Lymph proteins may access peripheral blood without entering thoracic duct in patients with lymphatic dysfunction.

Objective: The objective was to investigate the hypothesis that lymphovenous communications, which allow lymph proteins to access peripheral blood without first entering the thoracic duct, open in patients with abnormal lymphatic function.

Methods: Routine lymphoscintigraphy of 182 patients, including 27 without clinical evidence of lymphedema (controls), was performed immediately and 45 and 150 minutes after subcutaneous injection of technetium Tc 99m nanocolloid into both feet. Counts per pixel in a region of interest over the liver (L) were divided by total counts in bilateral ilioinguinal nodes (N) at 45 minutes (L/N45) and 150 minutes (L/N150).

Lymphatic dysfunction in the apparently clinically normal contralateral limbs of patients with unilateral lower limb swelling.

Purpose: To determine how often lymphatic dysfunction is bilateral when, clinically, lymphedema appears unilateral.

Methods: Lymphoscintigraphy was performed after subcutaneous Tc-99m-nanocolloid injection in the first webspaces of both feet. The percentage of injected radioactivity accumulating in the ilioinguinal regions was recorded in dedicated images separately acquired at 60 and 180 minutes after injection.

Popliteal node visualization during standard pedal lymphoscintigraphy for a swollen limb indicates impaired lymph drainage.

Objective: The objective of our study was to examine the frequency and significance of visualization of popliteal nodes during lymphoscintigraphy for the investigation of lower extremity swelling.

Materials And Methods: Technetium-99m-labeled nanocolloid was injected subcutaneously in the first web spaces of both feet of 204 consecutive patients (69 males, 135 females; age range, 11-79 years) undergoing routine, clinically indicated lymphoscintigraphy; imaging was performed 5, 45, and 150 minutes after injection. The patients were asked not to undertake any vigorous exercise between the injection and completion of imaging.

Extracellular fluid volume and glomerular filtration rate: their relation and variabilities in patients with renal disease and healthy individuals.

Introduction: The slope-only technique for measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR) relies on extracellular fluid volume (ECV) remaining within narrow limits. Although this requirement is met in healthy individuals, ECV may deviate or vary more in patients with abnormal renal function.

Methods: We examined the correlation between surface area-scaled ECV and GFR, and their coefficients of variation (CVs), measured from simultaneous, multisample clearances of 51Cr-EDTA and iohexol in 20 healthy volunteers and 60 patients with a range of renal functions.

Estimated lean body mass is more appropriate than body surface area for scaling glomerular filtration rate and extracellular fluid volume.

Background/aims: To compare body surface area (BSA) with lean body mass (LBM) for scaling extracellular fluid volume (ECV) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Methods: Phase 1: Total body water (TBW), bromide space and LBM were measured with (3)H-water, (77)Br and dual X-ray absorptiometry, respectively, in 6 healthy adults. Phase 2: ECV and GFR were measured with (51)Cr-EDTA in 95 healthy adults and 56 children (0.

Slope-only glomerular filtration rate and single-sample glomerular filtration rate as measurements of the ratio of glomerular filtration rate to extracellular fluid volume.

Aims: The Jacobsson single-sample equation for measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after bolus injection is based on two factors of questionable theoretical validity for correcting the single-compartment assumption. The aims were to redevelop a more transparent equation, show its fundamental similarity with 'slope-only' GFR and compare it with the original equation and with slope-only GFR.

Methodology: The modified Jacobsson equation is k = (1/t).

Extracellular fluid volume in patients with cancer.

Aims: Cancer patients may have extracellular fluid volume (ECV) abnormalities that potentially invalidate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measured using the slope-intercept technique. The aim was to test this concern by measuring ECV in cancer patients in comparison with noncancer patients and healthy kidney donors.

Methods: GFR was measured with Cr-EDTA and the slope-intercept technique in patients from two hospitals, the first using three samples (540 adults, including 382 with cancer, and 124 children, including 40 with cancer) and the second using four samples (256 adults, including 132 with cancer and 75 donors), scaled to body surface area (BSA) of 1.

Use of body surface area for assessing extracellular fluid volume and glomerular filtration rate in obesity.

Objective: To examine body surface area (BSA) for scaling extracellular fluid volume (ECV) in obesity. ECV varies less than glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in a clinical population and was therefore used as a surrogate for GFR on the grounds that if BSA is unsuitable for scaling GFR, it will also be unsuitable for ECV.

Methods: GFR was measured in 917 patients using (51)Cr-EDTA.

99mTc-sestamibi imaging in the assessment of toremifene as a modulator of multidrug resistance in patients with breast cancer.

Unlabelled: Multidrug resistance (MDR) due to expression of a membrane-associated permeability glycoprotein (P-glycoprotein [Pgp]) prevents successful cytotoxic chemotherapy for breast cancer. Identification of MDR would facilitate selection of chemotherapy regimens and MDR modulators. This study aimed to evaluate (99m)Tc-sestamibi imaging for predicting overexpression of Pgp in primary breast cancer and to measure the efficacy of toremifene, the MDR modulator, in vivo.