Aplio 80

Blood flow velocities in the umbilical artery and vein on E19 were determined via pulsed-wave Doppler imaging. Pregnant rats were anesthetized with isoflurane and were placed in a supine position. Blood flow was visualized using an Aplio 80 equipped with a 14-MHz PLT-1202S transducer (Toshiba Medical Systems Corp, Tochigi, Japan, Fig. 2D). Umbilical cords that had a Doppler angle of less than 60 degrees were selected for blood flow measurements. The overall gain setting was optimized at the beginning of each recording session. The peak systolic velocity and mean velocity for blood flow in the umbilical artery were measured.

When the tumor reached approximately 200–300 mm³, Her-NBs (200 µg/200 µL) were administered to the mice under anesthesia via the tail vein in an insulin syringe with a 30-gauge needle (NIPRO Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan), and US images of Her-NBs were observed in the tumors. US imaging was performed using an Aplio80 US diagnostic machine (Toshiba Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan) and a 12-MHz wideband transducer with contrast harmonic imaging at a mechanical index of 0.27. In the case of TUS exposure, a TUS probe was positioned on the tumors immediately after administration and exposed to ultrasound under the same conditions as in Section 2.6.

At 14, 70, and 90 dpi, the hearts of uninfected and MCMV-infected mice were evaluated by echocardiography (Toshiba Aplio 80, Tokyo, Japan). Briefly, mice were sedated with 2% isoflurane via nose cone inhalation and the heart rate, left ventricular internal diameter (diastolic/systolic), and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (diastolic/systolic) were measured [15 (link),41 (link)].

Breast US imaging, using both grayscale and color and power Doppler US, was performed using high-resolution scanners with high-frequency linear-array 10–14-MHz transducers: 15L8W broadband transducer on Acuson, Sequoia (Siemens Medical Solutions, Mountain View, CA), or PLT1204AX matrix transducer on Aplio 80 (Toshiba Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan). The lesions were first imaged with gray-scale US and then color Doppler US was performed. 14-G and 18-G US-guided core biopsy needles with a spring-loaded core biopsy device (Bard Magnum; Bard Urological, Covington, GA) were used in this study. Two to five core samples per lesion were biopsied.
The US-guided vacuum-assisted biopsies (VABs) were performed using a 10-G handheld VAB system (Vacora; Bard Urological).
Mammography was performed in mediolateral and craniocaudal imaging planes using film-screen mammographic equipment (M-IV mammographic unit; Hologic, Bedford, MA). Additional mammographic projections were performed as needed. The stereotactic guided core biopsies were performed on a digital stereotactic table (LoRad DSM; Hologic) using an 11-G Mammotone directional VAB device (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH).
All static and color Doppler images were stored on the Picture Archiving and Communication System of our medical center.