Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology最新文献

{"title":"BreAST-U²Net: A Twin-Stream U2Net with Attention-based Tumor Fusion for 2-D Tumor Segmentation in Automated Breast Ultrasound","authors":"Nor Haqkiem ,&nbsp;Erma Rahayu Mohd Faizal Abdullah ,&nbsp;Shier Nee Saw ,&nbsp;Li Kuo Tan ,&nbsp;Jeannie Hsiu Ding Wong ,&nbsp;Kartini Rahmat ,&nbsp;Philip Tan Wynn Ian ,&nbsp;Nazimah Ab Mumin","doi":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.09.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.09.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) shows potential for breast cancer diagnosis but faces tumor segmentation challenges due to limited annotated data and the tendency of deep convolution neural networks to introduce irrelevant features, hindering performance. In this paper we introduce BreAST-U²Net, a collaborative twin-stream neural network featuring an attention-based fusion mechanism. This hybrid architecture enables the model to collaboratively enrich tumor features from neighboring 2-D axial slices within a single 3-D ABUS volume, allowing for minimal short-term spatial continuity between ABUS slices while maintaining competitive and robust performance.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>BreAST-U²Net combines a twin-stream U²Net encoder with an efficient channel attention-based fusion module and a shared decoder tailored for breast tumor segmentation in 3-D ABUS. We evaluated its performance using Dice score, as demonstrated in ablation studies comparing BreAST-U²Net with its single-stream and twin-stream variants. Additionally, the model was benchmarked against state-of-the-art methods, including DSGMFFN and DEMAC-Net.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>BreAST-U²Net achieved strong performance in cases with acceptable segmentation quality (Dice ≥0.1), reaching 66.4% on Tumor Detection, Segmentation, and Classification (TDSC) and 65.2% on Universiti Malaya Medical Center (UMMC). It consistently ranked among the top models under certain shadow thresholds, demonstrating robustness to acoustic artifacts and domain shifts. However, certain levels of tumor complexity may still require further tuning, which helps to explain why overall Dice scores on the full test sets remained more modest—38.1% for TDSC and 23.8% for UMMC.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>BreAST-U²Net demonstrates domain-robust segmentation performance across both source and unseen ABUS datasets, achieving Dice scores of up to 66.4% with acceptable prediction quality and showing resilience to shadow artifacts through its dual-stream encoding and efficient channel attention-based feature fusion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49399,"journal":{"name":"Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology","volume":"52 2","pages":"Pages 315-327"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145432882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Regulates Th17/Treg Balance With Potential Association With the IL-1β/IL1R1/MyD88 Signaling Pathway to Alleviate Pelvic Pain in a Rat Prostatitis Model","authors":"Wang Zhou ,&nbsp;He-Xi Du ,&nbsp;Zi-Cheng Wang ,&nbsp;Xia-Chuan Qin ,&nbsp;Yu-Chen Xie ,&nbsp;Bao Tang ,&nbsp;Xin-An Lv ,&nbsp;Chao-Zhao Liang ,&nbsp;Chao-Xue Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common urinary tract disorder in males. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), a non-invasive therapeutic modality, has shown potential in alleviating inflammation associated with this condition. However, the underlying mechanisms through which LIPUS exerts its effects on CP/CPPS remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the impact of LIPUS at varying intensities and durations on pain relief in a rat model of CP/CPPS.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A CP/CPPS model was established by injecting 1% carrageenan into the prostate of rats. LIPUS at three different energy intensities (T1, T2 and T3: 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 W/cm², respectively) was applied to the pelvic region for 10 min daily over a period of 2 or 4 weeks. Pain relief and prostate injury were evaluated to assess the therapeutic efficacy of LIPUS. The mechanism study focuses on the role of LIPUS in regulating the Th17/Treg balance (by detecting CD4+ T cells in the prostate through flow cytometry and the expression of Foxp3/interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in prostate tissue through immunohistochemistry) as well as its effects on the IL-1β/IL1R1/MyD88 signaling pathway in prostate tissue (by detecting pathway protein expression through Western blot and measuring inflammatory factor concentration using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>To identify the optimal parameter of LIPUS for CP/CPPS, we treated model rats with LIPUS at intensities of 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 W/cm² for 2 or 4 weeks, and evaluated the therapeutic effects using multiple endpoints. Among these intensities, LIPUS at 1.0 W/cm² energy/4 weeks exhibited the most prominent efficacy: compared with the model group, it significantly alleviated pelvic pain and reduced prostate inflammation scores. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that, relative to the model group, LIPUS at 1.0 W/cm² energy/4 weeks could regulate Th17/Treg balance and downregulate the expression of related proteins, including IL-1β, IL1R1 and MyD88.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>LIPUS, when administered at 1.0 W/cm² for 4 weeks, showed superior efficacy in reducing pain in CP/CPPS rats. These findings suggest that LIPUS may offer a promising therapeutic approach for CP/CPPS and provide insights into its underlying mechanism of action.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49399,"journal":{"name":"Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology","volume":"52 2","pages":"Pages 451-461"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145574794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial Advisory Board","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S0301-5629(25)01342-0","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S0301-5629(25)01342-0","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49399,"journal":{"name":"Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology","volume":"52 2","pages":"Page i"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145847561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deep Learning Segmentation and Quantification of the Left Ventricle from the Parasternal Short-Axis View in Echocardiography","authors":"Ingrid Elisabeth Tveten ,&nbsp;John Nyberg ,&nbsp;Jahn Frederik Grue ,&nbsp;Ragnhild Holden Helland ,&nbsp;Daniela Melichova ,&nbsp;Thuy Mi Nguyen ,&nbsp;Harald Brunvand ,&nbsp;Thor Edvardsen ,&nbsp;Kristina H. Haugaa ,&nbsp;Håvard Dalen ,&nbsp;Lasse Løvstakken ,&nbsp;Bjørnar Grenne ,&nbsp;Andreas Østvik","doi":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Quantitative measurements remain under-used in echocardiography due to measurement variability and time consumption. This study aimed to develop a deep learning (DL) pipeline for the automatic extraction of clinically relevant quantitative measurements from the parasternal short-axis (PSAX) view.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We trained an nnU-Net model to segment the left ventricle (LV) lumen and myocardium in PSAX images. Based on end-diastole (ED) and end-systole (ES) frames in the echocardiograms, we calculated the LV lumen area, LV fractional area change, mean wall thickness (MWT) and global circumferential strain. Segmentations and measurements were validated through comparison with two manual observers.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared with manual references, the nnU-Net model achieved a high grade of similarity for the LV lumen and myocardium, with Dice coefficients of <span><math><mrow><mn>0.93</mn><mo>±</mo><mn>0.04</mn></mrow></math></span> and <span><math><mrow><mn>0.84</mn><mo>±</mo><mn>0.08</mn></mrow></math></span>, and 95th percentile Hausdorff distances of <span><math><mrow><mn>3.2</mn><mo>±</mo><mn>1.9</mn><mspace></mspace><mtext>mm</mtext></mrow></math></span> and <span><math><mrow><mn>3.4</mn><mo>±</mo><mn>1.7</mn><mspace></mspace><mtext>mm</mtext></mrow></math></span>, respectively. The Dice coefficients and 95th percentile Hausdorff distances were on par or better for the evaluation dataset. DL-based measurements were in line with interobserver precision and variability. Automatic timing of ED and ES frames based on echocardiograms and LV lumen area produced similar results to using manual timing by experts. The subject-level feasibility was 90.4%. Furthermore, DL-based measurement of MWT at ED differentiated subjects with and without hypertension (<span><math><mrow><mi>p</mi><mo>&lt;</mo><mn>0.001</mn></mrow></math></span>).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our DL-based measurement pipeline for PSAX achieved performance comparable to expert annotators, positioning it as a possible substitute for tedious manual measurements. DL-derived MWT was able to differentiate hypertensive from non-hypertensive subjects, which indicates the potential clinical utility of fully automated PSAX measurements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49399,"journal":{"name":"Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology","volume":"52 2","pages":"Pages 385-400"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145446211","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Repeated blood–brain barrier opening using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound mitigates amyloid pathology","authors":"Michael Canney ,&nbsp;Guillaume Bouchoux ,&nbsp;Alexandre Carpentier ,&nbsp;Pierre De Rossi","doi":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The delivery of large molecules to the pathological brain is one of the main obstacles in the development of disease-modifying drugs. This is partly due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which blocks the free passage of lipophobic molecules and those larger than 400 Da. One strategy to bypass this natural barrier is to use low-intensity pulsed ultrasound to oscillate circulating micro-sized microbubbles, which then exert mechanical stress on the vessel walls. This procedure allows for temporary disruption of the BBB and enhanced local delivery of therapeutics from the blood to the brain parenchyma. In this study, the effect of repeated BBB opening on neuroinflammation in a healthy mouse model was first explored, followed by the effect of repeated opening on amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology in an Alzheimer's disease model.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cohort of wild-type mice was used to determine the effect of a single BBB opening session mediated by ultrasound/microbubbles (US/MBs) on the inflammatory profile <em>via</em> real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction on brain extracts at 2, 4, 8 and 15 d post-opening. A second cohort of ARTE10 mice, a mouse model for Aβ pathology, was treated with a different sequence of repeated US/MB-mediated BBB opening to explore the effect on Aβ pathology. Tissues were also analyzed for immune cell infiltration, microglia and astrocyte activation, as well as inflammatory response.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our results demonstrate that opening the BBB leads to a mild inflammatory response in wild-type animals. However, repeated opening of the BBB in the ARTE10 model resulted in a mild decrease in Aβ pathology, along with a mild increase in growth factor.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Altogether, this study suggests that sonication is not only a safe method to deliver therapeutics to the brain but could also have synergistic effects in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49399,"journal":{"name":"Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology","volume":"52 2","pages":"Pages 418-430"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145558266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Longitudinal Ultrasound Imaging of an Individual Fetus In Utero Using an Echogenic Marker","authors":"Ruiyan Tan ,&nbsp;Sarah K. Debebe ,&nbsp;Owen Botelho ,&nbsp;Cameron Goddard ,&nbsp;Brian J. Nieman ,&nbsp;John G. Sled","doi":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>High frequency ultrasound imaging has become an important tool for the study of pregnancy disorders in mouse models as it enables detailed, noninvasive characterization of <em>in utero</em> development. However, the need to reliably identify individual fetuses over time presents a challenge when using this approach for longitudinal assessments. Large litter sizes and frequently changing fetal positions within the abdomen across gestation have the potential to confound such measurements.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>The current study presents a minimally invasive method to longitudinally track a specific mouse fetus through late gestation using ultrasound-guided intra-amniotic injections of an echogenic marker comprised of glass microspheres and shear thinning biomaterial, on embryonic day (E)14.5. Longitudinal measurements of the umbilical artery blood flow were gathered to assess feasibility of a plausible experiment in fetal research. Fetal lung volumes were collected to assess safety of the intra-amniotic sac injection and procedure as amniotic fluid loss during injection risks underdeveloped lungs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Using CD-1 strain mice, we show that key diagnostic parameters such as umbilical artery velocity and vessel diameter, can be repeatedly measured in the tracked fetus from E14.5 through to term (E18.5). The method is safe for the fetus and pregnant dam with no increased mortality.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Combining this method of mouse fetal tracking with established mouse models of pregnancy-related and gestational conditions proves to be a reliable method for longitudinal data collection in mouse fetuses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49399,"journal":{"name":"Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology","volume":"52 2","pages":"Pages 368-375"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145514766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the Clinical Agreement Between Corrected Left Ventricular Ejection Time and Corrected Carotid Flow Time in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Patients","authors":"Esmée C. de Boer ,&nbsp;Frederique M. de Raat ,&nbsp;Catarina Dinis Fernandes ,&nbsp;Joris van Houte ,&nbsp;Igor W.F. Paulussen ,&nbsp;R. Arthur Bouwman ,&nbsp;Leon. J. Montenij ,&nbsp;Massimo Mischi","doi":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Perioperative hemodynamic monitoring plays a crucial role in reducing complications during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Corrected left ventricular ejection time (cLVET) is used to assess cardiac contractility but requires specialized echocardiography expertise. Corrected carotid flow time (ccFT), a non-invasive carotid Doppler-based method, could serve as an alternative, but its agreement with cLVET in CABG patients remains uncertain. This study evaluates the clinical agreement between these two measures in a real-world clinical setting.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this prospective observational study, 17 adult patients undergoing CABG surgery were included. cLVET was measured using transesophageal echocardiography, while ccFT was assessed via carotid ultrasound, both before incision and after thoracic closure. All values were calculated using Bazett’s and Wodey’s formulas, manually and through an automated algorithm. Correlation, Bland-Altman, and concordance analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationships between the measures.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Manual quantification showed better clinical agreement than automated analysis. Manually-derived ccFT values showed a strong correlation with cLVET using Bazett’s formula (r = 0.88, 95% CI [0.77–0.94], <em>p &lt;</em> 0<em>.</em>001) and Wodey’s formula (r = 0.96, 95% CI [0.91–0.98], <em>p &lt;</em> 0<em>.</em>001), with an acceptable bias (&lt;11 ms) and narrow limits of agreement (Bazett: –35 to 57 ms; Wodey: –15 to 35 ms). Concordance was acceptable for Bazett (91%) and good for Wodey (93%).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>While automated quantification yielded poor clinical agreement, manually computed ccFT demonstrated a strong clinical agreement with cLVET. This suggests that manually derived ccFT values could serve as a viable surrogate for cLVET. Further effort is needed to optimize automated algorithms for future clinical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49399,"journal":{"name":"Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology","volume":"52 2","pages":"Pages 411-417"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145524696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is Ultrasound an Accurate Method for Predicting Fat-Free Mass in Resistance-Trained Men?","authors":"Maria J. Valamatos ,&nbsp;Catarina N. Matias ,&nbsp;Margarida L. Cavaca ,&nbsp;Joana F. Reis ,&nbsp;Filipe J. Teixeira ,&nbsp;Cristina P. Monteiro","doi":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Increasing muscle mass is the main objective of individuals engaged in resistance training (RT) programs. Traditional imaging techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are commonly used to quantify fat-free mass (FFM), but their high cost, limited accessibility and technical complexity often restrict their routine use. Ultrasound (US), by contrast, offers a non-invasive, portable and cost-effective alternative and therefore can play an important role in monitoring musculoskeletal adaptations because it provides objective measures of muscle mass and muscle quality. Since the literature does not provide an adequate US-based model to estimate whole-body (WB) and appendicular FFM in resistance-trained adult men, we aimed to develop and validate a US-based equation to predict WB and thigh FFM in resistance-trained men.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Seventy-nine men (31.4 ± 7.0 y, 76.3 ± 10.2 kg, 174.3 ± 6.0 cm) with prior RT experience underwent DXA assessments to calculate WB and thigh FFM. Vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) muscle thickness (MT) were assessed at rest by B-mode US imaging. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to develop US-based equations, and the developed models were cross-validated using the PRESS approach.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>VL and RF MT directly correlated with body mass and WB and thigh FFM. Regression analysis showed that RF-MT alone explains 18.9% and 19% of the WB and thigh-FFM, respectively, while VL-MT alone explains 26.5% and 20.1% of the WB and thigh-FFM, respectively. Four models were developed (two for WB and two for thigh-FFM, each based on either VL or RF values), with the best performance being observed for the VL approach: WB-FFM (kg)<em>R</em>² = 0.882 and standard error of estimate (SEE) = 2.99 kg, thigh-FFM (kg)<em>R</em>² = 0.849 and SEE = 0.667 kg.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The present study introduces a statistically robust and ecologically applicable mathematical model based on US measurements, specifically on the VL-MT, for assessing FFM in resistance-trained men. This model may also be valuable for detecting muscle asymmetries and monitoring adaptations to training and rehabilitation programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49399,"journal":{"name":"Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology","volume":"52 2","pages":"Pages 346-352"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145432851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Local Delivery of miR-27a* Using Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Cavitation Inhibits Squamous Cell Carcinoma Growth","authors":"Nikhil S. Chari ,&nbsp;Cheng Chen ,&nbsp;Thiruganesh Ramasamy ,&nbsp;Xucai Chen ,&nbsp;Geetika Wadhwa ,&nbsp;Anurag N. Paranjape ,&nbsp;Stephen Y. Lai ,&nbsp;Flordeliza S. Villanueva","doi":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.018","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.018","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Ultrasound-targeted microbubble (MB) cavitation (UTMC) is an image-guided therapeutic oligonucleotide delivery platform utilizing intravenously injected gas-filled ultrasound contrast agents, which carry the therapeutic on the MB shell. During transit of MBs in the microcirculation of target tissue, ultrasound causes MB oscillation, facilitating endocytosis-independent payload uptake within insonified cells. Here, we tested the hypothesis that UTMC-mediated miR-27a* delivery will reduce tumor growth rate and result in accumulation of miR-27a* within tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used UTMC to deliver miR-27a* to SCC-VII cells <em>in vitro</em> and in SCC-VII mouse tumor models. Pulsed ultrasound was delivered during intravenous (i.v.) infusion of lipid encapsulated MBs loading either miR-27a* (miR-27a*-MB + UTMC) or negative control MBs (Con-miR-MB + UTMC).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>miR-27a*-MB+UTMC treatment significantly reduced SCC-VII cell viability <em>in vitro</em> and SCC-VII tumor growth <em>in vivo</em> compared to negative controls (Con-miR-MB+UTMC, i.v. miR-27a* or no treatment). Forty-eight hours following treatment, protein expression of direct miR-27a* targets (epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR], NUP62 and ΔNP63α) was significantly reduced in miR-27a*-MB + UTMC vs i.v. miR-27a* or Con-miR-MB + UTMC. Further, whereas i.v. miR-27a* did not decrease tumor expression of these proteins vs. non-treated tumors, miR-27a*-MB + UTMC significantly reduced tumor expression of EGFR, NUP62 and ΔNP63α by 50%–75%, compared to non-treated tumors.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These data substantiate the utility of UTMC for non-invasive delivery of oligonucleotide payloads to extravascular target sites and suggests the therapeutic potential of miR-27a* for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49399,"journal":{"name":"Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology","volume":"52 2","pages":"Pages 462-469"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145582485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and Evaluation of a Multiparametric Ultrasound Approach for Quantifying Hepatic Steatosis","authors":"L. Carmier ,&nbsp;C. Aube ,&nbsp;A. Lecharpentier ,&nbsp;W. Lambert ,&nbsp;B. Zhang ,&nbsp;J. Lavaud ,&nbsp;F. Khemissa-Akouz ,&nbsp;O. Weber ,&nbsp;A. Guibal","doi":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.10.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Accessible and noninvasive methods are crucial for the detection and monitoring of steatosis. This study assessed the performance of ultrasound <em>via</em> three ultrasound markers—the attenuation coefficient, the backscattering coefficient and speckle statistics—modeled by a Nakagami distribution, using a dual intercostal and subcostal approach. Combining these three ultrasound markers obtained from the inter- and subcostal acquisitions generated the ultrasound-based fat fraction (UFF). The PDFF measured with MRI was used as the gold standard.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>One hundred thirty-three patients were included in this prospective, bicentric study. For both the intercostal and subcostal approaches, the three ultrasound markers were compared with the PDFF and their coefficients of determination were estimated by means of a second-order polynomial fit. The correlation between the UFF and PDFF was assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. ROC curves were used to study the performance of UFF.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Independently, all three ultrasound markers were well correlated with the PDFF: attenuation coefficient <em>r²</em> = 0.72 (intercostal) and <em>r²</em> = 0.65 (subcostal), backscattering coefficient <em>r²</em> = 0.68 (intercostal) and <em>r²</em> = 0.69 (subcostal), and Nakagami <em>m</em> parameter <em>r²</em> = 0.51 (intercostal) and <em>r²</em> = 0.52 (subcostal). The UFF score was strongly correlated with the PDFF (<em>r²</em> = 0.79). The areas under the ROC curves (AUROCs) were 0.94 to distinguish between grade S0 and grades ≥ S1 and 0.98 to distinguish between ≤ S1 and ≥ S2.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>UFF is strongly correlated with PDFF for steatosis quantification. Combining both intercostal and subcostal measurements improves this correlation with PDFF.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49399,"journal":{"name":"Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology","volume":"52 2","pages":"Pages 376-384"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145507237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}