Credit-card sized field and benchtop NMR relaxometers using field programmable gate arrays

Publication date: Available online 18 October 2018

Source: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Author(s): J. Beau W. Webber, Pavel Demin

Abstract

The tools for developing systems for NMR improve each year. Some firmware based designs based on Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have been developed to implement both the core and peripheral apparatus for NMR Relaxometers and NMR Cryoporometers. Hand held in size they are particularly suitable for desktop, mobile and field use.

Software tools now enable the writing of firmware that enable the rapid design of digital and digitised R.F. data and control systems. This firmware can then be loaded into and run on hardware that often is only the size of a credit-card. These devices can include a single-chip Linux computer with an FPGA capable of processing digital RF on the same chip. These can generate RF signals digitally, process RF signals for up- and down-conversion, and can provide an on chip NMR pulse sequencer.

An extremely well tested NMR digital transmitter has been upgraded to use the latest surface-mount Bipolar and Field Effect Transistors. The circuitry is now the size of a book of matches, and interfaces to credit-card sized FPGA modules for RF generation, phase shifting and drive signals. This NMR transmitter design uses digital logic principles rather than conventional tuned R.F. techniques Offering both active-damping and active-quench, a very square R.F. Pulse with fast turn off is achieved, with Mark 1 giving 2.6 μs π/2 and 4.8 μs π pulses into a 5 mm diameter NMR sample (2.7 mT B₁) at 20 MHz for Protons. T1ρ pulses are stable and consistent.

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Effect of Physical and Chemical Hair Removal Methods on Skin Barrier Function in vitro: Consequences for a Hydrophilic Model Permeant

Background: Although very common in our society, the effect of hair removal on physiological skin parameters and on the ingress of applied chemicals has not been systematically investigated. Thus, as a first step, the aim of the present study was to elucidate the effect of hair removal through epilation (electric epilation, waxing) and depilation (dry and wet shaving, depilatory cream) on skin properties in vitro using the porcine ear model. Methods: Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, measurement of the transepidermal water loss (TEWL), visualization by capacitance-based contact imaging, confocal Raman spectroscopy (CRS), diffusion cell studies and tape stripping experiments were employed. Results: Increased TEWL and altered skin permittivity maps were observed. Decreased stratum corneum thickness was observed after waxing. Diffusion cell studies showed increased skin permeation especially in case of dry shaving, electric epilation and waxing. Conclusion: Considering CRS and diffusion cell data, a moderate if significant decrease in skin barrier function was found after hair removal by dry shaving (physical skin/material interaction) and epilation methods (plucking out the entire hair, for example, by electrical epilation and waxing). Subsequent experiments will include testing of different permeants covering a broad range of physicochemical properties in vitro and confirming our findings in vivo.
Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2019;32:8–21

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Lung cancer with bone metastases in the United States: an analysis from the Surveillance, Epidemiologic, and End Results database

Abstract

The present study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database to identify demographic and prognostic characteristics of lung cancer with bone metastases in the United States from 2010 to 2014. 30,364 patients with metastatic lung cancer to bones were identified in the SEER database. Their information on the basic characteristics and the histological signatures of the cancer was extracted and analyzed. Joinpoint analysis was used to test the trends in annual percentage change (APC) of the incidence. 1-year survival rate among patients with metastatic lung cancer to bones was only 20.2%, and median survival time was about 3.0 months for those patients. Young age, female sex, race other than white and black, tumor in lobes, smaller tumor, adenocarcinoma, and surgery for primary site were associated with a significant survival benefit. APC of the incidence almost increased steadily on the whole and reached the level of statistical significance among the patients older than age 60. Although there are some signatures associated with better prognosis, the overall outcome remains very poor in patients with metastatic lung cancer to bones. In addition, the incidence of lung cancer with bone metastases is increasing in certain subgroups in the United States.

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The Association of Handgrip Strength and Mortality: What Does It Tell Us and What Can We Do With It?

Rejuvenation Research, Ahead of Print.


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“Aging, Geroscience, and Freedom”

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Clinical Thyroidology®High-Impact Articles

FREE ACCESS through November 1, 2018.
Read Now:

Paul Walfish—In Memoriam
Anthony Hollenberg, Jerome M. Hershman 

Radioactive Iodine Therapy Is Associated with Clonal Hematopoiesis, a Precursor for Hematologic Malignancies
Brian W. Kim  

Persistent Disease is 3.5-Fold More Common Than Recurrent Disease After Initial Therapy for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Jerome M Hershman  

Male Sex Is Associated with Increased Mortality from Papillary Thyroid Cancers with BRAF V600E Mutation
Lauren E. Orr, Michael W. Yeh, Masha J. Livhits  

Varying Levothyroxine Doses Within or Near the Reference Range Does Not Affect Energy Expenditure or Body Composition
Elizabeth N. Pearce  

Levothyroxine Replacement for Primary Hypothyroidism Can Be Given Between Meals with Similar Effectiveness at Various Times of the Day
Charles H. Emerson

The post Clinical Thyroidology^®High-Impact Articles appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

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How do you treat a droopy eyelid?

Ptosis refers to a droopy eyelid, where the upper eye area lowers downward. Causes include genetics, eye surgery, and excessive rubbing. Treatment can involve surgery, but usually for cosmetic reasons only. Prevention is harder due to genes playing a role. Learn more about this manageable condition here.

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Anti-Aging Passion and Pragmatism: Effective Bedfellows at Last

Rejuvenation Research, Volume 21, Issue 5, Page 387-388, October 2018.


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Prevention of Senescence in Vasculature Through Quiescence

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Crowdfunding Model for Conducting Clinical Studies

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Assessing the Validity of Clinician Advice on Topical Agent Use Before Radiotherapy

This survey study of patients undergoing radiotherapy for cancer compares clinician advice against using topical agents before radiotherapy to avoid an increased radiation dose to the skin with the results of a dosimetric study and a preclinical study in an animal model.

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Use of Trend Statements to Describe Statistically Nonsignificant Results in the Oncology Literature

This study examines recent original research articles in leading oncology journals to evaluate the use of statements about the trend of a P value toward significance to describe statistically nonsignificant results.

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Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of Alveolar Soft-Part Sarcoma

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Debunking Advice to Avoid Topical Agents Before Radiotherapy

The clinical science of radiotherapy (RT) has evolved considerably since the early use of low-energy (150- to 300-kV) orthovoltage x-rays, which deposit much of their energy at the skin surface. Indeed, the skin "erythema dose" was the primary means of standardizing radiation doses given the limited tangible criteria for documenting radiation effects at the time. Contemporary RT uses high-energy photons that deposit their maximum dose several centimeters below the skin surface. Nevertheless, in 90% to 95% of cases, moderate to high doses of this megavoltage radiation can lead to acute radiation dermatitis, which begins as erythema during the first 2 weeks of treatment before progressing to dry desquamation, and, in some cases, on to moist desquamation. Management of these reactions varies; preventive and interventional strategies have included frequent washing with mild soap and using topical dressings and corticosteroidal and noncorticosteroidal topical agents.

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Progestin, Not Progesterone

To the Editor In their article on breast cancer risk in BRCA1 mutation carriers who were given hormone replacement therapy postovariectomy, the authors use the word "progesterone" throughout without explanation or qualification. The corresponding author affirmed that most of these women received various progestins, not progesterone.

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Alisertib Plus Paclitaxel in Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer or Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

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Current approaches to immunotherapy in noncolorectal gastrointestinal malignancies

Noncolorectal gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies are among the most frequently diagnosed cancers. Despite the undeniable progress in systemic treatments in recent decades, further improvements using cytotoxic chemotherapy seem unlikely. In this setting, recent discoveries regarding the mechanism underlying immune evasion have prompted the study of molecules capable of inducing strong antitumor responses. Thus, according to early data, immunotherapy is a very promising tool for the treatment of patients with GI malignancies. Noncolorectal GI cancers are a major public health problem worldwide. Traditional treatment options, such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, monoclonal antibodies and antiangiogenic agents, have been the backbone of treatment for various stages of GI cancers, but overall mortality remains a major problem. Thus, there is a substantial unmet need for new drugs and therapies to further improve the outcomes of treatment for noncolorectal GI malignancies. "Next-generation" immunotherapy is emerging as an effective and promising treatment option in several types of cancers. Therefore, encouraged by this recent success, many clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and other strategies in treating noncolorectal GI malignancies are ongoing. This review will summarize the current clinical progress of modern immunotherapy in the field of noncolorectal GI tumors.

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Moisturizers versus Current and Next-Generation Barrier Repair Therapy for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis

We compare here the principal characteristics of over-the-counter moisturizers with physiologic lipid-based barrier repair therapy. Moisturizers are standard ancillary therapy for anti-inflammatory skin disorders, like atopic dermatitis (AD), and can attenuate the emergence of AD, the initial step in the "atopic march." But not all moisturizers are beneficial; some can make skin function worse, and can even induce inflammation, possibly accounting for the frequent occurrence of "sensitive skin" in women. In contrast, physiologic lipid-based barrier repair therapy, if comprised of the 3 key stratum corneum lipids, in sufficient quantities and at an appropriate molar ratio, can correct the barrier abnormality and reduce inflammation in AD, and perhaps in other inflammatory dermatoses.
Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2019;32:1–7

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Rheology of hyaluronic acid and dynamic facial rejuvenation: Topographical specificities

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