Isolated lung perfusion: single-pass system versus recirculating blood perfusion in pigs

BACKGROUND: Cytostatic isolated lung perfusion has been advocated for treating pulmonary metastasis of soft tissue sarcoma. Different techniques of isolated lung perfusion have been developed. METHODS: Isolated lung perfusion with and without doxorubicin was performed on white pigs during 15 minutes either by a single-pass system (n = 7) or by a recirculating-blood perfusion system (n = 7). Three animals with endovenous drug application served as controls. Leakage was assessed using isotopic tracers. Perfusion-induced lung tissue injury was determined by postperfusion chest radiographs, by angiotensin-converting enzyme-to-protein ratio in the plasma and in the bronchioalveolar lavage fluid, and by wet-to-dry weight ratio and histologic examination of lung biopsy specimens at 20 and 50 minutes. Doxorubicin concentration in lung tissue and plasma was compared between the three study groups. RESULTS: All isolated lung perfusion studies were successfully performed without significant systemic leakage (< 0.6%). Wet-to-dry weight ratio was significantly lower after single-pass as compared with recirculating-blood perfusion and endovenous drug application at both time points (5.0 +/- 1.1 and 5.3 +/- 0.8 for single-pass versus 6.6 +/- 1.1 and 6.9 +/- 0.5 for recirculating-blood versus 6.6 +/- 0.2 and 5.9 +/- 0.7 for the control group, respectively; p < 0.05). Angiotensin-converting enzyme-to-protein plasma ratio in the single-pass group was significantly lower only at 20 minutes (6.3 +/- 2.4 versus 9.3 +/- 1.0 versus 9.7 +/- 1.9, respectively; p < 0.05) but not at 50 minutes. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-to-protein ratio in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, histology of lung biopsy specimens, and chest radiographs did not differ significantly between the three groups. Doxorubicin lung tissue concentration was not significantly different after single-pass (17.5 micrograms/g) and recirculating-blood perfusion (21.9 micrograms/g), but was significantly higher than after endovenous drug application (3.0 micrograms/g; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both isolated lung perfusion techniques resulted in a sixfold to sevenfold higher doxorubicin lung tissue concentration than after endovenous application. Isolated lung perfusion-induced lung injury was similar for both techniques, but recirculating-blood perfusion appeared to result in more acute lung injury and was technically more demanding than single-pass perfusion.     

Optimization-based multifrequency test generation for analog circuits

A robust test set for analog circuits has to detect faults under maximal masking effects due to variations of circuit parameters in their tolerance box. In this paper we propose an optimization based multifrequency test generation method for detecting parametric faults in linear analog circuits. Given a set of performances and a frequency range, our approach selects the test frequencies that maximize the observability on a circuit performance of a parameter deviation under the worst masking effects of normal variations of the other parameters. Experimental results are provided and validated by HSpice simulations to illustrate the proposed approach.     

Subjective symptoms before and after prostate surgery. The International Symptom Scoring System, I-PSS

In this thesis are evaluated the questionnaires of the I-PSS retrieved from 415 patients (TVPE 104, TURP 272, TUIP + PRP 25 and TUIP 14) operated on the BPH at the department of Urology, FN Motol, during 1988-1993. The average value of S in the whole group of patients was 18.9 in the pre-surgery period and 6.9 after surgery. Before the surgery, the prominent difficulties were recorded in 50.8% of patients (S = 20-35) and after surgery this number fell down to 7%. Without any major difficulties (S = 0-7) were 66.3% of patients after the surgery. The average value of L before and after surgery was 4.2 and 1.6 respectively. The quality of life after the surgery was perceived by the patients more convenient than should correspond to the symptom scoring value. The best results (both the average S and L) were recorded in patients after TVPE (S 5.1 and L 1.1), followed by TURP (S 7.4 and L 1.7), than TUIP + PRP (S 8.4 and L 2.1) and only TUIP alone closed scale (S 8.9 and L 2.4). The differences of postsurgery S and L are statistically significant (p < 0.05). The comparison between the subjective better performance and the quality of life, when taken from TVPE resp. TURP point of view, does not prove to be the statistical difference. The comparison between S changes after the standard operation (TVPE and TURP) and minor prostatic surgery (TUIP + PRP and TUIP) also does not occur as statistically significant. Only the quality of life (L changes) is recorded by the patients as significantly worse after the minor prostatic surgery (p < 0.05). The pre-surgery worst perceived symptoms are: weak stream, nycturia and polakisuria (questions Nr. 5.7 and 2). After the surgery, nycturia is the leading worst symptom.     

4-Methylimidazol in Caramel und caramelgef?rbten Lebensmitteln

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine spezifische und kochempfindliche Methode zur Bestimmung von 4-Methylimidazol (4-MeI) in Caramel und caramelgefärbten Lebensmitteln beschrieben. Nach der Extraktion wird 4-MeI gaschromatographisch mit einem stickstoffspezifischen elektrochemischen Detektor (Hall) bestimmt. Als weniger spezifische Alternative kann ein thermoionischer Detektor eingesetzt werden. Bei Zusätzen von 5–200 mg 4-MeI/kg Karamel beträgt die Wiederfindungsrate 90–94%.Die Nachweisgrenze der Methode liegt unterhalb 0,1 mg 4-MeI/kg Caramel; in karamelgefärbten Lebensmitteln können weniger als 0,01 mg/kg nachgewiesen werden.

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4-methylimidazole in caramel and caramel-colored foodsDetermination by gas-liquid-chromatography with nitrogen-specific detectors

Summary A specific and highly sensitive method for the determination of 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI) in caramel and caramel-colored foods is described. After extraction the amount of 4-MeI is determined by gas-liquid chromatography with a nitrogen-specific electrochemical detector (Hall). As a less specific alternative a thermoionic detector can be used. With additions in the range of 5–200 mg 4-MeI/kg caramel, recoveries of 90–94% are obtained.The limit of detection is <0.1 mg 4-Mel/kg caramel; in caramel-colored foods less than 0.01 mg/kg can be detected.