Parameter evaluation and fully-automated radiosynthesis of [(11)C]harmine for imaging of MAO-A for clinical trials.

The aim of the present study was the evaluation and automation of the radiosynthesis of [(11)C]harmine for clinical trials. The following parameters have been investigated: amount of base, precursor concentration, solvent, reaction temperature and time. The optimum reaction conditions were determined to be 2-3mg/mL precursor activated with 1eq. 5M NaOH in DMSO, 80°C reaction temperature and 2min reaction time. Under these conditions 6.1±1GBq (51.0±11% based on [(11)C]CH3I, corrected for decay) of [(11)C]harmine (n=72) were obtained. The specific activity was 101.32±28.2GBq/µmol (at EOS). All quality control parameters were in accordance with the standards for parenteral human application. Due to its reliability and high yields, this fully-automated synthesis method can be used as routine set-up.

Quantification of the radio-metabolites of the serotonin-1A receptor radioligand [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 in human plasma: an HPLC-assay which enables measurement of two patients in parallel.

[Carbonyl-(11)C]WAY-100635 is a potent and effective antagonist for the 5-HT(1A) receptor subtype. We aimed to assess the status of [carbonyl-(11)C]WAY-100635 and its main radio-metabolites, [carbonyl-(11)C]desmethyl-WAY-100635 and [carbonyl-(11)C]cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, on the basis of an improved radio-HPLC method. Common methods were characterized by preparative HPLC columns with long runtimes and/or high flow rates. Considering the short half-life of C-11, we developed a more rapid and solvent saving HPLC assay, allowing a fast, efficient and reliable quantification of these major metabolites.

[Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy--a possibility for enteral feeding of patients with severe cerebral dysfunctions]. / Perkutane endoskopische Gastrostomie--eine Möglichkeit der enteralen Ernährung von Patienten mit schweren zerebralen Funktionsstörungen.

Patients who are unable to be adequately nourished owing to cerebral dysfunction do not tolerate nasogastric tubes for enteral nutrition well. They are threatened by active or passive dislocation of the tube into the oesophagus with subsequent aspiration. Although these risks are minimized by percutaneous gastrostomy (PEG), aspiration cannot be completely prevented even when this method of feeding is employed. Enteral nutrition was provided by PEG in 33 patients with different cerebral disorders. PEG was indicated when adequate oral intake of food and fluids proved impossible 8 to 12 days after an acute hypoxaemic cerebrovascular event. 3 of 23 patients who had suffered a stroke, 2 of 8 patients with hypoxaemic brain damage and 3 of 5 patients with decompensated cerebral sclerosis regained the ability to eat between the 21st and 50th day of treatment, so that the gastrostomy could be dispensed with. The other patients died of their severe underlying disease. 6 patients aspirated. In 2 cases this complication occurred during acute aggravation of the underlying disease after several weeks of satisfactory enteral tube feeding. 2 patients aspirated after returning to oral nutrition, whereby feeding was certainly implicated in 1 patient and probable in the other patient. PEG enables adequate enteral nutrition of patients with severe neurological impairment. The advantages of PEG over parenteral nutrition are fewer complications, lower costs and, above all, its superiority in meeting physiological requirements.

Production and diagnostic application of anti-human T-cell antisera.

This paper is intended to demonstrate the extension of experimental procedures used for the production of anti-chicken T-cell sera to the manufacturing of anti-human T-cell sera. Specific anti-chicken bursa (ABS) and anti-chicken thymus cell sera (ATS) were prepared in turkeys. The in vitro specificity of these sera was assessed by means of immunofluorescence and lymphocytotoxicity tests. The selective immunosuppressive effect of ABS was demonstrated in Obese strain (OS) chickens with spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis, that of ATS in a skin allograft system. A specific anti-human T-cell serum was prepared by immunizing a horse with fetal human thymus cells. After appropriate exhaustive absorptions this serum was found to react specifically with human T-cells. An anti-T cell globulin (ATG) fraction prepared from the absorbed antiserum was then labelled with FITC for use in direct immunofluorescence tests. The potential diagnostic value of T-cell specific antibodies is discussed.