[Evaluation of 201Tl-accumulation in lung--imaging of 201Tl in the extravascular space (author's transl)]

In order to evaluate 201Tl-accumulation in lung, 201Tl imaging was performed using a scintillation camera coupling to a small digital computer, and blood clearance of it was examined. After the injection of 74 MBq(2mCi) of 201Tl-chloride, the serial images and static images were obtained. In order to obtain the image of 201Tl in the extravascular space [TE(x, y)], a subtraction technique was performed as follows; after 2 anterior views of 201Tl were obtained using a 20% window centered at 80 keV [T0(x, y)] and 140 keV [T140(x, y)] respectively, and blood sample was taken, radionuclide angiocardiography with 185 MBq (5 mCi) of 99mTc-human serum albumin and it's static image were done in the same supine position and blood sample was taken too. The radioactivity of 201Tl(T) and 99mTc(HB) in the blood was counted by a autogamma scintillation counter. Then the image of TE(x, y) was obtained by the following formula; TE(x, y)=T0(x, y)-[H(x, y)-T140(x, y)]TB/HB. Following results were obtained; (1) The disappearance of 201Tl from the blood was rapid and 15 min after the injection only 10 approximately 15% of the activity after 1 min was present in the blood. (2) The lung activity in the time activity curve decreased rapidly to reach plateau within 100 approximately 150 sec after the injection. (3) The image of 201Tl in the extravascular space was nearly equal to the original one as regard to the radioactivity of 201Tl in lung.

A radiotherapeutic clinical trial of twice per week vs. five times per week in oral cancer

135 cases of oral cancer have been treated by two fractions per week, and the results are compared with 115 approximately identical cases treated by conventional five days a week schedule with other parameters being identical. Radical irradiation was done by 6000 and 6500 rd in 6--6 1/2 weeks (NSD 1800--1900 ret) and palliative dose was 4500 R/4 weeks (NSD 1532 ret). Tumour regression was found markedly superior by conventional regime in radically irradiated cases but much less superior for palliative treatment. Acute and late reaction as well as tumour control at 1 year was better with daily treatment, more so in cases treated for radical cure, while in palliative treatment, the superiority of daily regime was less marked. Our study provides evidence that only for palliation in advanced cases, radiation therapy by 2 fractions a week can be alternatively used.

[Myocardial imaging with thallium-201--subtraction imaging with 201TlCl and 99mTcO4- for the visualization of the right ventricle--(author's transl)]

The dual radioisotope techniques with 201TlCl and 99mTcO4- were performed in 30 cases inclusive of various heart and lung diseases, using a scintillation camera coupling to a small digital computer. The scintigraphic procedures were started about 5 minutes after intravenous injection of 201TlCl. The myocardial images such as anterior, 60 degrees left anterior oblique, and left lateral view, were obtained. Next, 30 degrees left anterior oblique view was taken and radionuclide angiogram with 99mTcO4- was done in the same position too. This joint use of the myocardial imaging and radionuclide angiography could increase diagnostic reliability. Superimposing the image as iso-count map extracted out of radionuclide angiogram to the brightness image of 201TlCl, the anatomic orientation of the image of 201TlCl was improved. Subtracting the blood pool image with 99mTcO4- or radionuclide angiogram, which showed visualization of the right ventricle, lungs and left ventricle, from the image of 201TlCl, the subtraction image was obtained. The right ventricle was visualized more clearly on this subtraction image than the original image of 201TlCl. Good visualization of the right ventricle was shown in 25 cases on the subtraction image, and in 17 cases on the original image of 201TlCl.

[Imaging of the bronchial blood flow usingg RI-angiography--study on its procedure and application of dual radioisotope technique (author's transl)]

RI-angiography with 99mTcO4- was carried out using a scintillation camera with a digital minicomputer for the purpose of imaging of bronchial blood flow in various lung diseases, and as application of dual radioisotope techniques, other imagings such as tumor imaging with 197HgCl2 or 67Ga-citrate and/or perfusion imaging with 99mTc-MAA, were performed simultaneously in patients remaining the same position, too. The image as a iso-count map extracted out of the image of 197HgCl2, 67Ga-citrate or 99mTc-MAA, was superimposed to the brightness image of RI-anigogram (aortic phase). By these procedures, the image of bronchial blood flow were obtained in some patients with lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, lung abscess, and chronic bronchitis. The dual radioisotope techniques using RI-angiography and the other imaging were useful to make isotope diagnosis of lung diseases more reliable, and the image superimposition methods using RI-angiogram and the image of tumor or perfusion, were useful to improve anatomic orientation of the former.

Electron spin resonance study on the mode of generation of free radicals of daunomycin, adriamycin, and carboquone in NAD(P)H-microsome system

The mode of generation of free radicals of daunomycin, adriamycin, and carboquone in the NADPH-rat liver microsome system was studied at room temperature by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. ESR signals of all these quinoid anticancer chemicals were detected when dissolved oxygen in the reaction mixture was consumed since the radicals are easilyaut oxidizable. All the radicals had an appreciable lifetime under anaerobic conditions. However, there were differences in the mode of their generation between daunomycin and adriamycin, on the one hand, and carboquone, on the other, with respect to the lag time and the effect of the amount of chemicals, pH of the medium, kind of electron donors, NADPH and NADH, and the presence of excess of DNA. Especially, ESR signal reappeared after the first signal had decreased considerably, in the case of daunomycin and adriamycin but not in carboquone. Intact Ehrlich ascites tumor cells also gave rise to an ESR signal of adriamycin and carboquone, but the former signal was prevented from appearing in the presence of glucose.

Target cells for interferon production in human leukocytes stimulated by sendai virus

Whole leukocytes, mononuclear cells, polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), MONOCYTES, PURIFIED LYMPHOCYTES, AND T (rosette-forming cells, RFC) and non-T (nonrosette-forming cells, nonRFC) lymphocytes isolated from the human peripheral blood were stimulated by Sendai virus, respectively, and examined for interferon production in their culture fluids. High levels of interferon were produced by mononuclear cells, but not by PMN. Removal of monocytes from the mononuclear cell population did not affect at all the levels of interferon produced, although it strongly suppressed interferon induction by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly IC) and mitogenic response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) of the lymphocytes. Purified monocytes and T lymphocytes were unresponsive to the virus. In contrast, a population of purified non-T lymphocytes produced high levels of interferon. Addition of monocytes to the interferon-producing non-T lymphocytes did not affect the levels of interferon produced. No detectable levels of interferon were produced in the mixture of T lymphocytes and monocytes. It is concluded that non-T lymphocytes may be a major target for interferon induction of human leukocytes by Sendai virus.

Lupus erythematosus cells in pleural fluid cytologic diagnosis in two patients

Lupus erythematosus (LE) cells were demonstrated inpleural fluids from two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They were observed in preparations stained with the Giemsa and the Papanicolaou stains. The finding of LE cells in serous fluid has rarely been reported. Our results suggest that it is imporant to search for LE cells in serous fluid in patients in whom the diagnosis of SLE has not been established.

Stimulation of microsomal NADPH oxidation by quinone group-containing anticancer chemicals

Several anticancer chemicals containing a quinone group were found to stimulate the aerobic oxidation of NADPH by liver microsomes. The enzyme responsible for the above reaction was identified as NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (EC 1.6.2.4), one of the microsomal flavoproteins. The fact that a catalytic amount (20 micronM) of these anticancer chemicals was sufficient to oxidize all the NADPH (100 micronM) indicates that they function as electron carries from the flavoprotein to molecular oxygen. As a corollary, Mitomycin-C and Carbazilquinone stimulated oxygen uptake by Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in the presence of glucose that Daunomycin and Adriamycin failed to do so, although the reason for it remains to be elucidated. Carbazilquinone, in contrast to others, also stimulated the microsomal NADH oxidation.

Generation of free radicals of quinone group-containing anti-cancer chemicals in NADPH-microsome system as evidenced by initiation of sulfite oxidation

The prerequisit of reduction for activation of Mitomycin-C and unstability of its reduced form suggested investigation of the possible formation of free radicals (semiquinone forms) of a series of quinone-containing anticancer chemicals in vitro. The ability of rat-liver microsomes to initiate sulfite oxidation in the presence of NADPH was markedly enhanced by the addition of these chemicals. This strongly suggests that these chemicals participated in the process in the form of reactive free radicals. The reaction was specific for NADPH. Carbazilquinone was unique among others in that NADH can replace NADPH and its higher ability to initiate sulfite oxidation. Microsomes from Ehrlich ascites and AH-109A hepatoma cells were also effective, though to a lesser extent than those from rat liver on a protein basis. Generation of free radicals, though their biological significance is not clear at present, may be deemed an inherent chemical property of these chemicals.