Beyond laparoscopy: 3-T magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of posterior cul-de-sac obliteration

Objectives

Endometriosis is the ectopic localization of endometrial glands. Symptoms include a wide variety of chronic pelvic pain. Ovarian endometriosis represents the most frequent site of implantation followed by the Douglas pouch which is undepicted unless peritoneal fluid is present. Pelvic exams may be reported as normal in 40% of evaluations, although multiple nodularities are located in this region. Nowadays, laparoscopy represents the standard technique for endometriosis evaluation. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the best noninvasive technique for the evaluation of pelvic lesions. According to the importance of a precise preoperative diagnosis of deep infiltrative endometriosis involving the Douglas pouch, we evaluated feasibility of a 3-T system in the evaluation of this particular region.

Methods

We enrolled 19 women coming with either ultrasound or anamnestic suspicion of endometriosis. Pelvic MRI examination was performed on the 3-T system. We applied a standard exam protocol including pulse sequences [single-shot fast spin echo (FSE)] and high-resolution T2W and T1W FSE sequences with and without FS.

Results

MRI diagnosed posterior cul-de-sac obliteration in 15/19 patients. MRI findings were compared with laparoscopy, thus obtaining the following statistical values: mean sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value, respectively, of 93%, 75%, 93% and 75%. Moreover, we calculated an interobserver agreement k value of 0.72 with a substantial degree of agreement between two radiologists of a sensitivity value of 93% and specificity value of 75%.

Conclusions

Precise preoperative mapping of posterior cul-de-sac region is essential for a preoperative planning. In our work, the 3-T MRI was shown to be excellent in the evaluation of posterior cul-de-sac obliteration associated to an optimal evaluation of the uterosacral ligaments due to the higher contrast spatial resolution.     

Colorimetric multiplexed immunoassay using specific aggregation of antigenic peptide-modified luminous nanoparticles

Two amperometric enzyme biosensor systems, based on glycerol dehydrogenase/diaphorase (GDH/DP) and glycerol kinase/glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase/peroxidase (GK/GPOx/HRP), were developed and used for estimation of glycerol content in a complex biological fluids. Enzymes were immobilized on interchangeable membranes by PCS-prepolymer technique. Buffers containing ferricyanide/NAD⁺ or ferrocyanide/ATP were used for measurements with GDH/DP and GK/GPOx/HRP biosensor, respectively. FIA assay of glycerol biosensor was characterized by a linear range of 0.01-1 or 0.01-1.5 mM glycerol, sensitivity of 6.02 or 1.42 mA/M cm² and with signal loss of 40% after 90 h or 30% after 16 h during continuous operation at a sample throughput of 10 injections/h for GDH/DP or GK/GPOx/HRP biosensors, respectively. Both biosensors were successfully used for off-line monitoring of glycerol during microbial transformation of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol using an automatized flow-through system. The results were consistent with those obtained with HPLC. The stability of described biosensor systems was sufficient for monitoring and control of fermentation process within 24 h. The storage stability of enzyme membranes was several months.     

A Comparison of the Nanostructure of Lead Zirconate,Lead Titanate and Lead Zirconate Titanate Sols

Sol-gel processing has been widely used for the fabrication of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films. To successfully and consistently make high quality thin films for different applications, we must develop a fundamental understanding of the structures of the sols. In this study, the characters of lead titanate (PT) and lead zirconate (PZ)sols were studied by measuring the rheological properties and particle sizes in them and comparing their behaviours. The average particle sizes in unhydrolysed PT, PZ and PZT sols are 11.5, 1.0, and 6.0 nm, respectively. PT sol has the highest rate of hydrolysis. It gels at about 24 h after hydrolysis. PZ and PZT sols have a quite similar feature in hydrolysis. The reasons for the differences in the hydrolysis behaviour of the different types of sol are discussed in terms of a model which indicates that the inhomogeneous sols consist of 5 to 6 nm PT particles surrounded by much smaller PZ particles, which tend to dominate the sol behaviour.     

Magnesia formed on calcination of Mg(OH)2 prepared from natural bischofite

Calcination of magnesium hydroxide, which was prepared from natural bischofite MgCl₂·6H₂O, leading to dehydration 2(MgOH) → MgOMg + H₂O, is accompanied by transition of phase not only to MgO but also to MgO_x at x < 1 (assigned to Mg₄O₃) at moderate temperatures. At higher temperatures, MgO_x is completely transformed into MgO. Magnesium hydroxide and oxide heated at different temperatures were studied using the TEM, XRD, IR, PCS, TG-DTA, nitrogen and argon adsorption methods. The electronic structure of MgO and Mg₄O₃ was studied using the ab initio quantum chemical method with periodic conditions. According to TEM images, the morphology of particles changing from Mg(OH)₂ laminae to aggregates of interpenetrated MgO cubelets and foils depend strongly on the calcination temperature. Significant changes in surface area are observed mainly at 325-470 °C on desorption of a major portion of eliminated water corresponding to 28.4 wt.% at its total amount of 30.9 wt.%. Pore size distribution (PSD) is sensitive to treatment conditions and the main PSD peaks shift towards larger pore size with elevating temperature. The characteristics of the surface hydroxyls as well as of the bulk MgO bonds depend on heating conditions, as noticeable changes are observed in the XRD patterns and the IR spectra of the samples undergoing the mentioned transformation of phase Mg(OH)₂ → MgO_x → MgO.     

Continuous Size Classification of Nanoparticles Utilizing Brownian Motion in Microchannel Size Exclusion Chromatography

This study presents a new method for classifying the sizes of colloidal nanoparticles of below 100 nm in diameter in liquid dispersion using a microchannel size exclusion chromatography (SEC) chip. This chip can classify polydisperse colloidal nanoparticles containing a mix of two monodisperse nanoparticles into several monodisperse particle populations. The particles classified by the SEC chip are then sequentially analyzed by a photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) method in combination with a flow cell. Two different pillar patterns of such SEC chips were used in experiments to investigate the effects of these patterns on the nanoparticle classification performance. The results obtained were compared with those from a numerical simulation. Standard polystyrene latex particles with diameters of 20 nm and 100 nm were used in this study. The usefulness of this methodology was verified since the simulation and measurement results were in good agreement with each other.     

Enhancing drug development and clinical studies with patient-centric sampling using microsampling techniques: Opportunities,challenges, and insights into liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry strategies

Microsampling has revolutionized pharmaceutical drug development and clinical research by reducing sample volume requirements, allowing sample collection at home or nontraditional sites, minimizing animal and patient burden, and enabling more flexible study designs. This perspective paper discusses the transformative impact of microsampling and patient-centric sampling (PCS) techniques, emphasizing their advantages in drug development and clinical trials. We highlight the integration of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) strategies for analyzing PCS samples, focusing on our research experience and a review of current literatures. The paper reviews commercially available PCS devices, their regulatory status, and their application in clinical trials, underscoring the benefits of PCS in expanding patient enrollment diversity and improving study designs. We also address the operational challenges of implementing PCS, including the need for bridging studies to ensure data comparability between traditional and microsampling methods, and the analytical challenges posed by PCS samples. The paper proposes future directions for PCS, including the development of global regulatory standards, technological advancements to enhance user experience, the increased concern of sustainability and patient data privacy, and the integration of PCS with other technologies for improved performance in drug development and clinical studies. By advancing microsampling and PCS techniques, we aim to foster patient-centric approaches in pharmaceutical sciences, ultimately enhancing patient care and treatment efficacy.     

A new approach to all-optical half-adder by utilizing semiconductor optical amplifier based MZI wavelength converter

Semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) has already been established itself as a strong all-optical switching element for conducting super fast optical operations. Many all optical logic operations have been proposed by the use of SOA. Here in this paper the authors proposed a new method of implementing all-optical frequency encoded logic operations and half-adder by the use of SOA as well as Mach Zehnder interferometer. The advantage of frequency encoding has been strongly exploited here.     

一种机械型超导开关的设计与初步实验

文中所述机械型超导开关是一种新型超导开关,其主要用做超导储能磁体的持续电流开关(persistentcurrent switch,简称PCS)。文章简要介绍机械型超导开关的原理并计算PCS的损耗,然后详述机械型超导开关的设计,最后描述初步实验结果。     

Determining the temperature dependence of the emulsion particle size of polyacrylate core–shell and polystyrene by photon correlation spectroscopy

The dependence of the particle size of a polyacrylate core-shell emulsion on temperature has been investigated in the temperature range of 10–55°C by photon correlation spectroscopy. To compare, the dependence of the particle size of an aqueous suspension of a polystyrene standard on temperature has been also investigated under the same conditions. This showed that as the temperature increases, the particle size of both samples decreases, but the rate of size decrease of the polystyrene standard is larger than that of the polyacrylate core–shell emulsion. By linear regression analysis, two regression equations of both samples have been set up. Furthermore, the apparent moving activation energy has been worked out from the size–temperature data.