Nitrogen-15 NMR studies of rat liver in vitro and in vivo

In the present 2.1 T15N NMR study two different kinds of experiments are presented. In one we show that metabolic reactions of 15N-labelled glycine can be followed in the isolated rat liver. In the second we demonstrate that [15N]glycine can be detected using NMR in vivo. For quantification and identification of glycine and metabolites 15N-isotope analysis (emission spectrometry technique) was used. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of 15N NMR for study of the metabolism of 15N-labelled compounds in vivo.

Scintigraphy of lymphatic vessels in malignant melanoma of the skin before operation (en bloc excision)

An injection of 99mTc-labelled antimony sulphide colloid was used to show the lymphatic pathways in patients with malignant melanoma of the trunk skin. Using a gamma camera, optimal visualisation was obtained 15-30 min postinjection. Surprising deviations of the lymphatic pathways were found; therefore, this method makes it possible to plan continuity dissection appropriate to individual cases. Two examples are presented.