The Syntheses and Medicinal Attributes of Phenanthrenes as Anticancer Agents: A Quinquennial Update.

Cancer is a silent killer and remains to pose major health problems globally. Amongst the several biological targets, DNA is one of the most striking targets in cancer chemotherapy. Owing to its planar structure, phenanthrene and its derivatives exhibit potential cytotoxicity by intercalating between the DNA base pairs and by inhibiting the enzymes that are involved in the synthesis of DNA.

Selective in vitro labeling of white blood cells using 99mTc-labeled liposomes.

We describe a method by which endocytosis-based radiolabeling of WBC is achieved using 99mTc-liposomes of optimal size and charge, and of a composition that assures both in vitro (whole blood) and intracellular stability of the radiopharmaceutical. In our study, excellent in vitro stability of 99mTc-liposomes with 95% labeling efficiency was observed with >90% stability up to 6 h and a minimum of 85% after 24 h of incubation either in normal saline or serum. Total WBC labeling efficiency using 99mTc-liposomes determined by radio-thin layer chromatographic analysis was 30.

Correlations between SPECT regional cerebral blood flow and psychometric testing in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Thirty-nine patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) were studied with [99mTc]HMPAO SPECT and a standardized neuropsychological battery testing intellect, memory, attention, language, motor and praxis functions, and depression. Spearman rank correlations and multivariate regression analyses were performed to correlate quantitative regional perfusion deficits to these tests. Patients were found to have decreased perfusion of left frontal, parietal, and temporal regions relative to right.

Inferior vena cava obstruction and diffuse hepatic uptake on lower extremity radionuclide venogram.

Two patients with dissimilar but advanced malignancies and lower extremity swelling underwent bilateral lower extremity radionuclide venograms, several months apart. Both patients' scintigrams showed multiple collaterals in the abdomen and pelvis, consistent with inferior vena cava obstruction, and hepatic uptake in a diffuse pattern. One patient also had multiple bilateral pulmonary emboli on a lung scan.

SPECT findings on psychosis in Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: This study examined whether psychosis in Alzheimer's disease is associated with cerebral perfusion patterns appreciable by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans.

Method: All cooperative outpatients enrolled in an Alzheimer's disease research center with the diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease and a Clinical Dementia Rating of mild or moderate were interviewed with their primary caregivers. Current and past psychiatric functioning was assessed by using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R, and the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale.

Scintigraphic assessment of pericardio-peritoneal window patency. Relevance to peritoneal dialysis.

To alleviate recurrent pericardial effusion secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus, pericardio-peritoneal window was performed. Subsequently, end stage renal disease developed and the patient required peritoneal dialysis. Patency of the pericardio-peritoneal window was demonstrated by intraperitoneal injection of Tc-99m SC through a Tenckhoff catheter, which prompted special counsel to the patient in order to prevent infectious pericarditis potentially complicating peritoneal dialysis induced-peritonitis.

Graves' disease and concurrent thyroid carcinoma. The importance of thyroid scintigraphy in Graves' disease.

A woman with Graves' disease and unsuspected coexisting thyroid cancer is presented. Although rare, this association has to be considered. It has been noticed that thyroid cancer is more common in hyperthyroid than euthyroid persons.

Chloramine-T induced binding of monoclonal antibody B72.3 to concanavalin-A.

The effects of chloramine-T (CT) on monoclonal antibody B72.3 were studied with particular reference to Con-A lectin binding. After exposure to chloramine-T concentrations from 0.

The origin of biexponential T2 relaxation in muscle water.

Two theories have been proposed to explain the multiexponential transverse relaxation of muscle water protons: "anatomical" and "chemical" compartmentation. In an attempt to obtain evidence to support one or the other of these two theories, interstitial and intracellular macromolecular preparations were studied and compared with rat muscle tissue by proton NMR transverse relaxation (T2) measurements. All macromolecule preparations displayed monoexponential T2 decay.

Clinical, biochemical, and neuropathologic findings following transplantation of adrenal medulla to the caudate nucleus for treatment of Parkinson's disease.

We transplanted autologous adrenal medullary tissue into the caudate nucleus of 3 patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. The 1st patient, a 59-year-old man with parkinsonian symptoms for 15 years, had mild improvement in his motor functioning after the operation. However, his postoperative course was characterized by prolonged drowsiness and complex visual hallucinations.

Cerebral infarction: diagnosis and assessment of prognosis by using 123IMP-SPECT and CT.

A multicenter prospective study was performed in 49 patients with 77 regions of cerebral infarction. Each patient was evaluated in the acute (0-5 days) and subacute (6-17 days) phases by (1) clinical neurologic examination, (2) CT scans, and (3) N-isopropyl-p-123I-iodoamphetamine (123IMP) single-photon emission CT (SPECT) scans. The abilities of the scans to (1) detect a lesion and (2) predict the clinical outcome were assessed.

Ectopic thyroid in the right carotid triangle.

A neck mass in the right carotid triangle of a 28-year-old woman was found to be the only thyroid tissue she possessed. Resection of the mass led to clinical and biochemical hypothyroidism. A possible explanation for the unlikely occurrence of lateral aberrant thyroid tissue and absence of a thyroid gland in the usual location is offered.

Technetium-99m labeled RBC imaging in gastrointestinal bleeding from gastric leiomyoma.

Tc-99m labeled RBC imaging is becoming increasingly useful in detecting gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding sites. A patient is presented who had massive GI bleeding from an unsuspected gastric leiomyoma in whom a Tc-99m sulfur colloid GI bleed image was negative. The Tc-99m labeled RBC imaging done on the day after sulfur colloid imaging revealed increased gastric activity due to active bleeding from an intragastric leiomyoma.

New 111In labeling of IgG: 111In-oxine mediated chelation.

Current methods of 111In chelate conjugation labeling of antibodies expose the protein to pH 5-6 during 111In chelation. These conditions could be detrimental if the antibody is acid labile. We have successfully labeled human IgG via the cyclic anhydride of DPTA and 111In-oxyquinoline(oxine).

Technetium-99m labeled red blood cells in the evaluation of hemangiosarcoma.

Imaging with Tc-99m labeled red blood cells (RBC) is increasingly being used in the detection of acute gastro-intestinal bleeding, especially in patients with intermittent bleeding. A patient is presented in whom the labeled RBC scan was helpful in the incidental discovery of a previously unsuspected probable angiosarcoma of the right femur and adjacent soft tissues of the right hip due to the "blood pool" or "blush effect" of the labeled cells. The labeled RBC scan also identified extravasation due to active gastrointestinal bleeding from a previously unknown angiosarcoma of the ascending colon.

Spinal bone mineral after 5 weeks of bed rest.

Patients put at bedrest for medical reasons lose 1-2% of spinal bone mineral per week. Losses of this magnitude during even short-term space flights of a few months would pose a serious limitation and require countermeasures. The spinal bone mineral (L2-L4) was determined in 6 healthy males (precision = 2%) before and after 5 weeks of complete bed rest.

Changes in nuclear magnetic resonance (T2) relaxation of limb tissue with bed rest.

Bed rest is used to simulate the effects of weightlessness on human physiology. A spin-echo procedure was used to image the lower leg of 15 normal male volunteers before and after 5 weeks of horizontal bedrest. In addition to noninvasively measuring muscle size changes, accurate T2 images were produced to investigate possible relaxation time changes immediately (2-4 h) and 1-2 days after bed rest.

Precision of dual photon absorptiometry measurements.

One of the important uses of bone absorptiometry is to examine the rate of bone mineral change in order to evaluate therapy and to identify individuals who need therapy. Generally, this involves comparing the difference between two scans obtained months to years apart. This study investigates the precision of dual photon absorptiometry using a human torso phantom, normal subjects, and abnormal patients.

Bone and muscle atrophy with suspension of the rat.

A modification of the Morey tail suspension model was used to determine atrophic responses of rat bone and muscle with 14-90 days unloading of the hindlimbs. Bone uptake of methylene diphosphonate followed a phasic pattern similar to changes in bone formation rate in immobilized dogs and rats. Increased uptake at 60 days (P = 0.

High resolution bone mineral densitometry with a gamma camera.

A technique is described by which the regional distribution of bone mineral can be determined in bone samples from small animals. The technique employs an Anger camera interfaced to a medical computer. High resolution (less than 1 mm) imaging is possible by producing magnified images of the bone samples.

Changes in total body calcium balance with exercise in the rat.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of deconditioning on the total body calcium in rats. Two separate experiments were performed using female Sprague-Dawley rats, 187-266 days of age. Total body calcium was measured in experimental and control rats during and following several weeks of voluntary exercise.

Serial changes in markers of disease activity with corticosteroid treatment in sarcoidosis.

Serial changes in various markers of disease activity with corticosteroid therapy were assessed in 12 patients with active sarcoidosis. After six weeks of treatment with 40 mg daily of prednisone, all but one patient demonstrated symptomatic and radiographic improvement. For the entire patient group, there were corresponding improvements in forced vital capacity, from 59.