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Correction factors proposed by the EANM task group mainly correct for effective dose. They are very similar to the factors obtained for cluster A. Using the EANM factors for tracers belonging to clusters B and C results in significantly higher effective doses to children. We suggest using three tracer-dependent dosage cards for which the correction factors have been calculated to obtain weight-independent effective doses.

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The objective of this study was to elucidate the effect of nobiletin (5,6,7,8,3',4'-hexamethoxyflavone) on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. To determine the effect of nobiletin on adipogenesis, preadipocyte differentiation was induced in the presence or absence of nobiletin (10-100 μM) for 4 days. The results revealed that nobiletin markedly inhibited lipid accumulation and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity and blocked the expression of adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPα). Moreover, nobiletin significantly increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a major regulator of cellular energy balance, phosphorylation, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This study also investigated the involvement of AMPK in the expression of a major transcription factor, PPARγ. It was found that pretreatment with compound C, a cell permeable inhibitor of AMPK, abolished the inhibitory effects of nobiletin on PPARγ expression. The results suggest that nobiletin exerts antiadipogenic effects through modulation of the PPARγ and AMPK signaling pathway and, therefore, may be a promising antiobesity agent.

In this work, 31P phosphorus NMR (31P NMR) studies of the brain have been conducted in rats acutely and chronically intoxicated with ethanol. In both groups, changes in levels of high-energy phosphates were observed: increase of phosphocreatinine (PCr)/beta AaTP and PCr/inorganic phosphate (Pi) in acute and long-term ethanol exposure, and decrease of Pi/beta ATP after acute ethanol administration. These changes in high-energy phosphates, indicative of a reduction of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and PCr consumption (PCr+ ADP+ H+ ATP+ Cr; ATP ADP+ Pi), suggest a reduction of cerebral metabolism both in acute and chronic ethanol exposure. In addition, in the group of rats chronically intoxicated with ethanol, there were variations in phosphodiester peak intensities (decrease of phosphomonoester (PME)/phosphodiester (PDE), increase of PDE/beta ATP), suggesting increased breakdown of membrane phospholipids. These changes could provide a metabolic explanation for the development of cerebral atrophy in chronic alcoholism.

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In recent years, *I-MIBG (*I-metaiodobenzylguanidine), which is transported and stored in the chromaffin cells, has been shown to allow good visualization of neuroblastomas in children. This paper deals with 30 *I-MIBG-scans performed in 20 children: 16 with neuroblastoma, 3 with retinoblastoma, and 1 with a malignant paraganglioma. A high detection rate was found for both primary and secondary sites of neuroblastoma. *I-MIBG was generally superior to 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy in the detection of bone metastases. Our experience illustrates the unique place of *I-MIBG-scintigraphy compared with other imaging techniques: it makes it possible to define the nature of the tumour, particularly in cases with normal catecholamine levels; to establish how extensive the lesions are at the time of diagnosis; and to confirm complete remission. No abnormal *I-MIBG uptake was noted in the 3 cases of retinoblastoma.

Background: Chronic kidney failure is frequently seen in middle-aged and elderly cats.