Objective The purpose of the present study is to compare the pharmacokinetic and biodistribution properties of 99Tcm N-mercaptopyridine-N-oxide (99 Tcm N-MPO) with 99 Tcm-sestamibi (99 Tcm-MIBI) in normal dogs, and to investigate the potential of 99TcmN-MPO as a myocardial perfusion agent in canines with acute myocardial infarction. Methods Twelve healthy mongrel dogs were injected intravenously with 99TcmN-MPO (n = 6) or 99Tcm-MIBI (n = 6). Tracer kinetics in body fluids were determined by collecting blood of 1 ml via a femoral vein catheter at 30 s, 1,2,3,4,5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60and 90 min post-injection (p. i.). The collected blood samples were weighed and counted for radioactivity in a γ-counter. Anterior and posterior planar γ-camera images were collected at 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after injection, with organ uptake quantified by region-of-interest (ROIs) analysis. For comparison, 99Tcm-MIBI was also evaluated in the same twelve dogs. Canine infarct models were set up by micro-invasive interventional embolization. SPECT images in the canine infarct model were collected 24 hours after myocardial infarction at 30 min and 60 min after the administration of 99Tcm N-MPO (n = 5) or 99Tcm-MIBI (n = 5). Results Both of 99Tcm N-MPO and 99Tcm-M1BI had a rapid blood clearance with less than 50% of initial radioactivity remaining at 1 min [99TcmN-MPO: (35. 77 ± 6. 31)% ID/mg ,99Tcm-MIBI (34. 46 ± 6. 83) % ID/mg] and less than 5% at 30 min p. i. [99Tcm N-MPO(3. 11 ± 1.44) % ID/mg,99Tcm-MIBI (2.93 ±0. 39)% ID/mg] . After injection, 99TcmN-MPO showed significant accumulation in the myocardium and prolonged retention. This rapid liver clearance of 99TcmN-MPO led to favorable heart-to-liver ratios, reaching values of 0. 54 ±0. 06 at 10 min, 1.02 ±0. 06 at 30 min, and 1.38 ±0. 06 at 60 min p. i.In contrast, the heart/liver ratio of 99Tcm-MIBI remained low at all time points (0. 46 ± 0. 03 at 10 min,0. 63 ±0. 03 at 30 min, and 0. 62 ± 0. 12 at 60 min p. i.). SPECT imaging studies in canines with acute myocardial infarction indicated that good visualization of the left ventricular wall and perfusion defects could be achieved at 30 min after administration of 99TcmN-MPO, but not 99Tcm-MIBI. Conclusion The combination of high heart uptake and rapid liver clearance makes 99TcmN-MPO a promising new radiotracer for myocardial perfusion imaging.

OBJECTIVETo search for the best therapy for simple obesity.

METHODSEighty cases were randomly divided into 3 groups. The body acupuncture group were treated based on the syndrome of heat of stomach and intestine, syndrome of spleen deficiency and stagnation of dampness, and syndrome of spleen and kidney yang-deficiency; the auricular and body acupuncture group were treated by the syndrome treatment of body acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking; the observation group were treated by the combined auricular and body acupuncture treatment plus moving cupping on back-shu points. Body weight, BMI, body fatd, blood lipids and clinically main symptoms before and after treatment were investigated.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 69.6% in the body acupuncture group, 76.0%. in the auricular and body acupuncture group, and 90.6% treated in the observation group, with significant differences in the therapeutic effect, clinically main symptoms, external indexes of obesity and kidney ang-blood lipid metabolism between the observation group and the body acupuncture group. The various indexes in the auricular and body acupuncture group were superior to those iwere tthe body acupuncture group, with no significant differences in most indexes.

CONCLUSIONAuricular and body acupuncture combined with moving cupping at back-shu points has obvious therapeutic effect on simple obesity and this is a better therapy for simple obesity.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Acupuncture, Ear ; methods ; Adult ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Obesity ; blood ; therapy

A 12-week-old baby with a vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) was successfully treated with performing transarterial microcatheter-directed embolization with Berenstein Liquid Coils and n-butyl cyanoacrylate in the feeding arteries. Post-procedure angiography showed a marked decrease of the blood flow into the dilated vein of Galen. Three months later, follow-up angiography showed that the vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation had totally disappeared, and the baby recovered very well without any sequelae. We report here on this interesting case along with a review of the relevant literature, and we aim to enhance physicians' awareness of the treatment for VGAMs.
Catheterization/*instrumentation ; Cerebral Angiography ; *Cerebral Veins ; Cyanoacrylates/*administration & dosage ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*instrumentation/methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations/diagnosis/*therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference of therapeutic effects between vessel pricking therapy and Prednisone for treatment of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis.

METHODSSeventy cases of acute purpura nephritis syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group (40 cases) and a control group (30 cases). Patients in observation group were differentiated into sthenia and asthenia syndromes. Vessel pricking therapy was applied at Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Xuehai (SP 10) etc. by triangular needle for sthenia symptom; shallow needling was used at Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36) etc. by filiform needle. The control group was treated with oral admi-nidtration of Prednisone. The symptom score of TCM, 24 h urinary protein, red blood cell count of urinary sediment of both groups were observed before and after treatment and therapeutic effects were compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of 92.5% (37/40) in observation group was superior to that of 80.0% (24/30) in control group, and there was a significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05); the symptom score of TCM, 24 h urinary protein, red blood cell count of urinary sediment were all improved in both groups after treatment (all P < 0.05), and moreover, the improvement in observation group was superior to that of control group (all P < 0.05); after treatment, the symptom score of TCM of sthenia syndrome was lower than that of asthenia syndrome in observation group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONVessel pricking therapy has a significant therapeutic effect for treatment of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis, superior to that of oral administration of Prednisone, and the therapeutic effect is better for treating sthenia syndrome than for asthenia syndrome.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Sedimentation ; Bloodletting ; Child ; Erythrocyte Count ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; blood ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Urine ; chemistry ; Young Adult