ABSTRACT
In this study, a spindle-type nozzle was designed to accelerate poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) microparticles to supersonic velocities for the transdermal delivery of these microparticles to rats. This approach is needle- and pain-free and enhances skin collagen regeneration. The addition of PLLA microparticles at a concentration of 2 mg/mL did not hinder the growth of 3 T3 fibroblasts and Raw264.7 macrophages. The TNF-α assay revealed no obvious inflammation effect of PLLA microparticles at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. A time-lapse recording revealed that after being cocultured with PLLA microparticles for 24 h, Raw264.7 macrophages gradually approached and surrounded the PLLA microparticles. When 3 T3 fibroblasts were cocultured with Raw264.7 macrophages, which were stimulated using PLLA microparticles, collagen synthesis was increased by approximately 60 % compared with that in samples without PLLA microparticles. In vivo animal experiments indicated that after the transdermal delivery of 10 shots of PLLA microparticles through the supersonic atomizer, no obvious changes or damage to the back skin of Sprague-Dawley rats was observed. More importantly, numerous PLLA microparticles penetrated the rat epidermis into the dermal layer. We found macrophages and fibroblasts present close to the PLLA microparticles. Moreover, only mild or no inflammation reaction was observed. Masson staining revealed that after 6-week implantation, 6 % and 12 % of PLLA microparticles significantly stimulated collagen regeneration in 6-week-old and 32-week-old rats. In addition, picrosirius red staining revealed a significant increase in collagen regeneration, especially for type III collagen, following the 6-week implantation of PLLA microparticles. In summary, this study demonstrated an easy, pain-free, nondestructive approach for introducing PLLA microparticles into the dermal layer by using a supersonic atomizer to stimulate collagen regeneration in vivo.
Subject(s)
Polyesters , Skin , Rats , Animals , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , CollagenABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Angiodysplasia of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is recognized as an important cause of lower GI bleeding in elderly. It usually involves the cecum and right colon in adults. Unlike the adult group, there has been little experience with the pediatric population. METHODS: From July 2004 to October 2008, patients presenting at the Mackay Memorial Hospital with GI hemorrhage diagnosed as angiodysplasia by helical computed tomographic angiography were reviewed. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (14 boys and 4 girls) with mean age of 7.1 years (range, 1 month to 17 years) were diagnosed. The time from initial clinical onset to diagnosis of angiodysplasia ranged from 1 week to 11 years, most around 1-2 weeks. All patients except one had anemia and an average hemoglobin level of 7.9 ± 2.1g/dL. The most commonly involved areas were ascending colon and terminal ileum. Four patients received surgery treatment with resection of affected segments. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric patients, angiodysplasia is a rare cause of GI bleeding and may be delayed in diagnosis. This diagnosis should be considered when patients have recurrent GI bleeding. In this study, the final surgical and pathological diagnosis was made in 6 of 18 patients. In six patients, computed tomographic angiography had 66% diagnostic accuracy for angiodysplasia (four of six patients who received operation were compatible with angiodysplasia by confirmation of histology).
Subject(s)
Angiodysplasia/complications , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology , Adolescent , Angiodysplasia/diagnostic imaging , Angiography , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Retrospective Studies , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedSubject(s)
Citrates , Gallium , Lymphoma/diagnostic imaging , Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Aged , Fever of Unknown Origin/diagnosis , Fever of Unknown Origin/etiology , Humans , Lymphoma/complications , Lymphoma/pathology , Male , Prostatic Neoplasms/complications , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Radionuclide Imaging , RadiopharmaceuticalsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Thallium-201 (201Tl) is a recognized tumor-imaging agent; however, the usefulness of 201Tl in prostate cancer has not been studied. The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate the efficacy of 201Tl single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging for differentiating prostate cancer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: 201Tl pelvic SPECT was performed in 10 patients (aged 64-78 years) with biopsy-proven BPH before transurethral resection of the prostate and 15 patients (aged 65-81 years) with biopsy-proven prostate cancer prior to any therapeutic modality or invasive surgical procedures for treatment of their prostate cancer. RESULTS: From the 15 patients with prostate cancer, 201Tl pelvic SPECT detected prostate cancer in 13 (86.7%) but not in 2 (13.3%) patients with Gleason scores of 5 (2 + 3). In contrast, all 10 patients with BPH (100.0%) had negative results of 201Tl pelvic SPECT. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that 201Tl pelvic SPECT scan is very helpful in distinguishing between prostate cancer and BPH.
Subject(s)
Prostatic Hyperplasia/diagnostic imaging , Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Thallium , Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon/methods , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Prostatic Hyperplasia/pathology , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Radiopharmaceuticals , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and SpecificitySubject(s)
Citrates , Gallium , Lymphoma/diagnostic imaging , Radiopharmaceuticals , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Aged , Female , Fever of Unknown Origin/etiology , Hemorrhage/diagnostic imaging , Hemorrhage/etiology , Humans , Lymphoma/complications , Lymphoma/diagnosis , Radionuclide Imaging , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/complications , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnosis , Vaginal Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Vaginal Diseases/etiologySubject(s)
Cysts/diagnostic imaging , Testicular Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Testicular Neoplasms/metabolism , Thallium/pharmacokinetics , Adult , Cysts/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Orchitis/diagnostic imaging , Radionuclide Imaging , Radiopharmaceuticals/pharmacokinetics , Seminoma/diagnostic imaging , Seminoma/pathology , Testicular Diseases/diagnosis , Testicular Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Testicular Diseases/metabolism , Testicular Neoplasms/pathology , Tissue Distribution , UltrasonographySubject(s)
Citrates , Gallium , Lymphoma, B-Cell/diagnostic imaging , Lymphoma, B-Cell/pathology , Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/diagnostic imaging , Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology , Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid , Aged , False Negative Reactions , Fever of Unknown Origin/etiology , Humans , Male , Neck , Radionuclide Imaging , RadiopharmaceuticalsSubject(s)
Citrates , Gallium , Prosthesis-Related Infections/diagnostic imaging , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt/adverse effects , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prosthesis-Related Infections/microbiology , Radionuclide Imaging , Radiopharmaceuticals , Staphylococcal Infections/diagnostic imagingSubject(s)
Chest Pain/etiology , Citrates , Fever of Unknown Origin/etiology , Gallium , Lung Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/complications , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/complications , Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/pathology , Male , Radiopharmaceuticals , Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon/methodsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Torsion of the testis is a urologic emergency that requires early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment for testicular survival. However, the early differential diagnosis of acute testicular torsion from epididymitis or orchitis is often difficult. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate and compare the value of Tc-99m pertechnetate radionuclide imaging and ultrasonography in the differentiation of acute testicular torsion and inflammatory testicular diseases. METHODS: Twenty patients (age range, 5 to 38 years) with possible acute testicular torsion from July 2000 to July 2001 were enrolled in this study. Ultrasonography was performed in all patients in the emergency room. Within 3 hours of ultrasonography, radionuclide imaging was also performed after intravenous injection of 5 to 15 mCi Tc-99m pertechnetate in the forearms. All of the patients with clinically suspected acute testicular torsion underwent surgery. The surgical findings and pathologic reports of these patients were reviewed and definite diagnoses were established. None of the other patients had surgery and were followed clinically for at least 1 month after ultrasonography and radionuclide imaging. RESULTS: Four patients with testicular torsion, 13 patients with inflammatory testicular disease, and three healthy persons had a final surgical and pathologic diagnosis or clinical follow-up, and all were accurately diagnosed by Tc-99m pertechnetate radionuclide imaging. In contrast, ultrasonography was less accurate in the diagnosis and differentiation of acute testicular torsion from inflammation. Only 1 of 4 patients with testicular torsion, 5 of 13 patients with inflammatory testicular disease, and 2 of 3 healthy persons were diagnosed by ultrasonography. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that Tc-99m pertechnetate radionuclide imaging is a more useful and accurate imaging method than ultrasonography in the detection and differentiation of acute testicular torsion from inflammatory testicular disease in patients with acute scrotal pain.