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Purpose: To quantitatively compare dynamic 19F and single breath hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI for the detection of ventilation abnormalities in subjects with mild cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. Methods: Ten participants with stable CF and a baseline FEV1 > 70% completed a single imaging session where dynamic 19F and single breath 129Xe lung ventilation images were acquired on a 3T MRI scanner. Ventilation defect percentages (VDP) values between 19F early-breath, 19F maximum-ventilation, 129Xe low-resolution, and 129Xe high-resolution images were compared. Dynamic 19F images were used to determine gas wash-in/out rates in regions of ventilation congruency and mismatch between 129Xe and 19F. Results: VDP values from high-resolution 129Xe images were greater than from low-resolution images (P =.001), although these values were significantly correlated (r = 0.68, P =.03). Early-breath 19F VDP and max-vent 19F VDP also showed significant correlation (r = 0.75, P =.012), with early-breath 19F VDP values being significantly greater (P

Background Bentonite, a mineral authorized in Europe as feed additive for reducing mycotoxin contamination in feed (EU Reg. No. 1060/2013), is selective in adsorbing aflatoxins AFB1, but ineffective for other mycotoxins of zootechnical interest. This work intends to develop and assess the efficacy of an innovative bentonite-based material (bio-organoclay) acting as a multi-mycotoxin binder, by performing in vitro and in vivo experiments. Methods The efficacy of the bio-organoclay in sequestering aflatoxins B1 (AFB1), fumonisin B1 (FB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEA) was firstly tested in vitro. Then, its efficacy in reducing the urinary excretion of mycotoxins was tested in rats by using the biomarker approach. For each toxin, two groups of rats (0.3 kg initial body weight) were considered: control animals received the mycotoxins without the detoxifier, and treated animals received the mycotoxins with the bio-organoclay at 0.5% w/w of feed consumption. Mycotoxins were administered by a singular intragastric oral bolus. Samples of urine were collected at different time points (4-72 h for AFB1, ZEA and FB1; 4-320 h for OTA). AFB1, ZEA and its metabolites of phase I biotransformation (?-ZOL, ?-ZOL and ?-ZAL), OTA and FB1 were analyzed in urine by in-house validated UPLC methods. Mycotoxin content in urine was normalized to urinary creatinine concentration. Toxicokinetic parameters, including area under the curve (AUC) and maximal mycotoxin concentration (Cmax), were calculated and used to compare control and treated groups. Results A bentonite containing Na-smectite as major mineral was modified and functionalized. Acid-activation and functionalization processes were optimized at lab level, and optimal conditions were identified. In in vitro studies, at low dosages (0.25-0.5% w/v), the new produced bio-organoclay sequestered more than 95% of AFB1, FB1, OTA, and ZEA, in a large range of pH values (3-9). Mycotoxin adsorption occurred simultaneously with high capacity and affinity as determined by equilibrium isotherms. In rats, the bio-organoclay reduced urinary excretion of AFM1, ZEA, FB1 and OTA respect to the control group, by reducing the AUC and Cmax values. AUC0?72 was significantly reduced by -94% for AFM1, -54% for OTA, and -40% for FB1 (p

To investigate the temperature dependence of the resonance frequency of lipid-dissolved xenon (LDX) and to assess the accuracy of LDX-based MR thermometry.The chemical shift temperature dependence of water protons, methylene protons, and LDX was measured from samples containing tissues with varying fat contents using a high-resolution NMR spectrometer. LDX results were then used to acquire relative and absolute temperature maps in vivo and the results were compared with PRF-based MR thermometry.The temperature dependence of proton resonance frequency (PRF) is strongly affected by the specific distribution of water and fat. A redistribution of water and fat compartments can reduce the apparent temperature dependence of the water chemical shift from -0.01 ppm/°C to -0.006 ppm, whereas the LDX chemical shift shows a consistent temperature dependence of -0.21 ppm/°C. The use of the methylene protons resonance frequency as internal reference improves the accuracy of LDX-based MR thermometry, but degrades that of PRF-based MR thermometry, as microscopic susceptibility gradients affected lipid and water spins differently.The LDX resonance frequency, with its higher temperature dependence, provides more accurate and precise temperature measurements, both in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, the resonance frequency of nearby methylene protons can be used to extract absolute temperature information. Magn Reson Med 78:1070-1079, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Background Pap screening, an effective method for cervical cancer prevention, is now supported by molecular human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. Recently commercialised preventive vaccines also provide new tools for the primary prevention of cervical cancer. To determine appropriate prevention strategies, the Health General Direction, Lombardy Region, funded a project that aims to characterize and monitor HPV infections and related cervical diseases in high-risk women. Methods/design VALHIDATE is a 5-year multicentre open prospective cohort study. It will recruit 7000 consenting women aged 13–65 years to provide information about the local biomolecular epidemiology of HPV infection and cervical diseases in high-risk women recruited from nine clinical centres and one faith-based organisation. The study will estimate the overall and type-specific prevalence of HPV infection and cervical abnormalities. It also aims to compare standard Pap screening with biomolecular screening, and to assist in the design of targeted regional prevention programs directed specifically at high-risk groups. Three groups of high-risk women: 1000 HIV-infected women (aged 26–65 years), 1000 recent migrant women (aged 26–65 years) and 3000 young women (aged 13–26 years) and 1 control group: 2000 women (aged 26–45 years) attending a spontaneous screening program, will be recruited. Sample sizes will be revised after the first year. Adult participants will undergo conventional cervical cytology, HPV DNA screening and genotyping. Paediatric participants will undergo HPV DNA testing and genotyping of urine samples. HPV DNA, cytological abnormalities and HPV types will be analysed according to demographic, epidemiological, behavioural, and clinical data collected in an electronic case report form. Overall and stratified prevalences will be estimated to analyse the associations between HPV infection and selected characteristics. Logistic regression models will be used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios. Cox proportional hazard models will be used to estimate hazard ratios over time and between groups. Discussion/main expected results This study will provide substantial insight into HPV infections and related cervical diseases in high-risk groups and will help determine appropriate regional cervical cancer prevention strategies.