creatinine in healthy rats.

The distribution of creatinine, one of the toxic guanidine compounds, in various tissues has not been studied in detail by using radiolabeled creatinine. Our objective was to investigate the biodistribution of creatinine labeled with 99m technetium (99mTc) by the stannous (II) chloride method in healthy male Wistar rats. Quality controls were carried out by radio thin layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and paper electrophoresis. The labeling yield was 85 +/- 2% under optimum conditions (pH 7 and 100 microg stannous chloride). Rats (N = 12) were injected intravenously with 99mTc-creatinine and their blood and visceral organs were evaluated for 99mTc-creatinine uptake as percent of the injected dose per gram wet weight of each tissue (%ID/g). The lowest amount of uptake was detected in the brain and testis. When the rate of uptake was evaluated, only the kidney showed increasing rates of uptake of 99mTc-creatinine throughout the study. Kidneys showed the highest amount of uptake throughout the study (P < 0.001 compared to all other organs), followed by liver, spleen and lung tissue.

Biodistribution of 99m technetium- labeled creatinine in healthy rats

The distribution of creatinine, one of the toxic guanidine compounds, in various tissues has not been studied in detail by using radiolabeled creatinine. Our objective was to investigate the biodistribution of creatinine labeled with 99m technetium (99mTc) by the stannous (II) chloride method in healthy male Wistar rats. Quality controls were carried out by radio thin layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and paper electrophoresis. The labeling yield was 85 ± 2 percent under optimum conditions (pH 7 and 100 æg stannous chloride). Rats (N = 12) were injected intravenously with 99mTc-creatinine and their blood and visceral organs were evaluated for 99mTc-creatinine uptake as percent of the injected dose per gram wet weight of each tissue ( percentID/g). The lowest amount of uptake was detected in the brain and testis. When the rate of uptake was evaluated, only the kidney showed increasing rates of uptake of 99mTc-creatinine throughout the study. Kidneys showed the highest amount of uptake throughout the study (P < 0.001 compared to all other organs), followed by liver, spleen and lung tissue.

Decay of tungsten-189.

We studied the decay of 189W as produced via the 192Os[n,alpha]189W reaction on a 99.9% isotopically enriched 192Os target. The irradiations were performed at the intense neutron beam facility at Cyclotron Research Center, Université Catholique Louvain-la-Neuve (CRC-UCL) (Belgium), where fast neutrons [En approximately 20 MeV, phi(n) = (4.8 +/- 0.3)10(11) ns(-1) cm(-2)] were generated by stopping 50 MeV deuterons on a thick Be target. The half-life of 189W was determined to be 9.3 +/- 0.3min, compared to 10.8 +/- 0.2min obtained from the 188W[n,gamma]189W reaction. The energies of the two predominant gamma-rays of 189W, 260.4 +/- 1.3 and 421.7 +/- 1.4 keV were in good agreement with that from the [n,gamma] reaction, however, the relative intensities of the two gamma-rays were not consistent. From the [n,gamma] reaction, the relative intensities of the 260 and 421 keV gamma-rays were 97 to 100, whereas from the [n,alpha] reaction the relative intensities were 100 to 77, respectively. Assuming a cross-section ratio of 20 +/- 5 for [n,p3n] to [n,alpha] reactions, a cross-section of 0.5 +/- 0.2 mb was suggested for the 192Os[n,alpha]189W reaction, and the absolute intensity of the 260 keV gamma-ray was estimated to be approximately 50%.

[Internal carotid bilateral occlusion, meningovascular syphilis and AIDS: case report]. / Oclusão bilateral das artérias carótidas internas, sífilis meningovascular e SIDA. Relato de caso.

We report a case of bilateral occlusion of internal carotid arteries, presenting with right hemiparesis and hypoesthesia, associated to meningovascular syphilis in a patient with AIDS. CT scan showed few small hypodense lesions, with a predominance on the left side, and the angiography showed bilateral occlusion of the carotid arteries. The association between syphilis and AIDS is not unusual, but the paucity of symptoms, probably due to a slow and gradual occlusion is not commonly reported.

[Type I Chiari malformation: report of 2 cases with unusual clinical presentation]. / Malformação de Chiari tipo. I. Relato de dois casos com apresentações clínicas pouco usuais.

We describe two patients with Chiari type I malformation with unusual clinical presentation. The first one with clinical picture of acute respiratory insufficiency and the second one with vestibular and mild cerebellar syndrome and headache. In both cases the neurological examination demonstrated the presence of "down-beating nystagmus". We emphasize the value of neurological semiology, determining a correct complementary evaluation and effective treatment.

Hepatocystis in populations of baboons (Papio hamadryas s.l.) of Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Bloodsmears from 119 yellow baboons (Papio hamadryas cynocephalus) in six groups in Mikumi National Park, Tanzania, and from 189 olive (P.h. anubis) hamadryas (P.h. hamadryas) and hybrid baboons in three groups in Awash National park, Ethiopia showed differing levels of infection with Hepatocystis simiae. 0% to 42% in the Tanzanian groups were carriers of the parasite but none of the Ethiopian baboons was positive. The remarkable absence of H. simiae in the Ethiopian baboons is believed to be related to environmental factors that exclude transmission in the absence of the Culicoides vector.

Cutoff levels of immunoglobulin M antibody against viral core antigen for differentiation of acute, chronic, and past hepatitis B virus infections.

The titer of antibody against core antigen of hepatitis B virus in the immunoglobulin M class (IgM anti-HBc) was determined by an IgM capture assay of reduced sensitivity (30 arbitrary units). The distribution of titers among 235 acute hepatitis patients who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive suggested that 600 U forms a lower cutoff value for acute hepatitis B. Clinically apparent cases of acute hepatitis with high IgM anti-HBc and without HBsAg were rare (2.6%). Acute, non-B hepatitis in HBsAg carriers was more frequent (9.4%). In chronic hepatitis B, 39% of 174 biopsy-proven cases had moderate titers of 30 to 600 U, whereas healthy HBsAg carriers were rarely (4/84) positive. In mild or inapparent infections without HBsAg, titers were between 50 and 400 U. Thus, sufficiently accurate and sensitive quantitation of IgM anti-HBc allows for differentiation of acute and nonacute hepatitis B virus infection in acute hepatitis, partial differentiation between clinically symptomatic and asymptomatic chronic infections, and identification of recent subclinical infections.

Hepatocystis parasitemia in wild Kenya vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops).

Blood smears of 159 vervet monkeys from three sites in Kenya were stained with Giemsa and examined for Hepatocystis parasites. The populations differ in incidence of parasitemia, ranging from 0-62% affected individuals. These differences are probably due to altitude and local environmental conditions.

Entomological aspects of filariasis control in Sri Lanka.

Historical events and suitable environmental conditions in the southwestern coastal areas of Sri Lanka have led to the establishment of a zone of endemic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and transmitted by Culex pipiens fatigans. The previous Brugia malayi foci, scattered over widely dispersed areas of the island, were apparently completely eliminated as a result of control of the Mansonia vectors by the destruction of the larval host plants in their swamp habitats. Control measures by the Anti-Filariasis Campaign against W. bancrofti and C. p. fatigans have greatly reduced the human infection rates in the endemic coastal belt and have kept the rate in the dense population to less than 1% over the last several years. This paper assesses the entomological aspects of the control programme during the years 1970-72.