Visualization of Vascular Inflammation in the Atherosclerotic Mouse by Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1–Specific Nanoparticles

Objective—

Noninvasive imaging of atherosclerosis remains challenging in clinical applications. Here, we applied noninvasive molecular imaging to detect vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in early and advanced atherosclerotic lesions of apolipoprotein E–deficient mice.

Methods and Results—

Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles functionalized with (P03011) or without (P3007) vascular cell adhesion molecule-1−binding peptide were visualized by ultra high-field (17.6 T) magnetic resonance. Injection of P03011 resulted in a marked signal loss in the aortic root of apolipoprotein E–deficient mice fed a Western diet for 8 and 26 weeks in vivo and ex vivo, compared with preinjection measurements, P3007-injected mice, and P03011- or P3007-injected age-matched C57BL/6 controls. Histological analyses revealed iron accumulations in the intima, in colocalization with vascular cell adhesion molecule-1−expressing macrophages and endothelial cells. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy demonstrated iron signals in the intima and media of the aortic root in the P03011-injected but not untreated apolipoprotein E–deficient mice, localized to macrophages, luminal endothelial-like cells, and medial regions containing smooth muscle cells. Electron microscopy confirmed iron particles enclosed in endothelial cells and in the vicinity of smooth muscle cells.

Conclusion—

Using a combination of innovative imaging modalities, in this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of applying P03011 as a contrast agent for imaging of atherosclerosis.

[Epidemiology of kyphosis in school children]

At five schools in the city of Bochum a serial study was carried out with regard to pathological posture of the spine. In total 2075 pupils from 10 to 17 years of age were examined and the degree of kyphosis was determined using Debrunner's kyphometer. An angle of 40 degrees or more was supposed to be a pathological kyphosis. The rate of this kyphosis was 12 p.c. in girls and 15.3 in boys. The children with pathological curvature were compared with a group of children inconspicuous with regard to posture and selected by random. The two groups were questioned using a halfstandardized questionnaire. This was designed to obtain details of general circumstances of life, attitude in sports and medical history either in orthopedics and diseases in the family. Thereby was seen that children with pathological kyphosis practised less sports and had more orthopedic diseases, and also in their families more orthopedic problems and back pain occurred.