Treatment of Ischemic Stroke by Atorvastatin-Loaded PEGylated Liposome.

There is insufficient evidence on the effect of nanoparticles, particularly liposomes loaded with a statin, on acute ischemic stroke. We investigated the impact of atorvastatin-loaded PEG (polyethylene glycol) conjugated liposomes (LipoStatin) on the outcomes in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. PEGylated liposome loaded with atorvastatin was developed as a nanoparticle to specifically accumulate in an ischemic region and release the drug to ameliorate the harmful effects of the stroke. LipoStatin was administered to rats with transient middle cerebral artery occlusion through the tail vein immediately after reperfusion (LipoStatin group). LipoStatin efficiently accumulated at the cerebral ischemic injury site of the rat. The LipoStatin group showed a significantly reduced infarct volume (p < 0.01) in brain micro-MR imaging and improved neurological function recovery compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, markedly improved brain metabolism using fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose micro-PET/CT imaging was demonstrated in the LipoStatin group compared with the control group (p < 0.01). Mechanistically, as a result of evaluation through IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, ICAM-1, and Iba-1 mRNA expression levels at 5 days after cerebral ischemia, LipoStatin showed significant anti-inflammatory effects. Protein expression of occludin, JAM-A, Caveolin-1, and eNOS by western blot at 3 days and fluorescent images at 7 days showed considerable recovery of blood-brain barrier breakdown and endothelial dysfunction. PEGylated LipoStatin can be more effectively delivered to the ischemic brain and may have significant neuroprotective effects. Thus, PEGylated LipoStatin can be further developed as a promising targeted therapy for ischemic stroke and other major vascular diseases.

Identification of potential metabolic biomarkers in predicting esophageal varices needing treatment in patients with liver cirrhosis.

The goal of this study was to determine the diagnostic performance of in vivo quantitative proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to identify the presence of esophageal varices needing treatment (VNT), as well as investigate its correlation with clinical characteristics in patients with liver cirrhosis. Forty cirrhotic patients without VNT showing the negative red color sign, and 40 cirrhotic patients with VNT showing positive red color sign underwent laboratory tests, esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy, and 1H-MRS with single-voxel localization in the cirrhotic liver parenchyma. The levels of lactate + triglyceride (TG) and choline in cirrhotic patients with VNT were significantly higher than those in cirrhotic patients without VNT. In multivariate analysis, spleen diameter, platelet count, and platelet count/spleen diameter ratio, as well as lactate + TG, and choline were associated with the presence of VNT. Moreover, lactate + TG and choline levels were positively correlated with spleen diameter and negatively correlated with platelet count in the combined group of cirrhotic patients with and without VNT. Our study demonstrated that higher hepatic lactate + TG and choline levels in cirrhotic patients in conjunction with longer spleen diameter, lower platelet counts, and lower ratios of platelet count to spleen diameter were associated with the presence of esophageal VNT and the risk of developing variceal bleeding. Therefore, in vivo 1H-MRS might be an effective tool for diagnosing and predicting esophageal VNT in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell-based medical microrobot system for knee cartilage regeneration in vivo.

Targeted cell delivery by a magnetically actuated microrobot with a porous structure is a promising technique to enhance the low targeting efficiency of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) in tissue regeneration. However, the relevant research performed to date is only in its proof-of-concept stage. To use the microrobot in a clinical stage, biocompatibility and biodegradation materials should be considered in the microrobot, and its efficacy needs to be verified using an in vivo model. In this study, we propose a human adipose-derived MSC-based medical microrobot system for knee cartilage regeneration and present an in vivo trial to verify the efficacy of the microrobot using the cartilage defect model. The microrobot system consists of a microrobot body capable of supporting MSCs, an electromagnetic actuation system for three-dimensional targeting of the microrobot, and a magnet for fixation of the microrobot to the damaged cartilage. Each component was designed and fabricated considering the accessibility of the patient and medical staff, as well as clinical safety. The efficacy of the microrobot system was then assessed in the cartilage defect model of rabbit knee with the aim to obtain clinical trial approval.

Metabolic Changes in Different Stages of Liver Fibrosis: In vivo Hyperpolarized 13C MR Spectroscopy and Metabolic Imaging.

PURPOSE: The objective was to assess metabolic changes in different stages of liver fibrosis using hyperpolarized C-13 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and metabolic imaging. PROCEDURES: Mild and severe liver fibrosis were induced in C3H/HeN mice (n = 14) by injecting thioacetamide (TAA). Other C3H/HeN mice (n = 7) were injected with phosphate buffer saline (PBS) (7.4 pH) as normal controls. Hyperpolarized C-13 MRS was performed on the livers of the mice, which was accompanied by intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging with 12 b values. The differential metabolite ratios, apparent diffusion coefficient values, and IVIM parameters among the three groups were analyzed by a one-way analysis of variance test. RESULTS: The ratios of [1-13C]lactate/pyruvate, [1-13C]lactate/total carbon (tC), [1-13C]alanine/pyruvate, and [1-13C] alanine/tC were significantly higher in both the mild and severe fibrosis groups than in the normal control group (p < 0.05). While the [1-13C]lactate/pyruvate and [1-13C]lactate/tC ratios were not significantly different between mild and severe fibrosis groups, the ratios of [1-13C]alanine/pyruvate and [1-13C]alanine/tC were significantly higher in the severe fibrosis group than in the mild fibrosis group (p < 0.05). In addition, D* showed a significantly lower value in the severe fibrosis group than in the normal or mild fibrosis groups and negatively correlated with the levels of [1-13C] lactate and [1-13C]alanine. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that it might be possible to differentiate mild from severe liver fibrosis using the cellular metabolic changes with hyperpolarized C-13 MRS and metabolic imaging.

Transcatheter coil embolization of an Arc of Buhler aneurysm.

We report the findings of a patient with an asymptomatic Arc of Buhler (AOB) aneurysm, which was successfully treated by transcatheter coil embolization. An abdominal CT and angiography revealed an intact pancreaticoduodenal artery arcade (PDAA) and an anomalous communication between the SMA and celiac axis, termed an AOB. An aneurysm was observed at the origin of the AOB and treated with a transcatheter embolization using coils. A follow-up CT imaging confirmed the total occlusion of the aneurysm with a patent PDAA. The successful results of this treatment suggest that the endovascular therapy of an AOB aneurysm with a celiac axis occlusion and an intact PDAA is feasible and safe.

Noninvasive biomarkers for acute hepatotoxicity induced by 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol: hyperpolarized 13C dynamic MR spectroscopy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the cellular metabolite change for acute hepatotoxicity induced by 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) in rats and its correlations with the enzyme levels. In order to induce acute hepatotoxicity, a single subcutaneous injection of 1,3-DCP (80 mg/kg) was given to six male Sprague-Dawley rats. Hyperpolarized (13)C dynamic magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was performed on rat liver following injection of hyperpolarized [1-(13)C] pyruvate. The levels of serum aspartate am inotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the 1,3-DCP treated rats were significantly increased as compared with those in normal rats. In the dynamic (13)C MR spectra, the ratios of [1-(13)C] lactate to the total carbon and [1-(13)C] alanine to the total carbon in the 1,3-DCP treated rats were significantly increased, and there were positive correlations between cellular metabolic changes and enzyme levels. The levels of [1-(13)C] lactate and [1-(13)C] alanine are potentially considered as important biomarkers for the 1,3-DCP-induced acute hepatotoxicity.