ACE2 gene transfer attenuates hypertension-linked pathophysiological changes in the SHR.

Recently discovered, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) is an important therapeutic target in the control of cardiovascular diseases as a result of its proposed central role in the control of angiotensin peptides. Thus our objective in the present study was to determine whether ACE2 gene transfer could decrease high blood pressure (BP) and would improve cardiac dysfunctions induced by hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model. Five-day-old SHR and normotensive WKY rats received a single intracardiac bolus injection of lentiviral vector containing either murine ACE2 (ACE2) or control enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) genes. Systolic BP, cardiac functions, and perivascular fibrosis were evaluated 4 mo after ACE2 gene transduction. ACE2 gene transfer resulted in a significant attenuation of high BP in the SHR (149 +/- 2 mmHg in lenti-ACE2 vs. 180 +/- 9 mmHg in lenti-EGFP, P < 0.01). In contrast, no significant effect of lenti-ACE2 on BP of WKY rats was observed. Lenti-ACE2-treated SHR showed an 18% reduction in left ventricular wall thickness (1.52 +/- 0.04 vs. 1.86 +/- 0.04 mm in lenti-EGFP, P < 0.01). In addition, there was a 12% increase in left ventricular end diastolic and a 21% increase in end systolic diameters in lenti-ACE2-treated SHR. Finally, lenti-ACE2 treatment resulted in a significant attenuation of perivascular fibrosis in the SHR. In contrast, ACE2 gene transfer did not influence any of these parameters in WKY rats. These observations demonstrate that ACE2 overexpression exerts protective effects on high BP and cardiac pathophysiology induced by hypertension in the SHR.

High field (4.7 T) magnetic resonance imaging of feline hip joints.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive technique widely used to investigate degenerative joint disease (DJD). In this study, we obtained magnetic resonance images of feline hip joints, using a high magnetic field MRI unit (4.7 tesla) with proton density (PD)-weighted and T2-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE). PD-weighted FSE provided detailed anatomical images of feline hip joints with superb depiction of subchondral bones of the femoral head and acetabulum. Articular cartilage (AC) was also visualized with PD-weighted and T2-weighted FSE; however, mild AC lesions noted on gross examination were not detectable with these sequences.

Corrigendum to "Evaluation of the Accuracy and Precision of a Next Generation Computer-Assisted Surgical System".

[This corrects the article on p. 225 in vol. 7, PMID: 26217470.].

Evaluation of the Accuracy and Precision of a Next Generation Computer-Assisted Surgical System.

BACKGROUND: Computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery (CAOS) improves accuracy and reduces outliers in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, during the evaluation of CAOS systems, the error generated by the guidance system (hardware and software) has been generally overlooked. Limited information is available on the accuracy and precision of specific CAOS systems with regard to intraoperative final resection measurements. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy and precision of a next generation CAOS system and investigate the impact of extra-articular deformity on the system-level errors generated during intraoperative resection measurement. METHODS: TKA surgeries were performed on twenty-eight artificial knee inserts with various types of extra-articular deformity (12 neutral, 12 varus, and 4 valgus). Surgical resection parameters (resection depths and alignment angles) were compared between postoperative three-dimensional (3D) scan-based measurements and intraoperative CAOS measurements. Using the 3D scan-based measurements as control, the accuracy (mean error) and precision (associated standard deviation) of the CAOS system were assessed. The impact of extra-articular deformity on the CAOS system measurement errors was also investigated. RESULTS: The pooled mean unsigned errors generated by the CAOS system were equal or less than 0.61 mm and 0.64° for resection depths and alignment angles, respectively. No clinically meaningful biases were found in the measurements of resection depths (< 0.5 mm) and alignment angles (< 0.5°). Extra-articular deformity did not show significant effect on the measurement errors generated by the CAOS system investigated. CONCLUSIONS: This study presented a set of methodology and workflow to assess the system-level accuracy and precision of CAOS systems. The data demonstrated that the CAOS system investigated can offer accurate and precise intraoperative measurements of TKA resection parameters, regardless of the presence of extra-articular deformity in the knee.

Noninvasive monitoring and tracking of muscle stem cell transplants.

BACKGROUND: Efficient techniques to noninvasively monitor stem cell transplants will accelerate the development of stem cell therapies. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of labeled stem cells is a noninvasive approach that can provide images with high spatial resolution. In this report, we have evaluated the ability of a commercially available, FDA-approved contrast agent to allow for the monitoring of therapeutic stem cell transplants in murine dystrophic muscle. METHODS: Multipotent, muscle-derived stem cells were labeled by incubation with ferumoxide:polycation complexes. Labeled stem cells were evaluated for the ability to differentiate into mature myotubes and be detected by high resolution MR images in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Endosomal accumulation of superparamagnetic iron-oxide resulted in changes in the MR contrast T(2) and T(2)*, allowing for three dimensional, noninvasive detection of labeled cells. Relaxivity measurements on cell phantoms indicate that less than eight labeled cells could be detected by MR imaging. Furthermore, therapeutic cellular grafts transplanted into dystrophic muscle could be imaged sequentially and these noninvasive images correlated with histological images obtained by conventional microscopy. Additional studies revealed that MR imaging is applicable to tracking the migration of a small number of labeled cells following arterial delivery. CONCLUSIONS: MR monitoring is a highly sensitive technique that is applicable to muscle stem cell transplantation. We anticipate that it will enhance stem cell investigations by reducing the need for invasive tissue harvests and biopsies.

High field strength (4.7T) magnetic resonance imaging of hydrocephalus in an African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus).

Hydrocephalus was diagnosed in a juvenile African Grey parrot by high-field strength (4.7-Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Excellent anatomic detail was achieved, and there was severe dilation of all ventricles. Relative obstruction was localized to the level of or beyond the outflow of the fourth ventricle. There have been several reports of hydrocephalus diagnosed postmortem in psittacines (i.e., hook-billed parrots), however, this is the first report of an antemortem diagnosis in a psittacine using high-field strength MRI.