Development of an automated production process of [64Cu][Cu (ATSM)] for positron emission tomography imaging and theranostic applications

Cyclotron-produced copper-64 radioisotope tracers offer the possibility to perform both diagnostic investigation by positron emission tomography (PET) and radiotherapy by a theranostic approach with bifunctional chelators. The versatile chemical properties of copper add to the importance of this isotope in medicinal investigation. [⁶⁴Cu][Cu (ATSM)] has shown to be a viable candidate for imaging of tumor hypoxia; a critical tumor microenvironment characteristic that typically signifies tumor progression and resistance to chemo-radiotherapy. Various production and radiosynthesis methods of [⁶⁴Cu][Cu (ATSM)] exist in labs, but usually involved non-standardized equipment with varying production qualities and may not be easily implemented in wider hospital settings. [⁶⁴Cu][Cu (ATSM)] was synthesized on a modified GE TRACERlab FXN automated synthesis module. End-of-synthesis (EOS) molar activity of [⁶⁴Cu][Cu (ATSM)] was 2.2–5.5 Ci/μmol (HPLC), 2.2–2.6 Ci/μmol (ATSM-titration), and 3.0–4.4 Ci/μmol (ICP-MS). Radiochemical purity was determined to be >99% based on radio-HPLC. The final product maintained radiochemical purity after 20 h. We demonstrated a simple and feasible process development and quality control protocols for automated cyclotron production and synthesis of [⁶⁴Cu][Cu (ATSM)] based on commercially distributed standardized synthesis modules suitable for PET imaging and theranostic studies.     

Melatonin reduces oxidative stress and improves vascular function in pulmonary hypertensive newborn sheep

Pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PHN) constitutes a critical condition with severe cardiovascular and neurological consequences. One of its main causes is hypoxia during gestation, and thus, it is a public health concern in populations living above 2500 m. Although some mechanisms are recognized, the pathophysiological facts that lead to PHN are not fully understood, which explains the lack of an effective treatment. Oxidative stress is one of the proposed mechanisms inducing pulmonary vascular dysfunction and PHN. Therefore, we assessed whether melatonin, a potent antioxidant, improves pulmonary vascular function. Twelve newborn sheep were gestated, born, and raised at 3600 meters. At 3 days old, lambs were catheterized and daily cardiovascular measurements were recorded. Lambs were divided into two groups, one received daily vehicle as control and another received daily melatonin (1 mg/kg/d), for 8 days. At 11 days old, lung tissue and small pulmonary arteries (SPA) were collected. Melatonin decreased pulmonary pressure and resistance for the first 3 days of treatment. Further, melatonin significantly improved the vasodilator function of SPA, enhancing the endothelial‐ and muscular‐dependent pathways. This was associated with an enhanced nitric oxide‐dependent and nitric oxide independent vasodilator components and with increased nitric oxide bioavailability in lung tissue. Further, melatonin reduced the pulmonary oxidative stress markers and increased enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant capacity. Finally, these effects were associated with an increase of lumen diameter and a mild decrease in the wall of the pulmonary arteries. These outcomes support the use of melatonin as an adjuvant in the treatment for PHN.     

Could non-HDL-cholesterol be a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia in obstructive sleep apnea?

Background/objectiveObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with dyslipidemia, a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is accepted as a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol is a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia and recommended as a target of lipid lowering therapy. We aimed to assess the prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidemia, and relationship between OSA severity and serum LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels in OSA patients.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated treatment naïve 2361 subjects admitted to the sleep laboratory of a university hospital for polysomnography. All subjects’ lipid profile including total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-HDL-cholesterol were measured.ResultsOut of 2361 patients (mean age 49.6 ± 11.9 years; 68.9% male, apnea-hypopnea index 36.6 ± 28.4/h), 185 (7.8%) had no OSA and 2176 (92.2%) had OSA. Atherogenic dyslipidemia prevalence was high (57–66%) in OSA patients, and especially increased in severe OSA compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Though total and LDL-cholesterol did not differ between those with and without OSA, non-HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.020), and triglycerides (p = 0.001) were higher and HDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.018) were lower in OSA patients than non-OSA. Non-HDL-cholesterol was significantly correlated with OSA severity (p < 0.001) and hypoxia parameters (p < 0.01), whereas LDL-cholesterol showed no correlation.ConclusionsAtherogenic dyslipidemia is highly prevalent and non-HDL-cholesterol levels are significantly increased, predominantly in severe OSA patients. Non-HDL-cholesterol but not LDL-cholesterol, is significantly correlated with OSA severity and hypoxia parameters. Therefore, it could be better to use non-HDL-cholesterol, which is a guideline recommended target of lipid therapy, as a marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in OSA patients.     

HIFα Regulates Developmental Myelination Independent of Autocrine Wnt Signaling

The developing CNS is exposed to physiological hypoxia, under which hypoxia-inducible factor α (HIFα) is stabilized and plays a crucial role in regulating neural development. The cellular and molecular mechanisms of HIFα in developmental myelination remain incompletely understood. A previous concept proposes that HIFα regulates CNS developmental myelination by activating the autocrine Wnt/β-catenin signaling in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). Here, by analyzing a battery of genetic mice of both sexes, we presented in vivo evidence supporting an alternative understanding of oligodendroglial HIFα-regulated developmental myelination. At the cellular level, we found that HIFα was required for developmental myelination by transiently controlling upstream OPC differentiation but not downstream oligodendrocyte maturation and that HIFα dysregulation in OPCs but not oligodendrocytes disturbed normal developmental myelination. We demonstrated that HIFα played a minor, if any, role in regulating canonical Wnt signaling in the oligodendroglial lineage or in the CNS. At the molecular level, blocking autocrine Wnt signaling did not affect HIFα-regulated OPC differentiation and myelination. We further identified HIFα–Sox9 regulatory axis as an underlying molecular mechanism in HIFα-regulated OPC differentiation. Our findings support a concept shift in our mechanistic understanding of HIFα-regulated CNS myelination from the previous Wnt-dependent view to a Wnt-independent one and unveil a previously unappreciated HIFα–Sox9 pathway in regulating OPC differentiation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Promoting disturbed developmental myelination is a promising option in treating diffuse white matter injury, previously called periventricular leukomalacia, a major form of brain injury affecting premature infants. In the developing CNS, hypoxia-inducible factor α (HIFα) is a key regulator that adapts neural cells to physiological and pathologic hypoxic cues. The role and mechanism of HIFα in oligodendroglial myelination, which is severely disturbed in preterm infants affected with diffuse white matter injury, is incompletely understood. Our findings presented here represent a concept shift in our mechanistic understanding of HIFα-regulated developmental myelination and suggest the potential of intervening with an oligodendroglial HIFα-mediated signaling pathway to mitigate disturbed myelination in premature white matter injury.     

Erythropoietin production in healthy volunteers subjected to controlled hypobaric hypoxia: further evidence against a role for adenosine

Aims Objective of this study was to investigate whether adenosine modulates renal erythropoietin production.
Methods In the present study erythropoietin production was stimulated by hypobaric hypoxia by subjecting healthy volunteers to a simulated altitude of 4000  m in a low pressure chamber for 5.5  h. During exposure to hypoxia the subjects received i.v. in a randomized, single-blind, cross-over fashion the non-specific adenosine antagonist theophylline, the adenosine reuptake inhibitor dipyridamole and placebo.
Results Contrary to the working hypothesis, theophylline did not decrease and dipyridamole did not further boost erythropoietin concentrations.
Conclusions The results are in agreement with our earlier study using haemorrhage as a controlled physiological stimulus of erythropoietin production, and would question a major role for adenosine as a mediator of renal erythropoietin production.     

血管内皮细胞受损后急性低氧性肺血管收缩反应减弱

为了探明血管内皮细胞在急性低无性肺动脉高压中的作用进行了本研究。雄性ＳＤ大鼠经２０％乌拉坦麻醉，气管插管，呼吸机通气。动物分为两组：单纯低氧组（ｎ＝１０只）吸１０．５％低氧混合气体５分钟；另一组为肺损伤低无组（ｎ＝７只），ＡＮＴＵｌｍｇ／ｋｇ缓慢注入肺动脉内，再吸入１０．５％低氧混合气体。实验结果表明：大鼠吸入低氧混合气体后肺动脉平均压ＰＰａ）增加２０．４±６．５％，而肺损伤后再吸入低氧气体，ＰＰａ仅增加８．７±３．８％，显著低于单纯低氧组（Ｐ＜０．０１）．结果提示：血管内皮细胞受损后急性低氧性肺血管收缩反应明显减弱。     

钾通道阻断剂对低氧/复氧诱导的培养海马神经元死亡的防护作用

目的研究钾通道阻断剂对单纯低氧/复氧诱导的培养海马神经元死亡的防护作用。方法培养8 d的海马神经元置于低氧环境(95% N2/5% CO2)6 h,复氧再培养直至72 h,复氧后0.5 h培养液内分别给予不同钾通道阻断剂,用细胞计数及MTT比色法检测神经元死亡情况。结果低氧/复氧诱导培养海马神经元出现迟发性死亡;四乙铵以剂量依赖性的方式防护低氧/复氧诱导的培养海马神经元免于死亡;大电导钙激活钾通道(BK通道)阻断剂iberiotoxin(IbTX)可完全消除低氧/复氧诱导的神经元死亡(P<0.001);A型钾通道阻断剂4-氨基吡啶不能防护低氧/复氧诱导的神经元免于死亡(P>0.05)。结论钾通道阻断剂四乙铵和IbTX能防护低氧/复氧诱导的培养海马神经元免于死亡,提示某些类型的钾通道尤其是BK通道活动增强可能参与了低氧/复氧诱导的培养海马神经元死亡。     

缺氧诱导因子-lα与脑缺氧缺血性损伤

缺氧诱导因子-lα（hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha，HIF-lα）是近来发现的广泛存在于哺乳动物和人体内的一种缺氧应答调控因子，在调节缺氧诱导的基因表达中起关键性作用。它可调节表达多种靶基因如血管内皮生长因子、促红细胞生成素等，对改善脑缺氧缺血后能量代谢障碍、促进脑血流动力学恢复、抑制兴奋性氨基酸毒性、减少细胞凋亡等起重要作用。通过进一步对HIF-lα及其靶基因的研究，可能为临床治疗脑缺氧缺血性损伤提供了一种新的治疗策略。     

预适应锻炼对急进高原新兵脑功能的保护作用

目的探讨预适应锻炼对新兵急进高原后脑功能的改善作用。方法120名新兵随机分为4组:对照组、面罩组、运动组和面罩复合运动组。在进入高原前,面罩复合运动组佩带低氧呼吸器小步快走10 min,休息5 min后重复进行,上、下午各进行4次,连续进行7 d;面罩组、运动组分别只佩带低氧呼吸器或单纯运动。在空运进入高原后,比较进高原前、后的神经行为核心测试组合系统指标的改变,并对急性高原反应症状进行分析。结果使用低氧呼吸器复合小步快走5 min时动脉血氧饱和度可降到(80.5±5.7)%,达到预缺氧的目的。新兵进入3 658 m高原后,对照组、面罩组和运动组的数字跨度、目标追踪测试分值明显下降(P<0.05),而面罩复合运动组无明显改变(P>0.05);各组进藏前、后的简单反应时、数字译码和视觉保留均无显著性改变(P>0.05),手敏捷度则显著提高(P<0.05)。对照组、面罩组、运动组和面罩复合运动组的急性高原反应发病率分别为13.3%、20.0%、20.0%、3.3%。结论进入高原前,应用低氧呼吸器辅以适当运动,能改善急进高原人群的即时听觉记忆能力和手部运动的速度及准确性,避免部分脑功能的损害,并使急性高原反应发病率呈降低趋势。