Nuclear medicine procedures and the evaluation of male sexual organs: a short review

Sexuality consists of three aspects that are interrelated and inseparable, biological, physiological and social. The biological aspect considers the individual's capability to give and to receive pleasure. In consequence, it covers the functionality of the sexual organs and the physiology of human sexual response cycle. Diagnostic imaging modalities, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) have been used to evaluate clinical disorders of the male reproductive system. PET and SPECT procedures basically involve the administration of a radiopharmaceutical that has a higher uptake in a specific tumor or tissue. The aim of this brief review is to present some radiopharmaceuticals that have been used in the clinical evaluation of the male sexual organs (testes, prostate, seminal vesicles, penis) related with male sexuality. This information could be useful in better understanding the male sexual response cycle, as well as the sexual disorders, when considering the male sexual organs and the pelvic floor. Moreover, the findings obtained with PET and SPECT imaging could help to evaluate the efficacy of clinical results of therapeutic procedures. In conclusion, the knowledge from these images could aid in better understanding the physiology of the different organs related with sexuality. Furthermore, they could be important tools to evaluate the physiological integrity of the involved organs, to improve clinical strategies and to accompany the patients under treatment

Is Nuchal Cord a Perfect Scapegoat: A Retrospective Analysis from Northwest India?

Background: Entanglement of the umbilical cord around the fetal neck (nuchal cord) is quite a common fi nding at delivery. It is often assumed that nuchal cord causes cord compression and thus low birth weight and intrapartum complications. Aim: The aim of this article is to study the eff ect of nuchal cord on the mode of delivery, complications and fetal outcome. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on 386 deliveries, 60 of them with nuchal cord, during 1 year from November 2009 through October 2010. Their mode of delivery, complications and fetal outcome were studied and a comparison was established between nuchal cord group and the rest of the deliveries. Nuchal cord group was subdivided into loose nuchal cord (cord could easily be uncoiled before complete delivery of the baby) group and tight nuchal cord (cord was needed to be clamped and cut before delivery of the baby) group. Furthermore, the mode of delivery and fetal outcome were compared between these subgroups. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS statistical soft ware version 12.0 (Chicago Illinios, USA). The results were expressed as percentages. Test for significance was done using Chi-square, and a P<0.05 was considered as significant.Results: The nuchal cord group did not have any signifi cant diff erence in the mode of delivery or fetal outcome compared with the control group. However, the subgroup having tight cord around the neck had significantly higher proportion of low Apgar scores and meconium staining at birth.Conclusions: Nuchal cord does not increase the chances of cesarean delivery. However, tight cord around the neck may result in low Apgar scores and increased incidence of fetal distress leading to cesarean section.  Keywords: Apgar score, cesarean delivery, meconium staining, north west India, nuchal cord, perinatal outcom

Development of a Nomogram to Evaluate the Usefulness of Sonographic Measurement of Placental Thickness for the Estimation of Fetal Gestational Age

Background: An accurate assessment of gestational age (GA) and evaluation of fetal growth is fundamental to prenatal care. Aim: To evaluate placental thickness (PT) as an indicator of GA. Subjects and Methods: A prospective study was carried out on 300 antenatal patients with known last menstrual period (LMP), 100 each in first, second, and third trimester, respectively, with GA more than 10 weeks till term in a study period of one year. Patients with GA more than 20 weeks detected with pregnancy‑induced hypertension (PIH) and/or diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and/or hydrops fetalis and/or congenital malformation were excluded from the study. Twin pregnancy of any gestation was excluded from the study. The PT was measured at the level of insertion of the cord and the values thus measured in millimeters was correlated with GA as ascertained vis a vis the LMP. GA and PT were represented as mean and standard deviation. Correlation between them was evaluated using Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient. Results: The study showed a positive correlation between GA and PT. PT in millimeter accurately matched the GA in weeks from 14 to 21 weeks of gestation after which it was seen to be lesser than GA by 1-4 mm. Conclusions: PT promises to be an accurate parameter for estimating fetal GA in singleton pregnancies.Keywords: Fetal Gestational age, nomogram, placental thicknes

Targeting the hypoxic fraction of tumours using hypoxia activated prodrugs

The presence of a microenvironment within most tumours containing regions of low oxygen tension or hypoxia has profound biological and therapeutic implications. Tumour hypoxia is known to promote the development of an aggressive phenotype, resistance to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is strongly associated with poor clinical outcome. Paradoxically, it is recognised as a high priority target and one therapeutic strategies designed to eradicate hypoxic cells in tumours are a group of compounds known collectively as hypoxia activated prodrugs (HAPs) or bioreductive drugs. These drugs are inactive prodrugs that require enzymatic activation (typically by 1 or 2 electron oxidoreductases) to generate cytotoxic species with selectivity for hypoxic cells being determined by (i) the ability of oxygen to either reverse or inhibit the activation process and (ii) the presence of elevated expression of oxidoreductases in tumours. The concepts underpinning HAP development were established over 40 years ago and have been refined over the years to produce a new generation of HAPs that are under preclinical and clinical development. The purpose of this article is to describe current progress in the development of HAPs focusing on the mechanisms of action, preclinical properties and clinical progress of leading examples

Interpersonal Communication Strategies to Increase Iron-Folic Acid Supplement Consumption: Reduction in Anemia Through Normative Innovations (RANI) Project

More than half of women of reproductive age in India are anemic. This study investigates the role of interpersonal communication in increasing the consumption of iron-folic acid supplements. Interventions that increase interpersonal communication may influence and empower individuals and the larger community in promoting behavior change. This investigation uses data from a cluster randomized intervention to understand the pathways by which interpersonal communication mediates the consumption of iron-folic acid supplements. Longitudinal data from control and intervention arms in rural Odisha, India, were collected at baseline (N = 3,691) and 20 months later at end-line (N = 3,394). Structural equation models highlighted the positive role of interpersonal communication in mediating iron-folic acid supplement use. This study illustrates that even during social distancing due to COVID-19, strategic interpersonal communication can improve iron-folic acid supplement use. Our results elucidate two key interpersonal communication pathways at play, namely the ritualistic and instrumental pathways in improving health behavior change in the community

Rhodamine-Sulphuric Acid -A New Visualization Reagent for the Determination of Sucralose by HPTLC

Sucralose a UV-visible inactive compound was separated on silica gel plate without any plate treatment prior to analysis, derivatized with rhodamine - sulphuric acid reagent and detected densitometrically at 456 nm as olive green band. With this reagent sucralose also shows golden yellow fluorescence at 366 nm. Two new solvent systems i.e. chloroform: methanol: toluene (v/v 5:3.5:1.5) (solvent system-I) and chloroform: ethanol: benzene (v/v 5:3:2) (solvent system-II) were developed and giving Rf values of 0.62 and 0.45 respectively. The method was found to be sensitive with good limit of detection (LOD) for two solvent systems. The method imparts specificity to the method as at 456 nm sucralose only gives olive green color spots where as other artificial sweeteners did not show any response to this reagent, where as carbohydrates gives black color spots. Similarly sucralose gives golden yellow fluorescence at 366 nm which is not given by any other artificial sweetener. The method was highly reproducible with relative standard deviation (RSD)≤3% (n=3) and was applied for the determination of sucralose in different matrices like cola drinks, lemon juices, sugar free sweets, tabletop sweeteners etc.etc