| 1. |
- Barrefelt, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Biodistribution, kinetics, and biological fate of SPION microbubbles in the rat
- 2013
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Ingår i: International Journal of Nanomedicine. - 1176-9114 .- 1178-2013. ; 8, s. 3241-3254
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: In the present investigation, we studied the kinetics and biodistribution of a contrast agent consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) microbubbles containing superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPION) trapped between the PVA layers (SPION microbubbles). Methods: The biological fate of SPION microbubbles was determined in Sprague-Dawley rats after intravenous administration. Biodistribution and elimination of the microbubbles were studied in rats using magnetic resonance imaging for a period of 6 weeks. The rats were sacrificed and perfusion-fixated at different time points. The magnetic resonance imaging results obtained were compared with histopathologic findings in different organs. Results: SPION microbubbles could be detected in the liver using magnetic resonance imaging as early as 10 minutes post injection. The maximum signal was detected between 24 hours and one week post injection. Histopathology showed the presence of clustered SPION microbubbles predominantly in the lungs from the first time point investigated (10 minutes). The frequency of microbubbles declined in the pulmonary vasculature and increased in pulmonary, hepatic, and splenic macrophages over time, resulting in a relative shift from the lungs to the spleen and liver. Meanwhile, macrophages showed increasing signs of cytoplasmic iron accumulation, initially in the lungs, then followed by other organs. Conclusion: The present investigation highlights the biological behavior of SPION microbubbles, including organ distribution over time and indications for biodegradation. The present results are essential for developing SPION microbubbles as a potential contrast agent and/or a drug delivery vehicle for specific organs. Such a vehicle will facilitate the use of multimodality imaging techniques, including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and single positron emission computed tomography, and hence improve diagnostics, therapy, and the ability to monitor the efficacy of treatment.
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| 2. |
- Barrefelt, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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DYNAMIC MR IMAGING, BIODISTRIBUTION AND PHARMACOKINETICS OF POLYMER SHELLED MICROBUBBLES CONTAINING SPION
- 2014
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Ingår i: NANO. - 1793-2920. ; 9:6, s. 1450069-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive diagnostic method that provides information on morphological and physiological changes of the internal organs over time. Imaging and measurements can be repeated on the same subject, thereby reducing inter-individual variability effects and hence the number of subjects required. A potential MRI contrast agent consisting of microbubbles embedded with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) in the shell (SPION MBs) was injected intravenously into rats to determine their biodistribution and pharmacokinetics using MR imaging. Agarose phantoms containing SPION MBs were scanned using 3 T MRI to construct a standard curve. Rats were injected with SPION MBs, free SPION or plain MBs and scanned dynamically at 3 T using a clinical MR scanner. The relaxation rate (R2*) was studied over time as a measure of the iron oxide concentrations to enable calculation of the pharmacokinetic parameters. The kinetics of SPION MBs in the liver was fitted to a one-compartment model. Furthermore, the biological fate of SPION MBs was examined via a histological survey of tissue samples using Perls' Prussian blue staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC). 1.2 h after injection of SPION MBs, T2* of the liver had decreased to its minimum. The elimination half-life of SPION MBs was 598.2 +/- 97.3 h, while the half-life for SPION was 222.6 +/- 26.4 h. Moreover, our study showed that SPION MBs were taken up by the macrophages in the lungs, spleen and liver. MBs labeled with SPION can be used for MR imaging. Moreover, MRI is a reliable and noninvasive tool that can be utilized in pharmacokinetic investigations of future contrast agents using SPION MBs and SPION in the rat.
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| 3. |
- Brismar, Torkel B., et al.
(författare)
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Magnetite Nanoparticles Can Be Coupled to Microbubbles to Support Multimodal Imaging
- 2012
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Ingår i: Biomacromolecules. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1525-7797 .- 1526-4602. ; 13:5, s. 1390-1399
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Microbubbles (MBs) are commonly used as injectable ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) in modern ultrasonography. Polymer-shelled UCAs present additional potentialities with respect to marketed lipid-shelled UCAs. They are more robust; that is, they have longer shelf and circulation life, and surface modifications are quite easily accomplished to obtain enhanced targeting and local drug delivery. The next generation of UCAs will be required to support not only ultrasound-based imaging methods but also other complementary diagnostic approaches such as magnetic resonance imaging or computer tomography. This work addresses the features of MBs that could function as contrast agents for both ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. The results indicate that the introduction of iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in the poly(vinyl alcohol) shell or on the external surface of the MBs does not greatly decrease the echogenicity of the host MBs compared with the unmodified one. The presence of SPIONs provides enough magnetic susceptibility to the MBs to accomplish good detectability both in vitro and in vivo. The distribution of SPIONs on the shell and their aggregation state seem to be key factors for the optimization of the transverse relaxation rate.
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| 4. |
- Gardin, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in chronic Achilles tendinosis
- 2013
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Ingår i: BMC Medical Imaging. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2342. ; 13, s. 39-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Chronic Achilles tendinosis is a common problem. When evaluating and comparing different therapies there is a need for reliable imaging methods. Our aim was to evaluate if chronic Achilles tendinosis affects the dynamic contrast-enhancement in the tendon and its surroundings and if short-term eccentric calf-muscle training normalizes the dynamic contrast-enhancement. Methods: 20 patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy were included. Median duration of symptoms was 31 months (range 6 to 120 months). Both Achilles tendons were examined with dynamic contrast enhanced MRI before and after a 12-week exercise programme of eccentric calf-muscle training. The dynamic MRI was evaluated in tendon, vessel and in fat ventrally of tendon. Area under the curve (AUC), time to peak of signal, signal increase per second (SI/s) and increase in signal between start and peak as a percentage (SI%) was calculated. Pain and performance were evaluated using a questionnaire. Results: In the fat ventrally of the tendon, dynamic contrast enhancement was significantly higher in the symptomatic leg compared to the contralateral non-symptomatic leg before but not after treatment. Despite decreased pain and improved performance there was no significant change of dynamic contrast enhancement in symptomatic tendons after treatment. Conclusion: In Achilles tendinosis there is an increased contrast enhancement in the fat ventrally of the tendon. The lack of correlation with symptoms and the lack of significant changes in tendon contrast enhancement parameters do however indicate that dynamic enhanced MRI is currently not a useful method to evaluate chronic Achilles tendinosis.
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| 5. |
- Grishenkov, Dmitry, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Characterization of Acoustic Properties of PVA-Shelled Ultrasound Contrast Agents
- 2010
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Ingår i: Ultrasound Contrast Agents. - Italia : Springer-Verlag. - 9788847014930 ; , s. 99-108
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This work examines the acoustic behavior of ultrasound contrast agents made of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) shelled microbubbles manufactured at three different pH and temperature conditions. Backscattering amplitude, attenuation coefficient and phase velocity of ultrasonic waves propagating through suspensions of PVA contrast agents were measured at temperature values ranging between 24 oC and 37 oC in a frequency range from 3 MHz to 13 MHz. A significant enhancement of the backscattering amplitude and displaying a weak dependence on temperature were observed. Attenuation and phase velocity, on the other hand, showed higher sensitivity to temperature variations. The dependence on system parameters such as the number of cycles, frequency, and exposure of the peak negative pressure, Pthr, at which ultrasound contrast agents fracture was also investigated. The effects of temperature, blood, and, wherever data are available, of the dimension of the microbubbles on Pthr are also considered. The large shell thickness notwithstanding, the results of this investigation show that at room temperature PVA contrast agents fracture at negative peak pressure values within the recommended safety limit. Furthermore, Pthr decreases with increasing temperature, radius of the microbubbles, and number of cycles of the incident wave. In conclusion, these results suggest that PVA-shelled microbubbles may offer a potentially viable system to be employed for both imaging and therapeutic purposes.
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| 6. |
- Grishenkov, Dmitry, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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In vitro contrast-enhanced ultrasound measurements of capillary microcirculation : Comparison between polymer- and phospholipid-shelled microbubbles
- 2011
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Ingår i: Ultrasonics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0041-624X .- 1874-9968. ; 51:1, s. 40-48
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The focus of contrast-enhanced ultrasound research has developed beyond visualizing the blood pool and its flow to new areas such as perfusion imaging, drug and gene therapy, and targeted imaging. In this work comparison between the application of polymer- and phospholipid-shelled ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) for characterization of the capillary microcirculation is reported. All experiments are carried out using a microtube as a vessel phantom. The first set of experiments evaluates the optimal concentration level where backscattered signal from microbubbles depends on concentration linearly. For the polymer-shelled UCAs the optimal concentration level is reached at a value of about 2 x 10(4) MB/ml, whereas for the phospholipid-shelled UCAs the optimal level is found at about 1 x 10(5) MB/ml.Despite the fact that the polymer shell occupies 30% of the radius of microbubble, compared to 0.2% of the phospholipid-shelled bubble, approximately 5-fold lower concentration of the polymer UCA is needed for investigation compared to phospholipid-shelled analogues. In the second set of experiments, destruction/replenishment method with varied time intervals ranging from 2 ms to 3 s between destructive and monitoring pulses is employed. The dependence of the peak-to-peak amplitude of backscattered wave versus pulse interval is fitted with an exponential function of the time gamma = A( 1 - exp(-beta t)) where A represents capillary volume and the time constant beta represents velocity of the flow. Taking into account that backscattered signal is linearly proportional to the microbubble concentration, for both types of the UCAs it is observed that capillary volume is linearly proportional to the concentration of the microbubbles, but the estimation of the flow velocity is not affected by the change of the concentration. Using the single capillary model, for the phospholipid-shelled UCA a delay of about 0.2-0.3 s in evaluation of the perfusion characteristics is found while polymer-shelled UCA provide response immediately. The latter at the concentration lower than 3.6 x 10(5) MB/ml have no statistically significant delay (p < 0.01), do not cause any attenuation of the backscattered signal or saturation of the receiving part of the system. In conclusion, these results suggest that the novel polymer-shelled microbubbles have a potential to be used for perfusion evaluation.
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| 7. |
- Grishenkov, Dmitry, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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On comparison between polymer- and phospholipid-shelled microbubbles for contrast-enhanced ultrasound measurements of capillary microcirculation.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 34<sup>th</sup> Scandinavian Symposium on Physical Acoustics.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The focus of contrast-enhanced ultrasound research has developed beyond visualizing the blood circulation to new areas such as perfusion and molecular imaging, drug and gene therapy. This work compares the application of polymer- and phospholipid-shelled ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) employed for characterization of the capillary microcirculation. To quantify microcirculation destruction/replenishment technique with varied time intervals between destructive and monitoring pulses is used. The dependence of the peak-to-peak amplitude of backscattered wave versus pulse interval is fitted with an exponential function of the time y=A(1-exp(-βt)) , where A represents capillary volume and the time constant β represents velocity of the flow. Working under assumption that backscattered signal is linearly proportional to the microbubble concentration, for both types of the UCAs it is observed that capillary volume, A, is in linearly relationship with the concentration, and the flow velocity, β, remain unchanged. Using 500 µm diameter microtube as a vessel phantom a delay of about 0.25 s in evaluation of the perfusion characteristics is found for the phospholipid-shelled UCA, while polymer-shelled UCA provide response immediately. In conclusion, these results suggest that the novel polymer-shelled microbubbles have a potential to be used for perfusion evaluation.
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| 8. |
- Kälvesten, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Potential sources of quantification error when retrospectively assessing metacarpal bone loss from historical radiographs by using digital X-ray radiogrammetry : an experimental study
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of clinical densitometry. - : Elsevier. - 1094-6950 .- 1559-0747. ; 17:1, s. 104-108
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During the past 15 yr, digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) has been used to measure metacarpal bone mineral density (BMD). BMD is often measured in existing cohorts where X-ray images were not acquired in accordance with the DXR imaging protocol (DIP). The purpose of the present study was to analyze how deviations from DIP in historical radiographs may affect the reproducibility of DXR-BMD measurements. Cadaver hand phantoms were used to conduct repeat measurements of deviations from DIP with respect to voltage, exposure, lateral displacement, supination, combination of lateral displacement and supination or rotation, extension of the wrist, and edge enhancement. Direct digital radiography (Aristos; Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) was used for image acquisition and dxr-online (Sectra, Linkoping, Sweden) for DXR-BMD measurements. The influence of the tested deviations from DIP ranged from 0 to 32.5 mg/cm(2) (0-6.8%). On repetition with the same specimen, none of the deviations resulted in a within-specimen reproducibility error greater than 2 mg/cm(2) (0.4%, equivalent to a T-score of 0.042). Among the tested deviations, all except tube voltage had a magnitude greater than the normal measurement noise for the technique and must therefore be considered when planning a study based on historical images.
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| 9. |
- Ripsweden, Jonaz, et al.
(författare)
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Impact on image quality and radiation exposure in coronary CT angiography: 100 kVp versus 120 kVp
- 2010
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Ingår i: Acta Radiologica. - : SAGE Publications. - 1600-0455 .- 0284-1851. ; 51:8, s. 903-909
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The risk of radiation-induced cancer has become a major concern with the increasing use of computed tomography (CT). Purpose: To compare image quality and radiation doses when decreasing X-ray tube peak kilovoltage (kVp) from 120 to 100 kVp in patients undergoing coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Material and Methods: Patients referred for evaluation of suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent 64-channel detector CCTA using a tube voltage of either 120 kVp (n = 46) or 100 kVp (n = 82). The individual volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) were recorded and effective radiation dose was estimated on the basis of DLP. Subjective image quality was assessed by two radiologists on per-patient based consensus. Vascular density and image noise were quantified in the left main coronary artery (LMCA) and proximal ascending aorta (AA). Mean density in the adjacent perivascular tissue was also quantified. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was calculated. Corresponding invasive coronary angiography (ICA) was performed, which constituted the gold standard. Results: Mean values in the 100120 kVp cohorts regarding CNR in the LMCA were 12.716.0 (P < 0.0001)) and in the AA 13.217.2 (P < 0.0001), CTDIvol 34.457.4 mGy (a 40% reduction, P < 0.0001), DLP 5781125 mGy X cm (P < 0.0001), and estimated effective dose 9.620.2 mSv (P < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in subjective image quality between the two cohorts. The sensitivity to detect significant coronary stenoses was 88% (120 kVp) and 84% (100 kVp) and the specificity was 71% (120 kVp) and 74% (100 kVp), respectively. Conclusion: By reduction of tube voltage from 120 to 100 kVp at CCTA, while keeping all other scanning parameters unchanged, the radiation dose to the patient can be almost halved while keeping the diagnostic image quality at a clinically acceptable level.
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| 10. |
- Svensson, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Automatic individualized contrast medium dosage during hepatic computed tomography by using computed tomography dose index volume (CTDIvol)
- 2014
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Ingår i: European Radiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0938-7994 .- 1432-1084. ; 24:8, s. 1959-1963
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To compare hepatic parenchymal contrast media (CM) enhancement during multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) and its correlation with volume pitch-corrected computed tomography dose index CTDIvol) and body weight (BW). One hundred patients referred for standard three-phase thoraco-abdominal MDCT examination were enrolled. BW was measured in the CT suite. Forty grams of iodine was administered intravenously (iodixanol 320 mg I/ml at 5 ml/s or iomeprol 400 mg I/ml at 4 ml/s) followed by a 50-ml saline flush. CTDIvol presented by the CT equipment during the parenchymal examination was recorded. The CM enhancement of the liver was defined as the attenuation HU of the liver parenchyma during the hepatic parenchymal phase minus the attenuation in the native phase. Liver parenchymal enhancement was negatively correlated to both CTDIvol (r = -0.60) and BW (r = -0.64), but the difference in correlation between those two was not significant. CTDIvol may replace BW when adjusting CM doses to body size. This makes it potentially feasible to automatically individualize CM dosage by CT. aEuro cent CTDI (vol) is related to liver CM enhancement in the parenchymal phase. aEuro cent CTDI (vol) provides comparable information to body weight (BW). aEuro cent CTDI (vol) may be used when automatically adjusting CM dose for patient size.
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