MicroRNA-217 attenuates intima-media complex thickness of ascending aorta measured by ultrasound bio-microscopy and inhibits inflammation and lipid metabolism in atherosclerotic models of ApoE-/- mice.

BACKGROUND: Little investigation was done to test the efficiency of microRNA-217 (miR-217) on atherosclerosis in vivo. METHODS: ApoE-/- mice were used to construct atherosclerotic models and ultrasound bio-microscopy (UBM) was applied to detect the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the ascending aorta. The serum level of miR-217 and correlation with IMT was investigated. After miR-217 mimic administration, the IMT, inflammation, and lipid-associated molecules were assayed. RESULTS: The serum level of miR-217 was reduced in ApoE-/- mice and showed a negative correlation with the IMT of the ascending aorta (r2 = 0.5899, p < 0.0001). miR-217 mimic administration attenuated IMT and down-regulated the level of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), while it could up-regulate high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Inflammation relevant genes, such as F4/80, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and lipid metabolism associated gene, such as LDL receptor, class A scavenger receptors (SR-A), scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), CD36, ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1), and ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 1 (ABCG1) in the aorta were significantly down-regulated in miR-217 group when compared with atherosclerosis group. CONCLUSION: miR-217 could down-regulate IMT and modulate the inflammation and lipid metabolism process, which indicates that miR-217 could be a potential treatment option.

In Vivo Imaging of Rabbit Follicles through Combining Ultrasound Bio-Microscopy and Intravital Window.

Continuous ovarian imaging has been proven to be a method for monitoring the development of follicles in vivo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combining ultrasound bio-microscopy (UBM) with an intravital window for follicle imaging in rabbits and to monitor the ovarian dynamic processes. New Zealand White female rabbits (n = 10) received ovarian translocation to a subcutaneous position. The ovarian tissue was sutured onto the abdominal muscles and covered with an intravital window for the continuous monitoring of the follicles using UBM. Results show that physiological changes (red blood cell and white blood cell counts, feed intake, and body weight change) in rabbits induced by surgery returned to normal physiological levels in one week. Furthermore, UBM could provide high-resolution imaging of follicles through the intravital window. Daily monitoring of ovarian dynamic processes for 6 days displayed variabilities in follicle counts and size. Collectively, these results provide a relatively new method to monitor ovarian dynamic processes and to understand the reproductive physiology of female rabbits.

Evaluation of ciliary body by ultrasound bio-microscopy after trans-scleral diode cyclo-photocoagulation in refractory glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the morphological changes of the ciliary body after diode laser trans-scleral cyclo-photocoagulation using ultrasound bio-microscopy in refractory glaucoma. SETTINGS: This prospective, interventional, non-comparative, non-randomized, longitudinal study was performed on 40 eyes with refractory glaucoma, during the period between February 2016 and March 2018. METHODS: All patients were treated with single session diode laser trans-scleral cyclo-photocoagulation. The intraocular pressure was obtained over a period of 3 months after the operation and morphological changes of the ciliary body were observed using ultrasound bio-microscopy. RESULTS: Trans-scleral cyclo-photocoagulation has achieved a reasonable success in reducing intraocular pressure to less than 22 mm Hg without increasing the number of glaucoma medication. The overall success rate was 40%, as the intraocular pressure decreased from a baseline mean value of 54.70 ± 12.27 to 42.45 ± 9.85 mm Hg 1 week after operation, 33.50 ± 8.00 mm Hg after 1 month, and 25.60 ± 6.62 after 3 months of operation. Ultrasound bio-microscopy detected reduction in the length and width of ciliary processes in addition to the ciliary muscle thickness of the treated quadrants. Intraocular pressure was more correlated to the width of the ciliary processes. CONCLUSION: Trans-scleral cyclo-photocoagulation is a rapid and effective procedure in treatment of refractory glaucoma with intraocular pressure reduction. Ultrasound bio-microscopy is a promising twin tool for cyclo-destructive procedures to detect ciliary body changes and can be used as a guide for re-treatment procedures.

3-D high-frequency ultrasound backscatter analysis of human articular cartilage.

High-frequency ultrasound is a promising method for non-invasive characterization of cartilage degeneration. Surface reflection and integrated spectral parameters are often used. In the work described here, human cartilage samples with varying degrees of degeneration were measured using a 40-MHz transducer. Backscatter signals originating from the superficial and transitional zones of cartilage were analyzed using amplitude, spectral and envelope statistical parameters and related to degenerative changes of the matrix given by the Mankin score. The results indicate an increased sensitivity of spectral slope and envelope statistical parameters to early matrix degeneration compared with conventional amplitude parameters. Furthermore, moderate correlations of chondrocyte number with backscatter amplitude and envelope statistics were observed, suggesting that at high frequencies, cells are one important scattering source in cartilage. An application of spectral and envelope statistical parameters to intra-articular ultrasound arthroscopy is conceivable and could improve the diagnostic potential of these examinations. Future studies are necessary to clarify the contributions of chondrocytes, extracellular matrix and collagen content to ultrasound backscatter to further improve the diagnostic potential of ultrasound for cartilage assessment.

Ultrasound bio-microscopy for measurement of coronary artery flow and estimation of infarct size in a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction.

Ultrasound bio-microscopy was used to measure hemodynamic changes in the left main coronary artery after myocardial infarction (MI), and its usefulness in estimating infarct size was evaluated. MI was induced by left anterior descending artery ligation. Diastolic peak velocity (Vd), mean flow velocity (Vmean) and the velocity-time integral (VTI) were measured 2 and 6 h after MI. Serum troponin I levels were assayed 2, 6 and 12 h after MI. At 2 h, Vmean and VTI significantly differed between mice that underwent low and high left anterior descending artery ligation; Vd, Vmean and VTI were correlated with infarct size (r = -0.557, -0.693 and -0.672, respectively; all p < 0.01). Infarct size was more strongly correlated with 2-h ultrasound bio-microscopy measurements than with 2-h serum troponin I level. Measurement of coronary artery blood flow by ultrasound bio-microscopy may be useful for early estimation of infarct size in mice.