Intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency signal analysis of blood speckles: Physiological assessment of intermediate coronary artery stenosis.

Background: This study aimed to systematically investigate feasibility of radiofrequency intravascular ultrasound (RF-IVUS) analysis of blood signals for assessing functionally significant coronary stenosis.

Methods: First, in-vivo human study was performed to evaluate 83 intermediate coronary lesions from 75 patients, using 40-MHz RF-IVUS, fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR). Average blood integrated-backscatter (IB) values within lumen were measured at proximal and distal segments to the stenosis; ΔIB values between the two sites were calculated.

Future perspectives of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.

Attention to therapeutic monoclonal antibodies has been dramatically increasing year by year. Their highly specific targeting of antigens can provide very effective medical treatment, and the advent of molecular-targeting medicine is allowing development of a new generation of therapeutic agents. However, there is one critical obstacle to overcome.

Monoclonal antibodies based on hybridoma technology.

Based on the size and scope of the present global market for medicine, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have a very promising future, with applications for cancers through autoimmune ailments to infectious disease. Since mAbs recognize only their target antigens and not other unrelated proteins, pinpoint medical treatment is possible. Global demand is dramatically expanding.

Validation of a novel wire-type intravascular ultrasound imaging catheter.

Intravascular ultrasound can be used to characterize atherosclerotic plaques in arteries. This report describes the results of in vitro experiments with a novel wire-type intravascular ultrasound-imaging catheter developed in our laboratory. The ultrasound catheter comprises a 30-MHz transducer mounted on the tip of a wire-type catheter.