Sentinel lymph node detection in thyroid carcinoma using [Ga]Ga-tilmanocept PET/CT: a proof-of-concept study.

Purpose: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is rarely used for thyroid carcinoma staging. This is due to challenges associated with conventional Tc-99m-labeled tracers, often producing a large hotspot at the injection site, potentially hiding nearby SLNs (shine-through effect). The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of SLN visualization using the new PET tracer [Ga]Ga-tilmanocept.

Patient Preparation with Esomeprazole Is Comparable to Ranitidine in Meckel Diverticulum Scintigraphy.

To localize ectopic gastric mucosa in patients with unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding and diagnose a Meckel diverticulum, Tc-pertechnetate imaging is the standard procedure. H2 inhibitor pretreatment enhances the sensitivity of the scan by reducing washout of Tc activity from the intestinal lumen. We aim to provide evidence of the effectiveness of the proton pump inhibitor esomeprazole as an ideal substitute for ranitidine.

Dosing Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals in Obese Patients.

The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in the Western population. Obesity is known to influence not only the proportion of adipose tissue but also physiological processes that could alter drug pharmacokinetics. Yet, there are no specific dosing recommendations for radiopharmaceuticals in this patient population.

Antenatal maternal antidepressants drugs treatment affects S100B levels in maternal-fetal biological fluids in a dose dependent manner.

Background: The increased use of antidepressant treatment during pregnancy occurred without firm evidence on safety/efficacy. The present study investigated the correlation among S100B and paroxetine blood levels with the occurrence of short-term post-natal neurological abnormalities.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 50 pregnant women using paroxetine because of depression and in 150 controls.

First Experience With 177Lu-PSMA-617 Therapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer in the Netherlands.

Purpose: The present study summarizes the first experience with Lu-PSMA-617 (Lu-PSMA) treatment in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (PCa) in our institution.

Methods: This was an analysis of the first 30 consecutive patients who underwent Lu-PSMA therapy. Biochemical response was defined as prostate-specific antigen decrease of 50% or greater.

Impact of external cooling with icepacks on Ga-PSMA uptake in salivary glands.

Background: External cooling of the salivary glands is advised to prevent xerostomia in lutetium-177-PSMA treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Since evidence addressing this subject is sparse, this study aims to determine impact of icepacks application on uptake in salivary glands. Eighty-nine patients referred for gallium-68-PSMA PET/CT for (re)staging of prostate cancer were prospectively included.

Ga-PSMA PET-CT Imaging of Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.

A patient with a history of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the nasal cavity presented himself with bone pain and an elevated PSA level. On suspicion of metastatic prostate cancer a Ga-PSMA PET-CT was performed. The PET-CT showed numerous lung and non-sclerotic bone metastasis.

Antenatal Maternal Antidepressants Drugs Affect S100B Concentrations in Fetal-Maternal Biological Fluids.

Introduction: Antidepressant treatment during pregnancy is speedily increasing in developed countries and this phenomenon has occurred without firm evidence on safety and/or efficacy.

Aims: The present study investigated from mid-trimester of pregnancy up to 24 hours after birth the pattern of a brain damage marker, namely S100B, in maternal fetal and neonatal biological fluids of pregnant women and their newborns antenatally treated by antidepressant drugs such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI).

Methods: we conducted an observational study on 75 pregnant women treated in the mid -third trimester by antidepressant drugs and 231 healthy pregnancies.

Highly variable plasma concentrations of voriconazole in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.

Invasive fungal infections are of great concern in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. Voriconazole is usually the drug of first choice for treating or preventing invasive aspergillosis. Optimum trough levels (C(trough)s) are between 1 and 5 mg/liter.

Activated charcoal for GHB intoxication: an in vitro study.

Context: Intoxications with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) are occurring more frequently. Patients are primarily treated symptomatically. The use of activated charcoal (AC) has been suggested in several guidelines and in literature, although the clinical value of AC in GHB intoxication is a matter of debate.

Antenatal maternal antidepressants drugs affect Activin A concentrations in maternal blood, in amniotic fluid and in fetal cord blood.

Objective: The use of antidepressant drugs during pregnancy is rapidly increasing both in Europe and in the USA, with controversial data regarding side-effects on fetus and newborn. We investigated, in pregnant women and in fetal biological fluids whether the concentrations of a brain protein, Activin A, changed in association with the use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI).

Methods: We conducted a case control study in 24 women treated with SSRIs, matched with 24 healthy pregnancies as controls.

Fetal behavioral teratology.

Ultrasound studies of fetal motor behavior provide direct – in vivo – insight in the functioning of the motor component of the fetal central nervous system. In this article, studies are reviewed showing changes in the first timetable of appearance of fetal movements, changes in quality and/or quantity of movements and disturbances in the development of fetal behavioral states in case of endogenous malfunctions, maternal diseases and exogenous behavioral teratogens.

Depression during pregnancy: views on antidepressant use and information sources of general practitioners and pharmacists.

Background: The use of antidepressants during pregnancy has increased in recent years. In the Netherlands, almost 2% of all pregnant women are exposed to antidepressants. Although guidelines have been developed on considerations that should be taken into account, prescribing antidepressants during pregnancy is still a subject of debate.

Severe valproic acid intoxication: case study on the unbound fraction and the applicability of extracorporeal elimination.

Among anticonvulsants, valproic acid (VPA) is cited as the most frequent cause of unintentional and intentional intoxications. Symptoms of VPA intoxication are diverse and are related to VPA plasma concentration. Although total plasma concentrations of less than 450 mg/l produce limited toxicity, severe intoxications (>850 mg/l) can induce coma and are ultimately life threatening.

Evaluation of available treatment guidelines for the management of lithium intoxication.

Intoxications with lithium carry considerable risk for long-term morbidity and even mortality. Consequently, any patient suspected of lithium intoxication requires immediate and appropriate care. The objectives of this study were to assess the completeness and the applicability of generally available treatment guidelines for the management of patients with a lithium intoxication and, hence, to provide general recommendations for improvement of existing treatment guidelines.

Once-daily intravenous busulfan with therapeutic drug monitoring compared to conventional oral busulfan improves survival and engraftment in children undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Because of intra- and interindividual variability, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics of busulfan (Bu) in children, oral busulfan without therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is assumed to be associated with higher graft failure rates as well as higher toxicity (eg, veno-occlusive disease [VOD]). This study compares the outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) of 2 groups: 1) 30 patients who received myeloablation with once-daily intravenous (i.v.

Prevalence and patterns of antidepressant drug use during pregnancy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the extent and patterns of antidepressant use before, during and after pregnancy in a large population in The Netherlands.

Methods: Health care records and prescription data from one of the largest Dutch health insurance companies were analysed. The study cohort consisted of 29,005 women who had live births in the period between January 2000 and July 2003.

Development of an optimal lidocaine infusion strategy for neonatal seizures.

Introduction: Lidocaine is an effective drug for the treatment of neonatal convulsions not responding to traditional anticonvulsant therapy. However, one of the side-effects is a risk of cardiac arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to develop an optimal dosing strategy with minimal risk of cardiac arrhythmias.

Treatment of symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection with valganciclovir.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital infection in humans. Some congenitally infected infants will develop sequelae later in life, especially sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and mental retardation. There is no generally accepted antiviral therapy for the treatment of symptomatic congenital CMV infections yet.

Drug treatment of fetal tachycardias.

The pharmacological treatment of fetal tachycardia (FT) has been described in various publications. We present a study reviewing the necessity for treatment of FT, the regimens of drugs used in the last two decades and their mode of administration. The absence of reliable predictors of fetal hydrops (FH) has led most centers to initiate treatment as soon as the diagnosis of FT has been established, although a small minority advocate nonintervention.