1,875 research outputs found
Minimally-invasive debulking of ovarian cancer in the rat pelvis by means of photodynamic therapy using the pegylated photosensitizer PEG-m-THPC
Interstitial photodynamic therapy (PDT) using the pegylated photosensitizer PEG-m-THPC was evaluated as a minimally-invasive procedure to selectively debulk unrespectable pelvic ovarian cancer (NuTu-19) in immunocompetent rats. To assess tumour selectivity, PEG-m-THPC at dosages of 0.3, 3.0 and 30 mg kg−1 body weight was administered intravenously to 30 rats 4 weeks following tumour induction. Eight days later laser light at 652 nm and optical doses ranging from 100 to 900 J cm−1 diffuser-length was delivered by an interstitial cylindrical diffusing fibre inserted blindly into the pelvis. Three days following light application, the volume of necrosis was measured and the damage to pelvic organs was assessed histologically on cross sections. For analysis of survival, 20 tumour-bearing rats received PDT using drug doses of 3 or 9 mg kg−1 body weight and an optical dose of 900 J cm−1 diffuser-length, whereas ten untreated tumour-bearing rats served as controls. The histological assessment of PDT induced necrosis showed a non-linear dose–response for both the photosensitizer dose and the optical dose. The lowest drug dose activated with the highest optical dose did not induce more necrosis than seen in tumour-bearing control animals. The same optical dose induced necrosis of 17 mm in diameter using 30 mg kg−1 and 11 mm using 3 mg kg−1 photosensitizer. The optical threshold for induction of significant necrosis was between 100 and 300 J cm−1 diffuser-length for 30 mg kg−1 and between 300 and 500 J cm−1 for 3 mg kg−1 PEG-m-THPC. Significant damage to normal pelvic organs was only seen if 30 mg kg−1 photosensitizer was activated with optical doses of 700 J cm−1 or more. In the survival study, all treated animals survived PDT for at least 2 weeks and the intestinal and urinary tract remained functional. No clinical signs of blood vessel or nerve injury were observed. Mean overall survival of untreated tumour-bearing rats was 25.0 ± 4.5 days compared to 38.4 ± 3.8 days and 40.0 ± 3.6 days for rats treated with 3 mg kg−1 or 9 mg kg−1 PEG-m-THPC mediated PDT respectively (P < 0.05). We conclude that PEG-m-THPC mediated PDT has a favourable therapeutic window and that this minimally-invasive procedure can reduce pelvic cancer bulks effectively and selectively. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig
Advances in multispectral and hyperspectral imaging for archaeology and art conservation
Multispectral imaging has been applied to the field of art conservation and art history since the early 1990s. It is attractive as a noninvasive imaging technique because it is fast and hence capable of imaging large areas of an object giving both spatial and spectral information. This paper gives an overview of the different instrumental designs, image processing techniques and various applications of multispectral and hyperspectral imaging to art conservation, art history and archaeology. Recent advances in the development of remote and versatile multispectral and hyperspectral imaging as well as techniques in pigment identification will be presented. Future prospects including combination of spectral imaging with other noninvasive imaging and analytical techniques will be discussed
THERMAL DENATURATION OF MONOMERIC AND TRIMERIC PHYCOCYANINS STUDIED BY STATIC AND SPECTROSCOPY POLARIZED TIME-RESOLVED FLUORESCENCE
C-Phycocyanin (PC) and allophycocyanin (APC). as well as the a-subunit of PC. have been
isolated from the blue-green alga (cyanobacterium). Spirulina platensis. The effects of partial thermal
denaturation of PC and of its state of aggregation have been studied by ps time-resolved, polarized
fluorescence spectroscopy. All measurements have been performed under low photon fluxes (< 10’ ’
photonsipulse x cm’) to minimize singlet-singlet annihilation processes. A complex decay is obtained
under most conditions, which can be fitted satisfactorily with a bi-exponential (7’ = 70400 ps. T? =
1000-3000 ps) for both the isotropic and the polarized part, but with different intensities and time
constants for the two decay curves. The data are interpreted in the frameworkof the model first developed
by Teak and Dale (Biochern. J. 116, 161 (1970)], which divides the spectroscopically different
chromophores in (predominantly) sensitizing (s) and fluorescing U, ones. If one assumes temperature
dependent losses in the energy transfer from the s to the f and between f chromophores. both the
biexponential nature of the isotropic fluorescence decay and the polarization data can be rationalized. In
the isotropic emission (corresponding to the population of excited states) the short lifetime is related to the
s-,f transfer. the longer one to the “free“ decay of the final acceptor(s) (= f). The polarized part is
dominated by an extremely short decay time. which is related to s+f transfer, as well as to resonance
transfer between the f-chromophores
Tracking Performance of the Scintillating Fiber Detector in the K2K Experiment
The K2K long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment uses a Scintillating
Fiber Detector (SciFi) to reconstruct charged particles produced in neutrino
interactions in the near detector. We describe the track reconstruction
algorithm and the performance of the SciFi after three years of operation.Comment: 24pages,18 figures, and 1 table. Preprint submitted to NI
Solar neutrino measurements in Super-Kamiokande-I
The details of Super--Kamiokande--I's solar neutrino analysis are given.
Solar neutrino measurement in Super--Kamiokande is a high statistics collection
of B solar neutrinos via neutrino-electron scattering. The analysis method
and results of the 1496 day data sample are presented. The final oscillation
results for the data are also presented.Comment: 32pages, 57figures, submitted to Physical Review
Evidence for an oscillatory signature in atmospheric neutrino oscillation
Muon neutrino disappearance probability as a function of neutrino flight
length L over neutrino energy E was studied. A dip in the L/E distribution was
observed in the data, as predicted from the sinusoidal flavor transition
probability of neutrino oscillation. The observed L/E distribution constrained
nu_mu nu_tau neutrino oscillation parameters; 1.9x10^-3 < Delta m^2 <
3.0x10^-3 eV^2 and \sin^2(2theta) > 0.90 at 90% confidence level.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR
Search for nucleon decay via modes favored by supersymmetric grand unification models in Super-Kamiokande-I
We report the results for nucleon decay searches via modes favored by
supersymmetric grand unified models in Super-Kamiokande. Using 1489 days of
full Super-Kamiokande-I data, we searched for , , and modes. We found no
evidence for nucleon decay in any of these modes. We set lower limits of
partial nucleon lifetime 2.3, 1.3,
1.3 and 1.0 years at 90% confidence level for , , and modes, respectively. These results give a strong constraint on
supersymmetric grand unification models.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figure
Three flavor neutrino oscillation analysis of atmospheric neutrinos in Super-Kamiokande
We report on the results of a three-flavor oscillation analysis using
Super-Kamiokande~I atmospheric neutrino data, with the assumption of one mass
scale dominance (0). No significant flux change due to
matter effect, which occurs when neutrinos propagate inside the Earth for
0, has been seen either in a multi-GeV -rich sample
or in a -rich sample. Both normal and inverted mass hierarchy
hypotheses are tested and both are consistent with observation. Using
Super-Kamiokande data only, 2-dimensional 90 % confidence allowed regions are
obtained: mixing angles are constrained to and for the normal mass hierarchy. Weaker constraints,
and , are obtained
for the inverted mass hierarchy case.Comment: 7 figures, 3 table
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