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Summary Limitations to the application of molecularly targeted cancer therapies are the inability to accurately match patient with effective treatment and the absence of a prompt readout of posttreatment response. Noninvasive agents that rapidly report vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels using positron emission tomography (PET) have the potential to enhance anti-angiogenesis therapies. Using phage display, two distinct classes of peptides were identified that bind to VEGF with nanomolar affinity and high selectivity. Co-crystal structures of these different peptide classes demonstrate that both bind to the receptor-binding region of VEGF. 18 F-radiolabelling of these peptides facilitated the acquisition of PET images of tumor VEGF levels in a HM7 xenograph model. The images obtained from one 59-residue probe, 18 F-Z-3B, 2 hr postinjection are comparable to those obtained with anti-VEGF antibody B20 72 hr postinjection. Furthermore, VEGF levels in growing SKOV3 tumors were followed using 18 F-Z-3B as a PET probe with VEGF levels increasing with tumor size.

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between aerobic fitness (AF), fatness, and coronary-heart-disease (CHD) risk factors in 12- to 13-year-olds. The data were obtained from 208 schoolchildren (100 boys; 108 girls) ages 12.9 ± 0.3 years. Measurements included AF, indices of obesity, blood pressure, blood lipids and lipoproteins, fibrinogen, homocysteine, and C-reactive protein. An inverse relationship was found between AF and fatness (p < .05). Fatness was related to a greater number of CHD risk factors than fitness was (p < .05). Further analysis revealed fatness to be an independent predictor of triglyceride and blood-pressure levels (p < .05). Our findings indicate that, for young people, fatness rather than fitness is independently related to CHD risk factors.

This study determined the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in young people1of differing socio-economic status (SES). A cohort of 100 boys and 108 girls, aged 12.9, SD 0.3 years drawn of differing SES were assessed for CHD risk factors. Measurements included indices of obesity, blood pressure, aerobic fitness, diet, blood lipids and lipoproteins. Significant differences ( P ≤ 0.05) were detected with respect to SES, for systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and low density lipopro tein cholesterol, but in boys only. Significant sex differences ( P ≤ 0.05) were identified for systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, aerobic fitness, waist to hip ratio, summation of four skinfold thicknesses, average daily kilocalorie intake, total choles terol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Moreover, increased body fatness, low aerobic fitness, a high fat diet and elevated lipoprotein (a), were the most frequently identified CHD risk factors in this cohort. This study reveals a high incidence of CHD risk factors in young people irrespective of SES and sex, and highlights the need for vigilance in identifying such risk factors from a young age.