Multispectral autofluorescence imaging for detection of cervical lesions: A preclinical study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to develop a novel optical imaging system for detecting protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) autofluorescence, to prove that PpIX autofluorescence is as useful as 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-induced fluorescence for detecting and localizing cervical cancer, and to monitor the change in PpIX autofluorescence or induced PpIX fluorescence before, during, and after photodynamic therapy (PDT). METHODS: TC-1 cells - highly tumorigenic cells immortalized using human papillomavirus type 16 proteins E6 and E7 - were subcutaneously grafted into the thighs of nude mice. The suspected tumor tissues were visualized using autofluorescence imaging and induced fluorescence imaging under 5-ALA administration. When the 5-ALA-induced PpIX was sufficiently accumulated in tumor tissues, PDT was performed using a 635-nm laser. We observed the change in fluorescence intensity during PDT. For 3 weeks after PDT, we monitored tumor remission by using white-light imaging and fluorescence imaging. RESULTS: The transplanted cells were visualized by PpIX autofluorescence, which was induced by heme synthesis. After 5-ALA administration, PpIX could be targeted by using PDT, which decreased PpIX autofluorescence. Photobleaching is useful for monitoring PDT dosimetry and for determining the photodynamic response to therapy. CONCLUSION: PpIX autofluorescence clearly differentiated the tumor from adjacent normal tissues. The results of PpIX autofluorescence imaging and 5-ALA-induced fluorescence imaging were identical. PpIX autofluorescence imaging is a simple and cost-effective cervical cancer screening method that could be performed during or after PDT to ensure effective treatment or remission as a change in fluorescence intensity can be observed in real time without a blinding effect.

Iron overload during follow-up after tandem high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.

Multiple RBC transfusions inevitably lead to a state of iron overload before and after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDCT/autoSCT). Nonetheless, iron status during post-SCT follow-up remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated post-SCT ferritin levels, factors contributing to its sustained levels, and organ functions affected by iron overload in 49 children with high-risk neuroblastoma who underwent tandem HDCT/autoSCT. Although serum ferritin levels gradually decreased during post-SCT follow-up, 47.7% of the patients maintained ferritin levels above 1,000 ng/mL at 1 yr after the second HDCT/autoSCT. These patients had higher serum creatinine (0.62 vs 0.47 mg/mL, P = 0.007) than their counterparts (< 1,000 ng/mL). Post-SCT transfusion amount corresponded to increased ferritin levels at 1 yr after the second HDCT/autoSCT (P < 0.001). A lower CD34(+) cell count was associated with a greater need of RBC transfusion, which in turn led to a higher serum ferritin level at 1 yr after HDCT/autoSCT. The number of CD34(+) cells transplanted was an independent factor for ferritin levels at 1 yr after the second HDCT/autoSCT (P = 0.019). Consequently, CD34(+) cells should be transplanted as many as possible to prevent the sustained iron overload after tandem HDCT/autoSCT and consequent adverse effects.

A novel imaging platform for non-invasive screening of abnormal glucose tolerance.

Optical measurement of skin auto-fluorescence (SAF), most likely emanating from accumulated advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), has been proposed for the noninvasive diagnosis of glucose intolerance in clinical settings. Here, we developed a novel imaging system with transmission geometry for SAF measurement and compared its diagnostic performance in a Korean population.

Single Cavernous Hemangioma of the Small Bowel Diagnosed by Using Capsule Endoscopy in a Child with Chronic Iron-Deficiency Anemia.

Cavernous hemangiomas of the gastrointestinal tract are extremely rare. In particular, the diagnosis of small bowel hemangiomas is very difficult in children. A 13-year-old boy presented at the outpatient clinic with dizziness and fatigue. The patient was previously diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia at 3 years of age and had been treated with iron supplements continuously and pure red cell transfusion intermittently. Laboratory tests indicated that the patient currently had iron-deficiency anemia. There was no evidence of gross bleeding, such as hematemesis or bloody stool. Laboratory findings indicated no bleeding tendency. Gastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy results were negative. To obtain a definitive diagnosis, the patient underwent capsule endoscopy. A purplish stalked mass was found in the jejunum, and the mass was excised successfully. We report of a 13-year-old boy who presented with severe and recurrent iron-deficiency anemia caused by a cavernous hemangioma in the small bowel without symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding.

In vitro selection of specific RNA inhibitors of NFATc.

NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) plays a pivotal role in inducible gene transcription during the immune response and functions as a major target for immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporin A and FK-506. However, due to toxic effects of these drugs, which arise from their ability to inhibit calcineurin in non-immune cells, development of agents that directly target NFAT without toxic effects is warranted. Here, we present an in vitro selection of RNA aptamer to NFATc DNA binding domain (DBD) from a combinatorial RNA library with 41 nucleotide-long random sequences using the SELEX technique. The selected (SE) RNA was found to specifically and avidly bind NFATc DBD based on immunoprecipitation and competitive gel retardation assay. SE RNA also efficiently and specifically inhibited DNA binding capacity of NFATc, but not NFATp. Furthermore, transient RNA transfection studies show that only SE RNA can selectively and efficiently inhibit the NFATc- but neither the NFkappaB- nor NFATp-driven promoter activity in cells. These results suggest that SE RNA identified in this study is a specific inhibitor of NFATc activation, and hence, can be used not only for the study of NFAT functions but for the development of potent immune modulating agents.