The Role of CT-Based Attenuation Correction and Collimator Blurring Correction in Striatal Spect Quantification

Purpose. Striatal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of the dopaminergic system is becoming increasingly used for clinical and research studies. The question about the value of nonuniform attenuation correction has become more relevant with the increasing availability of hybrid SPECT-CT scanners. In this study, the value of nonuniform attenuation correction and correction for collimator blurring were determined using both phantom data and patient data. Methods. SPECT imaging was performed using 7 anthropomorphic phantom measurements, and 14 patient studies using [I-123]-FP-CIT (DATSCAN). SPECT reconstruction was performed using uniform and nonuniform attenuation correction and collimator blurring corrections. Recovery values (phantom data) or average-specific uptake ratios (patient data) for the different reconstructions were compared at similar noise levels. Results. For the phantom data, improved recovery was found with nonuniform attenuation correction and collimator blurring corrections, with further improvement when performed together. However, for patient data the highest average specific uptake ratio was obtained using collimator blurring correction without nonuniform attenuation correction, probably due to subtle SPECT-CT misregistration. Conclusions. This study suggests that an optimal brain SPECT reconstruction (in terms of the lowest bias) in patients would include a correction for collimator blurring and uniform attenuation correction

Gel meloksikama za topičku primjenu: In vitro i in vivo vrednovanje

Skin delivery of NSAIDs offers several advantages over the oral route associated with potential side effects. In the present investigation, topical gel of meloxicam (MLX) was formulated using N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solubilizer and Carbopol Ultrez 10® as a gelling polymer. MLX gel was evaluated with respect to different physicochemical parameters such as pH, viscosity and spreadability. Irritation potential of MLX gel was studied on rabbits. Permeation of MLX gel was studied using freshly excised rat skin as a membrane. Anti-inflammatory activity of MLX gel was studied in rats and compared with the commercial formulation of piroxicam (Pirox® gel, 0.5 %, m/m). Accelerated stability studies were carried out for MLX gel for 6 months according to ICH guidelines. MLX gel was devoid of any skin irritation in rabbits. After 12 h, cumulative permeation of MLX through excised rat skin was 3.0 ± 1.2 mg cm2 with the corresponding flux value of 0.24 ± 0.09 mg cm2 h1. MLX gel exhibited significantly higher anti-inflammatory activity in rats compared to Pirox® gel. Physicochemically stable and non-irritant MLX gel was formulated which could deliver significant amounts of active substance across the skin in vitro and in vivo to elicit the anti-inflammatory activity.Primjena nesteroidnih protuupalnih lijekova na kožu ima nekoliko prednosti nad peroralnim načinom primjene uz koju se vežu određene nuspojave. U radu je opisana priprava gela meloksikama (MLX) za topičku primjenu. U pripravi gela korišten je N-metil pirolidon (NMP) kao otapalo i Carbopol ultrez 10® kao polimer za geliranje. Određivani su različiti fizikokemijski parametri kao što su pH, viskoznost i razmazljivost. Potencijalna iritacija MLX gela testirana je na kunićima, a svojstvo permeacije na svježim izrescima kože štakora. Protuupalno djelovanje praćeno je na štakorima i uspoređeno s registriranim pripravkom piroksikama (Pirox® gel, 0,5 % m/m). Testovi ubrzanog starenja MLX gela rađeni su tijekom 6 mjeseci prema ICH protokolu. Dobiveni rezultati ukazuju da MLX gel nimalo ne iritira kožu kunića. Kumulativna permeacija nakon 12 h bila je 3,0 ± 1,2 mg cm2, s odgovarajućem vrijednošću fluksa 0,24 ± 0,09 mg cm2 h1. MLX gel pokazao je značajno jače protuupalno djelovanje u odnosu na Pirox® gel. Pripravljeni gel je stabilan, ne iritira kožu, te in vitro i in vivo doprema kroz kožu ljekovitu tvar u dovoljnoj količini da ispolji protuupalno djelovanje

Determination of suspected non halal food products by using porcine mitochondrial 12s rDNA and porcine leptin gene / Khairunnisa Hassan

In the current era of market globalization, people in the world could not evade from imported food products. The demand for imported food products such as chocolates, biscuits and sweets are projected to escalate steadily over the next decade as a result of increasing consumption. Unfortunately, most of the imported food products do not have Halal Logo or with doubted Halal Logo. The demand for Halal food and other Islamic consumer goods is increasing. This study will be beneficial to provide new information of Halal products and easier for Muslim to choose the permissible products according to Syariah Law. The main objective of this study was to determine of suspected Non Halal processed food products by using porcine mitochondrial 12S rDNA and porcine leptin gene. A total of 66 samples of suspected Non Halal food products were screened for porcine mitochondrial 12S rDNA gene and porcine leptin gene primer pairs from the genomic DNA. The PCR products were separated on 2% agarose gel and visualized under UV light. Thirty seven samples were positive with mitochondrial 12S rDNA gene whilst 59 samples were positive with leptin gene. From these, 33 were positive with both primers. These results indicate that the samples of processed food products contained porcine derivatives. From the detection of the DNA products by using the two set of primers, leptin gene was concluded to be more specific than the mitochondrial 12S rDNA gene. Some of the PCR products of processed food products of mitochondrial 12S rDNA gene and leptin gene were sent to Genomic Bioscience & Technology Company for DNA sequencing. Then, the sequences of the DNA were used for sequence alignment in order to get a probe specific to Halal food. Two probes were obtained, one with 24 mers and 13 mers, respectively. Mitochondrial 12S rDNA gene was chosen to make a probe because it has more quality DNA for a probe compared to leptin gene. In addition, findings from this research also provide new information in the detection of pork in foods products for Halal authentication

A Dual Fluorescence–Spin Label Probe for Visualization and Quantification of Target Molecules in Tissue by Multiplexed FLIM–EPR Spectroscopy

Simultaneous visualization and concentration quantification of molecules in biological tissue is an important though challenging goal. The advantages of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) for visualization, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy for quantification are complementary. Their combination in a multiplexed approach promises a successful but ambitious strategy because of spin label-mediated fluorescence quenching. Here, we solved this problem and present the molecular design of a dual label (DL) compound comprising a highly fluorescent dye together with an EPR spin probe, which also renders the fluorescence lifetime to be concentration sensitive. The DL can easily be coupled to the biomolecule of choice, enabling in vivo and in vitro applications. This novel approach paves the way for elegant studies ranging from fundamental biological investigations to preclinical drug research, as shown in proof-of-principle penetration experiments in human skin ex vivo

Race in health research: Considerations for researchers and research ethics committees

This article provides ethical guidance on using race in health research as a variable or in defining the study population. To this end, a plain, non-exhaustive checklist is provided for researchers and research ethics committees, preceded by a brief introduction on the need for justification when using race as a variable or in defining a study population, the problem of exoticism, that distinctions pertain between race, ethnicity and ancestry, the problematic naming of races, and that race does not serve well as a presumed biological construct in genetic research

Study of fission fragments produced by N-14+U-235 reaction

WOS: 000208079500032This work was performed to understand the structure of neutron-rich fission fragments around the 130 mass region. A thin U-235 target was bombarded by a N-14 beam with 10 MeV/A from the Separated Sector Cyclotron at the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa. The main goal was to detect and identify fission fragments and to obtain their mass distribution by using solar cell detectors in the AFRODITE (African Omnipurpose Detector for Innovative Techniques and Experiments) spectrometer. The X-rays emitted from fission fragments were detected by LEP (Low Energy Photon) detectors and gamma-rays emitted from excited states of the fission fragments were detected by CLOVER detectors in the spectrometer.University of Istanbul [UP-12/040199, UP-8/270598]This work was supported by the Research Fund of the University of Istanbul, Project numbers UP-12/040199 and UP-8/270598

Dopamine transporter binding in social anxiety disorder: The effect of treatment with escitalopram

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterised by fear of social or performance situations where the individual is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The literature on dopamine ligands and dopamine genotypes in SAD is however inconsistent. In this study we measured the effects of SSRI pharmacotherapy on dopamine transporter (DAT) binding in patients with SAD, also addressing variability in DAT genotype. Adult subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria for generalised SAD were studied before and after 12 weeks of pharmacotherapy with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) escitalopram. DAT single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using 123I-FP-CIT was performed at baseline, and repeated at 12 weeks. Striatal DAT binding was analysed for changes following therapy, and for correlations with clinical efficacy, in the whole group as well as for a subgroup with the A10/A10 DAT genotype. The study included 14 subjects (9 male, 5 female) with a mean (SD) age of 41 (±13) years. The subjects' Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) score was significantly decreased following pharmacotherapy. In the combined group the left caudate and left putamen showed clusters of increased DAT binding after therapy. The left caudate changes were also observed in the subgroup of 9 A10/A10 homozygotes. However no correlation was found between improved symptoms and DAT binding. The changes found in DAT binding in the caudate and putamen may be due to serotonergic activation of dopamine function by SSRI therapy. This is consistent with previous work indicating decreased DAT binding in SAD, and increased DAT binding after SSRI administration. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Transforming Organisations through Systems Analysis: Deploying new techniques for organisational analysis in IS development

Excited states in Ta-165 were populated in the Nd-142(Al-27,4n)Ta-165 and Pr-141(Si-28,4n)Ta-165 reactions and investigated using the AFRODITE array. The yrast rotational decay sequence up to spin 53/2(-) is identified and assigned to the [514]9/2(-) configuration. The nuclear shape is investigated using total Routhian surface calculations. The experimental results are discussed in relation to existing data in the neighboring Ta isotopes and results from cranked shell model calculations. Unexpectedly large signature splitting, for a high-Omega configuration, is observed in the yrast band. Further discrepancies are observed between theoretical and experimental values for the band crossing frequency and signature splitting of the B(M1)/B(E2) ratios. The possibility that these discrepancies are a consequence of a large deviation from an axially symmetric nuclear shape is investigated