More precise mapping of gliobalstoma based on a nanoprobe-decorated drug molecule

Glioblastoma is considered as the most aggressive type of gliomas. Its invasive character involves adjacent tissues and hinders the treatment procedure. Although surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy have been the standard therapeutic protocol, the incompetency of detection methods to delineate the exact tumor margins results in recurrence of the tumor. NKCC1 [Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Cotransporter] is a transmembrane channel, which overexpress in pathological conditions like glioma and helps the tumor cells to change their shape for easier migration. Such a channel can play the role of a specific marker for infiltrating tumor cells and using a paired moiety against this transporter may possibly improve the precision of detection methods including Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] contrast agents like SPNs [Superparamagnetic nanoparticles]. Bumetanide, under the trade name of Bumex, is a diuretic drug that can block NKCC1. It has been demonstrated that in in-vivo context, bumetanide have the potency to decrease the migration of glioma cells. We have hypothesized that bumetanide can pair with NKCC1 and accumulate around the glioma cells. Hence, it seems that MRI contrast agents loaded with bumex on their surface can be proposed for more accurate tumor margins detection whilst providing additional therapeutic effects. The proposed theranostic nanostructure may further be improved and tested both in-vitro and in-vivo to prove its applicability

Effects of high-fat diet on the numerical density and number of neuronal cells and the volume of the mouse hypothalamus: a stereological study / 대한해부학회지

It has been demonstrated that the type of diet affects the brain structure and function. Consumption of fat-rich food is one of the most important factors that lead to increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular and neurological diseases. High-fat diet may change the volume and neuronal number or density in the hypothalamus, which is the center of energy control. Therefore, this study was designed to study the effect of high-fat diet on the density and number of neurons, and also the volume of hypothalamus in adult male mice. Forty male mice were divided into the control and experimental groups. The control group were fed with standard and the experimental groups, with high-fat diet for 4 (short-term) or 8 (long-term) weeks. The animals were perfused and brains were immediately removed, post-fixed and cut coronally and serially using cryostat at 30-microm thickness. Every 6th sections were stained by cresyl violet. The numerical density and number of neuron and the volume of hypothalamus were estimated by using unbiased stereological methods. Data analysis showed that both short and long time consumption of high-fat diet decreased the neuronal cell density of the hypothalamus. Interestingly, despite a decrease in the neuronal cell density, long time consumption of high-fat diet could significantly increase the volume of hypothalamus (P<0.05). High fat diet decreased the neuronal cell density and increased the volume of the hypothalamus, but it did not significantly change its total neurons. These changes might be due to an increase in the extracellular space through inflammation or gliosis in the hypothalamus.