Oxygen-loaded microbubble-mediated sonoperfusion and oxygenation for neuroprotection after ischemic stroke reperfusion

Factors influencing brain recovery from stroke via possible epigenetic changes

Aim: To examine epigenetic changes leading to functional repair after damage to the central motor system.Data sources: A literature search was conducted using medical and health science electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus) up to July 2023.Study selection: Data were summarized for type of intervention, study design, findings including human and animal studies.Data extraction: Data were extracted and double-checked independently for methodological quality. By means of the influence of environmental (calorie restriction or physical exercise) and other factors, epigenetic instructions were found to increase levels of BDNF and enhance synaptic neurotransmission, possibly leading to larger scale changes in structural and functional assets, which may end up to cognitive and motor repair after stroke.

Focused ultrasound-induced cell apoptosis for the treatment of tumours

Cancer is a serious public health problem worldwide. Traditional treatments, such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, do not always yield satisfactory results; therefore, an efficient treatment for tumours is urgently needed. As a convenient and minimally invasive modality, focused ultrasound (FUS) has been used not only as a diagnostic tool but also as a therapeutic tool in an increasing number of studies. FUS can help treat malignant tumours by inducing apoptosis. This review describes the three apoptotic pathways, apoptotic cell clearance, and how FUS affects these three apoptotic pathways. This review also discusses the role of thermal and cavitation effects on apoptosis, including caspase activity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and Ca2+ elease. Finally, this article reviews various aspects of FUS combination therapy, including sensitization by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, gene expression upregulation, and the introduction of therapeutic gases, to provide new ideas for clinical tumour therapy.

Translating ultrasound-mediated drug delivery technologies for CNS applications

Ultrasound enhances drug delivery into the central nervous system (CNS) by opening barriers between the blood and CNS and by triggering release of drugs from carriers. A key challenge in translating setups from in vitro to in vivo settings is achieving equivalent acoustic energy delivery. Multiple devices have now been demonstrated to focus ultrasound to the brain, with concepts emerging to also target the spinal cord. Clinical trials to date have used ultrasound to facilitate the opening of the blood-brain barrier. While most have focused on feasibility and safety considerations, therapeutic benefits are beginning to emerge. To advance translation of these technologies for CNS applications, researchers should standardise exposure protocol and fine-tune ultrasound parameters. Computational modelling should be increasingly used as a core component to develop both in vitro and in vivo setups for delivering accurate and reproducible ultrasound to the CNS. This field holds promise for transformative advancements in the management and pharmacological treatment of complex and challenging CNS disorders.