In vitro and in vivo (cyto)toxicity assays using PVC and LDPE as model materials.

The choice for a biomaterial is partly based on the outcome of (cyto)toxicity assays. The rationales behind the selection of certain parameters, such as cell lines, controls, and animals, were evaluated using a positive and a negative control, and one experimental sample designed to induce intermediate toxicity. Extraction and direct contact assays were performed using human epidermal keratinocytes and mouse fibroblasts and mouse epithelial cells. Cell survival was measured with the tetrazolium salt (MTT) reduction assay. In addition, local implantation studies were performed in mice and rats. The positive control induced a high degree of toxicity in all in vitro tests performed, indicating that the toxicity observed in the direct contact assay was due to in situ extraction of toxic components. In the direct contact assay the negative control tested on the mouse fibroblasts resulted in a significant reduction of cell survival. No decrease in cell survival was found using the experimental sample. Subcutaneous implantation studies in mice showed that the positive control material induced a severe degeneration in mice. However, in rats just minimal alterations were noted. The experimental material induced moderate responses only in mice. Our results indicate that the direct contact assay provides limited additional information on the cytotoxicity of materials if certain limitations are not taken into account. For the in vivo implantation assay mice were superior to rats in detecting local toxic responses.

Overhauser instrumentation: similarities with and differences from MRI.

The main subject of this paper is a comparison of the instrumentation of the Overhauser imager (OI) and the MRI scanner. After introducing the OI system architecture we concentrate on different chains of the OI scanner hardware system. For each chain an overview of the typical requirements, designs and specifications of chain components is given. We compare each OI chain with the corresponding MRI chain and draw conclusions about what makes OI design easier and what are the typical OI problems. In the final conclusion we summarize the main benefits and the main drawbacks of the OI.

Spatially selective RF pulses and the effects of digitization on their performance.

Spectrometers make use of D/A converters to generate RF and gradient shapes. This paper examines by exact simulations the time and amplitude digitization effects, inherent to the use of D/A converters, on the performance of amplitude modulated (AM) frequency selective RF pulses. By making use of Fourier theory and the small tip angle approximation, an approximate model of these effects on the magnetization slice profiles is derived and verified for several pulse types by computer simulations. This approximate model will be used to derive requirements for D/A converters with respect to spatial localization. The dynamics of the spin system allows pulse width modulation (PWM) as an alternative to AM for pulse envelope encoding. The effects of PWM on the slice profile are examined and compared with conventional AM pulses. It is shown by simulation and measurement that adiabatic PWM pulses can be found. In contrast to AM modulated adiabatic pulses, adiabatic PWM pulses have side bands with the same slice quality as the main slice and might therefore be useful as multislice selective pulses.

N.m.r. relaxation and images of human breast tumours in vitro.

It is found that fat and non-fatty tissue in dissected samples of the mamma differ in their T1/T2 ratios. This opens the possibility of locating tumours by n.m.r. imaging, because they have a lower fat content than their surroundings. By means of a sensitive point method, samples were scanned with a resolution of about 0.4 mm X 0.4 mm. The similarity between the shape of a tumour in an n.m.r. and in an X-ray image of a thin section of mamma tissue is quite convincing.