No abstract

Epilepsy in children is the most frequent, heterogeneous and difficult to classify chronic neurologic condition with the etiology found in 35–40% of patients. Our aim is to detect the metabolic differences between the epileptic children and the children with no neurological abnormalities in order to define the metabolic background for therapy monitoring. The studied group included 28 epilepsy patients (median age 12 months) examined with a diagnostic protocol including EEG, videoEEG, 24-hour-EEG, tests for inborn errors of metabolism, chromosomal analysis and molecular study. The reference group consisted of 20 patients (median age 20 months) with no neurological symptoms, no development delay nor chronic diseases. 1H-NMR serum spectra were acquired on 400 MHz spectrometer and analyzed using multivariate and univariate approach with the application of correction for age variation. The epilepsy group was characterized by increased levels of serum N-acetyl-glycoproteins, lactate, creatine, glycine and lipids, whereas the levels of citrate were decreased as compared to the reference group. Choline, lactate, formate and dimethylsulfone were significantly correlated with age. NMR-based metabolomics could provide information on the dynamic metabolic processes in drug-resistant epilepsy yielding not only disease-specific biomarkers but also profound insights into the disease course, treatment effects or drug toxicity.

Numerous cellular and extracellular components should be analyzed in sections of atherosclerotic plaques to assess atherosclerosis progression and vulnerability. Here, we combined orcein (O) staining for elastic fibers and martius scarlet blue (MSB) polychrome to visualize various morphological contents of plaque in brachiocephalic arteries (BCA) of apoE/LDLR−/− mice. Elastic fibers (including broken elastic laminae and ‘buried’ fibrous caps) were stained purple and they could be easily distinguished from collagen fibers (blue). Orcein allowed clear identification of even the finest elastic fibers. Erythrocytes were stained yellow and they could easily be discerned from mature fibrin (red). Old fibrin tends to acquire blue color. The method of OMSB staining is simple, takes less than 1 h to perform and can be adapted to automatic stainers. Most importantly, the color separation is good enough to allow digital automatic segmentation of specific components in tissue section and quantitative analysis of the plaque constituents. OMSB was used to compare atherosclerotic plaques in proximal and distal regions of BCA in apoE/LDLR−/− mice. In conclusion, OMSB staining represents a novel staining that could be routinely used for qualitative and quantitative microscopic assessments of formaldehyde-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of arteries with atherosclerotic lesions.

This study aimed to develop superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) targeted to the areas of vascular endothelium changed in the initial inflammation process, a first step of numerous cardiovascular diseases.

The primary purpose of this work was to assess long‐term in vitro reproducibility of metabolite levels measured using 1H MRS (proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy). The secondary purpose was to use the in vitro results for interpretation of ‘H MRS in vivo spectra acquired from patients diagnosed with Canavan disease. 1H MRS measurements were performed in the period from April 2006 to September 2010. 118 short and 116 long echo spectra were acquired from a stable phantom during this period. Change‐point analysis of the in vitro N‐acetylaspartate levels was exploited in the computation of fT factor (ratio of the actual to the reference N‐acetylaspartate level normalized by the reciprocity principle). This coefficient was utilized in the interpretation of in vivo spectra analyzed using absolute reference technique. The monitored time period was divided into six time intervals based on short echo in vitro data (seven time intervals based on long echo in vitro data) characterized by fT coefficient ranging from 0.97 to 1.09 (based on short echo data) and from 1.0 to 1.11 (based on long echo data). Application of this coefficient to interpretation of in vivo spectra confirmed increased N‐acetylaspartate level in Canavan disease. Long‐term monitoring of an MRS system reproducibility, allowing for absolute referencing of metabolite levels, facilitates interpretation of metabolic changes in white matter disorders.PACS numbers: 87.19.lf, 87.61.Tg, 87.64.K‐, 87.64.kj