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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer among both men and women worldwide. New therapeutic strategies involving cytoreductive surgery and intra-peritoneal chemotherapy could lead to a definitive cure in some cases. However, postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion can cause further complications. In this study, hyaluronic acid (HA)- and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMCNa)-based novel cross-linked hydrogels (HC hydrogels) were synthesized and fully characterized. We demonstrated that varied compositions of HA and CMCNa altered the microstructure, rheology, and degradation behavior of hydrogels. Pre-constructed hydrogels were further loaded with oxaliplatin to prevent intra-abdominal adhesion following chemotherapy. Sustained release of oxaliplatin was observed from hydrogels compared that from solutions, which release drugs through diffusion, following the Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models. Moreover, low adhesion scores in an in vivo SD rat model demonstrated inhibition of intra-peritoneal adhesion in response to HC hydrogels. Therefore, HC hydrogels offer a novel formulation strategy for providing an intra-abdominal anti-adhesion barrier after cytoreductive surgery and intra-peritoneal chemotherapy for CRC treatment.

The genus Chara (Linnaeus, 1753) comprises three sections, Chara, Desvauxia, and Grovesia. The subsection Willdenowia (Wood, 1962) of Grovesia is characterized by having the lowest branchlet segment without cortication. One species, Chara zeylanica sensu lato is attributed to the subsection Willdenowia. However, the taxonomy within this genus remains unclear due in part to the considerable overlap in morphological characteristics. Korean C. zeylanica was first reported in 1997, based on the only two dried specimens to have been collected (in 1960 and 1977). However, we recently discovered new growth sites of C. zeylanica plants in Korea. An investigation of the morphological characteristics of 42 specimens collected from these two sites and the rbcL sequences of two isolates from each site was performed to clarify this taxonomic entity in Korea. A total of 41 rbcL DNA sequences, including 39 previously published sequences, were analyzed using the neighbor-joining method. We identified the plants as C. zeylanica based on a combination of their morphological characteristics—such as the dimensions of the thallus, number of branchlets in a whorl, cortication pattern of branchlets, stipulode arrangement, oogonium traits— and the rbcL gene sequences. The rbcL sequences of Korean isolates were identical to those of C. zeylanica from Central America, the USA, China, Japan, and Israel. The sequences of Korean isolates differed from those of species from New Caledonia, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and Australia by one to two bases. All populations of C. zeylanica, with the exception of those from Australia and Taiwan, formed a single clade. This is the first report of the sequence of the plastid rbcL gene of C. zeylanica in Korea.

To compare the diagnostic performances of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and ultrasound for the dense breasts with category 0 at conventional digital mammography.This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was waived. Among the 1103 patients who underwent screening digital mammography at our institution, 769 (69.7%) patients had dense breasts. Of the 769 patients, 229 (29.8%) lesions were categorized as 0. DBT, breast ultrasound and digital mammography were performed in 108 (47.2%) patients. BI-RADS final assessments for DBT and ultrasound were recorded. Categories 1-3 were clinically considered as benign, and categories 4 and 5 were clinically considered as malignant. The diagnostic performances of breast ultrasound and DBT were correlated with final pathologic reports or follow-up images.Among 108 lesions, 17 (15.7%) were malignant and 91 (84.3%) were benign. Sensitivity was 100% for both ultrasound (17/17) and DBT (17/17) and negative predictive value was also 100% for both ultrasound (49/49) and DBT (74/74). Specificity and positive predictive value for ultrasound were 53.9% (49/91) and 28.8% (17/59), respectively. Specificity and positive predictive value for DBT were 81.3% (74/91) and 50% (17/34), respectively. DBT showed higher diagnostic accuracy than that of breast ultrasound (DBT: 84.3%, 91/108; ultrasound: 61.1%, 66/108; p0.001). The benign biopsy rate of DBT (50%, 17/34) was lower than that of ultrasound (71.2%, 42/59).DBT showed better diagnostic performance than breast ultrasound for dense breasts with category 0. DBT may reduce the benign biopsy rate and short term follow-up.

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic performances of preoperative 3-T breast MRI for predicting nipple–areolar complex (NAC) involvement. Materials and methods We analyzed the predictors of NAC involvement in breast cancer, with diagnostic performances. Results Among the 403 patients, 43 cases were surgically confirmed for NAC involvement. For predicting NAC involvement, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 60.5%, 87.5%, 36.6%, 94.9%, and 84.6%, respectively. Continuity to NAC, unilateral enhancement of NAC and thickening of NAC were significant magnetic resonance findings predictive of NAC involvement. Conclusions Preoperative 3-T breast MRI is a useful method to predict NAC involvement in breast cancer patients.

The serotonin transporter (SERT) is an integral protein that provides an index of serotonergic innervation. Until recently, few studies have investigated SERT binding in thalamic subregions in schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to examine SERT availability in thalamic subdivisions (anterior nucleus, mediodorsal nucleus, and pulvinar) using 7.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-resolution positron emission tomography (PET) with (11)C-3-amino-4-(2-dimethylaminomethylphenylthio)benzonitrile ([(11)C]DASB) in schizophrenia. Antipsychotic-free patients with schizophrenia (n=12) and healthy controls (n=15) underwent PET and MRI scans. For SERT availability, the binding potential with respect to non-displaceable compartment (BPND) was derived using the simplified reference tissue model (SRTM2). The analysis revealed that there were no significant differences in SERT availability between the two groups. In patients with schizophrenia, the severity of negative symptoms had a negative correlation with SERT availability in the anterior nucleus of the left thalamus. The present study did not reveal significant differences in SERT availability in thalamic subdivisions between patients with schizophrenia and control subjects. The association of SERT availability in the anterior nucleus with negative symptoms may suggest a role for the anterior thalamic nucleus in the pathophysiology of symptoms of schizophrenia. The ultra-high resolution imaging system could be an important asset for in vivo psychiatric research by combining structural and molecular information.

AIM To assess whether multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could detect neuroanatomical substrates that are distinctive to hyposmic Parkinson's disease (PD). MATERIALS AND METHODS Among 102 PD patients, 62 were hyposmic and 40 were normosmic. For each patient, a sagittal structural three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted image was obtained with the magnetisation-prepared rapid acquisition of the gradient-echo sequence to generate subcortical grey matter masking templates and to perform a voxel-based morphometry analysis of the subcortical grey matter volumes. A 3D multi-echo gradient sequence was run to obtain axial magnitude and phase images to produce a quantitative susceptibility map (QSM), and a diffusion-weighted image was acquired to generate an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map. The volumes and average QSM and ADC values of the 15 subcortical grey matter structures were calculated, and the group differences were evaluated using a one-way analysis of covariance with age and gender as covariates. RESULTS The QSM of the left thalamus significantly increased, while that of the right thalamus significantly decreased in hyposmia. No effects on the cortical volume changes were found other than aging. CONCLUSION The present results suggest that accumulation of disease-related substances in the left and right thalamus and the increasing asymmetry between the two sides are associated with hyposmia in PD.

Voxel-based analysis (VBA) is commonly used for statistical analysis of image data, including the detection of significant signal differences between groups. Typically, images are co-registered and then smoothed with an isotropic Gaussian kernel to compensate for image misregistration, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), to reduce the number of multiple comparisons, and to apply random field theory. Problems with typical implementations of VBA include poor tissue specificity from image misregistration and smoothing. In this study, we developed a new tissue-specific, smoothing-compensated (T-SPOON) method for the VBA of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data with improved tissue specificity and compensation for image misregistration and smoothing. When compared with conventional VBA methods, the T-SPOON method introduced substantially less errors in the normalized and smoothed DTI maps. Another confound of the conventional DTI-VBA is that it is difficult to differentiate between differences in morphometry and DTI measures that describe tissue microstructure. T-SPOON VBA decreased the effects of differential morphometry in the DTI VBA studies. T-SPOON and conventional VBA were applied to a DTI study of white matter in autism. T-SPOON VBA results were found to be more consistent with region of interest (ROI) measurements in the corpus callosum and temporal lobe regions. The T-SPOON method may be also applicable to other quantitative imaging maps such as T1 or T2 relaxometry, magnetization transfer, or PET tracer maps.

Recent MRI studies have indicated that regions of the temporal lobe including the superior temporal gyrus (STG) and the temporal stem (TS) appear to be abnormal in autism. In this study, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measurements of white matter in the STG and the TS were compared in 43 autism and 34 control subjects. DTI measures of mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were compared between groups. In all regions, fractional anisotropy was significantly decreased and both mean diffusivity and radial diffusivity were significantly increased in the autism group. These results suggest that white matter microstructure in autism is abnormal in these temporal lobe regions, which is consistent with theories of aberrant brain connectivity in autism.

The corpus callosum is the largest commissural white matter pathway that connects the hemispheres of the human brain. In this study, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed on subject groups with high-functioning autism and controls matched for age, handedness, IQ, and head size. DTI and volumetric measurements of the total corpus callosum and subregions (genu, body and splenium) were made and compared between groups. The results showed that there were significant differences in volume, fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, and radial diffusivity between groups. These group differences appeared to be driven by a subgroup of the autism group that had small corpus callosum volumes, high mean diffusivity, low anisotropy, and increased radial diffusivity. This subgroup had significantly lower performance IQ measures than either the other individuals with autism or the control subjects. Measurements of radial diffusivity also appeared to be correlated with processing speed measured during the performance IQ tests. The subgroup of autism subjects with high mean diffusivity and low fractional anisotropy appeared to cluster with the highest radial diffusivities and slowest processing speeds. These results suggest that the microstructure of the corpus callosum is affected in autism, which may be related to nonverbal cognitive performance.

The diffusion properties of biological tissues are independent of magnetic field strength. Field strength, however, does affect the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and artifacts of diffusion-weighted (DW) images, which ultimately will influence the quantitative and spatial accuracy of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). In this article, the effects of field strength on DTI are reviewed. The effects of parallel imaging also are discussed. A small study comparing DTI measurements both as a function of field strength (1.5 T and 3.0 T) and parallel imaging was performed. Overall, the SNR of the DW images roughly doubled going from 1.5 T to 3.0 T, and there was a relatively small decrease in SNR (15% to 30%) when parallel imaging was used. The increased SNR at 3.0 T resulted in smaller variances in the estimated mean diffusivities and fractional anisotropies. As expected, the amount of echo-planar image distortion roughly doubled going from 1.5 T to 3.0 T, but was reduced by 50% when using parallel imaging. In summary, DTI studies at 3.0 T using parallel imaging will provide significantly improved DTI measurements relative to studies at 1.5 T.

As a result of stringent government regulations regarding air and water Pollution, the sour water stripping process has emerged as an important process in petroleum refineries and coke-making works industries. The dynamics of the sour water stripping process have not been revealed as sour water is a weak electrolyte and has nonlinear characteristics. Moreover, in a real plant, there are several problems such as plugging, excessive use of steam, and difficulty in controlling the column pressure. This paper tries to solve these problems and examines controllability. Steady state simulation is used to find the optimal operating conditions. However, the results from the steady state simulation cannot be applied to the actual system directly since the concept of controllability is ignored. Dynamic simulation is used to examine the controllability and the capability of disturbance rejection and to cope with abnormal situations which may occur in real plant. In the actual system, when the ammonia composition in feed increases, the column pressure increases rapidly. The conventional process cannot control the column pressure properly and the system becomes unstable. The proposed structure, with an inter-cooler, gives better performance than the conventional one.

An efficient way to construct a library of isoxazoles and isoxazolines was developed by solution-phase 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of nitrile oxides with olefins and alkynes followed by precipitation of the products as HCl salts.