Protective effects of fermented rice vinegar sediment (Kurozu moromimatsu) in a diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma animal model

Kurozu moromimatsu is the sediment of Kurozu, a jar-fermented Japanese black vinegar produced from unpolished rice. Here, we examined the protective effects of Kurozu moromimatsu in a diethylnitrosamine-induced model of hepatocellular carcinoma. Thirty-two F344 rats were divided into two groups; the control group received basal CE-2 diet, and the Kurozu moromimatsu group received CE-2 diet containing Kurozu moromimatsu. At 16 weeks after initial intraperitoneal administration of diethylnitrosamine (150 mg/kg/week), serum was collected from half the rats. These rats were sacrificed and the liver was resected for histological examination of hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections and assay of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels in tumor tissues. Glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci were evaluated by immunostaining for glutathione S-transferase placental form. The remaining rats were maintained for evaluation of survival. There were no significant differences of serum transaminases, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and also no marked hepatic histological differences, between the two groups. However, the size of hepatocellular carcinomas was greatly decreased and the levels of activated matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 were significantly reduced in the Kurozu moromimatsu group. Further, survival was significantly prolonged in the Kurozu moromimatsu group compared with the control. These results indicate that Kurozu moromimatsu inhibited the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma

Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra for Enhanced K-edge Angiography

Energy-selective enhanced K-edge angiography utilizing a conventional x-ray generator is described. The x-ray generator is SOFRON NST-1005, and the maximum tube voltage and current are 100 kV and 5 mA, respectively. In the present research, the tube voltage ranged from 45 to 65kV, and the tube current was regulated to optimum values. The exposure time is controlled in order to obtain optimum x-ray intensity. At a charging voltage of 60 kV, the x-ray intensity rate obtained using an aluminum and a barium sulfate filters were 58.4 and 51.6 μGy/s at 0.7m per pulse, respectively, and the dimensions of the focal spot were approximately 1×1 mm. Angiography was performed using both the aluminum and the barium sulfate filters with a charging voltage of 60 kV

Measurement of Cerium X-ray Spectra Using a Cerium Oxide Powder Filter and Enhanced K-edge Angiography

The cerium-target x-ray tube is useful in order to perform cone-beam K-edge angiography because K-series characteristic x-rays from the cerium target are absorbed effectively by iodine-based contrast media. The x-ray generator consists of a main controller and a unit with a high-voltage circuit and a fixed anode x-ray tube. The tube is a glass-enclosed diode with a cerium target and a 0.5-mm-thick beryllium window. The maximum tube voltage and current were 70kV and 0.40mA, respectively, and the focal-spot sizes were approximately 1×1mm. Cerium K-series characteristic x-rays were left using a cerium oxide powder filter, and the x-ray intensity was 14.3μGy/s at 1.0m from the source with a tube voltage of 60kV, a current of 0.40mA, and an exposure time of 1.0s. Angiography was performed with a computed radiography system using iodine-based microspheres 15μm in diameter. In angiography of non-living animals, we observed fine blood vessels of approximately 100μm with high contrasts

X-ray Spectra from a Characteristic X-ray Generator with a Molybdenum Tube

This generator consists of the following components: a constant high-voltage power supply, a filament power supply, a turbomolecular pump, and an x-ray tube. The x-ray tube is a demountable diode which is connected to the turbomolecular pump and consists of the following major devices: a molybdenum rod target, a tungsten hairpin cathode (filament), a focusing electrode, a polyethylene terephthalate x-ray window 0.25mm in thickness, and a stainless-steel tube body. In the x-ray tube, the positive high voltage is applied to the anode (target) electrode, and the cathode is connected to the tube body (ground potential). In this experiment, the tube voltage applied was from 22 to 36kV, and the tube current was regulated to within 100μA by the filament temperature. The exposure time is controlled in order to obtain optimum x-ray intensity. The electron beams from the cathode are converged to the target by the focusing electrode, and x-rays are produced through the focusing electrode. Using a lithium fluoride curved crystal, clean K-series characteristic x-rays were observed without using a filter. However, bremsstrahlung x-rays were observed using a cadmium telluride detector

Angular dependence of x-ray spectra from a demountable x-ray tube with a copper target

The x-ray generator consists of the following components : a constant high-voltage power supply, a filament power supply, a turbomolecular pump, and an x-ray tube. The x-ray tube is a demountable diode which is connected to the turbomolecular pump and consists of the following major devices : a tungsten hairpin cathode (filament), a focusing electrode, a polyethylene terephthalate x-ray window 0.25mm in thickness, a stainless-steel tube body, and a rod target. In the x-ray tube, the positive high voltage is applied to the anode (target) electrode, and the cathode is connected to the tube body (ground potential). In this experiment, the tube voltage applied was from 12 to 18kV, and the tube current was regulated to within 0.10mA by the filament temperature. The electron beams from the cathode are converged to the target by the focusing electrode, and x-rays are produced from the target plane. The x-ray spectra were measured from two directions with angles between the electron trajectory and the x-ray beam axis of 180° and 90°. As compared with the x-ray spectra with an angle of 90°, the bremsstrahlung x-ray intensity decreased slightly with an angle of 180° (opposite direction to that of electron trajectory)

K-edge digital angiography using a flat panel detector with a pixel size of 50μm

The 100-μm-focus x-ray generator consists of a main controller for regulating the tube voltage and current and a tube unit with a high-voltage circuit and a fixed anode x-ray tube. The maximum tube voltage, current, and electric power were 105kV, 0.5mA, and 50W, respectively. Using a 3-mm-thick aluminum filter, the x-ray intensity was 26.0μGy/s at 1.0m from the source with a tube voltage of 60kV and a current of 0.50 mA. Because the peak photon energy was approximately 35keV using the filter with a tube voltage of 60kV, the bremsstrahlung x-rays were absorbed effectively by iodine-based contrast media with an iodine K-edge of 33.2keV. Enhanced angiography was achieved with a flat panel detector with a pixel size of 50μm using iodine-based microspheres 15μm in diameter. In angiography of non-living animals, we observed fine blood vessels of approximately 100gm with high contrasts

Development of an extremely soft x-ray generator

The development of an extremely soft x-ray generator with a tungsten-target tube and its applications including radiography are described. This generator consists of a high-voltage transformer, a filament power supply, and an x-ray tube. Negative high voltages are applied to the cathode electrode in the x-ray tube, and the tube voltage and current are regulated by the input voltage of the transformer and the filament voltage, respectively. The x-ray tube is a glass-enclosed double-focus diode with a tungsten target and a 0.2 mm-thick beryllium window. The maximum tube voltage and the electric power were 60 kV and 400 W, respectively. The focal-spot sizes were 4×4 (large) and 1×1 mm (small), respectively. Radiography was performed with a computed radiography system. In angiography using iodine-based microspheres, we observed fine blood vessels of about 50 μm or less with high contrasts. Using this generator, we designed an experimental setup for disinfection achieved with extremely soft x rays

Quasi-monochromatic x-ray irradiation from weakly ionized linear nickel plasma

In the plasma flash x-ray generator, a high-voltage main condenser of approximately 200 nF is charged up to 50 kV by a power supply, and electric charges in the condenser are discharged to an x-ray tube after triggering the cathode electrode. Flash x rays are then produced. The x-ray tube is a demountable triode connected to a turbo molecular pump with a pressure of approximately 1 mPa. As electrons from the cathode electrode are roughly focused onto a rod nickel target of 3.0 mm in diameter by the electric field in the x-ray tube, a weakly ionized linear plasma consisting of nickel ions and electrons forms by target evaporation. At a charging voltage of 50 kV, the maximum tube voltage was almost equal to the charging voltage of the main condenser, and the peak current was about 17 kA. When the charging voltage was increased, the linear plasma formed, and the intensities of K-series characteristic x rays increased. The K-series lines were quite sharp and intense, and hardly any bremsstrahlung rays were detected. The x-ray pulse widths were approximately 700 ns, and the time-integrated x-ray intensity had a value of approximately 30 μC/kg at 1.0 m from the x-ray source at a charging voltage of 50 kV