Combined drug delivery and treatment monitoring using a single high frequency ultrasound system.

Ultrasound-mediated drug delivery is typically performed using transducers with center frequencies 1 MHz to promote acoustic cavitation. Such frequencies are not commonly used for diagnostic ultrasound due to limited spatial resolution. Therefore, delivery and monitoring of therapeutic ultrasound typically requires two transducers to enable both treatment and imaging.

Targeting c-MET for Endoscopic Detection of Dysplastic Lesions within Barrett's Esophagus Using EMI-137 Fluorescence Imaging.

Purpose: Esophageal cancer carries a poor prognosis with a 5-year overall survival of less than 20%. Barrett's esophagus increases the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of EMI-137, a mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-MET)-targeting optical imaging tracer, to detect dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus.

Intra-prostatic tumour evolution, steps in metastatic spread and histogenomic associations revealed by integration of multi-region whole-genome sequencing with histopathological features.

Background: Extension of prostate cancer beyond the primary site by local invasion or nodal metastasis is associated with poor prognosis. Despite significant research on tumour evolution in prostate cancer metastasis, the emergence and evolution of cancer clones at this early stage of expansion and spread are poorly understood. We aimed to delineate the routes of evolution and cancer spread within the prostate and to seminal vesicles and lymph nodes, linking these to histological features that are used in diagnostic risk stratification.

Particle Shedding from Cotton and Cotton-Polyester Fabrics in the Dry State and in Washes.

The influence of 3, 10 and 50 washing cycles on the properties of cotton fabric and cotton-polyester blend in plain weave, was investigated in this study. In addition to the analysis of tensile properties in weft and warp directions and thickness, the number of particles produced in the dry state was also measured after 3, 10 and 50 washes. After washing, the entire effluent was analysed by determining the total suspended solids (TSS), the total solids (TS), the pH value and the conductivity.

Precision surgery: the role of intra-operative real-time image guidance - outcomes from a multidisciplinary European consensus conference.

Developments within the field of image-guided surgery are ever expanding, driven by collective involvement of clinicians, researchers, and industry. While the general conception of the potential of image-guided surgery is to improve surgical outcome, the specific motives and goals that drive can differ between the different expert groups. To establish the current and future role of intra-operative image guidance within the field of image-guided surgery a Delphi consensus survey was conducted during the 2 European Congress on Image-guided surgery.

Influence of Initial pH Value on the Adsorption of Reactive Black 5 Dye on Powdered Activated Carbon: Kinetics, Mechanisms, and Thermodynamics.

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of initial pH value (pH) on the isothermal adsorption of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye on commercial powdered activated carbon. Four initial pH values were chosen for this experiment: pH = 2.00, 4.

Particle Characterization of Washing Process Effluents by Laser Diffraction Technique.

The dominant type of polymer particles in water, sediment, and various organisms partly derives from natural and synthetic fibres released in the washing process. Pollution of aquatic recipients with these particles poses an interdisciplinary problem throughout the world. Wastewater from washing represents a dispersion system with different particle sizes that is also loaded with the source of the particles.

The Influence of Iron Ions on Optical Brighteners and Their Application to Cotton Fabrics.

The influence of iron ions at concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.

Irradiation at Ultra-High (FLASH) Dose Rates Reduces Acute Normal Tissue Toxicity in the Mouse Gastrointestinal System.

Purpose: Preclinical studies using ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) irradiation have demonstrated reduced normal tissue toxicity compared with conventional dose rate (CONV) irradiation, although this finding is not universal. We investigated the effect of temporal pulse structure and average dose rate of FLASH compared with CONV irradiation on acute intestinal toxicity.

Materials And Methods: Whole abdomens of C3H mice were irradiated with a single fraction to various doses, using a 6 MeV electron linear accelerator with single pulse FLASH (dose rate = 2-6 × 10 Gy/s) or conventional (CONV; 0.

Tumour irradiation combined with vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy enhances antitumour effects in pre-clinical prostate cancer.

Background: There is a need to improve the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) and reduce treatment side effects. Vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP) is a focal therapy for low-risk low-volume localised PCa, which rapidly disrupts targeted tumour vessels. There is interest in expanding the use of VTP to higher-risk disease.

A simple, open and extensible gating Control unit for cardiac and respiratory synchronisation control in small animal MRI and demonstration of its robust performance in steady-state maintained CINE-MRI.

Prospective cardiac gating during MRI is hampered by electromagnetic induction from the rapidly switched imaging gradients into the ECG detection circuit. This is particularly challenging in small animal MRI, as higher heart rates combined with a smaller myocardial mass render routine ECG detection challenging. We have developed an open-hardware system that enables continuously running MRI scans to be performed in conjunction with cardio-respiratory gating such that the relaxation-weighted steady state magnetisation is maintained throughout the scan.

Evaluation of Loading Strategies to Improve Tumor Uptake of Gemcitabine in a Murine Orthotopic Bladder Cancer Model Using Ultrasound and Microbubbles.

In this study we compared three different microbubble-based approaches to the delivery of a widely used chemotherapy drug, gemcitabine: (i) co-administration of gemcitabine and microbubbles (Gem+MB); (ii) conjugates of microbubbles and gemcitabine-loaded liposomes (GemlipoMB); and (iii) microbubbles with gemcitabine directly bound to their surfaces (GembioMB). Both in vitro and in vivo investigations were carried out, respectively, in the RT112 bladder cancer cell line and in a murine orthotopic muscle-invasive bladder cancer model. The in vitro (in vivo) ultrasound exposure conditions were a 1 (1.

Use of intraoperative fluorescence to enhance robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy has become the standard of care for the removal of localized prostate cancer. Positive outcomes depend upon the precise removal of the prostate and associated tissue without damage to nearby structures. This process can be aided by fluorescence-guided surgery to enhance the visual contrast between different structures.

Monitoring electron energies during FLASH irradiations.

When relativistic electrons are used to irradiate tissues, such as during FLASH pre-clinical irradiations, the electron beam energy is one of the critical parameters that determine the dose distribution. Moreover, during such irradiations, linear accelerators (linacs) usually operate with significant beam loading, where a small change in the accelerator output current can lead to beam energy reduction. Optimisation of the tuning of the accelerator's radio frequency system is often required.

Multi-Wavelength Fluorescence in Image-Guided Surgery, Clinical Feasibility and Future Perspectives.

With the rise of fluorescence-guided surgery, it has become evident that different types of fluorescence signals can provide value in the surgical setting. Hereby a different range of targets have been pursued in a great variety of surgical indications. One of the future challenges lies in combining complementary fluorescent readouts during one and the same surgical procedure, so-called multi-wavelength fluorescence guidance.

Development of sentinel lymph node biopsy technique in patients with salivary gland cancer using the IDEAL framework.

Background: Salivary cancer is rare and comprises a variety of histological subtypes and clinical behaviors. There is no agreed method of estimating the risk of occult metastasis or managing the clinically N0 neck.Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) may offer a solution but previous studies have not produced a reliable imaging protocol.

HER2-HER3 Heterodimer Quantification by FRET-FLIM and Patient Subclass Analysis of the COIN Colorectal Trial.

Background: The phase III MRC COIN trial showed no statistically significant benefit from adding the EGFR-target cetuximab to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in first-line treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. This study exploits additional information on HER2-HER3 dimerization to achieve patient stratification and reveal previously hidden subgroups of patients who had differing disease progression and treatment response.

Methods: HER2-HER3 dimerization was quantified by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy in primary tumor samples from 550 COIN trial patients receiving oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy with or without cetuximab.

The p97-Ataxin 3 complex regulates homeostasis of the DNA damage response E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF8.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF8 (RING finger protein 8) is a pivotal enzyme for DNA repair. However, RNF8 hyper-accumulation is tumour-promoting and positively correlates with genome instability, cancer cell invasion, metastasis and poor patient prognosis. Very little is known about the mechanisms regulating RNF8 homeostasis to preserve genome stability.

Human model of burn injury that quantifies the benefit of cooling as a first aid measure.

Background: Burn injuries are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cooling is widely practised as a first aid measure, but the efficacy of cooling burns in human skin has not been demonstrated. A safe, consistent, ethically acceptable model of burning and cooling in live human skin in vivo was developed, and used to quantify the effects of cooling.

Mouse Models of Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: Key Considerations for Clinical Translation Based on Molecular Subtypes.

Context: In the past few years, research has suggested that molecular subtypes in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) may be exploited to accelerate developments in clinical disease management and novel therapeutics.

Objective: To review MIBC mouse models from a molecular subtype perspective, their advantages and limitations, and their applications in translational medicine, based on a PubMed search for publications from January 2000 to February 2018.

Evidence Acquisition: Publications relevant to MIBC mouse models and their molecular subtypes were identified in a literature review.

Integrin-Mediated Macrophage Adhesion Promotes Lymphovascular Dissemination in Breast Cancer.

Lymphatic vasculature is crucial for metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); however, cellular and molecular drivers controlling lymphovascular metastasis are poorly understood. We define a macrophage-dependent signaling cascade that facilitates metastasis through lymphovascular remodeling. TNBC cells instigate mRNA changes in macrophages, resulting in β4 integrin-dependent adhesion to the lymphovasculature.

A 3D printed modular phantom for quality assurance of image-guided small animal irradiators: Design, imaging experiments, and Monte Carlo simulations.

Purpose: The goal of this work was to develop and test a cylindrical tissue-equivalent quality assurance (QA) phantom for micro computed tomography (microCT) image-guided small animal irradiators that overcomes deficiencies of existing phantoms due to its mouse-like dimensions and composition.

Methods: The 8.6-cm-long and 2.

ALIX Regulates Tumor-Mediated Immunosuppression by Controlling EGFR Activity and PD-L1 Presentation.

The immunosuppressive transmembrane protein PD-L1 was shown to traffic via the multivesicular body (MVB) and to be released on exosomes. A high-content siRNA screen identified the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT)-associated protein ALIX as a regulator of both EGFR activity and PD-L1 surface presentation in basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) cells. ALIX depletion results in prolonged and enhanced stimulation-induced EGFR activity as well as defective PD-L1 trafficking through the MVB, reduced exosomal secretion, and its redistribution to the cell surface.