γ-Stearolactone ring-opening by zeolites for the production of branched saturated fatty acids.

C branched saturated fatty acids (BSFA) are used as ingredients in cosmetics and lubricants and are produced the hydrogenation of C branched unsaturated fatty acids (BUFA). Industrial-grade C BUFA contain the odorous by-product γ-stearolactone (GSL), which must be removed by acid-catalysed ring-opening of GSL into oleic acid. Zeolites such as Y and beta can facilitate the ring-opening, but due to the dimensions of GSL the activity is expected to be limited by diffusion into the micropores.

Limited Additional Value of a Chest CT in Whole-Body Staging with PET-MRI: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Hybrid PET-MRI systems are being used more frequently. One of the drawbacks of PET-MRI imaging is its inferiority in detecting lung nodules, so it is often combined with a computed tomography (CT) of the chest. However, chest CT often detects additional, indeterminate lung nodules.

Extended MRI-based PET motion correction for cardiac PET/MRI.

Purpose: A 2D image navigator (iNAV) based 3D whole-heart sequence has been used to perform MRI and PET non-rigid respiratory motion correction for hybrid PET/MRI. However, only the PET data acquired during the acquisition of the 3D whole-heart MRI is corrected for respiratory motion. This study introduces and evaluates an MRI-based respiratory motion correction method of the complete PET data.

Quantification of carotid plaque composition with a multi-contrast atherosclerosis characterization (MATCH) MRI sequence.

Background And Purpose: Carotid atherosclerotic plaques with a large lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC), intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), and a thin or ruptured fibrous cap are associated with increased stroke risk. Multi-sequence MRI can be used to quantify carotid atherosclerotic plaque composition. Yet, its clinical implementation is hampered by long scan times and image misregistration.

Advancing understanding of land-atmosphere interactions by breaking discipline and scale barriers.

Vegetation and atmosphere processes are coupled through a myriad of interactions linking plant transpiration, carbon dioxide assimilation, turbulent transport of moisture, heat and atmospheric constituents, aerosol formation, moist convection, and precipitation. Advances in our understanding are hampered by discipline barriers and challenges in understanding the role of small spatiotemporal scales. In this perspective, we propose to study the atmosphere-ecosystem interaction as a continuum by integrating leaf to regional scales (multiscale) and integrating biochemical and physical processes (multiprocesses).

The Use of F-FET-PET-MRI in Neuro-Oncology: The Best of Both Worlds-A Narrative Review.

Gliomas are the most frequent primary tumors of the brain. They can be divided into grade II-IV astrocytomas and grade II-III oligodendrogliomas, based on their histomolecular profile. The prognosis and treatment is highly dependent on grade and well-identified prognostic and/or predictive molecular markers.

Evaluation of a Dedicated Radiofrequency Carotid PET/MRI Coil.

Carotid radiofrequency coils inside a PET/MRI system can result in PET quantification errors. We compared the performance of a dedicated PET/MRI carotid coil against a coil for MRI-only use. An 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) phantom was scanned without and with an MRI-only coil and with the PET/MRI coil.

Cost impact of procalcitonin-guided decision making on duration of antibiotic therapy for suspected early-onset sepsis in neonates.

Backgrounds: The large, international, randomized controlled NeoPInS trial showed that procalcitonin (PCT)-guided decision making was superior to standard care in reducing the duration of antibiotic therapy and hospitalization in neonates suspected of early-onset sepsis (EOS), without increased adverse events. This study aimed to perform a cost-minimization study of the NeoPInS trial, comparing health care costs of standard care and PCT-guided decision making based on the NeoPInS algorithm, and to analyze subgroups based on country, risk category and gestational age.

Methods: Data from the NeoPInS trial in neonates born after 34 weeks of gestational age with suspected EOS in the first 72 h of life requiring antibiotic therapy were used.

Machine Learning Used to Compare the Diagnostic Accuracy of Risk Factors, Clinical Signs and Biomarkers and to Develop a New Prediction Model for Neonatal Early-onset Sepsis.

Background: Current strategies for risk stratification and prediction of neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) are inefficient and lack diagnostic performance. The aim of this study was to use machine learning to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of risk factors (RFs), clinical signs and biomarkers and to develop a prediction model for culture-proven EOS. We hypothesized that the contribution to diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers is higher than of RFs or clinical signs.

Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Uptake in Mouse Brachiocephalic Artery Atherosclerotic Plaque Quantified by T-Mapping MRI.

The purpose of our study was to monitor the iron oxide contrast agent uptake in mouse brachiocephalic artery (BCA) atherosclerotic plaques in vivo by quantitative T-mapping magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Female ApoE mice ( = 32) on a 15-week Western-type diet developed advanced plaques in the BCA and were injected with ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxides (USPIOs). Quantitative in vivo MRI at 9.

Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations at Birth and Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Very and Extremely Preterm Infants.

Amino acids are increasingly recognized as bioactive molecules in numerous physiological and pathophysiological pathways. The non-essential amino acid glutamate is vasoactive in the rat ductus arteriosus (DA) and a decrease in its levels within the 1st days of life has been associated with the presence of patent DA (PDA) in extremely preterm infants. However, these findings have not been confirmed in other studies.

PET/MRI of atherosclerosis.

Myocardial infarction and stroke are the most prevalent global causes of death. Each year 15 million people worldwide die due to myocardial infarction or stroke. Rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque is the main underlying cause of stroke and myocardial infarction.

C-Reactive Protein, Procalcitonin, and White Blood Count to Rule Out Neonatal Early-onset Sepsis Within 36 Hours: A Secondary Analysis of the Neonatal Procalcitonin Intervention Study.

Background: Neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) is one of the main causes of global neonatal mortality and morbidity, and initiation of early antibiotic treatment is key. However, antibiotics may be harmful.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of results from the Neonatal Procalcitonin Intervention Study, a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled intervention study.

Risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Associated With the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms C-2578A, C-607A, and α A-1902G: A Validation Study in a Prospective Multicenter Cohort.

The etiology of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is multifactorial and an underlying genetic predisposition to NEC is increasingly being recognized. A growing number of studies identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of selected genes with potential biological relevance in the development of NEC. However, few of these genetic studies have been replicated in validation cohorts.

Lower versus Traditional Treatment Threshold for Neonatal Hypoglycemia.

Background: Worldwide, many newborns who are preterm, small or large for gestational age, or born to mothers with diabetes are screened for hypoglycemia, with a goal of preventing brain injury. However, there is no consensus on a treatment threshold that is safe but also avoids overtreatment.

Methods: In a multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial involving 689 otherwise healthy newborns born at 35 weeks of gestation or later and identified as being at risk for hypoglycemia, we compared two threshold values for treatment of asymptomatic moderate hypoglycemia.

Procalcitonin-guided decision making for duration of antibiotic therapy in neonates with suspected early-onset sepsis: a multicentre, randomised controlled trial (NeoPIns).

Background: Up to 7% of term and late-preterm neonates in high-income countries receive antibiotics during the first 3 days of life because of suspected early-onset sepsis. The prevalence of culture-proven early-onset sepsis is 0·1% or less in high-income countries, suggesting substantial overtreatment. We assess whether procalcitonin-guided decision making for suspected early-onset sepsis can safely reduce the duration of antibiotic treatment.

Is the C242T Polymorphism of the CYBA Gene Linked with Oxidative Stress-Associated Complications of Prematurity?

The C242T polymorphism of CYBA (cytochrome B-245 alpha chain), the gene encoding the p22phox subunit of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, has been linked to several conditions in which oxidative stress plays a pathogenic role. We investigated in a cohort of 451 preterm infants [gestational age (GA) ≤30 weeks] the association of the polymorphism with the risk of developing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis, patent ductus arteriosus, or intraventricular hemorrhage. We observed a significant association of the TT/CT genotype with RDS [odds ratio (OR) 2.

Association between the p.Thr1406Asn polymorphism of the carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 gene and necrotizing enterocolitis: A prospective multicenter study.

The p.Thr1406Asn (rs1047891) polymorphism of the carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) gene has been linked to functional consequences affecting the downstream availability of the nitric oxide precursor L-arginine. L-arginine concentrations are decreased in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Hypoxia-induced contraction of chicken embryo mesenteric arteries: mechanisms and developmental changes.

The fetal cardiovascular responses to acute hypoxia include a redistribution of the cardiac output toward the heart and the brain at the expense of other organs, such as the intestine. We hypothesized that hypoxia exerts a direct effect on the mesenteric artery (MA) that may contribute to this response. Using wire myography, we investigated the response to hypoxia (Po ~2.

Small animal cardiovascular MR imaging and spectroscopy.

The use of MR imaging and spectroscopy for studying cardiovascular disease processes in small animals has increased tremendously over the past decade. This is the result of the remarkable advances in MR technologies and the increased availability of genetically modified mice. MR techniques provide a window on the entire timeline of cardiovascular disease development, ranging from subtle early changes in myocardial metabolism that often mark disease onset to severe myocardial dysfunction associated with end-stage heart failure.

Evaluation of iron oxide nanoparticle micelles for magnetic particle imaging (MPI) of thrombosis.

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is an emerging medical imaging modality that directly visualizes magnetic particles in a hot-spot like fashion. We recently developed an iron oxide nanoparticle-micelle (ION-Micelle) platform that allows highly sensitive MPI. The goal of this study was to assess the potential of the ION-Micelles for MPI-based detection of thrombi.

Plasma levels of dimethylarginines in preterm very low birth weight neonates: its relation with perinatal factors and short-term outcome.

Endogenously produced inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, in particular asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), are currently considered of importance in various disease states characterized by reduced NO availability. We investigated the association between plasma levels of ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), L-arginine, and citrulline and perinatal factors and outcome in 130 preterm (gestational age ≤ 30 weeks) very low birth weight (VLBW, < 1500 g) infants. Plasma samples were collected 6-12 h after birth.

Spin-lock MR enhances the detection sensitivity of superparamagnetic iron oxide particles.

Purpose: To evaluate spin-lock MR for detecting superparamagnetic iron oxides and compare the detection sensitivity of quantitative T1ρ with T2 imaging.

Methods: In vitro experiments were performed to investigate the influence of iron oxide particle size and composition on T1ρ . These comprise T1ρ and T2 measurements (B0 = 1.

Neonatal sepsis is mediated by maternal fever in labour epidural analgesia.

Women delivering with EA (EA group) were matched on parity with 453 women with deliveries without EA (non-EA group). Significantly more neonates born in the EA-group had fever ≥ 38.0°C (11.

T1 ρ mapping for the evaluation of high intensity focused ultrasound tumor treatment.

Purpose: This study was aimed to assess the effects of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) thermal ablation on tumor T1ρ .

Methods: In vivo T1ρ measurements of murine tumors at various spin-lock amplitudes (B1 = 0-2000 Hz) were performed before (n = 13), directly after (n = 13) and 3 days (n = 7) after HIFU treatment. T2 maps were obtained from the measurements at B1 = 0 Hz.