Synthesis of CoPt nanoparticles by a modified polyol method: characterization and magnetic properties.

CoPt nanoparticles with an average size of 3 nm and narrow distribution were synthesized by chemical reduction of Co(CH(3)COO)(2) and Pt(acac)(2) by polyethyleneglycol-200. The as-prepared nanoparticles have a disordered fcc structure which transformed after thermal treatment to an ordered fct structure, which results in coercivity up to 6 kOe at room temperature and 9 kOe at 5 K because of the high magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the tetragonal structure [Formula: see text].

Hypophosphatemia after right hepatectomy for living donor liver transplantation.

Hypophosphatemia has been described in patients undergoing right hepatectomy for liver cancer and in living donors for liver transplantation who also received total parenteral nutrition. At the study centre, significant hypophosphatemia (0.36 mmol/L or less) requiring intravenous replacement was seen in two of the first nine living donors for adult-to-adult liver transplantation.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: CT patterns of recurrence and multiobserver performance in detecting recurrent neoplasm after surgical resection.

Objective: The purposes of our study were to describe the CT appearance of recurrent intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas after surgical resection and estimate the performance of CT in detecting recurrent neoplasms.

Materials And Methods: A single unblinded reviewer characterized the presence and appearance of recurrent intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms on 66 CT scans of 17 patients with proven recurrence, noting location and appearance of recurrent neoplasm. These results, described in this article, were summarized in tabular format and shown to three blinded observer.

Understanding interpretive errors in radiologists learning computed tomography colonography.

Rationale And Objectives: To determine if interpretive errors in the course of learning CT colonography are secondary to failures in detection or in characterization and determine the types of lesions frequently missed.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen radiologists completed an electronic CTC training module consisting of two parts: 1) a teaching file demonstrating the varied appearances of polyps, cancers, and pitfalls in interpreting exams; and 2) a test of 50 complete CTC datasets. Following review of each test case, radiologists were asked to indicate if and where a polyp was visualized.

PG490-88, a derivative of triptolide, causes tumor regression and sensitizes tumors to chemotherapy.

Treatment of solid tumors with combinations of chemotherapeutic agents has not led to significant increases in long-term survival. Recent studies support a role for inhibitors of checkpoint arrest as a means to enhance the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy. We have shown previously that triptolide (PG490), an oxygenated diterpene derived from a Chinese medicinal plant, induces apoptosis in cultured tumor cells and sensitizes tumor cells to topoisomerase inhibitors by blocking p53-mediated induction of p21.

Pancreatic malignancy: value of arterial, pancreatic, and hepatic phase imaging with multi-detector row CT.

Purpose: To assess the value of arterial, pancreatic, and hepatic phase imaging at multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) of the pancreas for pancreatic malignancy.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-nine patients suspected of having resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma underwent triple-phase multi-detector row CT. Images obtained during each phase were interpreted by one radiologist who evaluated presence of tumor, vascular invasion, and flow artifacts in the superior mesenteric vein and measured attenuation of tumor, normal pancreas, aorta, and superior mesenteric vein.

Preoperative detection of pancreatic insulinomas on multiphasic helical CT.

Objective: The objective was to analyze enhancement characteristics of insulinomas and to determine the ability of multiphase CT to localize these tumors.

Materials And Methods: Prospective interpretations of multiphase helical CT scans were reviewed in 30 patients who had insulinomas resected over a 5-year period. CT scans were retrospectively reviewed to determine enhancement characteristics, tumor conspicuity in each phase of enhancement, and potential causes for false-negative findings.

Imaging of neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas.

Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas are uncommon neoplasms of the pancreas that can occur sporadically or in association with various syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN I). Patients can present with a specific clinical syndrome related to biochemically functioning tumors or with nonspecific symptoms related to mass effect or metastases. The size, function, consistency, and malignant behavior of neuroendocrine tumors are integrally related.

Immunosuppressive activity of the Chinese medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii. III. Suppression of graft-versus-host disease in murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation by the PG27 extract.

Background: PG27 is an active fraction purified from an extract of a Chinese medicinal plant, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. We tested PG27 in murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and investigated the mechanism of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) suppression.

Methods: Recipients in the C57BL/6 --> BDF1 murine BMT model received oral or intraperitoneal PG27.

Detection of flat lesions in the colon with CT colonography.

Background: We investigated whether flat lesions of the colon could be detected on computed tomographic colonography (CTC).

Methods: CTC and conventional colonoscopy were performed on 547 consecutive patients. A subset of 22 polyps was described as flat on colonoscopy (n = 16) or CTC (n = 6) and are the basis of this report.

Mechanisms of tolerance induced by PG490-88 in a bone marrow transplantation model.

Background: PG490-88, a semisynthetic derivative of a novel compound PG490 (triptolide) purified from a Chinese herb (Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F), is effective in prevention of murine graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Methods: PG490-88 was administrated into recipients in a model (B10.D2 [H2d, Mls-2b, Mls-3b]-->BALB/c [H2d, Mls-2a, Mls-3a]) of lethal GVHD.

Prevention of graft-versus-host disease by a novel immunosuppressant, PG490-88, through inhibition of alloreactive T cell expansion.

Background: PG490-88 is a water soluble, semisynthetic derivative of a novel compound PG490 (triptolide) purified from the Chinese herb Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook F.

Methods: PG490-88 was administrated into recipient mice in a model (B10.D2-->BALB/c) of lethal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) to study the effects of PG490-88 on GVHD and on the various steps involved in the pathological course of GVHD.

Immunosuppressive activity of the Chinese medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii. II. Prolongation of hamster-to-rat cardiac xenograft survival by combination therapy with the PG27 extract and cyclosporine.

Background: PG27 is an immunosuppressive fraction purified from an extract of a Chinese medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii, which we investigated alone and in combination with cyclosporine (CsA) in a concordant, hamster-to-rat cardiac xenotransplantation model.

Methods: Golden Syrian hamster hearts were heterotopically transplanted into the abdomen of Lewis rat recipients, which were treated intraperitoneally or orally with PG27, CsA, or both.

Results: Combination therapy with 30 mg/kg(day of PG27 and CsA at 10 mg/kg/day successfully suppressed acute hamster-to-rat cardiac xenograft rejection.

Immunosuppressive activity of the Chinese medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii. I. Prolongation of rat cardiac and renal allograft survival by the PG27 extract and immunosuppressive synergy in combination therapy with cyclosporine.

Background: PG27 is an immunosuppressive fraction purified from an extract of a Chinese medicinal plant, Tripterygium wilfordii. We tested PG27 in rat cardiac and renal allotransplantation, and we examined the immunosuppressive interaction with cyclosporine (CsA).

Methods: Brown Norway (BN) rat heart or kidney allografts were transplanted into the abdomen of Lewis rats, which were treated by the intraperitoneal or oral route with PG27, CsA, or both.

Aortic prosthetic graft infections: radiologic manifestations and implications for management.

Prosthetic graft infections are an uncommon complication of aortic bypass. These infections may have serious sequelae such as limb loss and can be lethal. They are hard to eradicate and, under certain circumstances, difficult to diagnose.

CT angiography of complications in pediatric patients treated with intravascular stents.

Objective: Our goal was to determine whether CT angiography can reveal complications in pediatric patients and young adults treated with intravascular stents for obstructive vascular lesions.

Conclusion: CT angiography can reveal complications in pediatric patients treated with intravascular stents for obstructive lesions. Potentially, CT angiography could replace the more invasive conventional angiography currently used for intravascular stent placement and follow-up examinations.

PG27, an extract of Tripterygium wilfordii hook f, induces antigen-specific tolerance in bone marrow transplantation in mice.

PG27, an active fraction purified from an extract of a Chinese herb, Tripterygium wilfordii hook f, was used to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in a murine model. Lethally irradiated BALB/c (H-2(d)) recipients of B10.D2 (H-2(d)) donor grafts were given daily intraperitoneal injections of PG27 (40 mg/kg per day) for the first 35 days after transplantation.

Small-bowel motility disturbances: a comparison of small-bowel series and antroduodenal manometry.

Rationale And Objectives: The authors' purpose was to compare the findings of small-bowel series with those of antroduodenal manometry to determine whether normal findings from a small-bowel series would make it unnecessary to perform antroduodenal manometry.

Materials And Methods: The findings from 33 small-bowel series performed on patients who had undergone antroduodenal manometry were retrospectively reviewed for abnormalities, including dilatation, transit time, fold thickening, and increased fluid. Antroduodenal manometry findings were classified into the following categories: normal, myopathy, neuropathy, obstructions, or nonspecific conditions.

Demonstration of intraluminal duodenal diverticulum by computed tomography.

Intraluminal duodenal diverticulum is a rare congenital anomaly consisting of a saclike projection within the duodenum. Small diverticula may be asymptomatic; however, when these enlarge, patients may develop recurrent episodes of pain, obstruction, or pancreatitis. Normally, the diagnosis is made by barium luminal examination.

The role of the phlebotomy technician. Skills and knowledge required for successful clinical performance.

An inventory of competencies considered representative of the entry-level phlebotomy technician's role was developed and validated. A national sample of certified phlebotomy technicians received through the mail a questionnaire delineating 44 specific task or knowledge areas and nine higher order work areas. Respondents rated the specific areas along importance and extent-of-performance dimensions and rated the higher order areas in terms of importance and time spent.

CT evaluation of acute cholecystitis: findings and usefulness in diagnosis.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to describe the CT findings of acute cholecystitis and apply previously proposed CT criteria for its diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed CT scans of 29 patients with proven acute cholecystitis. Scans were reviewed for gallstones, gallbladder distension, bile density, wall thickening, pericholecystic fluid, subserosal edema, pericholecystic stranding, and sloughed membranes.