冷冻温度对聚乙烯醇水凝胶性能的影响

目的:冷冻温度对制备性能优良的聚乙烯醇水凝胶有较大的影响,拟通过采用反复冷冻-融化方法制备聚乙烯醇水凝胶,探讨在不同冷冻温度下制备的聚乙烯醇水凝胶的物理性能和力学性能,寻求制备聚乙烯醇水凝胶的最佳冷冻温度。方法:实验于2007-04/06在中国矿业大学材料学院摩擦学与可靠性工程实验室完成。实验选用白色絮状的聚乙烯醇20-99作为原料,按一定比例将聚乙烯醇溶于去离子水中,在恒温水浴箱中于90℃下加热4h,配制成一定浓度的聚乙烯醇水溶液;然后将聚乙烯醇水溶液在超低温冷冻储存箱中冷冻成型,冷冻温度分别设为-10℃,-15℃,-20℃,-25℃,-30℃,冷冻时间为6～10h,取出试样后室温下融化2～4h,上述冷冻-融化过程重复3次制得聚乙烯醇水凝胶。实验选用聚乙烯醇的质量分数为15%,制备不同厚度的聚乙烯醇水凝胶试样若干备用。测试各种冷冻温度下制备的聚乙烯醇水凝胶的密度、含水率、再溶胀性和结晶度等物理性能以及弹性模量和应力松弛等力学性能。结果:聚乙烯醇水凝胶的物理性能和力学性能随冷冻温度的不同而明显变化;-20℃反复冷冻融化制备的聚乙烯醇水凝胶具有较好的物理性能和力学性能,其密度为1.06543g/cm3,含水率为82.61%,再溶胀率达238.8%,结晶度为74.03%,弹性模量为0.0974MPa。结论:-20℃是反复冷冻-融化法制备聚乙烯醇水凝胶的常选冷冻温度。     

Risk factors for anaemia in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients treated with interferon plus ribavirin

The most frequent and the most troublesome adverse effect of interferon plus ribavirin-based therapy is anaemia. The aim of this analysis was to determine the incidence and risk factors of anaemia (Hb < 10 g/dL) in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients receiving anti-HCV therapy. We reviewed all cases of anaemia occurring among 416 patients participating in a randomized, controlled 48-week trial comparing peginterferon (peg-IFN) alpha 2b plus ribavirin with interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify links with antiretroviral treatments, HCV therapy and clinical and laboratory findings. Sixty-one (15.9%) of the 383 patients who received at least one dose of anti-HCV treatment developed anaemia. In multivariate analysis the risk of anaemia was significantly associated with zidovudine (OR, 3.27 95% CI, 1.64-6.54, P = 0.0008) and peg-IFN (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.16-4.57, P = 0.0179). The risk of anaemia was lower in patients with higher baseline haemoglobin levels (OR, 0.35 95% CI, 0.26-0.49, P < 0.0001) and in patients receiving protease inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy (OR, 0.51 95% CI, 0.30-0.86, P = 0.0114). Zidovudine discontinuation could help to avoid anaemia associated with anti-HCV therapy.     

The effect of sulphasalazine on neutrophil superoxide generation in rheumatoid arthritis

The production of superoxide by the peripheral blood neutrophils of 19 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis was measured during treatment with sulphasalazine (SASP). The response to drug treatment was determined by change in plasma viscosity, CRP, early morning stiffness and articular index over a 10-point scale. Of the 19 patients studied, eight were considered to have responded well to SASP and seven to have responded poorly or not at all. Over the treatment period, plateau levels of superoxide production fell in seven of the eight responders (P = 0.028) compared with a non-significant fall in 3/7 of the non- responder groups. The initial rate of superoxide production also fell in the responder group, but this was not statistically significant. Initial values in both the responder and non-responder groups were comparable with those seen for normal controls. Analysis of drug levels showed all patients to be compliant with drug treatment; however, drug levels and neutrophil activity were not correlated. Studies of the effect of SASP and sulphapyridine on superoxide production in vitro showed no difference between good and poor responders. These results suggest that there is no inherent difference between good and poor responders regarding the susceptibility of their neutrophils to SASP. SASP's action on neutrophils, therefore, appears not to be its main mechanism of disease-modifying activity in RA.      

Diffuse hepatic hemangiomas: percutaneous transcatheter embolization with detachable silicone balloons

Two infants with severe congestive cardiac failure secondary to diffuse hepatic hemangiomas were treated by percutaneous transcatheter embolization of the hepatic arteries using detachable silicone balloons. One infant experienced dramatic improvement of the cardiac failure and showed no impairment of hepatic function. The other infant remained in a low cardiac output state following the procedure and developed acute hepatic and renal failure followed by generalized sepsis and death. Autopsy examination revealed massive hepatic hemangioendothelioma as well as areas of necrotic and viable liver parenchyma. A review of reported patients with hepatic hemangiomas treated by hepatic artery ligation or embolization showed no others who had hepatic failure. These techniques were curative in 14 of 18 patients (78%), an improvement compared with the results of other available methods of therapy.     

MRI versus <Superscript>68</Superscript>Ga-PSMA PET/CT for gross tumour volume delineation in radiation treatment planning of primary prostate cancer

Purpose

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is widely used in radiation treatment planning of primary prostate cancer (PCA). Focal dose escalation to the dominant intraprostatic lesions (DIPL) may lead to improved PCA control. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is overexpressed in most PCAs. ⁶⁸Ga-labelled PSMA inhibitors have demonstrated promising results in detection of PCA with PET/CT. The aim of this study was to compare ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT with MRI for gross tumour volume (GTV) definition in primary PCA.

Methods

This retrospective study included 22 patients with primary PCA analysed after ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI. GTVs were delineated on MR images by two radiologists (GTV-MRIrad) and two radiation oncologists separately. Both volumes were merged leading to GTV-MRIint. GTVs based on PET/CT were delineated by two nuclear medicine physicians in consensus (GTV-PET). Laterality (left, right, and left and right prostate lobes) on mpMRI, PET/CT and pathological analysis after biopsy were assessed.

Results

Mean GTV-MRIrad, GTV-MRIint and GTV-PET were 5.92, 3.83 and 11.41 cm³, respectively. GTV-PET was significant larger then GTV-MRIint (p?=?0.003). The MRI GTVs GTV-MRIrad and GTV-MRIint showed, respectively, 40 % and 57 % overlap with GTV-PET. GTV-MRIrad and GTV-MRIint included the SUVmax of GTV-PET in 12 and 11 patients (54.6 % and 50 %), respectively. In nine patients (47 %), laterality on mpMRI, PET/CT and histopathology after biopsy was similar.

Conclusion

Ga-PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI provided concordant results for delineation of the DIPL in 47 % of patients (40 % – 54 % of lesions). GTV-PET was significantly larger than GTV-MRIint. ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT may have a role in radiation treatment planning for focal radiation to the DIPL. Exact correlation of PET and MRI images with histopathology is needed.