Modified CEUS LI-RADS With Perfluorobutane in Patients at High-Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (CEUS LI-RADS) 2017 version is based on pure-blood pool contrast agent, potentially unsuitable for perfluorobutane contrast agent with the Kupffer phase. This article aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of unmodified CEUS LI-RADS and modified CEUS LI-RADS using perfluorobutane for hepatocellular carcinoma by integrating published and original data from three medical centers. Comparison between unmodified and modified CEUS LI-RADS with perfluorobutane involved ranking the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and superiority index (SI) using an ANOVA arm-based model.

SPACE: Subregion Perfusion Analysis for Comprehensive Evaluation of Breast Tumor Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound-A Retrospective and Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Objective: To develop a dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-based method for segmenting tumor perfusion subregions, quantifying tumor heterogeneity, and constructing models for distinguishing benign from malignant breast tumors.

Methods: This retrospective-prospective cohort study analyzed CEUS videos of patients with breast tumors from four academic medical centers between September 2015 and October 2024. Pixel-based time-intensity curve (TIC) perfusion variables were extracted, followed by the generation of perfusion heterogeneity maps through cluster analysis.

Ultrasonic Cavitation-Manipulated Macrophages Hitchhiking Augments Delivery of Nanocarriers for Active and Efficient Cancer Therapy.

Cell-derived vehicles have shown promise in drug delivery for cancer therapy, but they are hindered by lack of effective methods to release drug from cellular vehicles. To overcome this dilemma, this work develops nanodrug-hitchhiking macrophages (OGNLN@MACs) that can unload drugs under ultrasound irradiation. The OGNLN is perfluoropentane-loaded liposomal nanodroplet which consists of lipophilic prodrugs of elaidate-conjugated gemcitabine and NLG919.

Ultrasound-activated carrier-free nanoprodrugs enhanced universality and efficiency of solid tumor-targeting chemotherapy.

The clinical outcome of chemotherapy for solid tumors is significantly restricted by adverse off-target side effects and heterogeneous microenvironments. Herein, we developed a series of ultrasound (US)-activated carrier-free self-assembled nanoprodrugs (PBSN38-OSs) to enhance universality and efficiency of tumor-targeting chemotherapy. The nanoprodrugs integrated reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive pinacol boronic ester-conjugated SN38 (PBSN38) and organic sonosensitizers (OSs).

Ultrasound-responsive release of CD39 inhibitor overcomes adenosine-mediated immunosuppression in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an exceptionally aggressive subtype of breast cancer, is characterized by a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Although immunotherapy has shown promise for the treatment of TNBC, the immunosuppressive accumulation of adenosine (ADO) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) contributes to immune evasion and tumor progression. To address this challenge, we introduce a novel ultrasound-responsive liposomal system (BFPL) designed to inhibit ADO production and enhance the effectiveness of sonoimmunotherapy.

Reprogramming Glucose Metabolism of Macrophage for Acute Liver Failure Therapy with Itaconate Lipo-Nanodrug.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening disease featuring comprehensive inflammatory response and metabolic disorders in which macrophages exert central roles. A glucose metabolism mediator of macrophages, itaconate, has demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory efficacy in various diseases, implying that itaconate could work in treating ALF. However, systemic administration of itaconate may lead to immune disorder, making targeting the delivery of itaconate to the liver lesion area highly important.

Kuanxiong Aerosol Attenuates Ischemic Stroke Injury via Modulation of the TRPV1 Channel.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of Kuanxiong Aerosol (KXA) on ischemic stroke with reperfusion and elucidate the underlying pharmacological mechanisms.

Methods: In vivo pharmacological effects on ischemic stroke with reperfusion was evaluated using the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (t-MCAO) mice model. To evaluate short-term outcome, 30 mice were randomly divided into vehicle group (n=15) and KXA group (n=15).

Transcytosable and Ultrasound-Activated Liposome Enables Deep Penetration of Biofilm for Surgical Site Infection Management.

Biofilm-associated surgical site infection (BSSI) is a common and grievous postoperative complication lacking effective remedies, mainly due to the poor drug accumulation and penetration in the biofilms featured by dense extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). Here, it is found that the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM1) is highly overexpressed in the vascular cells of BSSI. It is proposed that the combination of VCAM1-mediated transcytosis and ultrasonic cavitation can consecutively overcome the biological barriers of vascular endothelial cells and EPS for biofilm eradication.

Automated Diagnosis and Phenotyping of Tuberculosis Using Serum Metabolic Fingerprints.

Tuberculosis (TB) stands as the second most fatal infectious disease after COVID-19, the effective treatment of which depends on accurate diagnosis and phenotyping. Metabolomics provides valuable insights into the identification of differential metabolites for disease diagnosis and phenotyping. However, TB diagnosis and phenotyping remain great challenges due to the lack of a satisfactory metabolic approach.

Design and synthesis of nano-iron oxyhydroxide-based molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensors for trace-level carbendazim detection in actual samples.

Carbendazim (CBD) is widely used as a fungicide that acts as a pesticide in farming to prevent crop diseases. However, CBD can remain on crops for a long time. When consumed by humans and animals, it produces a range of toxic symptoms and poses a serious threat to their health.

Enhanced macromolecular substance extravasation through the blood-brain barrier via acoustic bubble-cell interactions.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) maintains brain homeostasis, regulates influx and efflux transport, and provides protection to the brain tissue. Ultrasound (US) and microbubble (MB)-mediated blood-brain barrier opening is an effective and safe technique for drug delivery in-vitro and in-vivo. However, the exact mechanism underlying this technique is still not fully elucidated.

Ultrasound-activated prodrug-loaded liposome for efficient cancer targeting therapy without chemotherapy-induced side effects.

Background: Off-targeted distribution of chemotherapeutic drugs causes severe side effects, further leading to poor prognosis and patient compliance. Ligand/receptor-mediated targeted drug delivery can improve drug accumulation in the tumor but it always attenuated by protein corona barriers.

Results: To address these problems, a radically different strategy is proposed that can leave the off-targeted drugs inactive but activate the tumor-distributed drugs for cancer-targeting therapy in a tumor microenvironment-independent manner.

Important parameters should be paid attention in PTMC radiofrequency ablation.

In order to provide clinical references for the RFA procedure and to study the pivotal factors affecting the recovery time of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), 176 patients with low-risk intrathyroidal PTMC were included in this research. We randomly divided the whole cohort into training and test groups at a ratio of 7:3. The two-sample t-test was used to detect differences between the two groups.

Technical Acoustic Measurements Combined with Clinical Parameters for the Differential Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Diagnosing nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is challenging. This study intended to explore the diagnostic value of multiple technical acoustic measurements in the diagnosis of NASH, and to establish a diagnostic model combining technical acoustic measurements with clinical parameters to improve the diagnostic efficacy of NASH. We consecutively enrolled 75 patients with clinically suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy in our hospital from June 2020 to December 2021.

Clinical features combined with ultrasound-based radiomics nomogram for discrimination between benign and malignant lesions in ultrasound suspected supraclavicular lymphadenectasis.

Background: Conventional ultrasound (CUS) is the first choice for discrimination benign and malignant lymphadenectasis in supraclavicular lymph nodes (SCLNs), which is important for the further treatment. Radiomics provide more comprehensive and richer information than radiographic images, which are imperceptible to human eyes.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the clinical value of CUS-based radiomics analysis in preoperative differentiation of malignant from benign lymphadenectasis in CUS suspected SCLNs.

Unraveling the Plasma Protein Corona by Ultrasonic Cavitation Augments Active-Transporting of Liposome in Solid Tumor.

Ligand/receptor-mediated targeted drug delivery has been widely recognized as a promising strategy for improving the clinical efficacy of nanomedicines but is attenuated by the binding of plasma protein on the surface of nanoparticles to form a protein corona. Here, it is shown that ultrasonic cavitation can be used to unravel surface plasma coronas on liposomal nanoparticles through ultrasound (US)-induced liposomal reassembly. To demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the method, transcytosis-targeting-peptide-decorated reconfigurable liposomes (LPGLs) loaded with gemcitabine (GEM) and perfluoropentane (PFP) are developed for cancer-targeted therapy.

Ultrasound-Activatable Phase-Shift Nanoparticle as a Targeting Antibacterial Agent for Efficient Eradication of Biofilms.

Biofilms are physical barriers composed of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that enable planktonic bacteria to resist host responses and antibacterial treatments, complicating efforts to clear bacteria such as () and thereby contributing to persistently chronic infections. As such, it is critical to develop a robust antimicrobial strategy capable of effectively eradicating biofilms and to further address aggressive clinical infection. In this study, ultrasound-activatable targeted nanoparticles were designed by using poly(lactic--glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles to encapsulate phase-transformable perfluoropentane (PFP) and the antibiotic meropenem via a double emulsion approach, followed by conjugation with anti- antibodies.

Ultrasound-based radiomics nomogram combined with clinical features for the prediction of central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Background: Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is the most common autoimmune thyroid disease and is considered an independent risk factor for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), with a higher incidence of PTC in patients with HT.

Objective: To build an integrated nomogram using clinical information and ultrasound-based radiomics features in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) to predict central lymph node metastasis (CLNM).

Methods: In total, 235 patients with PTC with HT were enrolled in this study, including 101 with CLNM and 134 without CLNM.

Auto-Segmentation Ultrasound-Based Radiomics Technology to Stratify Patient With Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study.

Background: An increasing proportion of patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has been observed among incident hemodialysis patients in large cities, which is consistent with the continuous growth of diabetes in the past 20 years.

Purpose: In this multicenter retrospective study, we developed a deep learning (DL)-based automatic segmentation and radiomics technology to stratify patients with DKD and evaluate the possibility of clinical application across centers.

Materials And Methods: The research participants were enrolled retrospectively and separated into three parts: training, validation, and independent test datasets for further analysis.

Cavitation assisted endoplasmic reticulum targeted sonodynamic droplets to enhanced anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumors and promises to play an assistive role in immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer. However, the short half-life and limited diffusion distance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) impair ICD induction, especially in tumors with relatively poor blood perfusion and dense stroma.

Results: To address this problem, we fabricated cavitation-assisted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) targeted sonodynamic nanodroplets (PMPS NDs, 329 nm).

Ultrasound-Based Radiomics Can Classify the Etiology of Cervical Lymphadenopathy: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study.

Medical diagnostic imaging is essential for the differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy. Here we develop an ultrasound radiomics method for accurately differentiating cervical lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB), cervical lymphoma, reactive lymph node hyperplasia, and metastatic lymph nodes especially in the multi-operator, cross-machine, multicenter context. The inter-observer and intra-observer consistency of radiomics parameters from the region of interest were 0.

Reproducibility of ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP) to the noninvasive evaluation of hepatic steatosis.

The aim of this study was to identify the applicability of an ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP) for the noninvasive assessment of hepatic steatosis in clinical practice and to compare its correlation with B-mode ultrasound (US). From May to July 2021, 63 subjects with different body mass index (BMI) grades were included in the prospective study. All of them performed UGAP measurements, under different breathing manipulations, positions, diet statuses, and operators.

Mechanosensitive channel Piezo1 induces cell apoptosis in pancreatic cancer by ultrasound with microbubbles.

Ultrasound (US), as a safe and non-invasive tool, has drawn researchers' attention to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Piezo1, a mechanosensitive channel, can be activated by various mechanical stimuli. In this study, we tested the expression of Piezo1 in PDAC cell lines and tissues, and cell apoptosis and with siRNA, a lentivirus system, and a subcutaneous xenograft tumor-bearing model under the condition of US with microbubbles (MBs).

Ultrasound-Enhanced Reactive Oxygen Species Responsive Charge-Reversal Polymeric Nanocarriers for Efficient Pancreatic Cancer Gene Delivery.

Inefficient intracellular gene release and transfection limit nonviral gene delivery applications in cancer therapy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsive nonviral gene delivery is the most widely explored strategy for such applications, yet the development of fast and safe ROS responsive nanocarriers proves to be a challenge because of the intracellular chemical equilibrium of high ROS and glutathione levels. Here, we report an ultrasound-enhanced ROS responsive charge-reversal polymeric nanocarrier (BTIL) for fast and efficient pancreatic cancer gene delivery.

Identification of antibiotic resistance and virulence-encoding factors in Klebsiella pneumoniae by Raman spectroscopy and deep learning.

Klebsiella pneumoniae has become the number one bacterial pathogen that causes high mortality in clinical settings worldwide. Clinical K. pneumoniae strains with carbapenem resistance and/or hypervirulent phenotypes cause higher mortality comparing with classical K.