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

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

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

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

Search for hyperdeformation in U isotopes

The U-232 nucleus was studied in order to search for a hyperdeformed band built upon the third minimum of the fission barrier. Upper limits for the percentage population of a hypothetical hyperdeformed band relative to the ground state band are given

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

Characterization of Metal Nanocatalyst State and Morphology during Simulated Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Growth

The catalyst nanoparticle structure has been proposed as a potential template to guide nanotube growth toward desired chiralities during chemical vapor deposition synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes. However, exploitation of such an effect depends on understanding the state of the nanocatalyst throughout the various stages of nanotube growth for different reaction conditions. Here we show that during nucleation there is a high carbon transport activity through the nanoparticle, but eventually a nickel–carbon core is stabilized. The nickel–carbon stoichiometry of the nanoparticle at such a state is found to correspond to known carbide compositions, with such composition varying with nanoparticle size. The Ni–C core adopts layered structures that resemble those found along the [100] and [001] directions in Ni₂C (<i>Pbcn</i> or <i>Pnnm</i>) and Ni₃C (<i>P</i>6₃22). The calculated self-diffusion coefficients of nickel atoms are consistent with viscous-solid nanoparticles, where atomic mobility changes are observed during growth according to variations in the nanoparticle carbon content