Better identification of patients who benefit from implantable cardioverter defibrillators by genotyping the G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) C825T polymorphism.

Aims: There is a need for better identification of patients at high risk for malignant arrhythmias who would benefit from implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). The purpose of this study was to assess whether the C825T polymorphism in the G-protein beta3 subunit gene, GNB3, might serve as a genetic marker for recurrent ventricular arrhythmias.

Methods And Results: Genotyping was performed in 82 patients with ischemic heart disease treated with an ICD for primary and secondary prevention of cardiac arrhythmias.

[Behavior of the TSH level in thyroidectomized patients after thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)].

Following operation or/and radioiodine therapy in 69 patients with malignant tumors of the thyroid gland the plasma level of TSH was increased independently of the level of thyroid hormone and of a clinical finding of hypothyroidism. In all cases it was possible to stimulate the secretion of TSH with TRH (p less than 0,0005). Therefore, application of TRH may be helpful to increase the uptake of iodine by metastases.

[Aims and limits of nuclear medicine methods in investigation of malignant and benign bone lesions (author's transl)].

In primary bone tumors the possibilities of bone scans are discussed. Exact differentiation between malignant and benign disease by this method is impossible. However, scanning provides important information about extent of the disease, metastases, multiplicity of benign lesions and influence of adjoining diseases to the bone.

[Investigations of flow through end arteries in diseases of digital vessels using radio-active tracers (arterial occlusive disease, acrosclerosis and sclerodermia) (author's transl)].

Using 113mIndium chloride and an Anger scintilation camera, flow rates were measured and recorded in defined distal parts of the hand. The method is a useful complement to previous diagnostic techniques and provides information regarding flow through end-arteries which cannot otherwise be obtained. Because of the low risk, even of intra-arterial injection of the tracer substance, isotope angiography can be used as a means of controlling operative and conservative treatment.

[Dose-time effects of competitive displacement of radiopertechnetate by sodium perchlorate following oral and intravenous administration].

The effect of various doses of sodium perchlorate in several dose fractions on the extent and the time scale of displacement of radiopertechnetate, in dependence on application mode, was studied. An intravenous dose of 50 mg perchlorate was in respect of competitive suppression of organs actively concentrating pertechnetate as effective as intravenous 1000 mg ClO-4- simultaneously or 1000 mg orally 30 min before the injection of radiopertechnetate. An intravenous injection of perchlorate given later also produces a complete and immediately beginning depletion of pertechnetate already accumulated in the thyroid, within a period of 195 min after 99m-TcO-4-injection with a corresponding increase in blood levels.