Comparative study on gamma-ray detectors for in-situ ocean radiation monitoring system.

Large-sized crystals and state-of-the-art photosensors are desirable to cope with low environmental radioactivity (e.g., 1-2 Bq∙mCs in surface seawater) for homeland security purposes.

Determination of glucose generation rate from various types of glycemic carbohydrates by mammalian glucosidases anchored in the small intestinal tissue.

The supernatant from rat intestinal acetone powder (RIAP) was used as a source of mammalian glucosidases to determine the digestion properties of glycemic-carbohydrates. We hypothesized that many glucosidases are still anchored to the precipitated-intestinal tissues with available enzymes, and developed a method using the RIAP suspension to optimize the in vitro carbohydrate digestion model. The glucose production from various types of glycemic ingredients by RIAP suspension showed that this carbohydrate-hydrolysis model using the entire spectrum of glucosidases can be applied in an in vitro assay to determine carbohydrate quality from glycemic food products at the mammalian level.

Effects of raw potato starch on body weight with controlled glucose delivery.

Starch digestion in the gastrointestinal tract has different properties depending on its botanical source. In this study, corn, wheat, rice, and potato starches were used to test the digestion properties of mammalian mucosal α-glucosidase in an in vitro assay, and their physiological effects were investigated in male C57BL/6 mice. The results clearly demonstrated that potato starch caused the lowest rates of glucose generation, suggesting that it can attenuate the postprandial glucose spike.

Characterization of lipid-poor adrenal adenoma: chemical-shift MRI and washout CT.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to retrospectively compare the accuracy of MRI and CT in characterizing lipid-poor adrenal adenomas with respect to lesion-attenuation values measured on unenhanced CT.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-two lipid-poor adrenal masses measuring greater than 10 HU on unenhanced CT were identified in 52 patients who underwent both chemical-shift MRI and washout CT. Accuracies using the adrenal-to-spleen ratio (< 0.

Coenzyme q10 regulates osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a powerful antioxidant, is a key component in mitochondrial bioenergy transfer, generating energy in the form of ATP. Many studies suggest that antioxidants act as inhibitors of osteoclastogenesis and we also have previously demonstrated the inhibitory effect of CoQ10 on osteoclast differentiation. Despite the significance of this effect, the molecular mechanism when CoQ10 is present at high concentrations in bone remodeling still remains to be elucidated.

Endometrial cancer: utility of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with background body signal suppression at 3T.

Purpose: To prospectively assess the usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) at 3T for the preoperative evaluation of endometrial cancer.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-two consecutive patients with biopsy-proven endometrial cancer were examined with a 3T MR scanner, followed by a hysterectomy. MR examinations included T2-weighted (T2WI), DWIBS, and dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (DCEI).

3D isotropic turbo spin-echo intermediate-weighted sequence with refocusing control in knee imaging: comparison study with 3D isotropic fast-field echo sequence.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) turbo spin-echo (TSE) images have been used in imaging of the extremities and comparable diagnostic performance to two-dimensional (2D) TSE images has been reported in several studies. However, comparison of the 3D isotropic TSE intermediate-weighted sequence and 3D FFE sequence in terms of image quality has not been investigated.

Purpose: To compare the image quality of a 3D isotropic TSE intermediate-weighted sequence with refocusing control (volume isotropic turbo spin echo acquisition [VISTA]) and a 3D isotropic fast-field echo (FFE) sequence of the knee joint.

Dual therapy with cidofovir and mirtazapine for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a sarcoidosis patient.

Background: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating central nervous system disease caused by JC virus (JCV) reactivation in immunocompromised patients. The disease course of PML is often progressive, fatal and at present, there are few reports on successful treatment outcomes.

Case Report: A 45-year-old man with systemic sarcoidosis presented with rapidly progressive dementia and right hemiparesis.

Factors determining successful computed tomography-guided localization of lung nodules.

Objectives: To investigate the factors related to the successful computed tomography-guided nodule localization for subsequent nodule excision.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records for 181 patients who had undergone computed tomography-guided nodule localization using hook wire and subsequent video-assisted thoracic surgery resection for lung nodules. The demographic factors, nodule factors, and technical factors were reviewed to determine what affects effective nodule localization for video-assisted thoracic surgery resection using both univariate and multivariate models.

Clinical and multidetector CT follow-up results of renal artery aneurysms treated by detachable coil embolization using 3D rotational angiography.

Background: There are very few reports regarding the use of 3D rotational angiography (3D RA) in embolization of renal artery aneurysms (RAAs). No valuable data have been reported on the follow-up result of coil embolization for RAAs on computed tomography (CT). Purpose To evaluate the clinical and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) follow-up results of renal artery aneurysms treated by detachable coil embolization using 3D RA.

[Hemobilia from pancreatic arteriovenous malformation: successful treatment with transportal coil embolization of draining veins].

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are extremely rare diseases frequently complicated by gastrointestinal hemorrhage. While surgical resection of affected lesion is preferred for the treatment of pancreatic AVM, angiographic intervention can be used as an alternative treatment, especially in surgically high-risk patients. We experienced a patient with pancreatic AVM manifested by hemobilia and biliary sepsis.

Titanium-mediated alkylative coupling of N-acylpyrroles.

[reaction: see text]. Inter- and intramolecular titanium-mediated coupling reactions of N-acylpyrroles are reported for convenient functionalization of terminal olefins. Comparison with the Kulinkovich reaction of esters and other carboxylic acid derivatives is also included.