[Review of parenteral nutrition practices in four university hospital's pharmacies in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region]. / État des lieux des pratiques de nutrition parentérale dans quatre pharmacies à usage intérieur de centre hospitalier et universitaire de la région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

OBJECTIVES: To carry out an assessment of parenteral nutrition (PN) practices in hospital pharmacies of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in order to explore a harmonisation of practices and a collaboration between the different centres. METHODS: Status of practices was carried out on the basis of an observational study inspired by the survey of the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs. It was carried out in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in four university hospital pharmacies with a production unit of PN. It focused on the different stages of the PN process: prescription, formulation, compounding and quality control. It also covered the support processes such as the quality assurance system and the management of premises and equipment. RESULTS: Most preparations made in the region are individualized parenteral nutritional admixtures for paediatric and neonatal hospitalization departments. The production units of PN of each centre are located in premises in compliance with Good Preparation Practices. However, compounding equipment and raw materials used are heterogeneous in the four centres. All centres control the quality of their finished preparations. But, the performance of analytical control is disparate in terms of equipment and specifications. CONCLUSION: This assessment explains the similarities and differences in PN practices between various university hospitals in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and thus makes possible to provide a collective regional work to harmonise practices.

First human treatment of resistant neoplastic meningitis by intrathecal administration of MTX plus (125)IUdR.

PURPOSE: Neoplastic meningitis is often the final outcome of disseminated cancer and is rapidly lethal. Its limited treatment relies on systemic or intrathecal chemotherapy with methotrexate (MTX) or thiotepa. When 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine labeled with (125)I ((125)IUdR) is incorporated into the DNA of mitotic tumor cells, the Auger electrons emitted during iodine decay are highly cytotoxic. The radiotherapeutic efficacy of (125)IUdR administered intrathecally has also been established in animals bearing spinal cord tumors, and MTX is known to potentiate the response. This approach has not been tested in the clinic. METHODS: A 44-year-old woman, with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, was treated for three years with complete systemic remission, but then relapsed with cytologically proven neoplastic meningitis. The patient was given four successive intrathecal injections of MTX (10 mg) every 12 h and, with the fourth dose, 1850 MBq (125)IUdR, followed by four additional MTX doses. The response was monitored by cytology and CA19.9 (carbohydrate antigen 19.9) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as well as by clinical status of the patient. RESULTS: The follow-up of cytology and CA19.9 levels in the CSF showed dramatic improvement within 26 days followed by a biological relapse on Day +36. There was no evidence of local central nervous system toxicity. Three months later, neoplastic meningitis recurred and meningeal tumor infiltration was observed on magnetic resonance imaging. Six months after MTX-(125)IUdR treatment, the patient died. CONCLUSION: (125)IUdR treatment proved to be feasible without acute neurological toxicity and seemed to have produced a biological response. This attempt provides the basis for designing prospective clinical trials.

Biological evaluation of two iodine-123-labeled D-glucose acetals prepared as glucose transporter radioligands.

Two iodinated acetals of D-glucose, 4,6-(R)-O-(2'-iodoethylidene)-alpha, beta-D-glucose (1) and 4,6-(R)-O-(4'-iodobenzylidene)-alpha, beta-D-glucose (2), were prepared and their potential as suitable SPECT radioligands for imaging of glucose transporters was studied. Both are analogs of acetal D-glucose derivatives, which are known to bind to the exofacial sites of the glucose transport protein (GluT). To assess whether iodinated acetals 1 and 2 interacted with the glucose transporter, they were tested in vitro in human erythrocytes (GluT1) and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (GluT4). The results indicated that 1 and 2 had a very low affinity for the glucose transporter and probably accumulated in cells. Study of their tissue distribution was carried out in the mouse in vivo: Both compounds showed fast tissue clearance with preferential renal elimination. It is concluded that iodinated acetals of D-glucose 1 and 2 are not suitable for GluT targeting in vivo.