12,377 research outputs found
Characterization of Metabolic, Diffusion, and Perfusion Properties in GBM: Contrast-Enhancing versus Non-Enhancing Tumor.
BackgroundAlthough the contrast-enhancing (CE) lesion on T1-weighted MR images is widely used as a surrogate for glioblastoma (GBM), there are also non-enhancing regions of infiltrative tumor within the T2-weighted lesion, which elude radiologic detection. Because non-enhancing GBM (Enh-) challenges clinical patient management as latent disease, this study sought to characterize ex vivo metabolic profiles from Enh- and CE GBM (Enh+) samples, alongside histological and in vivo MR parameters, to assist in defining criteria for estimating total tumor burden.MethodsFifty-six patients with newly diagnosed GBM received a multi-parametric pre-surgical MR examination. Targets for obtaining image-guided tissue samples were defined based on in vivo parameters that were suspicious for tumor. The actual location from where tissue samples were obtained was recorded, and half of each sample was analyzed for histopathology while the other half was scanned using HR-MAS spectroscopy.ResultsThe Enh+ and Enh- tumor samples demonstrated comparable mitotic activity, but also significant heterogeneity in microvascular morphology. Ex vivo spectroscopic parameters indicated similar levels of total choline and N-acetylaspartate between these contrast-based radiographic subtypes of GBM, and characteristic differences in the levels of myo-inositol, creatine/phosphocreatine, and phosphoethanolamine. Analysis of in vivo parameters at the sample locations were consistent with histological and ex vivo metabolic data.ConclusionsThe similarity between ex vivo levels of choline and NAA, and between in vivo levels of choline, NAA and nADC in Enh+ and Enh- tumor, indicate that these parameters can be used in defining non-invasive metrics of total tumor burden for patients with GBM
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Hyperpolarized 13C Spectroscopic Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in a Rodent Model of Steatohepatitis.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become highly prevalent, now considered the most common liver disease in the western world. Approximately one-third of patients with NASH develop non-alchoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), histologically defined by lobular and portal inflammation, and accompanied by marked oxidative stress. Patients with NASH are at increased risk for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and diagnosis currently requires invasive biopsy. In animal models of NASH, particularly the methionine-choline deficient (MCD) model, profound changes are seen in redox enzymes and key intracellular antioxidants. To study antioxidant status in NASH non-invasively, we applied the redox probe hyperpolarized [1-13C] dehydroascorbic acid (HP DHA), which is reduced to Vitamin C (VitC) rapidly in the normal liver. In MCD mice, we observed a significant decrease in HP DHA to VitC conversion that accompanied hepatic fat deposition. When these animals were subsequently placed on a normal diet, resonance ratios reverted to those seen in control mice. These findings suggest that HP DHA, a potentially clinically translatable imaging agent, holds special promise in imaging NASH and other metabolic syndromes, to monitor disease progression and response to targeted therapies
Empirical Photometric Redshifts of Luminous Red Galaxies and Clusters in SDSS
In this work I discuss the necessary steps for deriving photometric redshifts
for luminous red galaxies (LRGs) and galaxy clusters through simple empirical
methods. The data used is from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). I show that
with three bands only ({\it gri}) it is possible to achieve results as accurate
as the ones obtained by other techniques, generally based on more filters. In
particular, the use of the color helps improving the final redshifts
(especially for clusters), as this color monotonically increases up to . For the LRGs I generate a catalog of million objects at . The accuracy of this catalog is for and
for . The photometric redshift technique
employed for clusters is independent of a cluster selection algorithm. Thus, it
can be applied to systems selected by any method or wavelength, as long as the
proper optical photometry is available. When comparing the redshift listed in
literature to the photometric estimate, the accuracy achieved for clusters is
for and for .
However, when considering the spectroscopic redshift as the mean value of SDSS
galaxies on each cluster region, the accuracy is at the same level as found by
other authors: for and for . The photometric redshift relation derived here is applied to
thousands of cluster candidates selected elsewhere. I have also used galaxy
photometric redshifts available in SDSS to identify groups in redshift space
and then compare the redshift peak of the nearest group to each cluster
redshift (ABRIDGED).Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures. Accepted to MNRAS. Minor changes in response to
referee repor
Laser Based Mid-Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging – Exploring a Novel Method for Application in Cancer Diagnosis
A number of biomedical studies have shown that mid-infrared spectroscopic images can provide
both morphological and biochemical information that can be used for the diagnosis of cancer. Whilst
this technique has shown great potential it has yet to be employed by the medical profession. By
replacing the conventional broadband thermal source employed in modern FTIR spectrometers with
high-brightness, broadly tuneable laser based sources (QCLs and OPGs) we aim to solve one of the
main obstacles to the transfer of this technology to the medical arena; namely poor signal to noise
ratios at high spatial resolutions and short image acquisition times. In this thesis we take the first
steps towards developing the optimum experimental configuration, the data processing algorithms
and the spectroscopic image contrast and enhancement methods needed to utilise these high
intensity laser based sources. We show that a QCL system is better suited to providing numerical
absorbance values (biochemical information) than an OPG system primarily due to the QCL pulse
stability. We also discuss practical protocols for the application of spectroscopic imaging to cancer
diagnosis and present our spectroscopic imaging results from our laser based spectroscopic imaging
experiments of oesophageal cancer tissue
The Properties of Radio Galaxies and the Effect of Environment in Large Scale Structures at
In this study we investigate 89 radio galaxies that are
spectroscopically-confirmed to be members of five large scale structures in the
redshift range of . Based on a two-stage classification
scheme, the radio galaxies are classified into three sub-classes: active
galactic nucleus (AGN), hybrid, and star-forming galaxy (SFG). We study the
properties of the three radio sub-classes and their global and local
environmental preferences. We find AGN hosts are the most massive population
and exhibit quiescence in their star-formation activity. The SFG population has
a comparable stellar mass to those hosting a radio AGN but are unequivocally
powered by star formation. Hybrids, though selected as an intermediate
population in our classification scheme, were found in almost all analyses to
be a unique type of radio galaxies rather than a mixture of AGN and SFGs. They
are dominated by a high-excitation radio galaxy (HERG) population. We discuss
environmental effects and scenarios for each sub-class. AGN tend to be
preferentially located in locally dense environments and in the cores of
clusters/groups, with these preferences persisting when comparing to galaxies
of similar colour and stellar mass, suggesting that their activity may be
ignited in the cluster/group virialized core regions. Conversely, SFGs exhibit
a strong preference for intermediate-density global environments, suggesting
that dusty starbursting activity in LSSs is largely driven by galaxy-galaxy
interactions and merging.Comment: 28 pages, 10 figures, accepted to MNRA
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