Autologous fat injection therapy including a high concentration of adipose-derived regenerative cells in a vocal fold paralysis model: animal pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To verify the effectiveness and safety of the addition of adipose-derived regenerative cells to autologous fat injection therapy. METHODS: Unilateral vocal fold paralysis models were made by cutting the right recurrent laryngeal nerve in two pigs. At day 30, 0.5 ml adipose-derived regenerative cells mixed with 1 ml autologous fat was injected into the right vocal fold of one pig, with the other receiving 0.5 ml Ringer's solution mixed with 1 ml autologous fat. At day 120, fibrescopy, laser Doppler flowmeter, computed tomography, vocal function evaluation and histological assessment were conducted. RESULTS: Although histological assessment revealed atrophy of the thyroarytenoid muscle fibre in both pigs, there was remarkable hypertrophy of the thyroarytenoid muscle fibre in the area surrounding the adipose-derived regenerative cells injection site. CONCLUSION: The addition of a high concentration of adipose-derived regenerative cells to autologous fat injection therapy has the potential to improve the treatment outcome for unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Volumetric evaluation of dual-energy perfusion CT for the assessment of intrapulmonary clot burden.

AIM: To evaluate the volumetric values of intrapulmonary clots (IPCs) using 64-section dual-energy perfusion computed tomography (DEpCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 174 patients suspected of having acute pulmonary embolism (PE) underwent DEpCT, and acute PE was diagnosed in 48 of these patients. DEpCT images were three-dimensionally reconstructed with four threshold ranges: 1-120 HU (V120), 1-15 HU (V15), 1-10 HU (V10), and 1-5 HU (V5). Each relative value per V120 was expressed as %V15, %V10 and %V5. These values were compared with the d-dimer, pulmonary arterial (PA) pressure, right ventricular (RV) diameter, RV/left ventricular diameter ratio, PA diameter, and CT angiographic obstruction index (CTOI). RESULTS: In patients with IPCs, PA pressure, d-dimer and volumetric values of DEpCT were significantly higher (p < 0.001). Relative volumetric values at DEpCT had better correlations with the PA pressure, PA diameter, and CTOI than absolute ones, and %V5 especially had good correlations with PA pressure (r = 0.44, p = 0.02), PA diameter (r = 0.40, p = 0.005), and CTOI (r = 0.38, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The relative volumetric evaluation of DEpCT images with a lower attenuation threshold range may be helpful for assessing right heart strain, because these values had good correlation with CTOI, pulmonary pressure, and diameter in suggesting right heart load.

Evaluation of a lattice Boltzmann method in a complex nanoflow.

In order to establish a cost-effective strategy to simulate complex flows in continuum to slip and transitional regimes, the present study assesses the performance of a lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) formerly discussed by the present authors' group [Niu, Phys. Rev. E 76, 036711 (2007)]. This LBM is based on a diffuse scattering wall boundary condition, a regularization procedure, and an effective relaxation time associated with the Knudsen number. The present assessment is on its regularization procedure and third-order truncated system based on the two-dimensional twenty-one discrete velocity (D2Q21) model for the Cartesian lattices. The test flow cases are force-driven Poiseuille flows, the Couette flows and a flow around a square cylinder situated in a nanochannel. For producing the reference data of the square cylinder flow, the molecular dynamics simulation using Lennard-Jones potential is also performed. Although the flow profiles and the slip velocities of the Poiseuille flows and the Couette flows are more accurately predicted by the third-order truncated system, the general velocity profiles around the square cylinder are also well predicted by the second-order truncated system based on the two-dimensional nine discrete velocity (D2Q9) model. It is also confirmed that without the regularization process, the entire flow field prediction suffers unphysical momentum oscillations around the square cylinder.

Effects of magnetic field and pressure on the intermediate valence state of YbPd.

High field magnetization, magnetoresistance and pressure effects of magnetic susceptibility, thermal expansion and electrical resistivity were examined for the intermediate valence system YbPd, which undergoes two first-order transitions at T(1) = 125 K and T(2) = 105 K. Analyses of high field magnetization suggest that half of the Yb atoms have magnetic moments below 100 K up to 55 T. The Yb valence state and the first-order transitions are stable up to 55 T. On the other hand, T(1) and T(2) decrease with increasing pressure and the first-order transitions disappear at around 4 GPa. Above the critical pressure, the experimental results suggest that the intermediate valence state persists down to the lowest temperature or a heavy fermion state is formed. We will show that most experimental results are explained reasonably by assuming the first-order transitions as a valence order transition of Yb. The magnetic ordering temperature is decreased with increasing pressure, in contrast to other Yb intermediate valence or Kondo systems. This may be correlated with the instability of the valence ordered state in this compound.

Pressure and magnetic field dependence of valence and magnetic transitions in EuPtP.

The hexagonal layered compound, EuPtP, exhibits two valence transitions, at T1 = 235 K and T2 = 190 K, and an antiferromagnetic order at T(N) = 8.6 K. We have examined the effects of magnetic field and pressure, and the specific heat. Analysis of the high-field experiments confirms that half of Eu are in a divalent state at the lowest temperature, and that the number of Eu(² + ) increases discontinuously at T2 and T1 with increasing temperature. The magnetic entropy reaches ~ 22 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ at room temperature, which is larger than that expected for J = 7/2 of Eu(²+ ) (17.3 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹). This is in good agreement with the magnetic entropy deduced from the interconfigurational fluctuation model, which explains the valence transition in Eu(Pd(1- x)Pt(x))2Si2. The application of pressure shifts T1 and T2 higher and suppresses the intermediate phase (ß phase, T2 < T < T1), whereas it does not change the properties of the low-temperature phase (γ phase, T < T2) and the T(N).

Functional mechanism of lung mosaic CT attenuation: assessment with deep-inspiration breath-hold perfusion SPECT-CT fusion imaging and non-breath-hold Technegas SPECT.

BACKGROUND: The functional mechanism of lung mosaic computed tomography attenuation (MCA) in pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) and obstructive airway disease (OAD) has not yet been fully clarified. PURPOSE: To clarify the mechanism of MCA in these diseases by assessing the relationship between regional lung function and CT attenuation change at MCA sites with the use of automated deep-inspiratory breath-hold (DIBrH) perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-CT fusion images and non-breath-hold Technegas SPECT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subjects were 42 PVD patients (31 pulmonary thromboembolism, four primary/two secondary pulmonary hypertension, and five Takayasu arteritis), 12 OAD patients (five acute asthma, four obliterative bronchiolitis, and three bronchiectasis), and 12 normal controls, all of whom had MCA on DIBrH CT. The relationship between regional lung function and CT attenuation change at the lung slices with MCA was assessed using DIBrH perfusion SPECT-CT fusion images and non-breath-hold Technegas SPECT. The severity of perfusion defects with or without MCA was quantified by regions-of-interest analysis. RESULTS: On DIBrH CT and perfusion SPECT, in contrast to no noticeable CT attenuation abnormality and fairly uniform perfusion in controls, 60 MCA and 274 perfusion defects in PVD patients, and 18 MCA and 61 defects in OAD patients were identified, with a total of 77 ventilation defects on Technegas SPECT in all patients. SPECT-CT correlation showed that, throughout the 78 MCA sites of all patients, lung perfusion was persistently decreased at low CT attenuation and preserved at intervening high CT attenuation, while lung ventilation was poorly correlated with CT attenuation change. The radioactivity ratios of reduced perfusion and the intervening preserved perfusion at the 78 perfusion defects with MCA were significantly lower than those at the remaining 257 defects without MCA (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Although further validation is required, our results indicate that heterogeneous pulmonary arterial perfusion may be a dominant mechanism of MCA in PVD and OAD.

High-field magnetization of a two-dimensional spin frustration system, Ni(5)(TeO(3))(4)X(2) (X = Br, Cl).

The high-field magnetization, M(H), of Ni(5)(TeO(3))(4)X(2) (X =  Br, Cl) was measured by using a pulse magnet. These compounds have a two-dimensional crystal structure and a distorted Kagome spin frustrated system which is built from the Ni(2+) ions (S = 1). The Néel transition temperatures are T(N)∼28 and 23 K for X =  Br and Cl, respectively. When TT(N), the field-dependent magnetization curves behave like a monotonically increasing straight line up to 55 T. The H(c) value is close to those obtained in previous spin resonance studies in which a model of a spin-flop scenario was proposed to explain the field-dependent resonance spectra. With the earlier model a further transition at around 23 T was predicted; however, our observations did not show any plateau behaviors, saturation or other anomalies up to 55 T, suggesting that the further transition possibly exists in a much higher field region.

Changes in mechanical properties of poly-l-lactic acid mini-plate under functional load simulating sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the characteristics of a poly-l-lactic acid mini-plate changed with dynamic loading in an environment with hydrolytic degradation. A mandible osteosynthesis model was prepared with specimen poly-l-lactic acid mini-plates to simulate sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy. The model was then subjected to dynamic loading, and changes in specimen shape and surface quality were observed. Specimen bending strength was then measured, and degree of hydrolytic degradation estimated. Neither dynamic loading nor degree of load clearly affected degree of hydrolytic degradation. The specimens maintained their original shape and bending strength for up to 4 weeks with dynamic loading of 40 N or less in an environment with hydrolytic degradation. At 8 weeks, under the same conditions, the specimens showed cracks or fractures, or both, together with a clear decrease in bending strength. The results suggest that dynamic loading causes cracking in a poly-l-lactic acid mini-plate, and that growth of these cracks decreases bending strength over time, leading to fatigue fracture.

Novel mutations in a Japanese patient with CD19 deficiency.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by recurrent bacterial infections, hypogammaglobulinemia and low to normal numbers of circulating B cells. Mutations in the ICOS, TACI and CD19 genes have recently been identified in <10% of CVID patients. We, herein, describe two novel CD19 gene disruptions in an 8-year-old Japanese boy, who had been clinically diagnosed as having CVID at the age of 5 years. Flow-cytometric analysis demonstrated absence of CD19 and reduced CD21 expression on CD20-postive peripheral blood B cells. Mutation analysis of CD19 revealed a mutation in the splice acceptor site of intron 5 (IVS5-1G>T) of the maternal allele, resulting in skipping of exon 6, and a truncated protein product. The paternal allele was disrupted by a gross deletion encompassing at least the ATP2A1, CD19 and NFATC2IP genes. The patient had a small number of IgD(-) CD27(+) memory B cells, in which somatic mutation were detected. His B cells showed substantial proliferation upon stimulation, but reduced IgG and IgA production in vitro. These findings extend the mutation spectrum of the CD19 deficiency to four, and confirm the homogeneity of the CD19 deficiency as a unique type of CVID.

Cutaneous drainage lymphatic map with interstitial multidetector-row computed tomographic lymphography using iopamidol: preliminary results.

We performed preliminary tests of the feasibility of multi-detector computed tomographic lymphography (MDCT-LG) with interstitial injection of iopamidol for mapping cutaneous lymphatic drainage pathways. MDCT-LG images were obtained following cutaneous injection of a total of 1ml iopamidol bilaterally into hind legs of 10 dogs. The locations of the first draining lymph nodes were marked on the skin under MDCT-LG guidance. Five dogs served for postmortem examination of lymphatic anatomy, and the remaining 5 underwent MDCT-LG after ligation of the afferent lymphatic vessels of the first draining popliteal nodes. Clinically, MDCT-LG was attempted in 6 patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma and compared with Tc-99m-human serum albumin lymphoscintigraphy. MDCT-LG clearly visualized the first draining lymph nodes and their afferent lymphatic vessels draining from the contrast injection sites with detailed underlying anatomy in all dogs. At surgery, all these first draining nodes could be found at predicted locations under MDCT-LG guidance. MDCT-LG showed rerouting of lymphatic vessels after ligation of the afferent lymph vessels of the popliteal nodes in the second 5 dogs. Clinically, MDCT-LG also allowed accurate mapping and biopsy of the first draining nodes from primary tumors at predicted locations, with minimal skin incision. Lymphoscintigraphy failed to identify these nodes due to overlapping radioactivity of clustered nodes or transport of the radiotracer to subsequent distant nodes in 4 patients. Although a more extensive study is warranted for further validation, preoperative interstitial MDCT-LG appears to have the potential feasibility for accurate sentinel lymph node mapping and biopsy in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

Modified Weiss's equation for strength-duration curve in magnetic stimulation.

There is increasing interest in the use of magnetic stimulation as a modality for clinical examination and therapy. It is desirable that the eddy current density produced by a change in the strength of a magnetic field should be greater than the excitability threshold of the muscles or nerves to be stimulated. The eddy current waveform differs from rectangular current waveform common in electrical applications. Little basic study has been done on the effects of magnetic stimulation on threshold values, chronaxies and other aspects of the eddy current waveforms. In this paper, the authors have attempted to measure the strength-duration curve (S-D curve) of eddy currents on the sural muscle of the bullfrog and have proposed a new S-D curve formula for eddy currents in place of Weiss's equation for rectangular current waveforms.

Study on optimization for current distribution in magnetic stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence.

It has been reported that magnetic stimulation effectively eliminates urinary incontinence. However, this type of therapy has not been established as a practical treatment for urinary incontinence because of its poor power conversion efficiency and the leakage of current to regions other than that of the target of stimulation. It is therefore necessary to develop magnetic stimulators that are more efficient in stimulating the sphincter muscles and the peripheral nerves, and are more convenient than those presently available. By using a large-diameter coil, the magnetic stimulation method offers a larger current distribution over a wider area of the target region than electrical stimulation method, and the placement of the coil can be relatively easily changed to obtain better therapeutic results. We attempted, with a computer simulation model of the female abdomen, to simulate the distribution of the induced current density on the basis of biological tissue conductivity. We determined which method of stimulation is the most efficient by varying the stimulator coil location and size. A genetic algorithm (GA) was used for optimization.

Detection of genetically modified maize DNA fragments in the intestinal contents of pigs fed StarLink CBH351.

We tried to detect DNA fragments derived from maize in the intestinal contents of pigs fed genetically modified (GM) StarLink CBH351 maize (SL) or non-GM maize. Intestinal contents of 8 SL and 8 non-GM maize-fed pigs were collected at slaughter, and the genes of the recombinant cry9C and the maize intrinsic zein (Zel) were assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 3 times with a total of 4 primer pairs of different expected lengths. The cry9C gene (either 103 or 170 bp) was detected in the rectal contents (with a frequency of 25-37.5%) and in the cecal contents (25-50%) of the pigs fed SL. In a similar fashion, the zein (Zel) gene (either 242 or 329 bp) was detected in the rectal contents (with a frequency of 31.3%) and in the cecal contents (25-37.5%) of pigs fed on SL non-GM maize. These results suggested that ingested DNA was not totally degraded, but is present in a form detectable by PCR.

Localization of breast sentinel lymph nodes by MR lymphography with a conventional gadolinium contrast agent. Preliminary observations in dogs and humans.

PURPOSE: To test the capability of an indirect MR lymphography (MRLG) using a conventional extracellular gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agent for localizing breast sentinel lymph node (SLN). METHODS: A total of 1 and 0.5 ml of undiluted gadopentetate dimeglumine were injected subcutaneously into the two periareolar areas overlying each caudal mammary gland in 10 female dogs. Contiguous 2-mm-thick fast gradient echo MR images were acquired through the upper breast and axilla before and for 60 min after gentle massage at the injection sites, yielding 3D displays. The localized SLN was resected from the living animals, followed by post mortem examinations. MRLG (1 ml contrast agent injected) was also attempted in 5 female volunteers. RESULTS: Even with 0.5-ml contrast agent, the MRLG clearly visualized the connection of SLN and lymphatic vessels directly draining from the injection sites, and the remaining distant nodes, with the maximal enhancement peaks within 10 min after massage. The 3D images provided comprehensive anatomy of these lymphatic pathways in each axilla. Of the 20 SLN and 128 distant nodes visualized on the MRLG, all the SLN (100%) and 107 (83.5%) distant nodes could be resected pre- and post mortem, in good correlation with the locations and sizes on the MR images. MRLG also effectively localized SLN in the volunteers, without significant adverse effects. CONCLUSION: An indirect MRLG using small volumes of conventional Gd-based contrast agent may have potential for accurate identification and surgical biopsy of breast SLN.

Assessment of regional lung ventilation in dog lungs with Gd-DTPA aerosol ventilation MR imaging.

PURPOSE: Gd-DTPA aerosol ventilation MR imaging was obtained using a modified aerosol delivery system with an aerosol reservoir to non-invasively assess regional lung ventilation in dogs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven anesthetized, spontaneously breathing normal dogs inhaled 200 mmol Gd/l Gd-DTPA aerosol produced by an ultrasonic nebulizer, using an open-circuit aerosol delivery system with or without an aerosol reservoir. Fast gradient-echo MR images were sequentially acquired with an interval time of 1 min for 25 min before and after aerosol inhalation. The aerosol study was also performed using the aerosol delivery system with an aerosol reservoir in the same 7 dogs after airway obstruction with a balloon catheter, and in another 7 dogs after pulmonary arterial embolization with enbucrilate. An i.v. Gd-DTPA-enhanced dynamic MR study after i.v. bolus injection of a 0.1 mmol/kg dose of Gd-DTPA was combined to assess regional lung perfusion. Lung enhancement effect was evaluated by time-signal intensity curves and the subtracted ventilation- and perfusion-weighted images. RESULTS: With or without the aerosol reservoir, the normal dog lungs were gradually and gravity-dependently enhanced with time after aerosol inhalation. The use of the aerosol reservoir, however, showed significantly greater lung enhancement without a significant increase in breathing rate and with minimal reduction in PaO2 of less than 5 mm Hg in these animals. The enhancement effect of i.v. injection of Gd-DTPA at pulmonary arterial perfusion phase was significantly greater compared to that of Gd-DTPA aerosol throughout the normal lungs, and the subtracted ventilation-weighted and perfusion-weighted images showed homogeneous but gravity-dependent aerosol deposition and perfusion. These images clearly defined the regionally matched perfusion-ventilation deficits in the lung regions distal to bronchial obstruction in all the airway obstruction dogs, and the regionally mismatched perfusion-ventilation in the embolized regions of all the pulmonary arterial embolization animals. CONCLUSION: Gd-based aerosol can non-invasively image regional lung ventilation in spontaneously breathing animals, using an adequate aerosol delivery system. The combined use of Gd-DTPA perfusion MR imaging may be acceptable for defining regionally impaired lung function associated with acute airway obstruction and pulmonary arterial embolization.

Relationship between thallium-201 kinetics and proliferative activity assessed by monoclonal antibody MIB-1 in brain tumours.

To clarify the relationship between thallium-201 chloride kinetics and proliferative activity in brain tumours. a single-photon emission tomographic (SPET) study was performed and the results correlated with monoclonal antibody MIB-1 staining of the tumour tissue. 201T1 SPET was performed 10 min (early scan) and 2 h (delayed scan) after intravenous administration of 201TI (111 MBq) in 34 intra-axial tumours including 24 malignant tumours, and in 27 extra-axial tumours including one malignant tumour. Tumour 201T1 kinetic parameters [early and delayed uptake ratios (ER and DR, respectively), retention index (RI), and the ratio of tumour delayed activity to early activity (Td/Te)] were compared with tumour tissue MIB-1 labelling indices (MIB-1 LI) representative of tumour cell proliferative activity. In the intra-axial tumours, ER and DR and MIB-1 LI were significantly higher in the malignant tumours than in the benign tumours. ER and DR were significantly correlated with MIB-1 LI (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), but RI and Td/Te were not. In the extra-axial benign tumours, ER was as high as that in the intra-axial malignant tumours, while MIB-1 LI was equal to that in the intra-axial benign tumours. There were no significant correlations between any 201T1 kinetic parameters and MIB-1 LI. This study indicates that 201T1 ER may be the most reliable parameter for predicting the proliferative activity of intra-axial tumours.

Improvement of freezing tolerance in transgenic tobacco leaves by expressing the hiC6 gene.

A cryoprotective protein, HIC6, was expressed transgenically in tobacco, a cold-sensitive plant, and the localization of the protein within the cell as well as freezing tolerance of the transgenic tobacco was investigated. For constitutive expression of HIC6 in tobacco, its corresponding gene was subcloned into pBI121. Through the transformation with pBI121/hiC6, fifteen transgenic tobacco lines were acquired, out of which twelve lines expressed the HIC6 protein. None of the transgenic tobacco lines, however, showed significant differences in freezing tolerance from the control plants (wild-type and transformed with pBI121) at -1, -3, and -4 degrees C, with the exception that their freezing temperature was -2 degrees C. In order to increase the accumulation level of HIC6, pBE2113 with a stronger promoter was used. Eight lines expressed the protein out of thirteen lines transformed with pBE2113/hiC6. The accumulation levels of the protein were clearly higher in the tobacco plants transformed with pBE2113/hiC6 than in those with pBI121/hiC6. The HIC6 protein seemed to be localized in mitochondria of the transgenic tobacco plants. Freezing-tolerance tests at -1 - -4 degrees C showed that the degree of electrolyte leakage was significantly lower in the plants with pBE2113/hiC6 than in the control plants. A leaf browning observation also showed that high accumulation of HIC6 significantly suppressed injury caused by freezing to the transgenic tobacco at -3 degrees C.

Functional assessment of canine kidneys after acute vascular occlusion on Gd-DTPA-enhanced dynamic echo-planar MR imaging.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the alteration in renal transit of gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) in dog kidneys after acute vascular occlusion on dynamic echo-planar imaging (EPI). METHODS: Dynamic 240-ms EPI series (repetition time/echo time/inversion time [TR/TE/TI] = 3000/42.1/100 ms) of the midcoronal plane of both kidneys of dogs anesthetized by intravenous administration of phenobarbital sodium and ketamine hydrochloride were obtained before and after ligation of the left renal vein (n = 6) or artery (n = 6) for 40 minutes after a 2-second-rate bolus injection of a 0.05 mmol/kg dose of Gd-DTPA. Renal Gd-DTPA transit was analyzed on the time-DeltaR2* curves in each layer of the outer cortex (OC), juxtamedullary cortex and outer zone of the medulla (JMC-OM), and the inner zone of the medulla (IM). The results were compared with those in six normal animals and those of a fast gradient-echo T1-weighted dynamic study performed in other vein- (n = 6) or artery- (n = 6) occluded animals and six normal animals. The histopathological basis of the altered Gd-DTPA transit was also evaluated. RESULTS: The dynamic EPI showed rapid Gd-DTPA transit through each of the five concentric layers, with three separate peaks on the time-DeltaR2* curves. The vein-occluded kidneys showed immediate swelling, with a significant increase in the cross-sectional area proportion of the JMC-OM layer compared with normals (32% +/- 2% vs 24% +/- 2%, P < 0.0001) and intensely congested capillaries, tubular, obliterated material, and gradual and persistent enhancement of the OC and JMC-OM layers but poor Gd-DTPA migration to the IM layer. The artery-occluded kidneys showed a significant reduction in the entire cross-sectional area compared with normals (1352 +/- 69 vs 1432 +/- 47 mm(2), P < 0.05) and poor enhancement, with significant decreases in the area under the time-DeltaR2* curve of the OC and JMC-OM layers compared with the vein-occluded kidneys (79 +/- 50 vs 324 +/- 108 and 82 +/- 42 vs 326 +/- 113, respectively; both P < 0.0001), despite minimal histological damage. In both models, the nonaffected kidneys showed significant increases in the area under the time-DeltaR2* curves compared with baseline. The time course of vascular and tubular Gd-DTPA transit was more detailed by the EPI study than by the T1-weighted imaging study. CONCLUSIONS: Echo-planar imaging has an excellent ability to follow the rapid, renal Gd-DTPA transit through the regional anatomy of the canine kidney. After venous occlusion, the JMC-OM layer may be the most affected site, primarily causing renal swelling and interruption of tubular Gd-DTPA transit and concentration. In contrast, an initial block of vascular Gd-DTPA inflow is the primary effect of arterial occlusion. Nonaffected kidneys seem to compensate by increasing excretion of Gd-DTPA.