Ultrasound microbubble-carried PNA targeting to c-myc mRNA inhibits the proliferation of rabbit iliac arterious smooth muscle cells and intimal hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the transfected effect of albumin ultrasound microbubbles carrying peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) against c-myc gene to the vascular walls and their effect on the intimal proliferation induced by vascular denudation. METHODS: A rabbit iliac artery intimal proliferation model was constructed and PNA against c-myc mRNA was designed and synthesized and was added to albumin solution before ultrasound microbubbles were prepared and encapsulated in matrix of albumin. The ultrasound microbubbles carrying PNA were transfected to intima under ultrasound exposure. The transfected effect was identified by a histochemical method and the expression of c-myc was detected by in situ hybridization. The proliferation of intimal smooth muscle cells was estimated by the expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) of them. The intimal area and thickness were judged morphologically for intimal hyperplasia. RESULTS: The ultrasound microbubbles with PNA were successfully prepared and c-myc PNA was transfected to vascular intimal cells. The expression of c-myc and PCNA by intimal vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) was inhibited significantly and the intimal thickness and area were reduced remarkably. CONCLUSION: Transfection of c-myc PNA could inhibit proliferartion of vSMCs and intima in the rabbit iliac artery intimal proliferation model and the targeted transfection of albumin ultrasound microbubbles carrying PNA offers a feasible way to facilitate its access to specific cells in vivo and produce bioavailability.

[Clinical manifestations and neuroimaging characteristics of children with moyamoya disease].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical manifestations and neuroimaging characteristics of pediatric moyamoya disease. METHODS: The clinical data of 17 children with moyamoya disease were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: The onset age was between 3 and 14 years. The main clinical manifestations included motor weakness of extremities or hemiplegia, sensory disturbance and headache. Cranial CT or/and MRI examinations predominately showed cerebral infarct. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed stenosis or occlusion at the terminus of the siphon portions of internal carotid arteries and proximal portions of anterior or middle cerebral arteries, and abnormal vascular networks at the base of brain. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral ischemia is main clinical manifestations in children with moyamoya disease, presenting motor weakness of extremities or hemiplegia, sensory disturbance and headache. DSA is essential to the diagnosis of the disease.