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Thallium-201, 129Cs, 43K, and 81Rb were evaluated as "static" myocardial-imaging agents. Optimal settings of the scintillation camera were determined for each agent. Accumulation for good-quality images can be started as early as 5 min after the dose with 43K, 10 min with 201T1, and 30 min with 129Cs. Imaging times were comparable for 43K, 129Cs, and 201T1 (using the 80-keV x-rays). High-energy photons from the 81Rb preparation, largely from 82mRb contaminant, made it impossible to obtain an interpretable image without the addition of more shielding. Absorbed radiation dose from 81Rb is lower than that from 43K, 129Cs, and 201T1. The highest background activity was observed with 81Rb, followed by 43K, 129Cs, and 201T1 in that order. Overall, 201T1 was best suited for imaging acute myocardial infarction with currently available equipment, and 129Cs was next best. However, because of instrument setting and commercially obtained preparations, 81Rb could not be properly compared with the other radionuclides in our study.

Although Co-57 is generally used for testing the field uniformity of scintillation cameras, the various photon energies of other radionuclides require uniform response throughout the entire range of energies to which a scintillation camera can respond. The use of Co-57, however, may not adequately demonstrate the field response, which may be uniform at 122 keV but not at other energies. Two scintillation camera systems were investigated in this regard by storing field-flood images, obtained at several photon energies, in a minicomputer. The stored data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, revealing that field uniformity may change with photon energy. One of the scintillation cameras showed a variation in field response with photon energy, whereas the other camera did not. These results, however, should not be extrapolated to other cameras of the same type. If a particular scintillation camera is to be used routinely with several energies, its performance should be tested with each one to provide assurance that valid information is being obtained. The effects of dynamic uniformity field correction remain to be evaluated.

Individual observers interpreted images in order to assess their accuracy and sources of error. Seventy-six liver images were presented to nine readers for interpretation. Readers of differing experience participated in the study: four radiology residents, three fellows in nuclear medicine, and two full-time nuclear medicine physicians. A higher incidence of false-positive reading was more common in inexperienced observers (11-50%) and the most correct readings were obtained by staff physicians (88% overall percentage accuracy). Heterogeneity in radionuclide uptake was the most frequently ill-defined nature was the most common false-positive finding in normal cases. Early stages of cirrhosis, mild hepatitis, and rare diseases such as hepatic sarcoidosis were difficult to detect. Skill of interpretation improved with experience, especially in judging heterogeneity of an ill-defined nature, and the rate of accurate readings was proportional to the level of training of the observer.

Three collimators--high-resolutions, converging, and pinhole--were evaluated for Tl-201 myocardial imaging. Line spread function, sensitivity measurements, and phantom and animal studies were used. Features common to all the collimators were: a) better resolution at a closer distance with higher count density, and b) higher infarct detection rate in the tangenital projection than in the en face view relative to the lesion. Furthermore, an infarct in the epicardial location was better visualized than one in the endocardial location. In terms of resolution and sensitivity, the high-resolution collimator was found to be satisfactory in most clinical imagings, but for visualization of an infarct, its size by weight must be over 10--12 g. The pinhole collimator could resolve an infarct as small as 7 g, and use of the pinhole yielded a diagnostic accuracy of over 90%, compared with 75-80% for the high-resolution collimator. Although the low sensitivity of the pinhole collimator precludes its routine clinical use, the selected view would increase diagnostic accuracy. The converging collimator performed poorly in terms of lesion detectability, and its routine clinical use is not encouraged. The conclusion drawn here is valid in the system we have studied, but the variety of converging collimators must be evaluated further for their specific purposes.

129CsCl was investigated as an agent for imaging tumors of the lung, and based on the results of 56 patients studied, it has proved to be highly sensitive in detecting primary malignant tumors of the lung. The differentiation between pulmonary malignant lesions and tuberculosis appears to be feasible. However, false-positive images in patients with benign conditions are inevitable.

In a recent communication (Hollander, N., Mehdi, S.Q., Weissmann, I.L., McConnell, H.M. and Kriss, J.P. (1979) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 4042-4045) we reported that reconstituted model membranes containing murine tumor cell membrane proteins can be substituted for living cells as targets for cell-mediated cytolysis by allosensitized T-lymphocytes. The specificity of the lytic process was governed by the appropriate histocompatibility antigen (H-2). It was stressed, however, that although a standard protocol was faithfully followed for the reconstitution of the target membrane vesicle, the system was not uniformly reproducible. Some experiments showed high levels of specific vesicle killing while no lysis was observed in others. This work extends our description of the structural requirements of reconstituted membrane vesicles.

In order to test the hypothesis that there is air streaming through the upper airways to the ipsilateral lung, and that reflex hypoventilation of the ipsilateral lung may occur in unilateral nasal obstruction, 11 volunteers and three patients were examined for these phenomena, employing Xenon-133 (133Xe) and a special mask permitting inhalation of the gas through one nostril at a time. Patients with deviated nasal septa were also examined, one of these before and after surgery. There was no difference in 133Xe distribution between right and left lungs when gas was inhaled through either normal nostril as compared to inhalation through the mouth, in patients with deviated septa or with cotton obstruction of the contralateral nostril. Furthermore, there was no evidence of delayed washout of 133Xe from either lung or any segment thereof under conditions of nasal obstruction. Thus acute or chronic nasal obstruction does not alter the distribution of inpired gas to the lungs. Neither air streaming nor reflex bronchoconstriction occurs with nasal obstruction.

Successful transplantation of cell surface molecules from the membranes of one cell type to recipient cells of a different type is described. Plasma membranes purified from donor cells were fluoresceinated and fused to recipient cells using poly(ethylene glycol) and the fate of the transplanted membrane components was followed by fluorescence microscopy. In approximately 100 min the 'foreign' membrane components were seen to cluster and internalise. During this time, judged by the criteria of hormonal stimulation and immune cytotoxic killing, the cell surface of the recipient cell mimicked the cell surface phenotype of the donor cell.