Advances in Preclinical Research Models of Radiation-Induced Cardiac Toxicity

Preclinical Research into Basic Mechanisms of Radiation-Induced Heart Disease

Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is a potentially severe side effect of radiotherapy of thoracic and chest wall tumors if all or part of the heart was included in the radiation field. RIHD presents clinically several years after irradiation and manifestations include accelerated atherosclerosis, pericardial and myocardial fibrosis, conduction abnormalities, and injury to cardiac valves. T...

Preclinical models in radiation oncology

As the incidence of cancer continues to rise, the use of radiotherapy has emerged as a leading treatment modality. Preclinical models in radiation oncology are essential tools for cancer research and therapeutics. Various model systems have been used to test radiation therapy, including in vitro cell culture assays as well as in vivo ectopic and orthotopic xenograft models. This review aims to ...

Preclinical models for obesity research

A multi-dimensional strategy to tackle the global obesity epidemic requires an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms that underlie this complex condition. Much of the current mechanistic knowledge has arisen from preclinical research performed mostly, but not exclusively, in laboratory mouse and rat strains. These experimental models mimic certain aspects of the human condition and its root ...

The issue of radiation-induced cardiovascular toxicity: preclinical highlights and perspectives on preventive strategies.

Advances in Imaging Technology for Cardiac Research

Introduction: While stem cell (SC)-based therapy following heart injury holds promise, clinical success is compromised by poor SC recruitment to the heart following infusion. One solution is to identify strategies that may increase SC capture in cardiac microvessels. We have routinely used intravital microscopy (IVM), a method of live in vivo imaging of the microcirculation, to monitor cell tra...