Pancreatic uptake of [(68)Ga]Ga-DO3A-VS-Cys(40)-Exendin-4 was not reduced by destruction of beta cells in STZ-induced diabetic pigs.

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HemocompatibilityArtificial surfaces that come into contact with blood induce an immediate activation of the cascade systems of the blood, leading to a thrombotic and/ or inflammatory response that can eventually cause damage to the biomaterial or the patient, or to both. Heparin coating has been used to improve hemocompatibility, and another approach is 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-based polymer coatings. Here, the aim is to evaluate the hemocompatibility of MPC polymer coating by studying the interactions with coagulation and complement systems using human blood in vitro model and pig in vivo model. The stability of the coatings is investigated in vitro and MPC polymer-coated catheters are tested in vivo by insertion into the external jugular vein of pigs to monitor the catheters' antithrombotic properties. There is no significant activation of platelets or of the coagulation and complement systems in the MPC polymer-coated one, which was superior in hemocompatibility to non-coated matrix surfaces. The protective effect of the MPC polymer coat does not decline after incubation in human plasma for up to 2 weeks. With MPC polymer-coated catheters, it is possible to easily draw blood from pig for 4 days in contrast to the case for non-coated catheters, in which substantial clotting is seen.

The improvement in arterial oxygenation during pulsed inhalation of NO to healthy isoflurane-anesthetized horses decreased only gradually during a 30-minute period following cessation of NO inhalation, and serum ET-1 concentration was not affected. Because a rapid rebound response did not develop, inhalation of NO might be clinically useful in the treatment of hypoxemia in healthy isoflurane-anesthetized horses.

Hedlin G, Svedmyr J, Ryden A-C. Systemic effects of a short course of betamethasone compared with high-dose inhaled budesonide in early childhood asthma. Acta Paediatr 1999; 88: 48-51. Stockholm. ISSN 0803-5253 Forty children aged 1-3 y completed a placebo-controlled study on the effects of 10 d of inhaled budesonide for asthma caused by respiratory tract infection. The effects on symptoms were significantly better in the active than in the placebo group. In 20 of these children the systemic effects of high-dose inhaled budesonide for 10 d and the effect of a 3-d course of oral betamethasone on asthma exacerbation were evaluated. Systemic effects were evaluated by measuring morning cortisol in serum and urine, and the bone markers osteocalcin, ICTP (the C-terminal telopeptide region of type I collagen) and PIIINP (an N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen) in serum before and at the end (d 7-10) of treatment (1600 mg budesonide d À1 for 3 d and 800 mg for 7 d). In 9 children, measurements were taken on d 3 of a 3-d course of betamethasone (6, 4 and 2 mg) for asthma exacerbation and 14 d later. There were no signs of systemic effects after 7-10 d of budesonide. After 3 d of betamethasone, serum cortisol decreased from a median of 263 to 26 nmol l À1 , urine cortisol/creatinine from 19.9 to 7.2 nmol l À1 , osteocalcin from 31.4 to 5.5 mg l À1 , ICTP from 19.4 to 8.5 mg l À1 and PIIINP from 12.3 to 5.9 mg l À1 . Two weeks later, the levels were back to normal. In conclusion, short courses of oral betamethasone have pronounced systemic effects, whereas 10 d of high doses of budesonide do not produce significant systemic effects.