[Anemia in malignant tumors. Loss of circulating transferrin due to lysosomal storage in human and rat malignant tumors]. / Zur Anämie bei malignen Tumoren. Der Verlust von zirkulierendem Transferrin durch lysosomale Speicherung in malignen Tumoren des Menschen und der Ratte.

The cellular uptake of 67Ga-labelled transferrin was studied in the carcinoma of the human respiratory tract and in the Morris hepatoma 5123 C of the rat. In both types of tumors a positive tumor imaging by 67Ga-transferrin scintigraphy was evident. The intracellular distribution pattern of the radioactivity showed that the incorporated 67Ga-transferrin is accumulated within the lysosomes of the tumors. The uptake of 67Ga-transferrin by the tumor cells resulted in a faster disappearance of the tracer from the blood. The accelerated disappearance of 67Ga-transferrin from the blood showed a direct correlation to the mass of tumor cells. The loss of circulating 67Ga-transferrin from the blood showed a close parallelism to the grade of the anemia observed in the tumor bearing rats. We conclude from these findings that the uptake of transferrin into the tumor cells is one of the factors which are responsible for the anemia observed in malignant diseases.

[The effect of pentoxifylline on liver perfusion: a comparative study in patients with liver diseases and in normal subjects, using 198Au-colloid-scintigraphy (author's transl)]. / Wirkung von Pentoxifyllin auf die Leberdurchblutung. Vergleichsstudie mit 198Au-Kolloid-Szintigraphie bei Leberkranken und -gesunden.

Using 198Au-colloid scintigraphy (Anger camera computer-system, 0.3-0.5 mCi radionuclide i.v.) the pattern of liver blood flow, i.e. liver perfusion volume per minute (LPVM), was monitored in 7 patients with liver metastasis (I), 8 patients each with chronic hepatitis (II) and liver cirrhosis (III) and in 10 healthy control subjects (IV). Reading were compared on a within patient basis for the following treatments: baseline control, after a single i.v. injection of 10 ml Trental (= 200 mg pentoxifylline) and after 10 ml physiological saline solution (= placebo). The alteration of LPVM ranged between +0.6 and -3.2% for the comparison baseline/placebo, between +9.7 and +40.8% for baseline/Trental and between +11.5 and +45.4% for placebo/Trental administration. The increase of the elimination constant was statistically significant for all groups and the augmentation of the LPVM for group II, III and IV.

[Effect of dihydroergotamine on pulmonary perfusion in acceleration stress (author's transl)]. / Dihydroergotamin-Wirkung auf die Lungenperfusion im Akzelerationstress.

An orthostatic circulatory load of varying degree (1-4 G) can be simulated by means of a human centrifuge. This results in a partial shifting of the intrathoracic blood volume into the capacity vessels of the lower extremity. In the pulmonary region, this is associated with a decrease in perfusion from the apical to the basal segments, which can be demonstrated by double nuclide perfusion scintigraphy. The degree of change in pulmonary perfusion was determined quantitatively in 26 volunteers by perfusion scintigraphy before and during acceleration, and the influence of dihydroergotamine (Dihydergot) was studied. The results show that the redistribution of the polmonary blood volume into the lower parts of the body can be largely prevented by Dihydergot. Pulmonary perfusion remains almost unchanged, compared with the initial value, up to an acceleration stress of 3 G, following intravenous injection of 0.5 mg dihydroergotamine. After oral administration (6 mg/d over 12 days), this applies to 1 and 2 G. Hence, dihydroergotamine represents, so to say, a "pharmacological anti-G suit".

[Prevention of postoperative thrombo-embolism by heparin/dihydroergotamine (author's transl]. / Klinisch-experimentelle Ergebnisse mit Heparin-Dihydroergotamin.

Using the radiofibrinogen test and perfusion lung scanning (2-phase pharmacoscintigraphy), the incidence of postoperative thrombosis and pulmonary embolism was determined in a group of 362 operated patients. Low-dose heparin administration (twice 5000 IU daily) was given to 162, combined heparin and dihydroergotamine administration (5000 IU heparin and 0.5 mg dihydroergotamine daily) to 150, while 50 patients received no prophylactic treatment. There was a significant decrease in thrombo-embolism in the heparin/DHE group (8.7% deep-vein thrombosis; 2.7% pulmonary embolism) compared with the heparin group (19.8% and 5.5%, respectively) and the control group (30% and 14%, respectively).

Measurement of cerebral blood flow following intravenous administration of pentoxifyline ('Trentral').

Using 99mTc cerebral scintigraphy and a gamma camera/computer system, the pattern of cerebral blood flow in 5 brain areas was monitored in 30 geriatric patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency. Readings were compared on a within-patient basis for the following treatments: initial control (I), intravenous administration of 10 ml physiological saline solution (II), and intravenous administration of 10 ml (200 mg) pentoxifylline (III). By comparsion with treatment I and II, pentoxifylline produced significant increases in cerebral blood flow. It is suggested that this increase in perfusion is possibly due to an improvement in the flow properties of blood.

The effect of pentoxifylline ('Trental') on cerebral blood flow: a double-blind study.

A double-blind, placebo controlled crossover study was carried out in 20 geriatric patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency ot asses the effect of pentoxifylline on cerebral blood flow. Using 99m Tc cerebral scinitigraphy and a gamma comera/computer system, the pattern of blood flow in 5 brain areas was manitored after a single intravenous infusion of 200 mg pentoxifylline (10 ml) and after 10 ml saline solution. The results showed that, with the exception of one brain area, there was a statistically significant increase both in regional and hemispheric cerebral blood flow after pentoxifylline. It is of particular interst that global hemispheric blood flow, which gives an indication of total blood supply to the brain, showed approximately the same percentage increase on both sides with pentoxifylline.