The preclinical pharmacokinetic and safety profile of ferumoxtran-10 appears to be satisfactory in view of its proposed use as a single-dose diagnostic agent in human for MR imaging of lymph nodes.

Superparamagnetic agents in magnetic resonance imaging: physico-chemical characteristics and clinical applications. Superparamagnetic agents have been the subject of extensive research over the last decade. They consist of iron oxide nanoparticles which are highly effective in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The particle size varies widely and influences their physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. Their main present and future applications by the parenteral route are: imaging of gastrointestinal tract, liver and spleen, lymph nodes. Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (USPIO) are also blood pool agents which could be used for perfusion imaging (i.e. brain or myocardial ischemic diseases) as well as for imaging of vessels in Magnetic Resonance Angiography. These agents open up an important field of research into more specific agents adapted to clinicians' needs in diagnostic imaging.

No abstract

The land helix, or snail, has been used in medicine since antiquity and prepared according to several formulations. This historical report traces the understanding of their properties from the time of Hippocrates, who proposed the use of snail mucus against protoccle and Pliny who thought that the snail increased the speed of delivery and was “a sovereign remedy to treat pain related to burns, abscesses and other wounds”, Galien recommended snails against hydrops foetails. In the 18th century, various snail “preparations” were also recommended for external use with dermatological disorders and internally for symptoms associated with tuberculosis and nephritis. Surprisingly, the 19th century saw a renewed interest in the pharmaceutical and medical use of snails with numerous indications for snail preparations. This interest in snails did not stop at the end of the 19th century. The 1945 edition of Dorvault devotes an entire paragraph to snails, indicating that the therapeutic usage of snails was still alive at that time. Recently the FDA has also shown an interest in snails. Ziconotide (SNXIII), a synthetic peptide coming from snail venom, has been under FDA review since 1999. Pre-clinical and clinical studies of this new drug are promising.

The relaxivity of P792 at clinical field is very high for a monogadolinium complex without protein binding. The pharmacokinetic and biodistribution profiles are consistent with those of a rapid-clearance blood-pool agent. Its initial safety profile is satisfactory. Experimental and clinical studies are underway to confirm the potential of P792 in MRI.