Investigation of sandwiched gadolinium (III) complexes with tungstosilicates as potential MRI contrast agents

Two gadolinium-sandwiched complexes with tungstosilicates, K(13)[Gd(SiW(11)O(39))(2)] (Gd(SiW(11))(2)) and K(11)H(6)[Gd(3)O(3)(SiW(9)O(34))(2)] (Gd(3)(SiW(9))(2)), have been investigated by in vitro and in vivo experiments as potential contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). T(1)-relaxivity of Gd(SiW(11))(2)was 6.59 mM(-1).s(-1) in aqueous solution and 6.85 mM(-1).s(-1) in 0.725 mmol.L(-1) bovine serum albumin solution at 25 degrees C and 9.39 T, respectively. The corresponding T(1)-relaxivity of Gd(3)(SiW(9))(2) was 12.6 and 19.3 mM(-1).s(-1) per Gd, respectively. MRI for Sprague-Dawley rats showed longer and more remarkable enhancement in rat liver after i.v. injection of these two complexes: 39.4 +/- 3.9% and 57.4 +/- 11.6% within the first 30 min after injection, 31.2 +/- 2.6% and 39.9 +/- 7.6% in the next 60 min for Gd(SiW(11))(2) and Gd(3)(SiW(9))(2) at doses of 0.081 and 0.084 mmol Gd/kg, respectively. Our preliminary in vitro and in vivo study indicates that Gd(SiW(11))(2) and Gd(3)(SiW(9))(2) are favorable candidates for hepatic contrast agents for MRI. However, the two complexes exhibit higher acute toxicity and need to be modified and studied further before clinical use.     

Characterization of Phyllanthus amarus herb by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) analysis,optical absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic methods

A powdered sample of Phyllanthus amarus herb of Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India, is used in the present study. ICP-MS analysis indicates that copper is present in higher concentration when compared to other elements. Although the Pb is toxic, it is within the permissible limit. The evaluated soil and herb physico-chemical parameters indicate that the sample is acidic in nature in comparison with the soil. An EPR study on powdered sample confirms the presence of Fe(III), Mn(II) and Cu(II). Optical absorption spectrum indicates that Fe(III) impurity is present in octahedral structure whereas Cu(II) is present in rhombically distorted octahedral environment. MIR results are due to carbonate fundamentals.     

Determination of trace BrO3- and Br- in Chinese patent drugs, waters and beverages by ion chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

In the present study, a method for determination of BrO3- and Br- using ion chromatograghy coupling with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS) was developed. BrO3- and Br- were separated on a Hamilton PRP X-100 (150 x 4.1 mm, 10 microm) column guarding with a On-guard II RP (4 x 50 mm) column with 10 mmol x L(-1) NH4NO3 eluent solution at 2 mL x min(-1). By using 200 microL sample loop, the detection limits for BrO3- and Br were 0.35 and 0.36 microg x L(-1), respectively. BrO3- had good linearity in the range 4.8-160.0 ng x L(-1). The standard solution linear equation was y = 250.31x-45.43, and R2 = 0.9999. Br had good linearity in the range 4.2-140.0 ng x L(-1). The standard solution linear equation was y = 186.84x-127.10, and R2 = 0.9994. Recoveries of spiked samples were 98.9%-109.5% and 97.4%-106.1%, respectively. The samples included various kinds of Chinese patent drugs, waters, and beverages. Among them, 14 bottled drinking waters and 2 kinds of tap waters were found containing BrO-, while other samples were under BrO3- detection limit. Br- was detected in all samples.     

用Hα线研究Freon12（CF2CCl2）对电感耦合等离子体（ICP）电？…

电感耦合等离子体被应用于Ｆｒｅｏｎ１２的焚烧处理,通过观察引入Ｆｒｅｏｎ１２前后ＩＣＰ电子密度分布的变化,可在一定程度上间接了解焚烧的效果。由于Ｈβ线在低观察高度受到较为严重的光谱干扰,本文采用Ｈα线进行了ＩＣＰ电子密度的测定。     

MRI in the study of distal primary myopathopies and of muscular alterations due to peripheral neuropathies: possible diagnostic capacities of MR equipment with low intensity field (0.2 T) dedicated to peripheral limbs

The purpose of this work was to investigate whether or not an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment with a low field intensity (O.2 T) used in the study of muscular alterations can diagnose primary or secondary myopathies, due to peripheral neuropathies. In this study the peripheral areas of all patients were examined. A total of 40 patients (23 males and 17 females) were tested. Their age ranged from 10 to 78 years age (mean age 40.8, SD ± 19,45 years). The group includes 23 patients: 18 with Stainert Myotonic Distrophy, 5 were myositic, and the remaining 17 had peropheral neuropathies. Every patient received a clinic examination, followed by EMG and MRI. The MRI study was done with a system dedicated to the study of limbs (Artoscan, Esaote Biomedica) that used a 0.2 T permanent magnet. Spin-echo T₁, T₂-weighted, multiple-echo, and STIR sequences were used. A good correspondence was found between clinical and MRI data. Specifically, in the group of 23 myopathies, Sperman’s index was found to be 0.80 in its correlation between the clinical examination and MRI; in the group of 17 myopathies it was found to be 0.63. A discrepancy was found among clinical examination, EMG, and MRI in patients with neuropathies who were showing a lack of myelin and mixed ones. The T2-weighted and STIR sequences had great sensitivity in showing initial changes in the muscles. The SE T1-weighted sequence was especially useful in detecting degeneration in the fibrous adipose tissue. The STIR sequence because of its high sensitivity and greater speed of response could be used instead of the SE T2 weighted particularly in the study of patients, who were noted to tolerate a prolonge period of scanning. However, because these sequences have a low signal noise ratio, they must always be associated with a SE sequence, whenever there would be need of a precise determination of the structures under study. The MRI low field intensity was also found to be a useful technique in screening familial groups having a great number of myotonic distrophies. It can have a great clinical role in revealing muscular alterations, even in asymptomatic patients.