Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Deciduous Teeth Pulp

This study aimed to identify predictors of success rate of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) isolation from human deciduous teeth pulp. A total of 161 deciduous teeth were extracted at the dental clinic of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The MSCs were isolated from dental pulps using a standard protocol. In total, 128 colonies of MSCs were obtained and the success rate was 79.5%. Compared to teeth not yielding MSCs successfully, those successfully yielding MSCs were found to have less severe dental caries (no/mild-to-moderate/severe: 63.3/24.2/12.5% versus 12.5/42.4/42.4%, P<0.001) and less frequent pulpitis (no/yes: 95.3/4.7% versus 51.5/48.5%, P<0.001). In a multivariate regression model, it was confirmed that the absence of dental caries (OR = 4.741, 95% CI = 1.564–14.371, P=0.006) and pulpitis (OR = 9.111, 95% CI = 2.921–28.420, P<0.001) was significant determinants of the successful procurement of MSCs. MSCs derived from pulps with pulpitis expressed longer colony doubling time than pulps without pulpitis. Furthermore, there were higher expressions of proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin- (IL-) 6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein- (MCP-) 1, P<0.01, and innate immune response [toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1) and TLR8, P<0.05; TLR2, TLR3, and TLR6, P<0.01] in the inflamed than noninflamed pulps. Therefore, a carious deciduous tooth or tooth with pulpitis was relatively unsuitable for MSC processing and isolation

Quantitative analysis of the therapeutic effect of magnolol on MPTP-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease using in vivo 18F-9-fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine PET imaging.

18F-9-Fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine [18F-FP-(+)-DTBZ] positron emission tomography (PET) has been shown to detect dopaminergic neuron loss associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) in human and neurotoxin-induced animal models. A polyphenol compound, magnolol, was recently proposed as having a potentially restorative effect in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)- or 6-hydroxydopamine-treated animal models. In this study, 18F-FP-(+)-DTBZ PET was used to determine the therapeutic efficacy of magnolol in an MPTP-PD mouse model that was prepared by giving an intraperitoneally (i.p.) daily dose of 25 mg/kg MPTP to male C57BL/6 mice for 5 consecutive days. Twenty-minute static 18F-FP-(+)-DTBZ PET scans were performed before MPTP treatment and 5 days after the termination of MPTP treatment to set up the baseline control. Half of the MPTP-treated mice then received a daily dose of magnolol (10 mg/kg dissolved in corn oil, i.p.) for 6 days. 18F-FP-(+)-DTBZ PET imaging was performed the day after the final treatment. All 18F-FP-(+)-DTBZ PET images were analysed and the specific uptake ratio (SUr) was calculated. Ex vivo autoradiography (ARG) and corresponding immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies were conducted to confirm the distribution of dopaminergic terminals in the striatum. The striatal SUr ratios of 18F-FP-(+)-DTBZ PET images for the Sham, the MPTP, and the MPTP + Magnolol-treated groups were 1.25 ± 0.05, 0.75 ± 0.06, and 1.00 ± 0.11, respectively (n = 4 for each group). The ex vivo 18F-FP-(+)-DTBZ ARG and IHC results correlated favourably with the PET imaging results. 18F-FP-(+)-DTBZ PET imaging suggested that magnolol post-treatment may reverse the neuronal damage in the MPTP-lesioned PD mice. In vivo imaging of the striatal vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 (VMAT2) distribution using 18F-FP-(+)-DTBZ animal PET is a useful method to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic drugs i.e., magnolol, for the management of PD

Visualization of ischemic stroke-related changes on 18F-THK-5351 positron emission tomography

Abstract Background The 18F-THK-5351 radiotracer has been used to detect the in vivo tau protein distribution in patients with tauopathy, such as Alzheimer’s disease and corticobasal syndrome. In addition, 18F-THK-5351 can also monitor neuroinflammatory process due to high affinity to astrogliosis. We aimed to explore 18F-THK-5351 distribution patterns and characteristics in patients with recent ischemic stroke. Results Fifteen patients received 18F-THK-5351 positron emission tomography (PET) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) approximately 3 months after ischemic stroke. A region of interest (ROI) was placed in the peri-ischemic area and was mirrored on the contralateral side as the control, and a proportional value was derived from the ratio of the peri-ischemic ROI value over the mirrored ROI value. Increased 18F-THK-5351 retention was observed in the areas around and remote from the stroke location. The proportional 18F-THK-5351 values were negatively correlated with the proportional fractional anisotropy values (r = − 0.39, P = 0.04). Conclusion 18F-THK-5351 PET imaging provides a potential tool for in vivo visualization of the widespread ischemia-related changes associated with a microstructural disruption in recent ischemic stroke patients

Experimental paradigm of therapeutic effect of magnolol on MPTP-lesioned animals.

<p>Experimental paradigm of therapeutic effect of magnolol on MPTP-lesioned animals.</p

Regional Amyloid Deposition in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Evaluated by [¹⁸F]AV-45 Positron Emission Tomography in Chinese Population

<div><p>Background</p><p>To compare the neocortical amyloid loads among cognitively normal (CN), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects with [¹⁸F]AV-45 positron emission tomography (PET).</p> <p>Materials and Methods</p><p>[¹⁸F]AV-45 PET was performed in 11 CN, 13 aMCI, and 12 AD subjects to compare the cerebral cortex-to-whole cerebellum standard uptake value ratios (SUVRs) of global and individual volumes of interest (VOIs) cerebral cortex. The correlation between global cortical [¹⁸F]AV-45 SUVRs and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores was analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p><p>The global cortical [¹⁸F]AV-45 SUVRs were significantly different among the CN (1.08±0.08), aMCI (1.27±0.06), and AD groups (1.34±0.13) (p = 0.0003) with amyloidosis positivity rates of 9%, 62%, and 92% in the three groups respectively. Compared to CN subjects, AD subjects had higher SUVRs in the global cortical, precuneus, frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, and posterior cingulate areas; while aMCI subjects had higher values in the global cortical, precuneus, frontal, occipital and posterior cingulate areas. There were negative correlations of MMSE scores with SUVRs in the global cortical, precuneus, frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, posterior cingulate and anterior cingulate areas on a combined subject pool of the three groups after age and education attainment adjustment.</p> <p>Conclusions</p><p>Amyloid deposition occurs relatively early in precuneus, frontal and posterior cingulate in aMCI subjects. Higher [¹⁸F]AV-45 accumulation is present in parietal, occipital and temporal gyri in AD subjects compared to the aMCI group. Significant correlation between MMSE scores and [¹⁸F]AV-45 SUVRs can be observed among CN, aMCI and AD subjects.</p> </div

Ex vivo ARG of ¹⁸F-FP-(+)-DTBZ in C57BL/6 mouse brain.

<p>ARG performed immediately after the third PET scan on day 17. (A) The Sham, (B) the MPTP, and (C) the MPTP + Magnolol mice. CPd: dorsal caudate putamen; CPv: ventral caudate putamen; SN: substantial nigra.</p

Striatal SUr of ¹⁸F-FP-(+)-DTBZ found by PET studies of the brains of the Sham, the MPTP, and the MPTP + Magnolol group mice (n = 4 in each group).

<p>Striatal SUr of ¹⁸F-FP-(+)-DTBZ found by PET studies of the brains of the Sham, the MPTP, and the MPTP + Magnolol group mice (n = 4 in each group).</p

Statistical parametric mapping analysis: Localization of increased [¹⁸F]AV-45 retention between CN, aMCI and AD subjects.

<p>Comparisons of [¹⁸F]AV-45 SUVRs between cognitively normal (CN) and amnestic mild cognitively impairment (aMCI) subjects (A), and between aMCI and Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects (B) (Uncorrected for multiple comparisons and the color bar values indicate the value of the T-statistic in each display). Surface rendering was used to illustrate the cortical areas where [¹⁸F]AV-45 SUVRs were increased in aMCI than CN subjects (red) and increased in AD than aMCI subjects (green) (C).</p