The metabolic brain network in patients with Parkinson's disease based on ^(18)F-FDG PET imaging: evaluation of neuronal injury and regeneration

Over the past two decades, the development of functional imaging methods has greatly promoted our understanding on the changes of neurons following neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkin- son＇s disease （PD）. The application of a spatial covariance analysis on 18F-FDG PET imaging has led to the identification of a distinc- tive disease-related metabolic pattern. This pattern has proven to be useful in clinical diagnosis, disease progression monitoring as well as assessment of the neuronal changes before and after clinical treatment. It may potentially serve as an objective biomarker on disease progression monitoring, assessment, histological and func- tional evaluation of related diseases.

A volar skin excisional wound model for in situ evaluation of multiple-appendage regeneration and innervation

Background:Promoting rapid wound healing with functional recovery of all skin appendages is the main goal of regenerative medicine.So far current methodologies,including the commonly used back excisional wound model(BEWM)and paw skin scald wound model,are focused on assessing the regeneration of either hair follicles(HFs)or sweat glands(SwGs).How to achieve de novo appendage regeneration by synchronized evaluation of HFs,SwGs and sebaceous glands(SeGs)is still challenging.Here,we developed a volar skin excisional wound model(VEWM)that is suitable for examining cutaneous wound healing with multiple-appendage restoration,as well as innervation,providing a new research paradigm for the perfect regeneration of skin wounds.Methods:Macroscopic observation,iodine-starch test,morphological staining and qRT-PCR anal-ysis were used to detect the existence of HFs,SwGs,SeGs and distribution of nerve fibres in the volar skin.Wound healing process monitoring,HE/Masson staining,fractal analysis and behavioral response assessment were performed to verify that VEWM could mimic the pathological process and outcomes of human scar formation and sensory function impairment.Results:HFs are limited to the inter-footpads.SwGs are densely distributed in the footpads,scattered in the IFPs.The volar skin is richly innervated.The wound area of the VEWM at 1,3,7 and 10 days after the operation is respectively 89.17%±2.52%,71.72%±3.79%,55.09%±4.94%and 35.74%±4.05%,and the final scar area accounts for 47.80%±6.22%of the initial wound.While the wound area of BEWM at 1,3,7 and 10 days after the operation are respectively 61.94%±5.34%,51.26%±4.89%,12.63%±2.86%and 6.14%±2.84%,and the final scar area accounts for 4.33%±2.67%of the initial wound.Fractal analysis of the post-traumatic repair site for VEWM vs human was performed:lacunarity values,0.040±0.012 vs 0.038±0.014;fractal dimen-sion values,1.870±0.237 vs 1.903±0.163.Sensory nerve function of normal skin vs post-traumatic repair site was assessed:mechanical threshold,1.05±0.52 vs 4.90 g±0.80;response rate to pin-prick,100%vs 71.67%±19.92%,and temperature threshold,50.34◦C±3.11◦C vs 52.13◦C±3.54◦C.Conclusions:VEWM closely reflects the pathological features of human wound healing and can be applied for skin multiple-appendages regeneration and innervation evaluation.

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of acellular nerves

Vascularization of acellular nerves has been shown to contribute to nerve bridging.In this study,we used a 10-mm sciatic nerve defect model in rats to determine whether cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of injured acellular nerves.The rat nerve defects were treated with acellular nerve grafting（control group） alone or acellular nerve grafting combined with intraperitoneal injection of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein（experimental group）.As shown through two-dimensional imaging,the vessels began to invade into the acellular nerve graft from both anastomotic ends at day 7 post-operation,and gradually covered the entire graft at day 21.The vascular density,vascular area,and the velocity of revascularization in the experimental group were all higher than those in the control group.These results indicate that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of acellular nerves.