Solitary pulmonary nodule corresponds to a common radiographic finding, which is frequently detected incidentally. The investigation of this entity remains complex, since characteristics of benign and malignant processes overlap in the differential diagnosis. Currently, many strategies are available to evaluate solitary pulmonary nodules with the main objective of characterizing benign lesions as best as possible, while avoiding to expose patients to the risks inherent to invasive methods, besides correctly detecting cases of lung cancer so as the potential curative treatment is not delayed. This first part of the study focuses on the epidemiology, the morfological evaluation and the methods to determine the likelihood of cancer in cases of indeterminate solitary pulmonary nodule.

Sildenafil had a protective effect in rat kidneys subjected to normothermic I/R, demonstrated by scintigraphy and histomorphometry.

A solitary pulmonary nodule is a common, often incidental, radiographic finding. The investigation and differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules remain complex, because there are overlaps between the characteristics of benign and malignant processes. There are currently many strategies for evaluating solitary pulmonary nodules. The main objective is to identify benign lesions, in order to avoid exposing patients to the risks of invasive methods, and to detect cases of lung cancer accurately, in order to avoid delaying potentially curative treatment. The focus of this study was to review the evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules, to discuss the current role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography, addressing its accuracy and cost-effectiveness, and to detail the current recommendations for the examination in this scenario.

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates the influence of total gastrectomy, with and without a jejunal pouch, on the biodistribution of the radiopharmaceutical Technetium-99m pertechnetate ((99m)TcO(4)(-)). A quantitative biodistribution study was performed on the 30th postoperative day in Wistar rats, using the Wizard PerkinElmer gamma counter. The percentage of injected radioactivity of (99m)TcO(4)(-) per gram of tissue (% ATI/g) in Roux-en-Y total gastrectomy rats was lower in the lung, brain, and femur, compared to the sham rats (p <.05). In the jejunal pouch rats, the%ATI/g was higher than in the jejunum of sham rats (p <.05). The biodistribution was higher in the lung, brain, and femur of Roux-en-Y pouch rats than in Roux-en-Y rats (p <.05). Serum levels of cobalamin, phosphorus, and calcium were lower in gastrectomized than in sham rats (p <.05). No significant histological change was observed in the jejunum of Roux-en-Y rats. In the jejunal pouch, we found vascular ingurgitation, inflammation, submucosal, and muscular wall hypertrophy and widening of the villi. In conclusion, total gastrectomy in rats affected the biodistribution of (99m)TcO(4)(-) to important organs, mainly when a Roux-en-Y reconstruction without a pouch was performed. Moreover, the operation caused biodistribution-related metabolic changes.

(88.8 ± 18.6 mg/dL) and creatinine (0.56 ± 0.08 mg/dL), compared to the controls (51.5±1.6, 0.37±0.02mg/dL, respectively), as well as increase in platelets and leucocytes, and hematocrit reduction. The analysis of the results indicates that in rats, splenectomy seems to alter the renal function and the uptake of 99mTc-DMSA.

Purpose: Many patients with metastatic bone disease have to use radiopharmaceuticals associated with chemotherapy to relieve bone pain. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of docetaxel on the biodistribution of samarium-153-EDTMP in bones and other organs of rats. Methods: Wistar male rats were randomly allocated into 2 groups of 6 rats each. The DS (docetaxel/samarium) group received docetaxel (15 mg/kg) intraperitoneally in two cycles 11 days apart. The S (samarium/control) group rats were not treated with docetaxel. Nine days after chemotherapy, all the rats were injected with 0.1ml of samarium-153-EDTMP via orbital plexus (25µCi). After 2 hours, the animals were killed and samples of the brain, thyroid, lung, heart, stomach, colon, liver, kidney and both femurs were removed. The percentage radioactivity of each sample (% ATI/g) was determined in an automatic gamma-counter (Wizard-1470, Perkin-Elmer, Finland). Results: On the 9 th day after the administration of the 2 nd chemotherapy cycle, the rats had a significant weight loss (314.50±22.09g) compared (p<0.5) to pre-treatment weight (353.66± 22.8). The % ATI/g in the samples of rats treated with samarium-153-EDTMP had a significant reduction in the right femur, left femur, kidney, liver and lungs of animals treated with docetaxel, compared to the control rats. Conclusion: The combination of docetaxel and samarium-153-EDTMP was associated with a lower response rate in the biodistribution of the radiopharmaceutical to targeted tissues. Further investigation into the impact of docetaxel on biodistribution of samarium-153-EDTMP would complement the findings of this study. Key words: Taxoids. Samarium. Biological Availability. Drug Therapy. Rats. RESUMOObjetivo: Muitos pacientes com metástases ósseas são tratados com radiofármacos associados com quimioterapia para alívio da dor óssea. O objetivo do trabalho foi estudar a influência do docetaxel na biodistribuição do EDTMP-153-samário nos ossos e outros órgãos de ratos. Métodos: Ratos Wistar foram aleatoriamente alocados em 2 grupos de 6 animais cada. O grupo DS (docetaxel/samário) recebeu docetaxel (15 mg/kg) intraperitoneal em dois ciclos com 11 dias de intervalo. Os ratos do grupo S (samário/controle) não foram tratados com docetaxel. Nove dias após a quimioterapia, todos os animais receberam 0,1ml de EDTMP-153-samário via plexo orbital (25µCi). Após 2 horas, os animais foram mortos e feitas biópsias de cérebro, tireóide, pulmão, coração, estômago, cólon, fígado, rim e fêmures. O percentual de radioatividade por grama (%ATI/g) de tecido de cada biópsia foi determinado em contador gama automático (Wizard-1470, Perkin-Elmer, Finland). Resultados: No 9º após 2º ciclo de docetaxel os ratos tiveram perda de peso significante, passando de 353,66± 22,8g (controle/pré-tratamento) para 314,50±22,09g (p<0,5). Os % ATI/g nos órgãos dos ratos tratados com EDTMP-153-samário e docataxel tiveram redução significante nos fêmures direito e esquerdo, rim, fígado e pulmão, quando comparados com os não trata...