Dynamic scintigraphy of the oesophagus in the evaluation of reflux oesophagitis.

A method is presented which combines gastro-oesophageal reflux quantification and oesophageal transit measurement so as to differentiate true reflux from residual oesophageal activity. A group of 33 subjects with gastro-oesophagitis reflux symptoms and endoscopically confirmed reflux oesophagitis and a group of 21 asymptomatic subjects with normal oesophageal, gastric and duodenal endoscopic findings were examined. The subjects were given 37 MBq 99mTc-Sn-colloid in saline orally and then scintiscanned dynamically. The gastro-oesophageal quantification was done after transit measurement and after the oesophageal time activity (to detect residual oesophageal activity) reached its minimum. The difference in the reflux indices between the two groups was highly significant. In low-grade oesophagitis measured reflux was lower than in higher grades of disease. Only 4.7% false-positive results were observed with a specificity of 95%, indicating that this method may be superior to methods published earlier.

A case of bizarre liver form variation.

A rare case of congenital liver form variation is described. Several nuclear medicine procedures were necessary to differentiate hepatic from splenic tissue.

Ability of spleen cells from tumor bearing mice to transfer immunologic memory.

The ability of splenocytes from tumorous mice to transfer immunologic memory was tested. Three syngeneic experimental tumors from highly inbred strains were used; fibrosarcoma, lymphoma and Lewis lung carcinoma. Splenocytes from tumorous mice were collected after rejection of allogeneic skin which had been grafted at different stages of the tumor disease, and injected into lethally irradiated syngeneic recipients. These secondary hosts were grafted with the same allogeneic skin graft as their donors and the ability of cells transplanted from tumorous donors to transfer memory to allograft was tested. Tumorous mice seemed to have more memory cells (T lymphocytes) in their spleens than the controls.

Bone scintigraphy in idiopathic aseptic femoral head necrosis (IAFHN).

Idiopathic aseptic femoral head necrosis (IAFHN) is a disease of unknown aetiology most commonly affecting adults, producing functional impairment of the hip joint and immobility. Characteristic macroscopic, microscopic and radiologic features include: (1) changes in joint cartilage, (2) subchondral necrotic area, (3) changes in fibrous tissue, and (4) osteosclerosis and vascular proliferation. The diagnosis is based on clinical and X-ray examinations. More recently scintigraphy has been used in diagnosing IAFHN. It is a very sensitive, but non-specific method. Nineteen patients aged 25-57 years were included in our study. Scintigrams were divided in four groups: (1) normal, (2) uniformly increased activity in the femoral head, (3) non-uniformly increased activity in the femoral head, and (4) a photon deficient area in the femoral head. A comparison of scintigraphy and radiological examination suggests that a photon deficient area corresponds with stage III of radiological classification, non-uniformly increased activity with stage II, and uniformly increased activity with stage I. These results indicate that scintigraphy can be used for staging of disease.

[Use of the free venous auto-transplant of the "patch" type in the prevention and treatment of ureteral stenoses. Experimental study with emphasis on the functional value of the operation]. / Upotreba slobodnoga venoznoga auto-transplantata oblika "patcha" u prevenciji i lijecenju stenoza uretera. Eksperimetalni rad sa osvrtom no funkcionalnu vrijednost operacije.

The author analyze the problems of transplantation of the free venous auto-transplant which they implant in the milieu of the urinary system at the location of a previously intentionally performed defect on the side of the ureter. Distinctively, they examine the functional value of such an operation. The experimental model was chosen as the ureter of a dog. A free venous auto-transplant, elliptical in shape (patch) with standard dimensions 2cm-6mm is built in a defect of the ureter side. Fifteen days after the operation an intravenous urography is done, while is repeated after four months. The findings of the urography show consistent values. Four months after the operation in order to check the functional value of the operation a dynamic scintigraphy of the kidneys together with computer data processing is done. An intravenous injection is given to the dogs of 25 micro Curie Hipurin (ortho-iod-hippuric acid labeled with J131). Following this, the dogs are put under a Gamma camera (LFOV - Searle), while registers a accumulation of activity. The results are expressed by a dynamic graph; from which it is easily seen that part of the graph, which relates to the disappearance of activity is almost identical with the graph of the non-operated half of the urinary system. This shows the functional equivalence of the operated and non-operated sides. Such good functional results are obtained in all trials. All together 6 dogs are operated and a total of 8 operations are performed. The results of this work, as well as the clinical experience of other author allow us to propose the application of the free venous auto-transplant (patch), in the cure and prevention of the stenosis of the ureter of the shorter segment at specific indications.

Influence of sera from tumor bearing mice on immune reaction.

Immunopotentiation abilities of sera from mice bearing fibrosarcoma or lymphoma for various periods of time were assayed using the plaque forming cell (PFC) technique. The influence of such sera on cell proliferation, evaluated by the spleen index, was determined in lethally irradiated mice reconstituted with syngeneic bone marrow cells. Sera from tumorous animals stimulated the number of PFC significantly, fibrosarcoma sera being more effective in the advanced stage and lymphoma in the initial phase. Sera from mice with both tumors in the early phase increased spleen indices significantly, and sera from mice with advanced tumors were less effective. The possible role of lymphokines in these events is discussed.