Diagnosis of vascular prosthesis infection with FDG-PET/CT

Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is on the verge of becoming an established imaging tool in the fields of clinical oncology, cardiology, and neurology. Because of the high glucose uptake of inflammatory cells, FDG scanning is an appropriate tool for use in tracing suspected inflammation or to evaluate infection. PET, although highly sensitive, often lacks the ability to define the precise anatomic location of abnormal FDG accumulation. The new PET/computed tomography (CT) technology provides precise registration of metabolic and structural imaging data in a single session. We report positive FDG-PET/CT findings in an infected vascular prosthesis 6 months after grafting. Our experience and a few available case reports support the hypothesis that FDG-PET/CT may have a promising role in future noninvasive diagnosis of infected vascular grafts.     

At Least Two Loci of the Major Histocompatibility Complex Can Determine Mixed Lymphocyte Stimulation in the Rat

Analysis of a recombinant haplotype of the major histocompatibility complex showed that two genetically separable loci (or groups of loci), LD--1 and LD--2, determine mixed lymphocyte stimulation in the rat. LD--1 maps into the H--1B region which contains the Ir genes and is associated with strong, mixed lymphocyte stimulation. LD--2 maps into the H--1A region and determines weak stimulation. LD--1 and LD--2 determinants can be detected by primed lymphocyte typing.     

Efficiency of embryotoxicity testing procedures: II. comparison between the official,mest and chest methods

17 drugs were tested by 3 different embryotoxicity methods. The official routine procedure showed interspecies variance even between rat and rabbit. Evaluation based on the reaction of a single morphogenetic system after short-term treatment in the rat (MEST) is less laborious, inexpensive and quicker. Good results were obtained with chick embryos which, under strictly defined experimental conditions (CHEST), may prove a useful and reliable model in embryotoxicity screening.     

Wound healing gene therapy: cartilage regeneration induced by vascular endothelial growth factor plasmid

Aims

The identification of growth factors and cytokines with angiogenic activity has enabled new therapeutic treatments for a variety of diseases; this concept is called therapeutic angiogenesis. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most critical regulator of vascular formation. In the present study, we were interested in the therapeutic angiogenesis effect using plasmid transfer of human complementary DNA VEGF₁₆₅ (phVEGF₁₆₅) in experimental skin and cartilage trauma.

Methods

Ten BALB/c mice were used for cartilage injury model. At 6 weeks of age, all mice were ear-punched, resulting in 2-mm-diameter puncture through the center of both pinnae. Each mouse got phVEGF₁₆₅ injection into the first ear and vector without insert or saline injection into the second one. The healing process was followed. The hollow diameter was measured on days 0, 14, and 42. Histological sections of experimental and control pinnae were taken from days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 20, and 30 after experimental injury for hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid Schiff staining and for human VEGF immunocytochemistry. The expression of human VEGF was also checked by real-time polymerase chain reaction in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections.

Key Findings

In BALB/c mouse strain, a significant angiogenesis promotion and cartilage repair were observed after phVEGF₁₆₅ injection into the punched ear area.

Significance

We suggest that administering phVEGF₁₆₅ leads to faster cartilage regeneration even if not only on the angiogenic basis.