Determination of paramagnetic ferrous gel sensitivity in low energy x-ray beam produced by a miniature accelerator.

The INTRABEAM Carl Zeiss Surgical system (Oberkochen, Germany) is a miniature accelerator producing low energy photons (50 keV maximum). The published dosimetric characterization of the INTRABEAM was based on detectors (radiochromic films or ionization chambers) not allowing measuring the absorbed dose in the first millimeters of the irradiated medium, where the dose is actually prescribed. This study aims at determining with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) the sensitivity of a paramagnetic gel in order to measure the dose deposit produced with the INTRABEAM from 0 to 20 mm.

3D optical detection in radiodosimetry: EasyDosit hydrogel characterization.

In this study the spectrophotometric behaviour of gelatin-based hydrogels, in the presence and absence of dyes, was studied. The aim was to formulate equivalent-tissue phantoms to be used as 3D-dosimeter, suitable for Optical Computed Tomography (OCT). The hydrogels show good transparency and good stability of baseline optical density and, in the presence of dye, the response of optical density as a function of concentration was higher than in aqueous solution.

Regenerating 1 and 3b gene expression in the pancreas of type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats.

Regenerating (REG) proteins are associated with islet development, β-cell damage, diabetes and pancreatitis. Particularly, REG-1 and REG-3-beta are involved in cell growth/survival and/or inflammation and the Reg1 promoter contains interleukin-6 (IL-6)-responsive elements. We showed by transcriptome analysis that islets of Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a model of spontaneous type 2 diabetes, overexpress Reg1, 3α, 3β and 3γ, vs Wistar islets.

Hypercholesterolaemia, signs of islet microangiopathy and altered angiogenesis precede onset of type 2 diabetes in the Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat.

Aims/hypothesis: The adult non-obese Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat model of type 2 diabetes, particularly females, carries in addition to hyperglycaemia a genetic predisposition towards dyslipidaemia, including hypercholesterolaemia. As cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis may be programmed in utero, we looked for signs of perinatal lipid alterations and islet microangiopathy. We hypothesise that such alterations contribute towards defective pancreas/islet vascularisation that might, in turn, lead to decreased beta cell mass.

Early reduction of circulating homocysteine levels in Goto-Kakizaki rat, a spontaneous nonobese model of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disorders, which are major causes of mortality in this disease. Hyperhomocysteinemia, defined by high plasma homocysteine levels, is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Type 2 diabetic patients have higher circulating homocysteine levels than healthy subjects and these levels are even higher in plasma of obese than nonobese diabetic patients.