Reverse enhancement of hemorrhagic brain lesions on postcontrast MR: detection with digital image subtraction.

PURPOSETo investigate the decrease in signal intensity on T1 - weighted MR images of some hemorrhagic intracranial lesions after administration of contrast material.METHODSPostprocessing digital image subtraction was performed in 16 MR studies (13 patients) of lesions that showed hyperintensity on noncontrast T1-weighted images. Repetition time and echo time were identical for all precontrast and postcontrast studies. Regions of interest were measured in each lesion, contralateral white matter, and background (before and after contrast enhancement).RESULTSIn six of 16 MR studies, a significant net decrease in signal intensity was seen within the hemorrhagic lesion after contrast enhancement (reverse enhancement). All the lesions were hematomas within residual or recurrent malignant tumors.CONCLUSIONSDigital image subtraction confirms the existence of reverse enhancement. This phenomenon is due to the combined T2-shortening effects of two paramagnetic substances, methemoglobin and gadolinium, which cause the signal reduction produced by the T2 effects to occur at lower concentrations of gadolinium.     

Release of soluble transferrin receptor from the surface of human leukemic HL60 cells

Information regarding transferrin (Tf) receptor degradation is largely incomplete. HL60 cells were shown to release to their growth medium a Tf-binding protein which could be immunoprecipitated by anti-Tf receptor monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) B3/25 and OKT9. Soluble Tf receptor was detected in the medium within one hour of replating of cells, and its release was inhibited at 4 degrees C. The affinity of Tf for the soluble receptor released by cells (kd = 2.3 x 10(-10) mol/L) was slightly lower than its affinity for the detergent-solubilized cellular receptor (kd = 1.2 x 10(-10) mol/L). 125I-Tf internalized and released by cells subsequently bound to Tf receptor released by the same cells, and soluble Tf receptor in the conditioned medium (CM) inhibited 125I-Tf binding to intact cells. The soluble Tf receptor isolated from the CM was smaller (78,000 daltons) than the cell surface receptor (94,000 daltons) when analyzed by gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. Isolated cell membranes readily released soluble receptor; however, this release could be blocked by protease inhibitors. The soluble Tf receptor may represent the extracytoplasmic domain of the cellular Tf receptor released from the surface of HL60 cells through proteolytic cleavage by a membrane-based protease.     

Repeated administration of desmethylimipramine blocks the reserpine-induced increase in tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA in locus coeruleus neurons of the rat.

The levels of tyrosine hydroxylase and galanin mRNA were measured by in situ hybridization histochemistry in the rat locus coeruleus after repeated (21 days) administration of desmethylimipramine (10 mg/kg/day), of reserpine (0.25 mg/kg/day), of coadministered desmethylimipramine and reserpine, or of vehicle. Reserpine administration resulted in increased levels of both tyrosine hydroxylase and galanin mRNAs in locus coeruleus neurons as compared to vehicle-treated controls. Administration of desmethylimipramine alone failed to alter either the tyrosine hydroxylase or galanin mRNA. However, coadministration of desmethylimipramine with reserpine blocked the elevation in tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA induced by reserpine alone.     

Pre-clinical pharmacology of ICI D2138, a potent orally-active non-redox inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase.

1. This paper describes the pre-clinical pharmacology of ICI D2138, a potent orally-active non-redox inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase which is undergoing clinical evaluation. 2. ICI D2138 potently inhibited leukotriene synthesis in murine peritoneal macrophages (IC50 = 3 nM) and human blood (IC50 = 20 nM). In human and dog blood, ICI D2138 did not inhibit thromboxane B2 synthesis at a concentration of 500 microM, thus the selectivity ratio (cyclo-oxygenase: 5-lipoxygenase) was greater than 20,000. In contrast, zileuton (a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor also undergoing clinical evaluation) exhibited a selectivity ratio of 15-100. 3. ICI D2138 potently and dose-dependently inhibited ex vivo leukotriene B4 (LTB4) synthesis by rat blood with ED50 values of 0.9, 4.0 and 80.0 mg kg-1 p.o. at 3, 10 and 20 h respectively after dosing. Similar activity was observed for inhibition of LTB4 production in a zymosan-inflamed rat air pouch model. Zileuton produced ED50 values of 5 and 20 mg kg-1 at 3 and 10 h respectively. 4. Oral administration of 1, 3 or 10 mg kg-1 ICI D2138 to dogs produced maximal inhibition of ex vivo LTB4 synthesis by blood for 5, 9 and 31 h respectively. A dose of 5 mg kg-1 p.o. of zileuton caused maximal inhibition of LTB4 for 24 h. 5. Oral administration of 10 mg kg-1 ICI D2138 caused total inhibition of LTB4 production in zymosan-inflamed rabbit knee joint. 6. Topical administration of ICI D2138 to rabbit skin caused a dose-related inhibition of arachidonic acid-induced plasma extravasation with an ID30 of 1.08 nmol per site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pneumothorax and other lung diseases: effect of altered resolution and edge enhancement on diagnosis with digitized radiographs

Prior studies have shown that pneumothorax is one of the more difficult entities to diagnose with digitized radiography. This study was designed to test whether increasing resolution from 1.25 to 2.5 line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm) and image processing (edge enhancement from unsharp masking) would increase accuracy and confidence in the diagnosis of pneumothorax, as well as normal cases and other forms of lung disease. Conventional radiographs were digitized with use of a laser reader and then reformatted as film hard copy. Eleven observers read 35 cases reformatted in three different ways (1.25 lp/mm, 2.5 lp/mm, 1.25 lp/mm unsharp mask). The images with finer resolution (2.5 lp/mm) and unsharp mask images were superior to those with coarser resolution (1.25 lp/mm) for the diagnosis of pneumothorax. There was no difference in diagnostic accuracy for normal patients. For abnormalities other than pneumothorax, the unsharp mask images were significantly worse. Confidence in the diagnosis of pneumothorax and other abnormalities was highest with the finest resolution (2.5 lp/mm).