Thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness of MS-325, a new blood pool agent for magnetic resonance imaging.

Stability constants were measured for complexes formed between a modified DTPA ligand and the metal ions Gd(III), Eu(III), Fe(III), Ca(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) at 25 degrees C in 0.1 M NaClO4. The gadolinium complex of this ligand is MS-325, a novel blood pool contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging currently undergoing clinical trials. Stability constants were determined by 4 different methods: direct pH titration, pH titration with competition by EDTA, competition with DTPA using an HPLC-MS detection system, and competition with Eu(III) by monitoring equilibrium by luminescence spectroscopy. The 1:1 stability constants, log beta101, are the following: Gd, 22.06 (23.2 in 0.1 M Me4NCl); Eu, 22.21; Fe, 26.66; Ca, 10.45; Cu, 21.3; Zn, 17.82. The exchange kinetics of the Gd complex, MS-325, with the radioactive tracer (152,154)Eu were studied at 25 degrees C in 0.1 M NaClO4. The exchange reaction has acid-dependent and acid-independent terms. The rate expression is given by the following: R = k(a)[GdL][H]2 + kb[GdL][Gd][H] + kc[GdL][Gd]. The rate constants were determined to be the following: k(a) = 1.84 x 10(6) M(-2) x min(-1), kb = 2.87 x 10(3) M(-2) x min(-1), kc = 3.72 x 10(-3) M(-1) x min(-1). MS-325 is 2-3 times more stable than GdDTPA at pH 7.4 and is 10-100 times more kinetically inert.

Isolated hemihyperplasia (hemihypertrophy): report of a prospective multicenter study of the incidence of neoplasia and review.

Hemihyperplasia is characterized by asymmetric growth of cranium, face, trunk, limbs, and/or digits, with or without visceral involvement. It may be an isolated finding in an otherwise normal individual, or it may occur in several syndromes. Although isolated hemihyperplasia (IHH) is of unknown cause, it may represent one end of the clinical spectrum of the Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome (WBS). Uniparental paternal disomy of 11p15.5 or altered expression of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) from the normally silent maternal allele have been implicated as causes of some cases of WBS. IHH and other mild manifestations of WBS may represent patchy overexpression of the IGF2 gene following defective imprinting in a mosaic fashion. The natural history of IHH varies markedly. An association among many overgrowth syndromes and a predisposition to neoplasia is well recognized. Heretofore the risk for tumor development in children with IHH was unknown. We report on the results of a prospective multicenter clinical study of the incidence and nature of neoplasia in children evaluated because of IHH. One hundred sixty-eight patients were ascertained. A total of 10 tumors developed in nine patients, for an overall incidence of 5.9%. Tumors were of embryonal origin (similar to those noted in other overgrowth disorders), including Wilms tumor, hepatoblastoma, adrenal cell carcinoma, and leiomyosarcoma of the small bowel in one case. These data support a tumor surveillance protocol for children with IHH similar to that performed in other syndromes associated with overgrowth.

Evaluation of the in vitro stability of gadolinium (III) polyoxometalates.

The gadolinium chelates of lacunary polyoxometalates were evaluated for in vitro stability against rat serum, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), endogenous metal cations, and DTPA-doped rat serum. The chelates dissociated rapidly in rat serum. Challenges by DTPA gave relatively slower dissociation rates, whereas challenges by endogenous metal cations (Fe(III), Zn(II), and Cu(II)) occurred at a rate comparable to the serum challenge, suggesting the instability in serum is due to a transmetalation mechanism. Challenges by DTPA-doped serum gave slower rates of dissociation than in native serum, verifying the transmetalation mechanism.

Longitudinal evaluation of the seal of IRM root end fillings.

IRM has been recommended for root end filling during endodontic surgery. This study evaluated the seal of IRM root end fillings prepared with various powder to liquid ratios (P:L) at extended time intervals using a fluid filtration method. The P:L of IRM evaluated included 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 g/ml and the P:L which resulted from the manufacturer's recommended scoop and dropper. Ten teeth were evaluated for microleakage for each group at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 12 wk after insertion. There were no significant differences in the microleakage of any of the various P:L groups at weeks 3, 8, and 12. These results suggest that higher P:L of IRM than those previously recommended for temporary restorations and for endodontic access preparations may be acceptable for root end fillings. IRM of higher P:L has other advantages such as ease of placement and decreased setting time, toxicity, and solubility.

Effects of an air-powder abrasive device used during periodontal flap surgery in dogs.

An air-powder abrasive system, the Prophy-Jet, is a commercially available product product intended for use during dental prophylaxis procedures. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects on periodontal tissues when the device is used as an adjunct to hand instrumentation in root preparation during periodontal surgery. The degree of tissue injury was assessed by evaluating clinical healing and by histometric analysis of the intensity of the inflammatory response at selected healing times. Surgical sites subjected to Prophy-Jet treatment tended to have slightly lower histometric inflammation scores than control sites treated by hand instrumentation alone. As judged by the inflammatory response and clinical healing, additional effects to surgical exposure of tissues of the periodontium were benign. Use of the Prophy-Jet instrument during periodontal surgery is effective and well tolerated.