Nuclear Pharmacy eNewsletter
Brought to you by Nuclear Education Online                                               April 2008
In This Issue
FDA Approves Regadenoscan
PET Scan in Drug Abuse
Jubilant Organosys Buys Draxis
35th Agreement State
Radiation Protection Drug
Modern Marvels
Calendar of Events
Online Poll

Nuclear Fact

Camping Lantern

Camping Lanterns
 

Thorium dioxide has been used in gas lantern mantles (although many manufacturers have switched to alternatives).  These mantles glow with a bright light that is unrelated to the radioactive thorium.  Thorium was named for Thor, the Norse god of thunder in 1828.  Research by Rutherford and Soddy showed that thorium decayed at a fixed rate and led to the identification of half-life and the disintegration theory of radioactivity.

Case Study
Bone Scan

A  46 year old man presented with mild knee pain.  While X-ray was normal, the bone scan and MRI revealed an abnormality.   

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Dear Nuclear Medicine Professional,

I hope you are enjoying nice spring weather.  As some of you head out to experience camping in the great outdoors you can recall how radioactive materials are often used in unusual ways!
Regadenoscan Receives FDA Approval
CV Therapeutics and Astellas have announced that their new stress agent, Regadenoscan (Lexiscan) has received FDA approval. The first A2A adenosine receptor agonist shown to be safe and effective as a pharmacologic stress agent in MPI studies. It is delivered as a rapid bolus (approx. 10 seconds) with no dose adjustment required for body weight. The A2A adenosine receptor is the adenosine receptor subtype responsible for coronary vasodilation. Click here to view the package insert information.
PET Scans Show Teen Drug Abuse

A University of Georgia pharmacy faculty member, Merrill Norton gives talks about how drug abuse affects teens' brains uses slides of PET scans in his PowerPoint presentations. The scans show energy-consumption patterns in the brain and even what appears to be atrophy in some parts of the brain in longtime drug users. The Times (Gainesville, Ga.)
Indian Firm to Buy Draxis
Jubilant logoJubilant Organosys of India has signed an agreement to buy Canada's radiopharmaceutical company Draxis Health, with the $255 million deal expected to close in the second quarter of this year. The purchase gives the Indian company "entry into the attractive, regulated, high growth and high margin radiopharmaceutical business," said a Jubilant official. Canadian Press.
PA Becomes 35th Agreement State
Agreement States MapPennsylvannia has become the 35th state that has entered into an agreement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to regulate radioactive materials within their state.   Press Release
Drug for Radiation Protection
Cleveland BioLabs has reported in a news release that its radiation drug, Protectan CBLB502, minimized blood damage after radiation exposure in primate studies. When the drug was administered 48 hours after exposure to radiation, survival rates increased. Medical News Today/News release
Modern Marvels: Medical Imaging
History Channel LogoThe History Channel produced a TV show/DVD exploring the history of medical imaging that you may interesting.  You can order this DVD online for $24.95.
May 6-7 Imaging and Clinical Trials, Cambridge, MA
May 19-21
Biomarker World Congress 2008
Philadelphia, PA
June 14-18 SNM 55th Annual Meeting,  New Orleans, LA
Sept 10-13 World Molecular Imaging Congress
Nice, Provence, France
Online Poll
 
How do you rate your Agreement State's job of regulating radioactive materials?
 
 
Previous Poll: Does your pharmacy plan to use sterile gloves to comply with USP <797>?
Yes: 28.6%
No:  47.6%
Undecided: 23.8%
 
Renal scan
Nicki Hilliard, PharmD, BCNP
Professor of Nuclear Pharmacy
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DOT Training

Only $45
The Department of Transportation requires initial and refresher training every three years for individuals that transport radioactive materials.   The NEO course "Training for Shippers and Transporters of Radiopharmaceuticals" has different levels of training for couriers, drivers, technicians, technologists, and pharmacists.  The perfect answer for your training needs! 
 
Click here for more information.