Comparison of Electrical Impedance Tomography and Ultrasonography for Determination of Solid and Cystic Lesion Resembling Breast Tumor Embedded in Chicken Phantom.

Ultrasonography (US) and Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) can be used to detect breast cancer. Ultrasonography is based on non-ionizing radiations without adverse biological effects. A set of electrodes was placed around the torso and a small alternating current (AC) was injected via two of the electrodes into the object. This study aimed to acquire preliminary data to evaluate the EIT method for differentiation of artificial solid and cystic tumors in comparison to standard US. This study used a phantom made from chicken meat. In order to obtain the image of the solid tumor, an olive with carrot insertion was done, and the cystic tumor was created by filling a small balloon with water. GE Logic C5 ultrasound was performed with a 12 MHz linear transducer. For EIT measurement, 16 ECG electrodes and 32 ECG electrodes were placed. Data processing was done using the Graz consensus Reconstruction algorithm for EIT (GREIT) and Newton's One Step Error Reconstructor (NOSER) methods. The artificial solid tumor produced an ultrasound image of an oval, inhomogeneous lesions. The GREIT method with 16 electrodes of artificial solid tumor did not show a match between the reconstructed image and the original object containing 2 anomalies, but a match was found with 32 electrodes. In the NOSER method, both 16 and 32 electrodes showed a match. Ultrasound of the artificial cystic tumor showed an oval, circumscribed, anechoic with posterior enhancement. Both the GREIT and NOSER methods using the artificial cystic tumor showed a match between the reconstructed image and the original object containing two anomalies. EIT has a lower imaging resolution in comparison to ultrasonography, but is progressively maturing as a tool for monitoring and imaging. The solid and cystic anomalies on the phantoms were visualized by the GREIT and NOSER methods except for the solid anomaly with the GREIT 16 electrodes.

Individual variation in fresh and frozen semen of Bali bulls (Bos sondaicus).

AIM: This study aimed to analyze the individual factors influencing the sperm quality of Bali bulls at Baturiti Artificial Insemination (AI) center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen that was ejaculated from nine Bali bulls was collected using artificial vaginas (n=5/bull). Semen ejaculates were evaluated immediately after collection to measure the quality of the fresh semen, including semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, membrane integrity (MI), and abnormal morphology. Frozen semen was evaluated for progressive sperm motility, concentration, viability, MI, abnormal morphology, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation. Other secondary data, focusing on semen quantity (semen volume and sperm concentration), were also collected from frozen the semen production data of the Baturiti AI center from 2017 to 2019. Data were analyzed statistically using a completely randomized design, and one-way analysis of variance was applied to find differences among individual bulls. RESULTS: Significant differences (p<0.05) were found among the bulls in semen volume, sperm motility, concentration, and MI of the fresh semen. Significant differences (p<0.05) were also found among the bulls in sperm motility, viability, MI, abnormal morphology, and DNA fragmentation of the frozen semen. CONCLUSION: Individual variation in all the tested sperm parameters of the fresh semen of Bali bulls, except sperm viability and abnormalities, was noted. Similarly, individual variation in all the tested sperm parameters in frozen semen, except sperm concentration, was noted. Therefore, individual factors can be used for selecting a superior bull in Bali cattle.

In vitro and in vivo degradation evaluation of novel iron-bioceramic composites for bone implant applications.

Biodegradable metals such as magnesium, iron and their alloys have been known as potential materials for temporary medical implants. However, most of the studies on biodegradable metals have been focusing on optimizing their mechanical properties and degradation behavior with no emphasis on improving their bioactivity behavior. We therefore investigated the possibility of improving iron biodegradation rate and bioactivity by incorporating various bioactive bioceramics. The iron-based bioceramic (hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate and biphasic calcium phosphate) composites were prepared by mechanical mixing and sintering process. Degradation studies indicated that the addition of bioceramics lowered the corrosion potential of the composites and slightly increased their corrosion rate compared to that of pure iron. In vitro cytotoxicity results showed an increase of cellular activity when rat smooth muscle cells interacted with the degrading composites compared to pure iron. X-ray radiogram analysis showed a consistent degradation progress with that found in vivo and positive tissue response up to 70 days implantation in sheep animal model. Therefore, the iron-based bioceramic composites have the potential to be used for biodegradable bone implant applications.