Real-time imaging of the lymphatic channels and sentinel lymph nodes of the stomach using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with Sonazoid in a porcine model

The contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-guided method in combination with Sonazoid has not been clinically or experimentally evaluated with regard to its use for identifying sentinel lymph node (SLN) in the stomach. Therefore, we attempted to evaluate the usefulness of the CEUS-guided method with Sonazoid for imaging of the lymphatic channels and SLN of the stomach in a porcine model by comparing it with the conventional Evans blue dye-guided method. Twenty-eight 2 to 3-month-old swine weighing 17-30 kg were used in this experiment. Anesthesia was maintained with 2.0-3.0% isoflurane/O(2) inhalation. Sonazoid was injected into the intra-and sub-mucosal layers of the stomach. The intragastric or transcutaneous CEUS-guided method was used to identify the lymphatic channels and SLN of the stomach. Contrast imaging using the CEUS-guided method with Sonazoid enabled us to produce clear images of the afferent lymph vessel and SLN of the stomach until 2 h after the injection of Sonazoid. In addition, intranodal flow of the microbubble agent could be clearly identified using tissue linear harmonic images of the SLN. The SLN detection rate was not significantly different between the CEUS- and dye-guided methods. However, the Evans blue dye flowed out quickly (similar to 15 min after the injection) through the true SLN into the next LN of stomach. In conclusion, the use of the CEUS-guided method with Sonazoid might be the most useful clinical procedure for producing real-time images of the SLN of the stomach, and the linear harmonic images are also useful for evaluating intranodal structure within the SLN. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 2073-2081)ArticleCANCER SCIENCE. 102(11):2073-2081 (2011)journal articl

Low serum sodium concentration is a prognostic factor related to current blood glucose level in stable hemodialysis patients : an observational study

Background: A lot of risk factors for mortality have been proposed in hemodialysis patients. However, most of the findings were derived from the analyses using all of the hemodialysis patients. What we really want to know is the prognostic factor in stable hemodialysis patients who have good activities of daily living, because it is difficult to estimate their prognosis by physical appearance. Methods: This is a 7-year observational study. The study involved registering 631 patients who had undergone hemodialysis for more than 1 year at enrollment and were still alive more than 1 year after it. Demographic and clinical data were collected to analyze the relationship with mortality. Moreover, the patients were age-stratified to investigate age-dependent prognostic factors. Results: Low serum sodium concentration is an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality common to a wide range of ages in stable hemodialysis patients. Causes of hyponatremia included the predialysis blood glucose level as well as the variables related to nutrition, inflammation, and fluid overload. Conclusions: Low serum sodium concentration is a significant prognostic factor in stable hemodialysis patients. Low serum sodium concentration can be a clue to finding current poor glucose control in stable hemodialysis patients. Predialysis blood glucose level is one of the representative factors correlated with serum sodium concentration

Fluorescence Visualization of Carbon Nanotubes Using Quenching Effect for Nanomanipulation

Proceedings of the 2nd IEEE International Conference on Nano/Micro Engineered and Molecular Systems, January 16 - 19, 2007, Bangkok, Thailan

Charge Transfer Cross Sections for Multiply Charged Slow Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe Ions on Various Gas Targets : I. Rare Gas Targets

Observed charge transfer cross sections are compiled in an energy region from a few to tens keV for multiply charged Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe ions on rare gas targets, where projectile ions are produced by using an “ion-impact ion source” (IIIS). The values are compared with the results of other research workers

Charge Transfer Cross Sections for Multiply Charged Slow Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe Ions on Various Gas Targets : II. Molecular Gas Targets

Observed charge transfer cross sections are compiled, similarly to Part I, for multiply charged Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe ions on several molecular targets in an energy region from a few to tens keV. The projectiles are recoil ions produced by using our “ion-impact ion source” (IIIS). The values are compared with the results of other research workers

Clinical evaluation of presepsin considering renal function

Presepsin, a glycoprotein produced during bacterial phagocytosis, is used as a sepsis marker for bacterial infections. However, presepsin levels are affected by renal function, and the evaluation criteria according to kidney function or in chronic kidney diseases remain controversial. Furthermore, presepsin may be increased by sample stirring, but no studies have evaluated this effect.In this study, we excluded the effect of stirring by standardizing the blood collection conditions, analyzed the influence of kidney function on presepsin concentrations, and recalculated the reference range based on the findings. EDTA-whole blood from 47 healthy subjects and 85 patients with chronic kidney disease was collected to measure presepsin by PATHFAST. Presepsin was found to be significantly correlated with the levels of creatinine (r = 0.834), eGFRcreat (r = 0.837), cystatin-C (r = 0.845), and eGFRcys (r = 0.879). Furthermore, in patients with CKD, presepsin levels stratified by eGFRcys showed a significant increase in the CKD G2 patient group and with advancing glomerular filtration rate stage. The following values were obtained: Normal: 97.6 ± 27.4 pg/mL, CKD G1: 100.2 ± 27.6 pg/mL, CKD G2: 129.7 ± 40.7 pg/mL, CKD G3: 208.1 ± 70.2 pg/mL, CKD G4: 320.2 ± 170.1 pg/mL, CKD G5: 712.8 ± 336.3 pg/mL. The reference range, calculated by a nonparametric method using 67 cases of healthy volunteers and patients with chronic kidney disease G1, was found to be 59–153 pg/mL, which was notably lower than the standard reference range currently used. Presepsin concentrations were positively correlated with a few biomarkers of renal function, indicating the necessity to consider the effect of renal function in patients with renal impairment. Using the recalculated reference range considering kidney function may improve the accuracy of evaluating presepsin for diagnosis of sepsis compared to the standard reference currently in use