Assessment of the link between quantitative biexponential diffusion-weighted imaging and contrast-enhanced MRI in the liver

PurposeTo investigate if intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) modeled diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can be linked to contrast-enhanced (CE-)MRI in liver parenchyma and liver lesions.MethodsTwenty-five patients underwent IVIM-DWI followed by multiphase CE-MRI using Gd-EOB-DTPA (n = 20) or Gd-DOTA (n = 5) concluded with IVIM-DWI. Diffusion (D_slow), microperfusion (D_fast), its fraction (f_fast), wash-in-rate (R_early) and late-enhancement-rate (R_late) of Gd-EOB-DTPA were calculated voxel-wise for the liver. Parenchyma and lesions were segmented. Pre-contrast IVIM was compared 1) between low, medium and high R_early for parenchyma 2) to post-contrast IVIM substantiated with simulations 3) between low and high R_late per lesion type.ResultsD_fast and f_fast increased (P < 0.001) with 25.6% and 33.8% between low and high R_early of Gd-EOB-DTPA. D_slow decreased (− 15.0%; P < 0.001) with increasing R_early. Gd-DOTA demonstrated similar observations. f_fast (+ 10%; P < 0.001) and D_fast (+ 6.6%; P < 0.001) increased after Gd-EOB-DTPA, while decreasing after Gd-DOTA (− 4.2% and − 5.7%, P < 0.001) and were confirmed by simulations. For focal nodular hyperplasia lesions (n = 5) D_fast and f_fast increased (P < 0.001) with increasing R_late, whereas for hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 4) and adenoma (n = 7) no differences were found.ConclusionMicroperfusion measured by IVIM reflects perfusion in a way resembling CE-MRI. Also IVIM separated intra- and extracellular MR contrast media. This underlines the potential of IVIM in quantitative liver imaging.     

Intravoxel incoherent motion and diffusion tensor imaging of early renal fibrosis induced in a murine model of streptozotocin induced diabetes

IntroductionTo assess if parameters in intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to evaluate early renal fibrosis in a mouse model of diabetic nephropathy.Materials & methodsIn a population of 38 male CD1 mice (8 weeks old, 20–30 g), streptozotocin induced diabetes was created in 20 mice via a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at 150 mg/kg, while 18 mice served as control group. IVIM parameters were acquired at 0, 12 and 24 weeks after injection of streptozotocin using a range of b values from 0 to 1200 s/mm². DTI parameters were obtained using 12 diffusion directions and lower b values of 0, 100 and 400 s/mm². DTI and IVIM parameters were obtained using region of interests drawn over the renal parenchyma. Histopathological analysis of the right kidney was performed in all mice. Results were analyzed using an unpaired t-test with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsRenal cortex fractional anisotropy (FA) was significantly lower in the diabetes group at week 12 as compared with the control group. Renal cortex apparent diffusion coefficient and tissue diffusivity were significantly higher in the diabetes group at week 12 compared with the control group at 12 weeks. Blood flow was significantly decreased at the renal medulla at 24 weeks. Histopathological analysis confirmed fibrosis in the diabetes group at 24 weeks.ConclusionFA is significantly reduced in diabetic nephropathy. FA might serve a potential role in the detection and therapy monitoring of early diabetic nephropathy.     

Correlation study between intravoxel incoherent motion MRI and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Evaluation in primary tumors and metastatic nodes

ObjectiveTo correlate intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).MethodsForty untreated patients with HNSCC were included retrospectively in the study. Perfusion fraction f, diffusion coefficient D and perfusion-related diffusion coefficient D* were extracted by bi-exponential fitting of IVIM data. Semi-quantitative DCE-MRI parameters, including positive enhancement integral (PEI) and maximum slope of increase (MSI), were calculated. The relationships between all variables were assessed by Spearman's test for correlation.Results27 primary tumors (PTs) and 23 lymph nodes (LNs) were analyzed. The residual sum of squares (RSS), used to assess the fit quality, was significantly different between PTs and LNs, with the last showing lower values. In LNs, D* and the product D* × f were positively related to both nPEI and nMSI, while no significant correlation was found in PTs.ConclusionEvident relationships between D* and D* × f and DCE-MRI perfusion measurements were found in LNs, while no significant association emerged in PTs. This presumably is due to the poorer agreement between the experimental data and curve fitting for PTs, as compared to LNs. Additional work is warranted to improve the reliability of the IVIM parameter estimations in primary HNSCCs.     

Quantitative Dixon MRI sequences to relate muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration with range of motion and muscle force in brachial plexus injury

BackgroundAssessment of muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration in brachial plexus injury (BPI) could yield valuable insight into pathophysiology and could be used to predict clinical outcome. The objective of this study was to quantify and relate fat percentage and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the biceps to range of motion and muscle force of traumatic brachial plexus injury (BPI) patients.MethodsT1-weighted TSE sequence and three-point Dixon images of the affected and non-affected biceps brachii were acquired on a 3 Tesla magnetic resonance scanner to determine the fat percentage, total and contractile CSA of 20 adult BPI patients. Regions of interest were drawn by two independent investigators to determine the inter-observer reliability. Paired Students' t-test and multivariate analysis were used to relate fat percentage, total and contractile CSA to active flexion and biceps muscle force.ResultsThe mean fat percentage 12 ± 5.1% of affected biceps was higher than 6 ± 1.0% of the non-affected biceps (p < 0.001). The mean contractile CSA 8.1 ± 5.1 cm² of the affected biceps was lower than 19.4 ± 4.9 cm² of the non-affected biceps (p < 0.001). The inter-observer reliability was excellent (ICC 0.82 to 0.96). The contractile CSA contributed most to the reduction in active flexion and muscle force.ConclusionQuantitative measurement of fat percentage, total and contractile CSA using three-point Dixon sequences provides an excellent reliability and relates with active flexion and muscle force in BPI.     

Dissociation of dimethyl ether at high temperatures

The decomposition of dimethyl ether (CH₃OCH₃) has been investigated behind incident shock waves in a diaphragmless shock tube using laser schlieren densitometry, LS (T = 1500–2450 K, P = 57 ± 4, 125 ± 5 and 253 ± 12 Torr). The LS density gradient profiles were simulated and excellent agreement was found between the simulations and experimental profiles. Rate coefficients for CH₃OCH₃ → CH₃O + CH₃ were obtained. They showed strong fall-off, and at the lower end of the experimental temperature range are close to the low pressure limit. First order rate coefficient expressions were determined over 1500 < T < 2450 K. k_57Torr = (3.10 ± 1.0) × 10⁷⁹T^?19.03 exp(?54417/T) s^?1, k_125Torr = (1.12 ± 0.3) × 10⁸³T^?19.94 exp(?55554/T) s^?1and k_253Torr = (1.02 ± 0.3) × 10⁷³T^?17.09 exp(?51500/T) s^?1. The effect of a roaming channel for decomposition of dimethyl ether was assessed and the best agreement was obtained with 1% dissociation of DME via the roaming path.     

Quantifying global-brain metabolite level changes with whole-head proton MR spectroscopy at 3 T

Background and purposeTo assess the sensitivity of non-localized, whole-head ¹H-MRS to an individual's serial changes in total-brain NAA, Glx, Cr and Cho concentrations — metabolite metrics often used as surrogate markers in neurological pathologies.Materials and methodsIn this prospective study, four back-to-back (single imaging session) and three serial (successive sessions) non-localizing, ~3 min ¹H-MRS (TE/TR/TI = 5/10⁴/940 ms) scans were performed on 18 healthy young volunteers: 9 women, 9 men: 29.9 ± 7.6 [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] years old. These were analyzed by calculating a within-subject coefficient of variation (CV = SD/mean) to assess intra- and inter-scan repeatability and prediction intervals. This study was Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant. All subjects gave institutional review board-approved written, informed consent.ResultsThe intra-scan CVs for the NAA, Glx, Cr and Cho were: 3.9 ± 1.8%, 7.3 ± 4.6%, 4.0 ± 3.4% and 2.5 ± 1.6%, and the corresponding inter-scan (longitudinal) values were: 7.0 ± 3.1%, 10.6 ± 5.6%, 7.6 ± 3.5% and 7.0 ± 3.9%. This method is shown to have 80% power to detect changes of 14%, 27%, 26% and 19% between two serial measurements in a given individual.ConclusionsSubject to the assumption that in neurological disorders NAA, Glx, Cr and Cho changes represent brain-only pathology and not muscles, bone marrow, adipose tissue or epithelial cells, this approach enables us to quantify them, thereby adding specificity to the assessment of the total disease load. This will facilitate monitoring diffuse pathologies with faster measurement, more extensive (~90% of the brain) spatial coverage and sensitivity than localized ¹H-MRS.     

Quantification of myocardial oxygenation in heart failure using blood-oxygen-level-dependent T2* magnetic resonance imaging: Comparison with cardiopulmonary exercise test

PurposeQuantification of myocardial oxygenation (MO) in heart failure (HF) has been less than satisfactory. This has necessitated the use of invasive techniques to measure MO directly or to determine the oxygen demand during exercise using the cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) test. We propose a new quantification method for MO using blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) myocardial T2* magnetic resonance imaging (M-T2* MRI), and investigate its correlation with CPX results.MethodsThirty patients with refractory HF who underwent cardiac MRI and CPX test for heart transplantation, and 24 healthy, age-matched volunteers as controls were enrolled. M-T2* imaging was performed using a 3-Tesla and multi-echo gradient-echo sequence. M-T2* was calculated by fitting the signal intensity data for the mid-left ventricular septum to a decay curve. M-T2* was measured under room-air (T2*-air) and after inhalation of oxygen for 10 min at a flow rate of 10 L/min (T2*-oxy). MO was defined as the difference between the two values (ΔT2*). Changes in M-T2* at the two conditions and ΔT2* between the two groups were compared. Correlation between ΔT2* and CPX results was analyzed using the Pearson coefficient.ResultsT2*-oxy was significantly greater than T2*-air in patients with HF (29.9 ± 7.3 ms vs. 26.7 ± 6.0 ms, p < 0.001), whereas no such difference was observed in controls (25.5 ± 4.0 ms vs. 25.4 ± 4.4 ms). ΔT2* was significantly greater for patients with HF than for controls (3.2 ± 4.5 ms vs. -0.1 ± 1.3 ms, p < 0.001). A significant correlation between ΔT2* and CPX results (peak VO₂, r = − 0.46, p < 0.05; O₂ pulse, r = − 0.54, p < 0.005) was observed.ConclusionΔT2* is increased T2*-oxy is greater in patients with HF, and is correlated with oxygen metabolism during exercise as measured by the CPX test. Hence, ΔT2* can be used as a surrogate marker of MO instead of CPX test.     

Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging as an adjunct to dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI to improve accuracy of the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions

PurposeTo investigate the value of use of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) as an adjunct to dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) to distinguish benign from malignant breast lesions.Materials and methodsRetrospective analysis of data pertaining to 117 patients with breast lesions who underwent DCE-MRI and IVIM-DWI examination with 3.0 T MRI was conducted. A total of 128 lesions were pathologically confirmed (47 benign and 81 malignant). Between-group differences in DCE-MRI parameters (Morphology, enhancement pattern, maximum slope of increase (MSI) and time–signal curve (TIC) type) and IVIM-DWI parameters (f value, D value and D* value) were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify variables that distinguished benign from malignant breast lesions. The diagnostic performance of DCE-MRI and DCE-MRI plus IVIM-DWI, to distinguish benign from malignant breast lesions, was evaluated using pathology results as the gold standard.ResultsLesion morphology, MSI, and TIC type (P < 0.05), but not the enhancement pattern (P > 0.05), were significantly different between the benign and malignant groups. The f (8.53 ± 2.14) and D* (7.64 ± 2.07) values in the malignant group were significantly higher than those in the benign group (7.68 ± 1.97 and 6.83 ± 2.13, respectively), while the D value (0.99 ± 0.22) was significantly lower than that (1.34 ± 0.17) in the benign group (P < 0.05 for all). On logistic regression analysis, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of DCE-MRI were 90.1%, 70.2% and 82.8% respectively; the corresponding figures for the combination of IVIM-DWI and DCE-MRI were 88.8%, 85.1%, and 87.5%respectively.ConclusionIVIM-DWI method as an adjunct to DCE-MRI can improve the specificity and accuracy in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions of breast.     

Evaluation of correlation between chemical dosimetry and subharmonic spectrum analysis to examine the acoustic cavitation

Currently several therapeutic applications of ultrasound in cancer treatment are under progress which uses cavitation phenomena to deliver their effects. There are several methods to evaluate cavitation activity such as chemical dosimetry and measurement of subharmonic signals. In this study, the cavitation activity induced by the ultrasound irradiation on exposure parameters has been measured by terephthalic acid chemical dosimetry and subharmonic analysis. Experiments were performed in the near 1 MHz fields in the progressive wave mode and effect of duty cycles changes with 2 W/cm² intensity (I_SATA) and acoustic intensity changes in continuous mode on both fluorescence intensity and subharmonic intensity were measured. The dependence between fluorescence intensity of terephthalic acid chemical dosimetry and subharmonic intensity analysis were analyzed by Pearson correlation (p-value < 0.05). It has been shown that the subharmonic intensity and the fluorescence intensity for continuous mode is higher than for pulsing mode (p-value < 0.05). Also results show that there is a significant difference between the subharmonic intensity and the fluorescence intensity with sonication intensity (p-value < 0.05). A significant correlation between the fluorescence intensity and subharmonic intensity at different duty cycles (R = 0.997, p-value < 0.05) and different intensities (R = 0.985, p-value < 0.05) were shown. The subharmonic intensity (μW/cm²) significantly correlated with the fluorescence intensity (count) (R = 0.901; p < 0.05) and the fluorescence intensity due to chemical dosimetry could be estimated with subharmonic intensity due to subharmonic spectrum analysis. It is concluded that there is dependence between terephthalic acid chemical dosimetry and subharmonic spectrum analysis to examine the acoustic cavitation activity.     

Polymorphic phase transition and thermal stability in squaric acid (H2C4O4)

Phase transformations in squaric acid (H₂C₄O₄) have been investigated by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry with different heating rates β. The mass loss in TG apparently begins at onset temperatures T_di=245±5 °C (β=5 °C min^?1), 262±5 °C (β=10 °C min^?1), and 275±5 °C (β=20 °C min^?1). A polymorphic phase transition was recognized as a weak endothermic peak in DSC around 101 °C (T_c⁺). Further heating with β=10 °C min^?1 in DSC revealed deviation of the baseline around 310 °C (T_i), and a large unusual exothermic peak around 355 °C (T_p), which are interpreted as an onset and a peak temperature of thermal decomposition, respectively. The activation energy of the thermal decomposition was obtained by employing relevant models. Thermal decomposition was recognized as a carbonization process, resulting in amorphous carbon.     

Differentiation of myeloma and metastatic cancer in the spine using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI

Spinal myeloma and metastatic cancer cause similar symptoms and show similar imaging presentations, thus making them difficult to differentiate. In this study, dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) was performed to differentiate between 9 myelomas and 22 metastatic cancers that present as focal lesions in the spine. The characteristic DCE parameters, including the peak signal enhancement percentage (SE%), the steepest wash-in SE% during the ascending phase and the wash-out SE%, were calculated by normalizing to the precontrast signal intensity. The two-compartmental pharmacokinetic model was used to obtain K^trans and k_ep. All nine myelomas showed the wash-out DCE pattern. Of the 22 metastatic cancers, 12 showed wash-out, 7 showed plateau, and 3 showed persistent enhancing patterns. The fraction of cases that showed the wash-out pattern was significantly higher in the myeloma group than the metastatic cancer group (9/9 = 100% vs. 12/22 = 55%, P = .03). Compared to the metastatic cancer group, the myeloma group had a higher peak SE% (226% ± 72% vs. 165% ± 60%, P = .044), a higher steepest wash-in SE% (169% ± 51% vs. 111% ± 41%, P = .01), a higher K^trans (0.114 ± 0.036 vs. 0.077 ± 0.028 1/min, P = .016) and a higher k_ep (0.88 ± 0.26 vs. 0.49 ± 0.23 1/min, P = .002). The receiver operating characteristic analysis to differentiate between these two groups showed that the area under the curve was 0.798 for K^trans, 0.864 for k_ep and 0.919 for combined K^trans and k_ep. These results show that DCE-MRI may provide additional information for making differential diagnosis to aid in choosing the optimal subsequent procedures or treatments for spinal lesions.     

A Boubaker polynomials expansion scheme (BPES)-related protocol for measuring sprayed thin films thermal characteristics

Measurements of In₂S₃ and ZnIn₂S₄ sprayed thin films thermal characteristics have been carried out using the photodetection technique. The thermal conductivity k and diffusivity D were obtained using a new protocol based on photothermal signal parameters analysis. Measured values of k and D were respectively, (15.2 ± 0.85) W m⁻¹K⁻¹ and (69.8 ± 7.1) × 10⁻⁶ m²s⁻¹ for In₂S₃, (7.2 ± 0.7) W m⁻¹K⁻¹ and (32.7 ± 4.3) × 10⁻⁶ m²s⁻¹ for ZnIn₂S₄. These values are extremely important since similar compounds are more and more proposed as Cd-free alternative materials for solar cells buffer layers.     

Differentiation of central gland prostate cancer from benign prostatic hyperplasia using monoexponential and biexponential diffusion-weighted imaging

PurposeTo investigate biexponential apparent diffusion parameters of prostate central gland (CG) cancer, stromal hyperplasia (SH), and glandular hyperplasia (GH) and compare with monoexponential apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value for discriminating prostate cancer from benign hyperplasia.Materials and MethodsTwenty-one CG cancer foci, 23 SH and 26 GH nodules in the CG were analyzed in 39 patients (19 with CG cancer, 20 with peripheral zone cancer but no CG cancer) who underwent preoperative conventional DWI (b-value 0, 1000 s/mm²) and a 10 b-value (range 0 to 3000 s/mm²) DWI. All of the cancer and hyperplastic foci on MR images were localized on the basis of histopathologic correlation. The ADC value of the monoexponential DWI, and the fast apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCf), slow apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCs) value and the fraction of ADCf (f) of the biexponential DWI were calculated for all of the lesions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed for the differentiation of CG cancer from SH and GH.ResultsThe ADC values (× 10^? 3 mm²/s) were 0.87 ± 0.11, 1.06 ± 0.15, and 1.61 ± 0.27 in CG cancer, SH and GH foci, respectively, and differed significantly, yielding areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of 1.00 and 0.80 for the differentiation of carcinoma from GH and SH, respectively. The ADCf (× 10^? 3 mm²/s), ADCs (× 10^? 3 mm²/s) and f for cancer were 1.92 ± 0.38, 0.53 ± 0.17, and 47.7 ± 6.1%, respectively, which were lower than the same values for GH (3.43 ± 0.65, 1.12 ± 0.21, 61.1 ± 8.7%) (all p < 0.01). The ADCf and ADCs for cancer were also lower than those for SH (3.11 ± 0.30, 0.79 ± 0.21) (all p < 0.01). The ADCf yielded AUCs (1.00, p > 0.01) that were comparable to those from ADC for the differentiation of cancer from GH, while ADCf yielded higher AUCs (0.92) compared with ADC (p < 0.01) for the differentiation of cancer from SH. ADCs and f revealed AUCs of 0.97 and 0.90, respectively, for the differentiation of cancer from GH, and the ADCs offered relatively lower AUCs (0.68) for differentiating cancer from SH.ConclusionBiexponential DWI could potentially improve the differentiation of prostate cancer in CG, and the ADCf of the biexponential model offers better accuracy than ADC.     

Effect of pulsed ultrasound on the physicochemical characteristics and emulsifying properties of squid (Dosidicus gigas) mantle proteins

Food technologists are always looking to improve the functional properties of proteins. In this sense, in last years ultrasound has been used to improve some functional properties. For this reason, and considering that jumbo squid is an important fishery in northwest Mexico, the purpose of this research was to determine the effect of pulsed ultrasound on the physicochemical characteristics and emulsifying properties of squid (Dosidicus gigas) mantle proteins. Pulsed ultrasound (20 kHz, 20, and 40% amplitude) was applied for 30, 60, and 90 s to a protein extract prepared from giant squid mantle causing an increase (p < 0.05) in surface hydrophobicity (S_o) from 108.4 ± 1.4 to 239.1 ± 2.4 after application of pulsed ultrasound at 40% of amplitude for 90 s. The electrophoretic profile and the total and reactive sulfhydryl contents were not affected (p ⩾ 0.05) by the ultrasound treatment. The emulsifying ability of the protein solution was improved (p < 0.05), whereas the Emulsifier Activity Index (EAI) varied from123.67 ± 5.52 m²/g for the control and increased up to 217.7 ± 3.8 m²/g after application of the ultrasound. The Stability Emulsifier Index (EEI) was improved at 40% of amplitude by 60 and 90 s. The results suggested that pulsed ultrasound used as pretreatment induced conformational changes in giant squid proteins, which improved the interfacial association between protein-oil phases, thus contributing to the improvement of their emulsifient properties.     

Interfacial energies of carbon tetrabromide

The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes for solid carbon tetrabromide (CTB) in equilibrium with its melt were directly observed by using a horizontal temperature gradient stage. From the observed grain boundary groove shapes, Gibbs–Thomson coefficient (Γ) and solid–liquid interfacial energy (σ_SL) and grain boundary energy (σ_gb) of CTB have been determined to be (7.88 ± 0.8) × 10⁻⁸ K m, (6.91 ± 1.04) × 10⁻³ J m⁻² and (13.43 ± 2.28) × 10⁻³ J m⁻², respectively. The ratio of thermal conductivity of equilibrated liquid phase to solid phase for CTB has also been measured to be 0.90 at its melting temperature. The value of σ_SL for CTB obtained in present work was compared with the values of σ_SL determined in the previous works for same material and it was seen that the present result is in good agreement with previous works.     

Structure and conductivity investigations of alkaline earth substituted uranium oxide,U1 − xMxO2 ± δ (M = Mg,Ca, Sr) for solid oxide fuel cell applications

Alkaline earth substituted UO₂ (U_1 − xM_xO_2 ± δ; M = Mg, Ca, Sr; 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.525) with fluorite structure was synthesized in reducing atmosphere. Structure and conductivity properties of U_1 − xM_xO_2 ± δ fluorites were investigated for possible application in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). At room temperature and ambient atmosphere the materials are stable; however they decompose at an oxygen partial pressure p_O2 > 10^− 4 atm and temperatures higher than 600 °C. The total conductivity measured for the best conducting U_1 − xM_xO_2 ± δ material with M = Ca and x = 0.177 is as high as 3 S/cm at p_O2 < 10^− 4 atm at 600 °C. The relatively low ionic transference number (t_i∼0.02) is disadvantageous for potential use as electrolyte material for SOFC applications. The high conductivity and possible depolarization effects suggest potential use as anode materials in SOFC.     

The inactivation kinetics of polyphenol oxidase in mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) during thermal and thermosonic treatments

The effect of thermal and thermosonic treatments on the inactivation kinetics of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) was studied in 55–75 °C temperature range. In both the processes, the inactivation kinetics of PPO followed a first-order kinetics (R² = 0.941–0.989). The D values during thermal inactivation varied from 112 ± 8.4 min to 1.2 ± 0.07 min while they varied from 57.8 ± 6.1 min to 0.88 ± 0.05 min during thermosonic inactivation at the same temperature range. The activation energy during thermal inactivation was found to be 214 ± 17 kJ/mol, while it was 183 ± 32 kJ/mol during thermosonic inactivation. The inactivating effect of combined ultrasound and heat was found to synergistically enhance the inactivation kinetics of PPO. The D values of PPO decreased by 1.3–3 times during thermosonic inactivation compared to the D values of PPO during thermal inactivation at the temperature range. Therefore, thermosonication can be further developed as an alternative to “hot break” process of mushroom.     

Effects of phonophoresis with Arnica montana onto acute inflammatory process in rat skeletal muscles: An experimental study

This study aimed at verifying the effects of phonophoresis associated with Arnica montana on the acute phase of an inflammatory muscle lesion. Forty Wistar male rats (300 ± 50 g), of which the Tibialis Anterior muscle was surgically lesioned, were divided into four groups (n = 10 each): control group received no treatment; the ultrasound group (US) was treated in pulsed mode with 1-MHz frequency, 0.5 W/cm² intensity (spatial and temporal average – SATA), duty cycle of 1:2 (2 ms on, 4 ms off, 50%), time of application 3 min per session, one session per day, for 3 days; the phonophoresis or ultrasound plus arnica (US+A) group was treated with arnica with the same US parameters plus arnica gel; and the arnica group (A) was submitted to massage with arnica gel, also for 3 min, once a day, for 3 days. Treatment started 24 h after the surgical lesion. On the 4th day after lesion creation, animals were sacrificed and sections of the lesioned, inflamed muscle were removed for quantitative (mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cell count) and qualitative histological analysis. Collected data from the 4 groups were statistically analyzed and the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results show higher mononuclear cell density in all three treated groups with no significant difference between them, but values were significantly different (p < 0.0001) when compared to control group’s. As to polymorphonuclear cell density, significant differences were found between control group (p = 0.0134) and US, US+A and A groups; the arnica group presented lesser density of polymorphonuclear cells when compared (p = 0.0134) to the other groups. No significant difference was found between US and US+A groups. While the massage with arnica gel proved to be an effective anti-inflammatory on acute muscle lesion in topic use, these results point to ineffectiveness of Arnica montana phonophoresis, US having seemingly checked or minimized its anti-inflammatory effect.     

Structure relates to elastic recoil and functional role in quadriceps tendon and patellar ligament

Tendons and ligaments have similar but slightly different structure and composition. Crimps of tendons and ligaments are morphological structures related to the elastic functional properties of these connective tissues. Aim of this study was to investigate the morphological arrangement of collagen fibres, fibrils and crimping pattern of suprapatellar (rectus femoris tendon-RFT and vastus intermedius tendon-VIT) and infrapatellar connective tissues (patellar ligament-PL) to relate their structural aspects to their common function role of leg extension. RFT, VIT and PL were removed from knees of Sprague–Dawley rats and light and electron microscopy (TEM and SEM) performed. Sagittal sections showed that collagen array and crimping pattern were similar in RFT and PL but differed from VIT. Morphometric analysis confirmed that crimp number was about the same in RFT and PL (5.4 ± 1.4 and 6.1 ± 2.8 respectively), but it was almost three times higher in VIT (14.5 ± 4.7). Similarly crimp top angle in RFT and PL (141.5 ± 15.0° and 146.2 ± 12.2° respectively) was significantly higher than in VIT (122.3 ± 14.8°) and the crimp base length was more than twice as wide in RFT (75.5 ± 22.6 μm) and PL (72.3 ± 28.9 μm) than in VIT (36 ± 14.1 μm). The smaller, fewer and most crimped crimps in VIT show that this tendon has a greater elastic recoil and responds to higher forces as among quadriceps muscles the vastus intermedius belly contributes the most during knee extension. By contrast, RFT acting as a “stopper” tendon also plays a ligament role by limiting an excessive flexion of the joint during postural rest position of the knee.