Thermochemical ablation therapy of VX2 tumor using a permeable oil-packed liquid alkali metal.

OBJECTIVE: Alkali metal appears to be a promising tool in thermochemical ablation, but, it requires additional data on safety is required. The objective of this study was to explore the effectiveness of permeable oil-packed liquid alkali metal in the thermochemical ablation of tumors. METHODS: Permeable oil-packed sodium-potassium (NaK) was prepared using ultrasonic mixing of different ratios of metal to oil. The thermal effect of the mixture during ablation of muscle tissue ex vivo was evaluated using the Fluke Ti400 Thermal Imager. The thermochemical effect of the NaK-oil mixture on VX2 tumors was evaluated by performing perfusion CT scans both before and after treatment in 10 VX2 rabbit model tumors. VX2 tumors were harvested from two rabbits immediately after treatment to assess their viability using trypan blue and hematoxylin and eosin (H.E.) staining. RESULTS: The injection of the NaK-oil mixture resulted in significantly higher heat in the ablation areas. The permeable oil controlled the rate of heat released during the NaK reaction with water in the living tissue. Perfusion computed tomography and its parameter map confirmed that the NaK-oil mixture had curative effects on VX2 tumors. Both trypan blue and H.E. staining showed partial necrosis of the VX2 tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The NaK-oil mixture may be used successfully to ablate tumor tissue in vivo. With reference to the controlled thermal and chemical lethal injury to tumors, using a liquid alkali in ablation is potentially an effective and safe method to treat malignant tumors.

Media calcification, low erythrocyte magnesium, altered plasma magnesium, and calcium homeostasis following grafting of the thoracic aorta to the infrarenal aorta in the rat--differential preventive effects of long-term oral magnesium supplementation alone and in combination with alkali.

Calcifications in arterial media are clinically well documented, but the role played by magnesium in pathophysiology and therapy is uncertain. To clarify this, an animal model in which the juxtacardial aorta was grafted to the infrarenal aorta, and the subsequent calcifications in the media of the graft and their response to oral supplementation with three magnesium-containing and alkalinizing preparations was investigated. Groups of highly inbred rats were formed as follows: sham-operation (Sham, n = 12), aorta transplantation (ATx, n = 12), ATx + magnesium citrate (MgC, n = 12), ATx + MgC + potassium citrate (MgCPC, n = 12), ATx + MgC + MgCPC (MgCPCSB, n = 12). At 84 (+/-2) days after ATx with or without treatment the following observations were made: (1) weight gain and general status were normal; (2) ATx rats developed massive media calcification, mineral accumulation in the graft, decreased erythrocyte magnesium and plasma parathyroid hormone, and increased plasma ionized magnesium and calcium, and uric acid; (3) Mg-treated rats developed variable degrees of metabolic alkalosis, but only MgCPCSB supplementation prevented calcifications. Additional findings after ATx alone were: imbalance in endothelin and nitric oxide production, the mineral deposited in media was poorly crystallized calcium phosphate, calcium exchange between plasma and graft, and bone resorption were unchanged. The superior anti-calcification effect of MgCPCSB was characterized by complete restoration of normal extracellular mineral homeostasis and uric acid, but sub-optimal normalization of erythrocyte magnesium. It was concluded that in the rat: (1) ATx causes loss of cellular magnesium, excess of extracellular magnesium and calcium in the presence of apparently unchanged bone resorption, and increased uricemia; (2) ATx facilitates enhanced influx of calcium into vascular tissue, leading to calcium phosphate deposition in the media; (3) ATx-induced calcification is prevented by dietary supplementation with a combination of magnesium, alkali citrate and bases. Although the described circulatory model of media calcification in the rat requires further investigation, the data allow ascribing a fundamental role to magnesium and acid-base metabolism.

A synopsis on metals in medicine and psychiatry.

A total of 40 metals are reviewed and summarized to give a general perspective on the metal's two major effects, relevant to medicine and psychiatry in man. These two effects are metal excess (poisoning) and deficiency. These metals are grouped arbitrarily into six categories; (a) The heavy metals, (b) the essential and questionable essential trace elements, (c) the macrominerals, (d) the alkali metals, (e) elements used as therapeutic agents, and (f) miscellaneous elements. The heavy metals are invariably toxic and could be lethal, and no deficiency state has yet been described in man, although arsenic has been postulated to be essential. The essential trace elements are vital to a number of vital physiological and biochemical functions, and newer essential trace elements are to be identified in the future. The recent findings suggest vanadium excess may aggravate the affective symptoms in bipolar affective disorder; selenium may inhibit certain carcinogenesis such as oesophageal cancer; and silicon may inhibit atheromatous formation in the aorta. There is also some suggestion that certain allergic syndromes may be correlated with very low levels of iron, copper, manganese. The study of elements will undoubtedly expand the understanding of disease processes in medicine and psychiatry.

Effect of alkali metal salts on Sarcoma I in A/J mice.

The chloride salts of lithium (Li+) and cesium (Cs+) were evaluated for their ability to influence the growth of Sarcoma I implants in A/J mice. The administration of daily doses of either 1 or 3 mEq/kg CsCl to these mice reduced the incidence and size of tumor implants. This effect was not apparent in animals receiving a smaller dose (0.5 mEq/kg) of the same drug. At the time of sacrifice the serum level of Cs+ in this latter group was approximately half that recorded in animals receiving the higher doses of CsCl. No effect on tumor incidence or rate of growth was observed in animals receiving different doses of LiCl. Because of the similarities that existed between cesium and potassium, it was postulated that the effect of cesium was due to alterations in the intracellular composition of the tumor cells. Also, the possible role of cytotoxic agents in potentiating the inhibitory effect of cesium on tumors was discussed.