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Biomedical subjects

J C Hung

Publications and source records attributed to J C Hung.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

An alternative method for rapid preparation of 99Tcm-sestamibi.

The availability of 99Tcm-sestamibi is limited, especially in emergency cases due to the time-consuming preparation procedure that requires a 10-min boiling water bath and a 30-min radiochemical purity (RCP) analysis. These two restrictions have been surmounted by the combined use of a microwave oven heating method and a minipaper chromatography system. However, use of the microwave oven heating method presents some potential problems: (1) technical error in setting the microwave oven heating time and power setting; (2) ejection of the rubber septum if the vial is not evacuated; (3) breakage of the vial during the microwave heating process; (4) inconsistent and inhomogeneous microwave heating; (5) reevaluation process required for use of a different type of microwave oven. Although a 1-min boiling water bath time is sufficient to provide an acceptable RCP for 99Tcm-sestamibi, additional time is required to heat the water to a boiling state. An instant hot water machine was evaluated for possible replacement of the microwave heating method. Three millilitres of 5500 MBq (150 mCi) 99Tcm was added to a Cardiolite kit and then placed in a 150-ml insulated beaker filled with hot water (86.2 +/- 1.9 degrees C, n = 45) from an instant hot water machine. A minipaper chromatography system was used to determine the RCP of samples after 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min incubation periods. Our results show that 2 min was the shortest incubation time that yielded an acceptable RCP of 94.7 +/- 0.4% (n = 60) over the 24 h evaluation time. The use of an instant hot water machine not only avoids those problems associated with the microwave heating method, but also provides a rapid, efficient and relatively simple option for preparation of 99Tcm-sestamibi.

Humans↗

Evaluation of a radiolabeled somatostatin analog (I-123 octreotide) in the detection and localization of carcinoid and islet cell tumors.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a radiolabeled analog of somatostatin (iodine-123 octreotide) in the detection and localization of known carcinoid and islet cell tumors and to correlate tumor uptake with the presence or absence of somatostatin receptors. I-123 octreotide studies were performed in 28 patients. Whole-body and tomographic studies were performed over a 2-day period after injection. Twenty-two of the 28 patients underwent tumor biopsy, and samples were analyzed for the presence of somatostatin receptors. Tumors were best seen on scans obtained 1-4 hours after injection. Of the 28 patients, 22 had positive scans with uptake in tumors, three showed photon-deficient uptake in regions of known tumor, and three had negative scans. Seventeen patients in whom results of tumor biopsy were positive for somatostatin receptors had positive scans, and one patient in whom results of biopsy were negative for somatostatin receptors had a negative scan. Previously unsuspected lesions were detected on the I-123 octreotide scans in four of the 28 patients. I-123 octreotide appears to be a useful tracer for the localization of neuroendocrine tumors and, most likely, other soft-tissue tumors as well.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Technical aspects of bone scintigraphy.

Optimal bone scintigraphy is obtained by using a current generation gamma camera with a high-resolution collimator, minimizing the patient-to-collimator distance, using scatter reduction techniques where possible, and obtaining a 500,000 to 1 million count image for 40-cm field of view camera. Hard copy images from an analog or digital formatter should be optimized to display all intensities either on the same images or, when necessary, to display the low count information on one image and the high count information on another. Additional images using different collimators, such as converging or pinhole collimators, and oblique and lateral views should be obtained when necessary to demonstrate or define the pathologic area. To optimize SPECT imaging, the following parameters should be used: a high-resolution collimator, a 128 x 128 acquisition matrix, and minimum separation between the patient and the collimator, which may require the use of an elliptic orbit. Between 64 and 128 views should be obtained, and depending on preference, the planar data should be prefiltered with a Butterworth, order 8-12 and a cutoff at 0.5 Nyquist. The data should then be reconstructed using a simple ramp filter. This method provides a good technique when one is first beginning to perform bone SPECT. Attenuation correction is not generally beneficial for SPECT bone studies, although sometimes weighted backprojection may improve image contrast and resolution. Finally, the use of volume rendering may help clarify the location of suspect lesions.

Bone and Bones↗

Feasibility of fractionating MAG3 cold kit for cost reduction.

99Tcm-MAG3 is the first 99Tcm-labelled radiopharmaceutical with a renal clearance similar to that of 131I-OIH. The cost of a unit dose of 99Tcm-MAG3 is comparatively less expensive than the cost of a combined 99Tcm-DTPA and 131I-OIH study dose. However, this cost-saving is dramatically reduced when only a few doses are withdrawn from a 99Tcm-MAG3 kit. Our goal in this study was to subdivide the MAG3 kit into fractions to reduce expense. By dissolving the lyophilized ingredients of MAG3 kits with either 5 or 10 ml N2-purged normal saline, the resultant liquid was divided into 1-ml aliquot vials filled with N2. The MAG3 aliquot vials were then frozen at -70 degrees C for future use. The radiochemical purity (RCP) of each vial was evaluated using the recommended Sep-Pak C18 column chromatography at different time periods. Over the entire 28-day evaluation period, the average RCP of the 5:1 dilution MAG3 vials after reconstitution with 3.7 GBq 99Tcm was maintained at 95.6 +/- 2.7% (n = 100) for 6 h, whereas the 10:1 fractionation MAG3 kits after labelling with 740 MBq 99Tcm showed an average RCP value of 98.4 +/- 2.1% (n = 100) for 6 h. Based upon these results, it is concluded that the fractionation of MAG3 kits and frozen storage in an N2 atmosphere not only maintains the stability of MAG3 but also provides a cost-effective method for using 99Tcm-MAG3.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗

Dosimetry and biodistribution of an iodine-123-labeled somatostatin analog in patients with neuroendocrine tumors.

A modified method for the preparation of a radiolabeled analog of somatostatin (123I-octreotide) is described. The pharmacokinetics and dosimetry of this analog were evaluated in patients with neuroendocrine tumors. Thirty patients had multiple blood and urine samples and sequential anterior and posterior whole-body scintigraphy up to 40 hr postinjection of 123I-octreotide. Region of interest analysis of the whole-body images was used to determine organ and tumor doses. The 123I-octreotide was rapidly cleared from the blood with a T 1/2 of 10 min by the hepatobiliary system. By 40 hr, approximately 55% was eliminated in the feces. The gallbladder wall received the highest dose (0.48 rad/mCi), with other organs receiving doses of 0.12 rad/mCi or less. Tumors were identified in 25 of 28 satisfactory studies. Tumor doses ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 rad/mCi. Calculations with 131I instead of 123I indicated that the gallbladder wall would receive 2 rad/mCi, while average tumor doses would range from 0.9 to 5.0 rad/mCi. Iodine-123-octreotide is a useful agent for the visualization of neuroendocrine tumors. The rapid washout of this agent from tumors precludes the possibility of radiotherapy with 131I-octreotide in these patients.

Endocrine Gland Neoplasms↗

Rapid preparation and quality control method for technetium-99m-2-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (technetium-99m-sestamibi).

Technetium-99m-2-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (99mTc-sestamibi) is a radiopharmaceutical that can be useful in the evaluation of patients with acute myocardial infarction. The current method for preparation requires a lengthy boiling water bath procedure and the recommended quality control procedure is cumbersome and time-consuming. Using a microwave oven, the heating time necessary to provide a labeling efficiency (averaging 97% for sestamibi-labeled with maximum allowable 99mTc activity and volume has been reduced to 10 sec. A new mini-paper chromatography (MPC) system has been developed to analyze the radiochemical purity of 99mTc-sestamibi involving a 1:1 chloroform/tetrahydrofuran developing solvent. The recommended thin-layer chromatography (TLC) system involving the use of an AI2O3-coated plate requires an average time for drying and development of 34.8 +/- 1.6 min (n = 58) to complete, whereas the new MPC system has an average developing time of 2.3 +/- 0.1 min (n = 26). For radiochemical purity values ranging from 71-99% (n = 31), the MPC and TLC methods correlated closely (r = 0.99) with a regression line of MPC% = 1.05 TLC%--5.75. The combined use of the microwave oven heating method and our quick quality control system will facilitate the rapid, emergency use of 99mTc-sestamibi and eliminate the need for advance preparation of multiple kits each day.

Chromatography, Paper↗

Plasma homovanillic acid levels and subtyping of schizophrenia.

Plasma levels of homovanillic acid (HVA), a major metabolite of dopamine, were measured in a group of 24 schizophrenic inpatients before and during 6 weeks of haloperidol (HAL) treatment. Steady-state plasma HAL levels were measured in parallel with plasma HVA. Differential plasma HVA responses to HAL treatment were found between good and poor outcome patients. The two groups did not differ significantly in plasma HAL levels. Two hypothetical subtypes of schizophrenia are proposed.

Adolescent↗

Kinetic analysis of technetium-99m d,1-HM-PAO decomposition in aqueous media.

Technetium-99m-d,1-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime [99mTc]d,1-HM-PAO) is a neutral-lipophilic chelate formed from a kit in high yield by stannous reduction of Na99mTcO4-. Of three methods used to analyze the purity of the 99mTc complexes, a single strip method using ether as the developing solvent was the most rapid and simple to perform. The lipophilic chelate converts to 99mTcO4- and other hydrophilic products with time and this limits the useful lifetime of the preparations. The rate of decomposition of [99mTc]d,1-HM-PAO increased in the presence of excess stannous ion and at pH greater than 9.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗