Activation of this pathway was identified in different type

Imaging settings, including mechanical index, frame rate, compress, gain, focus, depth, and depth gain compensation line, were established after optimization at the beginning and were fixed in this study. Mice were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and placed in the prone position on a polystyrene MAPK 機能 plastic pad. The centrifuged ultrasound coupling gel was filled to the thickness of 5 mm for maintenance between the surface of the transducer and the skin of the tumor. To avoid the potential functional effects on the endothelial cells of the antiangiogenic agents, CEUS was performed at least 8 h after the daily administration of pazopanib. At each imaging session, tumor volumes were assessed by conventional B mode imaging and cal culated as 0. 52 × length × width × depth.<br><br> During the contrast session, the longitudinal scan was chosen to display the largest dimension of the tumor and the right kidney. The transducer was then held in this position through the examination. Animals received a bolus injection of 0. 02 mL microbubble contrast MK-1775 臨床試験 agent within 1 2 s. The contrast medium consists of a suspension of sul phurhexafluoride microbubbles surrounded by a thin layer of phospholipid and palmitic acid that allows the microbubbles to withstand several passes through the pulmonary capillaries. Each bolus injection of SonoVue was through a 27 gauge needle mounted to the tail vein, followed by a 0. 2 mL saline flush. To control the quality of imaging, the enhancement in the imaging plane of the cortex of the ipsilateral kidney was also observed simultaneously.<br><br> All the images were recorded in digital cine clips from the beginning of injection; recordings lasted for at least 2 min and were transferred in Digital Imaging and Communications ms-275 構造 in Medicine format to a PC for further analysis. Imaging data analysis Dynamic digital data sequences of CEUS were analysed off line with the software SW UCS by the sonogra phy investigators. After browsing the dynamic perfusion of the whole tumor frame by frame, two ROIs were placed to generate two initial time intensity curves presenting dynamic changes of signal intensity in the selected region. One ROI was placed to cover the tumor area as a whole, and the other one was located in the most enhanced area in the tumor on CEUS, which was referred as a hotspot area.<br><br> The shape of ROI was a circle drawn manually and the area of ROI approxi mately ranged from 5 mm2 to 800 mm2. By tracking every frame of contrast enhanced images, the average intensity and initial TIC of each ROI were obtained. The initial TIC of each ROI was analysed and fitted with a least mean square method adaptable to bolus injection and a series of quantitative parameters were calculated automatically with a mathematical func, which was adaptableto the kinetics of bolus injection as reported by Postert, et al. Serial quantitative parameters of each ROI achieved from fitted TIC solved at every pixel in each ROI were calculated automatically, The obtained TIC typically presented a base line phase prior to the contrast and then a rapid increase in the signal intensity to a peak level followed by a slow washout phase.