Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation - Volume 70, issue 4

Authors: Zou, Jie | Wang, Weiwei | Kratz, Karl | Xu, Xun | Nie, Yan | Ma, Nan | Lendlein, Andreas

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Polycarbonate (PC) substrate is well suited for culturing human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with high proliferation rate, low cell apoptosis rate and negligible cytotoxic effects. However, little is known about the influence of PC on MSC activity including senescence, differentiation and secretion. In this study, the PC cell culture insert was applied for human MSC culture and was compared with polystyrene (PS) and standard tissue culture plate (TCP). The results showed that MSCs were able to adhere on PC surface, exhibiting a spindle-shaped morphology. The size and distribution of focal adhesions of MSCs were similar on PC and TCP. The …senescence level of MSCs on PC was comparable to that on TCP, but was significantly lower than that on PS. MSCs on PC were capable of self-renewal and differentiation into multiple cell lineages, including osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. MSCs cultured on PC secreted a higher level inflammatory cytokines and pro-angiogenic factors including FGF2 and VEGF. Conclusively, PC represents a promising cell culture material for human MSCs. Show more

Keywords: Polycarbonate, human mesenchymal stem cells, differentiation, cytokine secretion, senescence

DOI: 10.3233/CH-189322

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 573-583, 2018

Authors: Fuhrmann, Irene | Brünn, Karin | Probst, Ute | Verloh, Niklas | Stroszczynski, Christian | Jung, Ernst Michael | Wiggermann, Philipp | Haimerl, Michael

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The diagnostic value of Doppler ultrasonography of the portal vein for the evaluation of liver function is still contradictory. OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to test the relationship between clinical liver function tests based on MRI and breath testing and blood flow in the portal vein. METHODS: The portal vein velocity was measured by color coded Doppler ultrasonography (CCDS) and tested against the relative enhancement (RE), a MRI-based index of liver function. The signal intensity in the liver parenchyma was assessed before (pre) and after (post) administration of contrast agent, the RE was calculated …afterwards. Further, the liver function was also assessed using a 13 C-Methacetin-based breath test. The blood flow in the portal vein was tested for possible correlation applying Pearson’s correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Using CCDS, all patients show a hepatopetal portal blood flow. The portal vein velocity is decreasing with progression of liver damage and there was a significant correlation of portal velocity with SI post (r = 0.411, p = 0.024). However, the portal velocity did not correlate significantly with the 13 C-MBT readout (r = 0.233; p = 0.216), SI pre (r = 0.271, p = 0.147) or the relative enhancement (r = 0.303; p = 0.103). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this proof-of-principle study indicate that CCDS-based assessment of portal velocity is of only limited value for the evaluation of liver function. Show more

Keywords: 13C-methacetin liver function breath test, contrast enhanced MRI, doppler, liver function, portal vein velocity, signal intensity, sonography

DOI: 10.3233/CH-189323

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 585-594, 2018

Authors: Probst, Ute | Sieron, Dominik | Bruenn, Karin | Fuhrmann, Irene | Verloh, Niklas | Stroszczynski, Christian | Jung, Ernst-Michael | Wiggermann, Philipp | Haimerl, Michael

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is able to assess liver function by characteristic changes of signal intensity (SI). The aim was to evaluate dynamic contrast-enhanced SI-indices of the abdominal aorta, portal vein and liver. METHODS: 72 patients underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and a 13 C-methacetin-based liver breath test (13 C-MBT) for evaluation of liver function. Region-of-interest measurements in the liver, abdominal aorta and portal vein during native, arterial (AP), late arterial (LAP), portal venous (PVP) and hepatobiliary phase (HBP) were applied to analyze SI-indices in T1-weighted volume-interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) sequences with fat-suppression and relative enhancement (RE) …analysis was performed. RESULTS: The liver (p  < 0.001), the portal vein (p  < 0.001) and abdominal aorta (p  = 0.002) showed significant decrease of REs with decreasing liver function. An increasing trend between logarithmic values of 13 C-MBT and REs of hepatic parenchyma (HBP; r  = 0.662, p  < 0.001), portal vein (PVP; r  = 0.532, p  < 0.001) and abdominal aorta (PVP; r  = 0.421, p  < 0.001) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: RE measurements of the hepatic parenchyma proofed to be a trustable evaluation method for liver function evaluation. In accordance with liver function, changes of REs in the portal vein and abdominal aorta occur. Show more

Keywords: Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI, 13C-methacetin liver function breath test, HCC, liver metastases, hepatic parenchyma, portal vein, abdominal aorta, signal intensity, relative enhancement

DOI: 10.3233/CH-189324

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 595-604, 2018