In vivo deuterium magnetic resonance imaging of xenografted tumors following systemic administration of deuterated water.

In vivo deuterated water (HO) labeling leads to deuterium (H) incorporation into biomolecules of proliferating cells and provides the basis for its use in cell kinetics research. We hypothesized that rapidly proliferating cancer cells would become preferentially labeled with H and, therefore, could be visualized by deuterium magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) following a brief period of in vivo systemic HO administration. We initiated systemic HO administration in two xenograft mouse models harboring either human colorectal, HT-29, or pancreatic, MiaPaCa-2, tumors and HO level of ~ 8% in total body water (TBW).

Phase I safety trial of intravenous ascorbic acid in patients with severe sepsis.

Background: Parenterally administered ascorbic acid modulates sepsis-induced inflammation and coagulation in experimental animal models. The objective of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase I trial was to determine the safety of intravenously infused ascorbic acid in patients with severe sepsis.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with severe sepsis in the medical intensive care unit were randomized 1:1:1 to receive intravenous infusions every six hours for four days of ascorbic acid: Lo-AscA (50 mg/kg/24 h, n = 8), or Hi-AscA (200 mg/kg/24 h, n = 8), or Placebo (5% dextrose/water, n = 8).

A rapid and simple chemiluminescence method for screening levels of inosine and hypoxanthine in non-traumatic chest pain patients.

A rapid and simple chemiluminescence method was developed for detection of inosine and hypoxanthine in human plasma. The method utilized a microplate luminometer with direct injectors to automatically dispense reagents during sample analysis. Enzymatic conversions of inosine to hypoxanthine, followed by hypoxanthine to xanthine to uric acid, generated superoxide anion radicals as a useful metabolic by-product.