Targeted tumor theranostics using folate-conjugated and camptothecin-loaded acoustic nanodroplets in a mouse xenograft model.

In this study, we aimed to validate the feasibility of receptor-targeted tumor theranostics with folate-conjugated (FA) and camptothecin-loaded (CPT) acoustic nanodroplets (NDs) (collectively termed FA-CPT-NDs). The ND formulation was based on lipid-stabilized low-boiling perfluorocarbon that can undergo acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) under ultrasound (US) exposure. Conjugation of folate enhanced the selective delivery to tumors expressing high levels of folate receptor (FR) under mediation by the enhanced permeability and retention effect.

Integrin αvβ3-targeted dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using a gadolinium-loaded polyethylene gycol-dendrimer-cyclic RGD conjugate to evaluate tumor angiogenesis and to assess early antiangiogenic treatment response in a mouse xenograft tumor model.

The purpose of this study was to validate an integrin αvβ3-targeted magnetic resonance contrast agent, PEG-G3-(Gd-DTPA)6-(cRGD-DTPA)2, for its ability to detect tumor angiogenesis and assess early response to antiangiogenic therapy using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Integrin αvβ3-positive U87 cells and control groups were incubated with fluorescein-labeled cRGD-conjugated dendrimer, and the cellular attachment of the dendrimer was observed. DCE MRI was performed on mice bearing KB xenograft tumors using either PEG-G3-(Gd-DTPA)6-(cRGD-DTPA)2 or PEG-G3-(Gd-DTPA)6-(cRAD-DTPA)2.

Delineation of the watershed between right and left hepatic arterial territories with carbon dioxide-enhanced ultrasonography.

Purpose: To delineate the watersheds between hepatic arterial territories and their variations with the use of CO(2)-enhanced ultrasonography (US) and to compare the results with segmental anatomy as described by Couinaud.

Materials And Methods: From March 2004 to January 2005, this study recruited 31 patients (18 men and 13 women; mean age, 63 years; range, 47-77 y) with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were scheduled to receive transarterial chemoembolization. After serial angiography, CO(2)-enhanced US was performed with catheters superselectively inserted into the hepatic arteries.

Characterization of hyperintense nodules on T1-weighted liver magnetic resonance imaging: comparison of Ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI with accumulation-phase FS-T1WI and gadolinium-enhanced MRI.

Background: T1-weighted (T1W) hyperintense nodules against a background of cirrhosis are diagnostically challenging in daily practice. All regenerative nodules, dysplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) might present hyperintense on T1W imaging (T1WI), so T1W hyperintense nodules cannot be definitively characterized as dysplastic nodules or HCC before biopsy, resection or transplantation. The purpose of our study was to evaluate Ferucarbotran-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with accumulation-phase fat suppression T1-weighted imaging (FS-T1WI) in comparison with gadolinium-enhanced MRI for characterization of hyperintense nodules on unenhanced T1WI within cirrhotic liver.

Use of two-dimensional multiple-slice magnetic resonance hydrography for diagnosis of hepatic hemangiomas and cysts.

Background/purpose: Although hepatic hemangiomas and cysts display very high signal intensities on conventional T2 images, their appearances are quite distinct using magnetic resonance hydrography (MRH). We examined the feasibility of using MRH in distinguishing hepatic cysts from hemangiomas.

Methods: We recruited 97 patients with hepatic hemangiomas and 65 with hepatic cysts.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced folate-receptor-targeted MR imaging using a Gd-loaded PEG-dendrimer-folate conjugate in a mouse xenograft tumor model.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to validate a folate-receptor (FR)-targeted dendrimer, PEG-G3-(Gd-DTPA)11-(folate)5, for its ability to detect FR-positive tumors, by using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.

Procedures: KB cells, FR siRNA knockdown KB cells, and FR negative HT-1080 cells, were incubated with fluorescein-labeled dendrimer and their cellular uptake was observed. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI was performed on mice-bearing KB and HT-1080 tumors and the enhancement patterns and parameters were analyzed.

T2-weighted and T1-weighted dynamic superparamagnetic iron oxide (ferucarbotran) enhanced MRI of hepatocellular carcinoma and hyperplastic nodules.

Background/purpose: Iron oxide contrast medium (ferucarbotran) shortens both T1 and T2 relaxation time. We used the T2- and the T1-weighted dynamic ferucarbotran-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to predict the histologic grade of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to distinguish HCC from hyperplastic nodules.

Methods: Forty-three patients with 48 representative hepatic lesions (13 well differentiated HCC, 19 moderately differentiated HCC, 4 poorly differentiated HCC, 12 hyperplastic nodules) were included in the study.

Differentiation of soft tissue benign and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors with magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to differentiate the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearance of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) from that of malignant PNSTs.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six patients who underwent MR imaging and had a histologic diagnosis of benign (schwannoma, n=16; neurofibroma, n=1) or malignant (n=9) PNST were retrospectively reviewed. The size, location, shape, margin, and signal intensities of the tumors on precontrast and gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging were analyzed.

Magnetic resonance imaging appearance of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We reviewed the MRI of 32 patients with 33 pathologically confirmed well-differentiated HCC. The MRI protocol included T2-weighted imaging with and without fat saturation, dual-phase T1-weighted imaging, and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic study.

Correlation between the bone marrow blood perfusion and lipid water content on the lumbar spine in female subjects.

Purpose: To assess the marrow lipid water ratio (LWR) and spectral line width (LW) of lumbar vertebra by proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) and correlate with the marrow blood perfusion (MBP) by contrast-enhanced dynamic MRI (dMRI) in female subjects.

Materials And Methods: A total of 50 female subjects were included. Single-voxel (1)H MRS was measured at the L3 vertebrae.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and coexisting hepatic cavernous hemangioma.

We investigated the consequence of repeated transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for coexisting small hepatic hemangioma in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinomas and describe the imaging features of embolized hemangioma on the follow-up Lipiodol CT and MR. Six of 431 patients with biopsy-confirmed hepatocellular carcinomas, who underwent TACE, also had seven small hepatic cavernous hemangiomas (0.8 approximately 2.

Peritumoral fat-spared area is well correlated with the presence of temporal peritumoral enhancement in hepatic hemangioma in fatty liver.

Purpose: To assess the relationship between temporal peritumoral enhancement and peritumoral focal fat sparing adjacent to hepatic hemangiomas.

Materials And Methods: On the basis of MRI and sonographic imaging follow-up, 51 hepatic hemangiomas were identified in 37 patients, who had both hepatic hemangiomas and focal fat-sparing areas in fatty liver. Among them, 36 tumors were associated with peritumoral focal fat spares.

Detection of dysplastic intestinal adenomas using a fluorescent folate imaging probe.

Macrophages have long been recognized as a prominent component of tumors. Activated macrophages overexpress folate receptors and we used this phenomenon to image inflammatory reactions in colon dysplasia using a fluorescent folate probe (FFP). APC(Delta468) mice injected with FFP showed fluorescent adenomas (target-to-background ratio, adenoma vs.

Arthritis imaging using a near-infrared fluorescence folate-targeted probe.

A recently developed near-infrared fluorescence-labeled folate probe (NIR2-folate) was tested for in vivo imaging of arthritis using a lipopolysaccharide intra-articular injection model and a KRN transgenic mice serum induction mouse model. In the lipopolysaccharide injection model, the fluorescence signal intensity of NIR2-folate (n = 12) and of free NIR2 (n = 5) was compared between lipopolysaccharide-treated and control joints. The fluorescence signal intensity of the NIR2-folate probe at the inflammatory joints was found to be significantly higher than the control normal joints (up to 2.

Portal hemodynamic changes after hepatocyte transplantation in acute hepatic failure.

Hepatocyte transplantation has been proposed as an alternative for rescuing patients with acute hepatic failure. However, portal hemodynamic changes and issues of safety after hepatocyte transplantation in acute hepatic failure have not been systemically evaluated because of the lack of a suitable experimentation system. In this study, we created a novel spring-guidewire introducer needle to simplify the technique for long-term portal cannulation in F-344 rats.

Imaging reactive oxygen species in arthritis.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of arthritides. Luminol was used as the primary reporter of ROS and photons resulting from the chemiluminescence reaction were detected using a super-cooled CCD photon counting system. Luminol was injected intravenously into groups of animals with different models of arthritis.

Relationship between vertebral bone marrow blood perfusion and common carotid intima-media thickness in aging adults.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between vertebral marrow blood perfusion and common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in aging adults.

Materials And Methods: An age- and sex-matched case control study was conducted. Subjects were contacted and enrolled voluntarily according to a database containing 2,258 cases that received carotid ultrasonography examination at our hospital in the previous two years.

MRI of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma.

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma is a rare soft tissue tumor of low-grade malignancy. We present the case of a 32-year-old man who complained of soreness and numbness over his left arm and hand over the previous 2 months and of having a palpable mass over his left upper back for 4 years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intramuscular soft tissue mass in the left scapular region.

Carbon dioxide-enhanced sonographically guided percutaneous ethanol injection: treatment of patients with viable and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: Viable portions of tumors can persist and recurrent tumors sometimes appear in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have undergone transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, percutaneous ethanol injection, or a combination of the two. Some of these tumors are difficult to treat or do not respond to additional treatment using the same protocol. In this article, we examine the use of carbon dioxide (CO(2))-enhanced sonographically guided percutaneous ethanol injection to treat patients with such tumors.

Temporal peritumoral enhancement of hepatic cavernous hemangioma: findings at multiphase dynamic magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: To evaluate the occurrence rate of temporal peritumoral enhancement associated with hepatic cavernous hemangiomas and to correlate that with the speed of intratumoral contrast enhancement and tumor volume.

Methods: Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 69 consecutive patients with 136 hemangiomas was reviewed for peritumoral enhancement. Tumor volume was estimated by the largest diameter on T2-weighted images.

MR cholangiopancreatography: prospective comparison of 3-dimensional turbo spin echo and single-shot turbo spin echo with ERCP.

Background And Purpose: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a non-invasive technique for examination of the biliopancreatic tract. Respiratory-triggered 3-dimensional turbo spin echo (3DTSE RT) and breath-hold thick slab single-shot turbo spin echo (ssTSE BH) are both useful MRCP techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare these 2 sequences with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with biliary tract disease.

Blood perfusion of vertebral lesions evaluated with gadolinium-enhanced dynamic MRI: in comparison with compression fracture and metastasis.

Purpose: To investigate blood perfusion of vertebral lesions using dynamic Gd-DTPA-enhanced MRI.

Materials And Methods: Dynamic MR studies were performed for cases of acute compression fracture, chronic compression fracture, metastatic vertebral lesions with or without compression fracture. A total of 42 patients (71 vertebral segments) were included.

Assessment of vascularity in hepatic tumors: comparison of power Doppler sonography and intraarterial CO(2)-enhanced sonography.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare power Doppler sonography with intraarterial CO(2)-enhanced sonography for revealing vascularity in treated and untreated hepatic tumors.

Subjects And Methods: Fifty-five patients with 93 liver tumors were prospectively examined with power Doppler sonography and CO(2)-enhanced sonography. These tumors included 29 hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with no previous treatment, 26 treated hepatocellular carcinomas, and 38 hemangiomas.