Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Chronic Disease Burden in the U.S., 2018-2021.

Introduction: Chronic diseases are primary causes of mortality and disability in the U.S. Although individual-level indices to assess the burden of multiple chronic diseases exist, there is a lack of quantitative tools at the population level.

Geospatial Analysis for Prehospital Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Houston, Texas.

Objectives: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) is a promising treatment that could improve survival for refractory out-of-hospital (OHCA) patients. Healthcare systems may choose to start eCPR in the prehospital setting to optimize time to eCPR initiation and decrease low-flow time. We used geospatial modeling to evaluate different eCPR catchment strategies for a forthcoming prehospital eCPR program in Houston, Texas.

Antioxidant Therapy Significantly Attenuates Hepatotoxicity following Low Dose Exposure to Microcystin-LR in a Murine Model of Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

We have previously shown in a murine model of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) that chronic, low-dose exposure to the Harmful Algal Bloom cyanotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR), resulted in significant hepatotoxicity including micro-vesicular lipid accumulation, impaired toxin metabolism as well as dysregulation of the key signaling pathways involved in inflammation, immune response and oxidative stress. On this background we hypothesized that augmentation of hepatic drug metabolism pathways with targeted antioxidant therapies would improve MC-LR metabolism and reduce hepatic injury in NAFLD mice exposed to MC-LR. We chose N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 40 mM), a known antioxidant that augments the glutathione detoxification pathway and a novel peptide (pNaKtide, 25 mg/kg) which is targeted to interrupting a specific Src-kinase mediated pro-oxidant amplification mechanism.

Imaging of Ischemia/Reperfusion-mediated Aminopeptidase N Expression in Surgical Rat Model Using Ga-NOTA-c(NGR).

Background/aim: Previous studies have already shown that Gallium(Ga)-labeled NGR-based radiopharmaceuticals specifically bind to the neoangiogenic molecule Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13). The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of Ga-NOTA-c(NGR) in the in vivo detection of the temporal changes of APN/CD13 expression in the diabetic retinopathy rat model using positron emission tomography (PET).

Materials And Methods: Ischemia/reperfusion injury was initiated by surgical ligation of the left bulbus oculi of rats.

In vivo preclinical assessment of novel Ga-labelled peptides for imaging of tumor associated angiogenesis using positron emission tomography imaging.

Formation and growth of metastases require a new vascular network. Angiogenesis plays an essential role in the expansion and progression of most malignancies. A high number of molecular pathways regulate angiogenesis, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), αβ integrin, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), or aminopeptidase N.