Dose in Skeleton and Bone Marrow following Thorotrast Injection into Blood

The calculation of the dose rate and cumulative dose in the morrow-free skeleton and bone marrow of thorotrast patients presupposes the knowledge of both the translocation of thorium daughters to the skeleton, and the portion of ²³²Th that is localized in colloidal form in the bone marrow. Whereas in bon marrow ²²⁸Th is in equilibrium with ²³²Th up to only 20%, in marrow-free skeleton ²²⁸Th is present in excess to ²³²Th (average activity ratio 1·75), considering the measured activity ratios between ²³²Th and its daughters as well as the distribution of the colloid and the unclides of the thorium decay chain within the organism the dose rate and cumulative dose in bone marrow and marrow-free bone were calculated as function of the time of thorotrast burden and the amount of injected material.     

Dickenmeßgeräte für die Automatisierung von Kaltbandwalzwalzwerken

Nach einem kurzen Vergleich verschiedener Meßverfahren werden die speziellen Probleme beim Einsatz von Dickenmeßgeräten mit radioaktiven Nukliden in autoautomatischen Walzanlagen dargelegt. An Hand der Forderungen nach konstanter Empfindlichkeit, geringer Meßunsicherheit, Fernbedienbarkeit, leistungsstarker Ausgangsgröße und optimalem Zeitverhalten wird die Konzeption der Flächengewichtsmeßgerate VA-T-74 und VA-T-75 beschrieben. Die wichtigsten Daten werden mitgeteilt.     

Direct Radioimmunoassay of Proinsulin and Insulin in Human Plasma by Chromatographic Technique

Specific method for direct radioimmunoassay of IRP and IRI separately in human plasma has been described. The method is used for extraction of total insulin and separation of IRP from IRI by paper chromatography to be assayed separately. The separation of the two components are indentified and confirmed by column chromatography, paper chromatography and U.V. spectral analysis in comparison with the standard compounds.

134 plasma samples of different cases were, investigated for determination of IRI, IRP and IRT, of which 39 normals, 16 normal obes, 21 juvinil diabetes, 18 adult oncet diabetes, 10 recent adult diabetes, 12 hypothroid and 18 bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly to evaluate the levels of the test in comparison with blood sugar concentration.     

Photoacoustic microscopy

Photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) is a hybrid in vivo imaging technique that acoustically detects optical contrast via the photoacoustic effect. Unlike pure optical microscopic techniques, PAM takes advantage of the weak acoustic scattering in tissue and thus breaks through the optical diffusion limit (∼1 mm in soft tissue). With its excellent scalability, PAM can provide high‐resolution images at desired maximum imaging depths up to a few millimeters. Compared with backscattering‐based confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography, PAM provides absorption contrast instead of scattering contrast. Furthermore, PAM can image more molecules, endogenous or exogenous, at their absorbing wavelengths than fluorescence‐based methods, such as wide‐field, confocal, and multi‐photon microscopy. Most importantly, PAM can simultaneously image anatomical, functional, molecular, flow dynamic and metabolic contrasts in vivo. Focusing on state‐of‐the‐art developments in PAM, this Review discusses the key features of PAM implementations and their applications in biomedical studies.     

Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer for non-invasive monitoring of fluctuations in blood glucose in the human finger

A low-field nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer for non-invasive monitoring of human finger blood glucose fluctuations was developed. Saline solution and blood serum samples with different glucose concentrations were first detected by the spectrometer and it has been found that there was a high-linear correlation between the glucose concentration and the transverse relaxation time. Then, the spectrometer was employed to noninvasively measure a finger from each of the several volunteers. The experiment results showed that the transverse relaxation time of the human finger increases with human blood glucose concentration. In conclusion, the human finger nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer could be a potential tool to noninvasive monitoring of human body’s blood glucose fluctuations in the future.     

Enhancement of ultrasonically induced cell damage by phthalocyanines in vitro

In this work, erythrocytes from carp were used as a nucleated cell model to test the hypothesis that the phthalocyanines (zinc - ZnPc and chloroaluminium -AlClPc) enhance ultrasonically induced damage in vitro. In order to confirm and complete our earlier investigation, the influence of ultrasound (US) and phthalocyanines (Pcs) on unresearched cellular components, was studied. Red blood cells were exposed to 1 MHz continuous ultrasound wave (0.61 and/or 2.44 W/cm²) in the presence or absence of phthalocyanines (3 μM). To identify target cell damage, we studied hemolysis, membrane fluidity and morphology of erythrocytes. To demonstrate the changes in the fluidity of plasma membrane we used the spectrofluorimetric methods using two fluorescence probes: 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5,-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). The effect of US and Pcs on nucleated erythrocytes morphology was estimated on the basis of microscopic observation.The enhancement of ultrasonically induced membrane damage by both phthalocyanines was observed in case of hemolysis, and membrane surface fluidity, in comparison to ultrasound. The authors also observed changes in the morphology of erythrocytes. The obtained results support the hypothesis that the Pcs enhance ultrasonically induced cell damage in vitro.Furthermore, the influence of ultrasound on phthalocyanines (Pcs) in medium and in cells was tested. The authors observed changes in the phthalocyanines absorption spectra in the medium and the increase in the intensity of phthalocyanines fluorescence in the cells. These data can suggest changes in the structure of phthalocyanines after ultrasound action.     

A Strategy for Rapid Construction of Blood Vessel‐Like Structures with Complex Cell Alignments

A method is developed that can rapidly produce blood vessel‐like structures by bonding cell‐laden electrospinning (ES) films layer by layer using fibrin glue within 90 min. This strategy allows control of cell type, cell orientation, and material composition in separate layers. Furthermore, ES films with thicker fibers (polylactic‐co‐glycolic acid, fiber diameter: ≈3.7 µm) are used as cell‐seeding layers to facilitate the cell in‐growth; those with thinner fibers (polylactic acid, fiber diameter: ≈1.8 µm) are used as outer reinforcing layers to improve the mechanical strength and reduce the liquid leakage of the scaffold. Cells grow, proliferate, and migrate well in the multilayered structure. This design aims at a new type of blood vessel substitute with flexible control of parameters and implementation of functions.     

Metabolomics study on promoting blood circulation and ameliorating blood stasis: Investigating the mechanism of Angelica sinensis and its processed products

Angelica sinensis (Danggui, DG) parched with alcohol (Jiu Danggui, JDG) and charred DG are the main processed products of DG, which are used to treat blood stasis syndrome (BSS). However, their therapeutic effect and mechanisms are still unclear. Based on an acute rat BSS model, the intervention effects of DG and its processed products (DGPPs) were evaluated by the hemorheology and coagulation function parameters. Meanwhile, plasma and urine metabolites were detected and analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and multivariate statistical analysis method. The results of hemorheology, coagulation function parameters and metabolomics all showed that the BSS model was successfully established, DGPPs intervention could significantly relieve rats BSS and the therapeutic effect of JDG was best. Moreover, 23 differential metabolites (14 in plasma and nine in urine) were identified that were closely related to the BSS, involving seven potential target metabolic pathways. DGPP intervention showed different degrees of reverse effect on these metabolites. JDG was the most effective owing to extensive regulation effect on differential metabolites. This study provides a reference for understanding the pathological mechanism of BSS and the mechanism of DGPPs, which lays a theoretical foundation for the rational use of DGPPs in clinical practice.     

Highly sensitive and rapid determination of tacrolimus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

After solid organ transplantation, tacrolimus is given to prevent rejection. Therapeutic drug monitoring is used to reach target concentrations of tacrolimus in whole blood. Because the site of action of tacrolimus is the lymphocyte, and tacrolimus binds ~80% to erythrocytes, the intracellular tacrolimus concentration in lymphocytes is possibly more relevant. For this purpose, we aimed to develop, improve and validate a UPLC–MS/MS method to measure tacrolimus concentrations in isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs were isolated using a Ficoll separation technique, followed by a washing step using red blood cell lysis. A cell suspension of 50 μL containing 1 million PBMCs was used in combination with MagSiMUS‐TDM^PREP. To each sample we added 30 μL lysis buffer, 20 μL reconstitution buffer containing ¹³C²H₄‐tacrolimus as internal standard, 40 μL MagSiMUS‐TDM^PREP Type I Particle Mix and 175 μL Organic Precipitation Reagent VI for methanol‐based protein precipitation. A 10 μL aliquot of the supernatant was injected into the UPLC–MS/MS system. The method was validated, resulting in high sensitivity and specificity. The method was linear (r² = 0.997) over the range 5.0–1250 pg/1 × 10⁶ PBMCs. The inaccuracy was <5% and the imprecision was <15%. The washing steps following Ficoll isolation could be performed at either room temperature or on ice, with no effect of the temperature on the results. A method for the analysis of tacrolimus concentrations in PBMCs was developed and successfully validated. Further research will be performed to investigate the correlation between concentrations in PBMCs and clinical outcome.     

Determination of lead in complex sample matrices by atomic fluorescence spectrometry: optimisation of online hydride generation

Lead hydride or plumbane (PbH₄) generation was optimised by exploiting a simple flow-injection method coupled to atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS), and allowing ultra-trace lead determination. Plumbane was generated through two methods: (1) 5% (v/v) H₂O₂ was employed as oxidant with 1.5% (m/v) KBH₄ as a reducing agent and 1.5% (v/v) HCl solution; (2) with 1.5% (m/v) K₃[Fe(CN)₆] as an oxidant/sensitiser, 1% (m/v) KBH₄ as a reducing agent and 1.5% (v/v) HCl. Variables such as reagent concentrations, flow rates and sample and reagent volumes were tested and critically compared. The best results were obtained with potassium ferricyanide K₃[Fe(CN)₆], achieving a detection limit of 0.03 μg Pb L^?1 and a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.1%. The selected method was validated by analysis of certified reference materials such as SRM-2976 (mussel tissue) and BCR-610 (groundwater), with good agreement with the certified values. The developed methodology was successfully applied to different environmental sample matrices, such as rain water, tap water, ground water, spring water and drinking water, and biological samples, i.e., human blood, plasma and serum.