Comparison of Indian BOMAB and ICRP voxel phantom for calibration of shadow shield whole body counter.

In-vivo whole body monitors are calibrated with various types of phantoms like Bottle Mannikin absorption phantom (BOMAB), IGOR phantom, Masonite cut sheet phantom, realistic numerical phantoms (NORMAN, ICRP voxel phantom). These phantoms contain either point sources, rod sources, uniform source or radionuclides distributed in soft tissues etc. In this study the efficiency values of Shadow Shield wholebody counter (SSC) for 137Cs and 60Co obtained theoretically using ICRP adult voxel male reference phantom (ICRP-AM) having sources distributed in soft tissues and muscles ICRP-AM(S) are compared with the measured efficiencies of Indian BOMAB phantom having mid axial source distribution (BOM-I(A)). The results show that the efficiency value of BOM-I(A) for 137Cs and 60Co is 30% and 20% lower respectively compared to that of ICRP-AM(S). This is due to the variation in size, composition and source distribution between the two phantoms. Study using Indian Voxel phantom shows that the increase in the size of ICRP-AM contributed to an increase of 14% for 137Cs. In case of 60Co the size did not have any influence. Uniform distribution has 9% and 17% higher efficiency than axial distribution for 137Cs and 60Co respectively as shown by the simulation study using uniformly filled Indian BOMAB phantom (BOM-I(U)). The actual tissue composition and source distribution in soft tissue as shown by Indian voxel has efficiencies 12-14% higher compared to BOM-I(U). The systemic error due to the axial source distribution is recognized and quantified to be 22-25% lower compared to that of a realistic phantom with radionuclides in soft tissue and muscle. This study has resulted in an efficiency of the system using Indian realistic Voxel phantom. The efficiencies are 0.65 CPS/kBq for 137Cs and 0.49 CPS/kBq for 60Co.

A REVIEW ON 210Po AND 210Pb IN INDIAN SEAFOOD AND DOSE TO CONSUMERS.

India is the second largest seafood producer in the world marketing more than 7000 edible species. In this regard, commendable studies have been conducted since the 1970s by different research groups and more data are reported. In this work, all the studies on 210Po and 210Pb measurements in abiotic and biotic components of India have been combined and reviewed. The concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb are estimated by radiochemical separation followed by alpha counting. Grain size, season, Tsunami waves and place of sampling have a decisive bearing on 210Po and 210Pb concentration in abiotic components. Plankton shows a higher Kd factor (104) compared to seaweeds and sea grass (103). Pond ecosystems recorded the highest Kd factor (4·3 × 104) compared to other freshwater and marine ecosystems. Bioaccumulation of 210Po and 210Pb varies with respect to variety of seafood. The committed effective dose (CED) calculated for shellfish species maintained a higher range of 2.5 × 10-2 mSv/y to 9.8 × 10-1 mSv/y and for fish species fluctuated from 3.8 × 10-4 mSv/y to 2.0 × 10-1 mSv/y. The studies conducted so far are scattered, and need to be gathered for future reference and planning (i.e. There is not much information available for Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra, West Bengal and Odessa coast). Therefore, it is strongly recommended that further and more complete research is undertaken to study the bioaccumulation of 210Po and 210Pb from seafood. Overall, the present review concludes that Indian seafood is radiologically safe.

Identifying gaps in the continuum of care for hypertension and diabetes in two Indian communities.

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent the largest, and fastest growing, burden of disease in India. This study aimed to quantify levels of diagnosis, treatment, and control among hypertensive and diabetic patients, and to describe demand- and supply-side barriers to hypertension and diabetes diagnosis and care in two Indian districts, Shimla and Udaipur. METHODS: We conducted household and health facility surveys, as well as qualitative focus group discussions and interviews. The household survey randomly sampled individuals aged 15 and above in rural and urban areas in both districts. The survey included questions on NCD knowledge, history, and risk factors. Blood pressure, weight, height, and blood glucose measurements were obtained. The health facility survey was administered in 48 health care facilities, focusing on NCD diagnosis and treatment capacity, including staffing, equipment, and pharmaceuticals. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured key informant interviews with health professionals and public health officials, as well as focus groups with patients and community members. RESULTS: Among 7181 individuals, 32% either reported a history of hypertension or were found to have a systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic ≥90 mmHg. Only 26% of those found to have elevated blood pressure reported a prior diagnosis, and just 42% of individuals with a prior diagnosis of hypertension were found to be normotensive. A history of diabetes or an elevated blood sugar (Random blood glucose (RBG) ≥200 mg/dl or fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥126 mg/dl) was noted in 7% of the population. Among those with an elevated RBG/FBG, 59% had previously received a diagnosis of diabetes. Only 60% of diabetics on treatment were measured with a RBG <200 mg/dl. Lower-level health facilities were noted to have limited capacity to measure blood glucose as well as significant gaps in the availability of first-line pharmaceuticals for both hypertension and diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: We found high rates of uncontrolled diabetes and undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension. Lower level health facilities were constrained by capacity to test, monitor and treat diabetes and hypertension. Interventions aimed at improving patient outcomes will need to focus on the expanding access to quality care in order to accommodate the growing demand for NCD services.

Delayed histochemical alterations within the neurovascular unit due to transient focal cerebral ischemia and experimental treatment with neurotrophic factors.

Current stroke therapy is focused on recanalizing strategies, but neuroprotective co-treatments are still lacking. Modern concepts of the ischemia-affected neurovascular unit (NVU) and surrounding penumbra emphasize the complexity during the transition from initial damaging to regenerative processes. While early treatment with neurotrophic factors was shown to result in lesion size reduction and blood-brain barrier (BBB) stabilization, cellular consequences from these treatments are poorly understood. This study explored delayed cellular responses not only to ischemic stroke, but also to an early treatment with neurotrophic factors. Rats underwent 60 minutes of focal cerebral ischemia. Fluorescence labeling was applied to sections from brains perfused 7 days after ischemia. Analyses focused on NVU constituents including the vasculature, astrocytes and microglia in the ischemic striatum, the border zone and the contralateral hemisphere. In addition to histochemical signs of BBB breakdown, a strong up-regulation of collagen IV and microglia activation occurred within the ischemic core with simultaneous degradation of astrocytes and their endfeet. Activated astroglia were mainly depicted at the border zone in terms of a glial scar formation. Early treatment with pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) resulted in an attenuation of the usually up-regulated collagen IV-immunoreactivity. However, glial activation was not influenced by treatment with PEDF or the epidermal growth factor (EGF). In conclusion, these data on ischemia-induced cellular reactions within the NVU might help to develop treatments addressing the transition from injury towards regeneration. Thereby, the integrity of the vasculature in close relation to neighboring structures like astrocytes appears as a promising target.

Characterizing cerebral oxygen metabolism employing oxygen-17 MRI/MRS at high fields.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of oxygen ((17)O) magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging, including the advantages and challenges offered by the different methods developed thus far. The physiological role and relevance of oxygen, and its participation in aerobic metabolism, are addressed to emphasize the importance of the investigations and the efforts related to these developments. Furthermore, a number of methods employed in the determination of the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen in neural cells will be presented, focusing primarily on methodologies enabling absolute quantification.

Neurovascular protection by targeting early blood-brain barrier disruption with neurotrophic factors after ischemia-reperfusion in rats*.

The 'new penumbra' concept imbues the transition between injury and repair at the neurovascular unit with profound implications for selecting the appropriate type and timing of neuroprotective interventions. In this conceptual study, we investigated the protective effects of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and compared them with the properties of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. We initiated a delayed intervention 3 hours after reperfusion using equimolar amounts of PEDF and EGF. These agents were then administered intravenously for 4 hours following reperfusion after 1 hour of focal ischemia. Magnetic resonance imaging indices were characterized, and imaging was performed at multiple time points post reperfusion. PEDF and EGF reduced lesion volumes at all time points as observed on T2-weighted images (T2-LVs). In addition PEDF selectively attenuated lesion volume expansion at 48 hours after reperfusion and persistently modulated blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability at all time points. Intervention with peptides is suspected to cause edema formation at distant regions. The observed T2-LV reduction and BBB modulation by these trophic factors is probably mediated through a number of diverse mechanisms. A thorough evaluation of neurotrophins is still necessary to determine their time-dependent contributions against injury and their modulatory effects on repair after stroke.

Comprehensive small animal imaging strategies on a clinical 3 T dedicated head MR-scanner; adapted methods and sequence protocols in CNS pathologies.

BACKGROUND: Small animal models of human diseases are an indispensable aspect of pre-clinical research. Being dynamic, most pathologies demand extensive longitudinal monitoring to understand disease mechanisms, drug efficacy and side effects. These considerations often demand the concomitant development of monitoring systems with sufficient temporal and spatial resolution. METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS: This study attempts to configure and optimize a clinical 3 Tesla magnetic resonance scanner to facilitate imaging of small animal central nervous system pathologies. The hardware of the scanner was complemented by a custom-built, 4-channel phased array coil system. Extensive modification of standard sequence protocols was carried out based on tissue relaxometric calculations. Proton density differences between the gray and white matter of the rodent spinal cord along with transverse relaxation due to magnetic susceptibility differences at the cortex and striatum of both rats and mice demonstrated statistically significant differences. The employed parallel imaging reconstruction algorithms had distinct properties dependent on the sequence type and in the presence of the contrast agent. The attempt to morphologically phenotype a normal healthy rat brain in multiple planes delineated a number of anatomical regions, and all the clinically relevant sequels following acute cerebral ischemia could be adequately characterized. Changes in blood-brain-barrier permeability following ischemia-reperfusion were also apparent at a later time. Typical characteristics of intra-cerebral haemorrhage at acute and chronic stages were also visualized up to one month. Two models of rodent spinal cord injury were adequately characterized and closely mimicked the results of histological studies. In the employed rodent animal handling system a mouse model of glioblastoma was also studied with unequivocal results. CONCLUSIONS: The implemented customizations including extensive sequence protocol modifications resulted in images of high diagnostic quality. These results prove that lack of dedicated animal scanners shouldn't discourage conventional small animal imaging studies.

Detection of free radicals by isolated perfusion of the rat brain following hemorrhagic stroke: a novel approach to cerebrovascular biomarker research.

Blood-borne biomarkers are a mainstay of diagnosis and follow-up in many diseases. For stroke, however, no reliable biomarkers have thus far been identified. To remedy this situation, we investigated the usefulness of a modified in situ isolated brain perfusion (IBP) technique for screening potential biomarker candidates. As a proof of concept, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was estimated in a rat model of experimental intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). After stereotactic infusion of whole blood into the rat striatum, we initiated IBP without intracranial manipulation or discontinuation of cerebral blood flow. To detect ROS, we employed the salicylate trapping method, which involves the hydroxylation of salicylic acid during oxidative stress into dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA), and quantification of the latter in venous eluate by using high-performance liquid chromatography. Venous eluate was collected separately from both injured and healthy hemispheres (n=10). Control groups consisted of sham-injured (n=4) and healthy animals (n=3). In animals subjected to ICH (n=10), 50% more 2,5-DHBA was detected in venous eluate on the injured side than in eluate on the contralateral side. Hemorrhagic hemispheres produced more 2,5-DHBA than hemispheres in sham-injured and healthy animals (72 and 110% more 2,5-DHBA, respectively). Isolated brain perfusion combined with salicylate trapping produced data indicating an elevation in the formation of ROS subsequent to ICH. Our findings suggest that isolated in situ brain perfusion is a promising approach to detecting biomarkers of cerebrovascular pathologic conditions.

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats--a 3 T MRI study on biphasic blood-brain barrier opening and the dynamics of edema formation.

Serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to investigate the temporal and spatial relationship between the biphasic nature of blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening and, in parallel, edema formation after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. T(2)-weighted imaging combined with T(2)-relaxometry, mainly for edema assessment, was performed at 1 h after ischemia, after reperfusion, and at 4, 24 and 48 h after reperfusion. T(1)-weighted imaging was performed before and after gadolinium contrast at the last three time points to assess BBB integrity. The biphasic course of BBB opening with a significant reduction in BBB permeability at 24 h after reperfusion, associated with a progressive expansion of leaky BBB volume, was accompanied by a peak ipsilateral edema formation. In addition, at 4 h after reperfusion, edema formation could also be detected at the contralateral striatum as determined by the elevated T(2)-values that persisted to varying degrees, indicative of widespread effects of I/R injury. The observations of this study may indicate a dynamic temporal shift in the mechanisms responsible for biphasic BBB permeability changes, with complex relations to edema formation. Stroke therapy aimed at vasogenic edema and drug delivery for neuroprotection may also be guided according to the functional status of the BBB, and these findings have to be confirmed in human stroke.

In vivo high-resolution imaging of the injured rat spinal cord using a 3.0T clinical MR scanner.

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of obtaining high-resolution MR images for the detection of pathological changes occurring in the injured rat spinal cord with a routine clinical 3.0T imaging system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult female Fischer 344 rats received thoracic spine contusion injuries. In vivo MR imaging was performed on days 1 and 43 postinjury with a clinical head 3.0T imaging system equipped with a dedicated small animal 4-channel phased array spine surface coil using T2-weighted turbo spin-echo and T1-weighted spin-echo sequences. RESULTS: The acquired images provide good spatial resolution allowing reliable gray/white matter differentiation in the intact spinal cord as well as detection of hemorrhage, edema, and cystic degenerative changes in the injured rat spinal cord as confirmed by correlation with structural alterations in histological sections. CONCLUSION: Results from the present study demonstrate that a routine clinical MR imaging system can be employed for noninvasive analysis of pathological changes occurring in the injured rat spinal cord and thus might represent a more broadly available, powerful tool to monitor the effects of experimental therapeutic interventions in vivo.

Temozolomide preferentially depletes cancer stem cells in glioblastoma.

The prognosis of patients suffering from glioblastoma (GBM) is dismal despite multimodal therapy. Although chemotherapy with temozolomide may contain tumor growth for some months, invariable tumor recurrence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSC) maintaining these tumors persist. We have therefore investigated the effect of temozolomide on CD133(+) and CD133(-) GBM CSC lines. Although differentiated tumor cells constituting the bulk of all tumor cells were resistant to the cytotoxic effects of the substance, temozolomide induced a dose- and time-dependent decline of the stem cell subpopulation. Incubation with sublethal concentrations of temozolomide for 2 days completely depleted clonogenic tumor cells in vitro and substantially reduced tumorigenicity in vivo. In O(6)-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT)-expressing CSC lines, this effect occurred at 10-fold higher doses compared with MGMT-negative CSC lines. Thus, temozolomide concentrations that are reached in patients were only sufficient to completely eliminate CSC in vitro from MGMT-negative but not from MGMT-positive tumors. Accordingly, our data strongly suggest that optimized temozolomide-based chemotherapeutic protocols might substantially improve the elimination of GBM stem cells and consequently prolong the survival of patients.