Chinese guidelines for ultrasound-guided thermal ablation of thyroid nodules (2024 Edition).

The Chinese Guidelines for Ultrasound-guided Thermal Ablation of Thyroid Nodules (2024 edition) were jointly initiated by the Ultrasound Committee of Chinese Medical Association, the Interventional Ultrasound Committee of Chinese Association of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, the Ultrasonic Intervention Committee of Chinese Colleges of Interventionalists, the Oncological Intervention Committee of Chinese Research Hospital Association, 37 multidisciplinary experts in interventional ultrasound, ultrasound medicine, endocrinology and thyroid surgery participated in the compilation of this guide, which expanded the depth and breadth of the perspective and enhanced the authority of the guide. Based on the systematic review of literatures related to ultrasound-guided thermal ablation of thyroid nodules and the professional opinions of experts, the guidelines define the indications and contraindications of thermal ablation, including pre-ablation evaluation and preparation, thermal ablation techniques and operational procedures, post-ablation follow-up, therapeutic effect evaluation, complications prevention and treatment, and the writing of medical documents for ablation. According to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), a total of 17 objective and comprehensive recommendations were given.

Laparoscopic hepatectomy versus microwave ablation for multifocal 3-5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma: a multi-centre, real-world study.

Background: Researches comparing laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) with microwave ablation (MWA) for 3-5 cm multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma (MFHCC) are rare.

Materials And Methods: From 2008 to 2019, 666 intrahepatic tumours in 289 patients from 12 tertiary medical centres in China were included in this retrospective study. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance variables between the two treatment groups over time frames 2008-2019 and 2013-2019 to observe the potential impact of advancements in intervention techniques on overall survival (OS), disease-free progression (DFS) of patients.

Prediction Model and Nomogram of Early Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Ultrasound-guided Microwave Ablation.

Background: Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) is recommended as a first-line treatment for early liver cancer due to its minimally invasive, efficient, and cost-effective nature. It utilizes microwave radiation to heat and destroy tumor cells as a local thermal therapy and offers the benefits of being minimally invasive, repeatable, and applicable to tumors of various sizes and locations. However, despite the efficacy of MWA, early recurrence after treatment remains a challenge, particularly when it occurs within a year and has a significant impact on the prognosis of the patient.

Thermal ablation with and without adjuvant systemic therapy: a nationwide multicenter observational cohort study of solitary colorectal liver metastases.

Background: Thermal ablation is routinely used for solitary colorectal liver metastases (SCLM), but the added value of adjuvant systemic therapy in SCLM remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the long-term outcomes for SCLM treated by ablation alone (AB) versus ablation plus systemic therapy (AS).

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study using nationwide data from fourteen institutions between October 2010 and May 2023, 369 patients with initial SCLM smaller than 5 cm, no extrahepatic metastases, and colorectal cancer R0 resection treated by thermal ablation were included.

A multicenter case-controlled study on laparoscopic hepatectomy versus microwave ablation as first-line therapy for 3-5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma in patients aged 60 and older.

Background: There is currently a lack of convincing evidence for microwave ablation (MWA) and laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for patients ≥60 years old with 3-5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Patients were divided into three cohorts based on restricted cubic spline analysis: 60-64, 65-72, and ≥73 years. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance the baseline variables in a 1:1 ratio.

Microwave ablation versus liver resection for primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma within Milan criteria: a long-term multicenter cohort study.

Background: Ablation has been recommended by worldwide guidelines as first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while evidence regarding its efficacy for primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is lacking. We aimed to study the efficacy of ablation in treating iCCA by comparing its prognosis with surgery.

Methods: In this real-world multicenter cohort study from January 2009 to June 2022, 10,441 iCCA patients from ten tertiary hospitals were identified.

The value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound quantitative parameters in the prognosis prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma after thermal ablation: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The postoperative recurrence rate is the main factor affecting the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, this study sought to investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) quantitative parameters in predicting the recurrence and the survival of HCC patients after thermal ablation.

Methods: The data of 97 patients with pathologically diagnosed HCC who underwent thermal ablation were retrospectively included in this study. The patients had an average age of 46.

Flexible nano-liposomes-based transdermal hydrogel for targeted delivery of dexamethasone for rheumatoid arthritis therapy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory immune-mediated disease that can lead to synovitis, cartilage destruction, and even joint damage. Dexamethasone (DEX) is a commonly used agent for RA therapy on inflammation manage. However, the traditional administering DEX is hampered by low efficiency and obvious adverse effects.

Microwave ablation versus laparoscopic resection as first-line therapy for solitary 3-5-cm HCC.

Background And Aims: The study objective was to compare the effectiveness of microwave ablation (MWA) and laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) on solitary 3-5-cm HCC over time.

Approach And Results: From 2008 to 2019, 1289 patients from 12 hospitals were enrolled in this retrospective study. Diagnosis of all lesions were based on histopathology.

Inhibitory effect of 5-FU loaded ultrasound microbubbles on tumor growth and angiogenesis.

The anti-neovascularization treatment is one of the effective strategies for tumor molecular target therapy. At present, the target and effect of the anti-neovascularization treatment is limited, and it is urgent to establish a new vascular targeting strategy to effectively treat tumors. In this work, we used high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) combined with targeted microbubbles to establish a molecular targeted ultrasound response microbubble for neovascular cells.

Establishment and Evaluation of a Monkey Acute Cerebral Ischemia Model.

Objectives: Cerebral ischemia seriously threatens human health and is characterized by high rates of incidence, disability and death. Developing an ideal animal model of cerebral ischemia that reflects the human clinical features is critical for pathological studies and clinical research. The goal of this study is to establish a local cerebral ischemia model in rhesus macaque, thereby providing an optimal animal model to study cerebral ischemia.

Percutaneous Intramyocardial Septal Radiofrequency Ablation for Interventricular Septal Reduction: An Ovine Model with 1-Year Outcomes.

Background: Percutaneous intramyocardial (PIM) septal radiofrequency ablation (SRA) is a novel treatment approach for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients, but there has been lack of a large animal model to study PIM-SRA. We aimed to validate the long-term safety and efficacy of PIM-SRA and to observe pathological changes of the ablated interventricular septum (IVS) in a healthy sheep model.

Methods And Results: Twelve sheep were randomized to the PIM-SRA group (n = 6) and the sham group (n = 6).

Transmembrane protein 215 promotes angiogenesis by maintaining endothelial cell survival.

Sprouting angiogenesis is a major form of neovascularization of tissues suffering from hypoxia and other related stress. Endothelial cells (ECs) undergo proliferation, differentiation, programmed death, and migration during angiogenic sprouting, but the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating ECs in angiogenesis have been incompletely elucidated. Here we report that the transmembrane protein 215 (TMEM215) is involved in angiogenesis by regulating EC survival.

Ultrasound-Guided Intratumoral Radiofrequency Ablation Coagulation to Facilitate Meningioma Resection: Preliminary Experience.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the feasibility and safety of intratumoral radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in meningioma resection.

Methods: This study was approved by the Xijing Ethics Committee, and informed consent was obtained from all of the patients. Thirteen patients with meningiomas were recruited in the Neurosurgery Department of Xijing Hospital.

Effects of radiofrequency ablation versus other ablating techniques on hepatocellular carcinomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Percutaneous ablation has quickly arisen as one of the important alternative treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and other ablative techniques on HCCs.

Methods: Databases were searched to identify literature on complete tumor ablation (CTA), overall survival (OS), local tumor recurrence (LTR), and complications of RFA in the treatment of HCC, compared with those of microwave ablation (MWA), percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), PEI plus RFA, cryoablation (CRA), laser ablation (LSA), and high-intensity focused ultrasound.

The mTOR inhibition in concurrence with ERK1/2 activation is involved in excessive autophagy induced by glycyrrhizin in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Autophagy is a life phenomenon in which autophagosomes remove damaged or aging organelles and long-lived circulating proteins to maintain the cell's stability. However, disorders of excessive autophagy are a response of cancer cells to a variety of anticancer treatments which lead to cancer cell death. The Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathways are both involved in nutrient-induced autophagic phenomenon and exhibit vital relevance to oncogenesis in various cancer cell types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Hemocoagulase Combined with Microbubble-Enhanced Ultrasound Cavitation for Augmented Ablation of Microvasculature in Rabbit VX2 Liver Tumors.

We investigated a new method for combining microbubble-enhanced ultrasound cavitation (MEUC) with hemocoagulase (HC) atrox. Our goal was to induce embolic effects in the vasculature and combine these with an anti-angiogenic treatment strategy. Fourteen days after being implanted with a single slice of the liver VX2 tumor, rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: (i) a control group injected intra-venously with saline using a micropump; (ii) a group given only an injection of HC; (iii) a group treated only with ultrasound cavitation; (iv) a group treated with MEUC; (v) a group treated with MEUC + HC.

Echocardiography-guided percutaneous per-ventricular laser ablation of ventricular septum: in vivo study in a canine model.

Surgical myectomy and ethanol ablation are established intervention strategies for left ventricular outflow obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Safety and efficacy limitations of these interventions call for a minimally invasive, potentially safer, and more efficacious strategy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of echocardiography-guided percutaneous per-ventricular laser ablation of a ventricular septum in a canine model.

Efficacy of radio frequency thermocoagulation in surgery for giant supratentorial meningiomas: a historical control study.

Background: Surgery for giant meningiomas carries a high risk of bleeding and is time-consuming. This historical control study tests the hypothesis that the use of radio frequency thermocoagulation (RFT) during surgery improves outcome.

Methods: From November 2010 to October 2011, 20 giant vascularized meningiomas were surgically resected with intraoperative use of ultrasound-guided RFT prior to resection.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous laser and ethanol ablation of rabbit VX2 liver tumors.

Background: Only a small percentage of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may benefit out of surgical resection. Thus, lots of these patients are in need of local control, such as percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), percutaneous laser ablation (PLA), or radiofrequency thermal ablation (RF).

Purpose: To investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided PLA combined with PEI on rabbit VX2 liver tumors, using conventional gray-scale ultrasonography (US), color/power Doppler (CD/PD)US, contrast-enhanced (CE) US, and histologic examination.

A comparative study of fibroid ablation rates using radio frequency or high-intensity focused ultrasound.

This study compared the technical success of fibroid devascularization using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and radio frequency (RF) to provide an experimental basis for the clinical selection of a suitable, minimally invasive method for treating uterine fibroids. Patients were randomly divided into two groups and treated with HIFU or RF accordingly. The two groups of patients were divided again into subgroups A, B, and C based on fibroid diameter and subgroups A', B', and C' based on fibroid blood supply grades.

Clinical application of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in diagnosis of superficial lymphadenopathy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in differential diagnosis of superficial lymphadenopathy.

Methods: Ninety-four superficial enlarged lymph nodes in 94 patients were studied by conventional ultrasonography (gray scale and color Doppler) and CEUS. Contrast-enhanced sonograms were analyzed using contrast-specific quantification software.