Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture combined with edaravone on the conduction velocity of sciatic nerve and oxidative stress in rats with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods 60 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were included. 10 of them were selected as normal group. The other rats were modeled as diabetic peripheral neuropathy with streptozotocin. 48 of them were randomly selected and divided into electroacupuncture group (n=12), edaravone group (n=12), electroacupuncture + edaravone group (n=12), and model group (n=12). The threshold temperature for wave tail was tested, the levels of superoxidase dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were determined, and the conduction velocity of sciatic nerve were measured, before, and 4 and 8 weeks after modeling. Results 8 weeks after modeling, the conduction velocity and SOD increased in the electroacupuncture group, edaravone group and electroacupuncture+edaravone group compared with the model group (P<0.01), with the MDA decrease (P<0.01), while it was improved more in the electroacupuncture+edaravone group than in the electroacupuncture group or the edaravone group (P<0.01). Conclusion Both electroacupuncture and edaravone can inhibit oxidative stress and improve nerve conduction velocity of the sciatic nerve in rats with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and it is more effective of combination.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) modified supermagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO) (γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NPs) in tumor detection as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent.

METHODSγ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NPs was prepared. The degree of A549 cells targeted absorption of γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NPs was detected by Prussian blue staining, colorimetric assay, T2W and multi-echo sequence MRI. γ-Fe2O3@DMSA NPs was used as a control agent, and free D-glucose as a competitive inhibitor. Human lung adenocarcinoma A549 xenograft tumor was prepared in nude mice. Sterile aqueous suspension of γ-Fe2O3@DMSA NPs or γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NPs was injected into the tail vein of nude mice. Before and 6, 12, 24, 48 h after injection, MRI imaging of the mice was performed. T2 signal intensity of the tumor, brain, liver and thigh skeletal muscles, and T2 values of the tumors were measured.

RESULTSThe average diameter of the particles was about 10 nm, and there were no significant differences between the diameters of γ-Fe2O3@DMSA NPs and γ- Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NPs. The IR spectra showed the C-N retractable vibration peak at γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NPs surface, indicating that 2-DG was conjugated to the γ-Fe2O3@DMSA NPs. The Prussian blue staining, colorimetric assay, MRI T2 signal intensity and T2 values revealed that γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NPs were significantly more absorbed by A549 cells at growth peak than γ-Fe2O3@DMSA NPs, and the absorption of γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NP was inhibited by free D-glucose. The results of in vivo examination showed that before and at 6, 12, 24, 48 h after injection of γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NPs, the mean T2 signal intensities of the tumors were (326.00 ± 16.26)s, (276.40 ± 5.13)s, (268.40 ± 30.58)s, (240.40 ± 25.93)s, (262.20 ± 30.04)s, respectively, and the T2 values of the tumors were (735.80 ± 20.93) ms, (645.80 ± 69.58) ms, (615.00 ± 124.61) ms, (570.60 ± 67.78) ms, and (537.80 ± 105.29) ms, respectively. However, before and at 6, 12, 24, 48 h after injection of γ-Fe2O3@DMSA NPs, the mean T2 signal intensities of the tumors were (335.60 ± 4.93)s, (290.80 ± 5.93)s, (273.40 ± 15.08)s, (327.40 ± 16.65)s, and (313.20 ± 20.45)s, respectively, and T2 values were (686.00 ± 21.44)ms, (617.80 ± 69.93)ms, (645.20 ± 85.89)ms, (669.40 ± 13.72)ms, and (608.80 ± 61.90)ms, respectively. The T2 signal intensity and T2 value of the tumors were not declined generally after injection. The liver T2 signal intensity was decreased after injection of both γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NPs and γ-Fe2O3@DMSA NPs, and T2 signal intensity of the brain and muscle did not show significant changes.

CONCLUSIONSγ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NPs has an ability to target glucose receptors overexpressed in tumors, and may serve as a MRI contrast agent for tumor detection.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorimetry ; Contrast Media ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Deoxyglucose ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Particle Size