Morphometric evaluation of the delayed cerebral arteries response to acetazolamide test in patients with chronic carotid artery stenosis using computed tomography angiography

Background: The evidence accumulates that the response to acetazolamide test is delayed on the ipsilateral side to stenosis. However, the effect of acetazolamide beyond 30 min after acetazolamide administration remains unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the diameters of anterior cerebral arteries (ACAs), middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) and posterior cerebral arteries (PCAs) before and 60 min after the acetazolamide test. Materials and methods: Seventeen patients with carotid artery stenosis ≥ 90% on the ipsilateral side and ≤ 50% on the contralateral side were enrolled into the study. Diagnosis was based on ultrasonography examination and was confirmed using digital subtractive angiography. In all patients, two computed tomography angiography examinations were carried out; the first was performed before the acetazolamide administration, while the second one was carried out 60 min after injections. Results: In response to the acetazolamide test: PCA diameter diminished in both ipsi- and contra-lateral side to stenosis (from 1.31 to 1.24 mm and from 1.23 to 1.15 mm, respectively), ACA and MCA decreased in the contralateral side to the stenosis (from 1.33 to 1.26 mm and from 2.75 to 2.66 mm, respectively), ACA and MCA increased in the ipsilateral side to the stenosis (from 1.29 to 1.46 mm and from 2.77 to 2.96 mm, respectively). All changes were statistically significant. Conclusions: There were significant differences in reactivity to acetazolamide challenge between the internal carotid artery (ICA) and vertebrobasilar circulation in patients suffering from chronic carotid artery stenosis. Within the ICA territory, ACA and MCA responses vary in the affected and not affected side.

PELATIHAN SOFTSKILL PENGGUNAAN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV) PADA MAHASISWA PECINTA ALAM UNIVERSITAS NUSA CENDANA

Di era modern (era industri 4.0), drone atau pesawat udara tanpa awak (PUTA) menjadi salah satu peralatan yang dapat digunakan untuk menunjang berbagai aktifitas, diantaranya bidang fotografi, videografi, promosi, dan juga ilmu pengetahuan pada berbagai bidang keilmuan. Penggunaan teknologi drone memiliki berbagai macam kelebihan yang tidak dimiliki oleh peralatan lainnya, yaitu efisiensi waktu, fleksibilitas, dan mampu melakukan pemotretan kondisi lahan secara aktual dengan resolusi yang sangat tinggi. Organisasi Mahasiswa Pecinta Alam (MAPALA) merupakan salah satu wadah untuk menyalurkan minat dan bakat mahasiswa yang berfungsi sebagai sarana pengembangan pribadi, sosialisasi, dan kesadaran akan lingkungan. Kelompok pecinta alam mengisi kegiatannya dengan melakukan kegiatan di alam bebas yang bersifat sosial serta pengabdian kepada masyarakat. Oleh karena itu, dukungan keahlian penggunaan teknologi drone akan sangat membantu dalam pelaksanaan kegiatan-kegiatan yang akan dilakukan. Pengabdian ini bertujuan untuk memberikan pengetahuan dan keahlian pendukung dalam pemanfaatan teknologi berupa penggunaan dan pengoperasian drone pada MAPALA Undana. Pelaksanaan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini menggunakan metode penyampaian langsung untuk menjelaskan materi regulasi, pengertian dan jenis-jenis drone, bagian-bagian drone, prosedur persiapan penerbangan drone, serta menggunakan metode pembelajaran yang berpusat pada murid (student centered learning) dengan menggunakan media simulator penggunaan drone. Sasaran program mengikuti kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat ini dengan aktif dan komunikatif dikarenakan materi yang disampaikan merupakan hal yang baru bagi mereka. Penyampaian materi didukung oleh media berupa wahana drone secara langsung yang diperkenalkan kepada sasaran program dengan diakhiri oleh praktik penggunaan dan pengoperasian drone dengan tampilan nyata dari simulator

Radiomanganese PET Detects Changes in Functional β-Cell Mass in Mouse Models of Diabetes

The noninvasive measurement of functional β-cell mass would be clinically valuable for monitoring the progression of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as the viability of transplanted insulin-producing cells. Although previous work employing magnetic resonance imaging has shown promise for functional β-cell mass determination through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (VDCC)-mediated internalization of Mn2+, the clinical utility of this technique is limited by the cytotoxic levels of Mn2+ contrast agent. Here, we show that positron emission tomography (PET) is advantageous for determining functional β-cell mass using 52Mn2+ (t1/2: 5.6 d). We investigated the whole-body distribution of 52Mn2+ in healthy adult mice by dynamic and static PET imaging. Pancreatic VDCC uptake of 52Mn2+ was successfully manipulated pharmacologically in vitro and in vivo using glucose, nifedipine (VDCC blocker), the sulfonylureas tolbutamide and glibenclamide (KATP channel blockers), and diazoxide (KATP channel opener). In a mouse model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes, 52Mn2+ uptake in the pancreas was distinguished from healthy controls in parallel with classic histological quantification of β-cell mass from pancreatic sections. 52Mn2+-PET also reported the expected increase in functional β-cell mass in the ob/ob model of pre-type 2 diabetes, a result corroborated by histological β-cell mass measurements and live-cell imaging of β-cell Ca2+ oscillations. These results indicate that 52Mn2+-PET is a sensitive new tool for the non-invasive assessment of functional β-cell mass