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Background: Interest in an ultrasound-mediated delivery system for effective T1 -MRI of prostate cancer without adverse effects has steadily increased.Purpose: To develop an ultrasound-responsive dual-modal ultrasound (US)/T1 -MRI contrast agent for efficient diagnosis of prostate cancer cells overexpressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and assess their potential.Study Type: In vitro.Subjects: Two prostate cancer cell lines.Field Strength/sequence: Each study group underwent 3.0T MRI under a TR 400 msec, TE 10 msec, a 240 × 240 matrix, a flip angle 90°, a slice thickness 3 mm, NSA with 4, bandwidth 115 Hz/pixel, and an FOV of 120 × 120 mm.Assessment: Microscopes, quantitative and qualitative analyzing instruments, and clinical devices were used for assessing this novel contrast agent and its diagnosis effects.Statistical Tests: We used linear regression analyses to determine the longitudinal relaxivity (r1 ) values of our US/T1 -MRI contrast agent and gadobutrol.Results: Microbubble+Fe3+ melanin nanoparticle+peptides (MB+Fe3+ MNPPs) had a good US contrast effect, like a commercial US agent. The differences of US intensities between them was below 5%. The r1 values of MB+Fe3+ MNPPs and gadobutrol were 4.5 and 3.7 s-1 /mM, respectively. More than hundreds of Fe3+ MNPPs were located in prostate cancer cells treated with MB+Fe3+ MNPPs and US stimulus, but the number of Fe3+ MNPPs was below dozens in the other prostate cancer cells expressing less PSMA. The former cells with MB+Fe3+ MNPPs and US stimulus only showed the highest T1 -MRI signal because of synergy effects of the peptides targeting the cells and US stimulus for delivery of Fe3+ MNPPs to the cells. No cytotoxicity of MB+Fe3+ MNPPs was confirmed by using a WST assay. Viability of the cells with the complexes was above 90%.Data Conclusion: We synthesized MB+Fe3+ MNPPs as a potential US/T1 -MRI contrast agent. This complex was applicable for diagnosing desired prostate cancer cells.Level Of Evidence: 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:1610-1616. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Korean horn beetle ( Allomyrina dichotoma) larvae have been long used as an oriental medicine for the treatment of liver diseases in Korea, there is little scientific evidence of their effects. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity activity of A. dichotoma larvae extract ( ADE) by using 3 T3- L1 cells as an in vitro model of adipogenesis. To analyze its role as an inhibitor of adipogenesis, 3 T3- L1 cells were treated with both ADE and differentiation inducer ( DM) at the same time, and then the amount of lipid was quantified. We then analyzed the mRNA and protein expression level of adipogenic or lipogenic genes. The results showed that formation of lipid droplets in differentiated 3 T3- L1 cells was markedly decreased, and triglyceride content was reduced by 22.15% in response to 2000 μg/mL ADE. In addition, ADE downregulated mRNA and protein expression of transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ( PPAR)-γ and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ( C/EBP)-α implicated in adipogenesis, and significantly decreased the expression levels of adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (a P2), fatty acid synthase ( FAS), stearoyl-coenzyme desaturase-1 ( SCD1), and lipoprotein lipase ( LPL) related to lipogenesis. Our results demonstrate that ADE suppressed adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3 T3- L1 cells, suggesting that ADE has anti-obesity activity as a food supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coxa valga, measured as the neck-shaft angle (NSA) or head-shaft angle (HSA), is regarded as a potential risk factor for hip dislocation in patients with cerebral palsy. We investigated the effects of a novel hip brace on coxa valga., Methods: A prospective, multicenter, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted from July 2019 to November 2021. Children with cerebral palsy aged 1 to 10 years with Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V were recruited. The study group wore a hip brace for at least 12 hour a day. A lower strap of the hip brace was designed to prevent coxa valga biomechanically. The effectiveness of the hip brace on coxa valga was assessed by measurement of the NSA and head-shaft angle at enrollment and 6 and 12 months after enrollment., Results: Sixty-six participants were enrolled, and 33 patients were assigned to each group. Changes in the mean NSA of both sides and the NSA of left side showed significant differences between the 2 groups over 12 months (mean NSA of both sides, -1.12 ± 3.64 in the study group and 1.43 ± 3.75 in the control group, P = .023; NSA of the left side, -1.72 ± 5.38 in the study group and 2.01 ± 5.22 in the control group, P = .008)., Conclusions: The hip brace was effective in preventing the progression of coxa valga and hip displacement, suggesting that the prevention of coxa valga using hip brace is a contributing factor in prevention of hip displacement., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Interest in an ultrasound-mediated delivery system for effective T 1 -MRI of prostate cancer without adverse effects has steadily increased., Purpose: To develop an ultrasound-responsive dual-modal ultrasound (US)/T 1 -MRI contrast agent for efficient diagnosis of prostate cancer cells overexpressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and assess their potential., Study Type: In vitro., Subjects: Two prostate cancer cell lines., Field Strength/sequence: Each study group underwent 3.0T MRI under a TR 400 msec, TE 10 msec, a 240 × 240 matrix, a flip angle 90°, a slice thickness 3 mm, NSA with 4, bandwidth 115 Hz/pixel, and an FOV of 120 × 120 mm., Assessment: Microscopes, quantitative and qualitative analyzing instruments, and clinical devices were used for assessing this novel contrast agent and its diagnosis effects., Statistical Tests: We used linear regression analyses to determine the longitudinal relaxivity (r 1 ) values of our US/T 1 -MRI contrast agent and gadobutrol., Results: Microbubble+Fe 3+ melanin nanoparticle+peptides (MB+Fe 3+ MNPPs) had a good US contrast effect, like a commercial US agent. The differences of US intensities between them was below 5%. The r 1 values of MB+Fe 3+ MNPPs and gadobutrol were 4.5 and 3.7 s -1 /mM, respectively. More than hundreds of Fe 3+ MNPPs were located in prostate cancer cells treated with MB+Fe 3+ MNPPs and US stimulus, but the number of Fe 3+ MNPPs was below dozens in the other prostate cancer cells expressing less PSMA. The former cells with MB+Fe 3+ MNPPs and US stimulus only showed the highest T 1 -MRI signal because of synergy effects of the peptides targeting the cells and US stimulus for delivery of Fe 3+ MNPPs to the cells. No cytotoxicity of MB+Fe 3+ MNPPs was confirmed by using a WST assay. Viability of the cells with the complexes was above 90%., Data Conclusion: We synthesized MB+Fe 3+ MNPPs as a potential US/T 1 -MRI contrast agent. This complex was applicable for diagnosing desired prostate cancer cells., Level of Evidence: 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:1610-1616., (© 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.)

An aqueous solution was successfully prepared using a low-molecular-weight chitosan oligomer and FITC, and its structural and fluorescent properties were observed by using ¹H NMR, 13 C NMR, FT-IR, XRD, UV-Vis, and PL spectrometry. Its application as a metal ion sensor was also evaluated. The fluorescence in the water-soluble chitosan oligomer was a result of the carbamato anion (NHCOO-), and a synthesized FITC-labeled chitosan oligomer exhibited an effective detection effect for copper ion as well as energy transfer by the ion near FITC that caused a fluorescence decrease (quenching). The chitosan oligomer was confirmed to be applicable as a selective and sensitive colorimetric sensor to detect Cu 2+ .

Silk fibroin (SF) is a typical fibrous protein that is secreted by silkworms and spiders. It has been used in a variety of areas, and especially for tissue-engineering scaffolds, due to its sound processability, mechanical properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. With respect to gelation, the SF gelation time is long in aqueous solutions, so a novel approach is needed to shorten this time. The solubility of regenerated SF is sound in formic acid (FA), which is a carboxylic acid of the simplest structure. In this study, SF was dissolved in formic acid, and the addition of salts then induced a rapid gelation that accompanied a solution-color change. Based on the gelation behaviors of the SF solution according to different SF and salt concentrations, the gelation mechanism was investigated., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.