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1996 Department of Energy list of UCLA human radiation experiments
Thirteen radionuclides involved: iodine-131, zinc-65, strontium-85, calcium-47, gold-198, iodine-125, cobalt-60, technetium99m, copper-67,
manganese-54, xenon133, indium-113m, and fluorine-18
UCLA-1. Early Experimental Imaging of the Thyroid Gland Using Iodine131
IN 1951, the University of California, Los Angeles conducted a series of
tests on humans to study the uptake of radioiodine into the thyroid gland.
Additional tests were made on patients at the Sawtelle Veteran's Hospital.
The main purpose of this study was to test a new automatic scanner and
recorder.
Initial scans were made using a collimated gamma scintillation counter.
This equipment enabled a record to be obtained on which an image of the
gland was visible and which the researchers concluded was better than a
total activity count for clinical studies of thyroid disease.
The second set of scans was made on a frozen tissue preparation obtained
from a terminal patient who had been given 3 millicuries of iodine-131, 14
hours before his death. The measured total activity of the thyroid gland
at the time it was scanned was about 50 microcuries.
The results of these tests led to increased use of this equipment for
clinical diagnostic scans in other patients with thyroid disorders. This
work was supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-2. Zinc Metabolism Studies Using Zinc-65
DURING THE LATE 1950s, researchers at the University of California, Los
Angeles; Boston University School of Medicine; and the Massachusetts
Memorial Hospitals conducted studies on the metabolism of zinc using
zinc-65 (Zn65).
Twenty-one patients with neoplastic disease and one patient with
generalized arteriosclerosis participated as subjects. Each was
intravenously administered Zn65 as zinc ammonium citrate. The amounts of
activity administrated were not reported.
These studies showed that zinc appeared rapidly in white blood cells and
persisted for several weeks. It appeared less rapidly in red cells, but
persisted much longer. The injected zinc concentrated in the liver and
other major organs and was excreted slowly in urine and feces. This study
was supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-3. A Study of Strontium-85 and Calcium-47 Metabolism in Patients with
Osteoporosis, Paget's Disease, and Metastatic Bone Tumors
IN 1959, RESEARCHERS at the University of California Medical School, Los
Angeles conducted a series of studies on strontium-85 (Sr85) metabolism
using hospital patients with osteoporosis, other skeletal disorders (such
as Paget’s disease), and various cancers to determine the uptake and
retention of strontium in selected tissues.
The study population included nine hospital patients and six normal
volunteers. Five to 15 microcuries of Sr85 as the chloride were
administered intravenously to each subject. The rates of Sr85 accumulation
were determined for selected parts of the body, using a shielded sodium
iodide gamma scintillation counter. Strontium-85 injections were repeated
in some of the patients. Excretion rates of Sr85 in urine and stool were
determined in one patient. Some of the patients also received tracer
amounts of human serum albumin labeled with iodine-131 (I131) by
intravenous injection to determine the uptake and retention of
protein-bound I131 for comparison to Sr85.
These studies indicated that Sr85 uptake was normal in
Anonsenile osteoporotic patients, but reduced in patients with
Asenile osteoporosis, due presumably to reduced capillary blood flow.
These studies continued from 1959 to 1962 and included additional
injections of Sr85 and calcium-47 in other hospital patients with multiple
myeloma and other diseases to improve understanding of the metabolism of
strontium and calcium in man. The effects on strontium metabolism and
calcium balance of administered prednisone, testosterone propionate, and
adrenocorticotropic hormone were also studied in one patient. This work
was supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-4. Studies of Liver Function and Blood Flow Using Rose Bengal
Iodine-131 and Colloidal Gold198 in Normal and Diseased Subjects
IN THE LATE 1950s AND EARLY 1960s, researchers at University of California
Medical School, Los Angeles and at the Los Angeles County Harbor General
Hospital conducted tracer studies using iodine-131 (I131)B labeled rose
bengal (a sodium salt stain) and colloidal gold-198 (Au198). The purpose
of this study was to determine whether the I131-labeled rose bengal
hepatogram provided an improved method for diagnosing jaundice.
At least 120 patients with a variety of liver and hepatobiliary tract
diseases, and 45 subjects with normal liver functions participated in the
study. Blood clearance half-times for intravenously injected rose bengal
I131 and colloidal Au198 were studied to assess liver blood flow and cell
function. This allowed researchers to correlate functional abnormalities
of the liver with vascular defects. The colloidal radiogold test was found
useful for diagnosis of severe jaundice, ascites(fluid accumulation in the
abdominal cavity) of unknown origin, and acute gastrointestinal tract
hemorrhage.
In 1959, blood clearance stress tests using I131-labeled rose bengal were
performed on 23 subjects with normal liver function and compared with
tests on 39 nonjaundiced patients having probable liver disease, and on 25
other patients with confirmed liver disease. This study confirmed that
this test was more sensitive than tests then in use. Tracer studies using
I131-labeled rose bengal and colloidal Au198 were continued in 1960 to
assess liver blood flow and cellular function in patients with congestive
heart failure. Clearance rates of I131 and Au198 were determined. At least
13 subjects participated in these studies, including patients with
congestive heart failure, hepatitis, jaundice, cirrhosis, and 1 subject
with a normal liver.
The investigators showed that reduced blood flow occurred in liver
cirrhosis but not in jaundice. This work was supported by the U.S. Atomic
Energy Commission.
UCLA-5. Tracer Studies Using Iodine-125, Iodine-131, and Gold-198 to
Evaluate Functions of the Reticuloendothelial System
STUDIES WERE CONDUCTED in 1960 at the University of California Medical
School, Los Angeles to develop tracer methods for evaluating the
phagocytic (engulfing foreign matter and breaking it down chemically) and
digestive functions of the reticuloendothelial system (a defensive
mechanism against foreign materials) in man.
Experiments were conducted using iodine-131 (I131) colloidal agents
administered to 8 normal subjects and 13 patients with various renal
disorders. The amounts of I131 tracer administered as iodinated albumin
aggregates were not stated. Blood clearance half-times for I131 were
determined. Colloidal gold-198 (Au198) was also administered to patients
to evaluate uptake in liver cells for comparison with the metabolism of
I131-labeled proteins.
A study in 1961 at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation
Biology, University of California, Los Angeles used heat-treated serum
albumin labeled with I131 to determine blood flow and reticuloendothelial
system functions. The number of subjects involved in this study was not
stated. A further study in 1961 involved clinical trials with colloidal
suspensions of I131-labeled human serum albumin to estimate phagocytic and
proteolytic digestive functions of the reticuloendothelial system. Fifteen
healthy subjects and an unstated number of patients with diseases
involving the organs of the reticuloendothelial system participated.
In 1964, patients with cirrhosis of the liver were injected with albumin
microaggregates labeled with I125. The purpose of this study was to
determine the extraction efficiency of the liver. After injection, samples
of blood were obtained from catheters in the hepatic vein and a peripheral
vein. It was determined that the extraction efficiency of the liver in
cirrhosis is dependent to a large extent on the degree of portal
hypertension. These studies were funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission.
UCLA-6. Retention of Vitamin B12 Labeled with Cobalt-60
IN 1960, RESEARCHERS at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation
Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles conducted studies on
the whole-body retention of vitamin B12 labeled with cobalt-60 (Co60).
In the first study, four normal volunteer subjects received an oral
administration of 0.02 microcurie of Co60-labeled vitamin B12. The
subjects were then monitored in the whole-body counter over a period of 7
days. The purpose of the study was to determine the retention of vitamin
B12 in the whole body, liver, and intestinal tract, and to demonstrate the
whole-body counter’s sensitivity for measuring small amounts of gamma
radioactivity in humans. The measurements showed a retention of 50 to 81
percent of the administered activity at 7 days post-ingestion of vitamin
B12.
The results of this study were compared with results of the routine
Schilling test performed on four other hospital patients with pernicious
anemia. These patients were injected with 0.5 microcurie of Co60, which
was accompanied by an injection of a flushing dose of nonlabeled vitamin
B12.
The conclusion of the study was that similar diagnostic information could
be obtained using this Co60-B12 whole-body counting technique with 96
percent less Co60 than that used with the Schilling test. These studies
were funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-7. Retention of Iodine-131B-Labeled Human Serum Albumin
IN THIS 1962 STUDY at the University of California, Los Angeles the body
retention of human serum albumin labeled with iodine-131 (I131) was
determined by frequent measurements of hospital patients and normal
volunteers in the UCLA total-body counter.
Twenty subjects received an intravenous administration of approximately 5
microcuries of I131-labeled human serum albumin (HSA). This study included
normal subjects in addition to patients with various disorders, including:
duodenal ulcer, hepatitis, lymphosarcoma, ulcerative colitis, and regional
enteritis. Potassium iodide was given prior to I131-labeled HSA
administration to minimize thyroid uptake of the radioiodine. The subjects
with ulcerative colitis retained only 14 to 31 percent of the human serum
albumin after 14 days, while all other subjects retained over 40 percent
after 14 days. This study was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-8. Study of Calcium Metabolism Using Calcium-47 as a Tracer
BETWEEN 1962 AND 1964, staff of the University of California Medical
School, Los Angeles conducted calcium metabolism studies using calcium-47
(Ca47) to determine the gastrointestinal absorption of calcium by humans.
Calcium-47 was administered orally to 11 patients at the Veterans
Administration Hospital in Los Angeles. The administered activity is not
stated. Some of the patients suffered from cirrhosis of the liver,
osteoporosis, or hyperparathyroidism. Four were on calcium balance, and
three were normal, healthy subjects. The investigators assayed the Ca47 in
stool, urine, and blood and conducted total-body counts.
This study showed that calcium absorption rates in normal and osteoporotic
subjects were highly variable and overlapped between groups. This study
was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-9. Study of Lung Imaging Techniques Using Albumin Labeled with
Iodine-131 and Iodine-125
BETWEEN 1963 AND 1965, the University of California Medical School, Los
Angeles conducted studies to develop new methods for imaging the lungs.
In these studies, albumin (a simple protein found in the body), labeled
with 100 to 200 microcuries of iodine-131 (I131) or iodine-125 (I125), was
administered by intravenous injection. The subjects’ lungs were then
scanned to produce an image to determine where the albumin deposited.
Areas of impaired lung function were indicated by low uptake of I131 or
I125-albumin. Using this technique, lung tumors and other abnormalities
were detectable before they were apparent on traditional xrays.
These methods were tested on patients with a variety of lung disorders,
including pneumonia, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. Subjects with normal
lung function were also used for comparison. Approximately 100 subjects
were used in these studies. This research was supported by the U.S. Atomic
Energy Commission.
UCLA-10. Strontium-85 Retention in Humans
A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED in 1964 at the University of California, Los Angeles
on the skeletal retention of strontium-85 (Sr85) in subjects after
intravenous injection. The purpose of this study was to develop a
correlation between body depositions of strontium and the amount excreted
in urine at various times after injection. It was hoped that this
information could be used to estimate the amounts of strontium-90 (Sr90)
fallout in people exposed to radioactive fallout from atmospheric weapons
testing.
Twenty-three subjects, both men and women, were selected to participate in
this study. The subjects ranged in age from 11 to 76 years and included 10
patients with osteoporosis, 4 cancer patients, 6 patients with other
illnesses, and 3 normal healthy subjects. These subjects were each
injected with 5 to 10 microcuries of Sr85 chloride.
The amount of Sr85 retained in the subjects bodies was measured in the
University’s total-body counter at frequent intervals for up to several
months post-injection. Radiation measurements were also selectively made
over the knee and tibia midshaft (shin) areas of nine subjects to estimate
the fraction of the total-body deposition in skeletal tissue. Complete
collections of all urine and feces were obtained from 11 patients on
metabolic balance regimens to determine calcium/strontium ratios.
The study showed that strontium intake and body deposition could be
evaluated by urinalysis measurements. Funding for the study was provided
by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission.
UCLA-11. Lung Scanning of Inhaled Radiopharmaceuticals Using Iodine-131
and Technetium99m
DURING THE PERIOD 1964 TO 1968, the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and
Radiobiology at the University of California, Los Angeles conducted
studies on the use of radiolabeled compounds for the diagnosis of various
pulmonary diseases in man. While most of these studies were intended for
the diagnosis of conditions in patients with disease, some of the studies
were conducted using normal, healthy volunteer subjects.
Aerosols of albumin aggregate labeled with iodine-131 (I131) and
administered by inhalation were used to diagnose bronchial obstructions in
patients with lung cancers and in normal volunteer subjects. The lungs of
each subject were imaged using a gamma camera after administration of the
aerosol. The number of subjects and the amounts of activity administered
were not stated. The diffusion of gases across alveolar (air cells in the
lungs) membranes was studied in an unstated number of normal, healthy
subjects using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid labeled with technetium-99m
(Tc99m-EDTA) administered by inhalation. The distribution of the
Tc99m-EDTA in the lungs was then determined by gamma camera imaging. The
amount of Tc99m-EDTA administered to each subject was not stated. These
studies were funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-12. Measurement of Loss of Iodine131B-Labeled Human-Serum Albumin in
Children
IN 1967, nine healthy children aged 6 months to 12 years, and seven ill
children aged 18 months to 14 years, participated in a study at the
University of California, Los Angeles to determine the rate of loss of
iodine-131 (I131)Blabeled human serum albumin by using total-body
counting. The study was designed to compare the retention between healthy
and ill children and between children and adults.
After their thyroid uptake was blocked with Lugol’s solution, the children
were intravenously injected with 0.05 to 0.10 microcurie of I131-albumin,
estimated to impart an absorbed dose of about 10 millirads. Whole-body
retention was studied for 3 weeks following injection.
This study showed that I131 was retained in healthy children with
half-times ranging from 2 to 13 days, a period shorter than the 13- to
18-day adult retention period. The study was funded by the U.S. Atomic
Energy Commission.
UCLA-13. Copper-67 Absorption in Patients with Disorders of Iron
Metabolism
IN APPROXIMATELY 1968, a preliminary study of copper absorption was
conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles. Copper-67 (Cu67)
was used to measure total-body absorption and retention of elemental
copper in seven patients with disorders of iron metabolism, and in two
normal volunteers.
Subjects were orally administered an unstated amount of Cu67 with a small
amount of stable copper. The absorption and retention were measured in the
Total-Body Counter Facility over a period of 15 days. Due to the
variability between patients of day-to-day measurements, the experiment
produced only rough estimates of copper absorption and retention. This
study was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-14. Total-Body Counting of Iodine131B-Labeled Gamma Globulins
AROUND 1968, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles
conducted a study of metabolic kinetics of gamma globulins. Gamma
globulins labeled with an unstated amount of iodine-131 (I131) or
iodine-125 (I125) were administered intravenously to 11 hospital patients.
The rates of loss of these substances from the blood and from the body
were measured over a period of 3 to 4 weeks.
This study showed that the blood concentrations of the g-type gamma
globulin labeled with I131 cleared with a half-time of 10 to 32 days. The
time range for complete clearance of I131 from the body was 9 to 60 days.
In patients who also received the m-type gamma globulin, the rate of
metabolism was faster, showing a clearance half-time of 1.3 to 20 days.
This work was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-15. Study of Manganese-54 and Copper-67 Absorption and Retention
IN A 1969 STUDY conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles, 14
subjects were administered isotopes of manganese and copper to determine
the absorption and retention rates of these elements. The subjects were
seven patients with hemochromatosis (excessive iron in the body) and seven
normal, healthy volunteers.
Each subject was orally administered manganese-54 (Mn54) as manganese
chloride and measured for body retention with a whole-body counter two to
three times a week. Eight subjects were counted for 3 weeks, and six
subjects were counted for 60 days. Whole-body counting also was used to
evaluate copper absorption and retention in the hemochromatosis patients
who had been administered 20 to 25 microcuries of copper-67 (Cu67).
These studies showed that Mn54 absorption ranged from 6 to 34 percent,
with a mean of 13 percent. The Cu67 absorption ranged from 46 to 84
percent. Further study was needed to determine whether increased Mn54
absorption in two patients was associated with hemochromatosis or related
to an iron deficiency produced by repeated phlebotomy (therapeutic
bleeding). This research was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-16. Study of Inhaled Pollen-Associated Asthma Using Technetium-99m
and Xenon133
IN THE EARLY 1970s, researchers at the University of California Medical
School, Los Angeles conducted a study of the distribution of inhaled grass
pollen to understand how large pollen grains are able to induce
bronchospasm reactions in sensitive subjects.
Four normal subjects and five asymptomatic allergic subjects inhaled
pollen grains labeled with technetium-99m (Tc99m). Gamma camera
scintiphotos of their head, chest, and abdominal regions were then
obtained. Standard lung function studies, which included administration of
xenon-133 (Xe133), were conducted before and after the pollen inhalation.
The results of the study indicated that the inhaled pollen grains were too
large to reach the bronchial mucosa; and therefore the pollens deposited
mostly in the mouth and pharynx and produced clinical asthma 4 to 8 hours
later. This research was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-17. Liver Blood Flow Study Using Gold-198 and Technetium-99m
IN THE EARLY 1970s, researchers at the University of California, Los
Angeles conducted studies on venous blood flow to the liver. The purpose
of this study was to show that certain disease conditions tend to localize
in the liver=s right lobe.
Twelve volunteer patients without liver disease who were undergoing
abdominal surgery participated as subjects. Each subject was administered
200 to 300 microcuries of gold-198 (Au198)B colloid intravenously. The
uptake and retention of Au198 in lobes of the liver were then measured by
scintiscan. Immediately thereafter, 2 to 5 millicuries of technetium-99m
(Tc99m)B microaggregated albumin were injected into an arm vein and a
second liver scan was performed. The distribution in blood flow of Au198
from the mesenteric vein was compared to the control injection using
Tc99m.
Results showed that streamlining to the right lobe did occur, but that it
was dependent on which mesenteric vein (cecal, terminal ileal,
mid-jejunal, or sigmoid) was injected. This experiment was funded by the
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-18. Thrombophlebitis Scanning Using Technetium-99m and Iodine-125
IN THE EARLY 1970s, researchers at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and
Radiation Biology of the University of California, Los Angeles conducted
studies using technetium-99m (Tc99m) to diagnose and study
thrombophlebitis (inflammation of a vein associated with clot formation)
in veins of the legs. The purpose of this study was to see whether
thrombophlebitis could cause pulmonary embolisms (obstructions caused by
transported clots).
The subjects for the first study included 73 patients with
thrombophlebitis (many of whom also had pulmonary emboli) and 90 control
subjects without disease. This study involved injecting 1.5 millicuries of
Tc99m-albumin in the veins and measuring its accumulation. The results of
this study showed that 80 percent of patients with pulmonary embolisms
also had positive scans for thrombophlebitis.
In a related follow-on study involving additional normal subjects (10 or
more) and hundreds of patients with actual or suspected thrombophlebitis,
comparisons were made between two different diagnostic techniques. The
first technique involved injection of 1.5 millicuries of Tc99m-labeled
albumin to detect areas of thrombophlebitis in 32 additional patients. The
second technique involved injection of 100 microcuries of iodine-125
(I125)Blabeled blood clotting factor (fibrinogen) in an additional 50
patients. Scans of the lower legs of each subject were then performed over
a 7 to 30-day post-injection period to measure accumulation.
Both the Tc99m-albumin and the I125-fibrinogen uptake tests were found to
be useful for detecting blood clots. This work was supported by the U.S.
Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-19. Studies of Liver Circulation and Metabolism in Normal and
Diseased Subjects Using Technetium-99m Albumin Microaggregates
IN 1970 AND 1971, researchers at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and
Radiation Biology of the University of California, Los Angeles conducted
gamma camera studies of the liver=s dual circulation. The purpose of these
studies was to investigate the utility of technetium-99m (Tc99m)Blabeled
albumin (a simple protein found throughout the body) aggregates for
measuring the digestive capacity of the reticuloendothelial system.
Studies were conducted on an unspecified number of normal subjects,
hospital patients with tumors, and patients with liver cirrhosis. Subjects
underwent several tracer studies, each of which consisted of injection
with unspecified amounts of Tc99m microaggregates of albumin. Gamma camera
images were then obtained to compare uptakes in the normal versus abnormal
liver and in the liver versus heart.
A related study investigated the usefulness of Tc99m albumin
microaggregates for measuring the protein-digesting capability of the
normal versus the diseased liver. Seventy-one studies were conducted on 47
patients with various liver and reticuloendothelial system disorders.
Twelve hospital patients and one healthy volunteer with no known liver or
infectious disorders were considered as the comparison group.
This study showed that diseased patients exhibited a more rapid excretion
of Tc99m-albumin via the biliary pathway and greater amounts of albumin
degradation products in the intestines than comparison subjects. These
studies were supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-20. Studies of Hip Socket Vascularity Using Technetium-99mBSulfur
Colloid
IN 1971 AND 1972, researchers at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and
Radiation Biology of the University of California, Los Angeles conducted
studies using technetium-99m (Tc99m) sulfur colloid. The purpose of these
studies was to gain information about the blood supply to the hip socket
for use in treating hip diseases and fractures.
Subjects for these studies were an unspecified number of hospital patients
with normal hips and patients with hip disease. Technetium-99m sulfur
colloid was administered intravenously and the pelvis was studied by gamma
photoscan techniques. Scans were then correlated with pelvic xrays for
each patient.
These studies showed that uptake of Tc99m sulfur colloid occurred
symetrically in both hip sockets of patients with no known hip disease and
that uptake was asymmetric in patients with hip disease. These studies were
supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-21. Test of Lung Scans in Normal Subjects Using Technetium-99m,
Indium-113m, and Xenon133
DURING THE PERIOD 1972 to 1973 , researchers at the Laboratory of Nuclear
Medicine and Radiation Biology of the University of California at Los
Angeles conducted studies to learn more about abnormal lung scans from
subjects with normal lung function. The study group consisted of 46
nonsmoking volunteers, aged 21 to 34 years, without history of asthma,
emphysema, or other lung disease.
The subjects were administered an unstated amount of albumin
macroaggregates labeled with technetium-99m (Tc99m), either by inhalation
or intravenous injection and were then given a chest image using a
rectilinear scanner. The subjects also received pulmonary standard
function tests. Thirteen percent of the scans indicated various perfusion
defects such as pulmonary emboli, which were not present. It was concluded
that these apparent anomalies could not be related to any pathologic
origin.
In a later study, normal volunteer subjects and patients with suspected
chronic bronchitis with normal results after pulmonary function testing
were selected for gamma camera lung imaging using Tc99m-albumin
macroaggregates and albumin labeled with indium-113m (In113m). In selected
cases, the lung closing volumes were also measured with a xenon-133
(Xe133) inhalation test. The number of subjects and amounts of
radioisotope administered during these tests were not stated. This study
showed a relation between abnormality of closing volume and the degree of
unevenness of the inhalation scan, and indicated that the chest scan
provided a more useful diagnostic tool than routine pulmonary function
tests. These studies were supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-22. Study of Cranial Development Defects Using Fluorine-18
A STUDY IN 1973 was conducted at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and
Radiation Biology of the University of California, Los Angeles to
determine the usefulness of fluorine-18 (F18) in the study of cranial
closure development in small children. Since xray and other clinical
examinations can fail to detect the premature closing of the cranium in
children, it was thought that cranial imaging with F18 might provide a
more effective diagnostic tool for early detection.
Subjects included 15 children with abnormal skulls, ages newborn to 4
years, and 7 children with normal skull development, ages 7 weeks to 16
years. Each subject was administered an unstated amount of F18 and then
imaged in the nuclear medicine clinic.
The study provided an explanation for mechanisms involved in the premature
closing of the cranium. This study was supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission.
UCLA-23. Study of Heart Chamber and Pulmonary Dilution Curves in Normal
Subjects and Patients with Shunts Using Xenon-133 and Technetium-99m
A 1973 STUDY conducted by researchers at the Laboratory of Nuclear
Medicine and Radiation Biology of the University of California, Los
Angeles compared heart chamber dilution curves and dilution curves for
blood vessels in the lungs in the diagnosis of congenital heart disease.
Thirteen normal patients (i.e., patients without heart disorders) and 33
patients with cardiac shunts were included in the study. The normal
subjects ranged in age from 2 to 40 years and the patients with heart
disease from 3 months to 48 years.
Unstated amounts of xenon-133 (Xe133) in saline and technetium-99m (Tc99m)
sulfur colloid were intravenously administered. The flow of the isotopes
was followed into the heart and blood vessels of the lungs, and images
were made of Xe133 and Tc99m uptake. Dilution curve measurements were also
made using flow data. Differences between normal subjects and patients
with shunts were observed. This study was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission.
Thirteen radionuclides involved: iodine-131, zinc-65, strontium-85, calcium-47, gold-198, iodine-125, cobalt-60, technetium99m, copper-67,
manganese-54, xenon133, indium-113m, and fluorine-18
UCLA-1. Early Experimental Imaging of the Thyroid Gland Using Iodine131
IN 1951, the University of California, Los Angeles conducted a series of
tests on humans to study the uptake of radioiodine into the thyroid gland.
Additional tests were made on patients at the Sawtelle Veteran's Hospital.
The main purpose of this study was to test a new automatic scanner and
recorder.
Initial scans were made using a collimated gamma scintillation counter.
This equipment enabled a record to be obtained on which an image of the
gland was visible and which the researchers concluded was better than a
total activity count for clinical studies of thyroid disease.
The second set of scans was made on a frozen tissue preparation obtained
from a terminal patient who had been given 3 millicuries of iodine-131, 14
hours before his death. The measured total activity of the thyroid gland
at the time it was scanned was about 50 microcuries.
The results of these tests led to increased use of this equipment for
clinical diagnostic scans in other patients with thyroid disorders. This
work was supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-2. Zinc Metabolism Studies Using Zinc-65
DURING THE LATE 1950s, researchers at the University of California, Los
Angeles; Boston University School of Medicine; and the Massachusetts
Memorial Hospitals conducted studies on the metabolism of zinc using
zinc-65 (Zn65).
Twenty-one patients with neoplastic disease and one patient with
generalized arteriosclerosis participated as subjects. Each was
intravenously administered Zn65 as zinc ammonium citrate. The amounts of
activity administrated were not reported.
These studies showed that zinc appeared rapidly in white blood cells and
persisted for several weeks. It appeared less rapidly in red cells, but
persisted much longer. The injected zinc concentrated in the liver and
other major organs and was excreted slowly in urine and feces. This study
was supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-3. A Study of Strontium-85 and Calcium-47 Metabolism in Patients with
Osteoporosis, Paget's Disease, and Metastatic Bone Tumors
IN 1959, RESEARCHERS at the University of California Medical School, Los
Angeles conducted a series of studies on strontium-85 (Sr85) metabolism
using hospital patients with osteoporosis, other skeletal disorders (such
as Paget’s disease), and various cancers to determine the uptake and
retention of strontium in selected tissues.
The study population included nine hospital patients and six normal
volunteers. Five to 15 microcuries of Sr85 as the chloride were
administered intravenously to each subject. The rates of Sr85 accumulation
were determined for selected parts of the body, using a shielded sodium
iodide gamma scintillation counter. Strontium-85 injections were repeated
in some of the patients. Excretion rates of Sr85 in urine and stool were
determined in one patient. Some of the patients also received tracer
amounts of human serum albumin labeled with iodine-131 (I131) by
intravenous injection to determine the uptake and retention of
protein-bound I131 for comparison to Sr85.
These studies indicated that Sr85 uptake was normal in
Anonsenile osteoporotic patients, but reduced in patients with
Asenile osteoporosis, due presumably to reduced capillary blood flow.
These studies continued from 1959 to 1962 and included additional
injections of Sr85 and calcium-47 in other hospital patients with multiple
myeloma and other diseases to improve understanding of the metabolism of
strontium and calcium in man. The effects on strontium metabolism and
calcium balance of administered prednisone, testosterone propionate, and
adrenocorticotropic hormone were also studied in one patient. This work
was supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-4. Studies of Liver Function and Blood Flow Using Rose Bengal
Iodine-131 and Colloidal Gold198 in Normal and Diseased Subjects
IN THE LATE 1950s AND EARLY 1960s, researchers at University of California
Medical School, Los Angeles and at the Los Angeles County Harbor General
Hospital conducted tracer studies using iodine-131 (I131)B labeled rose
bengal (a sodium salt stain) and colloidal gold-198 (Au198). The purpose
of this study was to determine whether the I131-labeled rose bengal
hepatogram provided an improved method for diagnosing jaundice.
At least 120 patients with a variety of liver and hepatobiliary tract
diseases, and 45 subjects with normal liver functions participated in the
study. Blood clearance half-times for intravenously injected rose bengal
I131 and colloidal Au198 were studied to assess liver blood flow and cell
function. This allowed researchers to correlate functional abnormalities
of the liver with vascular defects. The colloidal radiogold test was found
useful for diagnosis of severe jaundice, ascites(fluid accumulation in the
abdominal cavity) of unknown origin, and acute gastrointestinal tract
hemorrhage.
In 1959, blood clearance stress tests using I131-labeled rose bengal were
performed on 23 subjects with normal liver function and compared with
tests on 39 nonjaundiced patients having probable liver disease, and on 25
other patients with confirmed liver disease. This study confirmed that
this test was more sensitive than tests then in use. Tracer studies using
I131-labeled rose bengal and colloidal Au198 were continued in 1960 to
assess liver blood flow and cellular function in patients with congestive
heart failure. Clearance rates of I131 and Au198 were determined. At least
13 subjects participated in these studies, including patients with
congestive heart failure, hepatitis, jaundice, cirrhosis, and 1 subject
with a normal liver.
The investigators showed that reduced blood flow occurred in liver
cirrhosis but not in jaundice. This work was supported by the U.S. Atomic
Energy Commission.
UCLA-5. Tracer Studies Using Iodine-125, Iodine-131, and Gold-198 to
Evaluate Functions of the Reticuloendothelial System
STUDIES WERE CONDUCTED in 1960 at the University of California Medical
School, Los Angeles to develop tracer methods for evaluating the
phagocytic (engulfing foreign matter and breaking it down chemically) and
digestive functions of the reticuloendothelial system (a defensive
mechanism against foreign materials) in man.
Experiments were conducted using iodine-131 (I131) colloidal agents
administered to 8 normal subjects and 13 patients with various renal
disorders. The amounts of I131 tracer administered as iodinated albumin
aggregates were not stated. Blood clearance half-times for I131 were
determined. Colloidal gold-198 (Au198) was also administered to patients
to evaluate uptake in liver cells for comparison with the metabolism of
I131-labeled proteins.
A study in 1961 at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation
Biology, University of California, Los Angeles used heat-treated serum
albumin labeled with I131 to determine blood flow and reticuloendothelial
system functions. The number of subjects involved in this study was not
stated. A further study in 1961 involved clinical trials with colloidal
suspensions of I131-labeled human serum albumin to estimate phagocytic and
proteolytic digestive functions of the reticuloendothelial system. Fifteen
healthy subjects and an unstated number of patients with diseases
involving the organs of the reticuloendothelial system participated.
In 1964, patients with cirrhosis of the liver were injected with albumin
microaggregates labeled with I125. The purpose of this study was to
determine the extraction efficiency of the liver. After injection, samples
of blood were obtained from catheters in the hepatic vein and a peripheral
vein. It was determined that the extraction efficiency of the liver in
cirrhosis is dependent to a large extent on the degree of portal
hypertension. These studies were funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission.
UCLA-6. Retention of Vitamin B12 Labeled with Cobalt-60
IN 1960, RESEARCHERS at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation
Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles conducted studies on
the whole-body retention of vitamin B12 labeled with cobalt-60 (Co60).
In the first study, four normal volunteer subjects received an oral
administration of 0.02 microcurie of Co60-labeled vitamin B12. The
subjects were then monitored in the whole-body counter over a period of 7
days. The purpose of the study was to determine the retention of vitamin
B12 in the whole body, liver, and intestinal tract, and to demonstrate the
whole-body counter’s sensitivity for measuring small amounts of gamma
radioactivity in humans. The measurements showed a retention of 50 to 81
percent of the administered activity at 7 days post-ingestion of vitamin
B12.
The results of this study were compared with results of the routine
Schilling test performed on four other hospital patients with pernicious
anemia. These patients were injected with 0.5 microcurie of Co60, which
was accompanied by an injection of a flushing dose of nonlabeled vitamin
B12.
The conclusion of the study was that similar diagnostic information could
be obtained using this Co60-B12 whole-body counting technique with 96
percent less Co60 than that used with the Schilling test. These studies
were funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-7. Retention of Iodine-131B-Labeled Human Serum Albumin
IN THIS 1962 STUDY at the University of California, Los Angeles the body
retention of human serum albumin labeled with iodine-131 (I131) was
determined by frequent measurements of hospital patients and normal
volunteers in the UCLA total-body counter.
Twenty subjects received an intravenous administration of approximately 5
microcuries of I131-labeled human serum albumin (HSA). This study included
normal subjects in addition to patients with various disorders, including:
duodenal ulcer, hepatitis, lymphosarcoma, ulcerative colitis, and regional
enteritis. Potassium iodide was given prior to I131-labeled HSA
administration to minimize thyroid uptake of the radioiodine. The subjects
with ulcerative colitis retained only 14 to 31 percent of the human serum
albumin after 14 days, while all other subjects retained over 40 percent
after 14 days. This study was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-8. Study of Calcium Metabolism Using Calcium-47 as a Tracer
BETWEEN 1962 AND 1964, staff of the University of California Medical
School, Los Angeles conducted calcium metabolism studies using calcium-47
(Ca47) to determine the gastrointestinal absorption of calcium by humans.
Calcium-47 was administered orally to 11 patients at the Veterans
Administration Hospital in Los Angeles. The administered activity is not
stated. Some of the patients suffered from cirrhosis of the liver,
osteoporosis, or hyperparathyroidism. Four were on calcium balance, and
three were normal, healthy subjects. The investigators assayed the Ca47 in
stool, urine, and blood and conducted total-body counts.
This study showed that calcium absorption rates in normal and osteoporotic
subjects were highly variable and overlapped between groups. This study
was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-9. Study of Lung Imaging Techniques Using Albumin Labeled with
Iodine-131 and Iodine-125
BETWEEN 1963 AND 1965, the University of California Medical School, Los
Angeles conducted studies to develop new methods for imaging the lungs.
In these studies, albumin (a simple protein found in the body), labeled
with 100 to 200 microcuries of iodine-131 (I131) or iodine-125 (I125), was
administered by intravenous injection. The subjects’ lungs were then
scanned to produce an image to determine where the albumin deposited.
Areas of impaired lung function were indicated by low uptake of I131 or
I125-albumin. Using this technique, lung tumors and other abnormalities
were detectable before they were apparent on traditional xrays.
These methods were tested on patients with a variety of lung disorders,
including pneumonia, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. Subjects with normal
lung function were also used for comparison. Approximately 100 subjects
were used in these studies. This research was supported by the U.S. Atomic
Energy Commission.
UCLA-10. Strontium-85 Retention in Humans
A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED in 1964 at the University of California, Los Angeles
on the skeletal retention of strontium-85 (Sr85) in subjects after
intravenous injection. The purpose of this study was to develop a
correlation between body depositions of strontium and the amount excreted
in urine at various times after injection. It was hoped that this
information could be used to estimate the amounts of strontium-90 (Sr90)
fallout in people exposed to radioactive fallout from atmospheric weapons
testing.
Twenty-three subjects, both men and women, were selected to participate in
this study. The subjects ranged in age from 11 to 76 years and included 10
patients with osteoporosis, 4 cancer patients, 6 patients with other
illnesses, and 3 normal healthy subjects. These subjects were each
injected with 5 to 10 microcuries of Sr85 chloride.
The amount of Sr85 retained in the subjects bodies was measured in the
University’s total-body counter at frequent intervals for up to several
months post-injection. Radiation measurements were also selectively made
over the knee and tibia midshaft (shin) areas of nine subjects to estimate
the fraction of the total-body deposition in skeletal tissue. Complete
collections of all urine and feces were obtained from 11 patients on
metabolic balance regimens to determine calcium/strontium ratios.
The study showed that strontium intake and body deposition could be
evaluated by urinalysis measurements. Funding for the study was provided
by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission.
UCLA-11. Lung Scanning of Inhaled Radiopharmaceuticals Using Iodine-131
and Technetium99m
DURING THE PERIOD 1964 TO 1968, the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and
Radiobiology at the University of California, Los Angeles conducted
studies on the use of radiolabeled compounds for the diagnosis of various
pulmonary diseases in man. While most of these studies were intended for
the diagnosis of conditions in patients with disease, some of the studies
were conducted using normal, healthy volunteer subjects.
Aerosols of albumin aggregate labeled with iodine-131 (I131) and
administered by inhalation were used to diagnose bronchial obstructions in
patients with lung cancers and in normal volunteer subjects. The lungs of
each subject were imaged using a gamma camera after administration of the
aerosol. The number of subjects and the amounts of activity administered
were not stated. The diffusion of gases across alveolar (air cells in the
lungs) membranes was studied in an unstated number of normal, healthy
subjects using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid labeled with technetium-99m
(Tc99m-EDTA) administered by inhalation. The distribution of the
Tc99m-EDTA in the lungs was then determined by gamma camera imaging. The
amount of Tc99m-EDTA administered to each subject was not stated. These
studies were funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-12. Measurement of Loss of Iodine131B-Labeled Human-Serum Albumin in
Children
IN 1967, nine healthy children aged 6 months to 12 years, and seven ill
children aged 18 months to 14 years, participated in a study at the
University of California, Los Angeles to determine the rate of loss of
iodine-131 (I131)Blabeled human serum albumin by using total-body
counting. The study was designed to compare the retention between healthy
and ill children and between children and adults.
After their thyroid uptake was blocked with Lugol’s solution, the children
were intravenously injected with 0.05 to 0.10 microcurie of I131-albumin,
estimated to impart an absorbed dose of about 10 millirads. Whole-body
retention was studied for 3 weeks following injection.
This study showed that I131 was retained in healthy children with
half-times ranging from 2 to 13 days, a period shorter than the 13- to
18-day adult retention period. The study was funded by the U.S. Atomic
Energy Commission.
UCLA-13. Copper-67 Absorption in Patients with Disorders of Iron
Metabolism
IN APPROXIMATELY 1968, a preliminary study of copper absorption was
conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles. Copper-67 (Cu67)
was used to measure total-body absorption and retention of elemental
copper in seven patients with disorders of iron metabolism, and in two
normal volunteers.
Subjects were orally administered an unstated amount of Cu67 with a small
amount of stable copper. The absorption and retention were measured in the
Total-Body Counter Facility over a period of 15 days. Due to the
variability between patients of day-to-day measurements, the experiment
produced only rough estimates of copper absorption and retention. This
study was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-14. Total-Body Counting of Iodine131B-Labeled Gamma Globulins
AROUND 1968, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles
conducted a study of metabolic kinetics of gamma globulins. Gamma
globulins labeled with an unstated amount of iodine-131 (I131) or
iodine-125 (I125) were administered intravenously to 11 hospital patients.
The rates of loss of these substances from the blood and from the body
were measured over a period of 3 to 4 weeks.
This study showed that the blood concentrations of the g-type gamma
globulin labeled with I131 cleared with a half-time of 10 to 32 days. The
time range for complete clearance of I131 from the body was 9 to 60 days.
In patients who also received the m-type gamma globulin, the rate of
metabolism was faster, showing a clearance half-time of 1.3 to 20 days.
This work was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-15. Study of Manganese-54 and Copper-67 Absorption and Retention
IN A 1969 STUDY conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles, 14
subjects were administered isotopes of manganese and copper to determine
the absorption and retention rates of these elements. The subjects were
seven patients with hemochromatosis (excessive iron in the body) and seven
normal, healthy volunteers.
Each subject was orally administered manganese-54 (Mn54) as manganese
chloride and measured for body retention with a whole-body counter two to
three times a week. Eight subjects were counted for 3 weeks, and six
subjects were counted for 60 days. Whole-body counting also was used to
evaluate copper absorption and retention in the hemochromatosis patients
who had been administered 20 to 25 microcuries of copper-67 (Cu67).
These studies showed that Mn54 absorption ranged from 6 to 34 percent,
with a mean of 13 percent. The Cu67 absorption ranged from 46 to 84
percent. Further study was needed to determine whether increased Mn54
absorption in two patients was associated with hemochromatosis or related
to an iron deficiency produced by repeated phlebotomy (therapeutic
bleeding). This research was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-16. Study of Inhaled Pollen-Associated Asthma Using Technetium-99m
and Xenon133
IN THE EARLY 1970s, researchers at the University of California Medical
School, Los Angeles conducted a study of the distribution of inhaled grass
pollen to understand how large pollen grains are able to induce
bronchospasm reactions in sensitive subjects.
Four normal subjects and five asymptomatic allergic subjects inhaled
pollen grains labeled with technetium-99m (Tc99m). Gamma camera
scintiphotos of their head, chest, and abdominal regions were then
obtained. Standard lung function studies, which included administration of
xenon-133 (Xe133), were conducted before and after the pollen inhalation.
The results of the study indicated that the inhaled pollen grains were too
large to reach the bronchial mucosa; and therefore the pollens deposited
mostly in the mouth and pharynx and produced clinical asthma 4 to 8 hours
later. This research was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-17. Liver Blood Flow Study Using Gold-198 and Technetium-99m
IN THE EARLY 1970s, researchers at the University of California, Los
Angeles conducted studies on venous blood flow to the liver. The purpose
of this study was to show that certain disease conditions tend to localize
in the liver=s right lobe.
Twelve volunteer patients without liver disease who were undergoing
abdominal surgery participated as subjects. Each subject was administered
200 to 300 microcuries of gold-198 (Au198)B colloid intravenously. The
uptake and retention of Au198 in lobes of the liver were then measured by
scintiscan. Immediately thereafter, 2 to 5 millicuries of technetium-99m
(Tc99m)B microaggregated albumin were injected into an arm vein and a
second liver scan was performed. The distribution in blood flow of Au198
from the mesenteric vein was compared to the control injection using
Tc99m.
Results showed that streamlining to the right lobe did occur, but that it
was dependent on which mesenteric vein (cecal, terminal ileal,
mid-jejunal, or sigmoid) was injected. This experiment was funded by the
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-18. Thrombophlebitis Scanning Using Technetium-99m and Iodine-125
IN THE EARLY 1970s, researchers at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and
Radiation Biology of the University of California, Los Angeles conducted
studies using technetium-99m (Tc99m) to diagnose and study
thrombophlebitis (inflammation of a vein associated with clot formation)
in veins of the legs. The purpose of this study was to see whether
thrombophlebitis could cause pulmonary embolisms (obstructions caused by
transported clots).
The subjects for the first study included 73 patients with
thrombophlebitis (many of whom also had pulmonary emboli) and 90 control
subjects without disease. This study involved injecting 1.5 millicuries of
Tc99m-albumin in the veins and measuring its accumulation. The results of
this study showed that 80 percent of patients with pulmonary embolisms
also had positive scans for thrombophlebitis.
In a related follow-on study involving additional normal subjects (10 or
more) and hundreds of patients with actual or suspected thrombophlebitis,
comparisons were made between two different diagnostic techniques. The
first technique involved injection of 1.5 millicuries of Tc99m-labeled
albumin to detect areas of thrombophlebitis in 32 additional patients. The
second technique involved injection of 100 microcuries of iodine-125
(I125)Blabeled blood clotting factor (fibrinogen) in an additional 50
patients. Scans of the lower legs of each subject were then performed over
a 7 to 30-day post-injection period to measure accumulation.
Both the Tc99m-albumin and the I125-fibrinogen uptake tests were found to
be useful for detecting blood clots. This work was supported by the U.S.
Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-19. Studies of Liver Circulation and Metabolism in Normal and
Diseased Subjects Using Technetium-99m Albumin Microaggregates
IN 1970 AND 1971, researchers at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and
Radiation Biology of the University of California, Los Angeles conducted
gamma camera studies of the liver=s dual circulation. The purpose of these
studies was to investigate the utility of technetium-99m (Tc99m)Blabeled
albumin (a simple protein found throughout the body) aggregates for
measuring the digestive capacity of the reticuloendothelial system.
Studies were conducted on an unspecified number of normal subjects,
hospital patients with tumors, and patients with liver cirrhosis. Subjects
underwent several tracer studies, each of which consisted of injection
with unspecified amounts of Tc99m microaggregates of albumin. Gamma camera
images were then obtained to compare uptakes in the normal versus abnormal
liver and in the liver versus heart.
A related study investigated the usefulness of Tc99m albumin
microaggregates for measuring the protein-digesting capability of the
normal versus the diseased liver. Seventy-one studies were conducted on 47
patients with various liver and reticuloendothelial system disorders.
Twelve hospital patients and one healthy volunteer with no known liver or
infectious disorders were considered as the comparison group.
This study showed that diseased patients exhibited a more rapid excretion
of Tc99m-albumin via the biliary pathway and greater amounts of albumin
degradation products in the intestines than comparison subjects. These
studies were supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-20. Studies of Hip Socket Vascularity Using Technetium-99mBSulfur
Colloid
IN 1971 AND 1972, researchers at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and
Radiation Biology of the University of California, Los Angeles conducted
studies using technetium-99m (Tc99m) sulfur colloid. The purpose of these
studies was to gain information about the blood supply to the hip socket
for use in treating hip diseases and fractures.
Subjects for these studies were an unspecified number of hospital patients
with normal hips and patients with hip disease. Technetium-99m sulfur
colloid was administered intravenously and the pelvis was studied by gamma
photoscan techniques. Scans were then correlated with pelvic xrays for
each patient.
These studies showed that uptake of Tc99m sulfur colloid occurred
symetrically in both hip sockets of patients with no known hip disease and
that uptake was asymmetric in patients with hip disease. These studies were
supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-21. Test of Lung Scans in Normal Subjects Using Technetium-99m,
Indium-113m, and Xenon133
DURING THE PERIOD 1972 to 1973 , researchers at the Laboratory of Nuclear
Medicine and Radiation Biology of the University of California at Los
Angeles conducted studies to learn more about abnormal lung scans from
subjects with normal lung function. The study group consisted of 46
nonsmoking volunteers, aged 21 to 34 years, without history of asthma,
emphysema, or other lung disease.
The subjects were administered an unstated amount of albumin
macroaggregates labeled with technetium-99m (Tc99m), either by inhalation
or intravenous injection and were then given a chest image using a
rectilinear scanner. The subjects also received pulmonary standard
function tests. Thirteen percent of the scans indicated various perfusion
defects such as pulmonary emboli, which were not present. It was concluded
that these apparent anomalies could not be related to any pathologic
origin.
In a later study, normal volunteer subjects and patients with suspected
chronic bronchitis with normal results after pulmonary function testing
were selected for gamma camera lung imaging using Tc99m-albumin
macroaggregates and albumin labeled with indium-113m (In113m). In selected
cases, the lung closing volumes were also measured with a xenon-133
(Xe133) inhalation test. The number of subjects and amounts of
radioisotope administered during these tests were not stated. This study
showed a relation between abnormality of closing volume and the degree of
unevenness of the inhalation scan, and indicated that the chest scan
provided a more useful diagnostic tool than routine pulmonary function
tests. These studies were supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
UCLA-22. Study of Cranial Development Defects Using Fluorine-18
A STUDY IN 1973 was conducted at the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and
Radiation Biology of the University of California, Los Angeles to
determine the usefulness of fluorine-18 (F18) in the study of cranial
closure development in small children. Since xray and other clinical
examinations can fail to detect the premature closing of the cranium in
children, it was thought that cranial imaging with F18 might provide a
more effective diagnostic tool for early detection.
Subjects included 15 children with abnormal skulls, ages newborn to 4
years, and 7 children with normal skull development, ages 7 weeks to 16
years. Each subject was administered an unstated amount of F18 and then
imaged in the nuclear medicine clinic.
The study provided an explanation for mechanisms involved in the premature
closing of the cranium. This study was supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission.
UCLA-23. Study of Heart Chamber and Pulmonary Dilution Curves in Normal
Subjects and Patients with Shunts Using Xenon-133 and Technetium-99m
A 1973 STUDY conducted by researchers at the Laboratory of Nuclear
Medicine and Radiation Biology of the University of California, Los
Angeles compared heart chamber dilution curves and dilution curves for
blood vessels in the lungs in the diagnosis of congenital heart disease.
Thirteen normal patients (i.e., patients without heart disorders) and 33
patients with cardiac shunts were included in the study. The normal
subjects ranged in age from 2 to 40 years and the patients with heart
disease from 3 months to 48 years.
Unstated amounts of xenon-133 (Xe133) in saline and technetium-99m (Tc99m)
sulfur colloid were intravenously administered. The flow of the isotopes
was followed into the heart and blood vessels of the lungs, and images
were made of Xe133 and Tc99m uptake. Dilution curve measurements were also
made using flow data. Differences between normal subjects and patients
with shunts were observed. This study was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission.
