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Since 1976 200 patients with multiple skeletal metastases from prostatic cancer were treated with 89Sr. In the present study the results were evaluated in order to confirm the efficacy of this therapy. Following the application of 3 injections each of 0 (n = 21), 37 (n = 65), 75 (n = 72), 100 (n = 25) or 150 (n = 17) MBq 89Sr subjective pain relief, scintigraphic follow-up observations, survival times and haematological complications were recorded. In comparison to the results of placebo administration the effects of 89Sr on pain were: in the placebo group deterioration 11%, no change 55%, improvement 17% and full pain relief 17% whereas in the Sr groups combined the corresponding figures were 3, 38, 26 and 33%. Pain relief correlated with the activity administered. A dose relationship to scintigraphic regression is probable, the latter correlating with pain relief. Due to a decrease of early deaths the survival rate increased during the first months after start of treatment but later on returned to the level observed in untreated patients. Pain relief and regressive scintigraphic findings were combined with increased marrow involvement which, however, did not by itself influence survival rates. 89Sr therapy is an effective additional treatment of patients with multiple skeletal metastases from prostatic cancer.

The aim of the study was to determine the pulmonary 67-gallium uptake, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell differentiation and the activity of BAL cells, measured as release of superoxide anion (O2-), and to investigate the results whether there are relations. In 11 nonsmoking systemic scleroderma (SS) patients and 11 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with lung involvement double-sided BAL were performed, mainly in regions with increased 67-gallium uptake. Release of O2- was measured by INT-assey. BAL cell differentiation was in SS and SLE pathological in 68.2% without side-difference. In contrast to SS, O2(-)-release in SLE depends on BAL cell differentiation and is most increased in normal BAL cell differentiation. There is no correlation between 67-gallium uptake and both BAL cell differentiation and O2(-)-release. The results suggest, that in contrast to SS, BAL cells in SLE with pathological differentiation are less activated than BAL cells with normal differentiation probable due to autoimmunological factors. Pulmonary 67-gallium scan and BAL seem to be independent from each other.

The distribution in rats of 125I-iodo-lisuride was studied. Three rats each were sacrificed at fixed intervals between 5 min and 24 h p.i., and the radioactivity was measured in isolated organs and parts of the body. The organ distribution and biexponential blood disappearance were similar to values for unlabeled lisuride. The radiation dose was estimated for man assuming a 123I label. The resulting doses were comparable to those from other radiopharmaceuticals in clinical use.

It is reported about 6 patients suffering from sarcoidosis with splenomegaly. In these cases indication for splenectomy was given by symptoms of hypersplenism, abdominal pain and ineffective cortisone therapy. In general after operation activity of sarcoidosis is unchanged. Different markers of activity were used after a time interval of 2-11 years. In one case it has to be discussed an overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI).

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.

In 14 patients with chronic renal failure and without obvious signs of congestive heart failure, cardiac function was analyzed immediately before and after hemodialysis through radiocardiography, phon

It is sought for alternative methods for the endogenous creatinine clearance as parameters for the GFR. For this purpose served investigations with Tc-99m-Sn-DTPA. It was found a good reproducibility for the slope clearance with 3 blood takings between 60 and 120 minutes. When combined with the camera function scintigraphy a side-separated quantitative statement of the clearance equivalent is possible. The inulin clearance serves as reference method. The investigations at the gamma-camera with Tc-99m-Sn-DTPA also allow the determination of the perfusion which is particularly of interest in patients with hypertension. According to the comparison at the gamma camera a diagnostic schema is recommended.

6 patients with therapy resistant ascites underwent implantation of a Le-Veen shunt. The risk of infection in this procedure is low, the surgical technique can easily be handled. In all 6 patients a significant reduction of the ascites could be demonstrated. Postoperatively, a right ventricular insufficiency could be observed in every case and, in addition, there were imbalances of the water and electrolyte metabolism Disseminated intravascular coagulation could not be traced.

Calcium metabolism was studied in the serum of 10 patients before and during haemodialysis with the help of 47-Ca. The patients were in a stabilized condition within a chronic dialysis programme. The measured metabolic rate fell from 0.395 h-1 to 0.208 h-1 during dialysis. This corresponds to a reduction of metabolism by 0.43 mmol L-1 h-1. It is to be assumed that this alteration corresponds to the calcium inflow rate through the dialyser.

For characterising the elimination and metabolisation performance of the liver in chronic renal insufficiency the galactose load test was carried out. 9 children with healthy liver and kidneys, 35 children with chronic renal insufficiency (15 were conservatively treated = group 1, 20 were in the chronic haemodialysis programme = group 2) as well as 5 children after kidney transplantation were examined. In group 1 a normal blood galactose concentration was present. Patients of the 2nd group showed increased concentrations of galactose in the blood which might refer to a decreased redox potential in the liver caused by the uraemic intoxication. In the group of patients who underwent a kidney transplantation in the patients with azathioprine therapy a disturbed use of galactose was present. Children with cyclosporin-A had a normal galactose concentration.