Wigner-Ville分布法估计生物组织散射元平均间距

生物组织散射元平均间距是描述生物组织微观结构和超声散射特性的重要参数。文中构造了生物组织散射元一维超声散射模型,提出用Ｗｉｇｎｅｒ－Ｖｉｌｅ分布函数方法估计生物组织散射元平均间距,仿真结果表明这一方法具有良好的空间分辨率,能检测出生物组织散射元平均间距细微的非均匀性变化,且有良好的抗噪声性等一系列优良特性     

Comment on “Retinal pulse wave velocity measurement using spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography”

This paper comments on the article “Retinal pulse wave velocity measurement using spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography” by Qian Li et al. The authors propose a method to determine the pulse wave velocity in retinal arteries and veins. This method should enable a noninvasive determination of biomechanical properties of the vessel network, particularly the elasticity of the vessel walls. Although the observations the authors made might seem reasonable at first glance, they are in fact highly surprising and contradictory to theoretical predictions and previously published results.     

Antimicrobial,anticoagulant, and cytotoxic evaluation of multidrug resistance of new 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives

A new series of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives (2a–h, 3a–e, and 4a–e) were systematically designed and synthesized via ultrasound irradiation methods with easy work-up and good yields. Compounds structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectra. The synthesized compounds were screened for both antimicrobial and anticoagulant activities. Compound 2e (MIC: 0.25?μg/mL) was highly active against Escherichia coli and compound 2c (MIC: 0.5?μg/mL) was also highly active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared with ciprofloxacin. (MIC: 1?μg/mL) The antifungal activity of 2c (MIC: 0.5?μg/mL) against Candida albicans was high relative to that of clotrimazole (MIC: 1?μg/mL). Anticoagulant activity was determined by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) coagulation assays. Compound 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-N³,N⁵-bis(5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxamide 3d (>1000?s in APTT assays) was highly active in anticoagulant screening compared with the reference of heparin.Cytotoxicity was evaluated using HepG2 (liver), HeLa (cervical), and MCF-7 (breast) cancer cell lines, with high toxicities observed for 2c (GI₅₀?=?0.02?μm) against HeLa cell line and 2e (GI₅₀?=?0.03?μm) equipotant against MCF-7 cell line. Therefore, the compounds 2e, 2c and 3d can serve as lead molecules for the development of new classes of antimicrobial and anticoagulant agent.     

Biceps femoris and semitendinosus tendon/aponeurosis strain during passive and active (isometric) conditions

The purpose of this study was to quantify strain and elongation of the long head of the biceps femoris (BFlh) and the semitendinosus (ST) tendon/aponeurosis. Forty participants performed passive knee extension trials from 90° of knee flexion to full extension (0°) followed by ramp isometric contractions of the knee flexors at 0°, 45° and 90° of knee flexion. Two ultrasound probes were used to visualize the displacement of BFlh and ST tendon/aponeurosis. Three-way analysis of variance designs indicated that: (a) Tendon/aponeurosis (passive) elongation and strain were higher for the BFlh than the ST as the knee was passively extended (p < 0.05), (b) contraction at each angular position was accompanied by a smaller BFlh tendon/aponeurosis (active) strain and elongation than the ST at higher levels of effort (p < 0.05) and (c) combined (passive and active) strain was significantly higher for the BFlh than ST during ramp contraction at 0° but the opposite was observed for the 45° and 90° flexion angle tests (p < 0.05). Passive elongation of tendon/aponeurosis has an important effect on the tendon/aponeurosis behavior of the hamstrings and may contribute to a different loading of muscle fibers and tendinous tissue between BFlh and ST.     

Ultrasound-mediated interferon β gene transfection inhibits growth of malignant melanoma

We investigated the effects of ultrasound-mediated transfection (sonotransfection) of interferon β (IFN-β) gene on melanoma (C32) both in vitro and in vivo. C32 cells were sonotransfected with IFN-β in vitro. Subcutaneous C32 tumors in mice were sonicated weekly immediately after intra-tumor injection with IFN-β genes mixed with microbubbles. Successful sonotransfection with IFN-β gene in vitro was confirmed by ELISA, which resulted in C32 growth inhibition. In vivo, the growth ratio of tumors transfected with IFN-β gene was significantly lower than the other experimental groups. These results may lead to a new method of treatment against melanoma and other hard-to-treat cancers.     

Laboratory-scale ultrasound pre-treated digestion of sludge: Heat and energy balance

The objective of this work was to maximize the digestibility of biological sludge to elucidate the feasibility of a new sludge management strategy to recover good quality sludge for agricultural use. The combined effects of organic loading rates (from 0.7 to 2.8 g VS L⁻¹ d⁻¹) and the degree of disintegration by anaerobic digestion of sonicated activated sludge were discussed, and the thermal and energetic balances were evaluated. Despite low sonication inputs, sludge digestion performance improved in terms of solids degradation and biogas production depending on the soluble organic load. The biogas production by sonicated sludge was higher (up to 30%) with respect to the control. Filterability improved during digestion of sonicated sludge at medium OLR due to a significant abatement of the fines. Thermal balances indicated that sonication may be a proper system to guarantee self-sustaining WAS mesophilic digestion. Nevertheless, thickening is a pre-requisite to achieve a positive energy balance.     

Enhanced ROS production and cell death through combined photo- and sono-activation of conventional photosensitising drugs

A combination of light and ultrasound activation of two conventional photosensitising drugs, methylene blue and rose bengal, was shown to generate higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lower LD50 values than either light or ultrasound activation alone.     

Ultrasound enhanced methanol penetration of zebrafish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Danio rerio</Emphasis>) embryos measured by permittivity changes using impedance spectroscopy

Studies on permittivity changes in fish embryos measured by impedance spectroscopy after ultrasound treatment during exposure to cryoprotectant is reported here for the first time. The permittivity changes of zebrafish embryos in cryoprotectant solutions before and after ultrasound treatment were measured using impedance spectroscopy. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos at 50% epiboly stage were exposed to 2 M methanol for 25 min before ultrasound treatment for 5 min at 22 degrees C. Embryos were treated with ultrasound in different frequencies (24 and 48 kHz) and voltages (50, 100, 150 and 175 V) combinations. The results showed a clear increasing trend of permittivity from voltage 50 to 175 V over lower impedance frequency range of 10-10(3) Hz indicating increased methanol penetration into the embryos after ultrasound treatment. The embryo survival was not compromised after ultrasound treatment under conditions used in the present study. The use of impedance spectroscopy technique provides a useful none-invasive tool for detecting changes of cryoprotectant penetration in fish embryos after ultrasound treatment. The technique is especially useful for the selection of the suitable cryoprotectants in embryo cryopreservation and may also allow quantitative measurements in embryo membrane permeability studies.     

Ultrasound, microbubbles and the blood-brain barrier

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a specialized system of capillary endothelial cells that protects the brain from harmful substances in the blood stream, while supplying the brain with the required nutrients for proper function. The BBB controls transport through both tight junctions and metabolic barriers and is often a rate-limiting factor in determining permeation of therapeutic drugs into the brain. It is a significant obstacle for delivery of both small molecules and macromolecular agents. Although many drugs could be potentially used to treat brain disease, there has been no method that allows non-invasive-targeted delivery through the BBB. Recently, promising studies indicate that ultrasound can be used to locally deliver a drug or gene to a specific region of interest in the brain. If microbubbles are combined with ultrasound exposure, the effects of ultrasound can be focused upon the vasculature to reduce the acoustic intensity needed to produce BBB opening. Several avenues of transcapillary passage after ultrasound sonication have been identified including transcytosis, passage through endothelial cell cytoplasmic openings, opening of tight junctions and free passage through injured endothelium. This article reviews the topic of transient disruption of the BBB with ultrasound and microbubbles and addresses related safety issues. It also discusses possible roles of the BBB in brain disease and potential interactions with ultrasound and microbubbles in such disease states.     

Rapporteur report: Basics and technology and metrology and standards

The first and second sessions of the Workshop focussed on the basics of ultrasound and infrasound, their applications in both industry and medicine, and metrology and protection standards for ultrasound applications.