X-Message-Number: 24480
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2004 19:12:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: hyperosmotic agents

Phys Med Biol. 2004 Feb 7;49(3):457-68
Synergistic effect of hyperosmotic agents of dimethyl sulfoxide and
glycerol on optical clearing of gastric tissue studied with near infrared
spectroscopy.
  In an effort to find an effective concentration that could minimize the
side effect for clinical applications, and to understand the potential
synergistic effect of hyperosmotic agents on optical clearing of gastric
tissues, porcine stomach tissues (pyloric mucosa) applied with a mixed
solution of glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are investigated with
near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Five chemical solutions,
containing 80% glycerol, 50% DMSO, 50% glycerol with 10% DMSO, 20% DMSO
and 30% DMSO, respectively, are prepared and studied; all of which show
significant improvement in light transmittance, and thus reduction of the
light scattering of tissue. It is found that, among the solutions
investigated, 50% glycerol with 30% DMSO achieves the best clearing
effect on the improvement of light penetration. Light transmittance is
increased approximately 29% and diffuse reflectance decreased
approximately 31% at 30 min after the topical application of 50% glycerol
with 30% DMSO. This solution shows significantly stronger effect than 80%
glycerol on optical clearing even though they have the same osmolarity.
80% glycerol leads to 23% increase of light transmittance and 24% decrease
of diffuse reflectance. The mixed solution of 50% glycerol and 20% DMSO
has less osmolarity than the solution of 80% glycerol, but they achieve a
similar degree of optical clearing. In other words, the clearing effect
of glycerol is enhanced by adding DMSO into it. It is suggested that
membrane penetration and carrier effect of DMSO probably accounts for
this synergistic effect.

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