Assessment of image quality and dose in contrast-enhanced head and neck CT angiography of New Zealand rabbit.

BACKGROUND: Although computed tomography (CT) is a powerful diagnostic imaging modality for diagnosing vascular diseases, it is some what risky to human health due to the high radiation dosage. Thus, CT vendors have developed low dose computed tomography (LDCT) aiming to solve this problem. Nowadays, LDCT has gradually become a main stream of CT examination. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of LDCTAin an animal model and compare the imaging features and doses in two clinical scanners. METHODS: Twenty-two New Zealand rabbit head and neck CTA images pre- and post-contrast agent injection were performed using256-sliceand 64-slice CT scanners. The tube voltages used in the 256-slice and the 64-slice CTA were 70 kVp and 80 kVp, respectively. Quantitative images indices and radiation doses obtained from CTA in these two scanners were compared. RESULTS: More neck arterial vessels could be visualized in multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) CTA on the 256-slice CT scanner than on the 64-slice CT scanner. After contrast agent injection, all observed neck arterial vessels had higher CT numbers in 256-slice CTA than in 64-slice CTA. There was no significant difference in contrast-to-noise (CNR) of CTA images between these two scanners. CT dose index (CTDI) and dose length product (DLP) for the 256-slice CTA were lower than those for the 64-slice CTA. CONCLUSIONS: Low dose CTA of rabbits with 70 or 80 kVp is feasible in a 256-slice or a 64-slice CT scanner. The radiation dose from the 256-slice CTA was much lower than that from the 64-slice CTA with comparable SNR and CNR. The technique can be further applied in longitudinal monitoring of an animal stroke model in the future.

Electrochemical Bioconjugation of Tryptophan Residues: A Strategy for Peptide Modification.

Interest in electrocatalytic bioconjugation reactions has surged, particularly for modifying tryptophan and tyrosine residues in proteins. We used a cost-effective graphite felt electrode and low-current methodology to achieve selective bioconjugation of tryptophan with thiophenols, yielding up to 92%. This method exclusively labeled tryptophan residues and incorporated fluorinated tryptophan for NMR analysis. Eight polypeptides, including lanreotide and leuprorelin, were effectively coupled, demonstrating the method's versatility and potential for novel diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

The parkinsonian phenotype of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2.

BACKGROUND: We recently reported that spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) caused familial parkinsonism in 2 brothers with predominant symptoms of resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia that responded to levodopa. OBJECTIVE: To investigate SCA2 as the possible cause of familial parkinsonism in our series and subsequently to analyze the correlation between the clinical manifestation and CAG repeat size in the ataxin-2 gene product. PATIENTS: One hundred thirty patients from 41 families with familial parkinsonism were examined for SCA2. Another 8 patients with the classic ataxic phenotype of SCA2 from 6 families were the control group. DESIGN: The length of expanded CAG repeat was analyzed by means of polymerase chain reaction. The clinical data and genetic findings in the parkinsonian phenotype were then compared with those in the ataxic phenotype. RESULTS: We found expanded CAG repeats in the ataxin-2 gene product in 7 patients from 4 families with parkin-sonism, which was about 10% of our familial parkinsonism series. The parkinsonian phenotype was characterized by resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Only mild dysarthria, ataxic gait, and instability were noted, particularly in the late stage. Patients with the parkinsonian phenotype had an older mean +/- SD age of symptom onset (45.8 +/- 13.9 years) and shorter mean +/- SD abnormal CAG length (36.2 +/- 1.1 repeats) than did those with the ataxic phenotype (26.9 +/- 11.0 years and 43.1 +/- 3.2 repeats). Parkinsonian SCA2 responded well to levodopa. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that SCA2 is a minor cause of familial parkinsonism, particularly in Taiwan. The parkinsonian phenotype is associated predominantly with a shorter abnormal range of CAG repeat lengths and older onset age. Because of the clinical resemblance among familial parkinsonisms, we suggest that SCA2 should be excluded in cases of familial parkinsonism.

The parkinsonian phenotype of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 in a Taiwanese family.

We report a parkinsonian phenotype of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) in three female sibs from one Taiwanese family, found in a genetic analysis of 60 patients from 49 families with familial parkinsonism. Initially, all three patients presented with early onset resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and good response to levodopa. In the later stages, peripheral neuropathy developed in one sib and mild ataxia in another one. Decreased concentration of dopamine transporter in the striatum was demonstrated by (99m)Tc-TRODAT-1 SPECT imaging in the two sibs studied. Therefore, SCA3 should be considered as an important etiology of familial parkinsonism.