Quantitative MRI of articular cartilage and its clinical applications

Cartilage is one of the most essential tissues for healthy joint function and is compromised in degenerative and traumatic joint diseases. There have been tremendous advances during the past decade using quantitative MRI techniques as a noninvasive tool for evaluating cartilage, with a focus on assessing cartilage degeneration during osteoarthritis (OA). In this review, after a brief overview of cartilage composition and degeneration, we discuss techniques that grade and quantify morphologic changes as well as the techniques that quantify changes in the extracellular matrix. The basic principles, in vivo applications, advantages, and challenges for each technique are discussed. Recent studies using the OA Initiative (OAI) data are also summarized. Quantitative MRI provides noninvasive measures of cartilage degeneration at the earliest stages of joint degeneration, which is essential for efforts toward prevention and early intervention in OA. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:991–1008. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Childhood Cutaneous Lymphoid Hyperplasia Following Feline Scratches

Abstract: Cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia or pseudolymphoma is a usually benign inflammatory response that mimics lymphoma. Stimulation from foreign antigens introduced into the skin can induce this response. Scratches from pets are an effective mode of transmitting infections and inoculating foreign antigens into the skin. We report an unusual case of a child where cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia presented as subcutaneous nodules at sites scratched by a pet cat.     

NOSH-Aspirin: A Novel Nitric Oxide-Hydrogen Sulfide-Releasing Hybrid: A New Class of Anti-inflammatory Pharmaceuticals

A series of new hybrids of aspirin (ASA), bearing both nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S)-releasing moieties were synthesized and designated as NOSH compounds (1-4). NOSH-1 (4-(3-thioxo-3H-1,2-dithiol-5-yl) phenyl 2-((4-(nitrooxy)-butanoyl)oxy) benzoate); NOSH-2 (4-(nitrooxy)butyl (2-((4-(3-thioxo-3H-1,2-dithiol-5-yl)phenoxy)carbonyl)phenyl)); NOSH-3 (4-carbamothioylphenyl 2-((4-(nitrooxy)butanoyl)-oxy)benzoate); and NOSH-4 (4-(nitrooxy)butyl 2-(5-((R)-1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoyloxy)-benzoate). The cell growth inhibitory properties of compounds 1-4 were evaluated in eleven different human cancer cell lines of six different tissue origins. These cell lines are of adenomatous (colon, pancreatic, lung, prostate), epithelial (breast), and lymphocytic (leukemia) origin. All NOSH compounds were extremely effective in inhibiting the growth of these cell lines. NOSH-1 was the most potent, with an IC(50) of 48 ± 3 nM in HT-29 colon cancer cells. This is the first NSAID-based compound with such potency. This compound was also devoid of any cellular toxicity, as determined by LDH release. NOSH-1 was comparable to aspirin in its anti-inflammatory properties, using the carrageenan rat paw edema model.     

Generation of an atlas of the proximal femur and its application to trabecular bone analysis

Automatic placement of anatomically corresponding volumes of interest and comparison of parameters against a standard of reference are essential components in studies of trabecular bone. Only recently, in vivo MR images of the proximal femur, an important fracture site, could be acquired with high‐spatial resolution. The purpose of this MRI trabecular bone study was two‐fold: (1) to generate an atlas of the proximal femur to automatically place anatomically corresponding volumes of interest in a population study and (2) to demonstrate how mean models of geodesic topological analysis parameters can be generated to be used as potential standard of reference. Ten females were used to generate the atlas and geodesic topological analysis models, and 10 females were used to demonstrate the atlas‐based trabecular bone analysis. All alignments were based on three‐dimensional (3D) multiresolution affine transformations followed by 3D multiresolution free‐form deformations. Mean distances less than 1 mm between aligned femora, and sharp edges in the atlas and in fused gray‐level images of registered femora indicated that the anatomical variability was well accommodated and explained by the free‐form deformations. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Clonal mutations in primary human glial tumors: evidence in support of the mutator hypothesis

Background  

A verifiable consequence of the mutator hypothesis is that even low grade neoplasms would accumulate a large number of mutations that do not influence the tumor phenotype (clonal mutations). In this study, we have attempted to quantify the number of clonal mutations in primary human gliomas of astrocytic cell origin. These alterations were identified in tumor tissue, microscopically confirmed to have over 70% neoplastic cells.     

Curcumin sensitizes TRAIL-resistant xenografts: molecular mechanisms of apoptosis,metastasis and angiogenesis

Background  

We have recently shown that curcumin (a diferuloylmethane, the yellow pigment in turmeric) enhances apoptosis-inducing potential of TRAIL in prostate cancer PC-3 cells, and sensitizes TRAIL-resistant LNCaP cells in vitro through multiple mechanisms. The objectives of this study were to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which curcumin sensitized TRAIL-resistant LNCaP xenografts in vivo.     

Arsenic induced changes in growth development and apoptosis in neonatal and adult brain cells in vivo and in tissue culture

Arsenic at a nonlethal level in drinking water consumed over a period of time has been reported to produce chronic toxicity and various types of health problems ranging from skin cancer to disturbance in memory. Neurotoxic effects have been reported in clinical cases with chronic exposure to arsenic. Physiological detoxication of arsenic occurs partially through methylation. Arsenic and its methylated derivatives are distributed in different organs and systems. The present study examined the possible interference in the neuronal development and differentiation due to the exposure to arsenic during gestation. The experiments were carried out to examine short and long term effects of arsenic on brain explants and cells grown and maintained in tissue culture system. The effects of arsenic exposure showed changes in brain cell membrane function indicated by generation and release of reactive oxygen-nitrogen intermediates. On the morphological aspect the explants' growth was reduced, ground matrix was lost and neural networking was inhibited. Cells showed signs of apoptotic changes. Arsenic toxicity may induce damage to brain cells prior to more visible clinical conditions. The deleterious effects also pass from the maternal to fetal tissue across the transplacental barrier.     

Lipid peroxidation in different tissues: effect of high cholesterol and fish oil in the diet

Malonyldialdehyde was measured in erythrocytes, aorta and spleen on feeding mice with high cholesterol diet in presence and absence of fish oil. Mice were grouped as: Group I: Control laboratory diet Group II: 0.16% cholesterol (sunflower oil) Group III: 1.16% cholesterol (sunflower oil) Group IV: 1.16% cholesterol (fish oil) After 7 weeks on their respective diets, erythrocytic, and splenic MDA levels were significantly higher in group III compared to controls. Also, MDA levels in aorta and spleen showed a significant increase in group IV males compared to group III males. However in group IV the erythrocyte MDA levels were almost equal to that in controls. This suggests that high cholesterol diet increases lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes, spleen and aorta. Addition of fish oil in the diet further increases lipid peroxidation in aorta and spleen, but not in the erythrocytes.