Intratumor heterogeneity in perfusion in human melanoma xenografts measured by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

The perfusion in tumors shows substantial spatial heterogeneity compared to that in normal tissues. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the intratumor heterogeneity in perfusion in tumors of two amelanotic human melanoma xenograft lines, A-07 and R-18, grown intradermally in Balb/c nu/nu mice. A non-invasive contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging method yielding results in absolute values was applied. The perfusion was determined in manually defined regions of interest, corresponding to a whole tumor or to subregions of a tumor. The mean perfusion and the intertumor heterogeneity in perfusion were similar for the two tumor lines. For whole A-07 tumors, the perfusion ranged from 0.089 mL/(g . min) to 0.20 mL/(g . min) [mean: 0.15 mL/(g . min)], and for whole R-18 tumors, from 0.030 mL/(g . min) to 0.17 mL/(g . min) [mean: 0.13 mL/(g . min)]. The intratumor heterogeneity, on the other hand, was estimated to be 6.4 times larger in A-07 tumors than in R-18 tumors. The highest perfusion values, up to 0.69 mL/(g . min), were found in subregions of A-07 tumors. The intratumor heterogeneity was substantially larger than the intertumor heterogeneity in A-07 tumors, whereas in R-18 tumors, the intratumor heterogeneity was similar to the intertumor heterogeneity. These observations imply that measurements of mean tumor perfusion may have limited value as a predictive assay for outcome of treatment.     

Measurement of the extracellular volume of human melanoma xenografts by contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

The magnitude of the extracellular volume fraction (ECV) of tumors is of importance for the transport of macromolecular therapeutic agents from the vessel wall to the tumor cells. The aim of this study was to develop a method for measurement of tumor ECV by contrast enhanced MRI. Tumors of two human amelanotic melanoma xenograft lines (A-07 and R-18) grown intradermally in Balb/c nu/nu mice were used as model system, and muscle tissue was used as control. The renal arteries of the mice were ligated prior to i.v. administration of Gd-DTPA, and an MRI protocol for calculating Gd-DTPA concentration in tissue was followed. ECV was calculated from the Gd-DTPA concentrations in the tissue and in a plasma sample. In muscle tissue, the concentration reached a constant level after 1 min and the ECV was calculated to be 0.12 (+/- 0.01), consistent with values reported in the literature. Individual tumors showed large differences in the uptake of Gd-DTPA. The Gd-DTPA concentration in the tissue at 40 min after the Gd-DTPA administration was used to calculate tumor ECV. The ECV was found to differ significantly among regions of individual tumors and among individual tumors. The ECV ranged from 0.075 to 0.33 for A-07 tumors and from 0.016 to 0.097 for R-18 tumors. The intra- and intertumor heterogeneity in ECV was confirmed by histologic findings, showing that contrast enhanced MRI is suitable for non-invasive studies of the ECV in experimental tumors without necrosis.     

Assessment of extravascular extracellular space fraction in human melanoma xenografts by DCE-MRI and kinetic modeling

Tumor aggressiveness and response to therapy are influenced by the extravascular extracellular space fraction (EESF) of the malignant tissue. The EESF may, therefore, be an important prognostic parameter for cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA)-based dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) can be used to assess the EESF of tumors. Amelanotic human melanoma xenografts (A-07, R-18) were used as preclinical models of human cancer. Images of E.F (E is the initial extraction fraction of Gd-DTPA and F is perfusion) and lambda (the partition coefficient of Gd-DTPA) were obtained by Kety analysis of DCE-MRI data. Our study was based on the hypothesis that lambda is governed by the EESF and is not influenced significantly by microvascular density (MVD) or blood perfusion. To test this hypothesis, we searched for correlations between lambda and E.F, MVD or EESF by comparing lambda images with E.F images, histological preparations from the imaged tissue and the radial heterogeneity in EESF obtained by invasive imaging. Positive correlations were found between lambda and EESF. Thus, median lambda was larger in A-07 tumors than in R-18 tumors by a factor of 4.2 (P<.00001), consistent with the histological observation that EESF is approximately fourfold larger in A-07 tumors than in R-18 tumors. The radial heterogeneity in lambda in A-07 and R-18 tumors was almost identical to the radial heterogeneity in EESF. Moreover, lambda was larger in tissue regions with high EESF than in tissue regions with low EESF in A-07 tumors (P=.048). On the other hand, significant correlations between lambda and MVD or E.F could not be detected. Consequently, Kety analysis of Gd-DTPA-based DCE-MRI series of xenografted tumors provides lambda images that primarily reflect the EESF of the tissue.     

Changes in intratumor heterogeneity in blood perfusion in intradermal human melanoma xenografts during tumor growth assessed by DCE-MRI

The purpose of this study was to use dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) to search for systematic intratumor heterogeneity in blood perfusion in human melanoma xenografts growing intradermally in BALB/c-nu/nu mice. Six xenografted tumors of an amelanotic human melanoma line (A-07) were included in the study. DCE-MRI was performed daily for 5 days by using spoiled-gradient recalled sequences. Tumor images of E.F (E is initial extraction fraction and F is perfusion) were produced by subjecting DCE-MRI data to Kety analysis. E.F was used as a measure of tumor blood perfusion, since comparative studies have shown that E.F is closely related to blood perfusion in A-07 tumors. The E.F images indicated that the intratumor heterogeneity in blood perfusion was similar in all investigated tumors. The blood perfusion was low in the center of the tumors and increased toward the tumor periphery in the dorsal and ventral direction by a factor of 3-4, but not in the lateral and medial direction. The magnitude of the heterogeneity increased by a factor of approximately 2 during tumor growth. In conclusion, intradermal human melanoma xenografts show significant systematic intratumor heterogeneity in blood perfusion.     

In search of the electron electric dipole moment: relativistic correlation calculations of the P,T-violating effect in the ground state of HI+

We report the first results of ab initio relativistic correlation calculation of the effective electric field on the electron, E(eff), in the ground state of the HI+ cation. This value is required for interpretation of the suggested experiment on the search for the electron electric dipole moment. The generalized relativistic effective core potential, Fock-space relativistic coupled cluster with single and double cluster amplitudes (RCC-SD), and spin-orbit direct configuration interaction (SODCI) methods are used, followed by nonvariational one-center restoration of the four-component wave function in the iodine core. The RCC-SD value is E(eff) = 0.345 x 10(24) Hz/e cm and SODCI study gives E(eff) = 0.336 x 10(24) Hz/e cm (our final value). The structure of chemical bonding in HI+ is clarified, and a significant deviation of our value from that of Ravaine et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 013001 (2005)] is explained.     

Microcirculatory fraction (MCF(I)) as a potential imaging marker for tumor heterogeneity in breast cancer

Cancer is a heterogeneous disease by nature. Current imaging studies usually ignore intratumor variability in imaging biomarkers. We postulate that quantifying tumor heterogeneity with imaging techniques can provide useful information about cancer biology and potentially serve as novel imaging biomarkers. In this retrospective study, we identify a potential imaging marker, the microcirculatory fraction (MCF(I)), that quantifies tumor heterogeneity in normoxic/hypoxic cellular composition. We demonstrate its application on a test population of 22 women with stage II/III HER-2 negative breast cancer receiving antiangiogenic-cytotoxic combination neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Early change in MCF(I) (ΔMCF(I)) is assessed with dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging at the end of Cycle 2 and associated with pathologic response. Its performance is compared with other established volumetric imaging biomarkers (initial tumor volume and volume change) by statistical and graphic methods. We demonstrate that a significant (P<.01) difference in ΔMCF(I) can be detected between good (median ΔMCF(I) 0.27) and poor (median ΔMCF(I) -0.12) responders, despite the limited population size. Differences in the volumetric biomarkers are not statistically significant. Receiver operating characteristic analysis also shows that ΔMCF(I) is a good predictor for pathologic response (AUC=0.86, 95% CI 0.69-1.00, P<.01), while predictions made with the established volumetric biomarkers are not significantly better than random guesses. We conclude that ΔMCF(I) has the potential of being a better predictive biomarker for therapeutic response assessment. Our findings support our postulation that quantifying tumor heterogeneity with imaging techniques can provide additional information that can serve as novel biomarkers.     

Frequency shifting through cascaded second-order processes in a N-(4-nitrophenyl)- L-prolinol crystal

We exploit the high second-order susceptibility of the organic crystal N-(4-nitrophenyl)-L-prolinol to accomplish, through a cascaded second-order process, wavelength conversion of a signal pulse (from 1.16 to 1.14 microm) under the action of a pump pulse (at 1.15 microm). In a 2.8-mm-thick crystal, wavelength conversion with unit gain was obtained with a pump peak intensity as low as 9 MW/cm(2) . At low intensities, in the limit of negligible conversion where the cascading effect can be described through an effective third-order susceptibility, we derive |(x)((3))(eff) | approximately 2.4 x 10(-17) m(2)/V(2), which is ~10(2) larger than the nonresonant (x)((3)) of conjugated polymers or semiconductors.     

Cs(6P)+(Ne,N2)碰撞能量转移

在气体样品池条件下,研究了Cs(6P3/2) (Ne,N2)碰撞能量转移过程.用调频半导体激光器激发Cs原子至Cs(6P3/2)态,在不同的Ne或N2气压下,测量了直接6P3/2→6S1/2荧光和转移6P1/2→6S1/2荧光,对于6P3/2与Ne的碰撞,电子态能量仅能转移为Ne原子的平动能.在与N2的碰撞中,向分子振转态的转移是重要的.利用速率方程分析,可以得到碰撞转移速率系数,对于Ne,6PJ精细结构碰撞转移速率系数为1.45×10-12cm3·s-1.对于N2,测量6P Ne和6P N2二种情况下荧光的相对强度比,确定精细结构速率系数为1.64×10-12cm3·s-1,6P态猝灭速率系数为4.88×10-12cm3·s-1.     

Vascular permeability in cancer and infection as related to macromolecular drug delivery, with emphasis on the EPR effect for tumor-selective drug targeting

Tumor and inflammation have many common features. One hallmark of both is enhanced vascular permeability, which is mediated by various factors including bradykinin, nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite, prostaglandins etc. A unique characteristic of tumors, however, is defective vascular anatomy. The enhanced vascular permeability in tumors is also distinctive in that extravasated macromolecules are not readily cleared. We utilized the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of tumors for tumor selective delivery of macromolecular drugs. Consequently, such drugs, nanoparticles or lipid particles, when injected intravenously, selectively accumulate in tumor tissues and remain there for long periods. The EPR effect of tumor tissue is frequently inhomogeneous and the heterogeneity of the EPR effect may reduce the tumor delivery of macromolecular drugs. Therefore, we developed methods to augment the EPR effect without inducing adverse effects for instance raising the systemic blood pressure by infusing angiotensin II during arterial injection of SMANCS/Lipiodol. This method was validated in clinical setting. Further, benefits of utilization of NO-releasing agent such as nitroglycerin or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were demonstrated. The EPR effect is thus now widely accepted as the most basic mechanism for tumor-selective targeting of macromolecular drugs, or so-called nanomedicine.     

Laser-energy transfer and enhancement of plasma waves and electron beams by interfering high-intensity laser pulses

The effects of interference due to crossed laser beams were studied experimentally in the high-intensity regime. Two ultrashort (400 fs), high-intensity (4 x 10(17) and 1.6 x 10(18) W/cm(2)) and 1 microm wavelength laser pulses were crossed in a plasma of density 4 x 10(19) cm(3). Energy was observed to be transferred from the higher-power to the lower-power pulse, increasing the amplitude of the plasma wave propagating in the direction of the latter. This results in increased electron self-trapping and plasma-wave acceleration gradient, which led to an increased number of hot electrons (by 300%) and hot-electron temperature (by 70%) and a decreased electron-beam divergence angle (by 45%), as compared with single-pulse illumination. Simulations reveal that increased stochastic heating of electrons may have also contributed to the electron-beam enhancement.     

High-Resolution Infrared and Millimeter-Wave Study of the Fermi-Coupled v(2) = 1 and v(3) = 2 States of DSiF(3)

The nu(2) (nu(eff.) 854.841 cm(-1)) and 2nu(3) infrared bands (nu(eff.) 840.083 cm(-1)) of DSiF(3) have been studied with a resolution of 2.5 x 10(-3) cm(-1). Moreover, millimeter-wave transitions in the v(2) = 1 and v(3) = 2 states up to J" = 33 have been measured. The assignments and fit of the poorly resolved, compressed cluster-type 2nu(3) IR transitions have been confirmed by a simultaneous study of the 2nu(3)-nu(3) band. The constant W = 5.116 cm(-1) of the Fermi interaction between the v(2) = 1 and v(3) = 2 levels has been determined from frequency effects which are in agreement with relative intensities of the nu(2) and 2nu(3) bands. The deperturbed (B(0) - B(v)) and (C(0) - C(v)) values of the states involved agree with their ab initio predictions within 7% in the worst case. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Magnetic resonance studies of laryngeal tumors implanted in nude mice: effect of treatment with bleomycin and electroporation

Recently, a new type of cancer treatment has been introduced that combines pulsed electric fields (PEF) with anticancer drugs. The proposed mode of action is that PEF create transient pores in the membranes which allow entry of drugs into the cells. This method increases cytotoxicity of some anticancer drugs like bleomycin (BLM) by 2-3 orders of magnitude, which, in turn, reduces systemic drug dosage without decreasing efficacy. In the present study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to determine changes in apparent water self-diffusion coefficients (ADC) and spin-lattice (T(1)) and spin-spin (T(2)) relaxation times that occur in an animal laryngeal tumor (HEp-2 cells) model with BLM delivered by PEF. A Bruker 14 Tesla (600 MHz) wide-bore spectrometer with micro-imaging capability was used to generate all the data. Mice carrying approximately 8 mm tumors were treated with several combinations of drug and PEF. All measurements were made on tumor samples excised from mice 24 and 48 hours after treatment with (i) saline, intratumor injection (i.t.), (ii) BLM, i.t., (iii) saline with PEF, and (iv) BLM, i.t., followed by PEF. Although T(1) does not differ between the controls (i, ii, and iii) and full treatment (iv) 6.72 +/- 0.20 s vs. 6.31 +/- 1.7 s, T(2) for (iv) at 24 hours is significantly different from the controls 52.4 +/- 0.91 ms vs. 46.5 +/- 1.54 ms. T(2) differences between treatment and controls disappear at 48 hours. ADC increases significantly from 24 to 48 hours (7.31 +/- 0.16 x 10(-6) to 8.28 +/- 0.28 x 10(-6) cm(2)/sec, p = 0.05). Longer T(2) values may reflect early apoptosis and tumor death when the tumor is structurally less dense. Higher ADC's, associated with the periphery of the tumors and the central region, may indicate loose structural organization and necrosis resulting from the combination treatment.     

Cs2分子的光解光谱

利用He-Cd激光器的441.6 nm线光解Cs2分子, 使Cs(n2L)(nL=7P, 6D)态得到布居, 在Cs密度1到9×1015 cm-3范围内测量原子荧光对分子荧光强度比, 得到碰撞转移率系数对解离率之比分别为2.9×10-17和7.4×10-18 cm3. 测定Cs nLJ对nLJ'荧光分支比, 得到72P, 62D态精细结构解离率之比分别为0.53和0.43. 从远翼激发得到的精细结构转移截面与从其他激发过程得到的截面结果相符, 给出了碰撞转移到6D态外(即Cs(6D)+Cs(6S)→Cs(6D)以外的态)的截面为1.9×10-14 cm2.     

Rb(5PJ)与He,N2的碰撞精细结构混合和猝灭

在气体样品池条件下,研究了Rb(5PJ) (He,N2)碰撞能量转移过程.用调频半导体激光器激发Rb原子至Rb(5P3/2)态,在不同的He或N2气压下,测量了直接5P3/2→5S1/2荧光和转移5P1/2→5S1/2荧光.对于Rb(5PJ)与He的碰撞,只发生精细结构转移(略去碰撞猝灭效应),电子态能量仅能转移为He原子的平动能.在与N2的碰撞中,向分子振转态的转移是重要的.本实验中,Rb的密度为4.5×1011 cm-3,由辐射陷获理论得到5P1/2→5S1/2的有效辐射率为2.47×107 s-1.利用速率方程分析,可以得到碰撞转移速率系数,对于He,5P3/2→5S1/2转移速率系数kHe21=2.61×10 12 cm3·s.对于N2,测量5PJ He和5PJ N2两种情况下直接荧光与敏化荧光的相对强度比,利用最小二乘法确定5Pa/2→5S1/2转移速率系数kN212=2.36×10-11 cm3·s,5PJ态猝灭速率系数kN2=1.44×10-11 cm3·s-1.由实验结果证实了Cs-N2主要是直线式碰撞传能机制,与其他实验结果进行了比较.     

Quantum-phase resolved mapping of ground-state vibrational D2 wave packets via selective depletion in intense laser pulses

Applying 7 fs pump-probe pulses (780 nm, 4 x 10(14) W/cm2) we observe electronic ground-state vibrational wave packets in neutral D2 with a period of T=11.101(70) fs by following the internuclear separation (R-)dependent ionization with a sensitivity of Delta相似文献   

Collisional properties of cold spin-polarized metastable neon atoms

We measure the rates of elastic and inelastic two-body collisions of cold spin-polarized neon atoms in the metastable 3P2 state for 20Ne and 22Ne in a magnetic trap. From particle loss, we determine the loss parameter of inelastic collisions beta=6.5(18) x 10(-12) cm(3) s(-1) for 20Ne and beta=1.2(3) x 10(-11) cm(3) s(-1) for 22Ne. These losses are caused by ionizing (i.e., Penning) collisions and occur less frequently than for unpolarized atoms. This proves the suppression of Penning ionization due to spin polarization. From cross-dimensional relaxation measurements, we obtain elastic scattering lengths of a=-180(40)a(0) for 20Ne and a = +150(+80)(-50)a(0) for 22Ne, where a(0)=0.0529 nm.     

Sub-part-per-billion monitoring of nitric oxide by use of wavelength modulation spectroscopy in combination with a thermoelectrically cooled, continuous-wave quantum cascade laser

We used a thermoelectrically cooled, continuous-wave, quantum cascade laser operating between 1847 and 1854 cm(-1) in combination with wavelength modulation spectroscopy for the detection of nitric oxide (NO) at the sub-part-per-billion by volume (ppbv) level. The laser emission overlaps the P7.5 doublet of NO centered around 1850.18 cm(-1). Using an astigmatic multiple-pass absorption cell with an optical path length of 76 m, we achieved a detection limit of 0.2 ppbv at 10 kPa, with a total acquisition time of 30 s. The corresponding minimal detectable absorption is 8.8 x 10(-9) cm(-1) Hz(-1/2).     

Rovibrational Intensities of the (00(0)3) <-- (10(0)0) Dyad Absorption Bands of (12)C(16)O(2)

Absolute line intensities of (12)C(16)O(2) are experimentally measured for the first time for the (00(0)3)(I) <-- (10(0)0)(II) band at 5687.17 cm(-1) and the (00(0)3)(I) <-- (10(0)0)(I) band at 5584.39 cm(-1). The spectra were obtained using a Bomem DA8 Fourier transform spectrometer and a 25-m base-path White cell at NASA-Ames Research Center. The rotationless bandstrengths at a temperature of 296 K and the Herman-Wallis parameters are S(0)(vib) = 6.68(30) x 10(-25) cm(-1)/(molecule/cm(2)); A(1) = 1.4(9) x 10(-4), and A(2) = -1.1(5) x 10(-5) for the (00(0)3)(I) <-- (10(0)0)(II) band and S(0)(vib) = 6.07(22) x 10(-25) cm(-1)/(molecule/cm(2)); A(1) = 5.2(1.5) x 10(-4) and A(2) = -4.0(7) x 10(-5) for the (00(0)3)(I) <-- (10(0)0)(I) band.     

Giant hemangioma of the liver: MR imaging characteristics in 24 patients

We retrospectively reviewed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of giant hemangiomas in 24 patients. MRI studies comprised T1-weighted, T2-weighted and serial gadolinium-enhanced spoiled gradient echo (SGE) images. Morphologic features, signal characteristics and enhancement patterns were assessed. Histopathologic evaluation was obtained in nine patients. On T2-weighted images all lesions (size 5.7-24 cm) were hyperintense relative to the spleen and two dominant patterns of heterogeneity were demonstrated: a central heterogeneous area of either bright, dark, or mixed signal intensity, and a network of multiple fibrous septa of low signal intensity. Histopathologic evaluation of two lesions with a central bright area demonstrated the presence of hypocellular myxoid tissue. Central enhancement (9 lesions) and an irregular flame-shaped peripheral pattern of enhancement (12 lesions) were present in lesions with a mean diameter greater than 10 cm. Although giant hemangiomas show greater variability in their MR imaging appearance, an accurate diagnosis can be made through still characteristic features of high signal intensity on T2-weighted images and discontinuous peripheral enhancement.     

Analysis of phantom centering positioning on image noise and radiation dose in axial scan type of brain CT

ABSTRACT

This study examined the dose and image quality according to the position change of a human phantom in a CT scan. This study used an MDCT 128 Slice CT Scanner instrument. An axial scan was performed with a 16 cm CTDI phantom of a human phantom, and the dose was measured using a pencil chamber meter. The phantom was scanned 10 cm above and below the isocenter and 15 cm above the right and left. The position of the phantom is indicated by C-0 in the isocenter position, S-10 in the upper 10 cm, I-10 in the lower 10 cm, R-15 in the right 15 cm, and L-15 in the left 15 cm. The test was performed 30 times using the brain CT protocol to calculate the dose and the dose width product (DWP). The acquired images were analyzed using the ImageJ program. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS with one-way ANOVA (p < .05). The mean DWP values of the CT scanner were C-0 31.97 mGy·cm, S-10 24.52 mGy·cm, I-10 24.28 mGy· cm, R-15 17.95 mGy·cm, and L15 17.6 mGy·cm. Compared to the isocenter (C-0), the DLP values measured at each site were 23.3% for S-10, 24% for I-10, 43.8% for R-15, and 44.9% for L15. A significant difference in the one-way ANOVA statistical process was observed (p>0.05). C-0 was measured to be 7.42 HU, S-10 7.87 HU, I-10 8.4 HU, R-15 117 HU, and L-15 13.6 HU for evaluating the image quality. Compared to C-0, S-10 was 5.39%, I-10 was 13.2%, R-15 was 57.6%, and L-15 was 83.2%. The PSNR for S-10, I-10, R-15, and L-15 was 17.37, 17.5, 16.62, and 16.37 dB, respectively. A good quality image can be obtained by positioning the subject precisely in the isocenter in the axial scan, if possible, because the irradiated dose to the subject is low, which can lead to an increase in noise in image reconstruction.