Contrast-enhanced ultrasound with perflubutane in the assessment of anti-angiogenic effects: early prediction of the anticancer activity of bevacizumab in a mouse xenografted model

Ultrasonography of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Diagnosis to Prognosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prominent contributor to cancer-related mortality worldwide. Early detection and diagnosis of liver cancer can significantly improve its prognosis and patient survival. Ultrasound technology, serving has undergone substantial advances as the primary method of HCC surveillance and has broadened its scope in recent years for effective management of HCC. This article is a comprehensive overview of ultrasound technology in the treatment of HCC, encompassing early detection, diagnosis, staging, treatment evaluation, and prognostic assessment. In addition, the authors summarized the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of HCC and assessment of prognosis. Finally, the authors discussed further directions in this field by emphasizing overcoming existing obstacles and integrating cutting-edge technologies.

Evaluation of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury using CEUS in mice

BACKGROUND

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) frequently occurs clinically. We investigated the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the evaluation of renal IRI levels in mice.

METHODS

Thirty-six healthy adult male C57BL/6 mice (20-22 g) were randomly divided into the sham, 10 min, 20 min, 30 min, 40 min, and 50 min groups based on the time of renal warm ischemia by blocking the left renal pedicle, approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Time-intensity curve (TIC)-derived parameters such as peak enhancement (PE) and wash-in perfusion index (WiPI) were produced using CEUS at 1 h and 24 h after IRI. The severity of kidney injury was detected by the renal tubular necrosis rate which was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining at 24 h after IRI. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to describe the correlations between PE and WiPI values and the renal tubular necrosis rate.

RESULTS

The PE and WiPI values decreased after IRI in the groups with a warm ischemia time ≥ 20 min. The renal tubular necrosis rate was significantly correlated with the PE value at 1 h (ρ = -0.802) and 24 h (ρ = -0.861) after IRI and the WiPI value at 1 h (ρ = -0.814) and 24 h (ρ = -0.853) after IRI (all p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

TIC-derived parameters, including PE and WiPI values, can be used to evaluate the severity of renal IRI in mice. CEUS is a safe and effective technology for the detection of renal IRI.

RELEVANCE STATEMENT

CEUS can evaluate the severity of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury by peak enhancement and wash-in perfusion index values selected from various time-intensity curve-derived parameters.

KEY POINTS

• Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography can evaluate the level of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. • Peak enhancement and wash-in perfusion index are correlated with the renal tubular necrosis rate. • CEUS can detect changes in unilateral renal function without radiation.

Image Monitoring of the Impaired Phagocytic Activity of Kupffer Cells and Liver Oxygen Saturation in a Mouse Cholangitis Model Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging and Photoacoustic Imaging

Bile duct ligation (BDL) can cause cholangitis, which is known to induce impaired Kupffer cell (KC) function and increased oxygen consumption in a mouse model. It is important to monitor changes in KC function and tissue oxygen saturation, both of which are critical factors in the progression of cholangitis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impaired phagocytic activity of KC and liver oxygen saturation (sO₂) in a mouse cholangitis model using contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging (CEUS) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI). A mouse cholangitis model was created by ligation of the common bile duct (CBDL, n = 20), and the left intrahepatic bile duct (BDL-L, n = 19), both of which were compared with the non-ligation groups-right lobe measurement group after left intrahepatic bile duct ligation (BDL-R, n = 19) and the control group (n = 14). The echogenicity and sO₂ were measured by CEUS and PAI and the KC fraction was assessed at 1, 2 and 4 wk after ligation. We found a significantly lower echogenicity of the Kupffer phase in the CBDL and BDL-L groups compared with that in the control and BDL-R groups at 2 wk (p < .01). The CBDL and BDL-L groups showed a lower echogenicity than that of the BDL-R group at 4 wk (p < .01). We found a significantly lower sO₂ of the CBDL and BDL-L groups compared with that of the control and BDL-R groups at 4 wk (p < .01). The CBDL and BDL-L groups showed a higher KC fraction than that of the BDL-R and control groups at each time point (p < .01). In conclusion, our study suggests that the Sonazoid CEUS and PAI could be a useful tool for monitoring impaired KC phagocytic activity and the liver hypoxic state.