Dynamic Contrast-enhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging findings that affect the magnetic Resonance-directed ultrasound correlation of Non-mass enhancement lesions: A Single-centre Retrospective Study

Objective: Our single-centre retrospective study aimed to evaluate the relationship between magnetic resonance (MR)-directed ultrasound (MDUS) detectability and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of non-mass enhancement (NME) lesions, regarding the morphologic and enhancement features, the distance from the skin and nipple, and the presence of concomitant landmarks. Methods: A total of 350 MRI-detected NME lesions that were determined between January 2015 and May 2019 and subsequently underwent MDUS were analyzed. The MRI findings, biopsy results, and follow-up outcomes of lesions were recorded. The correlation between the MRI findings of the lesions and MDUS detectability was analyzed. Results: One hundred fourteen (32.6%) of the 350 lesions had a counterpart in the MDUS. Respectively, 66 (37.9%), 38 (43.2%) and 59 (38.3%) of the lesions detected in MDUS were larger than 20 mm in size, with a distance of less than 20 mm to the nipple and 15 mm to the skin. The lesion size and lesion distance to the nipple and skin were significantly associated with a US correlate (p < 0.05). The MDUS detection rate was significantly higher in NME lesions with MR findings including diffuse distribution (p < 0.001), clustered-ring enhancement pattern (p < 0.001), washout kinetic curve (p = 0.006), and MR-BIRADS category 5 (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that only the clustered-ring enhancement pattern was significantly associated with an MDUS correlation (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Statistically significant correlations were found between the size, distance to the nipple and skin, distribution pattern, enhancement pattern and kinetic curve of the NME lesions on MRI and ultrasound detectability. Advances in knowledge: We found that clustered-ring enhancement patterns were significantly more frequent in MR-directed US detectable lesions.

Preparation and disinfection properties of graphene oxide/trichloroisocyanuric acid disinfectant

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was first prepared by the modified Hummer method. Then, the GO/trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) composite was prepared by loading TCCA into GO with the blending method. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the composite. The results showed that TCCA was successfully loaded on the surface of GO or intercalated among GO layers. Next, the antibacterial performance of the composite against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was tested by the 96-well plate assay. A bactericidal kinetic curve, bacterial inhibition tests, and the mechanism of bacterial inhibition is discussed. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration of the GO/TCCA composite (GO:TCCA ratio = 1:50) was 327.5 µg/mL against E. coli and 655 µg/mL against S. aureus. At the minimum inhibitory concentration, the inhibition rate of the GO/TCCA composite exceeded 99.46% against E. coli and 99.17% against S. aureus. The bactericidal kinetic curves indicate that the GO/TCCA composite has an excellent bactericidal effect against E. coli and S. aureus.

ASSESSMENT OF SORPTION CAPACITY OF DISPERSED PINE WOOD TOWARDS FORMALDEHYDE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

Sorption capacity of dispersed pine wood towards formaldehyde was determined from its 0.142 mol/l solutions at t=20 oC. Grinding dust from pine wood processing accumulated as a waste of furniture enterprise with a particle size of 125-250 μm was used as a sample of dispersed wood. Kinetic curve of formaldehyde sorption testified that equilibrium is reached after 30 min. The effect of speed of mixing of the system as well as that of the sorbent/sorbate ratio on the value of formaldehyde sorption were determined. The maximal value of sorption capacity of the sorbent based on dispersed pine wood came to 28,5 mg/g that allows considering it as a “green” sorbent for industrial toxicants capture.

Adsorption of vanadium with amorphous hydrated chromium oxide

Vanadium is recognized as a potentially dangerous pollutant following closely on lead, mercury and arsenic. Vanadium removal from wastewater prior to discharge is essential. In this work, an amorphous hydrated chromium oxide was prepared and its vanadium adsorption ability studied. As-prepared, the hydrated oxide showed high efficiency in vanadium adsorption – e.g., from 300 to 0.75 mg-V·L−1. The effects of pH, adsorbent dosage, temperature, adsorption time and the presence of other ions on the vanadium removal rate were investigated, and optimal parameters determined. Dynamic adsorption results showed that pseudo-second-order kinetics could be used to interpret the kinetic curve and that the process was that of chemisorption. The Langmuir isotherm was found to fit the adsorption behavior well.

Optimization of the Purifying Process for Columbianetin-β-D-Glucopyranoside from Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Evaluation of Its Analgesic Activity Using Hot Plate Test

The objective of this work was to provide an economic and practical method for the purification of columbianetin-β-D-glucopyranoside from Angelicae Pubescentis Radix extract. In the static adsorption and desorption, the effects of resin type (D101, HP-20, AB-8, GDX-201, and DA201), contact time (10–360 min), and temperature (298–318 K) were assessed on columbianetin-β-D-glucopyranoside adsorption efficiency in laboratory. GDX-201 resin showed the best adsorption and desorption properties for columbianetin-β-D-glucopyranoside. The kinetic data revealed that the equilibrium time for columbianetin-β-D-glucopyranoside adsorption was achieved within 150 min. Moreover, the adsorption kinetic curve was well in accordance with the pseudo-second-order equation (R2 > 0.99). The rate controlling step of the adsorption process was the intraparticle diffusion. The Langmuir isotherm models (R2 > 0.99) could describe the whole adsorption process, which was exothermic and spontaneous according to the result of thermodynamics tests. In the dynamic adsorption and desorption process, the optimum loading flow (4, 5, and 6 BV/h), ethanol concentration (0–60%), and elution volume (10–230 mL) were optimized. Under optimal conditions of 4 BV/h loading flow, 6.7 BV loading volume, 25% ethanol, and 14 BV elution volume, the content of columbianetin-β-D-glucopyranoside in the product was increased 29.61-fold from 0.45% to 13.32 ± 0.64% with yield of 88.03 ± 2.76% by an experiment of lab-scale enlargement. Then, columbianetin-β-D-glucopyranoside was further purified by PHPLC and its purity was more than 98%. Additionally, the analgesic activity of the columbianetin-β-D-glucopyranoside was assessed by hot plate test. The experimental results showed that columbianetin-β-D-glucopyranoside significantly increased the latency of pain response in mice. This study demonstrated columbianetin-β-D-glucopyranoside could be as a potentially natural analgesic component. It could be summed up that the established method was successfully applied to purifying columbianetin-β-D-glucopyranoside from Angelicae Pubescentis Radix extract.

Tea: Transfer of Mycotoxins from the Spiked Matrix into an Infusion

Recent surveys report the occurrence of Aspergillus and Penicillium metabolites (aflatoxins (AFLs), ochratoxin A (OTA), cyclopiazonic and mycophenolic acids (MPA), sterigmatocystin (STC), citrinin), Fusarium (trichothecenes, zearalenone (ZEA), fumonisins (FBs), enniatins (ENNs)) and Alternaria (alternariol (AOH), its methyl ether (AME), tentoxin (TE), and tenuazonic acid (TNZ)) toxins in dry Camellia sinensis and herbal tea samples. Since tea is consumed in the form of infusion, correct risk assessment needs evaluation of mycotoxins’ transfer rates. We have studied the transfer of AFLs, OTA, STC, deoxynivalenol (DON), ZEA, FBs, T-2, and HT-2 toxins, AOH, AME, TE, ENN A and B, beauvericin (BEA), and MPA from the spiked green tea matrix into an infusion under variation of preparation time and water characteristics (total dissolved solids (TDS) and pH). Analytes were detected by HPLC-MS/MS. The main factors affecting transfer rate proved to be mycotoxins’ polarity, pH of the resulting infusion (for OTA, FB2, and MPA) and matrix-infusion contact period. The concentration of mycotoxins increased by 20–50% within the first ten minutes of infusing, after that kinetic curve changed slowly. The concentration of DON and FB2 increased by about 10%, for ZEA, MPA, and STC it stayed constant, while for T-2, TE, AOH, and AFLs G1 and G2 it went down. Maximum transfer correlated well with analytes polarity. Maximum transfer of ENNs, BEA, STC, ZEA, and AOH into infusion was below 25%; AFLs—25–45%; DON, TE, and T-2 toxins 60–90%, FB1—80–100%. The concentration of OTA, MPA, and FB2 in the infusion depended on its pH. At pH about four, 20%, 40%, and 60% of these toxins transferred into an infusion, at pH about seven, their concentrations doubled. Water TDS did not affect transfer significantly.

Non-mass Enhancement in Breast MRI: Characterization with BI-RADS Descriptors and ADC Values

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging in distinguishing benign from malignant non-mass-like breast lesions. Methods: 103 lesions showing non-mass-like enhancement in 100 consecutive patients were analyzed. Distribution, internal enhancement patterns, and contrast kinetic curve patterns were classified according to the BI-RADS lexicon. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were obtained from manually placed regions of interest (ROIs) on diffusion-weighted images. The optimal ADC value threshold for the distinction between benign and malignant lesions was determined by ROC analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of malignancy, and the probability of malignancy was calculated for various combinations of findings. Histological diagnosis obtained by means of core needle biopsy was used as gold standard. Results: According to the univariate and multivariate analysis, odds ratios for malignancy were significantly elevated for clumped or clustered ring internal enhancement and low ADC values (p < 0.001), whereas distribution patterns and contrast kinetic patterns were not significantly correlated with benignity or malignancy. In non-mass lesions with homogeneous or heterogeneous internal enhancement and ADC values greater than 1.26×10-3mm2/s, no malignancy was detected, while all other combinations of findings had a probability of malignancy ranging from 22.2 to 76.6%. Conclusions: A combination of BI-RADS descriptors of internal enhancement and ADC values is useful for the differential diagnosis of lesions showing non-mass enhancement. Lesions with homogeneous or heterogeneous enhancement and high ADC can be followed up, while all other lesions should be biopsied. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0302-1 Full Text: PDF

THE STUDY OF DEHYDRATION OF COLEMANITE IN NON-ISOTHERMAL CONDITIONS

The regularities of colemanite dehydration under non-isothermal conditions are investigated. It is established that colemanite, supplied to the Russian Federation from Turkey, has calcite in its composition. The chemical composition of colemanite is determined using the X-ray fluorescence analysis method. It is shown that the processes of dehydration of colemanite under non-isothermal conditions at a heating rate of 10 °С / min are accompanied by two endothermic effects at 660,7 K and 675,7 K with a total mass loss of 17,3 %. The rate of mass loss of colemanite from the temperature at heating up to 773 K, at which colemanite dehydrates and passes into the amorphous phase, is also studied. The regularities of changes in the rate of dehydration of colemanite are established. It is shown that the maximum values of the dehydration rate of colemanite are observed in the temperature range of 653–678 K. The activation energy of colemanite dehydration is determined to be 86,000 J/mol. Based on the experimentally obtained data, the rate constant of the colemanite dehydration process is calculated. The process of dehydration of colemanite is adequately described by the formal equation of kinetics. Most of the kinetic curve is adequately described by the resulting kinetic equation. It is proposed to describe the mechanism of dehydration of colemanite by a two-stage process, accompanied at the first stage by the removal of crystallization water, and at the second stage-by the removal of hydroxyl groups

Study on Microstructure and Properties of Aeronautical Nickel-Based Superalloy in Laser Directional Solidification

FFor the directional solidification repair of blade damage in an aviation turbine, a directional-growth repair layer on the surface of a nickel-based superalloy was prepared using an Nd:YAG laser. The microstructure of the directional-growth repair layer was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Its phase composition and corrosion resistance were also analyzed and tested. The results indicate that the grains in the repair zone solidified in the same direction as the substrate and formed continuous columnar crystals, which were arranged in an orderly manner. A small number of secondary dendritic cells were dispersed in the transverse direction of the columnar crystals. The phase composition was mainly composed of the α′-based phase, β-precipitated strengthening phase, MC carbide, and interdendritic α′/β eutectic phase. The corrosion kinetic curve of the repair zone changed linearly. The oxide film was uniform and dense, and was mainly composed of continuous granular oxide. The corrosion kinetic curve of the substrate conformed to the parabolic law. The oxide film was composed of loose and bulky granular grains, which were stacked in the shape of regular polyhedra and distributed in the form of an island.