Mapping of Brain Activity in the Analgesia Induced by Phα1ß and Morphine.

Preclinical evidence suggests the potential of Phα1ß, a toxin obtained from the venom of spider Phoneutria nigriventer, as a new analgesic drug. Molecular brain imaging techniques have afforded exciting opportunities to examine brain processes in clinical pain conditions. This paper aims to study the brain regions involved in the analgesic effects of Phα1ß compared with Morphine, in a model of acute pain induced by formalin in Sprague Dawley rats. We used 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose as a metabolic radiotracer to perform brain imaging of rats pretreated with Phα1ß or Morphine in a model of acute inflammatory pain caused by intraplantar injection of formalin. The rats' hind paw's formalin stimulation resulted in a brain metabolic increase at the bilateral motor cortex, visual cortex, somatosensory cortex, thalamus, and cingulate cortex.In rats treated with Phα1ß, selective inhibition of unilateral motor cortex and cingulate cortex was observed. Morphine treatment leads to small and selective inhibition at the bilateral amygdala striatum and accumbens. Our results indicate that the analgesic effect of Phα1ß and Morphine possesses a differential profile of central processing in the pain state.

Comparison of [18F]Fluorocholine and [18F]Fluordesoxyglucose for assessment of progression, lung metastasis detection and therapy response in murine 4T1 breast tumor model.

The [18F]Fluorocholine ([18F]FCH) tracer for PET imaging has been proven to be effective for several malignances. However, there are only a few studies related to its breast tumor applicability and they are still limited. The aim of this study was investigate the efficacy of [18F]FCH/PET compared to [18F]FDG/PET in a murine 4T1 mammary carcinoma model treated and nontreated. [18F]FCH/PET showed its applicability for primary tumor and lung metastasis detection and their use for response monitoring of breast cancer therapeutics at earlier stages.

Synthesis, quality control and dosimetry of the radiopharmaceutical 18F-sodium fluoride produced at the Center for Development of Nuclear Technology - CDTN / Síntese, controle de qualidade e dosimetria do radiofármaco 18 -F de fluoreto de sódio produzido no Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear - CDTN

18F-Sodium fluoride (Na18F) is a radiopharmaceutical used for diagnosis in nuclear medicine by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Bone scintigraphy is normally performed using 99mTc-MDP. However, 18F PET scans promise high quality imaging with increased resolution and improved sensitivity and specificity. In order to make available a tool for more specific studies of tumors and non-oncological diseases of bone tissue, the UPPR/CDTN team undertook the production and quality control of Na18F injectable solution with the physical-chemical, microbiological and biological characteristics recommended in the U.S. Pharmacopeia. Na18F radiochemical purity was 96.7 ± 1.3 percent, with Rf= 0.026 ± 0.006. The product presented a pH of 5.3 ± 0.6, half life of 109.0 ± 0.8 minutes, endotoxin limit < 5.0 EU.mL-1 and no microbial contaminants. The biodistribution of Na18F was similar to that described in the literature, with a clearance of 0.19 mL.min-1 and distribution volume of 18.76 mL. The highest bone concentration (5.0 ± 0.5 percentID.g-1) was observed 20 minutes after injection. Na18F produced at the UPPR presented all the quality assurance requirements of the U.S. Pharmacopeia and can be safely used for clinical bone imaging.

O Fluoreto de sódio 18F (Na18F) é um radiofármaco empregado para diagnóstico através da Tomografia por Emissão de Pósitrons (PET). Cintilografias ósseas são normalmente obtidas utilizando-se 99mTc-MDP. Entretanto, o interesse pelo Na18F é crescente, principalmente devido à obtanção de imagens de elevada resolução. Com o objetivo de tornar disponível uma ferramenta mais específica para estudos de tumores e doenças não-oncológicas do tecido ósseo, o grupo da UPPR/CDTN implementou a produção e o controle de qualidade da solução injetável de Na18F com as características físico-química, microbiológica e biológica preconizadas pela farmacopéia. Sua pureza radioquímica foi de 96,7 ± 1,3 por cento, com Rf= 0,026 ± 0,006. O produto apresentou pH igual a 5,3 ± 0,6, tempo de meia-vida de 109,0 ± 0,8 minutos, limite de endotoxinas < 5,0 EU.mL-1 e ausência de microrganismos. O perfil de biodistribuição em camundongos foi semelhante ao disponível na literatura, com depuração igual a 0,19 mL.min-1 e volume de distribuição igual a 18,76 mL. A concentração máxima (5,0 ± 0,5 por cento DI.g-1) foi observada no osso 20 minutos após a injeção. O Na18F produzido na UPPR do CDTN apresentou os parâmetros de qualidade definidos na farmacopéia americana e pode ser usado com segurança para uso clínico em cintilografia óssea.