Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of musculoskeletal tumors.

Conventional MR imaging provides low specificity in the differential diagnosis of musculoskeletal (MSK) tumors and is unable to offer information about the extent of tumoral necrosis and the presence of viable cells, information crucial to assess treatment response and prognosis. Therefore, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is now used with conventional MR imaging to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment evaluation. This article discusses the technical aspects of DWI, particularly the quantitative and qualitative interpretation of images in MSK tumors.

Whole-body MR imaging for the evaluation of McCune-albright syndrome.

This paper is a detailed case study of a seven-year-old girl who developed precocious puberty. The young girl experienced bilateral breast enlargement, vaginal discharge, and multiple areas of "cafe-au-lait" pigmentation on the skin. The skeletal radiographs showed multiple bone lesions which were suggestive of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia.

Partial correction of cystic fibrosis defects with PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating curcumin.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common life threatening genetic disease (incidence: approximately 1 in 2500 live births). CF is caused by mutations in CFTR, a chloride channel involved in epithelial secretion of fluid and electrolytes. The most common mutation entails the deletion of a phenylalanine in position 508 that causes protein misfolding and abnormal CFTR processing.

Rectal potential difference and the functional expression of CFTR in the gastrointestinal epithelia in cystic fibrosis mouse models.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease that results from mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The effect of interventions aimed at correcting the CF electrophysiologic phenotype has been primarily measured using in vitro methods in gastrointestinal and respiratory epithelia. A reliable in vivo assay of CFTR function would be of great value in the investigation of pharmacologic interventions for CF mouse models.

Assessment of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity in CFTR-null mice after bone marrow transplantation.

Several studies have demonstrated that bone marrow (BM)-derived cells give rise to rare epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) and respiratory tracts after BM transplantation into myeloablated recipients. We investigate whether, after transplantation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-positive BM-derived cells, BM-derived GI and airway epithelial cells can provide CFTR activity in the GI tract and nasal epithelium of recipient cystic fibrosis mice. CFTR-/- mice were transplanted with wild-type BM after receiving different doses of irradiation, and CFTR activity was assessed in vivo in individual mice over time by using rectal and nasal potential difference analyses and in vitro by Ussing chamber analysis.