From monoclonal antibodies to peptides and molecular recognition units: an overview.

Various antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) are now being used clinically. Applications include in vitro testing (radioimmunoassay) and in vivo imaging (radioimmunoscintigraphy) for the early detection and staging of disease. Mabs can also be used as vehicles for delivering therapy (radioimmunotherapy) or to assess effects of therapeutic interventions.

Is coma morally equivalent to anencephalia?

In this article I contend that the tendency to equate coma with anencephalia is a mistake. A key idea here is that there is a type of "mental-state" predicate that is applicable to the comatose but not to anencephalics. One of the moral implications of this is that the concept of "brain death," its alleged popularity notwithstanding, is badly confused.

Colorectal cancer imaging with iodine-123-labeled CEA monoclonal antibody fragments.

This prospective, randomized multicenter study in 62 patients was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of radioimmunodetection (RAID) with 123I-labeled fragments, F(ab')2 and Fab', of IMMU-4, an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (Immu-RAID-CEA). It was found that ImmuRAID-CEA was safe and disclosed colorectal cancer sites at least 1 cm in size. The positive predictive value by lesions was 77% initially, and increased to 91% after 7 mo of follow-up.

Diagnostic uses of nuclear medicine in AIDS.

Radionuclide imaging, if applied with an organ system approach, is useful in the diagnosis of the AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)-related complex. Specific pathologic processes can be suspected on the basis of uptake patterns. The intensity and pattern of pulmonary uptake and concomitant nonpulmonary uptake of gallium provide guidelines for distinguishing among various opportunistic pulmonary pathogens.

Clinical comparison of technetium-99m-teboroxime and thallium-201 utilizing a continuous SPECT imaging protocol.

To examine the advantages of a 99mTc-labeled cardiac perfusion agent, teboroxime or SQ30,217 (Squibb Diagnostics), a prospective study was undertaken comparing it to 201Tl stress testing in 17 patients suspected or known of having coronary artery disease (CAD). All patients were studied utilizing a single-detector SPECT camera with a continuous acquisition imaging protocol. Testing was performed on a treadmill to comparable levels with both agents within a 2-wk period.

Rate constants of embolization and quantitation of emboli from the hollow-fiber oxygenator and arterial filter during cardiopulmonary bypass.

A direct technique was developed to estimate parameters related to half life (T1/2) and rate constants of embolization (RCE) and to quantitate emboli of three sizes (small, medium, and large) shed from the oxygenator and arterial filter during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed in 16 Yorkshire pigs divided as follows: systemic heparin group (SHG:6), systemic heparin/heparinized circuit group (SH/HCG:5), and Iloprost (Bentley) (2 ng/kg/min)/heparinized circuit group (IHCG:5) with In-111 labeled autologous platelets. The anesthetized pigs (20-25 kg) underwent CPB at 2.

Quantitation of comparative thrombogenicity of dog, pig, and human platelets in a hemodialyzer.

Comparative platelet thrombogenicity was quantified with In111 labeled platelets. The platelets collected from the blood of Beagle dogs, Yorkshire pigs, and human volunteers were labeled with detergent free In111 tropolone, and sham hemodialysis (SHD) was performed with a hollow fiber dialyzer in a flow loop at 37 degrees C, with flow rates of 7, 150, and 270 ml/min. After SHD, hemodialyzer radioactivity was measured with an ionization chamber, gamma counter, and it was imaged with a gamma camera.

Clinical evaluation of a scintigraphic method for diagnosing inflammations/infections using indium-111-labeled nonspecific human IgG.

This study was undertaken as part of a Phase II study to assess the sensitivity and safety of 111In-DTPA-human IgG, an imaging agent for the detection of inflammations and/or infections. Forty patients with infection/inflammation on the basis of clinical findings, microbiologic results, and/or the basis of results from other imaging modalities were studied. For evaluation of sensitivity, whole-body images were obtained at 6-12 hr (early) and 20-28 hr (delayed) postinjection and occasionally at 48 hr.

Development of sensitive radioiodinated anti-sense oligonucleotide probes by conjugation technique.

Radioactive and nonradioactive oligonucleotide (ON) probes have been used in a variety of studies of in vitro hybridization for locations of specific genes and determination of the level of mRNA transcription in activated and proliferative cells. Nuclease-resistant phosphorothioate derivatives of oligonucleotides are also finding potential therapeutic applications in intact cells and animal models. In this study, we have developed new techniques of radioiodination by the conjugation of oligonucleotides with p-methoxyphenyl isothiocyanate (PMPITC) and optimized the conditions of the radioiodination, e.

Technetium-99m-labeled platelets: comparison of labeling with a new lipid-soluble Sn(II)-mercaptopyridine-N-oxide and 99mTc-HMPAO.

Platelets pretinned with a neutral Sn(II)-2-mercaptopyridine-N-oxide (SN-MPO) were labeled with 99mTc and compared to those labeled with 99mTc-HMPAO. The conditions of labeling platelets, e.g.

The dynamics of platelet thrombus formation rate, thrombus retention time, and rate of embolization on a control and heparin bonded polyurethane angio-catheter.

The dynamics of platelet deposition and embolization from control and heparin bonded polyurethane catheters (CPC and HBPC) was evaluated with In-111 labeled autologous platelets (IN-PLT) and a computerized gamma camera (CGC). Ten non-heparinized dogs (18-25 kg) were catheterized in both femoral arteries with 10 cm of CPC and HBPC (5 Fr., Cordis) 24 hr after injection of 300-420 microCi of In-PLT, and imaged for 3 hr with the computerized gamma camera.

Bone mineral density after bicycle ergometry training.

The effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycle ergometry on bone mineral density (BMD) was investigated in six spinal cord injury (SCI) quadriplegic men. Each subject trained three days a week for six months on an FES cycle ergometer. Pretraining and posttraining BMD measurements of the proximal femur were performed using dual photon absorptiometry.

Endotoxin testing with limulus amoebocyte lysate in a radiopharmaceutical containing chelated metallic radionuclides and chelating agents.

The gel formation by endotoxin with limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) solution requires the presence of free calcium ions. The chelating agents and radiopharmaceuticals prepared from the chelating agents always reduce the available free calcium levels present in the kits used for the testing of apyrogenicity and thus inhibit gel formation of LAL with E. Coli endotoxin (ET).

The kinetics and quantitation of platelet deposition on control (CPC) and heparin-bonded polyurethane angio-catheter (HBPC) with indium-111 labeled platelets in a dog model.

The dynamics of platelet deposition on CPC and HBPC was evaluated with In-111 labeled platelets (In-PLT) with a computerized gamma camera (CGC). Ten non-heparinized dogs (18-25 kg) were catheterized in both femoral arteries with 10 cm of CPC and HBPC (5 Fr., Cordis, Inc.

The diagnostic role of nuclear medicine in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

This paper is a review of (a) the pathophysiology of the autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and (b) the diagnostic procedures nuclear medicine has to evaluate human immunodeficiency virus related disorders. This article is organized in an organ system approach to AIDS pathology. The application of [67Ga]citrate, 111In-labeled white blood cells, [201Tl]chloride, single photon emission computed tomographic, and positron emission tomographic brain agents, [99mTc]sulfur colloid and [99mTc]methylene diphosphonate to the pulmonary, nervous, gastrointestinal, dermatologic, musculoskeletal, and renal systems is discussed.

Technetium-99m labeled monoclonal antibodies in the detection of metastatic melanoma.

Twenty-six stage II/III malignant melanoma patients with 321 measurable metastatic lesions were imaged using Fab fragments of an IgG murine monoclonal antibody labeled specifically with 10-30 mCi Tc-99m with a bi-functional chelating method (NeoRx, Seattle, WA). There were no side effects or adverse reactions. Immunoscintigraphy demonstrated 66.

Kinetics and quantitation of In-111 labeled platelet deposition on control and heparin-bonded polyurethane angio catheters in a dog model.

The dynamics of platelet deposition on control polyurethane catheters (CPC) and heparin-bonded polyurethane catheters (HBPC) were evaluated with In-111 labeled platelets (In-PLT) using a computerized gamma camera (CGC). Ten nonheparinized dogs (18-25 kg) had both femoral arteries catherized with 10 cm of CPC and HBPC (5 Fr.) 24 hr postinjection of 300-420 microcuries of In-PLT, and imaged for 3 hr with a gamma camera.

Human T-cell-receptor delta chain: genomic organization, diversity, and expression in populations of cells.

The locus of the delta chain of the human T-cell receptor has been isolated and examined. Three D (diversity) regions and two J (joining) regions are present on the 5' side of the C (constant) region. The closest V (variable) region to the constant region is V delta 2, which in the germ line is found on the 3' side of the constant region in an inverted direction.

Experimental increase in brain HIPDM uptake by hypercapnia.

The 30-min brain uptake of [125I]HIPDM was measured in conscious rats--normocapnic (n = 8), hypercapnic (n = 12), and hyperoxic (n = 6). A mean 41.2% higher uptake was found in the brains of hypercapnic animals (p less than 0.

Early recognition of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma utilizing gallium-67 citrate scintigraphy.

Gallium-67 scintigraphy is a valuable test together with other screening tests such as alpha feto-protein (AFP) and other imaging modalities in following up recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Three patients were followed in our institution for intervals varying from 2-24 mo after successful resection of uninodular localized hepatomas. In the first patient, gallium scan showed abnormal localized activity while the computed tomography (CT) scan and the magnetic resonance imaging were negative.