Ultrasound Research Articles

Ultrasound for infantile midgut malrotation: Techniques, pearls, and pitfalls.

Midgut malrotation with volvulus is a surgical emergency with potentially devastating outcomes which include short gut syndrome necessitating long-term parenteral nutrition, overwhelming sepsis, and death. The clinical presentation is most frequently with bilious vomiting in the first days-weeks of life, which is non-specific and common. Timely imaging investigation is therefore crucial to prevent delays to diagnosis and treatment and avoid unnecessary surgical exploration in infants with non-surgical bilious vomiting. Fluoroscopic upper gastrointestinal contrast series (UGI) has been the first-line imaging modality to investigate midgut malrotation at pediatric surgical centers worldwide. However, there is a growing body of evidence to indicate that ultrasound (US) has greater diagnostic accuracy than UGI in this context. Furthermore, US offers the benefits of accessibility, portability, lack of ionizing radiation, and the ability to identify alternative diagnoses, and is beginning to attract significant attention and consideration in the literature. Over the last 3years, we have transitioned to an "US-first" pathway for the investigation of midgut malrotation in infants with bilious vomiting. This pictorial essay illustrates our comprehensive approach, describes unique troubleshooting techniques, and highlights the variably published pitfalls we have encountered with the aim of encouraging wider adoption.

Clinical outcomes of using operating microscope for alveolar ridge preservation: A randomized controlled trial.

The use of the operating microscope (OM) for extraction and alveolar ridge augmentation (ARP) is increasing due to enhanced magnification and illumination. The primary objective was to compare the wound healing and crestal bone quality after the use of OM and dental loupes (DL) for ARP. Forty non-molar teeth with periapical lesions in need of extraction and ARP from 33 patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: DL (control) or OM (test). All procedures were performed by 1 surgeon and assessments done by masked examiners. ARP was performed with an allograft and a resorbable collagen membrane. The presence of granulomatous tissue remnants after debridement was recorded. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and ultrasound (US) scans were taken during the healing phase up to 16-week visits. Bone cores were retrieved from implant osteotomies for histologic analysis. Patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs) were assessed. All patients completed all study visits except 1 who dropped out before the last visit. After socket debridement, the test group exhibited significantly fewer sites with tissue remnants (p=0.01) and a better healing score at 2-week (p=0.04) and 4-week (p=0.01) time points. There were no significant differences in 12-week crestal bone healing by histology (p=0.1), US (p=0.85), and CBCT healing (p=0.64) at 12weeks, as well as PROMs (p>0.1). Within the limitation of the study, the use of OM for ARP resulted in significantly fewer tissue remnants and favorable early visual wound healing. CBCT and US-derived-crestal bone quality did not show a difference between the 2 groups. Alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) by placing bone particulates in the extraction socket, covered by a wound dressing material, is commonly applied immediately after tooth extraction to reduce jawbone shrinkage in preparation for implant placement later. The jawbone healing varies, depending largely on the ability to remove the etiology, socket features, extent of surgical trauma, and wound stability. Healed jawbone with good quality is favorable for easiness of implant placement and could be related to maintenance of long-term implant health. The surgical microscope with high magnification (up to ∼25×) and co-axial illumination is ideal for assistance in the removal of granulomatous tissue that is believed to interfere with healing, performance of minimally invasive extraction, and stabilization of the wound with meticulous tissue management and fine sutures. This study compared the use of the surgical microscope to dental loupes for ARP in a randomized controlled design. The microscope-assisted ARP is associated with a significantly higher chance of removing granulomatous tissue, favorable early healing, and similar crestal bone quality. Removal of granulomatous tissue is significant for immediate implant placement. This study serves as a model for testing the benefits of the surgical microscope for encouraging early healing in more challenging intraoral surgical procedures.

The value of nomogram model combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of cervical tuberculosis lymphadenitis and metastatic lymph node.

This study aimed to construct an effective Nomogram for the differential diagnosis of cervical tuberculosis lymphadenitis (CTBL) and cervical metastatic lymph node (CMLN) based on ultrasound (US). Retrospectively analyzed 227 patients with CTBL and CMLN who attended Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital from January 2020 to October 2022, and were divided into a training set (n = 163) and a validation set (n = 64) according to the clinical data, US, and CEUS qualitative and quantitative analysis data were recorded to establish the prediction model and perform validation. The area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to assess the discrimination of the model; the calibration curve and brier coefficient were used to assess the calibration of the model; and a Nomogram prediction model was constructed to visualize the results nomogram prediction model was constructed to visualize the results. Gender (OR = 0.200, 95% CI:0.090-0.470, P < 0.001), age (OR = 0.170, 95% CI:0.070-0.410, P < 0.001), liquefaction necrosis (OR = 2.560, 95% CI:1.080-6.040, P = 0.033), perfusion defect (OR = 2.570, 95% CI:1.010-6.580, P = 0.048), and Standard deviation (StdDev) (OR = 3.040, 95% CI:1.220-7.570, P = 0.017) were the independent predictors of the constructed model. The AUCs of the constructed predictive model in the training set and validation set were 0.844 and 0.927, respectively; from the calibration curves, it was observed that the predicted values of the model and the actual observed values fell near the 45° diagonal, and the brier scores were 0.145 and 0.109 in the training set and validation set, respectively. StdDev combined with Gender, age, and the presence of liquefaction necrosis and perfusion defects are important features to identify CTBL and CMLN, and the constructed visual nomogram is intuitive and convenient to improve the efficiency of clinical work.

Assessment of neuromodulatory effects of Origanum punonense danin essential oil on AMPA receptor function using whole-cell patch-clamp technique

Introduction: The quest for natural compounds with neuromodulatory properties has gained significant momentum in neuropharmacology. Among these, Origanum punonense (O. punonense) essential oil (EO) stands out due to its rich bioactive profile, particularly characterized by carvacrol. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of O. punonense EO on α-amino-3‑hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPAR), crucial synaptic plasticity, and cognitive function mediators. Methods: Leaves of O. punonense were collected along the Dead Sea coast in Jericho. After washing, it was dried in the shade for 15 days and ground. Essential oil was extracted using a microwave-ultrasonic method, with ultrasonic waves to enhance extraction. Using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques, we studied the effects of O. punonense EO on AMPAR kinetics in HEK293t cells transfected with homomeric and heteromeric subunits. Results: O. punonense EO significantly reduced AMPAR's whole-cell currents, indicating a targeted modulation of synaptic responses. Oil administration inhibited the currents for glutamate receptor subunits GluA1 (reduced from 885±58 pA to 342±20 pA), GluA1/2 (from 627±77 pA to 209±36 pA), GluA2 (from 1125±112 pA to 256±37 pA), and GluA2/3 (from 474±79 pA to 125±31 pA). The EO decreased the desensitization rate significantly for GluA2 and GluA2/3 (p < 0.01) and for GluA1/2 (p < 0.05), except for GluA1. In addition, the EO increased the deactivation rate significantly for GluA2 and GluA2/3 (p < 0.01) and for GluA1/2 (p < 0.05), with no effect observed on GluA1. Conclusions: This study highlights the possible properties of O. punonense EO and suggests future research to understand its medicinal benefits in neurodegenerative diseases.

Corrosion level estimation in reinforced concrete beams by acoustic emission sensing and selective crack measurements

AbstractAccurate corrosion assessment plays an important role in ensuring structural safety of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. However, on‐site assessment of existing concrete structures presents many challenges, including high costs, limited inspection timeframes, and difficult accessibility. To facilitate inspection‐based corrosion assessment, this paper presents a novel approach by combining short‐term acoustic emission (AE) monitoring with selective crack width measurements for corrosion level (CL) assessment. AE sensing is a monitoring technique which can detect ongoing internal degradation mechanisms by analyzing ultrasonic waves emitted by the damage process. Yet, two major challenges arise on site: (1) practical limitations prevent continuous AE monitoring over the structure's entire lifetime and (2) AE can only generate relative results in the absence of reference measurements. This paper addresses both challenges to bridge the gap between laboratory experiments and on‐site monitoring of corroding RC structures. First, short periods of AE monitoring data are analyzed to investigate the potential of AE sensing over limited timeframes. Second, AE data of corroding RC beams are combined with sparse crack width measurements in order to obtain absolute CLs. The proposed methodology is experimentally validated by corroding eight beams with varying dimensions, corrosion zones, and reinforcement layouts. The experimental results prove that the estimated CLs closely match the rebar mass losses, with a mean absolute error of 1.53% CL for beams reaching up to 14% CL, confirming the potential of the combined AE and crack width measurement technique as an efficient and accurate condition assessment approach. Moreover, AE sensing provides detailed spatial variability of the rebar corrosion in the monitored zone, which is challenging to obtain with conventional techniques. By using this dual‐technique approach, shorter monitoring periods prove nearly as effective as continuous AE monitoring in accurately estimating CLs.

The diagnostic performance of neck ultrasound in follow-up of advanced stage differentiated thyroid cancer

BackgroundDifferentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) requires long-term follow-up due to the risk of delayed recurrence. Follow-up surveillance involves serial neck ultrasound (US) and thyroglobulin (Tg); however, the optimal frequency and diagnostic performance of neck US outside of specialized thyroid cancer centres in higher risk patients is not well defined. We sought to evaluate the diagnostic performance of US and serial Tg in advanced stage DTC.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed our thyroid cancer database for patients with stage III and IV DTC from 2006 to 2018, total thyroidectomy, and at least 2 years follow-up to assess recurrence rates. Those with hemi-thyroidectomy or anti-Tg antibodies were excluded. Diagnostic performance of US and Tg were assessed using a composite reference standard of follow-up imaging and pathology. All relevant US were reviewed by a blinded expert radiologist for uniformity.ResultsOf 136 included patients (91 females, mean age 58.9), 26 (19%) had recurrence of DTC over median follow-up of 6.6 years (IQR 5.3–9.3). The sensitivity and specificity of US in diagnosing cervical recurrence were 73.3% (95% CI 0.51–0.96) and 68.3% (95% CI 0.60–0.77) based on historical reports, respectively, and 80% (95% CI 0.60-1.00) and 87.8% (95% CI 0.82–0.93) based on blinded expert review, respectively. Tg had a sensitivity of 95.5% (95% CI 0.89-1.0) and specificity of 96.2% (95% CI 0.92–0.99) in detecting cervical recurrence or distant metastases. False positive US findings on historical US and subsequent review occurred in 38 (28%) and 15 (11%) patients, respectively, while 5 (3.6%) had false positive Tg results.ConclusionSerial Tg has better sensitivity and specificity than US for detecting recurrence of advanced stage DTC. Furthermore, re-interpretation of abnormal findings using structured US reporting with a subspecialized reader may improve diagnostic performance of US and improve its utility in clinical care.

Serial assessment of ultrasound sensitivity and scores in patients with giant cell arteritis before and 3 and 10 days after treatment.

To evaluate sensitivity and scores of vascular ultrasound (US) before and after initiating glucocorticoid (GC) treatment in patients with new-onset giant cell arteritis (GCA). Treatment-naïve patients with GCA were prospectively included. 18F-FDG PET/CT, US and temporal artery (TA) biopsy were performed in all patients. US was repeated 3 and 10 days after GC commencement. Intima-media thickness and presence of halo signs were assessed. Sonographers were unblinded to clinical data. The OMERACT GCA Ultrasonography score (OGUS) and halo count (HC) were calculated. Forty-eight patients were included. Before GC exposure, US sensitivity was 94% (95% CI: 83-99), 73% (95% CI: 58-85) and 71% (95% CI: 56-83) when assessing all vessels, TAs, and large vessels (LVs), respectively. At day 3 and 10, overall US sensitivity was 92% (95% CI: 78-98, p= 0.16) and 83% (95% CI: 69-92, p= 0.10), respectively. At day 10, TA-US and LV-US sensitivity was 53% (95% CI: 38-68, p< 0.01), and 60% (95% CI: 44-74, p= 0.13), respectively. Median OGUS decreased from 1.06 (IQR 0.83-1.24)-0.95 (IQR 0.78-1.14, p< 0.01), and 0.90 (IQR 0.73-1.01, p< 0.001) after 3 and 10 days, respectively. Median HC decreased from 3 (IQR 2-5)-2 (IQR 1-4, p< 0.01) after 10 days. The vasculitic US findings expressed by OGUS diminish after 3 days of GC treatment. TA-US sensitivity decreased after 10 days, whereas LV-US was less likely to change, highlighting the importance of LV-assessment. Consistent with the EULAR recommendations, these findings encourage prompt US assessment, preferably within 3 days, to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

Green Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Apple Pomace from the Cider Industry.

The cider-making industry in Asturias generates between 9000 and 12,000 tons of apple pomace per year. This by-product, the remains of the apple pressing, and made up of peel, flesh, seeds and stems, is a valuable material, containing substantial amounts of antioxidant compounds associated with healthy properties. Polyphenols such as dihydrochalcones and quercetin glycosides, and triterpenic acids, among which ursolic acid is a major compound, are the main antioxidant families described in apple pomace. The simultaneous recovery of those families has been accomplished by low frequency ultrasound-assisted extraction. Working extraction conditions were optimised by response surface methodology (RSM): time, 5.1 min; extractant composition, 68% ethanol in water; solid/liquid ratio, 1/75 and ultrasonic wave amplitude, 90%. This procedure was further applied to analyse those components in the whole apple pomace (WAP), apple peel (AP) and apple flesh (AF). On average, dry WAP contained almost 1300 µg/g of flavonols, 1200 µg/g of dihydrochalcones and 4200 µg/g of ursolic acid. These figures increased in the apple peel to, respectively 2500, 1400 and 8500 µg/g dry matter. Two linear multivariate regression models allowed the antioxidant activity of apple by-products to be predicted on the basis of their bioactive composition. The results derived from this study confirm the potential of industrial cider apple pomace as a source of high-value bioactive compounds, and the feasibility of the ultrasound-assisted extraction technique to recover those components in a simple and efficient way.

Targeting Hypoxia and Autophagy Inhibition via Delivering Sonodynamic Nanoparticles With HIF-2α Inhibitor for Enhancing Immunotherapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) therapy stands as the first-line treatment option for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, its effectiveness is hindered by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) generates tumor cell fragments that can prime the host's antitumor immunity. Nevertheless, the hypoxic microenvironment and upregulated autophagy following SDT often lead to cancer cell resistance. In response to these challenges, a hypoxia-responsive polymer (Poly(4,4'-azobisbenzenemethanol-PMDA)-mPEG5k, P-APm) encapsulating both a HIF-2α inhibitor (belzutifan) and the ultrasonic sensitize (Chlorin e6, Ce6) is designed, to create the nanoparticle APm/Ce6/HIF. APm/Ce6/HIF combined with ultrasound (US) significantly suppresses tumor growth and activates antitumor immunity in vivo. Moreover, this treatment effectively transforms the immunosuppressive microenvironment from "immune-cold" to "immune-hot", thereby enhancing the response to ICBs therapy. The findings indicate that APm/Ce6/HIF offers a synergistic approach combining targeted therapy with immunotherapy, providing new possibilities for treating RCC.

Ultrasound as a Physical Elicitor to Improve Texture in Blueberry Fruit: Physiological Indicator and Transcriptomic Analysis.

Ultrasound (US) washing has been verified to improve the quality of postharvest blueberry fruit. However, its physiological and molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In the present study, an US with a frequency of 25 kHz and a power density of 400 W for 2 min was performed to investigate its role in impacting the quality of blueberries. The results showed that US washing improved the quality of blueberries, with a higher firmness and lignin content (p < 0.05) than the control. Moreover, US washing inhibited the levels of superoxide radical (O2·-) production rate and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content while stimulating the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities of the blueberry fruit. Transcriptomic analysis screened 163 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and the key DEGs were mainly enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and plant-pathogen interaction pathways. Furthermore, the transcription factors and the structural genes associated with lignin biosynthesis were also identified from the DEGs. More importantly, the correlation analysis revealed that firmness and lignin content were positively correlated with the expression of C4H, COMT1, and POD52 in blueberry fruit, indicating that these genes might be involved in the regulation of US-mediated lignin synthesis. The findings provide new insight into the US-enhanced quality of blueberry fruits.

Real-time non-invasive control of ultrasound hyperthermia using high-frequency ultrasonic backscattered energy in ex vivo tissue and in vivo animal studies

Objective.A reliable, calibrated, non-invasive thermometry method is essential for thermal therapies to monitor and control the treatment. Ultrasound (US) is an effective thermometry modality due to its relatively high sensitivity to temperature changes, and fast data acquisition and processing capabilities.Approach.In this work, the change in backscattered energy (CBE) was used to control the tissue temperature non-invasively using a real-time proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. A clinical high-frequency US scanner was used to acquire radio-frequency echo data fromex vivoporcine tissue samples andin vivomice hind leg tissue while the tissue was treated with mild hyperthermia by a focused US applicator. The PID controller maintained the focal temperature at approximately 40 °C for about 4 min.Main results.The results show that the US thermometry based on CBE estimated by a high-frequency US scanner can produce 2D temperature maps of a localized heating region and to estimate the focal temperature during mild hyperthermia treatments. The CBE estimated temperature varied by an average of ±0.85 °C and ±0.97 °C, compared to a calibrated thermocouple, inex vivoandin vivostudies, respectively. The mean absolute deviations of CBE thermometry during the controlled hyperthermia treatment were ±0.45 °C and ±0.54 °C inex vivoandin vivo,respectively.Significance.It is concluded that non-invasive US thermometry via backscattered energies at high frequencies can be used for real-time monitoring and control of hyperthermia treatments with acceptable accuracy. This provides a foundation for an US mediated drug delivery system.

Ultrasonographic Assessment of Masseter and Anterior Temporal Muscle Thickness and Internal Structure in Young Adult Patients With Bruxism.

The current study is a comparative cross-sectional analysis study to determine the thickness and internal structure of the masseter muscle (MM) and anterior temporal muscle (ATM) in patients with bruxism by ultrasonography (USG). A total of 100 patients (36 males, 64 females), 50 with bruxism and 50 without bruxism, aged 20-30 years were included in the study. All patients were investigated with MM and ATM USG. The thickness of the muscles was measured at rest and during clenching and the internal structure at rest was classified as Type I, II, and III. Differences in the internal structure between bruxism and non-bruxism groups were determined using the Chi-square test (p < 0.05). The most common internal structure in bruxism was Type 2 in MM (74%) and Type 1 in ATM (46%), whereas in non-bruxism, Type 1 in MM (58%) and Type 1 in ATM (80%) were found most frequently. While there was a statistically significant difference in the internal echogenic pattern in the right MM and ATM in bruxism (p < 0.05), no significant difference was observed on the left side (p > 0.05). Bruxism patients had higher rest and clench thicknesses than non-bruxism patients on both sides in MM and ATM, however, this did not result in a statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). The results obtained showed that the evaluation of internal structure and thickness differences via USG is crucial in understanding the nature of the bruxism process affecting the masseter and ATM, facilitating its clinical diagnosis and leading to its treatment.

Experimental investigation on the moisture movement behavior of granites

This study comprehensively investigates the hygric performance of two commonly used types of granite in masonry, each characterized by distinct porosity levels. A series of experimental tests, including capillary absorption, one-dimensional drying, cup methods, vacuum saturation, sorption/desorption isotherms, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and ultrasonic pulse velocity, was conducted in different directions and by using both pure water and NaCl solutions. The results highlight pronounced anisotropy in the granite’s hygric response, with significant directional differences in liquid and vapor moisture movement, as well as ultrasonic wave propagation. Granite with lower porosity and a finer pore structure exhibited hysteresis effects and more pronounced hygroscopic behavior, while granite with higher porosity showed greater capillary activity. The presence of salt crystals within the pore network significantly influences vapor and liquid transport properties, porosity, and moisture storage capacity. The gradual formation of sodium chloride crystals on drying surfaces noticeably altered drying kinetics, influenced by salt concentration and pore characteristics. These findings provide valuable insights into the hygric properties of granite, essential for understanding its durability and informing moisture transfer numerical models.

A Bioengineered Cathepsin B-sensitive Gas Vesicle Nanosystem That Responds With Increased Gray-level Intensity of Ultrasound Biomicroscopic Images

ObjectivesThis work aimed to promote the interaction of a modified Gas Vesicle (GV) with Cathepsin B (CTSB) protease and analyzed their backscattered signal by Ultrasound (US). MethodsWe modified the sequence of the gene coding for GvpC to contain a CTSB cleavage and expressed the protein in an Escherichia coli recombinant system. The protein was purified and added to GVs preparations in which the original GvpC was removed (ΔGV), constituting the modified GV (GV*). Western Blot (WB) test was used to compare GVs with GvpC and engineer GvpC at starting (T0) and after 24 hours (T24) reacting with CTSB. A 21 MHz US B-mode and nonlinear contrast-mode (5% total power) imaged US phantoms having samples of GVwt, ΔGV (stripped GV), GV*, and CTSB+GV*. Also, a 21MHz US B-mode imaged US phantoms having a tumor cell line extracellular fraction (TCEF) and the TCEF+GV* sample. A 100% total US power was applied to collapse the GV structure. ResultsIn WB we detected a decrease in engineered GvpC levels 24 h after the incubation of GV* with CTSB, compared to the concentration at T0, suggesting that CTSB cleaved the engineered GvpC. Regions-of-interest over image of phantom cross-sections were determined and the B-mode image mean gray level intensity resulted in a significant (p<0.05) increase comparing CTSB+GV* with PBS (control), GVwt, ΔGV and GV*. Non-linear mode image gray level intensity from CTSB+GV* increased by 11.79, 7.86 and 14.75 dB from samples containing GVwt, ΔGV and GV*, respectively. GV preparations incubated with TCEF and the TCEF+GV* sample showed an increase of 81% in signal compared to TCEF+GVwt. ConclusionsThe increased ultrasound backscattered signal intensity suggests GVs as a potential biosensor for protease activity, possibly aiding the detection of protease-rich tissue regions.

Ultrasound strain elastography to improve diagnostic performance of breast lesions by reclassifying BI-RADS 3 and 4a lesions: a multicenter diagnostic study.

To investigate the added value of strain elastography (SE) by recategorizing ultrasound (US) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 3 and 4a lesions. A total of 4371 patients underwent US and SE with BI-RADS 2-5 categories solid breast lesions were included from thirty-two hospitals. We evaluated the elastographic images according to elasticity scores (ES) and strain ratios (SR). Three combined methods (BI-RADS+ES, BI-RADS+SR, BI-RADS+ES+SR) and two reclassified methods were used (method one: upgrading BI-RADS 3 and downgrading BI-RADS 4a, method two: downgrading BI-RADS 4a alone). The diagnostic performance and the potential reduction of unnecessary biopsies were evaluated. Combining BI-RADS with SE had a higher area under the curve (AUC) than BI-RADS alone (0.822-0.898 vs. 0.794, P<0.01). For reclassified method one, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 99.36%, 66.70%, 78.36% for BI-RADS+ES and 98.01%, 66.45%, 77.72% for BI-RADS+SR, and 99.42%, 66.70%, 78.38% for BI-RADS+ES+SR, respectively. For reclassified method two, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 99.17%, 70.72%, 80.87% for BI-RADS+ES and 97.76%, 81.75%, 87.46% for BI-RADS+SR, and 99.23%, 69.83%, 80.32% for BI-RADS+ES+SR, respectively. Downgrading BI-RADS 4a alone had higher AUC, specificity, and accuracy (P<0.01) and similar sensitivity (P>0.05) to upgrading BI-RADS 3 and downgrading BI-RADS 4a. Combining SE with BI-RADS could help reduce unnecessary biopsies by 17.64%-55.20%. Combining BI-RADS with SE improved the diagnostic performance in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions and could decrease false-positive breast biopsy rates. Downgrading BI-RADS 4a lesions alone might be sufficient for achieving good diagnostic performance. Downgrading BI-RADS category 4a lesions alone had higher AUC, specificity, and accuracy, and similar sensitivity to upgrading or downgrading BI-RADS category 3 and 4a lesions.

An in situ prepared fiber-based piezoresistive film for ultrasonic wave detection on nonplanar carbon fiber-reinforced composites

Owing to the flexibility and high-frequency responsiveness, nanocomposite piezoresistive sensors are suitable for Lamb wave detection on composite materials. Various types of nanocomposite films have been developed for this purpose. However, the inelasticity trait of commonly used electrodes for the nanocomposite films impedes their application on the nonplanar surface of composites. Herein, an in situ prepared piezoresistive film based on graphene and polymethyl methacrylate nanocomposite has been proposed for ultrasonic wave detection on nonplanar carbon fiber-reinforced composites. Electrospinning method is employed to fabricate piezoresistive fiber film onto carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, and the sensitivity along the thickness direction is utilized via employing the CFRP layer as one electrode. The fabricated sensitive films exhibit the capability to detect up to 150 kHz ultrasonic signals on curved surfaces. With the help of Hilbert energy spectrum, the precise damage localization on CFRP is achieved by the sensitive film array with a relative error of only 1%. This innovation provides a new in situ preparation method for ultrasonic sensitive film on nonplanar-shaped CFRP components for nondestructive evaluation task.

Evaluation of the effect of ultrasound-assisted hot air drying on the drying characteristics and physicochemical properties of cherries based on the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method.

To address the challenges associated with prolonged traditional hot air drying (HAD) times and significant nutrient loss in cherries, this study employs ultrasound-assisted hot air drying (USA-HAD) technology. The study investigates the impacts of various ultrasound (US) frequencies, US powers, and hot air temperatures on the drying kinetics, physicochemical properties, texture attributes, and microstructure of cherries during drying. Cherry physicochemical quality serves as the evaluation criterion, with the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method used to identify the optimal drying parameters. The findings indicate that USA-HAD accelerates the drying process, reduces drying time, and enhances drying efficiency. In comparison to natural drying, USA-HAD significantly preserves polysaccharides, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and organic acids in cherries, while boosting antioxidant activity. Concurrently, it reduces color intensity, as well as the hardness, chewiness, and gumminess of dried cherry products. Microstructural observations under different drying methods reveal an increase in surface micropores and relatively intact tissue structure. Under conditions of 55°C, 48W, and 28kHz, cherries exhibit superior overall quality based on the TOPSIS relative closeness degree. This study offers practical insights for optimizing post-harvest processing of cherries. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this rapidly evolving era, the application of combination drying technology is clearly on the rise. The USA-HAD treated cherries had better nutritional and bioactive than HAD. The conclusions obtained indicate that the USA-HAD technology has more potential for development.

[18F]FDG whole-body PET-MR including an integrated breast MR protocol for locoregional and distant staging in breast cancer patients—a feasibility study

PurposeTo investigate in a feasibility study the combination of [18F]FDG whole-body (WB) positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance (PET-MR), including an integrated breast MR within a single protocol for locoregional and distant staging in breast cancer patients.MethodsConsecutive patients with breast cancer diagnoses according to conventional imaging modalities (full-field digital mammography (FFDM) and ultrasound (US)) were prospectively included. All patients underwent [18F]FDG WB PET-MR, including an integrated dedicated breast MR (prone position) and WB PET-MR (supine position) protocol. Results of [18F]FDG WB PET-MR, including integrated breast MR, versus conventional imaging modalities were compared.ResultsFrom April 2021–April 2022, 28 patients were included. On conventional imaging, cT1-2 breast cancer was present in 22 (FFDM) and 23 (US) out of 28 patients. With regard to clinical nodal status, eight patients were considered cN0, eighteen cN1 (1-3 suspicious lymph nodes), and two patients were cN2 (four suspicious axillary lymph nodes/internal mammary lymph node metastasis). [18F]FDG WB PET-MR, including an integrated breast MR protocol, upstaged clinical tumor status in two patients and clinical nodal status in nine patients according to both [18F]FDG WB PET-MR and breast MR findings. In addition, distant metastases were detected in three patients (liver/bone), and another patient was diagnosed with a synchronous primary tumor (lung cancer).Conclusion[18F]FDG WB PET-MR, including an integrated breast MR within a single protocol in breast cancer patients, is feasible and provides a promising new approach in breast cancer patients with regard to locoregional and distant staging.Critical relevance statement[18F]FDG whole-body PET-MR, including an integrated breast MR protocol, is feasible and allows locoregional and distant staging within a single imaging exam in breast cancer patients.Key Points[18F]FDG PET-MR allows the combination of breast MR and whole-body staging.Therefore, a single protocol of whole-body [18F]FDG PET-MR, including an integrated breast MRI, is investigated.[18F]FDG PET-MR, including an integrated breast MR is feasible and can be considered in daily clinical practice.Graphical

Spatiotemporal piezoelectric microcapsules for programmable sonodynamic sterilization and wound healing

Hydrogel particles have certain practicability in facilitating wound healing, nowadays endeavors have been devoted to developing particles with architectural construction and controllable cargo release property for infected wound management. Here, inspired by the cocktail treatment, we propose a spatiotemporal piezoelectric microcapsule with potassium sodium niobate (KNN)-encapsulated shell and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-loaded core (KV-MPs) via microfluidic technology for ultrasound (US)-assisted infected wound treatment. As a biocompatible piezoelectric material, KNN exert piezocatalytic redox and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating property under US excitation, contributing to bacterial elimination. With the degradation of the shell, the core exposes and sustainedly releases VEGF for angiogenesis and promoting tissue regeneration. In mice with infected wound, we have demonstrated that the US-excited KV-MPs can effectively fight bacteria and subsequent accelerate wound repair. These results indicated our spatiotemporal piezoelectric microcapsules provide an effective strategy for sonodynamic sterilization meanwhile realize tissue regeneration.

Active-type piezoelectric smart textiles with antifouling performance for pathogenic control

Recently, an investigation into preventive measures for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has garnered considerable attention. Consequently, strategies for the proactive prevention of viral pathogens have also attracted significant interest in the field of wearable devices and electronic textiles research, particularly due to their potential applications in personal protective equipment. In this study, we introduce smart textiles designed with optimized piezoelectric devices that exhibit antifouling performance against microorganisms and actively inactivate viruses. These active-type smart textiles, which incorporate advanced lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics, a stretchable interconnector array, and polymeric fabric, demonstrate effective antifouling capabilities, detaching approximately 90% of Escherichia coli and 75% of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, they inactivate viruses, releasing ~26.8 ng of N protein from ruptured SARS-CoV-2, using ultrasonic waves within the wearable platform. Experimental results show that piezoelectric smart textiles significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19 by leveraging the electrical and acoustic properties of PZT ceramics.