Indentation device for in situ Raman spectroscopic and optical studies

Instrumented indentation is a widely used technique to study the mechanical behavior of materials at small length scales. Mechanical tests of bulk materials, microscopic, and spectroscopic studies may be conducted to complement indentation and enable the determination of the kinetics and physics involved in the mechanical deformation of materials at the crystallographic and molecular level, e.g., strain build-up in crystal lattices, phase transformations, and changes in crystallinity or orientation. However, many of these phenomena occurring during indentation can only be observed in their entirety and analyzed in depth under in situ conditions. This paper describes the design, calibration, and operation of an indentation device that is coupled with a Raman microscope to conduct in situ spectroscopic and optical analysis of mechanically deformed regions of Raman-active, transparent bulk material, thin films or fibers under contact loading. The capabilities of the presented device are demonstrated by in situ studies of the indentation-induced phase transformations of Si thin films and modifications of molecular conformations in high density polyethylene films.

A method for stabilising technetium-99m exametazime prepared from a commercial kit

Technetium-99m exametazime (99mTc-d,l-HMPAO), prepared by the reconstitution of the Ceretec kit, is widely used in the investigation of regional cerebral blood flow. The radiochemical purity specification of not less than 80% lipophilic complex requires that the kit is used within 30 min of reconstitution. In certain circumstances this imposes restrictions on its clinical availability. A number of approaches to extending the 30-min shelf life have been proposed and these are discussed. A method of stabilising the kit by the addition of 200 micrograms cobalt chloride hexahydrate (CoCl2 x 6H2O) in 2 ml of water is described. The addition of this solution can extend the shelf life of the reconstituted kit to at least 5 h post reconstitution.

Technetium-99m-tetrofosmin as a new radiopharmaceutical for myocardial perfusion imaging

A new cationic complex, [99mTc(tetrofosmin)2O2]+, where tetrofosmin is the ether functionalized diphosphine ligand 1,2-bis[bis(2-ethoxyethyl)phosphino]ethane, has been synthesized and evaluated for potential use in myocardial perfusion imaging. The structure of the complex has been determined by x-ray crystallography of the 99Tc analog. In comparison with previously reported 99mTc complexes of alkyl-phosphines, the tetrofosmin species shows substantially increased clearance from nontarget tissue, especially blood and liver. A freeze-dried kit formulation has been developed. The kit provides a product of high radiochemical purity up to 8 hr after reconstitution at room temperature.

Cardiorespiratory effects of the novel opioid analgesic HP 736 in the anesthetized dog and conscious goat

7-Bromo-(3a,5-cis)-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydro-1,3a,8-trimethyl-pyrrolo[2,3- 6]indol-5-ol fumarate (HP 736) is a novel opioid analgesic. In vitro, HP 736 displaces [3H]dihydromorphine (IC50 = 8.3 x 10(-10) M) and [3H]bremazocine (IC50 = 7.4 x 10(-8) M) from mu and kappa opioid receptors, respectively, and displays modest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 4.0 x 10(-5) M). The in vivo antinociceptive activity of HP 736 was found to be comparable to morphine in the modified Haffner's tail clip assay in mice and the D'Amour-Smith tail flick assay in rats. Moreover, these analgesic effects were found to be completely antagonized by the administration of the narcotic antagonist naloxone. A major liability of opioid analgesics such as morphine is the potential to cause cardiorespiratory depression. HP 736 (2, 4 and 10 mg/kg, i.v.) was found to cause significantly less respiratory depression in the anesthetized dog when compared to equivalent doses of morphine. At 10 mg/kg, morphine caused a 48% reduction in arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) (-42.3 +/- 2.5 mm Hg) and a 52% increase in arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) (21.0 +/- 3.4 mm Hg). In contrast, the same dose of HP 736 produced no significant decrease in PaO2, but did cause a slight 19% increase in PaCO2 (8.2 +/- 1.3 mm Hg), which was significantly less than the response seen after morphine treatment. It was found that pretreatment of the dogs with atropine sulfate (1 mg/kg, i.v.) "unmasked" the respiratory depressant activity of HP 736 (2 mg/kg, i.v.), indicating that the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the compound may contribute to its reduced cardiorespiratory liability. Finally, in confirmatory experiments conducted in conscious goats, HP 736 (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) was found to stimulate pulmonary ventilation, increase PaO2 and oxygen consumption (+40%) and decrease PaCO2 with an overall stimulatory effect on the metabolic rate. In contrast, the same dose of morphine decreased metabolic rate, reduced pulmonary ventilation (-20%) and PaO2 and increased PaCO2. Overall, the results of these studies indicate that HP 736 is a potent opioid analgesic which appears to lack significant cardiorespiratory depressant activity.

Use of sodium iodide to overcome the eluate age restriction for Ceretec reconstitution

The Ceretec kit for preparation of 99Tcm-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) complex for the investigation of regional cerebral blood flow requires careful handling by the radiopharmacist and a number of restrictions have been placed on the kit relating to the nature of 99Tcm generator eluate used for reconstitution. The addition of sodium iodide to eluate immediately after elution can remove one of these restrictions. A level of 0.4 mg sodium iodide added after elution allows reconstitution of Ceretec up to 6 h later with no adverse effect on radiochemical purity. This offers a simple method for the use of this product if availability of fresh technetium generator eluate is a constraint.

The retention mechanism of technetium-99m-HM-PAO: intracellular reaction with glutathione

Preparations of d,l- and meso-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HM-PAO) labeled with technetium-99m were added to rat brain homogenates diluted with phosphate buffer (1:10). The conversion of d,l-HM-PAO to hydrophilic forms took place with an initial rate constant of 0.12 min-1. Incubation of the brain homogenate with 2% diethyl maleate for 5 h decreased the homogenate's measured glutathione (GSH) concentration from 160 to 16 microM and decreased the conversion rate to 0.012 min-1. Buffered aqueous solutions of glutathione rapidly converted the HM-PAO tracers to hydrophilic forms having the same chromatographic characteristics as found in the brain homogenates. The rate constant for the conversion reaction of d,l-HM-PAO in GSH aqueous solution was 208 and 317 L/mol/min in two different assay systems and for meso-HM-PAO the values were 14.7 and 23.2 L/mol/min, respectively. Rat brain has a GSH concentration of about 2.3 mM and the conversion of the d,l-HM-PAO due to GSH alone should proceed with a rate constant of 0.48 to 0.73 min-1 and be correspondingly 14-fold slower for meso-HM-PAO. In human brain, the in vivo data of Lassen et al. show a conversion rate constant of 0.80 min-1. This correspondence of values supports the notion that GSH may be important for the in vivo conversion of 99mTc-labeled HM-PAO to hydrophilic forms and may be the mechanism of trapping in brain and other cells. A kinetic model for the trapping of d,l- and meso-HM-PAO in tissue is developed that is based on data of GSH concentration in various organs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Technetium-99m d,l-HM-PAO: a new radiopharmaceutical for SPECT imaging of regional cerebral blood perfusion

Following investigation of a large number of new ligands based upon propylene amine oxime (PnAO) the d,l-diastereoisomer of hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime (HM-PAO) was selected as the preferred ligand for 99mTc as a tracer for cerebral perfusion imaging. The neutral, lipophilic 99mTc complex of d,l-HM-PAO was formed in high yield by stannous reduction of 99Mo/99mTc generator eluate using a kit formulation of the ligand. Two minutes following i.v. administration of this complex in rats, 2.25% of the injected dose appears in the brain. Little washout of the tracer is observed up to 24 hr postinjection. By qualitative autoradiographic comparison with iodoantipyrine this new radiopharmaceutical displays blood flow dependent brain uptake with little redistribution of the tracer over time. The lipophilic 99mTc complex converts slowly in vitro to a secondary complex. This conversion process may account for the ability of [99mTc]d,l-HM-PAO to be retained within the brain without redistribution.

Acquired arteriovenous fistulas of the scalp in hemophiliacs

The development of arteriovenous fistulas following multiple intravenous infusions in hemophiliacs has been previously reported. In this report, we discuss two patients in whom arteriovenous fistulas developed following the use of scalp veins as sites of infusion. Because of the rich vascularity of this area and the proximity of the arterial and venous systems we recommend that this site not be used for factor infusion.

Development of a 99Tcm-labelled radiopharmaceutical for cerebral blood flow imaging

A new radiopharmaceutical, 99Tcm-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (99Tcm-HM-PAO) has shown considerable promise for single photon emission tomographic (SPECT) imaging of the brain. In animal biodistribution studies this complex demonstrates good brain uptake with prolonged retention of activity in brain. Further improvement of these properties, resulting in higher brain uptake with very slow washout and fixed regional distribution has been achieved following the isolation of the d,1-diastereoisomer of HM-PAO.