Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods configured to deliver a stimulus (e.g., a therapeutic agent or a therapeutically beneficial signal) to a cell, tissue, organ, or organism. The stimulus is applied at least twice, and the first and second applications are separated by a rest period in which no further stimulus is actively applied. The rest period is of a duration (e.g., about 1-6 hours) sufficient to provoke an enhanced response to the second stimulus.

Abstract: An HDAC6-specific inhibitor (i.e., a compound of Formula I or II) is shown to reduce the pathogenesis associated with polycystic disease. Administration of an HDAC6-specific inhibitor attenuated many of the symptoms characteristic of polycystic liver disease including cyst formation, cyst growth and cholangiocyte proliferation. Treatment with a HDAC6-specific inhibitor also increased the amount of bile duct acetylated tubulin and ?-catenin phosphorylation and/or acetylation while reducing bile duct ?-catenin synthesis. These results demonstrate that HDAC6 is overexpressed in cystic cholangiocytes and that its pharmacological inhibition reduces cholangiocyte proliferation and cyst growth.

Abstract: A method for accelerated segmented magnetic resonance (MR) image data acquisition includes using a plurality of RF pulses to excite one or more slices of an anatomical area of interest according to a predetermined slice acceleration factor. Next, a collapsed image comprising the slices is acquired using a consecutive segment acquisition process. Then, a parallel image reconstruction method is applied to the collapsed image to separate the collapsed image into a plurality of slice images.