Calibrating reconstruction radius in a multi single-element ultrasound-transducer-based photoacoustic computed tomography system.

In a circular scanning photoacoustic computed tomography (PAT/PACT) system, a single-element ultrasound transducer (SUT) (rotates in full 360° around the sample) or a full-ring array transducer is used to acquire the photoacoustic (PA) data from the target object. SUT takes several minutes to acquire the PA data, whereas the full-ring array transducer takes only few seconds. Hence, for real-time imaging, full-ring circular array transducers are preferred.

Glucagon like peptide-1-directed human embryonic stem cells differentiation into insulin-producing cells via hedgehog, cAMP, and PI3K pathways.

Objectives: That glucagonlike peptide-1 (GLP-1) induces differentiation of primate embryonic stem (ES) cells into insulin-producing cells has been reported by several groups and also confirmed with our observations.

Methods: To further elucidate the process in detail and the signaling pathways involved in this differentiation, we induced human ES cells HUES1 differentiated into insulin secretion cells by GLP-1 treatment.

Results: A time-dependent pattern of down expression of the stem cell markers (human telomerase reverse transcriptase and octamer-4), and the appearance of multiple beta-cell-specific proteins (insulin, glucokinase, glucose transporter, type 2, and islet duodenal homeobox 1) and hedgehog signal molecules (Indian hedgehog, sonic hedgehog, and hedgehog receptor, patched) have been identified.

Effect of gabapentin derivates on mechanical allodynia-like behaviour in a rat model of chronic sciatic constriction injury.

A series of mutual prodrugs derived from gabapentin, pregabalin, memantine, venlafaxine were synthesized and their pharmacological properties to treat neuropathic pain were investigated in a rat model of chronic sciatic nerve constriction injury (CCI). In vivo evaluation demonstrated that the mutual prodrugs 2002413A, 2002823A composed of two gabapentins, 2002414 composed of gabapentin and pregabalin were effective in reversal tactile allodynia in CCI rats. The prodrugs 2002413A, 2002414 had no significant influence on the rotarod activity.