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.     

Oxygen sensing,anaesthesia and critical care: a narrative review

In 2019, the scientists who discovered how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability were awarded the Nobel Prize. This elegant sensing pathway is conserved throughout evolution, and it underpins the physiology and pathology that we, as clinicians in anaesthesia and critical care, encounter on a daily basis. The purpose of this review is to bring hypoxia-inducible factor, and the oxygen-sensing pathway as a whole, to the wider clinical community. We describe how this unifying mechanism was discovered, and how it orchestrates diverse changes such as erythropoiesis, ventilatory acclimatisation, pulmonary vascular remodelling and altered metabolism. We explore the lessons learnt from genetic disorders of oxygen sensing, and the wider implications in evolution of all animal species, including our own. Finally, we explain how this pathway is relevant to our clinical practice, and how it is being manipulated in new treatments for conditions such as cancer, anaemia and pulmonary hypertension.     

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.     

形觉剥夺性高度近视豚鼠巩膜形态改变及缺氧诱导因子-1α和氧自由基在高度近视中的作用

目的　观察形觉剥夺性高度近视（form deprivation high myopia，FDHM）豚鼠巩膜形态变化，探讨缺氧诱导因子-1α（hypoxia-inducible factor-1α，HIF-1α）及氧自由基在高度近视中的作用。方法　将豚鼠适应性饲养1周后，随机分为空白对照组（25只）和模型组（25只）。模型组豚鼠右眼行眼睑缝合，所有模型组豚鼠均选择右眼作为FDHM组，对侧眼为自身对照组。空白对照组豚鼠不做任何处理。于造模前及造模后8周采用检影镜测量屈光度，A超进行生物测量。形觉剥夺8周以后处死豚鼠，观察巩膜形态和超微结构的变化，测定巩膜HIF-1α相对表达量，超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase，SOD）活力及丙二醛（malondialdehyde，MDA）的含量。结果　豚鼠形觉剥夺8周以后，FDHM组屈光度从（+3.59±0.33）D变为（-7.96±0.55）D，明显高于空白对照组（+0.89±0.32）D、自身对照组（-0.55±0.49）D（均为P<0.05）；玻璃体腔深度为（4.12±0.13）mm明显高于空白对照组（3.71±0.23）mm和自身对照组（3.93±0.04）mm（均为P<0.05）；眼轴长度为（8.93±0.22）mm明显长于空白对照组（7.95±0.37）mm和自身对照组（8.01±0.15）mm（均为P<0.05）。巩膜组织明显变薄，细胞外基质增多，成纤维细胞密度降低，胶原纤维平均直径减小。FDHM组巩膜中HIF-1α相对表达量、MDA含量明显高于空白对照组和自身对照组，SOD活力明显低于空白对照组和自身对照组（均为P<0.05）。结论　形觉剥夺8周后，豚鼠FDHM眼近视度数明显增加，玻璃体腔深度增加，眼轴延长，巩膜形态发生病理性变化；HIF-1α、SOD、MDA可能参与了FDHM的形成。     

基于PI3K/AKT信号通路的谷红注射液抗H9c2心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤的机制研究

目的基于PI3K/AKT信号通路,探讨谷红注射液(guhong injection,GHI)对H9c2心肌细胞缺氧/复氧(H/R)损伤的保护作用。方法培养H9c2心肌细胞,CCK-8比色法筛选GHI实验剂量。将细胞随机分为8组:正常组、模型组、GHI低、中、高剂量组(30、60和90μL·mL^-1)、阳性药组(维拉帕米注射液7.5μL·mL^-1)、GHI+LY294002(PI3K抑制剂)组和LY294002组。除正常组外,其他组均建立缺氧4 h复氧16 h的H/R损伤模型。ELISA检测各组细胞内肌酸激酶同工酶(CKMB)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量,Western blot法检测各组细胞内p-PI3K、PI3K、p-AKT、AKT及GSK-3β蛋白表达水平。结果与模型组相比,各给药组LDH、CK-MB均降低(P<0.05),MDA降低(P<0.01)、SOD升高(P<0.01)。p-PI3K/PI3K、p-AKT/AKT及GSK-3β蛋白表达水平均升高(P<0.01)。给予LY294002后,与模型组相比,LDH、CK-MB、MDA及SOD无显著性差异,p-PI3K/PI3K、p-AKT/AKT及GSK-3β蛋白表达水平均降低(P<0.01)。结论GHI可以明显减轻H/R对H9c2心肌细胞造成的损伤,表现出抗氧化应激与抗凋亡的作用,其作用机制可能与PI3K/AKT信号通路有关。     

Exosomes secreted by prostate cancer cells under hypoxia promote matrix metalloproteinases activity at pre-metastatic niches

Approximately, 30 000 men die from prostate cancer (PCa) every year in the United States, mainly due to the metastasis. Thus, the key events associated with PCa metastasis are under rigorous investigation, with recent studies showing that preparation of pre-metastatic niches (PMN) in distant organs is an important step. However, the molecular basis for PMN preparation is still unclear. Hypoxia in primary tumors promotes aggressiveness; however, its precise role in metastasis is not clear. We recently reported that exosomes secreted by PCa cells under hypoxia promote stemness and invasiveness in naïve PCa cells; however, whether these extracellular vesicles also influence PMN remains unknown. In the present study, we isolated exosomes from human PCa PC3 cells under normoxic (21% O₂, exosomes secreted under normoxic condition [Exo^Normoxic]) and hypoxic (1% O₂, exosomes secreted under hypoxic condition [Exo^Hypoxic]) conditions, and characterized their effect (10 µg exosomes, intraperitoneal (IP) treatment every 48 hours for 4 weeks) on key biomarkers associated with PMN in nude mice. Whole animal fluorescence imaging showed that Exo^Hypoxic treatment promotes matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity in several putative metastatic sites. Histological studies confirmed that Exo^Hypoxic treatment enhanced the level of MMP2, MMP9, and extracellular matrix proteins (fibronectin and collagen) as well as increased the number of CD11b+ cells at selective PMN sites. Furthermore, proteomic profiling of exosomes by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry identified cargo proteins in Exo^Normoxic and Exo^Hypoxic as well as distinct canonical pathways targeted by them. These results suggest that exosomes secreted by PCa cells under hypoxia plausibly remodel distant PMN, and thus, could be a potential target to control metastatic PCa.     

神经节苷脂联合苯巴比妥治疗新生儿脑病的研究

目的探讨神经节苷脂联合苯巴比妥治疗新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病的临床疗效及对新生儿神经功能的影响。方法选取2017年3月-2019年3月本院收治的缺氧缺血性脑病新生儿106例,随机分为两组,对照组应用苯巴比妥治疗,研究组应用神经节苷脂联合苯巴比妥治疗。比较临床治疗有效率、神经功能恢复效果、治疗前后NBNA评分统计。结果研究组临床治疗有效率、不同程度的时间恢复效果、治疗后NBNA评分均高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论治疗新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病治疗过程当中,神经节苷脂联合苯巴比妥的治疗效果理想,可改善新生儿神经功能。     

Integration of Genomic and Transcriptional Features in Pancreatic Cancer Reveals Increased Cell Cycle Progression in Metastases

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