Monitoring rheumatoid arthritis synovitis with 99mTc-anti-CD3.

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using a monoclonal antibody (OKT3) labelled with technetium-99m (99mTc) to monitor disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We evaluated 38 patients who were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and classified as Classes II and III after functional assessment (according to the revised criteria specified by the American College of Rheumatology). Two sets of planar anterior images of the patients' wrists, metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints, elbows, shoulders and knees joints were obtained 1 h and 3 h after the injection of 99mTc-OKT3. The scintigraphic findings showed significant correlation (p<0.05) between the radiopharmaceutical accumulation of 99mTc-OKT3 and swollen joints, tender joints and the visual analogue scale. They were able to differentiate patients in remission from patients with active synovitis, according to DAS 28. In contrast, there was no correlation between the radiopharmaceutical accumulation and the patients' age, gender, duration of disease or erythrocyte sedimentation rate. A relatively high disease activity score of 28 joints (4.08+/-1.74) was found in the majority of patients. In conclusion, 99mTc-OKT3 scintigraphy is a reliable and objective method for detecting synovial activity, and can be used to observe disease prognosis.

Radioguided occult lesion localization (ROLL) and excision of breast lesions using technetium-99m-macroaggregate albumin and air injection control.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of the radioguided localization and excision technique using radiopharmaceuticals injected directly or close to occult breast lesions. We studied thirty-two consecutive patients with thirty-six occult breast lesions detected mammographically or ultrasonically categorized as BI-RADS 3, 4 or 5. Macroaggregate Albumin (MAA) labeled with (99m)Tc was administered directly or close to the lesion, guided by mammography or ultrasound, followed by an air injection for radiological control. The excision biopsy was carried out with the aid of a hand-held gamma detecting probe and the entire removal of the lesion was verified by X-ray of the surgical specimens or by intraoperatory frozen section examination. Breast cancer was found in 8.3% of BI-RADS 3 lesions, in 33.3% of the BI-RADS 4 lesions and in 66.6% of the BI-RADS 5 lesions. The radiotracer was correctly positioned in 97.2% of the specimens (35/36) allowing the removal of 97.2%. Xray confirmed the entire removal in 27 lesions (75%), intraoperatory frozen section study in 19.4% (7/36) and by both methods in 5.5% (2/36). Radioguided surgery turned out to be an important tool in the removal of non-palpable breast lesions, as a simple, fast and feasible method that can be implemented in the clinical routine of patients with non-palpable breast lesions.

Over-expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in endoscopic biopsies of ectopic gastric mucosa

Ectopic gastric mucosa (EGM) is considered to be a congenital condition. Rare cases of adenocarcinoma have been described. There are no data justifying regular biopsies or follow-up. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a protein involved in gastrointestinal tumor development by inhibiting apoptosis and regulating angiogenesis. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate COX-2 expression in EGM and compare it with normal tissue and Barrett's esophagus. We evaluated 1327 patients. Biopsies were taken from the inlet patch for histological evaluation and from the gastric antrum to assess Helicobacter pylori infection. Biopsies taken from normal esophageal, gastric antrum and body mucosa and Barrett's esophagus were retrieved from a tissue bank. EGM biopsies were evaluated with respect to type of epithelium, presence of H. pylori, and inflammation. COX-2 was detected by immunohistochemistry using the avidin-biotin complex. EGM islets were found in 14 patients (1.1 percent). Histological examination revealed fundic type epithelium in 58.3 percent of cases, H. pylori was present in 50 percent and chronic inflammation in 66.7 percent. Expression of COX-2 was negative in normal distal esophagus, normal gastric antrum and normal gastric body specimens (10 each). In contrast, EGM presented over-expression of COX-2 in 41.7 percent of cases and Barrett's esophagus in 90 percent of cases (P = 0.04 and 0.03, respectively). COX-2 immunoexpression in EGM was not related to gender, age, epithelium type, presence of inflammation or intestinal metaplasia, H. pylori infection, or any endoscopic finding. Our results demonstrate up-regulation of COX-2 in EGM, suggesting a possible malignant potential of this so-called harmless mucosa.

Over-expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in endoscopic biopsies of ectopic gastric mucosa.

Ectopic gastric mucosa (EGM) is considered to be a congenital condition. Rare cases of adenocarcinoma have been described. There are no data justifying regular biopsies or follow-up. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a protein involved in gastrointestinal tumor development by inhibiting apoptosis and regulating angiogenesis. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate COX-2 expression in EGM and compare it with normal tissue and Barrett's esophagus. We evaluated 1327 patients. Biopsies were taken from the inlet patch for histological evaluation and from the gastric antrum to assess Helicobacter pylori infection. Biopsies taken from normal esophageal, gastric antrum and body mucosa and Barrett's esophagus were retrieved from a tissue bank. EGM biopsies were evaluated with respect to type of epithelium, presence of H. pylori, and inflammation. COX-2 was detected by immunohistochemistry using the avidin-biotin complex. EGM islets were found in 14 patients (1.1%). Histological examination revealed fundic type epithelium in 58.3% of cases, H. pylori was present in 50% and chronic inflammation in 66.7%. Expression of COX-2 was negative in normal distal esophagus, normal gastric antrum and normal gastric body specimens (10 each). In contrast, EGM presented over-expression of COX-2 in 41.7% of cases and Barrett's esophagus in 90% of cases (P = 0.04 and 0.03, respectively). COX-2 immunoexpression in EGM was not related to gender, age, epithelium type, presence of inflammation or intestinal metaplasia, H. pylori infection, or any endoscopic finding. Our results demonstrate up-regulation of COX-2 in EGM, suggesting a possible malignant potential of this so-called harmless mucosa.

Use of 99mTc-mononuclear leukocyte scintigraphy in nosocomial fever.

PURPOSE: To determine the overall diagnostic accuracy of mononuclear leukocyte- 99mTc scintigraphy in the routine detection of infectious lesions and fever of unknown origin (FUO) in inpatients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The use of mononuclear leukocyte 99mTc scintigraphy is presented in 87 patients who fulfilled the Durack and Street diagnostic criteria of nosocomial FUO; 66 patients were suspected of having infectious lesions (myocarditis, endocarditis, infected catheters, diabetic foot, and osteomyelitis) and 21 patients presented with unknown causes of FUO. Scans were carried out 1, 3, and 24 h after injection of labeled leukocytes. RESULTS: In three cases (3/27) where scintigraphs were negative, biopsies were positive. There were two (2/87) false-positive scintigrams. We found a 95.8% sensitivity and 92.3% specificity. PPV was 93.8%, PPN 94.7%, and accuracy 94.2%. CONCLUSION: Mononuclear leukocyte 99mTc scintigraphy showed high sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values in patients with nosocomial FUO. These results suggest an important role for nuclear medicine in the management of patients with infection/inflammation.

Preliminary results of [99mTc]OKT3 scintigraphy to evaluate acute rejection in renal transplants.

Allograft rejection can be classified as humoral or cellular mechanisms. Accurate diagnosis of acute rejection remains a formidable challenge in renal transplantation. The need to avoid unnecessary immunosuppressive therapy to treat this complication has led to a continued search for improved diagnostic methods to evaluate and identify postoperative episodes. Here we evaluated the use of [(99m)Tc]OKT3 scintigraphy to diagnose acute rejection in renal transplants. Among 22 patients undergoing renal transplant, we observed an increased [(99m)Tc]OKT3 kidney uptake with the passage of time in patients with rejecting allografts. These findings agreed with those of biopsies. We suggest the [(99m)Tc]OKT3 scans may be useful for the monitoring of renal transplants to detect acute rejection.

Diagnosis of renal allograft rejection and acute tubular necrosis by 99mTc-mononuclear leukocyte imaging.

One hundred kidney transplant recipients were evaluated on the first and fifth days after transplantation by Tc-99m mononuclear cell scintigraphy. We have developed a quantitative method to diagnose rejection and acute tubular necrosis (ATN) by comparing regions of interest drawn on allograft scintigraphs at different times after endovenous administration of the labeled cells. We suggest that the use of Tc-99m-WBC may be useful for the early diagnosis of rejection and the differential diagnosis of ATN.

Tc-99m-leukocytes--is it an intracellular labelling?

Radiolabeled leukocytes have a potential for clinical use in detecting sites of inflammation. The increasing interest in the use of Tc-99m-labeled white blood cells (WBC) encourages exploration into the site(s) of binding of Tc-99m to the WBC components. Here we present the differential centrifugation study of the labeled leukocytes using a simple and low cost technique (SnTec). The results show most part of radioactivity bound to cytosol. We concluded that this is an intracellular labeling procedure that has the citoplasm, ribosomes unbound to membrane and soluble molecules as targets.

"Stents" ureterales: una forma de fijación simplificada / Ureteral stents: A simplified fixation approach

Los"stends" ureterales son más utilizados en los reimplantes ureterales con modelaje, en aquellos con dificultades técnicas, en reoperaciones y eventualmente en pieloplastías. De enero de 1995 a junio de 1998 utilizamos "stents"ureterales en 40 niños. 29 sometido a reimplantes vesicoureterales, 10 a pieloplastías y una ureteroplastía. Las extremidades de los stents en los reimplantes permanecieron en la vejiga y fueron fijados a la cistotomía o a la sonda uretral y en la pieloplastías o en la ureteroplastía fueron fijados a la sonda de nefrostomía. Los stents fueron retirados ambulatoriamente, juntamente con la sonda a la que estaban fijados, 7 a 12 días despues de la operación. No hubo complicaciones, el tiempo medio de internación disminuyó de 6 a 3 días. El procedimiento resultó eficaz, facilitó el trabajo médico, permitió mayor confort y movilidad a los pacientes

"Stents" ureterales: una forma de fijación simplificada / Ureteral stents: A simplified fixation approach

Los"stends" ureterales son más utilizados en los reimplantes ureterales con modelaje, en aquellos con dificultades técnicas, en reoperaciones y eventualmente en pieloplastías. De enero de 1995 a junio de 1998 utilizamos "stents"ureterales en 40 niños. 29 sometido a reimplantes vesicoureterales, 10 a pieloplastías y una ureteroplastía. Las extremidades de los stents en los reimplantes permanecieron en la vejiga y fueron fijados a la cistotomía o a la sonda uretral y en la pieloplastías o en la ureteroplastía fueron fijados a la sonda de nefrostomía. Los stents fueron retirados ambulatoriamente, juntamente con la sonda a la que estaban fijados, 7 a 12 días despues de la operación. No hubo complicaciones, el tiempo medio de internación disminuyó de 6 a 3 días. El procedimiento resultó eficaz, facilitó el trabajo médico, permitió mayor confort y movilidad a los pacientes

Snake bites by the jararacuçu (Bothrops jararacussu): clinicopathological studies of 29 proven cases in São Paulo State, Brazil.

The jararacuçu, one of the most dreaded snakes of Brazil, southern Bolivia, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina, is a heavily-built pit viper which may grow to a length of 2.2 m. Up to 1000 mg (dry weight) of highly-lethal venom may be milked from its venom glands on a single occasion. It has accounted for 0.8% to 10% of series of snake bites in São Paulo State, Brazil. We examined 29 cases of proven jararacuçu bites recruited over a 20-year period in two São Paulo hospitals. Severe signs of local and systemic envenoming, (local necrosis, shock, spontaneous systemic bleeding, renal failure) were seen only in patients bitten by snakes longer than 50 cm; bites by shorter specimens were more likely to cause incoagulable blood. Fourteen patients developed coagulopathy, six local necrosis (requiring amputation in one) and five local abscesses. Two became shocked and four developed renal failure. Three patients, aged 3, 11 and 65 years, died 18.75, 27.75 and 83 h after being bitten, with respiratory and circulatory failure despite large doses of specific antivenom and intensive-care-unit management. In two patients, autopsies revealed acute renal tubular necrosis, cerebral oedema, haemorrhagic rhabdomyolysis at the site of the bite and disseminated intravascular coagulation. In one survivor with chronic renal failure, renal biopsy showed bilateral cortical necrosis; the patient remains dependent on haemodialysis. Effects of polyspecific Bothrops antivenom were not impressive, and it has been suggested that anti-Bothrops and anti-Crotalus antivenoms should be given in combination.

[Lithotripsy of gallbladder calculi with extracorporeal shockwaves]. / Litotripsia de cálculos vesiculares por ondas de choque extra-corpóreas.

Two hundred and sixty two patients with gallbladder stones were prospectively evaluated at the Biliary Lithiasis Treatment Unit of the Mater Dei Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG., and 45 (17.5%) were selected for extracorporal shock wave lithotripsy (ECSWL). From these, 32 were submitted to the procedure. One stone was present in 30 patients, 2 stones in another and 1 patient had 3 stones. The mean diameter was 14.7 mm ranging from 8 to 28 mm. ECSWL was preceded by 1 week course of ursodeoxycholic acid (8 to 10 mg/dk/day) and this medication was continued after the procedure. ECSWL was done with the Lithosthar-Plus apparatus (Siemens). Meperidine (up to 100 mg) IM and pirazolene IV was given when necessary. The intensity of the shock waves was gradually increased to a maximum (9 bar) whenever tolerated. The treatment was well succeeded in 22 cases (71%) with pulverization in 12 (38.7%). In 9 patients (29%) remaining fragments were greater than 4 mm. From these, 3 were submitted to a second session of ECSWL. In 1 patient the stone could not be properly positioned for lithotripsy. The mean number of shock waves was 2,591, ranging from 801 to 4,411. The mean duration of the sessions was 80 min, ranging from 45 to 150 min. In 3 patients, a complete disappearance of fragments was observed in intervals of 1 to 6 months after the procedure. One patient had severe pain during ECSWL and developed acute cholecystitis. One patient had sinus bradycardia. One patient with total stone pulverization, become jaundiced 1 month after ECSWL and a gallbladder carcinoma was found at surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)