Increased F-FDG accumulation in less-affected lung area in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and postoperative acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease.

Purpose: To investigate whether or not F-FDG accumulation in normal or less-affected lung fields increased in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with postoperative acute exacerbation (PAE) of interstitial lung disease (ILD) MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-six NSCLC patients with ILD and 50 patients without ILD (non-ILD patients) underwent pre-operative F-FDG-PET/CT at 2 institutions. Volume-of-interest (VOI) was placed to measure the mean standardized uptake value (SUV) in normal or less-affected lung fields at pre-defined 12 areas on ventral and dorsal locations of both lungs. SUV was defined as corrected SUV by using TF and mean computed tomography density on PET/CT.

Anti-tumor Effects of Sorafenib Administered at Different Time Points in Combination with Transarterial Embolization in a Rabbit VX2 Liver Tumor Model.

Objective: To investigate the most suitable timing parameters when using sorafenib to enhance the anti-tumor effects of transarterial embolization (TAE) in a rabbit VX2 liver tumor model.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-five Japanese white rabbits were randomly assigned to five equal groups two weeks after VX2 tumor transplantation to the liver. We then performed the combination treatment with sorafenib and TAE in the according ways; Group 1 (TAE just before consecutive 7-day administration of sorafenib), Group 2 (TAE on second day of the administration period), Group 3 (TAE on fourth day of the administration period), and Group 4 (TAE after the administration period).

A phantom study for ground-glass nodule detectability using chest digital tomosynthesis with iterative reconstruction algorithm by ten observers: association with radiation dose and nodular characteristics.

Objective: To compare detectability of simulated ground-glass nodules (GGNs) on chest digital tomosynthesis (CDT) among 12 images obtained at 6 radiation doses using 2 reconstruction algorithms and to analyze its association with nodular size and density.

Methods: 74 simulated GGNs [5, 8 and 10 mm in diameter/-630 and -800 Hounsfield units (HU) in density] were placed in a chest phantom in 14 nodular distribution patterns. 12 sets of coronal images were obtained using CDT at 6 radiation doses: 120 kV-10 mA/20 mA/80 mA/160 mA, 100 kV-80 mA and 80 kV-320 mA with and without iterative reconstruction (IR).

A novel blood-pooling MR contrast agent: Carboxymethyl-diethylaminoethyl dextran magnetite.

Gadofosveset trisodium is available as a prolonged pooling vascular contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging. As gadolinium (Gd)-based agents may increase the risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with severe renal insufficiency, the present study synthesized carboxymethyl-diethylaminoethyl dextran magnetite (CMEADM) particles as a blood-pooling, non-Gd‑based contrast agent. CMEADM particles carry a negative or positive charge due to the binding of amino and carboxyl groups to the hydroxyl group of dextran.

Inhibition of fibrosis and inflammation by triple therapy with pirfenidone, edaravone and erythropoietin in rabbits with drug-induced lung injury: comparison of CT imaging and pathological findings.

In a rabbit model of bleomycin-induced lung injury, computed tomography (CT) and pathological studies were conducted to investigate whether the progression of this injury is inhibited by pirfenidone and by triple therapy with pirfenidone, edaravone and erythropoietin. We divided nine rabbits with bleomycin-induced lung injury into three equally sized groups. Group 1 served as the control, group 2 received pirfenidone alone and group 3 was treated with pirfenidone, edaravone and erythropoietin.

Antitumor effect of miriplatin-lipiodol suspension/emulsion using a VX2 liver tumor model.

Objective: To evaluate the antitumor effects of miriplatin-lipidol suspension and emulsion.

Materials And Methods: Fifty rabbits with VX2 liver tumors were randomly assigned to ten groups. Then, we prepared four types of mixtures: a suspension of lipiodol and miriplatin (ML), an emulsion of miriplatin dissolved with lipiodol and contrast medium (MLC) or saline (MLS), and saline alone (S).

Gelatin microspheres: correlation between embolic effect/degradability and cross-linkage/particle size.

Purpose: To evaluate the embolic effect and degradability of gelatin microspheres (GMS) using various degrees of cross-linkage and particle sizes in rabbit renal artery embolization.

Methods: Four types of GMS were used, as follows: 2 types of cross-linkage and 2 types of particle size. Twenty-four rabbits (6 in each group) were used for the renal artery embolization.

Vascular regeneration by pinpoint delivery of growth factors using a microcatheter reservoir system in a rabbit hind-limb ischemia model.

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of delivering low doses of growth factor iteratively (20 μg x5) via a reservoir system with results obtained following a single administration of 100 μg of growth factor. The delivery systems using gelatin microspheres (GMS) facilitate the controlled release of drugs. The controlled release of growth factors at specific sites is essential for vascular regeneration.

320-detector-row computed tomography arteriography using CO2 gas to detect malignant liver tumors.

Purpose: We present the initial steps for 320-detector-row computed tomography arteriography using CO2 gas (320-MDCT CO2 arteriography) to detect the vascular area of malignant liver tumors.

Material And Methods: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of our institution. Written prior informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Evaluation of the embolic effect and degradability of gelatin microspheres and Gelpart particles.

Purpose: To evaluate the embolic effect and degradability of gelatin microspheres (GMS) and Gelpart particles (GPS) in dogs subjected to hepatic embolization.

Material And Methods: We subjected 20 beagles to embolization of the hepatic artery (HA) and assessed the embolic effects of GMS measuring 500 μm in dry and 1 mm in wet state and of 1-mm GPS, porous gelatin embolic particles. We obtained celiac angiographs before and immediately after embolization and two, 14, and 28 days later; the livers were histopathologically evaluated.

Evaluation of atherosclerotic lesions using dextran- and mannan-dextran-coated USPIO: MRI analysis and pathological findings.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect atherosclerotic lesions containing accumulations of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxides (USPIO). Positing that improved USPIO with a higher affinity for atherosclerotic plaques would yield better plaque images, we performed MRI and histologic studies to compare the uptake of dextran- and mannan-dextran-coated USPIO (D-USPIO and DM-USPIO, respectively) by the atherosclerotic walls of rabbits. We intravenously injected atherosclerotic rabbits with DM-USPIO (n = 5) or D-USPIO (n = 5).

Histological study of the biodynamics of iron oxide nanoparticles with different diameters.

The biodynamics of ultrasmall and small superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO and SPIO, respectively) particles that were injected intraperitoneally into 36 C57BL/6 mice were investigated chronologically. Their distribution was studied histologically at six time points by measuring iron-positive areas (μm²) in organ sections stained with Prussian blue. The uptake of the differently sized particles was also compared by cultured murine macrophages (J774.

Time-course studies of implanted rabbit VX2 liver tumors to identify the appropriate time for starting hepatic arterial embolization in animal models.

Purpose: We followed the 4-week course of implanted VX2 tumors in rabbits and compared MRI and pathological findings to determine the appropriate time for starting therapy in animal liver tumor models.

Materials And Methods: We used 18 Japanese white rabbits. The VX2 liver tumor was harvested from one tumor-bearing rabbit and implanted in the liver of the other 17 rabbits.

Comparison of the anti-tumor effects of two platinum agents (miriplatin and fine-powder cisplatin).

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of miriplatin-lipidol and fine-powder cisplatin-lipiodol suspensions.

Methods: Assessment of the cytotoxicity of two drugs was performed: a soluble derivative of miriplatin (DPC) and fine-powder cisplatin. We randomly divided 15 rabbits with transplanted VX2 liver tumors into three equal groups.

Enhanced antitumor effect of tirapazamine delivered intraperitoneally to VX2 liver tumor-bearing rabbits subjected to transarterial hepatic embolization.

Purpose: We evaluated the effects of the combination of Tirapazamine (TPZ), activated preferentially under hypoxic conditions, and gelatin microspheres (GMS) on the tumor growth ratio in rabbits.

Methods: We assigned 20 liver tumor-bearing Japanese white rabbits to 4 equal groups. Group 1 received 1 ml of saline intra-arterially (i.

Quantitative measurement of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rabbits using sequential in vivo regional analysis and high-resolution computed tomography: correlation with pathologic findings.

Rationale And Objectives: To examine the feasibility of quantitative high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings to monitor the stage of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rabbits by correlating HRCT and pathologic scores and analyzing sequential changes on HRCT images using regional volume histograms.

Materials And Methods: Lung fibrosis was induced by injecting bleomycin intratracheally into 23 Japanese white rabbits. Rabbits were randomly separated into seven groups depending on follow-up period (12-hour, 24-hour, 3-day, 7-day, 14-day, 21-day, and 28-day).

The Possibility of differentiation between nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and fatty liver in rabbits on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced open-type MRI scans.

Rationale And Objectives: We used rabbits to investigate the possibility of differentiating between nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fatty liver (FL) on scans acquired by open-type‒ and gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)‒enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials And Methods: We divided 15 adult rabbits into three equal groups; they received standard (control group), high-fat (FL) content (FL group), or choline-deficient chow (NASH group). With the animals under general anesthesia we acquired scans on an open 0.

Utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for qualitative imaging of atherosclerosis in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits: initial experimental study.

Purpose: Using Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits, we investigated the ability of ultrasonography (US) to detect contrast enhancement of atherosclerotic lesions after intravenous injection of a microbubble contrast agent (MB) and confirmed the localization of MB in the lesion by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Materials And Methods: The abdominal aortic wall of six WHHL rabbits was observed for 20 min after MB delivery. To evaluate contrast enhancement, a region of interest (ROI) was set in the intima-media complex (IMC) and the aortic lumen.

Complex comprised of dextran magnetite and conjugated cisplatin exhibiting selective hyperthermic and controlled-release potential.

We developed a dextran-magnetite conjugated cisplatin (DM-Cis) complex for use in thermal ablation and as a chemotherapeutic drug. To produce DM-Cis we reacted Cis with 1 mL DM (56 mg/mL iron). The temperature rise of DM-Cis was measured in vitro and in vivo under a portable induction-heating (IH) device.

Cisplatin-conjugated porous gelatin particles: assessment of optimal conditions for binding and release.

This study was designed to evaluate the optimal conditions for binding cisplatin and porous gelatin particles (PGPs) and to establish in vivo drug release pharmacokinetics. PGPs were immersed in cisplatin solutions under different conditions: concentration, immersion time, and temperature. Thereafter, PGPs were washed in distilled water to remove uncombined cisplatin and were then freeze-dried.

Controlled release and antitumor effect of pluronic F127 mixed with cisplatin in a rabbit model.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate pluronic F127 for the controlled release of cisplatin in a rabbit model. Pluronic F127 becomes liquid at temperatures <25 degrees C and converts to a gelatinous state at temperatures between 25 and 60 degrees C. Six Japanese white rabbits were injected with pluronic + cisplatin (n = 3, renal group A) or saline + cisplatin (n = 3, renal group B) to measure the platinum concentration in kidneys.

Basic investigation of vascular interventional radiology (IR) using large rabbits.

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of large rabbits for basic vascular interventional radiology (IR) experiments. We used 5 Akita large rabbits (Akita) and 5 Japanese white rabbits (JW). We conducted measurements of vessel diameters such as the aorta, and the iliac, renal, superior mesenteric, celiac, and proper hepatic arteries, and of the growth rates of VX2 liver tumors.

Investigation using an HER-2/neu transgenic mouse model of a newly developed MR contrast agent with the effect of an antitumor drug.

Purpose: To assess whether Gd-DTPA-Gel-Cis, a conjugate of gadolinium (Gd), cis diamminedichloroplatinum (Cis), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-dianhydride, and bovine gelatin (Gel) can be used as an intravascular contrast agent at MRI and as an antitumor cell proliferation agent in vitro.

Materials And Methods: We injected Gd-DTPA-Gel-Cis (200 mg/mL) into the caudal vein of female HER-2/neu transgenic mice with spontaneous mammary tumors. The tumor signal intensity was measured with a 0.