Endoscopic-Assisted Presigmoid Approach to the Internal Auditory Canal. A Feasibility Study.

Hypothesis: The retrolabyrinthine (presigmoid) approach has been utilized in various skull base surgeries but has not been fully utilized in the management of internal auditory canal (IAC) lesions, such as vestibular schwannoma (VS). Microsurgical retrolabyrinthine approach provides limited visualization of the IAC, while endoscopic-assisted techniques allow for further lateral exposure with labyrinthine preservation.

Background: Traditional approaches to the IAC have the disadvantage of hearing sacrifice or retraction of brain tissue.

Review and investigation of automatic brightness/dose rate control logic of fluoroscopic imaging systems in cardiovascular interventional angiography.

In this article, we review automatic brightness control (ABC) for fluoroscopy imaging systems. Starting from the simple manual control, the discussion is extended to the kV-primary ABC system, and then to the most recent contrast-to-noise ratio optimized (CNR Optimized) automatic dose rate control system (ADRC). The nature of this review article is trifold.

AAPM Task Group Report 272: Comprehensive acceptance testing and evaluation of fluoroscopy imaging systems.

Modern fluoroscopes used for image guidance have become quite complex. Adding to this complexity are the many regulatory and accreditation requirements that must be fulfilled during acceptance testing of a new unit. Further, some of these acceptance tests have pass/fail criteria, whereas others do not, making acceptance testing a subjective and time-consuming task.

Astrocyte Elevated Gene-1 (AEG-1) Regulates Lipid Homeostasis.

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1), also known as MTDH (metadherin) or LYRIC, is an established oncogene. However, the physiological function of AEG-1 is not known. To address this question, we generated an AEG-1 knock-out mouse (AEG-1KO) and characterized it.

Suppression of the PI3K pathway in vivo reduces cystitis-induced bladder hypertrophy and restores bladder capacity examined by magnetic resonance imaging.

This study utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor the real-time status of the urinary bladder in normal and diseased states following cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced cystitis, and also examined the role of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway in the regulation of urinary bladder hypertrophy in vivo. Our results showed that under MRI visualization the urinary bladder wall was significantly thickened at 8 h and 48 h post CYP injection. The intravesical volume of the urinary bladder was also markedly reduced.

Intrinsically radiolabelled [(59)Fe]-SPIONs for dual MRI/radionuclide detection.

Towards the development of iron oxide nanoparticles with intrinsically incorporated radionuclides for dual Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PET/MRI) and more recently of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (SPECT/MRI), we have developed intrinsically radiolabeled [(59)Fe]-superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles ([(59)Fe]-SPIONs) as a proof of concept for an intrinsic dual probe strategy. (59)Fe was incorporated into Fe3O4 nanoparticle crystal lattice with 92±3% efficiency in thermal decomposition synthesis. Multidentate poly(acrylic acid)-dopamine-poly(ethylene-glycol-2000) (PAA-DOP-PEG) ligands were designed and synthesized based on facile EDC chemistry and utilized to functionalize the [(59)Fe]-SPIONs.

Sperm-associated antigen-17 gene is essential for motile cilia function and neonatal survival.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), resulting from defects in cilia assembly or motility, is caused by mutations in a number of genes encoding axonemal proteins. PCD phenotypes are variable, and include recurrent respiratory tract infections, bronchiectasis, hydrocephaly, situs inversus, and male infertility. We generated knockout mice for the sperm-associated antigen-17 (Spag17) gene, which encodes a central pair (CP) protein present in the axonemes of cells with "9 + 2" motile cilia or flagella.

Conjugation of functionalized gadolinium metallofullerenes with IL-13 peptides for targeting and imaging glial tumors.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most lethal primary brain tumor in humans, with median survival of approximately 1 year. Owing to the ability of glioma cells to aggressively infiltrate normal brain tissue and survive exposure to current adjuvant therapies, there is a great need for specific targeted nanoplatforms capable of delivering both therapeutic and imaging agents directly to invasive tumor cells.

Method: Gadolinium-containing endohedral fullerenes, highly efficient contrast agents for MRI, were functionalized and conjugated with a tumor-specific peptide and assessed for their ability to bind to glioma cells in vitro.

In vitro and in vivo studies of single-walled carbon nanohorns with encapsulated metallofullerenes and exohedrally functionalized quantum dots.

Single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) are new carbonaceous materials. In this paper, we report the first successful preparation of SWNHs encapsulating trimetallic nitride template endohedral metallofullerenes (TNT-EMFs). The resultant materials were functionalized by a high-speed vibration milling method and conjugated with CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs).

Quantification of convection-enhanced delivery to the ischemic brain.

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) could have clinical application in the delivery of neuroprotective agents following ischemic stroke. However, ischemic brain tissue changes such as cytotoxic edema, in which cellular swelling decreases the fractional volume of the extracellular space, would be expected to significantly alter the distribution of neuroprotective agents delivered by CED. We sought to predict and characterize these effects using the magnetic resonance contrast agent gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) as a model therapeutic agent.

Gd-DTPA T1 relaxivity in brain tissue obtained by convection-enhanced delivery, magnetic resonance imaging and emission spectroscopy.

A common approach to quantify gadolinium (Gd) contrast agents involves measuring the post-contrast change in T1 rate and then using the constant T1 relaxivity R to determine the contrast agent concentration. Because this method is fast and non-invasive, it could be potentially valuable in many areas of brain research. However, to accurately measure contrast agent concentrations in the brain, the T1 relaxivity R of the specific agent must be accurately known.

High relaxivity trimetallic nitride (Gd3N) metallofullerene MRI contrast agents with optimized functionality.

Water-soluble poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) functionalized and hydroxylated endohedral trimetallic nitride metallofullerene derivatives, Gd(3)N@C(80)[DiPEG(OH)(x)], have been synthesized and characterized. The (1)H MRI relaxivities in aqueous solution were measured for the derivatives with four different molecular weights of PEG (350-5000 Da) at 0.35, 2.

Facile preparation of a new gadofullerene-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent with high 1H relaxivity.

A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent based on the trimetallic nitride templated (TNT) metallofullerene Gd(3)N@C(80) was synthesized by a facile method in high yield. The observed longitudinal and transverse relaxivities r(1) and r(2) for water hydrogens in the presence of the water-soluble gadofullerene 2 Gd(3)N@C(80)(OH)(approximately 26)(CH(2)CH(2)COOM)(approximately 16) (M = Na or H) are 207 and 282 mM(-1) s(-1) (per C(80) cage) at 2.4 T, respectively; these values are 50 times larger than those of Gd(3+) poly(aminocarboxylate) complexes, such as commercial Omniscan and Magnevist.

cis-3, 4', 5-Trimethoxy-3'-aminostilbene disrupts tumor vascular perfusion without damaging normal organ perfusion.

Purpose: Targeting tumor vasculature by colchicine site microtubule inhibitors is a new approach in cancer therapy. Here we investigate cis-3, 4', 5-trimethoxy-3'-aminostilbene (stilbene 5c) in its effect on tumor vascular perfusion, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and therapeutic efficacy in a mouse xenograft model.

Methods: Tumor xenograft model was established with subcutaneous injection of UCI-101 ovarian cancer cells into nude mice.

Conjugation of a water-soluble gadolinium endohedral fulleride with an antibody as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent.

Water-soluble gadofullerides exhibited high efficiency as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. In this paper, we report the conjugation of the newly synthesized gadofulleride, Gd@C82O6(OH) 16(-)(NHCH2CH2COOH)8, with the antibody of green fluorescence protein (anti-GFP), as a model for "tumor targeted" imaging agents based on endohedral metallofullerenes. In this model system, the activity of the anti-GFP conjugate can be conveniently detected by green fluorescence protein (GFP), leading to in vitro experiments more direct and facile than those of tumor antibodies.

In vitro and in vivo imaging studies of a new endohedral metallofullerene nanoparticle.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a functionalized trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene nanoparticle as a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging proton relaxation agent and to follow its distribution for in vitro agarose gel infusions and in vivo infusions in rat brain.

Materials And Methods: The animal study was approved by the animal care and use committee. Gd(3)N@C(80) was functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol) units, and the carbon cage was hydroxylated to provide improved water solubility and biodistribution.

[Increasing cerebral perfusion pressure in serious cranial injury--contradictory effects of dopamine].

Background: Management of cerebral perfusion pressure is an important element of the treatment of traumatic brain injury. Vasopressors are accepted as a method of choice to increase mean arterial blood pressure and thus cerebral perfusion pressure in the face of rising intracranial pressure. There are, however, some unresolved issues and potential risks to this therapy.

Assessment of cerebral S100B levels by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy after lateral fluid-percussion injury in the rat.

Object: After traumatic brain injury (TBI), S100B protein is released by astrocytes. Furthermore, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum S100B levels have been correlated to outcome. Given that no data exist about the temporal profile of cerebral S100B levels following TBI and their correlation to serum levels, the authors examined whether proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy is capable of measuring S100B.

A realistic brain tissue phantom for intraparenchymal infusion studies.

Object: The goal of this study was to validate a simple, inexpensive, and robust model system to be used as an in vitro surrogate for in vivo brain tissues in preclinical and exploratory studies of infusion-based intraparenchymal drug and cell delivery.

Methods: Agarose gels of varying concentrations and porcine brain were tested to determine the infusion characteristics of several different catheters at flow rates of 0.5 and 1 microl per minute by using bromophenol blue (BPB) dye (molecular weight [MW] approximately 690) and gadodiamide (MW approximately 573).