Fluorescein as a topical fluorescent contrast agent for quantitative microendoscopic inspection of colorectal epithelium.

Fiber bundle microendoscopic imaging of colorectal tissue has shown promising results, for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. A quantitative image quality control and image feature extraction algorithm was previously designed for quantitative image feature analysis of proflavine-stained colorectal tissue. We investigated fluorescein as an alternative topical stain.

Inhibition of fatty acid synthase attenuates CD44-associated signaling and reduces metastasis in colorectal cancer.

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) and ATP-citrate lyase, key enzymes of de novo lipogenesis, are significantly upregulated and activated in many cancers and portend poor prognosis. Even though the role of lipogenesis in providing proliferative and survival advantages to cancer cells has been described, the impact of aberrant activation of lipogenic enzymes on cancer progression remains unknown. In this study, we found that elevated expression of FASN is associated with advanced stages of colorectal cancer (CRC) and liver metastasis, suggesting that it may play a role in progression of CRC to metastatic disease.

Prefabrication of vascularized bone flap by demineralized bone matrix.

Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) has been reported to have osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties and has been clinically used as a bone graft alternative. In the present study we attempted to generate a vascularized bone flap by subcutaneous implantation of DBM with a vascular loop to provide blood supply in a rat model. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of blood supply.

Neuroma-in-continuity model in rabbits.

The present study presents a model for creation of neuroma-in-continuity in the rabbit, confirmed by histologic study, electrophysiology, and examination of molecular markers. Twelve New Zealand rabbits were used. The lateral fascicule of the peroneal nerve with 15-mm in length was resected.