Subject(s)
Kidney Transplantation/physiology , Kidney/physiology , Liver Function Tests , Living Donors , Radiopharmaceuticals , Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid , Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon , Adolescent , Adult , Family , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Kidney/diagnostic imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Time FactorsABSTRACT
This work demonstrates that the natural killing function of the innate immune system is affected in psychiatric disorders related primarily to serotonergic pathways in the CNS rather than to psychiatric disorders which involve mainly dopaminergic pathways. Only depressive patients demonstrated low natural killer (NK) cell activity, which is inversely correlated to the intensity of depression and could be reversed by serotonin selective re-uptake inhibitors concomitant with clinical improvement. This phenomenon is absent in Parkinson's and schizophrenic patients, in whom no reduction in NK activity was observed. Also, no effect on NK activity could be demonstrated following the specific respective treatments by dopamine (D2) blockers or agonists.
Subject(s)
Depression/immunology , Dopamine/physiology , Killer Cells, Natural/immunology , Parkinson Disease/immunology , Schizophrenia/immunology , Serotonin/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Cytotoxicity, Immunologic , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Radioguided surgery (RGS) is a surgical technique that enables the surgeon to identify tissue "marked" by a radionuclide before surgery, based on the tissue characteristics, the radioactive tracer and its carrying molecule, or the affinity of both. Thus, yet another tool has been added to the inspection and palpation traditionally used by the surgeon. Current clinical applications of radioguided surgery are: radioimmunoguided surgery (RIGS) for colon cancer, sentinel-node mapping for malignant melanoma (which has become state-of-the-art), sentinel-node mapping for breast, vulvar and penile cancer, and detection of parathyroid adenoma and bone tumour (such as osteid osteoma). Although the same gamma-detecting probe (GDP) may be used for all these applications, the carrier substance and the radionuclide differ. MoAb and peptides are used for RIGS, sulphur colloid for sentinel-node mapping, iodine-125 for RIGS, technetium-99m for sentinel node, parathyroid and bone. The mode of injection also differs, but there are some common principles of gamma-guided surgery. RIGS enables the surgeon to corroborate tumour existence, find occult metastases, and assess the margins of resection; this may result in a change on the surgical plan. Sentinel lymph-node (SLN) scintigraphy for melanoma guides the surgeon to find the involved lymph nodes for lymph-node dissection. SLN for breast cancer is being investigated with promising results. This procedure has also changed the outlook of lymph-node pathology by giving the pathologist designated tissue samples for more comprehensive examination. Gamma-guided surgery will result in more accurate and less unnecessary surgery, better pathology and, hopefully, in better patient survival.
Subject(s)
Radioimmunodetection/instrumentation , Radiosurgery , Humans , Lymph Nodes/pathology , Lymphatic MetastasisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The mechanism for weight loss following gastroplasty surgery is unknown. A few studies have checked gastric emptying patterns following gastroplasty, but none have analyzed their pattern over time. METHODS: Gastric emptying half-time of Tc-99 phytate-labeled semi-solid meal was studied in 23 obese non-diabetic and one diabetic patient (BMI 34.6-55.7). Gastric emptying was measured by gamma scintigraphy before Silastic Ring Vertical Gastroplasty (SRVG) and 1, 3 and 6 months following surgery. RESULTS: Gastric emptying half-times were maximal in all areas of the stomach 1 month after operation, declined to base-line 3 months following the procedure, and showed statistically significant delay in the upper area of the stomach 6 months after the operation. No correlation was found between the delay in food passage following surgery and loss of weight. CONCLUSIONS: Prolongation of gastric emptying half-time following surgery may be a result of two separate mechanisms: asymptomatic or early inflammatory processes in the ring area and pouch distention as a result of partial denervation.
Subject(s)
Esophageal Achalasia/diagnostic imaging , Esophagus/physiopathology , Nitroglycerin/therapeutic use , Child , Esophageal Achalasia/physiopathology , Esophageal Achalasia/therapy , Esophagus/surgery , Female , Fundoplication , Humans , Organotechnetium Compounds , Phytic Acid , Pregnancy , Radionuclide ImagingABSTRACT
To determine a reliable clinical approach to the problem of acute scrotum (AS) in children and identify patients who require emergent surgical intervention, 65 boys with the diagnosis of AS were studied. The mean age was 11 years. Acute orchitis/epididymitis was diagnosed in 42 (64.6%), torsion of the testis in 12 (18.5%), and torsion of the appendix testis in 5 (7.7%). A testicular radionuclide scan was the most reliable diagnostic tool, being positive in all 12 cases of torsion of the testis. Eighteen patients underwent scrotal exploration. Detorsion and bilateral orchidopexy was performed in 12, excision of a necrotic appendix testis in 5, and evacuation of a scrotal hematoma in 1. The outcome of the involved testis at follow-up examination was excellent, with only 1 child developing testicular atrophy. This study stresses the reliability of the selective approach for the treatment of the AS in children.
