Vibro-acoustography imaging of permanent prostate brachytherapy seeds in an excised human prostate - Preliminary results and technical feasibility

Objective:

The objective in this work is to investigate the feasibility of using a new imaging tool called vibro-acoustography (VA) as a means of permanent prostate brachytherapy (PPB) seed localization to facilitate post-implant dosimetry (PID).

Methods and materials:

Twelve OncoSeed (standard) and eleven EchoSeed (echogenic) dummy seeds were implanted in a human cadaver prostate. Seventeen seeds remained after radical retropubic prostatectomy. VA imaging was conducted on the prostate that was cast in a gel phantom and placed in a tank of degassed water. 2-D magnitude and phase VA image slices were obtained at different depths within the prostate showing location and orientation of the seeds.

Results:

VA demonstrates that twelve of seventeen (71%) seeds implanted were visible in the VA image, and the remainder were obscured by intra-prostatic calcifications. Moreover, it is shown here that VA is capable of imaging and locating PPB seeds within the prostate independent of seed orientation, and the resulting images are speckle free.

Conclusion:

The results presented in this research show that VA allows seed detection within a human prostate regardless of their orientation, as well as imaging intra-prostatic calcifications.     

Determination of novobiocin by a kinetic spectrophotometric method in milk and biological samples

A new, simple, inexpensive, and fast kinetic spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of trace amounts of antibiotic drug novobiocin sodium over the range of 4?32 ng/mL. The method is based on the inhibitory effect of novobiocinon the reaction of Amido Black and periodate in the acidic micellar mediums. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in absorbance at 627 nm and fixed-time 6 min from initiation of the reaction. The detection limit is 3 ng/mL, and relative standard deviation for 4.8 and 12 ng/mL novobiocin were 0.52 and 0.65%, respectively, for six replicate measurements. The method was applied to the determination of novobiocin in human and dog serum, urine, and milk samples.     

Urease-Dextran complexes with enhanced enzymatic activity and stability

In this study, the urease-dextran non-covalent complexes in various molar ratios were synthesized and compared to the free enzyme in terms of pH, temperature, thermal and storage stabilities. Especially, the complex with a molar ratio of n_U/n_DA = 40/1 showed highest thermal stability and had ca. 1.4-fold at 25°C and 2.5-fold at 80°C higher activity than the free enzyme. The complex showed a high catalytic activity in organic solvent. In addition, the thermal and storage stabilities of urease were improved greatly as dextran complex, which has advantages for usage in practice.     

在3,4-二羟基肉桂酸介质中以多壁碳纳米管为传感器电催化检测L-半胱氨酸(英文)

A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor was prepared for the determination of L-cysteine using a modified multiwall carbon nanotubes paste electrode in the presence of 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid(3,4-DHCA) as a mediator, based on an electrocatalytic process. The results indicate that the electrode is electrocatalytically efficient for the oxidation of L-cysteine in the presence of 3,4-DHCA. The interaction between the mediator and L-cysteine can be used for its sensitive and selective determination. Using chronoamperometry, the catalytic reaction rate constant was calculated to be 2.37 × 102 mol–1 L s–1. The catalytic peak current was linearly dependent on the L-cysteine concentration in the range of 0.4–115 μmol/L. The detection limit obtained by linear sweep voltammetry was 0.25 μmol/L. Finally, the modified electrode was examined as a selective, simple, and precise new electrochemical sensor for the determination of L-cysteine in real samples.     

Precursor-Boosted Production of Metabolites in Nasturtium officinale Microshoots Grown in Plantform Bioreactors,and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Biomass Extracts

The study demonstrated the effects of precursor feeding on the production of glucosinolates (GSLs), flavonoids, polyphenols, saccharides, and photosynthetic pigments in Nasturtium officinale microshoot cultures grown in Plantform bioreactors. It also evaluated the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts. L-phenylalanine (Phe) and L-tryptophan (Trp) as precursors were tested at 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 3.0 mM. They were added at the beginning (day 0) or on day 10 of the culture. Microshoots were harvested after 20 days. Microshoots treated with 3.0 mM Phe (day 0) had the highest total GSL content (269.20 mg/100 g DW). The qualitative and quantitative profiles of the GSLs (UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS) were influenced by precursor feeding. Phe at 3.0 mM stimulated the best production of 4-methoxyglucobrassicin (149.99 mg/100 g DW) and gluconasturtiin (36.17 mg/100 g DW). Total flavonoids increased to a maximum of 1364.38 mg/100 g DW with 3.0 mM Phe (day 0), and polyphenols to a maximum of 1062.76 mg/100 g DW with 3.0 mM Trp (day 0). The precursors also increased the amounts of p-coumaric and ferulic acids, and rutoside, and generally increased the production of active photosynthetic pigments. Antioxidant potential increased the most with 0.1 mM Phe (day 0) (CUPRAC, FRAP), and with 0.5 mM Trp (day 10) (DPPH). The extracts of microshoots treated with 3.0 mM Phe (day 0) showed the most promising bacteriostatic activity against microaerobic Gram-positive acne strains (MIC 250–500 µg/mL, 20–21 mm inhibition zones). No extract was cytotoxic to normal human fibroblasts over the tested concentration range (up to 250 μg/mL).     

A chemiluminescence sensor for the determination of hydrogen peroxide

A chemiluminescence one-shot sensor for hydrogen peroxide is described. It is prepared by immobilization of cobalt chloride and sodium lauryl sulphate in hydroxyethyl cellulose matrix cast on a microscope cover glass. Luminol, sodium phosphate and the sample are mixed before use and applied on the membrane by a micropipette. The calibration graph is linear in the range 20-1600 μg/L, and the detection limit of the method (3σ) is 9 μg/L. A relative standard deviation of 4.5% was obtained for 100 μg/L H₂O₂ (n = 11). The sensor has been applied successfully to the determination of hydrogen peroxide in rainwater.     

Heat capacity,electrical and thermal conductivity of silicene

We investigate the electronic heat capacity, electrical and thermal conductivity ofmonolayer planar and buckled silicon sheets (silicene) through tight binding approximationand Kubo-Greenwood formula. Applying and increasing dopant atoms to the system leads toopening a gap in the band structures and density of states that causes to decrease(increase) the heat capacity before (after) the Schottky anomaly. The electrical andelectronic thermal conductivity of doped silicene reduces with increasing impuritystrength.     

Investigation of Olea ferruginea Roylebark extracts for potential in vitroantidiabetic and anticancer effects

This study was conducted to investigate the physicochemical, phytochemical, in vitro antidiabetic and anticancer potential of Olea ferruginea R bark. After extraction using Soxhlet, in vitro antidiabetic and cytotoxic activity on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells was assessed by nonenzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin assay, alpha-amylase inhibition assay, glucose uptake by yeast cells, and 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, respectively, and gene expression via real-time polymerase chain reaction. Primary and secondary metabolites were present in the extractants; polyphenols (35.61 ± 0.03) and flavonoids (64.33 ± 0.35 ) in the chloroform; and polysaccharides in the ethanol (268.75 ± 0.34), and glycosaponins (78.01 ± 0.07) in the methanol. The chloroform extract exhibited maximum antidiabetic potential, showing inhibition of nonenzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin (65%), and alpha-amylase inhibition (32%) with maximum percent glucose uptake by the ethanol extract (78%). Only the ethanol extract had dose-dependent cytotoxic potential against the HepG2 cells. After 24-h exposure to the ethanol-extract, the expression of protein kinase B (Akt) remained unchanged, while the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and BCL2 associated X (BAX) changed significantly. After 48-h exposure, the expression of Akt decreased significantly, while that of BCL2 and BAX increased significantly. Olea ferruginea R bark possessed in vitro antidiabetic potential and anticancer/cytotoxic effects, attributable to the decline in the prosurvival signals of the Akt signaling pathway.     

Ordinary Mode Instability in a Cairns Distributed Electron Plasma

Employing the linearized Vlasov-Maxwell equations, a generalized dispersion relation for the ordinary mode is derived by employing the Cairns distribution function. The instability of the mode and its threshold condition is investigated. It is found that the temperature anisotropy χ = T_∥/T_⊥ 1 required to excite the instability varies with density values whereas the growth rate is dependent on various parameters like non-thermality Λ, equilibrium number density n_0 and temperature anisotropy. It is found that with the increase in the values of any of the parameters Λ, n_0 and χ, the growth rate is enhanced and the k-domain is enlarged. The results are applicable for space plasma environments like solar wind.