[Expression of DRC1 antigen by leukemic cells].
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Autoantigens↗
Biomedical subjects
C Beckers
Publications and source records attributed to C Beckers.
Influence of ureteral status on kidney washout during technetium-99m-DTPA diuresis renography in children.
To assess the influence of the ureter on renal washout during 99mTc-DTPA diuresis renography, ureteral images were reviewed in 42 children (median age: 5 mo) referred for hydronephrosis. Sixty-minute acquisitions were obtained in hydrated patients under bladder drainage. Furosemide was injected at 30 min. An abnormal ureter was defined as an intense and continuous image of greater than 10 min. A washout index was determined on renal (KT1/2) and ureteral (UT1/2) curves. Curve patterns corresponding to normal (type I), obstructive (II) and nonobstructive (III) cases were described. Compared with the x-ray data, diuresis renography was highly sensitive (91%) and specific (98%) for detecting any abnormality. Despite an obstructive KT1/2 (greater than 20 min), no patient with an abnormal ureter underwent therapy at the ureteropelvic junction. After surgery at the lower level, hydronephrosis regressed. Our data indicate that abnormal ureter findings at diuresis renography have to be recognized before planning therapy for children with hydronephrosis.
Adolescent↗
Noninvasive measurement of liver regeneration with positron emission tomography and [2-11C]thymidine.
The feasibility of liver regeneration determination with [2-11C]thymidine and positron emission tomography was investigated in partially hepatectomized rats. Serial tomographic scans were performed over a 120-minute period after injection of [2-11C]thymidine together with tritium-labeled thymidine. Within 10 minutes after injection, positron emission tomography scans showed a twofold higher hepatic uptake in regenerating than in nonregenerating livers. Time-activity curves over the liver area indicated that the maximal uptake was followed by a faster decrease of 11C radioactivity in controls than in regenerating animals, so that total 11C activity remaining in the liver at 120 minutes accounted for 68% of maximum in regenerating and only 38% in controls. Tissue distribution studies performed at 120 minutes showed that total 11C radioactivity, expressed in percent injected dose per gram, was six times higher in regenerating livers than in controls (0.62% +/- 0.07% in regenerating livers and 0.10% +/- 0.03% in nonregenerating livers; P less than 0.001) and correlated with 3H radioactivity measured in the nuclear fraction (r = 0.92; P less than 0.001). When the hepatic uptake was expressed in percent of dose per organ, the difference between both groups increased (2.31% +/- 0.23% in regenerating livers and 0.29% +/- 0.02% in nonregenerating livers; P less than 0.001) because of higher weight of regenerating livers than of nonregenerating livers (3.83 +/- 0.11 g in regenerating livers and 2.96 +/- 0.16 g in nonregenerating livers; P less than 0.001). In other organs examined, no difference in 11C radioactivity was found between the two groups of rats. These results indicated the potential usefulness of [2-11C]thymidine and positron emission tomography for noninvasive measurement of liver regeneration.
Animals↗
Additional prognostic value of exercise testing and thallium-201 scintigraphy in catheterized patients without previous myocardial infarction.
To determine whether exercise testing and thallium scintigraphy provide additional prognostic information in symptomatic patients undergoing catheterization, we studied 432 consecutive male patients without a previous myocardial infarction by means of an exercise test, thallium scintigraphy and catheterization. The follow-up period was 46 +/- 24 months (from 12 to 96). Events were defined as death (27 patients), nonfatal myocardial infarction (occurring in 27 patients) or late (greater than 60 days after test) surgery or dilatation (needed in 45 patients). The 5 year survival rate was 89% and the event-free rate was 72%. History, noninvasive and invasive variables were submitted to a stepwise Cox regression analysis. By multivariate analysis, the significant variables related to death were the number of diseased vessels and exercise workload; the selected variables for all cardiac events were the number of diseased vessels; the score at thallium exercise testing and exercise workload. Among the subgroups of 337 coronary patients, the predictive variables for death were exercise workload and the number of diseased vessels. For all cardiac events, the selected variables were the number of diseased vessels, the score of defects during thallium exercise and exercise workload. Thus, in patients without a previous myocardial infarction, noninvasive variables do provide prognostic information which is not available either from the history or from catheterization.
Cardiac Catheterization↗
Interest of gallium hepatic scintigraphy in hepatic abscess: a case study.
The interest of 67Ga-citrate scintigraphy in the diagnosis of hepatic abscess is illustrated by a study of a 56-year-old man, who was admitted to the hospital for upper abdominal pain. Ultrasound (US) and X-ray CT scan examinations suggested the presence of a liquid mass, the origin of which was unclear. Liver scintigraphy with 67Ga-citrate disclosed a lacunar zone surrounded by a rim of increased uptake, an image strongly suggestive of abscess or necrotic tumor. A US-guided needle aspiration of the hepatic mass yielded a purulent liquid, from which Streptococcus milleri were grown. This observation suggests that, despite the development of other diagnostic procedures, hepatic gallium scintigraphy still remains sometimes useful for the investigation of poorly characterized hepatic masses.
Citrates↗
Area-at-risk determination by technetium-99m-hexakis-2-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile in experimental reperfused myocardial infarction.
In a canine model of reperfused myocardial infarction, we tested the hypothesis that after reperfusion, technetium-99m-hexakis-2-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (Tc-MIBI) tomographic imaging still reflects occlusion blood flow when the tracer is injected before reperfusion. Nine anesthetized dogs underwent 2 hours of coronary occlusion followed by 3 hours of reperfusion ending by being killed. Reference coronary blood flow was determined by radioactive microspheres injected during occlusion and after reperfusion. Biopsies in normal and ischemic myocardium and single photon emission computed tomography were obtained during occlusion and after reperfusion. Circumferential profiles were applied to axial slices divided into 5-degree sectors. The sectors were divided into 3 groups selected on the occlusion acquisition (normal, mildly reduced, and severely reduced) and compared with the postreperfusion acquisition. Tissular Tc-MIBI kinetics was assessed both by Tc-MIBI time-activity curves of normal and ischemic tissue obtained by biopsy and by the relative gradient between normal, ischemic, and necrotic postmortem tissue samples. In biopsy samples, Tc-MIBI content remained unchanged during occlusion and after reperfusion in normal as well as in ischemic tissue (4,662 +/- 2,237 counts/min/mg vs. 4,599 +/- 1,577 counts/min/mg in normal tissue, NS; 941 +/- 903 counts/min/mg vs. 1,087 +/- 721 counts/min/mg in ischemic tissue, NS). In postmortem tissue samples, there was a good correlation between occlusion microsphere blood flow and Tc-MIBI activity (r = 0.91). In the necrotic samples, mean normalized Tc-MIBI activity (10 +/- 17%) was slightly higher than the normalized microsphere blood flow (3 +/- 3%, p less than 0.001) but markedly lower than the normalized microsphere reperfusion blood flow (63 +/- 31%, p less than 0.001). Comparing the single photon emission computed tomographic acquisitions before and after reperfusion, Tc-MIBI activity remained unchanged in normal as well as in mildly reduced or severely reduced segments. Thus, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that Tc-MIBI traces blood flow, does not redistribute significantly despite reperfusion, and can be used for imaging the area at risk.
Animals↗
Interference in thyrotropin (TSH) determination: falsely elevated TSH values in a transplanted patient.
We report a falsely elevated TSH value as determined by an immunoradiometric assay. The patient, a thyroidectomized woman on substitutive therapy, underwent a kidney transplantation. She was treated for transplant rejection with OKT 3 (Orthoclone), a mouse monoclonal antibody. The discrepancy between the TSH value (TSH-Riabead II, Abbott) and the thyroid hormones level led us to suspect the presence of antimouse antibodies in the serum of this patient. Indeed, human immunoglobulins directed against mouse IgG2a and IgG2b were detected. We repeated-the TSH determination in the presence of normal mouse serum (NMS) and obtained a true TSH value. Upon fractionation of the serum with protein-A chromatography, the falsely elevated TSH immunoreactivity was detected in the IgG fraction.
Animals↗
Decreased serum TBG concentration in the face of normal T4-binding capacity in patients on hemodialysis.
Serum TBG concentrations were evaluated in 34 patients on regular hemodialysis. Mean serum TBG level measured by two different radioimmunoassays was markedly decreased (1.24 +/- 0.08 mg/dl - normal limits 1.6-2.4 mg/dl). Twenty-seven (79%) patients had values below 1.6 mg/dl, which contrasted in 21 of them with a lack of reciprocal elevation of T3RU values. By contrast, T4-binding capacity of TBG measured in 14 patients with low TBG concentration was normal, suggesting that the low TBG values were an artefact resulting from an altered immunoreactivity of the protein. In 2 patients with low TBG while on hemodialysis, TBG levels increased significantly after renal transplantation. This suggests that the "low TBG syndrome" (altered immunoreactivity in the face of normal T4-binding capacity) observed in patients on chronic hemodialysis is a consequence of uremia.
Adolescent↗
Assessment of left ventricular diastolic function in patients receiving anthracycline therapy.
Abnormalities in left ventricular filling have been described as an early finding in coronary artery disease and in cardiomyopathy. The present study was undertaken to determine whether impaired diastolic function may be an early sign of anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Radionuclide left ventricular curves of 30 treated patients were compared with the curves of 17 normal, agematched, volunteers. The curves were analyzed for ejection fraction, peak filling rate (normalized for end diastolic counts and for stroke counts), time to peak filling rate and filling fraction in the first third of diastole normalized for cycle length. In 20 patients (Groups A and B), we analyzed the radionuclide ventriculography preceding the decrease of systolic function or a clinical congestive heart failure. In ten patients (Group C) who ended a treatment regimen without systolic dysfunction or clinically evident cardiotoxicity, we analyzed the ventriculography at the end of the therapy. Among the diastolic indexes, only the first third filling fraction was abnormal in a minority of the patients (6/20 in Groups A and B). Our findings suggest that diastolic dysfunction is uncommon in anthracycline treated patients prior to systolic dysfunction.
Adult↗
Decreased TSH response to TRH induced by amiodarone.
In order to test the reactivity of TSH to TRH during amiodarone treatment we investigated 7 hypothyroid subjects treated with 50 micrograms T3/day. A TRH test (200 micrograms iv) was performed before and after 6 weeks of treatment with 400 mg amiodarone/day. Amiodarone treatment induced a significant increase in serum total and free T3 (from 2.17 +/- 0.13 to 3.55 +/- 0.58 nmol/l and from 5.6 +/- 0.61 to 9.46 +/- 1.41 pmol/l). Basal TSH levels were significantly decreased and the maximal stimulation of TSH 20 min after TRH injection was only 20.0 +/- 3.3 mU/l during amiodarone treatment compared with 61.4 +/- 10.4 mU/l before treatment. These results indicate that in hypothyroid patients treated with amiodarone, the TSH response to TRH is blunted and that this is likely to be related to the higher total and free T3 levels or to a direct effect of amiodarone at the pituitary level.
Amiodarone↗
[The role of iodine in goitrogenesis].
Iodine deficiency remains the main goitrogenic factor which affects not only many developing countries, but still many areas in Western Europe. Iodine excess is much less often responsible for the development of goiter, but through the iodine-induced immune disturbances within the thyroid, could on a long run, appear also goitrogenic.
Goiter↗
Resting and hypercapnic rCBF in patients with unilateral occlusive disease of the internal carotid artery.
Regional cerebral blood flow was measured by the 133Xe inhalation technique in 15 patients with severe unilateral internal carotid artery stenosis (75%) or occlusion, and in the absence of evidence of any sign of occlusive disease in other main afferent cerebral arteries. A comparison with normal subjects showed that lowered resting flow in both hemispheres was a common finding in all patients. Interhemispheric asymmetry was present only in patients with occlusion and the precentral, posterior temporal, and occipital regions were the most seriously affected. The CO2 reactivity was substantially reduced in both hemispheres of all stenotic and occluded patients, but occluded patients showed an increased reduction of CO2 reactivity only in the ipsilateral hemisphere. In addition to an hypothetical age effect, the atherosclerotic involvement of the cerebral vascular system leads to a reduction of flow and loss of CO2 reactivity in both hemispheres. In this context, the collateral supply capacity is not overloaded in case of a unilateral severe stenosis but fails in case of a unilateral occlusion of the internal carotid artery. A suitable estimate of the blood flow reduction as a result of occlusion is made by the hemispheric and regional laterality indices applied in resting and hypercapnia conditions. These indices could be used as indicators for endarterectomy or bypass surgery as well as a sensitive means for appreciating cerebral blood flow response to treatment.
Adult↗
Clinical evaluation of Amerlite's one-step immunoassay for determining free thyroxin.
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Female↗
Sex hormone-binding protein in hyperthyroxinemic patients: a discriminator for thyroid status in thyroid hormone resistance and familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia.
Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels in serum are affected by thyroid status; hyperthyroidism is associated with high SHBG levels, whereas hypothyroid patients have low or normal SHBG levels. This study was undertaken to test the usefulness of SHBG determinations to define the thyroid status in two hyperthyroxinemic states: thyroid hormone resistance (THR) and familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia (FDH). Serum SHBG levels were determined in 193 patients and 26 normal subjects using an IRMA-type RIA. In the control group, the mean values in women (58.9 nmol/liter) and men (32.7 nmol/liter) were significantly different (P less than 0.001). In adult subjects with THR, SHBG levels were within the normal range, with mean values of 54.8 nmol/liter (range, 28.7-82.5 nmol/liter) in women and 18 and 20 nmol/liter in two men. In FDH subjects, the mean SHBG levels did not differ from the normal values; they averaged 60.7 nmol/liter in women and 42.3 nmol/liter in men. From these data we conclude that in THR and FDH, free T4 levels elicit an appropriate hepatic response corresponding to the euthyroid status of these subjects. SHBG determination may, therefore, serve as an in vitro test for end-organ sensitivity to thyroid hormones.
Drug Resistance↗
Diagnostic value of free triiodothyronine in serum.
Serum free T3 concentration has been assessed in various thyroid conditions by a T3 analog method and the results compared with those obtained by equilibrium dialysis in the same individuals. The methodology is easy to perform and reproducible. FT3 determination appears to be especially valuable in detecting borderline thyrotoxicosis as in cases previously cured from thyrotoxicosis but suspected of relapse, or in nontoxic goitrous patients overtreated with T4.
Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
[Use of radioisotopes in diagnosis].
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Belgium↗
Screening for neonatal hypothyroidism by thyroxine and thyrotrophin radioimmunoassays using dried blood samples on filter paper.
A routine and automatized methodology for thyroxine (T4) and thyrotrophin (TSH) radioimmunoassay (RIA) using dried blood samples on filter paper is described. T4-RIA was performed on one single dot (5 mm diameter equivalent to 4 microliters of serum) while two dots were necessary for TSH-RIA. Reference filter papers were introduced in each assay for quality control. In a preliminary study on 4,155 neonates, samples generally obtained between the 5th--7th day gave a mean 'dot-T4' of 97.95 +/- 36.04 nmol/l and a mean 'dot-TSH' of 10.19 mU/l +/- 8.25, corresponding to 2.47 mU/l of serum. Within an 18-month period (November 1976-April 1978), a total of 16.522 neonates have been screened allowing detection of three cases of congenital hypothyroidism (incidence 1 : 5507), two cases of congenitally low TBG and thirty-three cases of transient hypothyroidism.
Female↗