Differential diagnosis of gallstones by using hypericin as a fluorescent optical imaging agent.

Aim: To explore the feasibility of using hypericin as an optical imaging probe with affinity for cholesterol for differential fluorescent detection of human gallstones.

Methods: Cholesterol, mixed and pigment stones from cholecystectomy patients were incubated with hypericin or solvent. After 72 h, the stones were analysed for fluorescence (365 nm) and treated with 2-propanol/dimethyl sulfoxide for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis.

Rat model of cholelithiasis with human gallstones implanted in cholestasis-induced virtual gallbladder.

Aim: To facilitate translational research on cholelithiasis, we have developed a rat model of human gallstones by exploiting the unique biliopancreatic features of this species.

Methods: Under anesthesia, 16 adult rats of equal genders underwent two times of abdominal surgery. First, their common bile duct (CBD) was ligated to cause cholestasis by total biliary obstruction (TBO).

Mammalian models of chemically induced primary malignancies exploitable for imaging-based preclinical theragnostic research.

Compared with transplanted tumor models or genetically engineered cancer models, chemically induced primary malignancies in experimental animals can mimic the clinical cancer progress from the early stage on. Cancer caused by chemical carcinogens generally develops through three phases namely initiation, promotion and progression. Based on different mechanisms, chemical carcinogens can be divided into genotoxic and non-genotoxic ones, or complete and incomplete ones, usually with an organ-specific property.

Biliary and duodenal drainage for reducing the radiotoxic risk of antineoplastic 131I-hypericin in rat models.

Necrosis targeting radiopharmaceutical (131)I-hypericin ((131)I-Hyp) has been studied for the therapy of solid malignancies. However, serious side effects may be caused by its unwanted radioactivity after being metabolized by the liver and excreted via bile in the digestive tract. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate two kinds of bile draining for reducing them.

Three-dimensional contrasted visualization of pancreas in rats using clinical MRI and CT scanners.

The purpose of this work was to visualize the pancreas in post-mortem rats with local contrast medium infusion by three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) using clinical imagers. A total of 16 Sprague Dawley rats of about 300 g were used for the pancreas visualization. Following the baseline imaging, a mixed contrast medium dye called GadoIodo-EB containing optimized concentrations of Gd-DOTA, iomeprol and Evens blue was infused into the distally obstructed common bile duct (CBD) for post-contrast imaging with 3.

Necrosis Avidity of Organic Compounds: A Natural Phenomenon with Exploitable Theragnostic Potentials.

Necrosis is an in vivo chaotic event distinguished by uncontrolled disintegration of the cell membrane leading to cytolysis, inflammation and tissue destruction followed by a healing or regenerating process. Targeting necrosis may offer potential diagnostic, therapeutic and/or theragnostic applications in translational medicine. This article reviews the current concept of necrosis including definition, etiology and pathophysiology.

An overview of translational (radio)pharmaceutical research related to certain oncological and non-oncological applications.

Translational medicine pursues the conversion of scientific discovery into human health improvement. It aims to establish strategies for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Cancer treatment is difficult.

Bifunctional staining for ex vivo determination of area at risk in rabbits with reperfused myocardial infarction.

Aim: To develop a method for studying myocardial area at risk (AAR) in ischemic heart disease in correlation with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI).

Methods: Nine rabbits were anesthetized, intubated and subjected to occlusion and reperfusion of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) to induce myocardial infarction (MI). ECG-triggered cMRI with delayed enhancement was performed at 3.

Sodium cholate, a solubilizing agent for the necrosis avid radioiodinated hypericin in rabbits with acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: We determined whether sodium cholate (NaCh) could act as a solubilizing agent for the necrosis avid iodine-123-labeled hypericin ((123)I-Hyp) and investigated biodistribution and targetability of this formulation in rabbits with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Materials And Methods: Solubility of radioiodinated hypericin/hypericin (Hyp) in NaCh solutions was evaluated by microscopy. Hyp with (123)I-sodium iodide was performed using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant in 0.

Towards stratifying ischemic components by cardiac MRI and multifunctional stainings in a rabbit model of myocardial infarction.

Objectives: We sought to identify critical components of myocardial infarction (MI) including area at risk (AAR), MI-core and salvageable zone (SZ) by using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) and multifunctional stainings in rabbits.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen rabbits received 90-min coronary artery (CA) ligation and reopening to induce reperfused MI. First-pass perfusion weighted imaging (PWI(90')) was performed immediately before CA reperfusion.

Separate calculation of DW-MRI in assessing therapeutic effect in liver tumors in rats.

Aim: To explore whether the antitumor effect of a vascular disrupting agent (VDA) would be enhanced by combining with an antiangiogenic agent, and whether such synergistic effects can be effectively evaluated with separate calculation of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI).

Methods: Thirty-seven rats with implanted liver tumors were randomized into the following three groups: (1) ZD6126, a kind of VDA; (2) ZDTHA, ZD6126 in combination with an antiangiogenic, thalidomide; and (3) control. Morphological DW-MRI were performed and quantified before, 4 h and 2 d after treatment.

Biodistribution and radiation dosimetry of radioiodinated hypericin as a cancer therapeutic.

Iodine-131‑labeled monoiodohypericin (131I‑Hyp) is a necrosis avid compound used as a complementary anticancer agent. Herein, the biodistribution in rats with re-perfused partial liver infarction (RPLI) was used to estimate its human internal radiation dosimetry. Iodine-123‑labeled monoiodohypericin (123I-Hyp) as a safer surrogate for 131I-Hyp was prepared with iodogen as oxidant.

Improvement of solubility and targetability of radioiodinated hypericin by using sodium cholate based solvent in rat models of necrosis.

Hypericin (Hyp) is newly recognized as a necrosis avid agent, but its poor solubility imposes a great hindrance in clinical application. The aim of this paper was to explore sodium cholate (NaCh) as a potential solvent for Hyp and assess the targetability of (131)I-Hyp in rat necrosis models. Hyp solubility in NaCh solutions was evaluated by equilibrium solubility measurement.

Improved clearance of radioiodinated hypericin as a targeted anticancer agent by using a duodenal drainage catheter in rats.

We sought to reduce the radioactive intestinal waste after intravenous injection of necrosis avid iodine-131-labeled hypericin in dual-targeting anticancer radiotherapy and to study its pharmacokinetics in rats using a newly designed catheter. Iodine-123-labeled hypericin was prepared with iodogen as oxidant and characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. After iodine-123-labeled hypericin administration, duodenal juice was collected via a catheter from groups of rats (n = 5) at intervals of 0-4, 4-8 or 20-24 h.

Targetability and biodistribution of radioiodinated hypericin: comparison between microdosing and carrier-added preparations.

Objectives: To study the effect of co-injecting unlabelled hypericin (Hyp) on biodistribution, necrosis uptake and tumour retention of iodine-123 or iodine-131 labelled hypericin ((123/131)I-Hyp), a necrosis avid agent for an anticancer radiotherapy.

Methods: (123/131)I-Hyp was prepared with Iodogen as oxidant and formulated in 0.6 μg/kg no-carrier-added (NCA) or 0.

Radioiodinated hypericin: its biodistribution, necrosis avidity and therapeutic efficacy are influenced by formulation.

Purpose: To study whether formulation influences biodistribution, necrosis avidity and tumoricidal effects of the radioiodinated hypericin, a necrosis avid agent for a dual-targeting anticancer radiotherapy.

Methods: Iodine-123- and 131-labeled hypericin ((123)I-Hyp and (131)I-Hyp) were prepared with Iodogen as oxidant, and formulated in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/PEG400 (polyethylene glycol 400)/water (25/60/15, v/v/v) or DMSO/saline (20:80, v/v). The formulations with excessive Hyp were optically characterized.

Detection and quantification of acute reperfused myocardial infarction in rabbits using DISA-SPECT/CT and 3.0T cardiac MRI.

Background: Necrosis avid tracer (123)I-hypericin ((123)I-HYP) enables hot-spot imaging on acute myocardial infarction (MI). We explored dual-isotope simultaneous acquisition single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (DISA-SPECT/CT) by using (123)I-HYP and standard (99m)Tc-sestamibi ((99m)Tc-MIBI), in comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), autoradiography (AutoRx) and histomorphometry.

Methods: Acute MI was induced by 90-min coronary artery occlusion and 24-h reperfusion in 9 rabbits.

Lipomatous metaplasia identified in rabbits with reperfused myocardial infarction by 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology.

Background: Cardiac lipomatous metaplasia (LM) occurs in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease and heart failure with unclear mechanisms. We studied coronary occlusion/reperfusion-induced myocardial infarction (MI) in rabbits during a 9-months follow-up using 3.0 T magnetic resonance scanner, and confirmed the presence of MI in acute phase and LM in chronic phase using histopathology.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 68Ga labeled bis-DOTA-3,3'-(benzylidene)-bis-(1H-indole-2-carbohydrazide) as a PET tracer for in vivo visualization of necrosis.

The aim of the present study was to develop a (68)Ga labeled bis-DOTA derivative of benzylidene-bis-indole and compare the in vivo stability and biodistribution with that of the previously reported bis-DTPA derivate for in vivo imaging of necrosis using PET. Uptake of the tracer was evaluated in a mouse model of Fas-mediated hepatic apoptosis in correlation with histochemical stainings. The novel (68)Ga labeled tracer showed an improved in vivo stability and could therefore be used for selective non-invasive imaging of necrotic cell death using PET.

Sequential systemic administrations of combretastatin A4 Phosphate and radioiodinated hypericin exert synergistic targeted theranostic effects with prolonged survival on SCID mice carrying bifocal tumor xenografts.

Objectives: Based on the soil-to-seeds principle, we explored the small-molecular sequential dual-targeting theranostic strategy (SMSDTTS) for prolonged survival and imaging detectability in a xenograft tumor model.

Materials And Methods: Thirty severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice bearing bilateral radiation-induced fibrosarcoma-1 (RIF-1) subcutaneously were divided into group A of SMSDTTS with sequential intravenous injections of combretastatin A4 phosphate (CA4P) and (131)I-iodohypericin ((131)I-Hyp) at a 24 h interval; group B of single targeting control with CA4P and vehicle of (131)I-Hyp; and group C of vehicle control (10 mice per group). Tumoricidal events were monitored by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and planar gamma scintiscan, and validated by ex vivo autoradiography and histopathology.

Diverse responses to vascular disrupting agent combretastatin a4 phosphate: a comparative study in rats with hepatic and subcutaneous tumor allografts using MRI biomarkers, microangiography, and histopathology.

Objective: Differently located tumors of the same origin may exhibit diverse responses to the same therapeutics. To test this hypothesis, we compared the responses of rodent hepatic and subcutaneous engrafts of rhabdomyosarcoma-1 (R1) to a vascular disrupting agent Combretastatin A4 phosphate (CA4P).

Methods: Twelve WAG/Rij rats, each bearing three R1 implanted in the right and left hepatic lobes and subcutaneously in the thoracic region, received CA4P intravenously at 5 mg/kg (n = 6) or solvent (n = 6).

A safety study on single intravenous dose of tetrachloro-diphenyl glycoluril [iodogen] dissolved in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO).

1. Iodogen (tetrachloro-diphenyl glycoluril) dissolved in DMSO (dimethyl sulphoxide) appears indispensable in radioiodination of hypericin for a new anticancer strategy. We studied the safety of intravenously administered iodogen/DMSO in mice (n = 132).

Toward highly potent cancer agents by modulating the C-2 group of the arylthioindole class of tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

New arylthioindole derivatives having different cyclic substituents at position 2 of the indole were synthesized as anticancer agents. Several compounds inhibited tubulin polymerization at submicromolar concentration and inhibited cell growth at low nanomolar concentrations. Compounds 18 and 57 were superior to the previously synthesized 5.

Exploring theranostic potentials of radioiodinated hypericin in rodent necrosis models.

Objectives: The present animal experiments were conducted to evaluate radioiodinated Hypericin (Hyp) for its regional distribution as well as theranostic potentials.

Materials And Methods: Rat models of reperfused liver infarction (RLI) and hepatic rhabdomyosarcoma (R1) were surgically induced. R1 models received Combretastatin A4 phosphate (CA4P) intravenously at 10 mg/kg 24 h prior to radioiodinated Hyp.

A single-dose toxicity study on non-radioactive iodinated hypericin for a targeted anticancer therapy in mice.

Aim: Hypericin (Hyp) and its radio-derivatives have been investigated in animal models with ischemic heart diseases and malignancies for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Before radioiodinated Hyp ((123)I-Hyp or (131)I-Hyp) can be considered as a clinically useful drug, vigorous evaluations on its chemotoxicity are necessary. In the present study, we examined the toxicity of a single dose of non-radioactive (127)I-Hyp in normal mice for 24 h and 14 d.