Objective evaluation of acute adverse events and image quality of gadolinium-based contrast agents (gadobutrol and gadobenate dimeglumine) by blinded evaluation. Pilot study

Purpose

The purpose was to objectively evaluate a recently FDA-approved gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) in comparison to our standard GBCA for acute adverse events and image quality by blinded evaluation.

Methods

Evaluation was made of a recently FDA-approved GBCA, gadobutrol (Gadavist; Bayer), in comparison to our standard GBCA, gadobenate dimeglumine (MultiHance; Bracco), in an IRB- and HIPAA-compliant study. Both the imaging technologist and patient were not aware of the brand of the GBCA used. A total of 59 magnetic resonance studies were evaluated (59 patients, 31 men, 28 women, age range of 5–85 years, mean age of 52 years). Twenty-nine studies were performed with gadobutrol (22 abdominal and 7 brain studies), and 30 studies were performed with gadobenate dimeglumine (22 abdominal and 8 brain studies). Assessment was made of acute adverse events focusing on objective observations of vomiting, hives, and moderate and severe reactions. Adequacy of enhancement was rated as poor, fair and good by one of two experienced radiologists who were blinded to the type of agent evaluated.

Results

No patient experienced acute adverse events with either agent. The target minor adverse events of vomiting or hives, and moderate and severe reactions were not observed in any patient. Adequacy of enhancement was rated as good for both agents in all patients.

Conclusions

Objective, blinded evaluation is feasible and readily performable for the evaluation of GBCAs. This proof-of-concept study showed that both GBCAs evaluated exhibited consistent good image quality and no noteworthy adverse events.     

Relations between (κ, τ)-regular sets and star complements

Let G be a finite graph with an eigenvalue µ of multiplicity m. A set X of m vertices in G is called a star set for µ in G if µ is not an eigenvalue of the star complement G\X which is the subgraph of G induced by vertices not in X. A vertex subset of a graph is (κ, τ)-regular if it induces a κ-regular subgraph and every vertex not in the subset has τ neighbors in it. We investigate the graphs having a (κ, τ)-regular set which induces a star complement for some eigenvalue. A survey of known results is provided and new properties for these graphs are deduced. Several particular graphs where these properties stand out are presented as examples.     

Computing the noncentral gamma distribution, its inverse and the noncentrality parameter

The noncentral gamma distribution can be viewed as a generalization of the noncentral chi-squared distribution and it can be expressed as a mixture of a Poisson density function with a incomplete gamma function. The noncentral gamma distribution is not available in free conventional statistical programs. This paper aimed to propose an algorithm for the noncentral gamma by combining the method originally proposed by Benton and Krishnamoorthy (Comput Stat Data Anal 43(2):249–267, 2003) for the noncentral distributions with the method of inversion of the distribution function with respect to the noncentrality parameter using Newton–Raphson. The algorithms are available in pseudocode and implemented as R functions. To evaluate the accuracy and speed of computation of the algorithms implemented in R, results of the distribution function, density function, quantiles and noncentrality parameter of the noncentral incomplete gamma and its particular case, the noncentral chi-squared, were obtained for the arguments settings used by Benton and Krishnamoorthy (Comput Stat Data Anal 43(2):249–267, 2003) and Chen (J Stat Comput Simul 75(10):813–829, 2005). The implemented routines performed well and, in general, were as accurate than other approximations. The R package denoted ncg is available to download on the CRAN-R package repository http://cran.r-project.org/.     

Anti-Leishmania and cytotoxic activities of perillaldehyde epoxide synthetic positional isomers

Leishmaniasis belongs to a complex of zoonotic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and is considered a major public health problem. Several essential oil chemical components have inhibitory effect against protozoa, including Leishmania donovani. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate for the first time the anti-Leishmania activity of two p-menthane monoterpene isomers (EPER-1: perillaldehyde 1,2-epoxide and EPER-2: perillaldehyde 8,9-epoxide) against L. donovani promastigotes as well as evaluating cytotoxic effect on mononuclear peripheral blood cells. Results of anti-Leishmania assay revealed that EPER-2 (IC₅₀ = 3.8 μg.mL^?1) was 16-fold more potent than its isomer EPER-1 (IC₅₀ = 64.6 μg.mL^?1). In contrast to PBMC cells, EPER-2 was not cytotoxic (IC₅₀ > 400 μg.mL^?1) when compared to positive control. These data suggest that the disposition of epoxide group into the p-menthane skeleton affects the anti-Leishmania activity, being that the presence of the exocyclic epoxide group considerably increased potency. Thus, it was possible to observe that the location of the epoxide group into the p-menthane skeleton resulted in different potencies.     

Confinement of monopole field lines in a superconductor at T ≠ 0

We apply the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations to the confinement of a monopole-antimonopole pair in a superconductor. This is related to the problem of a quark-antiquark pair bound by a confining string, consisting of a colour-electric flux tube, dual to the magnetic vortex of type-II superconductors. We study the confinement of the field lines due to the superconducting state and calculate the effective potential between the two monopoles. The monopoles can be simulated in a real experiment inserting two long and thin magnetic rods. At short distances the potential is Coulombic and at large distances the potential is linear, as previously determined solving the Ginzburg-Landau equations. The magnetic field lines and the string tension are also studied as a function of the temperature T. Because we take into account the explicit fermionic degrees of freedom, this work may open new perspectives to the breaking of chiral symmetry or to colour superconductivity.     

Truncated States Obtained by Iteration

We introduce the concept of truncated states obtained via iterative processes （TSI） and study its statistical features, making an analogy with dynamical systems theory （DST）. As a specific example, we have studied TSI for the doubling and the logistic functions, which are standard functions in studying chaos. TSI for both the doubling and logistic functions exhibit certain similar patterns when their statistical features are compared from the point of view of DST.     

A comparative study using conventional methods,ionic liquids,microwave irradiation and combinations thereof for the synthesis of 5-trifluoroacetyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines

This study reports a comparison between conventional methods, ionic liquids, microwave (MW) irradiation, and combinations thereof for the synthesis of a series of fourteen 1-aryl-2-arylamino-5-trifluoroacetyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines. In all of the reactions tested, the products were obtained at very good yields (87–97%), but the reaction times were very different, depending on the method used. Comparing to other methods, the time decreased to 1?min when [BMIM]BF₄ under MW irradiation was used, thus evidencing a synergic effect.     

Microbiological control and antibacterial action of a propolis-containing mouthwash and control of dental plaque in humans

Propolis is a bee product with several biological properties. This study aimed at investigating a propolis-containing mouthwash, its organoleptic properties, microbial contamination and its antibacterial action in vitro. This mouthwash was assessed in vivo to control dental plaque in humans. The presence of microorganisms was analyzed and the minimum inhibitory concentration against Streptococcus mutans was determined. A comparative study was done in vivo using propolis, chlorhexidine, and propolis plus chlorhexidine in lower concentrations for 14 days. Dental plaque was analyzed by the Patient Hygiene Performance (PHP) index. The odontological product was yellow, cloudy, free of microbial contamination, and exerted an inhibitory action in vitro. Individuals who used a propolis-containing mouthwash for 14 consecutive days in combination or not to chlorhexidine showed a similar PHP index to chlorhexidine alone. The product exerted an antibacterial action in vitro and in vivo, exhibiting a positive action in the control of dental plaque.     

1H‐Indazole and 2H‐indazole derivatives of androsta‐5,16‐dien‐3β‐ol

The title compounds, 17‐(1H‐indazol‐1‐yl)androsta‐5,16‐dien‐3β‐ol, (I), and 17‐(2H‐indazol‐2‐yl)androsta‐5,16‐dien‐3β‐ol, (II), both C₂₆H₃₂N₂O, have an indazole substituent at the C17 position. The six‐membered B ring of each compound assumes a half‐chair conformation. A twist of the steroid skeleton is observed and reproduced in quantum‐mechanical ab initio calculations of the isolated molecule using a molecular orbital Hartree–Fock method. In the 1H‐indazole derivative, (I), the molecules are joined in a head‐to‐head fashion via O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the a axis. In the 2H‐indazole derivative, (II), the molecules are joined in a head‐to‐tail fashion with one of the N atoms of the indazole ring system acting as the acceptor. The hydrogen‐bond pattern consists of zigzag chains running along the b axis. Substituted steroids have proven to be effective in inhibiting androgen biosynthesis through coordination of the Fe atoms of some enzymes, and this study shows that indazole‐substituted steroids adopt twisted conformations that restrict their intermolecular interactions.