Radiopharmaceutical Localization and Nuclear Medicine Concepts

These vocabulary flashcards focus on key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on radiopharmaceutical localization and nuclear medicine. They are designed to help students prepare for their exams.

Radiopharmaceuticals

Chemical compounds labeled with radioisotopes used in medical imaging and therapy.

Tracers

Substances used to study biological processes without disturbing them, often labeled with radioisotopes.

Nuclear medicine

A medical specialty that uses radionuclide imaging to diagnose and treat diseases based on biochemical functions.

Biochemical reaction

A process by which molecules interact and transform, crucial for understanding health and diseases.

Georg DeHevesy

The scientist who coined the term 'radioindicator' in the 1920s and introduced the tracer principle.

Homeostatic system

A system maintained in a stable condition through feedback mechanisms.

Theranostic radiopharmaceuticals

Agents used for both therapy and diagnostics, such as 68Ga, 131I, and 186/188Re.

Isotope dilution

A method used to determine the volume of a fluid by diluting a tracer of known activity.

Capillary blockade

A technique used to determine organ perfusion by trapping radiolabeled particles in capillary beds.

Physicochemical adsorption

A mechanism where a radiotracer adheres to a surface based on chemical and physical interactions.

Cellular migration

The movement of cells towards a specific location, such as sites of infection or inflammation.

Simple diffusion

The passive movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Facilitated diffusion

Transport of molecules across a membrane via specific protein carriers.

Active transport

The movement of solutes against their concentration gradient, requiring energy.

Radioiodine

An isotope of iodine used in imaging and treating thyroid diseases.

Erythrocyte isotope clearance

The process of measuring red blood cell volume using radiolabeled agents.

Phagocytosis

The cellular process of engulfing particles or microbes by immune cells.

Receptor-mediated endocytosis

The uptake of specific molecules triggered by their binding to cellular receptors.

Metabolic substrates

Nutrients necessary for cell metabolism and energy production.

Radiolabeled amino acids

Amino acids tagged with radioactive isotopes used to monitor protein synthesis in tumors.

Hypoxia-selective radiopharmaceuticals

Compounds developed to image areas with low oxygen levels, commonly found in tumors.

Cell proliferation markers

Radiopharmaceuticals used to assess the growth rate of cells, especially in tumors.

Specific receptor binding

The interaction of radiopharmaceuticals with particular cellular receptors to target specific tissues.

Somatostatin receptors

Cell surface receptors that bind somatostatin and can be targeted with radiopharmaceuticals.

Synthetic oligonucleotides

Short DNA or RNA sequences designed to bind specific mRNA targets, used in imaging gene expression.

Reporter genes

Genes incorporated into cells to signal the expression of specific genes or processes.

Transdermal absorption

The method of drug delivery through the skin for systemic effects.

Bone scintigraphy

A nuclear imaging technique used to visualize bone metabolism and detect abnormalities.

Nuclear cardiology

The branch of medicine focused on heart disease using radioactive tracers to assess blood flow.

Coronary artery disease

A condition characterized by the narrowing of coronary arteries due to plaque buildup.

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI)

A nuclear medicine technique used to evaluate blood flow to the heart muscle.

Thallium-201

A radiotracer used in heart imaging to identify perfusion abnormalities.

Technetium-99m

A widely used radioisotope for imaging in various medical applications due to its optimal properties.

PET imaging

Positron Emission Tomography, an advanced imaging technique that provides detailed images of body functions.

Adenosine

A vasodilator used in pharmacological stress tests to increase coronary blood flow.

Dipyrideamole

A drug that increases adenosine levels for use in stress testing and myocardial perfusion imaging.

Quantitative SPECT imaging

A method of analyzing SPECT images to provide numerical assessments of myocardial perfusion.

Gated SPECT imaging

An imaging technique that evaluates both heart function and blood perfusion using ECG synchronization.

Acute myocardial infarction

A medical emergency characterized by the death of heart muscle due to insufficient blood supply.

Chronic osteomyelitis

Long-term bone infection typically characterized by the presence of necrotic bone.

Inflammatory response

The body's immune reaction to injury or infection, often involving swelling, heat, pain, and redness.

Metastatic disease

Cancer that has spread from its original site to other parts of the body.

Tumor hypoxia

A condition in which tumor cells suffer from a deficient oxygen supply.

Bone remodeling

The ongoing process of bone resorption and formation throughout an individual's life.

Radioimmunotherapy

Cancer treatment that combines radiation therapy with immunotherapy using radiolabeled antibodies.

Malignant tumors

Cancerous growths characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation.

Diagnostic imaging

Medical imaging techniques used to visualize the internal structures and functions of the body.

Clinical efficacy

The ability of a treatment or diagnostic tool to provide effective results in a clinical setting.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how medications are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated in the body.

Radionuclide

A radioactive isotope of an element, used in medical imaging and treatment.

Antigen-antibody interaction

The binding of an antibody to its specific antigen, forming the basis for immunological responses.

In vivo imaging

Techniques used to visualize biological processes within a living organism.

Chemotactic factors

Substances that attract cells to sites of injury or infection.

Intrinsic pathway for apoptosis

The cellular process of programmed cell death initiated from within the cell.

Echo stress testing

An imaging method used to assess heart function and blood flow using ultrasound during stress.

Biological markers

Substances that indicate biological processes, conditions, or diseases.

Sensitivity and specificity

Measures of a test's accuracy in identifying true positives and true negatives.

Positron-emitting radionuclides

Radionuclides that emit positrons and are used in imaging techniques like PET.

Cellular retention

The ability of a molecule to remain within cells after internalization.

Osteoblastic activity

Bone-forming activity by osteoblasts involved in the bone remodeling process.

Tumor vasculature

The network of blood vessels that supply a tumor.

Cardiovascular disease

A class of diseases that involve the heart and blood vessels.

SPECT-CT imaging

A hybrid imaging technique that combines SPECT and CT to provide anatomical and functional information.

G-protein-coupled receptors

A large family of cell surface receptors that play a role in transmitting signals from extracellular stimuli.

Macrophage infiltration

The accumulation of macrophages in tissues, usually in response to infection or inflammation.

Endothelium

The thin layer of cells lining blood vessels, crucial for vascular health and function.

Glucose metabolism

The process by which glucose is converted into energy within cells.

Thallium redistribution

The change in thallium uptake in the myocardium over time after stress imaging.

Cytoplasmic vesicles

Small membrane-bound compartments within cells that transport substances.

Bone scintigraphy patterns

Distinct imaging results seen in various bone diseases during scintigraphy.

Collagen synthesis

The process of producing collagen, a major protein in connective tissues.

Chimeric antibodies

Antibodies that combine regions from both human and mouse antibodies to reduce immune response.

Molecular mechanism of disease

Biological processes and pathways that lead to disease states at the molecular level.

Contrast-enhanced imaging

Imaging techniques that use contrast agents to improve visualization of structures.

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)

A secondary messenger important in many biological processes including cellular signaling.

Antisense technology

A method that uses synthetic nucleic acids to modify the expression of specific genes.

Biotransformation in medicine

The chemical alteration of substances by the body, particularly in drug metabolism.

Dynamic imaging

Real-time imaging techniques that show processes as they happen.

Mitochondrial uptake

The process of molecules entering mitochondria for energy production and metabolism.

Gamma camera

An imaging device used in nuclear medicine to visualize gamma radiation from radiotracers.

Risk factors for disease

Characteristics or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing a condition.

Immunological response

The reaction of the immune system to pathogens or foreign substances.

Cost-benefit analysis in medicine

A method to evaluate the financial aspects versus the benefits of a medical intervention.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action.

Histology of bone

The microscopic study of bone tissue structure.

Chemical interactions in biology

Various types of interactions, like ionic or covalent bonds, affecting biological processes.

Atherosclerosis

A disease in which plaque builds up inside arteries, leading to reduced blood flow.

Pathophysiology of cardiac events

The study of functional changes that occur in the heart during diseases.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

A signal protein that stimulates blood vessel formation.

Patient risk assessment

The evaluation of the likelihood of potential health risks in patients.

Antigenic stimulation

The process by which an antigen provokes an immune response.

Phosphorylation

The addition of a phosphate group to a molecule, typically a protein, which can activate or deactivate it.

Product of metabolism

Substances resulting from biochemical reactions in the body.

Synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals

The process of chemically producing radiolabeled compounds for medical use.

Substrate specificity

The ability of an enzyme or radiopharmaceutical to react with or bind to a particular substrate.

Determinants of drug efficacy

Factors that influence how effectively a drug works.

Pharmacological effects

The effects induced by drugs on biological systems.

Clinical imaging techniques

Various methods used to visualize internal body structures and functions.