Arterial-phase contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for evaluating anti-angiogenesis treatment: a pilot study.

Aim: To verify whether arterial-phase contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) of tumor parenchymal tissue is useful for evaluation of anti-angiogenesis agents.

Methods: Rabbits with liver tumor were subjected to CEUS, and images of the nodular maximal diameter in vascular phase were recorded. Image analysis was performed to plot the time intensity curve (TIC) at the tumor parenchyma, which set the diameter of the region of interest of intensity measurement.

Expression of heat shock protein 70 in rabbit liver after contrast-enhanced ultrasound and radiofrequency ablation.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) induced by thermal ablation therapy may help presenting tumor antigen to the host immune system and be a valuable adjuvant in the ablation therapy of liver cancer. This paper described our preliminary study on the expression of HSP70 in rabbit liver after contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and radiofrequency (RF) ablation. Twenty-five male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into five groups as: control group (n=5), ultrasound group (n=5), CEUS group (n=5), RF group (n=5) and CEUS+ RF group (n=5).

Optical microscopic findings of the behavior of perflubutane microbubbles outside and inside Kupffer cells during diagnostic ultrasound examination.

Purpose: To investigate the behavior of perflubutane microbubbles outside and inside Kupffer cells during diagnostic ultrasound (US) examination, and to determine the thresholds of the acoustic pressure of different kinds of behavior.

Methods: Acoustic behavior of perflubutane microbubbles inside and outside Kupffer cells in an acoustic field induced by a clinical US transducer and equipment was optically observed in vitro. The acoustic pressure was measured simultaneously by a calibrated hydrophone and an oscilloscope.

Insonation of the eye in the presence of microbubbles: preliminary study of the duration and degree of vascular bioeffects--work in progress.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence and duration of vascular permeability changes induced by the combination of ultrasound and an intravascular microbubble contrast agent in the rabbit eye.

Methods: Five eyes were studied in 8 anaesthetized rabbits. Insonation was performed with a diagnostic B-mode system (center frequency = 2 MHz; mechanical index [MI] = 0.

Visualization of uveal perfusion by contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography at a low mechanical index: a pilot animal study.

Objective: To evaluate contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography at a low mechanical index for its usefulness in visualizing uveal perfusion.

Methods: The study was performed with 9 rabbits, 6 intact and 3 with focal impaired blood flow in the uvea. Ultrasonography was performed by harmonic imaging (transmit, 5 MHz; receive, 10 MHz) with a contrast agent.