Radiolabelling rituximab with (99m)Tc in three steps procedure.

Lymphomas are the most frequent haematological malignancy. In non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), more than 90% of tumor cells express the cluster of differentiation (CD) 20 antigen. At the end of frontline therapy, the evaluation of remission is based on computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography coupled with computer tomography (PET/CT) with [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose ([(18)F]FDG).

A functionalized heterobimetallic (99m)Tc/Re complex as a potential dual-modality imaging probe: synthesis, photophysical properties, cytotoxicity and cellular imaging investigations.

A novel bimodal fluorescent/radiolabelled probe based on a pyridyltriazole scaffold (known as pyta) is reported here. The final dual imaging agent combines carboxylate functionalization, for biomolecule conjugation, with two distinct metal chelating sites: a pyta-based tricarbonylrhenium moiety as a fluorescent probe and a (99m)Tc(CO3)(+) core through the tridentate chelating iminodiacetic acid (IDA) clamp as a SPECT reporter. The heterodinuclear (99m)Tc/Re complex , as well as its non-radioactive dirhenium analog , was prepared in six steps.

Prediction of high-grade vesicoureteral reflux after pediatric urinary tract infection: external validation study of procalcitonin-based decision rule.

Background: Predicting vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR) ≥3 at the time of the first urinary tract infection (UTI) would make it possible to restrict cystography to high-risk children. We previously derived the following clinical decision rule for that purpose: cystography should be performed in cases with ureteral dilation and a serum procalcitonin level ≥0.17 ng/mL, or without ureteral dilatation when the serum procalcitonin level ≥0.

Procalcitonin is a predictor for high-grade vesicoureteral reflux in children: meta-analysis of individual patient data.

Objective: To assess the predictive value of procalcitonin, a serum inflammatory marker, in the identification of children with first urinary tract infection (UTI) who might have high-grade (≥3) vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).

Study Design: We conducted a meta-analysis of individual data, including all series of children aged 1 month to 4 years with a first UTI, a procalcitonin (PCT) level measurement, cystograms, and an early dimercaptosuccinic acid scan.

Results: Of the 152 relevant identified articles, 12 studies representing 526 patients (10% with VUR ≥3) were included.

First dinuclear Re/Tc complex as a potential bimodal Optical/SPECT molecular imaging agent.

In this communication, a novel synthetic pathway has been applied to prepare a dual imaging agent in a single molecule. The dinuclear Re(I)/Tc(I) complex 6, namely [Re(CO)(3)(bipy){(4-PyrIDA)Tc(CO)(3)}], is the first example of a Re/Tc-based heterometallic assembly which could act as a potential bimodal Optical/SPECT probe. Interestingly, the Re(I) complex intermediate 4 exhibits significant photophysical properties for biological applications.

A click procedure with heterogeneous copper to tether technetium-99m chelating agents and rhenium complexes. Evaluation of the chelating properties and biodistribution of the new radiolabelled glucose conjugates.

An efficient protocol was developed to tether chelating agents and rhenium complexes onto a glucoside scaffold with a heterogeneous copper catalyst via click chemistry. The supported catalyst avoids the formation of unwanted copper complexes during the cyclisation step. The possibility to graft a pre-chelated M(CO)(3) core by click chemistry onto a biomolecule was highlighted for the first time.

Toxicological methods for tracing drug abuse: chromatographic, spectroscopic and biological characterisation of ecstasy derivatives.

Analysis often reveals variability in the composition of ecstasy pills from pure 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) to mixtures of MDMA derivatives, amphetamine, and other unidentified substances. For a comprehensive toxicological analysis one needs to know all steps to MDMA synthesis which may originate impurities. The aim of this study was to synthesise and determine the chemical-physical and in vitro biological properties of a series of MDMA derivatives.

Synthesis, characterization and in vitro evaluation of new oxorhenium- and oxotechnetium-CCK4 derivatives as molecular imaging agents for CCK2-receptor targeting.

The goal of this study is to design new (99m)Tc-radiolabelled shortened CCK derivatives that might be suitable for the molecular imaging of cholecystokinin-2 receptors (CCK2-R), these receptors being over-expressed in a number of neuroendocrine tumors such as medullary thyroid cancer and small-cell lung cancer. For this purpose, we designed several modified CCK4 analogs bearing an ON(2)S tetradentate chelating agent at the N-terminus, the CCK4 sequence representing the minimal peptide sequence that presents nanomolar affinity and activity towards the CCK2-R. Four peptide conjugates of general formula (Trt)SN(2)OPh-(X)(n)-CCK4 (X=beta-alanine or 6-aminohexanoic acid spacers; n=0, 2, 4) and their oxorhenium peptide conjugates have been synthesized and characterized.

Procalcitonin implication in renal cell apoptosis induced by acute pyelonephritis in children.

The aim of this biomedical trial was to clarify the physiological role of procalcitonin (PCT) in renal parenchyma apoptosis and fibrosis caused by acute childhood pyelonephritis. This prospective study enrolled 183 children. All children were treated with bi-therapy according to the French consensus on acute pyelonephritis treatment dated November 16, 1990: intra-vascular administration of ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg/day and netromicine 7 mg/kg/day during the first 48 hours, followed by specific antibiotherapy suited to antibiogram.

Modeling the variability of creatinine measurements improves estimates of the glomerular filtration rate.

Background: The precision of the formulae used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreases when the serum creatinine (SCr) assay is biased compared with the assay used during the development of the formulae.

Methods: For 100 children referred for 51Cr-EDTA clearance (CLEDTA), SCr was measured with a JAFFE (classic Jaffe colorimetric creatinine assay), a compensated Jaffe (COMP), an enzymatic (ENZ) and an HPLC assay. A population pharmacokinetics approach based on a non-linear mixed effects model (NONMEM) was used to model the relationships between the CLEDTA and physiopathological/analytical variables.

GFR is better estimated by considering both serum cystatin C and creatinine levels.

Serum cystatin C (cysC) is a potential marker of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) that has generated conflicting reports in children. A prospective study was conducted to assess the benefit of considering cysC together with serum creatinine (SCr) and demographic and morphologic characteristics to better estimate the 51Cr-ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) clearance (CL), i.e.

Synthesis, metal complexation and biological evaluation of a novel semi-rigid bifunctional chelating agent for 99mTc labelling.

A novel bifunctional chelating agent bearing an aromatic ring has been synthesised and characterised. This ligand formed well-defined oxorhenium complexes. The analogous 99mTcO-complex was obtained in an excellent yield with high radiochemical purity (>95%).

Design and synthesis of a novel family of semi-rigid ligands: versatile compounds for the preparation of 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals.

Synthetic pathways to a range of novel semi-rigid tetradentate ligands, with sulfur, amido or amino donor groups, designed to coordinate technetium 99m have been developed. The technetium-99m complexes have been prepared and their stabilities in serum and by metathesis reaction via cysteine exchange reactions were compared. HPLC comparison of two (99m)Tc-complexes and their rhenium analogues led to the first proof of the nature of our radioactive complexes.

Toxicovigilance: new biochemical tool used in sulfonylurea herbicides toxicology studies.

In vitro toxic effects of sulfonylurea herbicides (thifensulfuron-methyl and metsulfuron-methyl) were evaluated according to a new protocol. Physiological conditions were reproduced in order to boost toxicovigilance. Sulfonylureas and their hydrolysis products were added to biological substrates such as urea, alanine, aspartic acid, alpha-ketoglutarate, oxaloacetate, pyruvate and then incubated with some specific enzymes.

Estimation of glomerular filtration rate in children.

The aim of this study was to develop a method to predict the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children by using the population pharmacokinetic approach. This powerful approach is widely used for drug development in order to study relationships between patients' characteristics (demographic, morphological, biological covariates) and pharmacokinetic parameters. For the first time, (51)Cr-EDTA plasma concentrations from 64 children (development data set) were analyzed using the Non-linear Mixed Effects Model (NONMEM) program to determine the most appropriate equation to relate (51)Cr-EDTA clearance (as a measurement of GFR) and patient characteristics.