Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1991. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [131]-137).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 12, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

INTRODUCTION: The "vulnerable plaque" is defined as the "precursor lesion" that ultimately ends in acute coronary thrombi (clots) that create a heart attack. Macrophages and inflammatory cells, found preferentially in vulnerable plaque, sustain their activity in the plaque through anaerobic metabolism and lactate production. The ultimate goal is to assess anaerobic metabolism in-vivo by measuring tissue pH and lactate concentration in atherosclerotic plaques using optical spectroscopy. The proposed in-vitro optical probe design, experimental method, and spectroscopic data analysis methodology are established in this research. METHODS: A fiber optic probe was designed and built based on both Monte Carlo simulations and bench testing with the goal to collect light from a small volume of tissue. A simulation of the depth penetration of the proposed probe was performed on normal and atherosclerotic aortic tissue, and the final probe was bench tested using normal aorta. A method was developed to preserve plaque metabolic status of tissue harvested from patients. Human atherosclerotic tissue obtained immediately after carotid endarterectomy was placed in Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) with non-essential amino acids supplement, bubbled with 75%O2/20%N2/5%CO2 at 37°C. Tissue pH, pCO2, pO2 and temperature with (n=7) and without (n=2) the media preparation over time were reviewed to assess plaque viability and maintenance of physiological conditions. Additional plaques placed in media were used for development of chemometric methods to measure pH and lactate. Areas of each plaque were randomly chosen for analysis. Reflectance spectra were collected with a dispersive spectrometer (400-1100 nm) and a Fourier-transform near-infrared spectrometer (1100-2400 nm) using the fiber optic probe. Reference measurements for tissue pH and lactate were made with glass microelectrodes and micro-enzymatic assay, respectively. Partial least-squares (PLS) data analysis was used to develop multivariate calibration models on an initial set of 5-6 plaques relating the optical spectra to the reference tissue pH (n=20) or the lactate concentration (n=21) to assess data quality. The coefficient of multiple determination (R2), the standard error of cross-validation (SECV), and the number of factors were used to assess the model performance. Additional points were collected from ~14 plaques and added to preliminary data. Pre-processing techniques were then used to see if preliminary data results could be improved by reducing different sources of variability with the introduction of more points. RESULTS: Monte Carlo simulations and depth penetration tests with the final probe design showed light is collected from ~1 mm3 volume of tissue using a 50 micron source-receiver separation. Tissue pH, pCO2, pO2 and temperature values demonstrated that the plaques were viable and stable in the media preparation for a maximum of 4 hours. Data from the first six plaques collected for lactate analysis showed that for seventeen points, a six-factor model produced adequate results (R2=0.83 SECV=1.4 micromoles lactate/gram tissue). Data from the first five plaques collected for tissue pH analysis, showed for seventeen different points, a three-factor model produced adequate results (R2=0.75 SECV=0.09 pH units). When additional points were added to either data set, model results were degraded. CONCLUSIONS: The in-vitro optical probe design and experimental procedures was established and the feasibility of the optical method demonstrated with preliminary data. However, with the addition of more data points, different sources of tissue and spectral variability were observed to affect calibration. The gross pathology type and mismatched optical volume to reference measurement volume limited the tissue pH determination. The reference measurement precision, the spatial resolution of the reference lactate measurement, and unmodeled tissue variability (water and proteins) limited the lactate determination. Large variability in all optical measurements was observed. Additional in-vitro data collection would be required such that the variability due to the tissue is reduced and any spectrometer variability adequately compensated to be able to use the optical calibration in-vivo.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-146). Free to UCD Anschutz Medical Campus. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Orientador: Ana Terezinha Guillaumon / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-28T09:17:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Siqueira_LeticiaCristinaDalledone_M.pdf: 5041737 bytes, checksum: 615b5b4269f2f46490565662d28dfb21 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: Introdução: A espectroscopia próxima ao infra-vermelho (NIRS) é uma técnica não invasiva e de baixo custo que detecta as alterações hemodinâmicas teciduais. O NIRS pode monitorar de forma contínua as informações fisiológicas vasculares intracranianas. Por ser portátil, ele pode ser utilizado a beira do leito e no centro cirúrgico. Objetivo: Avaliar o comportamento das possíveis alterações hemodinâmicas cerebrais, durante a endarterectomia, em pacientes com estenoses maiores que 70%, utilizando NIRS. Casuística e métodos: Foram avaliados 10 voluntários portadores de doença carotídea aterosclerótica com indicação de endarterectomia. Após a seleção dos pacientes que responderam um questionário com dados epidemiológicos e informações referentes a presença de comorbidades, a doença foi confirmada por métodos diagnósticos. No procedimento cirúrgico utilizou-se o NIRS para monitorização. Foram avaliadas as variáveis saturação de oxigênio (Sat O2) hemoglobina total (HbT), hemoglobina reduzida (HbR) e hemoglobina oxigenada (HbO) nos três tempos cirúrgicos pré, trans e pós-clampeamento carotídeo. Resultados: Utilizou-se p<0,05 como nivel de significância. A avaliação dos resultados obtidos através das medidas registradas pelo NIRS permite afirmar que as etapas da cirurgia diferem quanto ás variável HbR e SatO2. Durante a etapa do clampeamento, a variável HbR mostra valores mais elevados que nas outras duas etapas da cirurgia. De outra parte, a variável SatO2 mostra redução durante o clampeamento. Conclusão: O NIRS é um método viável e aplicável de monitorização intracerebral, não-invasivo e em tempo real, durante a endarterectomia carotídea, capaz de medir de forma precisa as mudanças das condições hemodinâmicas capilares intra-cerebrais / Abstract: Introduction: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a low-cost, non-invasive technique that detects tissue hemodynamic alterations. It enables continuous monitoring of the intracerebral vascular physiologic information. Due to its portable nature, NIRS may be used beside a bed or in the operating room. Objective: To evaluate the use of NIRS for intra-surgical monitoring of the brain hemodynamic response, during an endarterectomy procedure of the atherosclerotic carotid artery. Casuistry and Methods: 10 patients with atherosclerotic carotid disease and recommended endarterectomy were evaluated. They were identified in a survey which provided epidemiologic data and the presence of comorbidities. Disease was confirmed by diagnostic methods. NRIS monitoring was used during the surgical procedure. Oxygen saturation (O2 Sat), total hemoglobin (THb), reduced hemoglobin (RHb), and oxyhemoglobin (OHb) were the variables analyzed at the three carotid clamp stages: pre-, trans- and post-. Results: A p<0.05 value was considered statistically significant. The results obtained from the NIRS data reveal that the surgical stages differ in relation to the RHb and O2Sat variables. RHb presents higher levels during clamping when compared with the other two surgical stages. On the other hand, O2Sat is decreased during clamping. Conclusion: NIRS is a feasible, realtime and non-invasive intracranial monitoring method, during carotid endarterectomy, which measures accurately and reliably the changes of the intracerebral capillary hemodynamic conditions / Mestrado / Cirurgia / Mestra em Ciências

Postmortem interval (PMI) estimation is a necessary but often difficult task that must completed during a death investigation. The level of difficulty rises as time since death increases, especially with the case of skeletonized remains (long PMI). While challenging, a reliable PMI estimate may be of great importance for investigative direction and cost-savings (e.g. suspect identification, tailoring missing persons searches, non-forensic remains exclusion). Long PMI can be estimated by assessing changes in the organic content of bone (i.e. collagen), which degrades and is lost as the PMI lengthens. Visible-near infrared (VNIR) spectroscopy is one method that can be used for analyzing organic constituents, including proteins, in solid specimens. A 2013 preliminary investigation using a limited number of human cortical bone samples suggested that VNIR spectroscopy could provide a fast, reliable technique for assessing PMI in human skeletal remains. Clear separation was noted between "forensic" and "archaeological" specimen spectra within the near-infrared (NIR) bands. The goal of this research was to develop reliable multivariate classification models that could assign skeletal remains to appropriate PMI classes (e.g. "forensic" and "non-forensic"), based on NIR spectra collected from human cortical bone. Working with a large set of cortical samples (n=341), absorbance spectra were collected with an ASD/PANalytical LabSpec® 4 full range spectrometer. Sample spectra were then randomly assigned to training and test sets, where training set spectra were used to build internally cross-validated models in Camo Unscrambler® X 10.4; external validations of the models were then performed on test set spectra. Selected model algorithms included soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA), linear discriminant analysis on principal components (LDA-PCA), and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA); an application of support vector machines on principal components (SVM-PCA) was attempted as well. Multivariate classification models were built using both raw and transformed spectra (standard normal variate, Savitzky-Golay) that were collected from the longitudinally cut cortical surfaces (Set A models) and the superficial cortical surface following light grinding (Set B models). SIMCA models were consistently the poorest performers, as were many of the SVM-PCA models; LDA-PCA models were generally the best performers for these data. Transformed-spectra model classification accuracies were generally the same or lower than corresponding raw spectral models. Set A models out-performed Set B counterparts in most cases; Set B models often yielded lower classification accuracy for older forensic and non-forensic spectra. A limited number of Set B transformed-spectra models out-performed the raw model counterparts, suggesting that these transformations may be removing scattering-related noise, leading to improvements in model accuracy. This study suggests that NIR spectroscopy may represent a reliable technique for assessing the PMI of unknown human skeletal remains. Future work will require identifying new sources of remains with established extended PMI values. Broadening the number of spectra collected from older forensic samples would allow for the determination of how many narrower potential PMI classes can be discriminated within the forensic time-frame.

Fluorescence-based imaging techniques provide a simple, highly sensitive method of studying live cells and whole organisms in real time. Without question, fluorophores such as GFP, fluorescein, and rhodamines have contributed vastly to our understanding of both cell biology and biochemistry. However, most of the fluorescent molecules currently utilized suffer from one major drawback, the use of visible light. Due to cellular autofluorescence and the absorbance of incident light by cellular components, fluorescence imaging with visible wavelength fluorophores often results in high background noise and thus a low signal-to-noise ratio. Fortunately, this situation can be ameliorated by altering the wavelength of light used during imaging. Near-infrared (NIR) light (650-900 nm) is poorly absorbed by cells; therefore, fluorophores excited by this light provide a high signal-to-noise ratio and low background in cellular systems. While these properties make NIR fluorophores ideal for cellular imaging, most currently available NIR molecules cannot be used in live cells. The first half of this thesis addresses the synthetic difficulties associated with preparing NIR fluorophores that can be used within living systems. Small molecule NIR fluorophores are inherently hydrophobic which makes them unsuitable for use in the aqueous environment of the cell. Water-solubility is imparted to these dyes through highly polar sulfonates, which subsequently prevents the dyes from entering the cell. The novel work presented here details vii synthetic routes to aid in the development of sulfonated NIR fluorophores, which can be delivered into live cells through the inclusion of an esterase-labile sulfonate protecting group. Application of these synthetic techniques should allow for the development of novel NIR fluorophores with intracellular applications. The second half of this thesis addresses the need for novel NIR imaging reagents. Although several classes of NIR scaffolds do exist, most NIR probes are derivatives of a single class, heptamethine indocyanines. The work described here increases this palette by displaying the ability of NIR oxazines to function as an imaging reagent in live cells and in vivo and as a molecular sensor of biologically-relevant environmental conditions. Combined, the work contained herein has the capacity to not only advance the current NIR toolkit, but to expand it so that fluorescence imaging can move out of the dark and into the NIR light.

Les terrils du bassin minier de Provence sont implantés dans le paysage et demeurent à proximité des habitations de la métropole Aix-Marseille. Les terrils les plus anciens ont été naturellement colonisés par la végétation et des sols s’y sont développés avec une vitesse remarquable. Cette étude vise à comprendre les processus pédogénétiques en cours depuis 55 ans sur les terrils miniers. Nous avons étudié l’impact du lignite sur les caractéristiques physico-chimiques et microbiologiques d’un Rendosol naturel. Deux sols similaires, dont l’un est traversé par l’affleurement naturel d’une veine de lignite et l’autre pas, ont donc été comparés afin de caractériser les variables impactées par le lignite. L’étude du terril Armand a permis de comprendre les facteurs responsables de la formation et de la variabilité des caractéristiques des sols observés sur le terril. L’abondance de composés carbonés récalcitrants dans les sols enrichis en lignite affecte les niveaux d’activité des microorganismes responsables des processus biologiques dans les sols sans induire d’effets néfastes. Le lignite semble intervenir comme un facteur de dilution du carbone organique, diminuant ainsi la quantité de carbone disponible et donc la vitalité d’expression des fonctions microbiennes. Les activités biologiques sont diminuées en présence de lignite, mais les changements induits sur les propriétés physico-chimiques semblent améliorer la fertilité du sol. Les sols du terril Armand demeurent cependant encore à un stade d’évolution trop jeune pour préjuger de leur évolution future. / Spoil heaps are scattered over the coal basin of Provence: they are inserted in the landscape and often located close to urban areas of the Aix-Marseille Metropole. The oldest spoil heaps have been naturally colonized by local vegetation and soils have simultaneously quickly developed. This study aims at understanding the processes involved in soil forming on undisturbed lignite-rich spoil heaps since 55 years. We studied the impact of lignite on the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of an undisturbed soil: we compared two similar Rendosols, except that one was developed in a natural lignite outcrop. Then we studied on the 55-year-old Armand spoil heap the factors responsible for soil genesis and variability of soil characteristics. Recalcitrant carbon compounds found in soils enriched with lignite modify microbial activity but do not induce negative effects. It seems that lignite acts as a diluting factor of the organic carbon that decreases the available carbon pool and consequently on the vitality of the expression of the microbial functions. Enzymatic activities and basal respiration decrease while changes observed on physico-chemical properties tend to improve soil fertility. Some characteristics of the soils developed on the spoil heap are similar to those of the soil developed from the lignite outcrop, while others are more related to the way the spoil heap was set up. Although these results have shed light on some of the processes involved in soil formation on spoil heaps in a carbonated environment, soils on Armand spoil heap are still at an early stage of development that precludes conclusion on their future evolution.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:49:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-10-28 / Ha evidencias de que o fluxo microvascular de oxigenio (QO2mv) limita a taxa de aumento da captacao de oxigenio ( O2) no inicio do exercicio intenso em pacientes com doenca pulmonar obstrutiva cronica (DPOC). Entretanto, ainda nao esta claro se a suplementacao de O2 poderia acelerar a cinetica do O2 atraves da melhora do QO2mv em pacientes nao-hipoxemicos ou levemente hipoxemicos. Assim, o objetivo do estudo foi investigar se a suplementacao aguda de O2 (HiOX=50%O2) poderia alterar a dinamica entre oferta e O2 microvascular na transicao do exercicio leve para o intenso, alem de avaliar se os possiveis efeitos da HiOX na oxigenacao tecidual tissular teriam efeito modulador na cinetica da utilizacao muscular de O2. Para tal, foram avaliados 19 pacientes do sexo masculino, nao-hipoxemicos ou levemente hipoxemicos (PaO2>60mmHg) portadores de DPOC de gravidade moderada a acentuada (VEF1/CVF < 0,7 e VEF1 entre 30 e 60% do previsto) e estaveis clinicamente, durante exercicio submaximo de alta intensidade (80% da maxima atingida no exercicio incremental em cicloergometro). Neste contexto, foram investigados os efeitos da HiOX em comparacao com normoxia (NOX = 21% O2) na cinetica do O2 mensurado em nivel pulmonar (p) e da extracao fracional de O2 (HHb mensurada pela espectroscopia por raios quase infravermelhos - NIRS) no vasto lateral. A HiOX esteve associada com aumento na tolerancia ao exercicio (p<0,05) alem de reducao da concentracao de lactato, sensacao de dispneia e desconforto muscular corrigidos para o tempo de duracao do exercicio (Tlim) (N=19). Nos 11 individuos com sinais adequados para estudo da cinetica, a extracao fracional de O2 estimada acelerou-se (DHHb: t= 4.8 } 2.4 s vs. 6.7 } 3.0 s; P<0.05) e um subsequente fenomeno de govershoot h foi observado em 7/11 pacientes, sugerindo prejuizo no QO2mv. Entretanto, durante o periodo estado-estavel, houve reducao dos valores de HHb em 9/11 pacientes sugerindo melhora do QO2mv. Como consequencia desse efeito dual da HiOX no QO2mv (i.e, reducao seguida de melhora), a cinetica do O2p foi acelerada em 6 pacientes mas lentificada em outros 5 pacientes. De forma interessante, observamos que pacientes que apresentaram aceleracao da cinetica do O2p com HiOX tambem apresentaram maiores reducoes dos valores de DHHb no estado-estavel comparados aos demais pacientes (HiOX . NOX= -23.4 (-55.5 to -5.8) ƒÊM/cm vs. -0.62 (-22.6 to 10.7) ƒÊM/cm; p<0.05). Adicionalmente, houve correlacao significativa entre reducao dos valores de DHHb no estado-estavel e aceleracao na cinética do O2 com HiOX (R= 0.61; p<0.05). Em conclusão, HiOX melhorou a tolerância ao exercício físico, além de ter resultado em redução significativa da dispnéia, percepção de fadiga periférica e lactato corrigidos pelo tempo de exercício em pacientes com DPOC não-hipoxêmicos ou levemente hipoxêmicos. Entretanto, nosso resultados indicam que houve prejuízo transitório no QO2mv no início do exercício, que foi compensado por melhora subseqüente, justificando assim os efeitos heterogêneos do O2 na cinética do O2p. Portanto, as consequências da HiOX na taxa de aumento do metabolismo oxidativo no início do exercício intenso nessa sub-população de pacientes parece depender de um complexo balanço entre os efeitos negativos iniciais no fluxo sanguíneo microvascular e as posteriores conseqüências positivas nos determinantes difusivos e/ou convectivos do transporte capilar-muscular de O2. / There is convincing evidence that impaired microvascular O2 delivery (Q LO2mv) to the peripheral muscles limits the rate of increase in pulmonary O2 uptake ( O2p) at the onset of supra-gas exchange threshold exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is currently unclear, however, whether O2 supplementation could actually improve Q LO2mv thereby accelerating O2p kinetics in patients who are not overtly hypoxemic (PaO2 > 60 mmHg). We therefore investigated the effects of hyperoxia (HiOX= 50% O2) and normoxia (NOX) on the kinetics of O2p and fractional O2 extraction in the vastus lateralis ( [deoxy- Hb+Mb] by near-infrared spectroscopy) in 11 non- or mildly-hypoxemic patients. HiOX increased exercise tolerance compared to NOX (P<0.05). At the on-exercise transient, however, HiOX was associated with faster [deoxy-Hb+Mb] kinetics (= 4.8 } 2.4 s vs. 6.7 } 3.0 s; P<0.05) and a response govershoot h in 7/11 patients suggesting impaired Q LO2mv. Subsequently, however, [deoxy-Hb+Mb] decreased to lower steady-state values compared to NOX in 9/11 patients (P<0.05). As a likely consequence of these opposite effects of HiOX on Q LO2mv (i.e., early impairment followed by later improvement), O2p kinetics were accelerated in 6 but slowed in 5 patients. Interestingly, patients in whom HiOX accelerated O2p kinetics showed consistently-larger reductions in gsteady-state h ..[deoxy-Hb+Mb] compared to their counterparts (HiOX . NOX= -23.4 (-55.5 to -5.8) ƒÊM/cm vs. -0.62 (-22.6 to 10.7) ƒÊM/cm; p<0.05). In conclusion, HiOX can transitorily impair the convective flow of O2 to the working peripheral muscles at the onset of heavy intensity exercise in patients with COPD who are not overtly hypoxemic. This effect, however, might be (over)compensated by a subsequent increase in local O2 availability in selected patients. These data seem to provide a mechanistic explanation for the heterogeneous effects of HiOX on O2p kinetics in this patient sub-population. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

A administração intravenosa de solução salina hipertônica (HSS) induz alterações sistêmicas circulatórias como o aumento da pressão arterial e do volume circulante efetivo, além de ter efeitos locais sobre a microcirculação. No presente estudo foram analisados os efeitos produzidos pela administração de solução salina hipertônica 7,5% sobre a hemodinâmica do tumor através de estudos de imagem funcional e posteriormente, foi avaliado o seu potencial de otimizar a entrega de moléculas no tumor. A velocidade do sangue nos vasos tumorais estimada por Ultrassom Color Doppler foi aumentada após a injeção da HSS em comparação ao controle PBS em tumores de melanoma (B16F10 (p=0,019), SK-MEL-147 (p =0,028)) e de mama (4T1 (p=0,015)). Este mesmo efeito não foi observado nas artérias segmentarias do rim (p=0,476). Ultrassonografia com contraste por microbolhas (CEUS) foi realizada em xenoenxertos de tumor de melanoma (B16F10), carcinoma de cólon (HCT-116) e mama (MDA-MB-231), e como controle foi realizada imagem no rim e no músculo nos animais portadores destes tipos tumorais (n=3 por grupo). Após a injeção da HSS, o volume relativo de sangue foi aumentado nos tumores B16F10 (p=0,022) e HCT-116 (P = 0,039), mas o mesmo não foi observado com o tumor MDA-MB-231 (p=0,186). Além disso, não houve alterações nos tecidos normais (rim p = 0,957; músculo p = 0,104). Todos os testes estatísticos foram bicaudais. Quando a HSS foi utilizada como veículo para entrega de moléculas de baixo peso molecular como cisplatina e doxorrubicina no tratamento de tumores B16F10 e 4T1 respectivamente, não houve aumento da eficácia terapêutica, avaliada através do crescimento tumoral e peso dos tumores. O efeito da HSS sobre a retenção de macromoléculas nos tumores SK-Mel- 147 e 4T1, avaliado através de imagem por epifluorescência do contraste ótico IR-783, não foi suficientemente notório para rejeitar a hipótese nula. Assim, a HSS induz um aumento transitório na velocidade do sangue e do volume sanguíneo, de maneira relativamente seletiva para os tumores avaliados, com exceção do MDA-MB-231. Portanto, esta pode ser uma estratégia útil para aumentar a entrega de moléculas e otimizar tanto o efeito terapêutico, quanto o diagnóstico por imagem / Intravenous administration of Hypertonic saline solution (HSS) induces systemic circulatory changes including blood pressure rising, effective circulating volume increase as well as local effects on microvasculature. We analyzed the effects produced by Hypertonic Saline 7,5% administration on tumor hemodynamics through functional imaging studies as well as whether it enhances molecular delivery in tumor tissue when used as a vehicle. Blood velocity assessed by Color Doppler Ultrasound was increased after HSS injection compared to PBS in the following tumors: B16F10 (p=0,019), SKMEL- 147 (p=0,028) and 4T1 (p=0,015). No statistical difference was observed on the segmental kidney arteries (p=0,476). Dynamic Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was done in B16F10, HCT-116 and MDA-MB-231 tumor xenografts, kidney and muscle tissues (n=3 per group). After HSS injection, relative blood volume was increased in B16F10 (p=0,022) and HCT-116 (p=0,039) but not on MDA-MB-231 (p=0,186). Changes on normal tissues were not statistically different (kidney p=0,957; muscle p=0,104). All statistical tests were two-sided. Administration of HSS as a vehicle for low molecular weight molecules cisplatin and doxorubicin in the treatment of B16F10 and 4T1 tumors respectively had no significant improvement of therapeutic efficacy, estimated by tumor growth and tumor weight measurements. Effect of HSS over retention of macromolecules in tumors SK-Mel-147 and 4T1, evaluated by epifluorescence imaging of the optical contrast IR- 783 was not large enough to reject the null hypothesis. HSS induces a transient increase in velocity of the blood as well as the blood volume that is relatively selective for the evaluated tumors with exception of MDA-MB-231. Data suggest that HSS administration might be a useful strategy to increase the delivery of molecules and optimize both therapy and diagnostic imaging