A hyperpolarized choline molecular probe for monitoring acetylcholine synthesis.

Choline as a reporter molecule has been investigated by in vivo magnetic resonance for almost three decades. Accumulation of choline metabolites (mainly the phosphorylated forms) had been observed in malignancy in preclinical models, ex-vivo, in vivo and in patients. The combined choline metabolite signal appears in (1) H-MRS of the brain and its relative intensity had been used as a diagnostic factor in various conditions.

l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) deficiency: clinical presentation and response to treatment in two patients with a novel mutation.

Creatine and creatine phosphate provide storage and transmission of phosphate-bound energy in muscle and brain. Of the three inborn errors of creatine metabolism causing brain creatine depletion, l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) deficiency has been described in only two families. We describe clinical and biochemical features, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings and response to creatine supplementation in two siblings with a novel mutation in the AGAT-encoding GATM gene.

The selective in vitro cytotoxicity of carcinoma cells by AZT is enhanced by concurrent treatment with delocalized lipophilic cations.

This study assessed the selective growth inhibitory effect on cultured carcinoma cells by 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), as a single agent, and in combination with delocalized lipophilic cations (DLCs) that are known to inhibit mitochondrial function. In cytotoxicity assays, treatment of cells with varying concentrations of AZT induced a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth of the human carcinoma lines DU-145 (prostate; IC50 at 24 microM), MCF-7 (breast; IC50 at 22 microM), and CX-1 (colon; IC50 at 23 microM), yet caused no significant effect on the growth of the control epithelial cell line CV-1 (monkey kidney) at a concentration as high as 50 microM AZT. Combination treatment employing a constant concentration (1.

A molecular-based magnet test for malaria.

The molecular-based magnet test for malaria is shown to be more sensitive than the thin blood film test. The globally used thin blood film test is less sensitive because it uses preparation steps that result in the reduction of the absolute number of diagnostically pertinent erythrocytes. Several reports of diagnostic error with the thin film test and the thick film test have appeared in the literature.

The diagnostic histopathologic features of ocular malaria.

Background: The ocular complications in patients with malaria have been studied clinically by many investigators, but the histopathologic changes were rarely described and generally regarded as nonspecific.

Methods: The eye of a 53-year-old man who died of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria was studied by brightfield and polarized light microscopy.

Findings: An epibulbar hemorrhage that involved the conjunctiva, episclera, and tendinous insertion of the medial rectus muscle was present.