GeoMx™ RNA Assay: High Multiplex, Digital, Spatial Analysis of RNA in FFPE Tissue.

RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) is a widely used technique for the localization of mRNA in tissues. Limitations to traditional ISH include the number of targets that can be analyzed concurrently and the ability for many of these assays to be used in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues (FFPE). Here, we describe the GeoMx™ RNA assay that is capable of the highly multiplexed detection of mRNA targets in FFPE tissues.

Multiplex digital spatial profiling of proteins and RNA in fixed tissue.

Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) is a method for highly multiplex spatial profiling of proteins or RNAs suitable for use on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. The approach relies on (1) multiplexed readout of proteins or RNAs using oligonucleotide tags; (2) oligonucleotide tags attached to affinity reagents (antibodies or RNA probes) through a photocleavable (PC) linker; and (3) photocleaving light projected onto the tissue sample to release PC oligonucleotides in any spatial pattern across a region of interest (ROI) covering 1 to ~5,000 cells. DSP is capable of single-cell sensitivity within an ROI using the antibody readout, with RNA detection feasible down to ~600 individual mRNA transcripts.

High-Plex Predictive Marker Discovery for Melanoma Immunotherapy-Treated Patients Using Digital Spatial Profiling.

Purpose: Protein expression in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue is routinely measured by IHC or quantitative fluorescence (QIF) on a handful of markers on a single section. Digital spatial profiling (DSP) allows spatially informed simultaneous assessment of multiple biomarkers. Here we demonstrate the DSP technology using a 44-plex antibody cocktail to find protein expression that could potentially be used to predict response to immune therapy in melanoma.

Role of oxygen-containing functional groups in forest fire-generated and pyrolytic chars for immobilization of copper and nickel.

Char as a carbon-rich material, can be produced under pyrolytic conditions, wildfires or prescribed burn offs for fire management. The objective of this study was to elucidate mechanistic interactions of copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) with different chars produced by pyrolysis (green waste, GW; blue-Mallee, BM) and forest fires (fresh-burnt by prescribed fire, FC; aged char produced by wild fire, AC). The pyrolytic chars were more effective sorbents of Cu (∼11 times) and Ni (∼5 times) compared with the forest fire chars.

The risk of exposure to diagnostic ultrasound in postnatal subjects: thermal effects.

This review evaluates the thermal mechanism for ultrasound-induced biological effects in postnatal subjects. The focus is the evaluation of damage versus temperature increase. A view of ultrasound-induced temperature increase is presented, based on thermodynamic Arrhenius analyses.

Does hands-on obstetric US experience improve performance on the radiology oral board examination?

Purpose: To investigate whether the inclusion of hands-on obstetric ultrasonography (US) experience as a formal part of radiology residency affects performance on the US section of the oral board examination.

Materials And Methods: An electronic survey was sent to all radiology residency programs to assess (a) the time assigned to US rotation, (b) the inclusion of obstetrics in US rotation, and (c) the opportunity for hands-on scanning of obstetric patients. Blinded results from the 2002 Diagnostic Radiology Oral Board Examination were provided by the American Board of Radiology.

In vivo elastographic investigation of ethanol-induced hepatic lesions.

Ethanol-induced hepatic lesions were investigated in swine for in vivo use as a strain imaging animal model. Lesions (n = 25) were induced by injecting ethanol (doses 0.33 to 2.

On the usefulness of the mechanical index displayed on clinical ultrasound scanners for predicting contrast microbubble destruction.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanical index (MI) displayed on clinical ultrasound scanners as a predictor of exposure conditions related to the destruction of sonographic microbubble contrast agents.

Methods: Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) and Optison (GE Healthcare, Princeton, NJ) microbubbles were injected into a tissue-mimicking flow phantom. Gray scale imaging was performed with 4 different scanners and 3 different transducers (3.

Diagnosing breast lesions with contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional power Doppler imaging.

Objective: To compare mammography with contrast-enhanced 2- and 3-dimensional power Doppler imaging for the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Methods: Fifty-five patients, who underwent breast biopsies with histopathologic assessment, participated in a study of mammography and contrast-enhanced sonography. Levovist (Berlex Laboratories, Montville, NJ) and Optison (Mallinckrodt, St Louis, MO) were administrated to 22 and 33 patients, respectively.

Elastography: Imaging the elastic properties of soft tissues with ultrasound.

Elastography is a method that can ultimately generate several new kinds of images, called elastograms. As such, all the properties of elastograms are different from the familiar properties of sonograms. While sonograms convey information related to the local acoustic backscatter energy from tissue components, elastograms relate to its local strains, Young's moduli or Poisson's ratios.

Advantages of real-time spatial compound sonography of the musculoskeletal system versus conventional sonography.

Objective: Spatial compound sonography is a method that obtains sonographic information from several different angles of insonation and combines them to produce a single image. By reducing speckle and improving definition of tissue planes, this method can potentially improve image quality in musculoskeletal sonography. The purpose of our study was to compare real-time spatial compound sonography with conventional high-resolution musculoskeletal sonography.

Management of suspected hemodialysis graft dysfunction: usefulness of diagnostic US.

Purpose: To evaluate the role and usefulness of diagnostic ultrasonography (US) in the assessment of hemodialysis access grafts with an intermediate probability of graft malfunction.

Materials And Methods: One hundred forty-seven complete US examinations were performed in 91 patients. Average volume of flow, peak systolic velocity, and diameter of residual lumen were recorded.