Hyperpolarized 129xenon Mri Gas Exchange Research in Pulmonary Vascular Disease and Interstitial Lung Disease: The Xchange Clinical Study

Assessing small airway functional impairment, therapeutic response and disease progression in patients with pulmonary vascular and/or interstitial lung disease (ILD) continues to be challenging. Hyperpolarized Xenon (Xe) MRI enables noninvasive evaluation and regional quantification of alveolar gas exchange via three-dimensional mapping of ventilation, interstitial membrane uptake and red blood cell transfer. This global, open-label, multicenter study will implement harmonized methodology to evaluate safety and tolerability of hyperpolarized Xe gas in patients with pulmonary hypertension and ILD. Adult patients (n=200) with pulmonary arterial hypertension, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or ILD-associated systemic sclerosis (SSc-ILD) will be enrolled and undergo Xe MRI for evaluation of treatment response and comparison with standard-of-care diagnostic measurements. Eligible patients will be initiating/changing therapy or undergoing a disease-specific procedure. An exploratory cohort (n=50) will allow Xe MRI in patients with long-COVID, unexplained dyspnea, possible transplant (lung or stem cell) rejection, World Health Organization group 3 pulmonary hypertension or other ILDs. Healthy volunteers (n=50) will be enrolled to evaluate Xe MRI reproducibility. Changes in Xe MRI (within patient groups) at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months;Cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships of Xe MRI with spirometry, including diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO);Xe MRI measurements compared with right heart catheterization (RHC) and echocardiogram [PH patients] and computed tomography (CT) [ILD patients]. Relationship of Xe MRI quantitative measures across compartments (air/tissue/blood) to treatment response;Changes in Xe MRI parameters to assess temporal relationship to changes in standard diagnostics, healthcare utilization, quality-of-life andmorbidity/mortality;Relationship of Xe MRI cardiogenic oscillation signals of pulmonary-vascular hemodynamics with RHC and clinical outcomes. Patients will begin enrollment within the USA in mid-2022. All patients will participate for at least 1 year (and up to 3 years). Interim analyses will be conducted yearly, with additional snapshots periodically.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Ammonia Borane: A Modular, Multifaceted Approach Introducing Experimental Design through Guided Inquiry

A practical focusing on the synthesis, isolation, and hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB), H3N·BH3, was developed for first-year undergraduate students. By requiring students to propose their own experimental setup to measure the amount of gas produced upon hydrolysis, experimental design skills were introduced and developed during the practical. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote and face-to-face versions of the practical were created to enable inclusivity in which experimental design skills were a key feature. Students identified and reported an appreciable increase in their experimental design skills. The multifaceted nature of the practical allows for flexibility in its implementation, dependent on students' prior knowledge, local logistical considerations, and the learning objectives of an institution. © 2021 American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.