Introdução: A cicatrização subconjuntival excessiva é a maior causa de falha cirúrgica no glaucoma. Uma vez que o ácido rosmarínico apresenta ação antifibrótica, é interessante avaliar seu uso como adjuvante na cirurgia filtrante do glaucoma. Objetivos: Comparar os achados clínicos e histopatológicos e a expressão gênica de fatores relacionados à cicatrização tecidual entre coelhos submetidos à cirurgia antiglaucomatosa experimental (CAGE) e tratados com injeções subconjuntivais de ácido rosmarínico ou com injeções de solução salina 0,9%. Material e Métodos: Estudo experimental intervencionista, do tipo ensaio clínico randomizado, no qual 41 coelhos New Zealand foram submetidos à CAGE no olho direito e divididos em dois grupos de tratamento: grupo A (n=21), tratados com injeções subconjuntivais de 0,1 ml de solução salina 0,9% e grupo B (n=20), tratados com injeções subconjuntivais de 0,1 ml de ácido rosmarínico 15 mg/ml (3 dias antes da cirurgia, ao final desta e a cada 3 dias até a eutanásia). Os efeitos do tratamento foram avaliados com cinco dias (grupos A1 e B1) e com 15 dias (grupos A2 e B2) por meio da avaliação da pressão intraocular (PIO) com Tonopen, de aspectos da ampola filtrante com base no Moorfields Bleb Grading System, do estudo histopatológico (contagem de neutrófilos/campo, vasos/campo, densidade de colágeno corado com Sirius Red, imuno-histoquímica anti--actina e anti-VEGF) e do RT-PCR (colágeno tipo 1 alfa-1 COL1A1 e TGF-2). As fotomicrografias foram avaliadas quantitativamente com o software ImageJ® 1.36 (Sirius Red, -actina e VEGF) e os dados comparados por testes não paramétricos, sendo p<0,05 considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: Não houve diferença significativa nas comparações da PIO entre os grupos. Nas avaliações da ampola filtrante, apenas o grupo B2 apresentou maiores escores de área central (p=0,0004), área máxima (p=0,0007) e altura (p=0,0239). Os grupos B1 (p<0,0001) e B2 (p=0,0011) apresentaram escores significativamente menores no parâmetro vascularização que os seus respectivos controles. Houve diminuição significativa de neutrófilos/campo somente no grupo B2 (p=0,0159). O número de vasos/campo também foi significativamente menor nos grupos B1 e B2, em comparação aos seus respectivos controles (p=0,0079 e p=0,0345, respectivamente). Não foram observadas diferenças significativas na coloração com Sirius Red e na imuno-histoquímica para anti--actina entre os grupos, porém o grupo B1 apresentou menor marcação anti-VEGF (p=0,0190). As análises por RT-PCR para TGF-2 e COL1A1 não demonstraram diferenças entre os grupos, com exceção do grupo B2, que apresentou maior expressão de COL1A1 quando comparado ao seu controle (p=0,0159). Conclusões: Os resultados apontaram para os potenciais efeitos anti-inflamatórios e moduladores da neovascularização do ácido rosmarínico em cirurgias antiglaucomatosas. Apesar do grupo B demonstrar melhor aspecto clínico (exceto a PIO, que não demonstrou diferença entre os grupos), a ação antifibrótica do ácido rosmarínico não pôde ser comprovada. / Introduction: Excessive subconjunctival scarring is a major cause of surgical failure in glaucoma. Since rosmarinic acid has antifibrotic action, we evaluate its usage as an adjunctive treatment to glaucoma filtration surgery. Objectives: To compare clinical, histopathological and expression of factors related to the healing process between rabbit underwent experimental glaucoma surgery (EGS) and treated with subconjunctival injections of rosmarinic acid or with saline solution 0.9%. Methods: Interventional experimental study (randomized clinical trial) in which 41 New Zealand rabbits were submitted to EGS in the right eye and divided into two treatment groups: group A (n=21) - eyes treated with subconjunctival injections of 0.1 ml of saline solution 0.9% and B (n=20) - eyes treated with subconjunctival injections of 0.1 ml of rosmarinic acid 15mg/ml (three days prior to surgery, at the end of surgery and every three days until euthanasia). Treatment effects were assessed after five days (groups A1 and B1) and 15 days (groups A2 and B2) by evaluation of intraocular pressure (IOP) with Tonopen and bleb characteristics based on the Moorfields Bleb Grading System, as well as histopathology analysis (neutrophil/field count; vessels/field count; collagen density after stained with Sirius Red; and anti--actin and anti-VEGF immunohistochemistry) and by RT-PCR (for collagen type 1 alpha 1 - COL1A1 and TGF-2). The photomicrographs were evaluated quantitatively with ImageJ® 1.36 software (Sirius Red, -actin and VEGF) and data were compared through non-parametric tests, considering p<0.05 as statistically significant. Results: No significant difference was observed in IOP measurements between groups. Group B2 displayed significant higher scores of bleb central area (p=0.0004), maximum area (p=0.0007) and height (p=0.0239). Both B1 (p<0.0001) and B2 (p=0.0011) groups presented significantly lower vascularization scores than their respective controls. A significant decrease in neutrophils/field counting was observed only in group B2 (p=0.0159), however vessels/field counting was significantly lower in groups B1 and B2, compared to their controls (p=0.0079 and p=0.0345, respectively). No significant differences were observed in the collagen staining with Sirius Red and in the anti--actin immunohistochemistry between the all groups comparison, but group B1 displayed lower anti-VEGF measurement (p=0.0190) than group A1. RT-PCR analysis for TGF-2 and COL1A1 showed no difference between groups, except by group B2, which presented higher expression of COL1A1, compared to its control (p=0.0159). Conclusions: The findings point to the potential anti-inflammatory and anti-neovascular effects of rosmarinic acid in glaucoma surgery. Although group B show better clinical aspect (except IOP, which showed no difference between groups), the antifibrotic action of rosmarinic acid could not be proved.

Introdução: A cicatrização subconjuntival excessiva é a maior causa de falha cirúrgica no glaucoma. Uma vez que o ácido rosmarínico apresenta ação antifibrótica, é interessante avaliar seu uso como adjuvante na cirurgia filtrante do glaucoma. Objetivos: Comparar os achados clínicos e histopatológicos e a expressão gênica de fatores relacionados à cicatrização tecidual entre coelhos submetidos à cirurgia antiglaucomatosa experimental (CAGE) e tratados com injeções subconjuntivais de ácido rosmarínico ou com injeções de solução salina 0,9%. Material e Métodos: Estudo experimental intervencionista, do tipo ensaio clínico randomizado, no qual 41 coelhos New Zealand foram submetidos à CAGE no olho direito e divididos em dois grupos de tratamento: grupo A (n=21), tratados com injeções subconjuntivais de 0,1 ml de solução salina 0,9% e grupo B (n=20), tratados com injeções subconjuntivais de 0,1 ml de ácido rosmarínico 15 mg/ml (3 dias antes da cirurgia, ao final desta e a cada 3 dias até a eutanásia). Os efeitos do tratamento foram avaliados com cinco dias (grupos A1 e B1) e com 15 dias (grupos A2 e B2) por meio da avaliação da pressão intraocular (PIO) com Tonopen, de aspectos da ampola filtrante com base no Moorfields Bleb Grading System, do estudo histopatológico (contagem de neutrófilos/campo, vasos/campo, densidade de colágeno corado com Sirius Red, imuno-histoquímica anti--actina e anti-VEGF) e do RT-PCR (colágeno tipo 1 alfa-1 COL1A1 e TGF-2). As fotomicrografias foram avaliadas quantitativamente com o software ImageJ® 1.36 (Sirius Red, -actina e VEGF) e os dados comparados por testes não paramétricos, sendo p<0,05 considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: Não houve diferença significativa nas comparações da PIO entre os grupos. Nas avaliações da ampola filtrante, apenas o grupo B2 apresentou maiores escores de área central (p=0,0004), área máxima (p=0,0007) e altura (p=0,0239). Os grupos B1 (p<0,0001) e B2 (p=0,0011) apresentaram escores significativamente menores no parâmetro vascularização que os seus respectivos controles. Houve diminuição significativa de neutrófilos/campo somente no grupo B2 (p=0,0159). O número de vasos/campo também foi significativamente menor nos grupos B1 e B2, em comparação aos seus respectivos controles (p=0,0079 e p=0,0345, respectivamente). Não foram observadas diferenças significativas na coloração com Sirius Red e na imuno-histoquímica para anti--actina entre os grupos, porém o grupo B1 apresentou menor marcação anti-VEGF (p=0,0190). As análises por RT-PCR para TGF-2 e COL1A1 não demonstraram diferenças entre os grupos, com exceção do grupo B2, que apresentou maior expressão de COL1A1 quando comparado ao seu controle (p=0,0159). Conclusões: Os resultados apontaram para os potenciais efeitos anti-inflamatórios e moduladores da neovascularização do ácido rosmarínico em cirurgias antiglaucomatosas. Apesar do grupo B demonstrar melhor aspecto clínico (exceto a PIO, que não demonstrou diferença entre os grupos), a ação antifibrótica do ácido rosmarínico não pôde ser comprovada. / Introduction: Excessive subconjunctival scarring is a major cause of surgical failure in glaucoma. Since rosmarinic acid has antifibrotic action, we evaluate its usage as an adjunctive treatment to glaucoma filtration surgery. Objectives: To compare clinical, histopathological and expression of factors related to the healing process between rabbit underwent experimental glaucoma surgery (EGS) and treated with subconjunctival injections of rosmarinic acid or with saline solution 0.9%. Methods: Interventional experimental study (randomized clinical trial) in which 41 New Zealand rabbits were submitted to EGS in the right eye and divided into two treatment groups: group A (n=21) - eyes treated with subconjunctival injections of 0.1 ml of saline solution 0.9% and B (n=20) - eyes treated with subconjunctival injections of 0.1 ml of rosmarinic acid 15mg/ml (three days prior to surgery, at the end of surgery and every three days until euthanasia). Treatment effects were assessed after five days (groups A1 and B1) and 15 days (groups A2 and B2) by evaluation of intraocular pressure (IOP) with Tonopen and bleb characteristics based on the Moorfields Bleb Grading System, as well as histopathology analysis (neutrophil/field count; vessels/field count; collagen density after stained with Sirius Red; and anti--actin and anti-VEGF immunohistochemistry) and by RT-PCR (for collagen type 1 alpha 1 - COL1A1 and TGF-2). The photomicrographs were evaluated quantitatively with ImageJ® 1.36 software (Sirius Red, -actin and VEGF) and data were compared through non-parametric tests, considering p<0.05 as statistically significant. Results: No significant difference was observed in IOP measurements between groups. Group B2 displayed significant higher scores of bleb central area (p=0.0004), maximum area (p=0.0007) and height (p=0.0239). Both B1 (p<0.0001) and B2 (p=0.0011) groups presented significantly lower vascularization scores than their respective controls. A significant decrease in neutrophils/field counting was observed only in group B2 (p=0.0159), however vessels/field counting was significantly lower in groups B1 and B2, compared to their controls (p=0.0079 and p=0.0345, respectively). No significant differences were observed in the collagen staining with Sirius Red and in the anti--actin immunohistochemistry between the all groups comparison, but group B1 displayed lower anti-VEGF measurement (p=0.0190) than group A1. RT-PCR analysis for TGF-2 and COL1A1 showed no difference between groups, except by group B2, which presented higher expression of COL1A1, compared to its control (p=0.0159). Conclusions: The findings point to the potential anti-inflammatory and anti-neovascular effects of rosmarinic acid in glaucoma surgery. Although group B show better clinical aspect (except IOP, which showed no difference between groups), the antifibrotic action of rosmarinic acid could not be proved.

Os carcinomas de cabeça e pescoço representam um problema na saúde pública, sendo a oitava causa no mundo de morte por câncer. A taxa de crescimento do tumor, o seu local de expansão, bem como a metástase das células cancerígenas depende muito da vascularização do tumor, sendo que esta é a responsável pelo fornecimento constante de nutrientes e de oxigênio para o crescimento tumoral. Sendo assim a angiogênese é considerada um processo essencial dentro do processo neoplásico. A avaliação dos vasos sanguíneos tumorais neoformados em carcinomas espinocelulares de boca, usando o anticorpo CD105, mostra um crescimento significativo da densidade microvascular. Baseado nestes, o objetivo do trabalho é avaliar através da imunoistoquímica a possível correlação de aumento no número de vasos sanguíneos correlacionando com diferentes grupos de processo inflamatório divididos em: pouco, moderado e intenso infiltrado inflamatório no front tumoral. Na literatura os autores de um modo geral correlacionam infiltrados inflamatórios e angiogênese, neste trabalho tentamos correlacionar se um maior ou menor infiltrado inflamatório tem influência nessa angiogênese. As lâminas foram avaliadas microscopicamente por dois profissionais de forma que eles não sabiam da classificação dada pelo outro e só quando ambos estavam em comum acordo essas lâminas foram classificadas. Para a análise estatística foi realizado a comparação múltipla entre os 03 grupos através da Análise de variância (comparação das três médias) e também o teste de Tukey, onde se observou diferença entre os grupos I e III e nos grupos II e III, porém entre os grupos I e II não houve diferença significativa. Com isso os resultados nos mostram uma correlação positiva entre a presença de maior quantidade de vasos sanguíneos, onde se encontra maior quantidade de infiltrado inflamatório, quando comparado com áreas de menor infiltrado inflamatório. / Carcinomas of the head and neck represent a public health problem, being the eighth leading cause of worldwide cancer deaths. The growth rate of the tumor, its location expansion and metastasis of cancer cells depends greatly on tumor vascularity, and this is responsible for the constant supply of oxygen and nutrients for tumor growth. Thus angiogenesis is considered an essential process within the neoplastic process. The evaluation of newly formed tumor blood vessels in oral squamous cell carcinoma using the CD105 antibody, shows a significant increase in microvascular density. Based on these, the goal is to evaluate by immunohistochemistry the possible correlation of an increased number of blood vessels correlate with different groups of inflammatory process divided into: minor, moderate and intense inflammatory infiltrate in the tumor front. In the literature, authors generally correlated angiogenesis and inflammatory infiltrates, in this work we try to correlate to a greater or lesser inflammatory infiltrate that affects angiogenesis. The slides were evaluated microscopically by two professionals so that they did not know the rating given by others and only when both were in agreement these slides were classified. For statistical analysis, the multiple comparisons between the three groups was performed by analysis of variance (comparison of three average) and also the Tukey test, where a difference was observed between groups I and III and groups II and III, but between groups I and II significativa.Com that there was no difference in the results show a positive correlation between the presence of a larger amount of blood vessels, where it is most inflammatory infiltrate when compared to areas of lesser amounts of inflammation.

Na ortopedia humana e veterinária é frequente a necessidade de reparação óssea após grandes traumas e fraturas, sendo indispensável o uso de implantes para correção estética e funcional dos membros. Os materiais de origem biológica, conhecidos como biomateriais, estão sendo usados principalmente na confecção de próteses e órteses. A utilização de ferramentas não invasivas e com menor ônus no pós-operatório de cirurgias ortopédicas está em grande avanço, e a utilização do Power Doppler na visualização de neovascularização auxilia na previsão de regeneração, assim como as variações térmicas verificadas pela termografia auxiliam na previsão de não-união, ou processo inflamatório exacerbado. Falhas ósseas foram realizadas nas tíbias de ovinos e preenchidas com biomaterial à base de quitosana, colágeno e hidroxiapatita, sendo que um membro foi considerado controle e outro membro tratado segundo estudo randomizado. Foram realizadas avaliações termográficas e por ultrassonografia Power Doppler em todos os animais do estudo, semanalmente, por 56 dias do período pós-operatório. Não houve diferenças significativas com relação à temperatura mínima, máxima e média entre os grupos com biomaterial e controle nas imagens termográficas. Houve variações estatísticas com relação ao tempo dentro de ambos os grupos. Com relação à presença de vasos na ultrassonografia Power Doppler não houve diferenças estatísticas entre os grupos, exceto no dia 21 (p = 0,031). O Power Doppler foi realizado com duas configurações PRF 1 (1,4 kHz) e PRF 2 (6, 7 kHz). Houve diferença significativa entre os grupos com biomaterial e controle na PRF 1 nos dias 21 (p = 0,016) e 28 (p = 0,031), onde o grupo controle apresentou maior número de vasos nos dois momentos. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa com relação à mesma avaliação com a PRF 2. Na observação cruzada entre presença de vasos e temperatura houve diferença significativa no dia 21 dos membros com biomaterial, para a temperatura mínima (p = 0,049), máxima (p = 0,056) e média (p = 0,052), onde nos membros que não apresentaram vasos esta mostrou-se maior quando comparada aos que possuíam neovascularização, o que não ocorreu no caso dos membros controles. Dentro das possibilidades de avaliação que os exames de imagem fornecem, a termografia e a ultrassonografia Power Doppler mostraram-se ferramentas não invasivas de avaliação pós-operatória de processo inflamatório e neovascularização, e não houve indícios de complicações relacionadas ao biomaterial / Trauma and large fractures frequently need repair in human and veterinary medicine, and bone implants are imperative for esthetics and functional limb correction. Biological material, known as biomaterials has been used in the manufacture of prostheses and orthoses. Non-invasive methods with lower burden for the orthopedic postoperative period are in great advance, and Power Doppler for neovascularization evaluation aid in regeneration forecast, such as thermal variations visualized with thermography supports non-union or inflammation exacerbation. Bone defects was performed in both ovine tibia and it was filled with chitosan, collagen and hydroxyapatite biomaterial. One limb was filled with the biomaterial and the other one was left as control following randomized study. Thermographic and Power Doppler ultrasonography assessment was performed in all animals, weekly, for 56 postoperative days. There was no difference in minimum, maximum and average temperature between the biomaterial and control groups in the thermographic evaluation. Statistical variations were visualized according to the time in both groups. Neovascularization evaluated by Power Doppler showed no statistic variation between groups, except at 21 postoperative days (p = 0,031). Two Power Doppler PRF configuration was performed PRF 1 (1,4 kHz) e PRF 2 (6, 7 kHz). Significant difference among biomaterial and control groups was noted with PRF 1 at the 21 (p = 0,016) and 28 (p = 0,031) postoperative days, in which the control group demonstrated higher number of vessels, in both moments. No statistical differences were founded in the same evaluation with PRF 2. In crossing information (neovascularization presence and temperature) at the 21 day, the biomaterial group presented higher minimum (p = 0,049), maximum (p = 0,056) and average (p =0,052) in the without vessels limbs. This was not visualized in the control group. Within the imaging evaluation possibilities, thermography and Power Doppler ultrasonography presented noninvasive potential for the postoperative period inflammatory and neovascularization evaluation and there was no evidence of biomaterial related complications

Os carcinomas de cabeça e pescoço representam um problema na saúde pública, sendo a oitava causa no mundo de morte por câncer. A taxa de crescimento do tumor, o seu local de expansão, bem como a metástase das células cancerígenas depende muito da vascularização do tumor, sendo que esta é a responsável pelo fornecimento constante de nutrientes e de oxigênio para o crescimento tumoral. Sendo assim a angiogênese é considerada um processo essencial dentro do processo neoplásico. A avaliação dos vasos sanguíneos tumorais neoformados em carcinomas espinocelulares de boca, usando o anticorpo CD105, mostra um crescimento significativo da densidade microvascular. Baseado nestes, o objetivo do trabalho é avaliar através da imunoistoquímica a possível correlação de aumento no número de vasos sanguíneos correlacionando com diferentes grupos de processo inflamatório divididos em: pouco, moderado e intenso infiltrado inflamatório no front tumoral. Na literatura os autores de um modo geral correlacionam infiltrados inflamatórios e angiogênese, neste trabalho tentamos correlacionar se um maior ou menor infiltrado inflamatório tem influência nessa angiogênese. As lâminas foram avaliadas microscopicamente por dois profissionais de forma que eles não sabiam da classificação dada pelo outro e só quando ambos estavam em comum acordo essas lâminas foram classificadas. Para a análise estatística foi realizado a comparação múltipla entre os 03 grupos através da Análise de variância (comparação das três médias) e também o teste de Tukey, onde se observou diferença entre os grupos I e III e nos grupos II e III, porém entre os grupos I e II não houve diferença significativa. Com isso os resultados nos mostram uma correlação positiva entre a presença de maior quantidade de vasos sanguíneos, onde se encontra maior quantidade de infiltrado inflamatório, quando comparado com áreas de menor infiltrado inflamatório. / Carcinomas of the head and neck represent a public health problem, being the eighth leading cause of worldwide cancer deaths. The growth rate of the tumor, its location expansion and metastasis of cancer cells depends greatly on tumor vascularity, and this is responsible for the constant supply of oxygen and nutrients for tumor growth. Thus angiogenesis is considered an essential process within the neoplastic process. The evaluation of newly formed tumor blood vessels in oral squamous cell carcinoma using the CD105 antibody, shows a significant increase in microvascular density. Based on these, the goal is to evaluate by immunohistochemistry the possible correlation of an increased number of blood vessels correlate with different groups of inflammatory process divided into: minor, moderate and intense inflammatory infiltrate in the tumor front. In the literature, authors generally correlated angiogenesis and inflammatory infiltrates, in this work we try to correlate to a greater or lesser inflammatory infiltrate that affects angiogenesis. The slides were evaluated microscopically by two professionals so that they did not know the rating given by others and only when both were in agreement these slides were classified. For statistical analysis, the multiple comparisons between the three groups was performed by analysis of variance (comparison of three average) and also the Tukey test, where a difference was observed between groups I and III and groups II and III, but between groups I and II significativa.Com that there was no difference in the results show a positive correlation between the presence of a larger amount of blood vessels, where it is most inflammatory infiltrate when compared to areas of lesser amounts of inflammation.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common and potentially life-threatening complication that affects 5-10% of human pregnancies. Maternal genetic predisposition and fetal male sex are known risk factors, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. To study a known maternal genetic risk factor and the impact of fetal sex, we employed a published transgenic (TG) mouse model, which was designed to mimic a common human angiotensinogen (AGT) promoter variant associated with a 20% increase in circulating AGT levels. We hypothesized that TG dams would deliver growth restricted pups and that the underlying mechanism would be related to differences in maternal uterine pregnancy-induced vascular remodeling, abnormal blood flow to the placenta, and placental damage. In addition, since growth restricted human males are at an increased risk of developing adult onset hypertension, which has been associated with reduced nephron development, we tested for developmental programming in our mouse model and the impact of fetal sex. Our results show that TG dams have reduced uterine and placental angiogenesis when their pups were males, but relatively normal angiogenesis in the female siblings compared with wild-type controls. The uterine placental bed in TG dams had abnormal pro-angiogenic/anti-angiogenic expression ratios that were related to differences in uterine natural killer cell activation and fetal sex. The abnormal phenotype could be rescued by delivering vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to uterine endothelial cells. Male progeny from TG dams had abnormal kidney epigenetic changes, fewer nephrons as adults, and they developed stress-induced hypertension. We conclude that the combination of maternal genetic risk and fetal male sex affect uteroplacental angiogenesis leading to FGR and the programming of stress-induced hypertension.

<p>Angiogenesis is necessary for the growth and spread of solid tumors. In these studies angiogenesis was measured in childhood malignancies in general and in Wilms’ tumor in particular, and cutting needle biopsy (CNB) specimens were evaluated for diagnosis in childhood renal tumors. </p><p>In 33 patients with Wilms’ tumor, tumor capillaries were quantified, expression of angiogenic growth factors in tumor tissue investigated, and concentrations of angiogenic growth factors in serum measured. Reference values for angiogenic growth factors were obtained in 80 healthy adults (fibroblast growth factor 2 [FGF-2], vascular endothelial growth factor A [VEGF-A]) and 94 healthy children (angiogenin [ANG], epidermal growth factor [EGF], FGF-2, hepatocyte growth factor [HGF], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFA] and VEGF-A) aged 0.5-18 years. These reference values were compared with values in sera taken at diagnosis in 268 children with tumors and leukemias. CNB specimens were evaluated in 25 children with renal tumors.</p><p>A large number of capillaries was an independent prognostic factor for a poor outcome in Wilms’ tumor. Angiogenic growth factors were expressed in Wilms’ tumor tissue, and elevated concentrations of HGF and VEGF-A were found in both benign and malignant tumors. HGF was increased in leukemia, and TNFA was increased in leukemia, lymphoma and neuroblastoma. CNB, which proved to be a safe procedure, had a sensitivity of 76%. </p><p>These studies have demonstrated that quantification of capillaries is a prognostic factor in Wilms’ tumor and that HGF, TNFA and VEGF-A are frequently elevated in sera from children with cancer. Quantification of capillaries in tumor tissue and of circulating angiogenic growth factors would therefore seem to be of clinical relevance in managing children with cancer.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 2003. / Title from title page of source document. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Angiogenesis is necessary for the growth and spread of solid tumors. In these studies angiogenesis was measured in childhood malignancies in general and in Wilms’ tumor in particular, and cutting needle biopsy (CNB) specimens were evaluated for diagnosis in childhood renal tumors. In 33 patients with Wilms’ tumor, tumor capillaries were quantified, expression of angiogenic growth factors in tumor tissue investigated, and concentrations of angiogenic growth factors in serum measured. Reference values for angiogenic growth factors were obtained in 80 healthy adults (fibroblast growth factor 2 [FGF-2], vascular endothelial growth factor A [VEGF-A]) and 94 healthy children (angiogenin [ANG], epidermal growth factor [EGF], FGF-2, hepatocyte growth factor [HGF], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFA] and VEGF-A) aged 0.5-18 years. These reference values were compared with values in sera taken at diagnosis in 268 children with tumors and leukemias. CNB specimens were evaluated in 25 children with renal tumors. A large number of capillaries was an independent prognostic factor for a poor outcome in Wilms’ tumor. Angiogenic growth factors were expressed in Wilms’ tumor tissue, and elevated concentrations of HGF and VEGF-A were found in both benign and malignant tumors. HGF was increased in leukemia, and TNFA was increased in leukemia, lymphoma and neuroblastoma. CNB, which proved to be a safe procedure, had a sensitivity of 76%. These studies have demonstrated that quantification of capillaries is a prognostic factor in Wilms’ tumor and that HGF, TNFA and VEGF-A are frequently elevated in sera from children with cancer. Quantification of capillaries in tumor tissue and of circulating angiogenic growth factors would therefore seem to be of clinical relevance in managing children with cancer.

The goal of this thesis was to produce an animal model that develops atherosclerotic plaque featuring plaque neovascularization leading to intraplaque hemorrhage and is suitable for noninvasive imaging studies. Several strategies were tested for their effectiveness in producing such plaques in the rabbit aorta, including: a high cholesterol diet, vascular endothelial growth factor injections, therapeutic contrast ultrasound, and balloon catheter injury. It was found that a combination of the high cholesterol diet and balloon injury was able to achieve plaque neovascularization in a manner dependent on circulating plasma cholesterol levels. In addition, a contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging technique implemented in the animal model was able to detect plaque neovascularization and monitor its change over time in a single group of animals. In conclusion, an animal model was created where plaque neovascularization occurs in a predictable fashion and can be studied with non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging.