Photochemical Internalization of Gemcitabine Is Safe and Effective in Locally Advanced Inoperable Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Photochemical internalization (PCI) is a novel technology for light-induced enhancement of the local therapeutic effect of cancer drugs, utilizing a specially designed photosensitizing molecule (fimaporfin). The photosensitizing molecules are trapped in endosomes along with macromolecules or drugs. Photoactivation of fimaporfin disrupts the endosomal membranes so that drug molecules are released from endosomes inside cells and can reach their therapeutic target in the cell cytosol or nucleus.

Intestinal and hepatic lesions in mice, rats, and other laboratory animals after intravenous administration of gas-carrier contrast agents used in ultrasound imaging.

Single intravenous administration of three different gas-carrier contrast agents used in ultrasound imaging to mice caused inflammation, necrosis, and ulceration of cecum and proximal colon (cecocolonic area) and focal necrosis in the liver. Similar intestinal lesions were also found in rats after treatment with a single iv administration of a gas-carrier contrast agent. Strain differences in the incidences of these lesions were found in both rats and mice.

Air-filled ultrasound contrast agents do not damage the cerebral microvasculature or brain tissue in rats.

Rationale And Objectives: Air microemboli may damage the cerebral microvasculature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of ultrasound contrast agents composed of air microspheres with regard to cerebral damage when administered into the arterial system (ie, when not filtered by the capillary system of the lungs).

Methods: Three experimental methods were used in 75 rats after injection of either Albunex, Echovist, or Levovist into the left heart ventricle.

Effect of microsphere size distribution on the ultrasonographic contrast efficacy of air-filled albumin microspheres in the left ventricle of dog hearts.

Rationale And Objectives: The in vitro ultrasonographic contrast efficacy of air-filled albumin microspheres has been found to depend on the size distribution of microspheres. The objective of the current study was to empirically describe the relationship between the size distribution of injected air-filled albumin microspheres and the in vivo contrast efficacy after lung capillary filtration in a dog model.

Methods: Twenty different air-filled microspheres with large and well-defined differences in size distribution were prepared from nine different batches of Albunex (Molecular Biosystems Inc.

Neural tolerance of the non-ionic dimers iodixanol and iotrolan and the non-ionic monomer iopamidol during myelography in non-anaesthetised rabbits.

Purpose: The neural tolerance of the recently introduced dimer iodixanol (320 g I/l) was compared with that of the dimer iotrolan (300 g I/l) and of the monomer iopamidol (300 g I/l), both used in clinical myelography.

Material And Methods: Non-anaesthetised rabbits were injected into the cisterna magna with Ringer's solution (control) or contrast media (CM) at doses of 1.0 or 0.