A facile method of preparing triple‐modality, optical–nuclear–magnetic imaging probes using radiolabeled superparamagnetic nanoparticles is developed. Cerenkov luminescence imaging based on radionuclides showed great potential as a new optical imaging modality. The complementary nature of the optical/PET/MR hybrid nanoprobes facilitated non‐invasive differentiation between tumor‐metastasized sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and tumor‐free SLNs.

Platelets are involved in hemostasis, wound healing, and tumor growth. Autologous blood products are commonly used to facilitate healing in a variety of clinical surgery applications. Recently, it was shown that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has more specific growth factors that participate in the healing process. This study investigated the expression of PRP growth factors and evaluated their potential role in the cartilage regeneration using primary isolated chondrocytes. PRP obtained from New Zealand White rabbit by low speed centrifugation. Extracted PRPs contained 6-10 × 10(6) platelet/μl and concentration of platelets was slightly variable. Primary isolated chondrocytes from the same rabbits were cultured and treated with 0.1-20% PRP. The cells were collected and examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and cytochemical staining. The expression of sex determining region Y-box 9, transforming growth factor-beta, vascular endothelial growth factor, and chondromdulin-I was increased in chondrocyte cultures with 10% PRP by time-dependent manner. To maintain the integrity of the cartilage, the proteoglycan contents were also up-regulated from the mRNA of aggrecan and positive Safranin-O staining in PRP concentration- and time-dependent manner. PRP provides crucial growth factors related to chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation through time-sequential modulation. Controlled in vivo trials for cartilage regeneration are needed.

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Horse health has become a major concern with the expansion of horse-related industries and sports; the importance of healthy muscles for horse performance and daily activities is undisputed. Here we generated equineinduced pluripotent stem cells (E-iPSCs) by reprogramming equine adipose-derived stem cells (E-ADSCs) into iPSCs using a polycistronic lentiviral vector encoding four transcription factors (i.e., Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc) and then examined their pluripotent characteristics. Subsequently, established E-iPSCs were transplanted into muscle-injured Rag/mdx mice. The histopathology results showed that E-iPSC-transplanted mice exhibited enhanced muscle regeneration compared to controls. In addition, E-iPSC-derived myofibers were observed in the injured muscles. In conclusion, we show that E-iPSCs could be successfully generated from equine ADSCs and transplanted into injured muscles and that E-iPSCs have the capacity to induce regeneration of injured muscles.

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Despite the susceptibility to frequent intrinsic and extrinsic injuries, especially in the inner zone, the meniscus does not heal spontaneously owing to its poor vascularity. In this study, the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), containing various growth factors, on meniscal mechanisms was examined under normal and post-traumatic inflammatory conditions. Isolated primary meniscal cells of New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits were incubated for 3, 10, 14 and 21 days with PRP(−), 10% PRP (PRP(+)), IL(+) or IL(+)PRP(+). The meniscal cells were collected and examined using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Culture media were examined by immunoblot analyses for matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) catabolic molecules. PRP containing growth factors improved the cellular viability of meniscal cells in a concentration-dependent manner at Days 1, 4 and 7. However, based on RT-PCR, meniscal cells demonstrated dedifferentiation, along with an increase in type I collagen in the PRP(+) and in IL(+)PRP(+). In PRP(+), the aggrecan expression levels were lower than in the PRP(−) until Day 21. The protein levels of MMP-1 and MMP-3 were higher in each PRP group, i.e., PRP(+) and IL(+)PRP(+), at each culture time. A reproducible 2-mm circular defect on the meniscus of NZW rabbit was used to implant fibrin glue (control) or PRP in vivo. After eight weeks, the lesions in the control and PRP groups were occupied with fibrous tissue, but not with meniscal cells. This study shows that PRP treatment of the meniscus results in an increase of catabolic molecules, especially those related to IL-1α-induced inflammation, and that PRP treatment for an in vivo meniscus injury accelerates fibrosis, instead of meniscal cartilage.

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