Correlation between metabolite ratios and ADC values of prostate in men with increased PSA level

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were carried out in men with increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Forty subjects [controls (Group I) and patients (Groups II and III with PSA >20 and 4-20 ng/ml, respectively)] were investigated using endorectal coil at 1.5 T prior to transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy. Metabolite ratio [citrate/(choline+creatine)] and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were calculated for identical voxels. In patients, voxels that showed lower metabolite ratio showed reduced ADC in the peripheral zone (PZ) of the prostate, and voxels with increased metabolite ratio showed higher ADC. Metabolite ratios were used to predict areas of malignancy if the ratio was <1.4 and if ADC value was <1.17 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s. Patients in Group II had lower metabolite ratio and ADC in the PZ compared to controls and Group III. All 13 were positive for malignancy in MR, while 12 of 13 were positive on TRUS-guided sextant biopsy. In Group III, certain voxels of PZ that showed reduced metabolite ratio also showed lower ADC. A positive correlation was observed between metabolite ratio and ADC. MR predicted areas of malignancy in PZ in 15 of 20 patients; however, only six were positive on TRUS-guided biopsy perhaps due to high false-negative rate of TRUS-guided biopsy. Results show positive correlation between MRSI and DWI and their potential in detection of malignancy, thereby improving the diagnosis especially in patients with PSA level of 4-20 ng/ml.     

Risk assessment from gamma dose rate in Balod District of Chhattisgarh,India

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - People are generally exposed to the natural radiation that presents inside and outside the houses. This investigation has been carried out gamma...     

Quantitative investigation, stability and in vitro release studies of anti-TB drugs in Triton niosomes

The highly stable innocuous niosomes composed of four components (Triton X 100, polyethylene glycol 2000, water, Span 80) have been prepared successfully and characterized using particle size analyzer, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The mean size has been found to be in the range 200-300 nm. The optimization of niosomes has been carried out using fluorescence spectroscopy. An attempt has been made to incorporate anti-tuberculosis drugs (ATD's) in the prepared niosomes. The stability and encapsulation efficiency of these drugs in the niosome have also been assessed and high encapsulation efficiency is observed. Such high encapsulation efficiency will serve as an advantage to solve the problem of multi-drug resistance in case of tuberculosis. Release studies and kinetics have been carried out to investigate the release behavior of drugs from the prepared niosomes. Fickian or diffusional release has been observed for rifampicin and isoniazid and a non-Fickian release mechanism for pyrazinamide. Fluorescence probe quenching technique has been used to determine the location and distribution coefficient of the ATD's in niosome/water system.     

Coupling Considerations for Fabrication of Acoustooptic Tunable Filter

Induced acoustic wave to bare fiber through various types of horn are examined. The center wavelength and extinction ratio of the notch filter are dynamically tunable and dependent on the RF signals.     

On the role of liquid phase stability and GFA parameters

Role of liquid phase stability on the glass forming ability (GFA) has been reviewed and the alloy systems have been analyzed by introducing a contribution factor (w_g) to the characteristic temperature T_g, in the γ parameter. The kinetics of glass formation for various alloy systems has been found to vary with liquid phase stability in metastable state. The GFA of a fragile liquid is found to be more responsive to the contribution of metastable stability compared to strong liquid.     

Effect of viscous dissipation on the mixed convection heat transfer from an exponentially stretching surface

The mixed convection flow and heat transfer from an exponentially stretching vertical surface in a quiescent fluid is analyzed using similarity solution technique. Wall temperature and stretching velocity are assumed to have specific exponential function forms. The influence of buoyancy along with viscous dissipation on the convective transport in the boundary layer region is analyzed in both aiding and opposing flow situations. The flow is governed by the mixed convection parameter Gr/Re². The velocity and temperature inside the boundary layer are observed to be influenced by the parameters like Prandtl number Pr, Gebhart number Gb. Significant changes are observed in non-dimensional skin friction and heat transfer coefficients due to viscous dissipation in the medium. The flow and temperature distributions inside the boundary layer are analyzed and the results for non-dimensional skin friction and heat transfer coefficients are discussed through computer generated plots.     

Evaluation of Thermal Behavior of Microwave Induced Graft Copolymerization of Ethylmethacrylate onto Soy Protein Concentrate

Graft copolymerization of ethylmethacrylate (EMA) onto soy protein concentrate (SPC) was carried-out using ascorbic acid/potassium persulphate as redox initiator under microwave radiations. Different reaction parameters like reaction time, solvent amount, initiator ratio, pH and monomer concentration were optimized to get maximum graft yield (78.8%). The graft copolymer formed was characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, DTA and DTG techniques. Graft copolymer showed higher moisture resistance along with increased chemical and thermal stability. TGA, DTA and DTG studies could reveal the distinctive features of graft copolymerization of EMA onto S-S linkages of soy protein concentrate under the influence of microwave irradiations in addition to grafting at peptide linkages, which were further supported by FT-IR studies.