Disordered eating in Japanese and Chinese female runners, rhythmic gymnasts and gymnasts.

Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) and self-administered questionnaires were used to survey eating attitudes and menstrual irregularity of Japanese (J) and Chinese (C) collegiate female runners (RUNs), rhythmic gymnasts (RGYMs), gymnasts (GYMs), and nonathletic controls (NAs). Athletes were recruited from several outstanding colleges for physical education and sport in each country. The prevalence of disordered eating (DE) was significantly higher in Japanese athletes (21% in JRUNs, 19% in JRGYMs, and 15% in JGYMs) than Chinese athletes (4% in CRUNs, 2% in CRGYMs, and none in CGYMs). Also, the prevalence of amenorrhea was very low in CRUNs (1%), CRGYMs (0%), and CGYMs (0%), as compared with their respective Japanese counterparts (JRUNs 22%, JRGYMs 10%, JGYMs 8%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of DE and amenorrhea between Japanese and Chinese NAs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using 10 independent variables regarding anthropometrics, athletics, weight and diet concern, and nationality indicated that high frequency of dieting during a lifetime, high athletic level and being Japanese were significant risks for the development of DE in athletes. It is concluded that the low prevalence of DE in the Chinese in this study is partly explained by the lack of socioculturally- and socioeconomically-imposed desire to be thin as well as by the low frequency of dieting during their lifetime.

Seasonal prevalence of third-stage larvae of Dirofilaria immitis in mosquitoes from Florida and Louisiana.

Heads of 109,597 mosquitoes collected during 1996 and 1997 from Gainesville, Florida (1996, n = 39,131; 1997, = 34,209), Bartow, Florida (1996, n = 12,000; 1997, n = 12,000), and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1996, n = 12,257) were tested by a polymerase chain reaction and Southern hybridization-based test for the presence of third-stage larvae of the canine heartworm Dirofilaria immitis. Mosquito heads were pooled (1-200 heads) by month, locality, and species for testing. The test used was species specific for D. immitis and was capable of detecting DNA from a single larva in a pool of 200 mosquito heads. Specificity for the third larval stage was achieved by probing only mosquito heads. One or more D. immitis-infected mosquito heads were detected in each month of the year from Barrow in both 1996 and 1997. No infected mosquito heads were detected from Gainesville or Baton Rouge in December, January, February, or March. These results are in general agreement with previous sentinel dog and model prediction studies that showed heartworm transmission in the warm temperate Gulf coast region of the United States to be seasonal rather than continuous as previously believed.

Transition metal chemistry of main group hydrazides, Part 14: Evaluation of new Tc-99m chelates of thiol functionalized phosphorus hydrazides.

Ligands containing a combination of amine or amide nitrogens and thiol functionalities have been found to form stable chelates with Tc-99m, presumably in oxidation state +5. Two new thio-phosphorus monohydrazides [(MeO)2P(S)NMeNHCH2C6H4SH], SL1 and [(MeO)2P(S)NMeNHC(O)C6H4SH], SL2 were synthesized and their complexation properties with Re(V) and Tc-99m have been studied. Neutral-lipophilic Tc-99m chelates with both SL1 and SL2 were formed in high yields (95-97%) as a single species ascertained by electrophoresis and reversed-phase HPLC. Biodistribution studies show good in vivo stability and primary clearance of both 99mTc chelates is via the hepatobiliary pathway. Re(V) complexes with SL1 and SL2 were also synthesized using the ReOCl3(PPh3)2 precursor to obtain the product ReOCl(L)(PPh3), where L = SL1 or SL2. H+ was lost from the N-atom and the thiol group in these Re chelates. Even though the Tc-99m chelates of SL1 and SL2 formed at tracer levels are not identical to the Re-chelates (different synthons were used), the Re data suggests complexation of Tc-99m by these hydrazido-thiol ligands will be similar to N,S ligand systems previously used. The good in vitro and in vivo stability and high yields of the Tc-99m complexes of SL1 and SL2 indicate the potential hydrazido-thiols hold for use as a basis in formulating new Tc-99m radiopharmaceuticals, particularly when thiol moieties are used in conjunction with multi-functional phosphorous hydrazide compounds.

Clinical prophylactic activity of melarsomine dihydrochloride (RM 340) against Dirofilaria immitis in heartworm-naive beagles exposed to natural infection in three southeastern states.

Melarsomine dihydrochloride (RM 340), a drug being developed as an adulticide for treatment of heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection in dogs, was safe and highly effective as a clinical prophylactic agent against naturally acquired infections using Strategic and Tactical Treatment Programs. The Strategic Program involved treatment every 4 months (three series of treatments per year), disregarding the mosquito season (MS), to clear the existing infection at each treatment. The Tactical Program consisted of two series of treatments per year, 4 months apart, with the first one given about the middle of the MS (August) and the second one given after the end of the MS (December). Melarsomine was administered as two i.m. injections (lumbar muscles) of 2.2 mg kg-1 given 3 h apart. A total of 90 heartworm-naive beagles and a number of microfilaremic 'seed' dogs were used. Three similar experiments (30 beagles per experiment) were conducted at selected areas (Georgia, Florida, Louisiana) known to be enzootic for heartworm. At each site, 30 beagles were allocated to six groups of five dogs each, and four of these groups were placed outdoors in April of 1988. Two groups (control and treated) were exposed for 12 months, and the treated group was given melarsomine at 4, 8, and 12 months after exposure was started (Strategic Program). Another group was exposed for 8 months and treated with melarsomine at 4 and 8 months (Tactical Program). One group of tracer (sentinel) beagles was exposed from April to August 1988, one group from August to December 1988, and another from December 1988 to April 1989. April-August and August-December tracers served as controls for the tactically treated dogs. After exposure, all dogs were held indoors for 5 months before necropsy. Blood was collected at 4-5 month intervals and examined for microfilariae (MF) and adult heartworm antigen (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA). Treatment by the Strategic Program was 99% effective, with only one of the total of 15 treated dogs harboring any worms (a single female) at necropsy. Thirteen of the 14 control dogs (93%) exposed for 12 months became infected, with average worm recoveries of 6.8, 5.4, and 25.2 (range 1-45) for the Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana sites, respectively. All of the 13 heartworm-infected control dogs were antigen-positive, and 12 of these were also MF-positive, while none of the strategically treated dogs was either antigen- or MF-positive at necropsy. Tactical treatment of the total of 14 dogs twice per year was 100% effective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

99mTc-complexes of a pentadentate amine-oxime ligand.

Synthesis and characterization of a new pentadentate amine-oxime ligand, 3,3,11,11-tetramethyl-7-benzyl-4,7,10-triazatridecane-2,12- dionedioxime is reported. The technetium complexes of this ligand was formed by direct reduction of TcO4- in the presence of the ligand at pH 9. The radiochemical yield of the complex is greater than 95% with 10(-7) M 99TcO4-. The technetium complex formed is a positively charged chelate that elutes as a single peak on a reverse phase HPLC. Biodistribution studies in rats showed an uptake of 1.4% of the injected activity at 15 sec p.i. in heart, but the wash-out was fast. The high radiochemical purity and stability of this 99mTc-chelate indicate that these types of chelates hold potential for development of bifunctional chelating agents (BFCAs).

Temperature data from satellite imagery and the distribution of schistosomiasis in Egypt.

Polar orbiting environmental satellites operated by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration acquire daytime and nighttime thermal infrared measurements of the earth's surface around the world at a spatial resolution of 1.1 km. Day-night pairs of this imagery from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) were processed to produce temperature maximum, temperature minimum, and diurnal temperature difference (dT) maps of the lower Nile River valley. Nile delta subsets of the dT maps for August 16, 1990 and February 14, 1991 were analyzed in detail. Values of dT at specific locations were derived using the median of 5 x 5 pixels centered on the latitude and longitude of 41 survey sites listed in 1935, 1983, and 1990 schistosomiasis surveys of the Nile Delta. A Spearman correlation coefficient matrix revealed an inverse relationship between site dT values for August 16, 1990 and February 14, 1991 and prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni in the 1935 and 1983 surveys. For S. haematobium, a positive association of site dT values and prevalence was seen for 1935 only. A significant association was observed between 1935 S. mansoni prevalence and that observed in 1983 and 1990; S. haematobium prevalence in 1935 was not correlated with the later surveys. The results suggest that AVHRR thermal difference maps reflect regional hydrologic conditions that can be used as a predictor of environmental risk of schistosomiasis for control program management.

Screening of monoclonal antibodies recognizing oncofetal antigens for isolation of trophoblasts from maternal blood for prenatal diagnosis.

Many monoclonal antibodies have been produced against tumour-associated cell surface antigens for cancer therapy. They have therefore been selected for minimal reactivity with normal tissues and in particular for lack of binding to blood cells or serum components. Many of the antigens recognized are of fetal origin. These monoclonal antibodies may therefore be ideal candidates to recognize and sort fetal trophoblasts from maternal blood for prenatal diagnosis of genetic abnormalities. A panel of 19 anti-tumour antibodies were therefore screened for reactivity with early trimester placenta and two, 340 and 154, were shown to stain trophoblasts. If MAb 340 is linked to magnetic beads, it can efficiently sort trophoblast cell lines from whole blood.

Radiopharmaceuticals in clinical trials.

Several radiopharmaceuticals with a propensity to concentrate in painful metastatic bone cancer lesions are under development as a systemic radiation alternative to 32P. All are reactor produced and, when injected, have in all but 117mSn-DTPA decreased or eliminated the pain in more than three quarters of the patients, and all have caused transient myelotoxicity. Three of the four are under clinical evaluation and the generated data will be used for new drug applications for routine human use.

Feline dirofilariasis.

The cat must be recognized as a different entity than a dog when considering heartworm disease. The cat responds differently than the dog to larval migration, adult development, and therapy. As a result of these differences, the clinical signs shown by the cat and the therapeutic alternatives must be considered as unique to the cat. The diagnosis of heartworm disease in cats usually is more difficult than in the dog; therefore, the veterinarian must be more aware of the strengths and weaknesses of thoracic radiography, microfilaremia tests, and serologic tests than in the dog. Clinical signs in the cat are usually more vague and generalized than in the dog. When a diagnosis of heartworm disease in cats is made, the decision of which therapeutic regimen to use is a challenge. In many instances, the best treatment (except for supportive treatment) may be no treatment. Knowledge of the incidence of heartworm disease in an area may determine whether a veterinarian counsels a client to consider one of the preventive medications.

The effect of ligand structure on glutathione-mediated decomposition of propylene amine oxime derivatives.

Tetramethylpropyleneamine oxime (TMPAO) was synthesized and complexed to 99mTc. 99mTc-TMPAO samples, when challenged with reduced glutathione (GSH), were shown to have two GSH sensitive components, similar to a mixture of d,l and meso 99mTc-HMPAO. One component had a GSH-induced second-order dissociation rate constant (K2) similar to 99mTc-meso-HMPAO. Despite the presence of a large fraction of this component in these samples, brain uptake and autoradiographic studies with 99mTc-TMPAO were equivalent to 99mTc-d,l-HMPAO suggesting that both the d,l and meso 99mTc-TMPAO isomers are efficiently trapped in brain.

Samarium-153-EDTMP: pharmacokinetic, toxicity and pain response using an escalating dose schedule in treatment of metastatic bone cancer.

Samarium-153 emits medium-energy beta particles and an imageable gamma photon with a physical half-life of 46.3 hr. When chelated to ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid (EDTMP), it is remarkably stable in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we administered escalating amounts of 153Sm-EDTMP, from 0.1 to 1.0 mCi/kg (3.7-37 MBq/kg), to 22 patients with painful metastatic bone cancer. A complete concordance was found when the scintigrams of 153Sm-EDTMP were compared qualitatively to 99mTc-HDP bone images. Moreover, the skeletal uptake of the 153Sm-EDTMP related to the number of metastatic sites (r = 0.65; p = 0.001) showed an inverse proportion to the plasma radioactivity at 30 min following injection (r = -0.79; p = 0.0001) and was unaffected by the administered (mCi/kg), (r = 0.33; p = 0.13). Myelotoxicity was observed in 10 of the 29 treatment courses and leukopenia occurred in two. Thrombocytopenia occurred in patients who had low pretreatment platelet counts, albeit within the normal range (p = 0.001), most suffered from prostate cancer (p = 0.007) and retained a higher percentage of the 153Sm-EDTMP in their skeleton (p = 0.057). In four patients an exacerbation of the pre-existing pain ("flare reaction") was recorded. Pain palliation occurred in 65% of the treated patients (mean: 3.8 mo, range: 1-11 mo). Retreatment in first time responder patients was quite effective. Our preliminary results indicate that 153Sm-EDTMP is a promising radiotherapeutic agent for palliative treatment of metastatic bone cancer pain, and further study is necessary to ascertain its optimal dose, efficacy and toxicity.

Formation of a stable 99mTc-tri-hydrazidophosphine oxide (99mTc-THP) chelate.

Atri-hydrazidophosphine oxide (THP) ligand was synthesized and used to complex 99mTc in high yield (> 95%) by Sn(II) reduction of 99mTcO4-. 99mTc-THP has excellent stability in both 0.9% acqueous NaCl at neutral pH and in human serum at 37 degrees C. Biodistribution studies indicate minimal organ specificity and no significant in vivo release of 99mTcO4-. The ease of 99mTc complexation with THP and the high stability of 99mTc-THP suggests that this ligand may be used as a basis for the development of new imaging agents.

Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features of trypanosomiasis in dogs inoculated with North American Trypanosoma cruzi isolates.

Purebred Beagles were inoculated with Trypanosoma cruzi isolates from a North American opossum or armadillo (Tc-W), and dog (Tc-D). Although Tc-D established infection in dogs, the dogs did not develop cardiac abnormalities. Dogs inoculated with Tc-W developed acute myocarditis associated with increases in P-R interval, atrioventricular block, depression of R wave amplitude and shifts in mean electrical axis. Echocardiograms were normal during this stage. Three Tc-W-inoculated dogs died during the acute stage. Following the acute stage, 5 of 8 Tc-W-inoculated dogs entered an indeterminate stage in which ECG changes were minor and echocardiograms were normal. Progression to the chronic stage in 5 of the 8 Tc-W-inoculated dogs was indicated by development of ventricular-based arrhythmias, mainly ventricular premature contractions, between postinoculation days 60 and 170. In some dogs, ventricular premature contractions were multifocal. Electrocardiographic abnormalities progressively degenerated to various forms of ventricular tachycardia. Worsening ECG coincided with loss of left ventricular function as measured by echocardiography. Mean percent ejection fraction and percentage of fractional shortening decreased to 63% and 52% of control values, respectively. The left ventricular free wall (LVFW) thickness decreased and % septal: % LVFW thickening ratio increased, indicating a relative preservation of septal wall motion and LVFW hypokinesis.

Radiographic and neuro-SPECT imaging in an immature third ventricle teratoma: case report.

We report a case of an immature teratoma of the third ventricle, which was preoperatively thought to be a choroid plexus papilloma. The diagnosis was made by biopsy since the radiographic (CT, MRI), angiographic and scintigraphic findings ([99mTc]pertechnetate, 99mTc-DTPA, 99mTc-HMPAO brain SPECT) were nonspecific. Disruption of the blood-brain barrier is the mechanism for radionuclidic and contrast tumoral uptake and is demonstrated by marked contrast enhancement on CT and focal concentration on [99mTc]pertechnetate and 99mTc-DTPA images. No suppression of [99mTc]pertechnetate tumor uptake was observed following the administration of potassium perchlorate. Increased concentration of tumor protein is suggested by the increased signal on the T1-weighted magnetic resonance images and high [99mTc]pertechnetate uptake. The tumor's detection on the 99mTc-HMPAO brain SPECT was due to its intraventricular location. A number of potential mechanisms for brain tumor localization of 99mTc-HMPAO are discussed.

[153Sm]EDTMP: a potential therapy for bone cancer pain.

Reactor-produced samarium-153 (153Sm) is both a beta and gamma emitter with a physical half-life of 46.3 hours. When complexed with EDTMP, more than 50% of the administered dose localizes in bone. A therapeutic trial on patients with painful bone metastases performed at the University of Missouri produced relief in 65.4% of the patients who were evaluable. Myelotoxicity was mild and transient. For [153Sm]EDTMP to attain clinical utility, studies demonstrating its efficacy as an analgesic must be performed to exclude a "ligand analgesic effect".

Evaluation of alkylated derivatives of 99mTc-propylene amine oxime (99mTc-PnAO).

Several lipophilic di-alkylated derivatives of propylene amine oxime (PnAO were complexed to 99mTc. Assessment of the 99mTc-PnAO derivatives included biodistribution and qualitative autoradiography. All of the derivatives studied penetrated the intact blood-brain-barrier, with the 99mTc-dibutyl-PnAO complex exhibiting the lowest initial brain uptake while the 99mTc-diethyl-PnAO and the 99mTc-dipropyl-PnAO complexes possessing nearly identical initial brain uptake as compared to 99mTcPnAO. Qualitative autoradiographs revealed significant loss of image resolution with extended time post injection indicative of rapid radiopharmaceutical washout. Although increasing alkyl chain length did not enhance initial brain uptake, the data demonstrates that limited modification of the PnAO ligand structure can be performed without decreasing cerebral uptake of the respective 99mTc complex.

Sensitivity of technetium-99m-d,1-HMPAO to radiolysis in aqueous solutions.

The sensitivity of technetium-99m- (99mTc) d,l-HMPAO to radiolytically induced dissociation in aqueous solutions was investigated. It was found that cobalt-60 (60Co) gamma irradiation of solutions containing 99mTc-d,l-HMPAO with only 1600 cGy reduced the lipophilic chelates' radiochemical purity (RCP) to 50%-60%. The radiolytic sensitivity of 99mTc-meso-HMPAO is significantly lower. The results indicate that radiolytically produced intermediates limit the in vitro stability of 99mTc-d,l-HMPAO.

Determination of lesion to normal bone uptake ratios of skeletal radiopharmaceuticals by QARG (quantitative autoradiography).

An animal model was developed to determine the ratio of uptake of different bone seeking radiotracers in skeletal lesions relative to normal bone in rats by dual tracer quantitative autoradiography (QARG). The lesion to normal bone uptake ratios (L/NB ratios) of 99mTc-MDP, 99mTc-HDP and 99mTc-DMAD were compared using 153Sm-EDTMP as an internal standard. The results from these studies demonstrated that the L/NB ratio of 99mTc-DMAD was an average of 54 and 71% higher than 99mTc-MDP and 99mTc-HDP, respectively and 79% higher than measured for 153Sm-EDTMP.

Biolocalization and cell labeling properties of neutral-lipophilic 99mTc-amine-phenol chelates.

99mTc-diamine-diphenol chelates are neutral lipophilic chelates exhibiting good stability in aqueous solutions. The cell labeling and biolocalization properties of four different 99mTc-amine-phenol complexes were determined. All four chelates readily labeled leukocytes and RCBs in high yields. Even though 99mTc was retained by the cells, the elution rate of 99mTc from the labeled cells in plasma at 37 degrees C was unacceptably high for potential utility in scintigraphic imaging. The uptake of 99mTc in brain or heart following i.v. injection of the chelates in rats was low and clearance of activity from the blood was slow.