The ORNL tungsten-188/rhenium-188 generator (Figure 2) provides carrier-free rhenium-188 for a wide variety of therapeutic applications. The use of liquid-filled rhenium-188 balloons for restenosis therapy after angioplasty has been successfully evaluated in over ten clinical sites throughout the world and an example showing pathology results from a swine study (Figure 3). Rhenium-188-labeled HEDP agent is also used been developed as a cost-effective alternative to other agents for bone pain palliation of metastatic disease, as shown in a study from Bonn, Germany (Figure 4). Examples of other agents developed
in the ORNL Program include an orally administered radioactive fat which
is use for evaluation of pancreatic insufficiency by a simple urine
test (Figure 5), radioactive agents
for cerebral imaging to evaluate activity of the muscarinic-cholinergic receptor (Figure 6), and the use of radioactive agents
for evaluation of the effects of new insulin sensitizing drugs on lipid and
glucose metabolism in animal
models of Type II diabetes (Figure 7).
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