Production optimization of 99Mo/99mTc zirconium molybate gel generators at semi-automatic device: DISIGEG.

DISIGEG is a synthesis installation of zirconium (99)Mo-molybdate gels for (99)Mo/(99m)Tc generator production, which has been designed, built and installed at the ININ. The device consists of a synthesis reactor and five systems controlled via keyboard: (1) raw material access, (2) chemical air stirring, (3) gel dried by air and infrared heating, (4) moisture removal and (5) gel extraction. DISIGEG operation is described and dried condition effects of zirconium (99)Mo- molybdate gels on (99)Mo/(99m)Tc generator performance were evaluated as well as some physical-chemical properties of these gels. The results reveal that temperature, time and air flow applied during the drying process directly affects zirconium (99)Mo-molybdate gel generator performance. All gels prepared have a similar chemical structure probably constituted by three-dimensional network, based on zirconium pentagonal bipyramids and molybdenum octahedral. Basic structural variations cause a change in gel porosity and permeability, favouring or inhibiting (99m)TcO(4)(-) diffusion into the matrix. The (99m)TcO(4)(-) eluates produced by (99)Mo/(99m)Tc zirconium (99)Mo-molybdate gel generators prepared in DISIGEG, air dried at 80°C for 5h and using an air flow of 90mm, satisfied all the Pharmacopoeias regulations: (99m)Tc yield between 70-75%, (99)Mo breakthrough less than 3×10(-3)%, radiochemical purities about 97% sterile and pyrogen-free eluates with a pH of 6.

Movimientos anormales identificados en pacientes con tuberculomas intracraneales / Movement disorders identified in patients with intracranial tuberculomas

Introducción: los movimientos involuntarios anormales (MIA) se han asociado con lesiones en estructuras profundas del cerebro. El objetivo del estudio fue describir la frecuencia y características de MIA en pacientes con tuberculomas intracraneales. Métodos: se incluyeron los pacientes ingresados consecutivamente en el Servicio de Neurología del Hospital Eugenio Espejo (Quito-Ecuador) entre 1989 y 2004 con diagnóstico de tuberculomas intracraneales. Todos los pacientes fueron examinados clínicamente, se realizaron exámenes de laboratorio y estudios de imagen. El período de seguimiento se prolongó hasta un año después del tratamiento antituberculoso. Dentro de la cohorte se diferenció dos grupos: casos incidentes con MIA y controles. Se compararon las características clínicas, número y localización de los tuberculomas. Resultados: se estudiaron 49 pacientes (edad media 31,7±20,5 años; sexo masculino 53,1%). Hubo 16 casos incidentes (32,6%; IC 95%=19,9% - 47,5%) de MIA: corea (n=7; 43,8%), temblor (n=5; 31,3%), distonía (n=3; 18,8%) y mioclonías (n=1; 6,3%). La mayoría de casos (87,6%) se desarrollaron tempranamente (10,4±5,2 días de hospitalización). Al ingreso los pacientes con MIA mostraron mayor severidad de la enfermedad que los controles (68,7 vs. 30,3%; p=0,01), tuvieron mayor déficit motor (75,% vs. 39,4%; p=0,01) y sensitivo (43,8 vs. 9.1%; p=0,01). En los casos fueron más frecuentes los tuberculomas múltiples (68,7 vs. 364%), la localización supratentorial profunda (31,3 vs. 21,2%) y las secuelas motoras (25,0 vs. 12,1%). Conclusiones: los resultados sugieren una relación causal entre tuberculomas y MIA. La localización profunda y la presencia de tuberculomas múltiples incrementarían el riesgo para desarrollar MIA (AU)

Introduction: Movement disorders have been associated with deep brain lesions. This study was performed to describe the frequency and characteristics of movement disorders in patients with intracranial tuberculomas. Methods: patients admitted consecutively between 1989 and 2004 to the Neurology Service of Eugenio Espejo Hospital (Quito, Ecuador), with a diagnosis of intracranial tuberculomas. All patients were examined clinically, and laboratory tests and imaging studies performed. Follow-up continued up to one year after the tuberculosis treatment was completed. A nested case-control analysis was performed to compare clinical characteristics, number and location of tuberculomas, between cases with movement disorders and controls. Results: forty-nine patients with tuberculomas (31.7±20.5 years; males 53.1%) were studied. We found 16 cases (32.6%; 95%CI=19.9% - 47.5%) of movement disorders: chorea (n=7; 43.8%), tremor (n=5; 31.3%), dystonia (n=3; 18.8%) and myoclonus (n=1; 6.3%). Most cases (87.6%) developed early (10.4±5.2 days of hospitalization). On admission, patients with movement disorders showed higher severity of the illness than controls (68.7 vs. 30.3%; p=.01), along with greater motor impairment (75.0 vs. 39.4%; p=.01) and sensitivity impairment (43.8 vs. 9.1%; p=.01). The cases showed higher frequency of multiple tuberculomas (68.7 vs. 36.4%), with deep brain deep (31.3 vs. 21.2%) and more severe motor impairment (25.0 vs. 12.1%). Conclusions: our results suggest a causal relationship between tuberculomas and movement disorders. Deep location and multiple tuberculomas may increase the risk of develop movement disorders (AU)

Movement disorders identified in patients with intracranial tuberculomas.

INTRODUCTION: movement disorders have been associated with deep brain lesions. This study was performed to describe the frequency and characteristics of movement disorders in patients with intracranial tuberculomas. METHODS: patients admitted consecutively between 1989 and 2004 to the Neurology Service of Eugenio Espejo Hospital (Quito, Ecuador), with a diagnosis of intracranial tuberculomas. All patients were examined clinically, and laboratory tests and imaging studies performed. Follow-up continued up to one year after the tuberculosis treatment was completed. A nested case-control analysis was performed to compare clinical characteristics, number and location of tuberculomas, between cases with movement disorders and controls. RESULTS: forty-nine patients with tuberculomas (31.7±20.5 years; males 53.1%) were studied. We found 16 cases (32.6%; 95%CI=19.9% - 47.5%) of movement disorders: chorea (n=7; 43.8%), tremor (n=5; 31.3%), dystonia (n=3; 18.8%) and myoclonus (n=1; 6.3%). Most cases (87.6%) developed early (10.4±5.2 days of hospitalization). On admission, patients with movement disorders showed higher severity of the illness than controls (68.7 vs. 30.3%; p=.01), along with greater motor impairment (75.0 vs. 39.4%; p=.01) and sensitivity impairment (43.8 vs. 9.1%; p=.01). The cases showed higher frequency of multiple tuberculomas (68.7 vs. 36.4%), with deep brain deep (31.3 vs. 21.2%) and more severe motor impairment (25.0 vs. 12.1%). CONCLUSIONS: our results suggest a causal relationship between tuberculomas and movement disorders. Deep location and multiple tuberculomas may increase the risk of develop movement disorders.

Chemical synoviorthesis with oxytetracycline clorhydrate (Emicine) in recurrent haemarthrosis.

This is a non-controlled experimental prospective clinical study that evaluates the satisfactory results in the chemical synovectomy (synoviorthesis) with oxytetracycline clorhydrate (Emicine, Lab. Pfizer Ltda, Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil) in recurrence haemarthrosis in different joints, demonstrating that it is an effective method in the treatment of these recurrent haemarthrosis in haemophilia. 84 patients of whom 77 concluded the full course of treatment. 82 joints were injected. The dosage injected was 5 cm(3) of the drug (25 mg) in 5 cm(3) of anaesthesia for the knee, 2 cm(3) with 1 cm(3) of anaesthesia for the elbow and 1 cm(3) plus 1 cm(3) of anaesthesia for the ankle. These injections were administered once weekly with a reinforcement in 1 month. In case of failure the same can be administered repeatedly. Subjective parameters included pain, range of movement and use of the joint involved. Pain decreased from a mean of 6.5 to 0.9 (Likert scale). Range of movement increased from 5.9 to 9 and joint use increased from 5.9 to 9.2. Objective parameters included joint diameter and range of movement. Range of movement for flexion and extension improved from 72.2 and 149.2 to 73.7 and 167, respectively, for the knees. From 57.3 and 160 to 66.6 and 170, respectively, for the shoulder. And, from 22.7 and 10.8 to 34 and 18.6, respectively, for the ankle. This procedure has multiple advantages such as immediate therapeutic effect, short period of treatment, easy technique, much less AHF coverage (30% above coagulation level), less costly than radiocolloid treatment, which make it a perfect alternative treatment for developing countries.

Infliximab in Hispanics: characterization of response to infliximab in an ethnic minority with Crohn's disease

PURPOSE: The incidence and prevalence of Crohn's disease (CD) varies geographically and with racial/ ethnic background. The highest frequency of occurrence is in North America and Northern Europe. Incidence is highest among Caucasians, lower in blacks and Hispanics, and lowest in Asians. However in the mid-1980s and 1990s, the incidence and prevalence increased in continental Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Rim, Africa, and Latin America. An increase in the incidence of CD has been noted in Puerto Rico, although our population differs genetically from other described CD populations. A study in our population showed lower prevalence of ASCA and no NOD2 in our CD patients. Infliximab, a TNFa antibody, is effective in refractory inflammatory CD and in fistulizing disease. Since limited data exists regarding CD in Hispanics, the fastest growing minority group in the United States, we designed this retrospective study with patients treated with infliximab at our institution. We wanted to determine if the response to infliximab in genetically admixed Hispanics differed from that previously reported. METHODS: Baseline characteristics, infusion related information and clinical response was abstracted from medical records. Clinical response was classified as complete response, partial response, and nonresponse. RESULTS: The study included 15 patients treated for refractory inflammatory disease, 9 for fistulizing disease, and 11 for both. The positive response rate was 83%(29/35) and the non response rate was 17%(6/35). Overall the patients with complete, partial, and no response were 13/35(37%), 16/35(46%), and 6/ 35(17%), respectively. No statistically significant association was found between response and disease location. Significant association was found between response and fistula type (p = 0.02). Steroid withdrawal was possible in 21/31 patients (68%). In terms of safety, 9/35 patients (26 %) suffered an adverse reaction, 4 patients required therapy discontinuation. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that infliximab has similar global response, allowance of steroid withdrawal and safety in Hispanics as in other populations. Ethnicity does not seem to influence response rate to infliximab.

A single-blind, placebo-controlled study of glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex ('Rumalon') in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.

A randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in 62 patients (30 with osteoarthritis of the hip, 32 with osteoarthritis of the knee) to examine the efficacy of glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Patients received 8-week courses of trial medication, each consisting of intramuscular injections of 3 x 2 ml ampoules per week, alternating with 8-week periods free of trial medication, in addition to conventional drug therapy and physiotherapy, as required. After 2-years' treatment, glycosaminoglycan-peptide-treated patients showed significant improvements, as compared with placebo, in relation to night pain, pain during the day, joint mobility and walking ability. Similar results were seen with both osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. In osteoarthritis of the knee it was also possible to assess joint swelling and this also showed a significant improvement. There were no significant changes in range of joint movement except for a significant decrease in active flexion in the patients with osteoarthritis of the knee treated with placebo. In contrast with many anti-osteoarthritic drugs, glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex was very well tolerated. These results suggest that glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex may be a valuable alternative form of long-term therapy for patients with osteoarthritis.