Glucose Infusion Induced Change in Intracellular pH and Its Relationship with Tumor Glycolysis in a C6 Rat Model of Glioblastoma.

Introduction: The reliance on glycolytic metabolism is a hallmark of tumor metabolism. Excess acid and protons are produced, leading to an acidic tumor environment. Therefore, we explored the relationship between the tumor glycolytic metabolism and tissue pH by comparing F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and hyperpolarized [1-C]pyruvate MR spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) to chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI measurements of tumor pH.

Quantification of joint blood flow by dynamic contrast-enhanced near-infrared spectroscopy: application to monitoring disease activity in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis.

Significance: Current guidelines for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management recommend early treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). However, DMARD treatment fails in 30% of patients and current monitoring methods can only detect failure after 3 to 6 months of therapy.

Aim: We investigated whether joint blood flow (BF), quantified using dynamic contrast-enhanced time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy, can monitor disease activity and treatment response in a rat model of RA.

Quantification of blood-brain barrier permeability by dynamic contrast-enhanced NIRS.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is integral to maintaining a suitable microenvironment for neurons to function properly. Despite its importance, there are no bedside methods of assessing BBB disruption to help guide management of critical-care patients. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can quantify the permeability surface-area product (PS) of the BBB.

ANG1 treatment reduces muscle pathology and prevents a decline in perfusion in DMD mice.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other pro-angiogenic growth factors have been investigated to enhance muscle tissue perfusion and repair in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Current understanding is limited by a lack of functional data following in vivo delivery of these growth factors. We previously used dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography to monitor disease progression in murine models of DMD, but no study to date has utilized this imaging technique to assess vascular therapy in a preclinical model of DMD.

Assessment of intratumor hypoxia by integrated 18F-FDG PET / perfusion CT in a liver tumor model.

Objectives: Hypoxia in solid tumors occurs when metabolic demands in tumor cells surpass the delivery of oxygenated blood. We hypothesize that the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) metabolism and tumor blood flow mismatch would correlate with tumor hypoxia.

Methods: Liver perfusion computed tomography (CT) and 18F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) imaging were performed in twelve rabbit livers implanted with VX2 carcinoma.