Development of handheld induction heaters for magnetic fluid hyperthermia applications andevaluation on ovarian and prostate cancer cell lines.

Magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) is a still experimental technique found to have a potential application in the treatment of cancer. The method aims to reach around 41 °C-47 °C in the tumor site by exciting magnetic nanoparticles with an externally applied alternating magnetic field (AMF), where cell death is expected to occur. Applying AMFs with high spatial resolution is still a challenge.

increases alcohol intake and tonic immobility whilst decreasing food intake in Wistar rats.

The kappa-opioid system (KOP) is the key in drug abuse. Of all the compounds isolated from (), salvinorin-A (Sal-A) is predominant. Further, Sal-A is the only compound within which is reported to have psychoactive properties as a powerful kappa-opioid receptor (KOPr) agonist.

In vitro Ultrasonic Potentiation of 2-Phenylethynesulfonamide/Magnetic Fluid Hyperthermia Combination Treatments for Ovarian Cancer.

Background: Magnetic Fluid Hyperthermia (MFH) is a promising adjuvant for chemotherapy, potentiating the action of anticancer agents. However, drug delivery to cancer cells must be optimized to improve the overall therapeutic effect of drug/MFH combination treatments.

Purpose: The aim of this work was to demonstrate the potentiation of 2-phenylethynesulfonamide (PES) at various combination treatments with MFH, using low-intensity ultrasound as an intracellular delivery enhancer.

Forced ethanol ingestion by Wistar rats from a juvenile age increased voluntary alcohol consumption in adulthood, with the involvement of orexin-A.

Human adolescents who drink alcohol are more likely to become alcoholics in adulthood. Alcohol administration (intraperitoneally) or drinking (in a 2-bottle free choice paradigm) during the juvenile/adolescent age of rats promotes voluntary alcohol consumption in adulthood. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that the orexinergic system plays a role in several rewarded behaviors, including alcohol ingestion.

Neuropharmacological Screening of Chiral and Non-chiral Phthalimide- Containing Compounds in Mice: in vivo and in silico Experiments.

Background: Thalidomide, the first synthesized phthalimide, has demonstrated sedative- hypnotic and antiepileptic effects on the central nervous system. N-substituted phthalimides have an interesting chemical structure that confers important biological properties.

Objective: Non-chiral (ortho and para bis-isoindoline-1,3-dione, phthaloylglycine) and chiral phthalimides (N-substituted with aspartate or glutamate) were synthesized and the sedative, anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects were tested.

Analgesic and anxiolytic effects of [Leu,Pro]-neuropeptide Y microinjected into the periaqueductal gray in rats.

Several reports have demonstrated that neuropeptide Y (NPY) is involved in food intake, epilepsy, circadian rhythms, drug seeking, pain and anxiety, and other physiological or pathological conditions. On the other hand, periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a key brain center for modulating pain, anxiety and fear. It is the main structure implicated in integrated defensive behaviors.

Update on Postdialysis Rebound by a New Technology in Hemodialysis.

After dialysis ends, urea continued movement causes rebound postdialysis, with values at about 20%. New techniques have been incorporated into hemodialysis, but their relationship with rebound has not yet been studied. This study aimed to quantify urea rebound at 30-min postdialysis during sessions using polysulfone filters and high-flow versus online hemodiafiltration, and to define its correlation with body composition measured by bioimpedance by a cross-sectional study with 69 patients (December 2015 to January 2016).

Inhibition Synergistically Enhances the Effects of Magnetic Fluid Hyperthermia in Ovarian Cancer.

Hyperthermia has been investigated as a potential treatment for cancer. However, specificity in hyperthermia application remains a significant challenge. Magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) may be an alternative to surpass such a challenge, but implications of MFH at the cellular level are not well understood.

Vagus Nerve Modulation Using Focused Pulsed Ultrasound: Potential Applications and Preliminary Observations in a Rat.

The use of focused ultrasonic waves to modulate neural structures has gained recent interest due to its potential in treating neurological disorders non-invasively. While several papers have focused on the use of ultrasound neuromodulation on peripheral nerves, none of these studies have been performed on the vagus nerve. We present preliminary observations on the effects of focused pulsed ultrasound (FPUS) on the conduction of the left cervical vagus nerve of a Long Evans rat.

Synthesis, Stability, Cellular Uptake, and Blood Circulation Time of Carboxymethyl-Inulin Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles.

Iron oxide nanoparticles were coated with the biocompatible, biodegradable, non-immunogenic polysaccharide inulin by introduction of carboxyl groups into the inulin structure and conjugation with amine groups on the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles grafted with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, SQUID magnetometry, and with respect to their energy dissipation rate in applied alternating magnetic fields. The nanoparticles had a hydrodynamic diameter in the range of 70 ± 10 nm and were superparamagnetic, with energy dissipation rates in the range of 58-175 W/g for an applied field frequency of 233 kHz and an applied field amplitude in the range of 20-48 kA/m.

Sound propagation in liquid-filled arterial segments: measurements and model predictions.

The efficacy of an acoustic transmission line model (TLM) for predicting distortion that occurs with axial propagation in liquid-filled arterial segments was assessed. Water-filled segments of excised bovine aorta were excited with acoustic pulses and noise to evaluate if velocities, attenuation, and transverse resonance frequencies could be accurately predicted using the TLM. Regions of low acoustic power that were attributed to transverse wall resonance effects were evident in all vessels, but the model generally under-predicted upper frequency limit of the high loss regions.

Computer simulation tool for predicting sound propagation in air-filled tubes with acoustic impedance discontinuities.

A computer tool, based on an acoustic transmission line model, was developed for modeling and predicting sound propagation and reflections in cascaded tube segments. This subroutine considered the number of interconnected tubes, their dimensions and wall properties, as well as medium properties to create a network of cascaded transmission line model segments, from which the impulse response of the network was estimated. Acoustic propagation was examined in air-filled cascaded tube networks and model predictions were compared to measured acoustic pulse responses.

Modeling impermeable membranes as acoustic filters for biomedical applications.

The main purpose of this research project was to explore a mathematical expression that could be used by medical device designers to appropriately select impermeable membranes to isolate acoustic transducers from water, dust, earwax or other foreign material. The sound transmission properties of various types of impermeable membranes were analytically evaluated and compared to experimental measurements. Computer simulations were also performed to estimate the effects of three key membrane parameters: thickness (h), density (p) and sound speed (c), on the membrane's overall acoustic response.

Estimation of tube wall compliance using pulse-echo acoustic reflectometry.

This paper focuses on the estimation of tube wall compliance using reflection analysis of acoustic pulses. The wall compliance of a rubber latex tube was found theoretically using an acoustical transmission line model. Wall compliance was also obtained experimentally from acoustical and mechanical measurements.

Vasodilator effects of bis-dihydropyridines structurally related to nifedipine.

Calcium channel blockers are widely used in therapy for hypertension and angina pectoris, and among these blockers some 1,4-dihydropyridines (e.g. amlodipine, nitrendipine and nifedipine) have had widespread clinical use.

Miniature acoustic guidance system for endotracheal tubes.

Ensuring that the distal end of an endotracheal tube (ETT) is properly located within the trachea, and that the tube is not obstructed by mucus deposition, is a major clinical concern in patients that require mechanical ventilation. A novel acoustic system was developed to allow for the continuous monitoring of ETT position and patency. A miniature sound source and two sensing microphones are placed in-line between the ventilator hose and the proximal end of the ETT.