First demonstration of multi-color 3-D in vivo imaging using ultra-compact Compton camera.

In the field of nuclear medicine, single photon emission tomography and positron emission tomography are the two most common techniques in molecular imaging, but the available radioactive tracers have been limited either by energy range or difficulties in production and delivery. Thus, the use of a Compton camera, which features gamma-ray imaging of arbitrary energies from a few hundred keV to more than MeV, is eagerly awaited along with potential new tracers which have never been used in current modalities. In this paper, we developed an ultra-compact Compton camera that weighs only 580 g. The camera consists of fine-pixelized Ce-doped Gd3Al2Ga3O12 scintillators coupled with multi-pixel photon counter arrays. We first investigated the 3-D imaging capability of our camera system for a diffuse source of a planar geometry, and then conducted small animal imaging as pre-clinical evaluation. For the first time, we successfully carried out the 3-D color imaging of a live mouse in just 2 h. By using tri-color gamma-ray fusion images, we confirmed that 131I, 85Sr, and 65Zn can be new tracers that concentrate in each target organ.

Effects of Berberine on Adipose Tissues and Kidney Function in 3T3-L1 Cells and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

We aimed to investigate the effect of berberine on adipose tissues, as well as its effect on renal injury in 3T3-L1 cells and spontaneously hypertensive rats. 3T3-L1 cells were cultured and treated with berberine (5-20 pM) from days 3 to 8. Berberine added to the cultured medium could significantly down-regulate transcription factors, including CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ß, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein a, and peroxisome pro liferator-activated receptor y, and suppress peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor target genes, such as adipocyte fatty acid binding protein and fatty acid synthase, and inhibit 3T3-Ll fibroblast differentiation to adipocytes. Male spontaneously hypertensive rats received either 150 mg/day of berberine or saline orally for 8 weeks. Compared with the control, berberine-treated rats exhibited significant reductions in body weight gain (p < 0.05), as well as retroperitoneal and mesenteric adipose tissues (p < 0.05). Berberine-treated rats significantly decreased urinary albumin excretion, a marker of renal injury (p < 0.05). Long-term treatment with berberine decreased the adipose tissues weight and attenuated renal injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Based on these results, berberine has an important role in regulating adipose tissues. These results suggest the protective effect of berberine on metabolic syndrome related diseases, such as renal injury.

Increased Oxidative Stress in Cultured 3T3-L1 Cells was Attenuated by Berberine Treatment.

The 3T3-L1 cell line is one of the most well-characterized and reliable models for studying adipocytes. Increased oxidative stress in accumulated fat was found in 3T3-L1 cells. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, could suppress fat deposition in 3T3-L1 cells; however, whether berberine suppresses increased oxidative stress is not well known. In this study, we observed the effect of berberine on increased oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 cells. 3T3-L1 cells were cultured and treated with berberine (5-20 µM) from day 3 to day 8. We confirmed that berberine markedly inhibited fat accumulation and lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and decreased triglyceride content. Berberine inhibited increased oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 cells by suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) gene expression and GPx activity. Berberine also markedly reduced adipokines secreted by adipocytes, including leptin and resistin.

Relation between nocturnal arterial oxygen desaturation and morning blood pressure.

OBJECTIVE: Arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) in volunteers had been previously investigated, and the possibility that a decrease in SpO2 leads to an increase in blood pressure (BP) in airline passengers experiencing oxygen desaturation at high altitudes was reported. It was also shown that mean nocturnal SpO2 was lower in subjects with high-normal BP or mild hypertension than in those with normal BP. The present study investigated nocturnal SpO2, evening BP, and morning BP of volunteers during daily life and examined the relation between nocturnal SpO2 and change in BP (morning BP minus evening BP) to determine the influence of SpO2 on BP. METHODS: Sixty-two volunteers (31 men and 31 women) aged 40-87 years (mean: 55.9 +/- 12 [SD] years) underwent measurement of SpO2 and heart rate with a ring-shaped pulse oximeter during sleep at home. Evening BP and morning BP were measured by automatic BP recorder. Subjects that were classified as having high SpO2 (mean nocturnal SpO2 >or= 95%; n = 23, 10 men and 13 women; mean age: 53.2 +/- 12 years) or low SpO2 (mean nocturnal SpO2 < 94%; n = 21, 12 men and 9 women; mean age: 58.7 +/- 13 years) were compared. The relation between mean nocturnal SpO2 and morning BP and the relation between mean nocturnal SpO2 and change in BP were investigated. RESULTS: There was a significant negative correlation between mean nocturnal SpO2 and morning systolic BP (SBP; r = -0.50, p < 0.01) and between mean nocturnal SpO2 and morning diastolic BP (DBP; r = -0.37, p < 0.01). A significant negative correlation between mean nocturnal SpO2 and change in SBP was observed (r = -0.57, p < 0.01). Morning BP was significantly higher in the low nocturnal SpO2 group than in the high nocturnal SpO2 group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The increase in morning BP from evening BP was significantly greater in subjects with a low nocturnal SpO2. The decrease in SpO2 during sleep may affect morning BP rise.

Ring-shaped pulse oximeter and its application: measurement of SpO2 and blood pressure during sleep and during flight.

Respiratory and cardiovascular functions show circadian and day-to-day changes. We have developed a wireless ring-shaped pulse oximeter in collaboration with MC Medical Inc. and Advanced Medical Inc. We investigated the accuracy of this pulse oximeter and its application in daily life. Percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) of 47 volunteers was measured simultaneously with the ring-shaped pulse oximeter and a standard pulse oximeter. A total of 103 volunteers underwent measurement of SpO2 for 24 hr, and 11 healthy volunteers underwent measurement of SpO2 and blood pressure (BP) during flight. SpO2 and heart rate (HR) were measured and recorded every 20 sec, cabin barometric pressure and cabin oxygen concentration equivalent to sea level were measured minute-to-minute, and BP was measured every 3 min with a portable BP recorder during each flight. The SpO2 values measured with the ring-shaped pulse oximeter were similar to those measured with the standard method. The mean SpO2 during sleep was significantly lower in the group with high-normal BP or mild hypertension than in the group with normal BP. During flight, the mean change in SpO2 was -2.4 +/- 1.7% during nose-up flight, and 2.1 +/- 2.6% during nose-down flight. There was a significant correlation between change in SpO2 and change in systolic BP during nose-up flight. The wireless ring-shaped pulse oximeter was useful for investigating changes in SpO2 and its effect on BP in daily life during sleep and during air travel.