Intrinsic anti-inflammatory nanomedicines for enhanced pain management.

Introduction: Effective postoperative pain management remains a significant challenge due to the severe side effects of opioids and the limitations of existing analgesic delivery systems. Inflammation plays a critical role in pain exacerbation, highlighting the need for therapies that combine analgesic effects with intrinsic anti-inflammatory properties.

Methods: Herein, we develop an intrinsic anti-inflammatory nanomedicine designed to enhance pain management by integrating controlled anesthetic release with inherent anti-inflammatory activity.

Contrast-enhanced US Bosniak Classification: intra- and inter-rater agreement, confounding features, and diagnostic performance.

Background: The contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) Bosniak classification, proposed by the European Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) in 2020, predicts malignancy in cystic renal masses (CRMs). However, intra- and inter-rater reproducibility for CEUS features has not been well investigated.

Purpose: To explore intra- and inter-rater agreement for US features, identify confounding features, and assess the diagnostic performance of CEUS Bosniak classification.

Risk factors of complications after thermal ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: the role of assessment of liver background.

Objective: To use an elastography technology and other clinical and radiological data for assessment of liver background and analyze risk factors of complications after thermal ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Demographics, laboratory analyses, and radiological characteristics were collected from all patients. Main elastography-related indicators included F index (fibrosis index), A index (inflammation index), ATT (attenuation coefficient), E (kPa), AREA (area of blue parts), and CORR (correlation).

Machine Learning Model Based on Prognostic Nutritional Index for Predicting Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With HCC Undergoing Ablation.

Aims: To develop multiple machine learning (ML) models based on the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and determine the optimal model for predicting long-term survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after local ablation.

Methods: From January 2009 to December 2019, we analyzed data from 848 primary HCC patients who underwent local ablation. ML models were constructed and evaluated using the concordance index (C-index), concordance-discordance area under curve (C/D AUC), and Brier scores.

Ultrasound findings and clinical characteristics in differentiating renal urothelial carcinoma from endophytic clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and features of conventional ultrasound (CUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differentiating between renal urothelial carcinomas (RUC) and endophytic clear cell renal cell carcinomas (EccRCC).

Methods: A total of 72 RUCs and 120 EccRCCs confirmed by pathology were assessed retrospectively. Both CUS and CEUS were performed within 4 weeks before the surgery.

Interpretable artificial intelligence-based app assists inexperienced radiologists in diagnosing biliary atresia from sonographic gallbladder images.

Background: A previously trained deep learning-based smartphone app provides an artificial intelligence solution to help diagnose biliary atresia from sonographic gallbladder images, but it might be impractical to launch it in real clinical settings. This study aimed to redevelop a new model using original sonographic images and their derived smartphone photos and then test the new model's performance in assisting radiologists with different experiences to detect biliary atresia in real-world mimic settings.

Methods: A new model was first trained retrospectively using 3659 original sonographic gallbladder images and their derived 51,226 smartphone photos and tested on 11,410 external validation smartphone photos.

Radiofrequency ablation induces tumor cell dissemination in a mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: We tested the hypothesis that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) promotes tumor cell release and explored a method for reducing these effects.

Methods: A green fluorescent protein-transfected orthotopic HCC model was established in 99 nude mice. In vivo flow cytometry was used to monitor circulating tumor cell (CTC) dynamics.

A novel prognostic model based on AFP, tumor burden score and Albumin-Bilirubin grade for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing radiofrequency ablation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop prognostic scores, including the tumor burden score (TBS) and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, for evaluating the outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study enrolled treatment-naïve HCC patients with BCLC 0-A who underwent RFA between January 2009 and December 2019. Regular follow-up was conducted after RFA to determine progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Predicting Infectious Complications after Percutaneous Thermal Ablation of Liver Malignancies: A 12-year Single-Center Experience.

Background Infectious complications after percutaneous thermal ablation are seldom discussed, but better understanding of risk factors and early prediction is critical. Purpose To estimate the incidence of infectious complications after percutaneous thermal ablation of liver malignancies and to develop prediction models. Materials and Methods This single-center retrospective study reviewed the data of 3167 patients who underwent 7545 percutaneous US-guided thermal ablation procedures of liver malignancies between January 2010 and January 2022.

Ultrasound-Guided Human Islet Transplantation: Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy Analysis.

Rationale And Objectives: We aimed to analyze the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of human islet transplantation (IT) using ultrasound (US) throughout the entire procedure.

Materials And Methods: A total of 22 recipients (18 males; mean age 42.6 ± 17.

Shear wave elastography using high-frequency linear probe for kidney transplant monitoring: A methodological study.

Objectives: To investigate the influencing factors of the image quality of shear wave elastography (SWE) performed using a high-frequency probe and its reproducibility for renal allografts.

Methods: A total of 211 patients with transplanted kidneys who underwent SWE examination performed using high-frequency or low-frequency probes were recruited for the study. The reproducibility of inter- and intraobserver agreements were analysed by using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Overexpression of TREM1 is Associated with the Immune-Suppressive Microenvironment and Unfavorable Prognosis in Pan-Cancer.

Background: Triggering receptors expressed by myeloid cells-1 (TREM1) is a receptor belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily and plays an important role in pro-inflammation in acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. However, the understanding of the immunomodulatory roles of TREM1 in the tumor microenvironment remains incomplete.

Methods: The expression patterns of TREM1 mRNA in tumors and adjacent normal tissues were compared by analyzing data obtained from the Genotype-Tissue Expression and The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets.

Artificial nano-red blood cells nanoplatform with lysosomal escape capability for ultrasound imaging-guided on-demand pain management.

Postoperative pain management would benefit significantly from an anesthetic that could take effect in an on-demand manner. An ultrasound would be an appropriate tool for such nanoplatform because it is widely used in clinical settings for ultrasound-guided anesthesia. Herein, we report a nanoplatform for postoperative on-demand pain management that can effectively enhance their analgesic time while providing ultrasonic imaging.

Intensity-adjustable pain management with prolonged duration based on phase-transitional nanoparticles-assisted ultrasound imaging-guided nerve blockade.

Background: The lack of a satisfactory strategy for postoperative pain management significantly impairs the quality of life for many patients. However, existing nanoplatforms cannot provide a longer duration of nerve blockage with intensity-adjustable characteristics under imaging guidance for clinical applications.

Results: To overcome this challenge, we proposed a biocompatible nanoplatform that enables high-definition ultrasound imaging-guided, intensity-adjustable, and long-lasting analgesia in a postoperative pain management model in awake mice.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy versus radiofrequency ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma: an up-date meta-analysis.

Purpose: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) are available locoregional curative treatments for nonsurgical Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. We aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of SBRT versus RFA for HCC.

Methods: A computerized bibliographic search was performed using PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science to identify comparative studies.

Circulating tumour cell counts and ultrasomics signature-based nomogram for preoperative prediction of early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radical treatment.

Methods: Between December 2017 and December 2018, 153 HCC patients (134 males and 19 females; mean age, 56.0 ± 10.2 years; range, 28-78 years) treated with radical therapy were enrolled in our retrospective study and were divided into a training cohort ( = 107) and a validation cohort ( = 46).

Nomogram based on high-frequency shear wave elastography (SWE) to evaluate chronic changes after kidney transplantation.

Objectives: To construct a nomogram with high-frequency shear wave elastography (SWE) as a noninvasive method to accurately assess chronic changes in renal allografts.

Methods: A total of 191 renal transplantation patients (127 cases in the training group and 64 cases in the verification group) were included in this study. All patients received conventional ultrasound and high-frequency SWE examination, followed directly by biopsy the next day.

Preoperative prognostic value of alfa-fetoprotein density in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing radiofrequency ablation.

Objectives: To examine the prognostic value of preoperative alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) density and other clinical factors in patients undergoing percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: From January 2010 to December 2018, a total of 543 patients undergoing RFA for HCC meeting the Milan criteria were included at our institution. AFP density was calculated as absolute AFP pre-ablation divided by the total volume of all HCC lesions.

High-Frequency US for BK Polyomavirus-associated Nephropathy after Kidney Transplant.

Background BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN) is an important cause of chronic renal allograft dysfunction. However, US features indicative of BKPyVAN have not been fully evaluated. Purpose To assess the value of high-frequency US for the diagnosis of BKPyVAN in kidney transplant recipients.

Versatile multi-constrained planning for thermal ablation of large liver tumors.

The surgical planning of large hepatic tumor ablation remains a challenging task that relies on fulfilling multiple medical constraints, especially for the ablation based on configurations of multiple electrodes. The placement of the electrodes to completely ablate the tumor as well as their insertion trajectory to their final position have to be planned to cause as little damage to healthy anatomical structures as possible to allow a fast rehabilitation. In this paper, we present a novel, versatile approach for the computer-assisted planning of multi-electrode thermal ablation of large liver tumors based on pre-operative CT data with semantic annotations.

Machine Learning-Based Ultrasomics Improves the Diagnostic Performance in Differentiating Focal Nodular Hyperplasia and Atypical Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: The typical enhancement patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) are hyper-enhanced in the arterial phase and washed out during the portal venous and late phases. However, atypical variations make a differential diagnosis both challenging and crucial. We aimed to investigate whether machine learning-based ultrasonic signatures derived from CEUS images could improve the diagnostic performance in differentiating focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and atypical hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC).

Percutaneous thermal ablation of hepatic tumors: local control efficacy and risk factors for artificial ascites failure.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors affecting the technical failure of artificial ascites (AA) formation and to evaluate the local control efficacy of percutaneous thermal ablation assisted by the AA for hepatic tumors.

Methods: A total of 341 patients with 362 hepatic tumors who underwent thermal ablation assisted by AA were reviewed retrospectively. The technical success of AA, the volume of liquid, and local efficacy after ablation were assessed.

Inter-reader agreement of CEUS LI-RADS among radiologists with different levels of experience.

Objectives: To investigate the inter-reader agreement of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2017 (LI-RADS v2017) categories among radiologists with different levels of experience.

Materials And Methods: From January 2014 to December 2014, a total of 326 patients at high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent CEUS were included in this retrospective study. All lesions were classified according to LI-RADS v2017 by six radiologists with different levels of experiences: two residents, two fellows, and two specialists.