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Gastric-emptying studies have no accepted standard methodology or reference values. A simplified standardized protocol with a large reference database has been proposed, with imaging obtained at only 0, 1, 2, and 4 h. The rationale for its 4-h length is data suggesting that delayed emptying is detected with higher sensitivity at 4 h than at 2 h. The purpose of the current investigation was to review our 2-y experience using this protocol, to determine the added value of 4-h imaging, and to determine whether the lag phase can predict delayed emptying. Methods: After ingesting a sandwich made with 99m Tc-sulfur colloid egg substitute, 175 patients were imaged immediately, every 10 min for 1 h, and then at 2, 3, and 4 h. Percentage retention was calculated for each interval. Sensitivities, specificities, predictive values, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were computed for the 1-, 2-, and 3-h intervals on the basis of normal 4-h values. Data were analyzed to determine the added value of the 4-h study. Thresholds were sought that optimized accuracy. ROC analysis was used to determine the predictive value of the lag phase. Results: Gastric emptying was delayed in 20% of patients at 2 h and in 26% at 4 h, a 29% increase in abnormal studies (P , 0.02). Of those normal at 2 h, 13% became abnormal at 4 h. Of those with delayed emptying at 2 h, 24% normalized at 4 h. Compared with the study at 4 h, the study at 2 h had a 59% sensitivity, 94% specificity, 76% PPV, and 87% NPV. ROC analysis showed that the areas under the ROC curve (AUC) were 0.75, 0.93, and 0.97 at 1, 2, and 3 h, respectively. The threshold for optimal accuracy for 3-h data was estimated to be greater than 30% retention. The accuracy of this threshold was 91%. The lag phase AUC for predicting delayed emptying at 4 h was 0.60. Conclusion: This first investigation of a large referral patient population using a standardized protocol found that abnormal emptying is detected with greater sensitivity at 4 h than at 2 h and that the lag phase is not predictive of delayed emptying.

Purpose Currently, there is no clinically validated test for the prediction of response to tubulin-targeting agents in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we investigated the significance of nuclear expression of the mitotic checkpoint gene checkpoint with forkhead and ringfinger domains (CHFR) as predictor of response and overall survival (OS) with taxane-based first-line chemotherapy in advanced stage NSCLC. Methods We studied a cohort of 41 patients (median age 63 years) with advanced NSCLC treated at the Atlanta VAMC between 1999 and 2010. CHFR expression by immunohistochemistry (score 0–4) was correlated with clinical outcome using Chi-Square test and Cox proportional models. A cutoff score of ‘3’ was determined by ROC-analysis for “low” CHFR expression. Results were validated in an additional 20 patients who received taxane based chemotherapy at Emory University Hospital and the Atlanta VAMC. Results High expression (score = 4) of CHFR is strongly associated with adverse outcomes: the risk for progressive disease (PD) after first-line chemotherapy with carboplatin-paclitaxel was 52% in patients with CHFR-high vs. only 19% in those with CHFR-low tumors (p=0.033). Median OS was strongly correlated with CHFR expression status (CHFR low: 9.9 months; CHFR high: 6.2 months; p =0.002). After multivariate adjustment, reduced CHFR expression remained a powerful predictor of improved OS (HR 0.24 (95% CI 0.1–0.58, p=0.002). In the validation set, low CHFR expression was associated with higher likelihood of clinical benefit (p=0.03) and improved OS (p=0.038). Conclusions CHFR expression is a novel predictive marker of response and OS in NSCLC patients treated with taxane-containing chemotherapy.

After the extravasation of a therapeutic dose of 131 I-metaiodobenzylguanidine that produced a radiation burn to a patient's forearm, we instituted a catheter placement verification protocol. Methods: Before therapy infusion, proper placement is verified by administering 37 MBq of 99m Tc-pertechnetate through the catheter, and monitoring activity at the administration site and on the contralateral extremity. A dosimetric model describing both high-rate and low-rate dose components was developed and predicted that the basal epidermal layer received a radiation dose consistent with the observed moist desquamation radiation skin toxicity. Results: No extravasation incidents have occurred since the verification procedure was instituted. Conclusion: To protect against radiation injury from extravasation of therapeutic radionuclides, test administration of a small 99m Tc dose with probe monitoring of comparable sites in both upper extremities appears to be an effective preventive measure.