Although proton-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a powerful modality for clinical imaging with excellent spatial resolution, it is not well suited to imaging void spaces (i.e., the lungs), low-abundance molecular markers of disease, or environments where unique proton spin densities are low. To address this limitation, hyperpolarized (hp) xenon-based NMR spectroscopy and MRI have...

The noble gas xenon is an antagonist of the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate)-type glutamate receptor which may account for the ideal anesthetic profile and potent neuroprotective properties demonstrated even at subanesthetic concentrations. Because lipid emulsions also promote NMDA antagonistic effects they may serve as ideal carriers for xenon. In this in vitro study, we investigated the efficacy o...

The mobility of the inert gases argon and xenon in pure and doped single crystals of KBr was studied. The gases were introduced by ion bombardment. The recently established system of stages was used to interpret the results. Normal volume diffusion was found for xenon at low gas concentration, the activation enthalpy being 1.4 + 0.2 eV. This release was independent of doping, thus favoring a tr...

The high sensitivity of the magnetic resonance properties of xenon to its local chemical environment and the large (129)Xe NMR signals attainable through optical pumping have motivated the use of xenon as a probe of macromolecular structure and dynamics. In the present work, we report evidence for nonspecific interactions between xenon and the exterior of myoglobin in aqueous solution, in addit...

BACKGROUND Inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors by anesthetic gases and vapors may play an important role in anesthesia and neuroprotection. However, the site of action of these agents on the NMDA receptor is unknown. The authors show that xenon and isoflurane compete for the binding of the coagonist glycine on the NMDA receptor NR1 subunit. METHODS Using a novel application of...

BACKGROUND Nitrous oxide diffuses easily from blood into air filled spaces. Xenon is also a relatively insoluble gas, like nitrous oxide. Therefore, the authors measured xenon diffusion into obstructed bowel segments during xenon anesthesia and compared this with nitrous oxide and nitrogen diffusion. METHODS Twenty-one pentobarbital-anesthetized pigs were randomly assigned to three groups to ...

Noble gases are known for their inertness. They do not react chemically with any element at normal temperature and pressure. Through that, some of them are known to be biologically active by their sedative, hypnotic and analgesic properties. Common inhalation anesthetics are characterized by some disadvantages (toxicity, decreased cardiac output, etc). Inhalation of xenon introduces anesthesia ...

BACKGROUND This study was designed to examine whether the coupling between oxygen consumption (VO2) and cardiac output (CO) is maintained during xenon anaesthesia. METHODS We studied the relationship between VO2 (indirect calorimetry) and CO (ultrasound flowmetry) by adding xenon to isoflurane anaesthesia in five chronically instrumented dogs. Different mixtures of xenon (70% and 50%) and iso...

BACKGROUND Little has been reported on the feasibility of xenon-enhanced dual-energy computed tomography (Xe-DECT) in the visual and quantitative analysis of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE). OBJECTIVES We compared CPFE with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as correlation with parameters of pulmonary function tests (...