Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasound and MRI in fetal bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS). Methods The 7 pregnant women with suspected fetal BPS were examined with a 1.5 T MR unit within 24 h after prenatal ultrasound in Hubei Maternal and Children's Hospital during July 2013 to February 2015. The imaging protocol included half-fourier acquisition single shot turbo SE (HASTE), true fast imaging with steady state precession (True FISP) in axial, frontal and sagittal planes relative to the fetal thorax. Prenatal MRI findings have been compared with postnatal enhanced computed tomography or biopsy. Results The locations of BPS were in left side in 5 cases and in right side in 2 cases. One case was complicated with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of lung. Ultrasound showed the intrathoracic mass as a hyperechoic lesion and the feeding artery could be found by Doppler ultrasonography. T2WI could reveal not only the hyperintense lesions with clear boundary, but also the hypointense feeding artery originating from systemic circulation. Compared with pathological examination or enhanced CT, both of the ultrasound and the MRI could locate the lesions;however 2 feeding arteries were misjudged. Conclusions Prenatal ultrasound is the first-choice diagnostic modality for BPS. MRI can demonstrate the location, morphology and the feeding arteries of the fetal BPS, and also estimate the volume of normal lungs, which could be an important supplement to prenatal ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis and prognostic prediction of BPS.

OBJECTIVETo test the efficiency of transfecting (99)Tc(m)-labeled anti-miR208b oligonucleotide into early hypertrophic cardiac myocytes in vitro.

METHODSThe anti-oligonucleotide targeting miR208b (AMO) was synthesized and modified with LNA followed by conjugation with N-hydroxysuccinimidyl S-acetyl-meraptoacetyl triglycine (NHS-MAG3) and radiolabeling with (99)Tc(m). NHS-MAG3-LNA-AMO and labeled AMO were purified with Sep-Pak C18 column chromatography, and the former was examined for UV absorption at the 260 nm using Gene Quant DNA/RNA calculator. The labeling efficiency, radiochemical purity, stability and molecular hybridization activity were analyzed. An angiotensin II-induced cell model of hypertrophic cardiac myocytes was transfected with (99)Tc(m)-NHS-MAG3-LNA-AMO via liposome, and the relative expression of miRNA208b and retention ratio of the labeled AMO in early hypertrophic cells were determined.

RESULTSThe labeling efficiency and radiochemical purity of the labeled AMO after purification exceeded 84% and 86%, respectively. The radio- chemical purities of the labeled AMO incubated in serum and normal saline for 12 h were both higher than 80%, and the labeled AMO showed a capacity to hybridize with the target gene. In the hypertrophic model of cardiac myocytes, the retention ratio of labeled AMO at 6 h was higher than 20%.

CONCLUSIONThe (99)Tc(m)-labeled antisense probe can be efficiently transfected into hypertrophic cardiac myocytes in vitro, which provides an experimental basis for subsequent radionuclide imaging studies.

Humans ; Isotope Labeling ; Liposomes ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Oligonucleotides ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; Oligopeptides ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Silicon Dioxide ; Succinimides ; Transfection