Gadolinium-free Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Liver using an Oatp1-targeted Manganese(III) Porphyrin

Controversy surrounding gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have rendered their continued utility highly contentious, but the liver-specific GBCA Gd(III) ethoxybenzyl-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd(III)-EOB-DTPA) remains in use because it provides unique diagnostic information that could not be obtained by any other means. To address the need for an alternative liver-specific MRI contrast agent, we synthesized Mn(III) 20-(4-ethoxyphenyl) porphyrin-5,10,15-tricarboxylate (Mn(III)TriCP-PhOEt), which exhibited significantly higher r1 relaxivity than Gd(III)-EOB-DTPA, and targeted organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1 (Oatp1) channels as a biomarker of hepatocyte viability. Mn(III)TriCP-PhoEt increased the r1 relaxation rate of cells expressing rodent Oatp1a1 and human Oatp1b3, relative to control cells not expressing these liver channels. In mice, Mn(III)TriCP-PhoEt resulted in significant and specific increases in liver signal intensity on T1-weighted images, and significant decreases in liver T1 time relative to precontrast measurements. Our findings suggest that Mn(III)TriCP-PhOEt operates as a specific and sensitive MR contrast agent for in vivo liver imaging.

Effect of the Long-Term Application of Sewage Sludge to A Calcareous Soil on Its Total and Bioavailable Content in Trace Elements, and Their Transfer to the Crop

Sewage sludge (SS) can be used as an organic amendment in agricultural soils, provided they comply with the relevant legislation. This use can incorporate traces of metals into the soil, which can cause environmental or human health problems. In the study period between 1992 and 2018 (26 years), it was observed that the use of SS as an organic fertilizer significantly increased the total concentration of Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni and Hg of this study between 55.6% (Hg) and 7.0% (Ni). The concentration of Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni and Cd extracted with DTPA, also increased between 122.2% (Zn) and 11.3% (Cd). In contrast, the Mn concentrations extracted with Diethylene Triamine Pentaacetic Acid (DTPA)were 6.5% higher in the treatments without SS. These changes in the soil had an impact on the crop, which showed a significant increase in the concentration of Zn, Cu and Cr in the grain, between 15.0% (Cr) and 4.4% (Cu), and a decrease in the concentration of Mn, Cr and Ni in the barley straw when SS was added to the soil between 32.2% (Mn) and 29.6% (Ni). However, the limits established by current legislation on soil protection and food were not exceeded. This limited transfer to the crop, is likely due to the high content of carbonates and organic matter in the soil, which limit the bioavailability of most of the trace metals (TM) in the soil. As a conclusion, we observe that the use of SS as an organic amendment increased the concentration of some TM in the soil, in its bioavailable forms, and in the crop.

Determination of poultry manure and plant residues effects on Zn bioavailable fraction in contaminated soil via DGT technique

A greenhouse experiment was aimed at assessing the effects of poultry manure, sorghum, and clover residues (0 and 15 g kg− 1) on the zinc (Zn) bioavailable fraction in contaminated calcareous soil using two chemical assay, including diffusion gradient in thin films (DGT) and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid-triethanolamine (DTPA-TEA), and a bioassay with corn (Zea mase L.). The results showed that poultry manure, clover, and sorghum residues application increased dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by 53.6 and 36.1, and 9.2%, respectively, with respect to unamended soils, as well as decreasing soil pH by 0.42, 0.26, and 0.06 units, respectively. These changes did result in increases of Zn effective concentration (CE) and DTPA-Zn, and plant Zn concentration as a result of the increased exchangeable form of Zn. In the sorghum residues-amended soils, a reverse trend was observed for CE-Zn compared to the DTPA method. Correlation analyses revealed that unlike CE-Zn, DTPA-Zn had a significant positive correlation with organic fractions that can be considered as an equivalent to the fact that the DTPA method had been overestimated Zn available to the plant. The best correlations between corn metal concentrations and soil metal bioavailability were obtained for CE-Zn using DGT technique, which also provided the best Zn bioavailability estimate. It is concluded that sorghum residues could be used to reduce the phytotoxicity risk of Zn in calcareous contaminated soil, and DTPA method is the less robust indicator of Zn bioavailability than DGT technique.

The Role of Tc-99m DTPA Renal Dynamic Scintigraphy in Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma

Purpose. Technetium-99m diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Tc-99m DTPA) renal dynamic scintigraphy is a widely used imaging technique that evaluates renal function of patients with extrarenal abnormalities, but its clinical value in potentially offering us information on proliferation of liposarcoma has not yet been reported. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 7 patients with histopathologically confirmed retroperitoneal liposarcoma who underwent Tc-99m DTPA renal dynamic scintigraphy. The clinical data, histopathological findings, Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), and Tc-99m DTPA uptake were recorded. Results. Dedifferentiated liposarcoma and well-differentiated liposarcoma showed dissimilar degrees of Tc-99m DTPA uptake, an observation that correlated with Ki-67 expression (p<0.01). 4 of the 7 patients were diagnosed with dedifferentiated liposarcoma, showing a moderate uptake of Tc-99m DTPA and greater than 20% Ki-67 expression on histological slides. Meanwhile, the remaining 3 patients, diagnosed with well-differentiated liposarcoma, showed no uptake of Tc-99m DTPA and Ki-67 expression of less than 5%. Conclusions. This study suggests that Tc-99m DTPA renal dynamic scintigraphy provides diagnostic value in patients with retroperitoneal liposarcoma, not only in evaluating renal function but also in visualizing lesion-related radionuclide uptake, which may potentially offer further clinical insights into tumor proliferation and provide prognostic value for clinical outcomes in patients with retroperitoneal liposarcoma.

Perbandingan Penggunaan Natrium Perkarbonat, Hidrogen Peroksida, Hipoklorit, dan Xilanase terhadap Sifat Optik Deinked Pulp

Penggunaan bahan baku dari jenis kertas SWL (sorted white ledger) yang berasal dari proses mekanikal dan jenis kertas bekas yang mengandung banyak tinta memiliki dampak negatif karena menyebabkan sifat optik dari deinked pulp yang dihasilkan tidak optimal. Penyebab dari masalah tersebut adalah tingginya kandungan logam dan lignin pada SWL dan kertas bekas. Untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut, pada penlitian ini dilakukan penambahkan DTPA (Diethylene Triamine Pentaacetic Acid) sebagai penghilang kandungan logam dan bahan pemutih untuk menghilangkan lignin. Bahan pemutih yang digunakan adalah natrium perkarbonat, hidrogen peroksida, hipoklorit, dan xilanase. Dilakukan variasi dosis (1%; 1,5%; dan 2%) dan suhu pemutih (50°C, 70°C, dan 90°C) untuk menentukan titik optimal. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa bahan pemutih yang digunakan mampu meningkatkan derajat cerah dan derajat putih dari deinked pulp. Nilai sifat optik yang paling optimal didapat pada proses pemutihan menggunakan 2% natrium perkarbonat pada suhu 70°C, dengan nilai derajat cerah sebesar 85,30% ISO dan derajat putih sebesar 112,27% ISO. The Comparison of Sodium Percarbonate, Hydrogen Peroxide, Hypochlorite, and Xylanaseon Optical Properties of Deinked PulpAbstract The use of raw materials from SWL (sorted white ledger) paper originating from mechanical processes as well as used paper types that contain a lot of ink has a negative impact because it causes no optimal value for the optical properties of deinked pulp. The cause of these problems is the high content of metals and lignin. To overcome this problem, it is necessary to add DTPA (Diethylene Triamine Pentaacetic Acid) as a remover for metals and bleaching agents to remove lignin. The bleaching agents used in this study were sodium percarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, and xylanase. Variation of bleach dose (1%, 1,5%, and 2%) and temperature (50°C, 70°C, and 90°C) is performed to determine the optimal point. The results showed that the whitening material used was able to increase the bright and white degrees of deinked pulp. The most optimal optical properties values obtained in the whitening process using 2% sodium percarbonate at 70°C, with a bright degree value of 85.30% ISO and a degree of white of 112.27% ISO. Keywords: SWL, waste paper, sodium percarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, xylanase.

SCIDOT-37. ASSESSING CEREBROSPINAL FLUID FLOW DYNAMICS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM TUMORS

BACKGROUND The incidence of abnormal CSF flow dynamics in the pediatric population with CNS tumors prior to intraventricular therapy has not been described. METHODS We performed a single-institution, retrospective review of patients with primary or metastatic CNS tumors treated between 2003–2018 (15 years).. Patients underwent 111-indium diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid injection into the CSF intraventricular space followed by nuclear medicine imaging at 90 minutes, 4, 24, and 48 hours (if required). CSF flow was classified as normal, delayed, asymmetric or obstructed. RESULTS 278 CSF flow studies were performed in 224 patients, 202(90%) <18 years of age. 116(52%) patients had metastatic CNS neuroblastoma, 57(25%) had medulloblastoma, and 51(23%) had other CNS histologies. Of the 278 studies, 237(85%) were normal, 9(3%) required neurosurgical intervention, 25(9%) were delayed, and 7(3%) were asymmetric. CONCLUSIONS Abnormal CSF flow and necessity of neurosurgical intervention must be considered when attempting to ensure appropriate intraventricular therapy in the pediatric population.

Insights into Heavy Metals Leakage in Chelator-Induced Phytoextraction of Pb- and Tl-Contaminated Soil

Chelators including DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) and oxalic acid were selected for inducing phytoextraction of heavy metals (HMs) from Pb-, Tl-, and Pb-Tl- contaminated soil, in which heavy metals leakage was highly remarkable. Results showed that compared with the control group without chelating agent under planting conditions, the extraction efficiency (i.e., uptake coefficient) of Pb, Tl increased by 86%, 43% from Pb-Tl- contaminated soil in the presence of oxalic acid, and there was no significant change in heavy metal leakage under rainfall conditions. It was the best phytoremediation scheme in this work. Under rainfall conditions, the HMs concentration in the leachate showed a linear decreasing trend. Acid rain promoted the leakage of heavy metals, and the average leached amount of Tl increased by 1.47 times under acid rain conditions. However, for Pb, DTPA was the main influencing factor, followed by acid rain.

Avaliação da função glomerular renal e ventilação pulmonar em coelhos submetidos ao pneumoperitôneo com di´óxido de carbono

Embora seja usual a realização de cirurgias vídeo-laparoscópicas, a ocorrência de lesões renais decorrentes destes procedimentos ainda não foi precisamente documentada na literatura médica. Todavia, é sabido que a elevação da pressão intra-abdominal por meio do pneumoperitônio cirúrgico pode ocasionar oligúria ou anúria em mamíferos. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o impacto do pneumoperitônio na função glomerular renal, ventilação pulmonar e estresse oxidativo em um modelo experimental de coelhos machos, através da perfusão renal com 99mTc-DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid, marcado com tecnécio), análise de volumes e gases respiratórios, bem como o status inflamatório e estresse oxidativo resultantes, através de marcadores específicos. Serão utilizados cinco coelhos machos Nova Zelândia saudáveis, previamente anestesiados e ventilados mecanicamente.