Herein we showcase the potential of ultrasound-responsive nanobubbles in enhancing macromolecular permeation through layers of the retina, ultimately leading to significant and direct intracellular delivery; this being effectively demonstrated across three relevant and distinct retinal cell lines. Stably engineered nanobubbles of a highly homogenous and echogenic nature were fully characterised...

BACKGROUND The same mechanisms by which ultrasound enhances thrombolysis are described in connection with non-beneficial effects of ultrasound. The present safety study was therefore designed to explore effects of beneficial ultrasound characteristics on the infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium. METHODS In an open chest porcine model (n = 17), myocardial infarction was induced by ligating a...

Ultrasound is a widely available, cost-effective, real-time, non-invasive and safe imaging modality widely used in the clinic for anatomical and functional imaging. With the introduction of novel molecularly-targeted ultrasound contrast agents, another dimension of ultrasound has become a reality: diagnosing and monitoring pathological processes at the molecular level. Most commonly used ultras...

PURPOSE The safety, benefits and usefulness of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy have been demonstrated in the pediatric population. We describe our technique, and determine the safety and feasibility of robot assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy based on our initial experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed robot assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy performed at ...

National Patient Safety Agency, I should like to make the following observations on the editorial by Fearnley and colleagues. 1 The editorial is a well-written discussion of the role that national clinical guidelines may play in the determination of negligence in clinical practice. The only example used is the guidance from NICE (Technology Appraisal Guidance Number 49) issued in 2002 which rec...

OBJECTIVE To review the biological effects and safety of obstetric ultrasound. OUTCOME Outline the circumstances in which safety may be a concern with obstetric ultrasound. EVIDENCE Medline was searched, and a review of a document on this subject published by Health Canada and of bibliographies from identified articles was conducted. VALUES Review by principal authors and the Diagnostic I...