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H Gustavsson

Publications and source records attributed to H Gustavsson.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Dose response evaluation of a low-density normoxic polymer gel dosimeter using MRI.

A low-density (approximately 0.6 g cm(-3)) normoxic polymer gel, containing the antioxidant tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosponium (THP), has been investigated with respect to basic absorbed dose response characteristics. The low density was obtained by mixing the gel with expanded polystyrene spheres. The depth dose data for 6 and 18 MV photons were compared with Monte Carlo calculations. A large volume phantom was irradiated in order to study the 3D dose distribution from a 6 MV field. Evaluation of the gel was carried out using magnetic resonance imaging. An approximately linear response was obtained for 1/T2 versus dose in the dose range of 2 to 8 Gy. A small decrease in the dose response was observed for increasing concentrations of THP. A good agreement between measured and Monte Carlo calculated data was obtained, both for test tubes and the larger 3D phantom. It was shown that a normoxic polymer gel with a reduced density could be obtained by adding expanded polystyrene spheres. In order to get reliable results, it is very important to have a uniform distribution of the gel and expanded polystyrene spheres in the phantom volume.

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation↗

Development and optimization of a 2-hydroxyethylacrylate MRI polymer gel dosimeter.

In this study, radiation induced changes in a polymer gel dosimeter manufactured using 2-hydroxyethylacrylate (HEA) and N,N'-methylene-bisacrylamide (BIS) were investigated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and FT-Raman spectroscopy. The variation in magnetic resonance relaxation time (T2) with absorbed dose was modelled assuming fast exchange of magnetization. Overall good agreement between the model and experimental data was obtained. However, comparison with FT-Raman data suggests that not all the protons attached to the polymer contribute to the relaxation process. Furthermore, for certain compositions improved agreement with experimental data was achieved when a lower fraction of polymer protons available for exchange with water was assumed in the low dose region. This indicates that the T2 value is influenced by the composition and topology of the formed polymer, which may vary with absorbed dose. The concept of percentage dose resolution (Dp delta, %) was introduced to enable optimization of gel compositions for use in relative dosimetry applications. This concept was applied to demonstrate the effects of varying the gelatine concentration, the total fraction of monomer/crosslinker (%T) and the relative fraction of crosslinker (%C) on gel performance in HEA gels as well as compare the performance of HEA and a standard polyacrylamide gel (PAG). The percentage dose resolution was improved for all HEA gels compared to the PAG dosimeter containing 3% acrylamide and 3% BIS. Increasing the total concentration of monomer was shown to have the largest single effect. In the range of doses of interest for clinical radiation therapy, Dp delta, % for the optimal HEA gel (4% HEA, 4% BIS) was lower than 2.3%, compared to 3.8% for the PAG dosimeter.

Acrylamides↗

Migration of bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and its reaction products in canned foods.

Bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is used as an additive or starting agent in coatings for cans. The presence of hydrochloric acid in the organosol (PVC-based) lacquers results in formation of chlorohydroxy compounds of BADGE. These compounds, as well as BADGE itself, are potential migrants into the preserved food and are of toxicological concern. In the present investigation the presence of BADGE and the chlorohydroxy compounds (BADGE.HCl and BADGE.2HCl) in various kinds of canned foods from 30 brands have been determined by HPLC with fluorescence detection. BADGE was found in levels up to 5.1 mg/kg in the food and only in food from cans containing BADGE.HCl and BADGE.2HCl in the lacquers. BADGE was found both in fish in oil and in fish in tomato sauce, however, the highest amounts were found in the fatty foodstuffs. BADGE.HCl and BADGE.2HCl were found in concentrations up to 2.4 mg/kg and 8.3 mg/kg, respectively. Unlike BADGE, BADGE.2HCl was found in similar concentrations in fish in oil and in fish in tomato sauce. In aqueous and acidic foodstuffs BADGE readily hydrolyses into mono- and dihydrolysed products (BADGE.H2O and BADGE.2H2O). In this study BADGE.H2O was not found in any food sample, whereas BADGE.2H2O was found in levels up to 2.6 mg/kg. The Scientific Committee for Food (SCF) of the European Commission has proposed that a limit of restriction of 1 mg/kg food shall include BADGE itself and BADGE.H2O, BADGE.HCl, BADGE.2HCl and BADGE.HCL.H2O. The present results indicate that the migration of BADGE.HCl and BADGE.2HCl, compounds with almost no data on toxicity, implies a greater problem than BADGE.H2O and BADGE.2H2O.

Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate↗

Influence of age on atelectasis formation and gas exchange impairment during general anaesthesia.

We have studied the effects of anaesthesia on atelectasis formation and gas exchange in 45 patients of both sexes, smokers and nonsmokers, aged 23-69 yr. None of the patients showed clinical signs of pulmonary disease, and preoperative spirometry was normal. In the awake patient, partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) decreased with increasing age (P less than 0.001) and the alveolar-arterial oxygen partial pressure difference (PAO2-PaO2) increased with age (P less than 0.001). Shunt, assessed by the multiple inert gas elimination technique, was small (mean 0.5%) and uninfluenced by age. However, there was an increasing dispersion (log SD Q) of ventilation/perfusion ratios (VA/Q) and increasing perfusion of regions of low VA/Q (VA/Q less than 0.1) with increasing age (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.05, respectively). No patient displayed any atelectasis as assessed by computed x-ray tomography of the chest. During inhalation anaesthesia (halothane or enflurane) with mechanical ventilation, 39 of 45 patients developed atelectasis and shunt. There was a strong correlation between the atelectatic area and the magnitude of shunt (r = 0.81, P less than 0.001). Atelectasis and shunt did not increase significantly with age, whereas log SD Q and perfusion of regions with low VA/Q ratios did (r = 0.55, P less than 0.001 and r = 0.35, P less than 0.05, respectively). Awake, the major determinant of PaO2 was perfusion of regions of low VA/Q ratios, which increased with age. During anaesthesia shunt influenced PaO2 most, low VA/Q being a secondary factor which, however, was increasingly important with increasing age, thus explaining the well-known age-dependent deterioration of arterial oxygenation during anaesthesia.

Adult↗

Effects of estramustine on DNA and cell membrane in malignant glioma cells.

Estramustine phosphate (EMP), a complex between estradiol-17 beta and nor-nitrogen mustard, commonly used in treatment of prostatic cancer, also exerts marked antiproliferative effects on cultured human malignant glioma cells. The mechanism of action is unknown but has previously been considered to be mediated through non-DNA targets, specifically via the mitotic spindle, and related to the intact estramustine complex. EMP cytotoxicity was studied on the malignant glioma cell line U-251 MG. A dose-dependent increase in DNA strand breaks was demonstrated at EMP-concentrations ranging 10-40 mg/l. The uptake of 86Rb, used as a tracer for potassium to study ion transport and membrane permeability, was reduced after incubation with EMP. The mean decline in 86Rb accumulation by U-251 MG cells was 12, 20 and 32% at EMP concentrations 10, 20 and 40 mg/l respectively. Scanning electron microscopy gave further evidence for cell membrane damage. In conclusion, EMP seems to affect malignant glioma cells on several vital functions and the results indicate the the cytotoxic potential may at least partially be related to effects on DNA and cell membrane.

Cell Membrane↗

Intermediate filaments in the newborn inner ear of the mouse.

The presence of intermediate filaments in the inner ear of the newborn mouse was analyzed with immunofluorescence techniques using antibodies against the five classes of intermediate filaments: cytokeratins, vimentin, desmin, neurofilaments and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFA). Neurofilaments were found in all nerve fibers from the ganglion cell to the hair cell. In the vestibular ganglion two subpopulations of ganglion cells were identified: a minor part staining intensively with neurofilament and the major part of cells lacking this immunofluorescence. Vimentin occurred in a number of supporting structures in the membranous labyrinth, but not in vestibular or cochlear ganglion cells. Cytokeratins, desmin or GFA were not identified in the inner ear.

Animals↗

Magnesium and membrane function in vascular smooth muscle.

Since a tight electromechanical coupling exists in vascular smooth muscle, even small shifts of the membrane potential are sufficient to change the vascular lumen. The extracellular H+ and K+ concentrations are important effectors for the adjustment of the membrane potential. The ion concentrations in the immediate neighbourhood of the cell membrane can be influenced by the microdynamic binding properties of the basement membrane and the other vascular connective tissue. These structures are polyanionic macromolecules to which mono- and divalent cations are extensively bound, and which are separated from the vascular smooth muscle cell membranes by tiny cleft spaces. The ion binding properties of vascular connective tissue were therefore studied in dependence on proton and cation concentration. The pH-dependent binding of monovalent cations to vascular connective tissue is dependent on the concentration and affinity constant of the ion species in question. The mode of interaction is competition. For instance, the actual K binding characteristic means that an increase of [K+]o close to the cell membrane cold ensue from a diminished K+ binding ability under alkalosis. Depolarization and contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells result. Divalent cation binding to vascular connective tissue it additionally dependent on conformational changes. Already physiological concentrations of Mg++ ions can induce a specific change in configuration, which enables K+ ions to bind cooperatively. This means that with extracellular Mg++ deficiency not only less Mg++ ions are bound to vascular connective tissue but also less K+ ions. [K+]o would increase near the cell membrane, depolarization and vasoconstriction would occur.

Animals↗

Sodium and calcium binding to Panulirus interruptus hemocyanin as studied by 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance.

Addition of Panulirus hemocyanin to NaCl solutions produces marked changes in the 23Na relaxation parameters; they show that sodium ions interact with binding sites on the protein and exchange rapidly with the bulk. The observed non-lorentzian lineshapes and the non-exponential decay of the transverse magnetization indicate that non-extreme narrowing conditions apply and give information on the dynamics of the interaction. Panulirus hemocyanin has at least two classes of Na+ binding sites; the binding constant of the more strongly bound sodium ions is in the order of 1 X 10(2) M-1. Competition between Na+ and Ca2+ for protein binding sites is demonstrated by the effect of Ca2+ on the 23Na relaxation parameters. However, only the more strongly bound Na+ are displaced by Ca2+. The number of Ca2+ needed to displace these sodium ions is 3--5 per oxygen binding site. The 23Na relaxation parameters are influenced also by the state of oxygenation of the protein, indicating a linkage between Na+ and oxygen binding. The simplest interpretation of the data is that sodium ions bind more strongly to oxyhemocyanin in agreement with oxygen equilibrium experiments.

Animals↗

Migration of epoxidized soya bean oil from plasticized PVC gaskets into baby food.

Expoxidized soya bean oil (ESBO) is used as a plasticizer in PVC gaskets in lids for glass jars used for packaging of ready-cooked baby food. The migration of ESBO from the lids has been determined in 81 samples of different dishes of baby food, including purées of beef, pork, fish, poultry, berries and vegetables. The level of ESBO in baby food has been determined using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analytical procedure with a detection limit of 1.5 mg/kg. Residues of ESBO were found in all dishes except in blueberries. The levels ranged from < 1.5 to 50.8 mg/kg, with a mean of 11.9 mg/kg and a median of 7.8 mg/kg in food with detectable levels. Expoxidized fatty acids may also occur naturally in food. Baby food which had never been in contact with the lids was therefore analysed and no detectable levels of diepoxidized C18-methylester, which was used for the determination of ESBO, were found. That demonstrates that the presented levels of ESBO in the baby food are only due to migration from the lids and not of natural origin.

Food Contamination↗