Abnormal volumetric brain morphometry and cerebral blood flow in adolescents with depression

BACKGROUND Prior research has demonstrated that the brains of adolescents with depression exhibit distinct structural alterations.However,preliminary studies have documented the pathophysiological changes in certain brain regions,such as the cerebellum,highlighting a need for further research to support the current understanding of this disease.AIM To study brain changes in depressed adolescents.METHODS This study enrolled 34 adolescents with depression and 34 age-,sex-,and education-level-matched healthy control(HC)individuals.Structural and functional alterations were identified when comparing the brains of these two participant groups through voxel-based morphometry and cerebral blood flow(CBF)analysis,respectively.Associations between identified brain alterations and the severity of depressive symptoms were explored through Pearson correlation analyses.RESULTS The cerebellum,superior frontal gyrus,cingulate gyrus,pallidum,middle frontal gyrus,angular gyrus,thalamus,precentral gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus,superior temporal gyrus,inferior frontal gyrus,and supplementary motor areas of adolescents with depression showed an increase in brain volume compared to HC individuals.These patients with depression further presented with a pronounced drop in CBF in the left pallidum(group=98,and peak t=-4.4324),together with increased CBF in the right percental gyrus(PerCG)(group=90,and peak t=4.5382).In addition,17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were significantly correlated with the increased volume in the opercular portion of the left inferior frontal gyrus(r=-0.5231,P<0.01).CONCLUSION The right PerCG showed structural and CBF changes,indicating that research on this part of the brain could offer insight into the pathophysiological causes of impaired cognition.

Blood-brain barrier pathology in cerebral small vessel disease

Cerebral small vessel disease is a neurological disease that affects the brain microvasculature and which is commonly observed among the elderly.Although at first it was considered innocuous,small vessel disease is nowadays regarded as one of the major vascular causes of dementia.Radiological signs of small vessel disease include small subcortical infarcts,white matter magnetic resonance imaging hyperintensities,lacunes,enlarged perivascular spaces,cerebral microbleeds,and brain atrophy;however,great heterogeneity in clinical symptoms is observed in small vessel disease patients.The pathophysiology of these lesions has been linked to multiple processes,such as hypoperfusion,defective cerebrovascular reactivity,and blood-brain barrier dysfunction.Notably,studies on small vessel disease suggest that blood-brain barrier dysfunction is among the earliest mechanisms in small vessel disease and might contribute to the development of the hallmarks of small vessel disease.Therefore,the purpose of this review is to provide a new foundation in the study of small vessel disease pathology.First,we discuss the main structural domains and functions of the blood-brain barrier.Secondly,we review the most recent evidence on blood-brain barrier dysfunction linked to small vessel disease.Finally,we conclude with a discussion on future perspectives and propose potential treatment targets and interventions.

In vivo label-free measurement of blood flow velocity symmetry based on dual line scanning third-harmonic generation microscopy excited at the 1700 nm window

Measurement of bloodflow velocity is key to understanding physiology and pathology in vivo.While most measurements are performed at the middle of the blood vessel,little research has been done on characterizing the instantaneous bloodflow velocity distribution.This is mainly due to the lack of measurement technology with high spatial and temporal resolution.Here,we tackle this problem with our recently developed dual-wavelength line-scan third-harmonic generation(THG)imaging technology.Simultaneous acquisition of dual-wavelength THG line-scanning signals enables measurement of bloodflow velocities at two radially symmetric positions in both venules and arterioles in mouse brain in vivo.Our results clearly show that the instantaneous bloodflow velocity is not symmetric under general conditions.

Predicting Acute Mountain Sickness Using Regional Sea-Level Cerebral Blood Flow

Objective To investigate the role of sea-level cerebral blood flow(CBF)in predicting acute mountain sickness(AMS)using three-dimensional pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling(3D-pCASL).Methods Forty-eight healthy volunteers reached an altitude of 3,650 m by air after undergoing a head magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)including 3D-pCASL at sea level.The CBF values of the bilateral anterior cerebral artery(ACA),middle cerebral artery(MCA),posterior cerebral artery(PCA),and posterior inferior cerebellar artery(PICA)territories and the laterality index(LI)of CBF were compared between the AMS and non-AMS groups.Statistical analyses were performed to determine the relationship between CBF and AMS,and the predictive performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Results The mean cortical CBF in women(81.65±2.69 mL/100 g/min)was higher than that in men(74.35±2.12 mL/100 g/min)(P<0.05).In men,the cortical CBF values in the bilateral ACA,PCA,PICA,and right MCA were higher in patients with AMS than in those without.Cortical CBF in the right PCA best predicted AMS(AUC=0.818).In women,the LI of CBF in the ACA was different between the AMS and non-AMS groups and predicted AMS with an AUC of 0.753.Conclusion Although the mechanism and prediction of AMS are quite complicated,higher cortical CBF at sea level,especially the CBF of the posterior circulatory system,may be used for prediction in male volunteers using non-invasive 3D-pCASL.

Cerebral arterial blood flow,attention,and executive and cognitive functions in depressed patients after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND Intracerebral hemorrhage mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension,and surgery is currently the main treatment for hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage,but the bleeding caused by surgery will cause damage to the patient's nerve cells,resulting in cognitive and motor dysfunction,resulting in a decline in the patient's quality of life.AIM To investigate associations between cerebral arterial blood flow and executive and cognitive functions in depressed patients after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage.METHODS Eighty-nine patients with depression after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage who were admitted to our hospital between January 2019 and July 2021 were selected as the observation group,while 100 patients without depression who had acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage were selected as the control group.The attention span of the patients was assessed using the Paddle Pin Test while executive function was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST)and cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale(MoCA).The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD-24)was used to evaluate the severity of depression of involved patients.Cerebral arterial blood flow was measured in both groups.RESULTS The MoCA score,net scores I,II,III,IV,and the total net score of the scratch test in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Concurrently,the total number of responses,number of incorrect responses,number of persistent errors,and number of completed responses of the first classification in the WCST test were significantly higher in the observation group than those in the control group(P<0.05).Blood flow in the basilar artery,left middle cerebral artery,right middle cerebral artery,left anterior cerebral artery,and right anterior cerebral artery was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).The basilar artery,left middle cerebral artery,right middle cerebral artery,left anterior cerebral artery,and right anterior cerebral artery were positively correlated with the net and total net scores of each part of the Paddle Pin test and the MoCA score(P<0.05),and negatively correlated with each part of the WCST test(P<0.05).In the observation group,the post-treatment improvement was more prominent in the Paddle Pin test,WCST test,HAMD-24 score,and MoCA score compared with those in the pre-treatment period(P<0.05).Blood flow in the basilar artery,left middle cerebral artery,right middle cerebral artery,left anterior cerebral artery,and right anterior cerebral artery significantly improved in the observation group after treatment(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Impaired attention,and executive and cognitive functions are correlated with cerebral artery blood flow in patients with depression after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage and warrant further study.

Unveiling the silent link:Normal-tension glaucoma's enigmatic bond with cardiac blood flow

This comprehensive review embarks on a captivating journey into the complex relationship between cardiology and normal-tension glaucoma(NTG),a condition that continues to baffle clinicians and researchers alike.NTG,characterized by optic nerve damage and visual field loss despite normal intraocular pressure,has long puzzled clinicians.One emerging perspective suggests that alterations in ocular blood flow,particularly within the optic nerve head,may play a pivotal role in its pathogenesis.While NTG shares commonalities with its high-tension counterpart,its unique pathogenesis and potential ties to cardiovascular health make it a fascinating subject of exploration.It navigates through the complex web of vascular dysregulation,blood pressure and perfusion pressure,neurovascular coupling,and oxidative stress,seeking to uncover the hidden threads that tie the heart and eyes together in NTG.This review explores into the intricate mechanisms connecting cardiovascular factors to NTG,shedding light on how cardiac dynamics can influence ocular health,particularly in cases where intraocular pressure remains within the normal range.NTG's enigmatic nature,often characterized by seemingly contradictory risk factors and clinical profiles,underscores the need for a holistic approach to patient care.Drawing parallels to cardiac health,we examine into the shared vascular terrain connecting the heart and the eyes.Cardiovascular factors,including systemic blood flow,endothelial dysfunction,and microcirculatory anomalies,may exert a profound influence on ocular perfusion,impacting the delicate balance within the optic nerve head.By elucidating the subtle clues and potential associations between cardiology and NTG,this review invites clinicians to consider a broader perspective in their evaluation and management of this elusive condition.As the understanding of these connections evolves,so too may the prospects for early diagnosis and tailored interventions,ultimately enhancing the quality of life for those living with NTG.

Modeling Blood Flow in Veins of Uniform Properties (Giraffe Jugular Vein)

This paper models the giraffe’s jugular veins as a uniform collapsible tube from a rigid skull. The equations governing one-dimensional steady flow through such a tube for various conditions have been developed. The effects of inertial and inclination angles that have not been discussed previously have been included. It has been shown that different flows for a uniform tube (vein) are possible. However, this flow matches that of a jugular vein which is supercritical, and the steady solution has been given by the balance between the driving forces of gravity and the viscous resistance to the flow at the right atrium of the heart must be sub-critical for a fixed right-atrium pressure which means that an elastic jump is required to return the flow to sub-critical from the supercritical flow upstream this type of relationship gives rise to flow limitation at the same time given any right atrium fixed pressure there exists a maximum flow rate which when exceeded the boundary conditions of the flow do not hold boundary conditions at the right atrium are not satisfied hence making the steady flow impossible this mechanism of flow limitation is slightly different from the other one in that causes airways through forced expiration from the observation made it is clearly shown that there is an intravascular pressure difference with a change in height.

Dynamic Non-Invasive Detection of NADH Based on Blood Flow-Mediated Skin Fluorescence (FMSF) Method

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH/NAD+) is involved in important biochemical reactions in human metabolism, including participation in energy production by mitochondria. The changes in fluorescence intensity as a function of time in response to blocking and releasing of blood flow in a forearm are used as a measure of oxygen transport with blood to the tissue, which directly correlates with the skin microcirculation status. In this paper, a non-invasive dynamic monitoring system based on blood flow-mediated skin fluorescence (FMSF) technology is developed to monitor the NADH fluorescence intensity of skin tissue during the process of blocking reactive hyperemia. Simultaneously, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) were used to observe blood flow, blood oxygen saturation (SOt2) and relative amount of hemoglobin (rHb) during the measurement process, which helped to explore NADH dynamics relevant physiological changes. A variety of parameters have been derived to describe NADH fluorescence curve based on the FMSF device. The experimental results are conducive to understanding the NADH measurement and the physiological processes related to it, which help FMSF to be a great avenue for in vivo physiological, clinical and pharmacological research on mitochondrial metabolism.

Thermogram-based estimation of foot arterial blood flow using neural networks

The altered blood flow in the foot is an important indicator of early diabetic foot complications.However,it is challenging to measure the blood flow at the whole foot scale.This study presents an approach for estimating the foot arterial blood flow using the temperature distribution and an artificial neural network.To quantify the relationship between the blood flow and the temperature distribution,a bioheat transfer model of a voxel-meshed foot tissue with discrete blood vessels is established based on the computed tomography(CT)sequential images and the anatomical information of the vascular structure.In our model,the heat transfer from blood vessels and tissue and the inter-domain heat exchange between them are considered thoroughly,and the computed temperatures are consistent with the experimental results.Analytical data are then used to train a neural network to determine the foot arterial blood flow.The trained network is able to estimate the objective blood flow for various degrees of stenosis in multiple blood vessels with an accuracy rate of more than 90%.Compared with the Pennes bioheat transfer equation,this model fully describes intra-and inter-domain heat transfer in blood vessels and tissue,closely approximating physiological conditions.By introducing a vascular component to an inverse model,the blood flow itself,rather than blood perfusion,can be estimated,directly informing vascular health.

Characteristics of traumatic brain injury models:from macroscopic blood flow changes to microscopic mitochondrial changes

Controlled cortical impingement is a widely accepted method to induce traumatic brain injury to establish a traumatic brain injury animal model.A strike depth of 1 mm at a certain speed is recommended for a moderate brain injury and a depth of>2 mm is used to induce severe brain injury.However,the different effects and underlying mechanisms of these two model types have not been proven.This study investigated the changes in cerebral blood flow,differences in the degree of cortical damage,and differences in motor function under different injury parameters of 1 and 2 mm at injury speeds of 3,4,and 5 m/s.We also explored the functional changes and mitochondrial damage between the 1 and 2 mm groups in the acute(7 days)and chronic phases(30 days).The results showed that the cerebral blood flow in the injured area of the 1 mm group was significantly increased,and swelling and bulging of brain tissue,increased vascular permeability,and large-scale exudation occurred.In the 2 mm group,the main pathological changes were decreased cerebral blood flow,brain tissue loss,and cerebral vasospasm occlusion in the injured area.Substantial motor and cognitive impairments were found on day 7 after injury in the 2 mm group;at 30 days after injury,the motor function of the 2 mm group mice recovered significantly while cognitive impairment persisted.Transcriptome sequencing showed that compared with the 1 mm group,the 2 mm group expressed more ferroptosis-related genes.Morphological changes of mitochondria in the two groups on days 7 and 30 using transmission electron microscopy revealed that on day 7,the mitochondria in both groups shrank and the vacuoles became larger;on day 30,the mitochondria in the 1 mm group became larger,and the vacuoles in the 2 mm group remained enlarged.By analyzing the proportion of mitochondrial subgroups in different groups,we found that the model mice had different patterns of mitochondrial composition at different time periods,suggesting that the difference in the degree of damage among traumatic brain injury groups may reflect the mitochondrial changes.Taken together,differences in mitochondrial morphology and function between the 1 and 2 mm groups provide a new direction for the accurate classification of traumatic brain injury.Our results provide reliable data support and evaluation methods for promoting the establishment of standard mouse controlled cortical impingement model guidelines.

Optimal velocity encoding during measurement of cerebral blood flow volume using phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography

This study investigated the effect of velocity encoding on measurement of brain blood flow and blood volume of inflow and outflow using phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography. A single two-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography slice was applied perpendicular to the internal carotid artery and the vertebral artery at C2 level. For each subject, the velocity encoding was set from 30 to 90 cm/s with an interval of 10 cm/s for a total of seven settings. Various velocity encodings greatly affected blood flow volume, maximal blood flow velocity and mean blood flow velocity in the internal carotid artery, but did not significantly affect vertebral arteries and jugular veins. When velocity encoding was 60-80 cm/s, the inflow blood volume was 655 _＋ 118 mL/min, and the outflow volume was 506 _＋ 186 mL/min. The ratio of outflow/inflow was steady at 0.78-0.83, and there was no aliasing in any of the images. These findings suggest that velocity encodings of 60 80 cm/s should be selected during measurement of cerebral blood flow volume using phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography.

Cerebral blood flow volume measurements of the carotid artery and ipsilateral branches using two-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography

The optimal velocity encoding of phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography （PC MRA） in measuring cerebral blood flow volume （BFV） ranges from 60 to 80 cm/s. To verify the accuracy of two-dimensional （2D） PC MRA, the present study localized the region of interest at blood vessels of the neck using PC MRA based on three-dimensional time-of-flight sequences, and the velocity encoding was set to 80 cm/s. Results of the measurements showed that the error rate was 7.0±6.0% in the estimation of BFV in the internal carotid artery, the external carotid artery and the ipsilateral common carotid artery. There was no significant difference, and a significant correlation in BFV between internal carotid artery ＋ external carotid artery and ipsilateral common carotid artery. In addition, the BFV of the common carotid artery was correlated with that of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery. The main error was attributed to the external carotid artery and its branches. Therefore, after selecting the appropriate scanning parameters and protocols, 2D PC MRA is more accurate in the determination of BFV in the carotid arteries.

Retinal thickness and fundus blood flow density changes in chest pain subjects with dyslipidemia

AIM:To assess the retinal thickness and fundus blood flow density changes in chest pain patients with dyslipidemia using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).METHODS:All subjects with chest pain as the main symptom accepted a comprehensive ophthalmological examination.According to the serum lipid levels,the participants were divided into the control group and the dyslipidemia group.The retina thickness and fundus blood flow density were determined using OCTA.RESULTS:The study enrolled 87 left eyes from 87 adults with dyslipidemia and 87 left eyes from age-and sexmatched participants without dyslipidemia.The retina of dyslipidemia subjects was significantly thinner than that of the controls in the inferior(P=0.004 and P=0.014,respectively)and temporal(P=0.015 and P=0.019,respectively)regions,both inner and outer layers.In terms of blood flow density in the macula or optic disk,there was a decreasing trend in the dyslipidemia group compared with the control group,especially in the inferior and temporal regions.CONCLUSION:Dyslipidemia may contribute to the decrease in retinal thickness and fundus blood flow density.Further validation of the association between abnormal lipid metabolism and fundus microcirculation alterations needs to be carried out in chest pain patients.

The effects of decompressive craniectomy on cerebral blood flow volume and brain metabolism in different aged patients with severe traumatic brain injury

Objective To explore effects of decompressive craniectomy on cerebral blood flow volume and brain metabolism in different aged patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods 71 cases were divided into three groups according age: group A( 【 30 years) ,group B ( 30 ～ 50 years) 。

EFFECTS OF ELECTRO ACUPUNCTURE AND TWIRLING REINFORCING-REDUCING MANIPULATIONS ON VOLUME OF MICROCIRCULATORY BLOOD FLOW IN CEREBRAL PIA MATER

Effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and routine acupuncture with twirling reinforcing and reducing manipulation of the needle (RA) both at Zusanli point (St 36) on volume of microcirculatory blood flow in the cerebral pia mater were observed by fenestration of the cranial bone and laser Doppler microcirculatory blood flow analyser. Results showed that both RA and EA could increase the volume of microcirculatory blood flow in the cerebral pia mater; and that the increase in the EA group was superior to that in RA group. This suggests that a moderate and effective stimulation is a key to the production of a regulative effect on the organism.

Cerebral and muscle tissue oxygenation during exercise in healthy adults: A systematic review

Background:Near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)technology has allowed for the measurement of cerebral and skeletal muscle oxygenation simultaneously during exercise.Since this technology has been growing and is now successfully used in laboratory and sports settings,this systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence and enhance an integrative understanding of bloodflow adjustments and oxygen(O_(2))changes(i.e.,the balance between O_(2) delivery and O_(2) consumption)within the cerebral and muscle systems during exercise.Methods:A systematic review was conducted using PubMed,Embase,Scopus,and Web of Science databases to search for relevant studies that simultaneously investigated cerebral and muscle hemodynamic changes using the near-infrared spectroscopy system during exercise.This review considered manuscripts written in English and available before February 9,2023.Each step of screening involved evaluation by 2 inde-pendent authors,with disagreements resolved by a third author.The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies.Results:Twenty studies were included,of which 80%had good methodological quality,and involved 290 young or middle-aged adults.Different types of exercises were used to assess cerebral and muscle hemodynamic changes,such as cycling(n=11),treadmill(n=1),knee extension(n=5),isometric contraction of biceps brachii(n=3),and duet swim routines(n=1).The cerebral hemodynamics anal-ysis was focused on the frontal cortex(n=20),while in the muscle,the analysis involved vastus lateralis(n=18),gastrocnemius(n=3),biceps brachii(n=5),deltoid(n=1),and intercostal muscle(n=1).Overall,muscle deoxygenation increases during exercise,reaching a plateau in voluntary exhaustion,while in the brain,oxyhemoglobin concentration increases with exercise intensity,reaching a plateau or declining at the exhaustion point.Conclusion:Muscle and cerebral oxygenation respond differently to exercise,with muscle increasing O_(2) utilization and cerebral tissue increasing O_(2) delivery during exercise.However,at the exhaustion point,both muscle and cerebral oxygenation become compromised.This is characterized by a reduction in bloodflow and a decrease in O_(2) extraction in the muscle,while in the brain,oxygenation reaches a plateau or decline,potentially resulting in motor failure during exercise.

Pharmacological interventions targeting the microcirculation following traumatic spinal cord injury

Traumatic spinal cord injury is a devastating disorder chara cterized by sensory,motor,and autonomic dysfunction that seve rely compromises an individual's ability to perform activities of daily living.These adve rse outcomes are closely related to the complex mechanism of spinal cord injury,the limited regenerative capacity of central neurons,and the inhibitory environment fo rmed by traumatic injury.Disruption to the microcirculation is an important pathophysiological mechanism of spinal cord injury.A number of therapeutic agents have been shown to improve the injury environment,mitigate secondary damage,and/or promote regeneration and repair.Among them,the spinal cord microcirculation has become an important target for the treatment of spinal cord injury.Drug inte rventions targeting the microcirculation can improve the microenvironment and promote recovery following spinal cord injury.These drugs target the structure and function of the spinal cord microcirculation and are essential for maintaining the normal function of spinal neuro ns,axons,and glial cells.This review discusses the pathophysiological role of spinal cord microcirculation in spinal cord injury,including its structure and histopathological changes.Further,it summarizes the progress of drug therapies targeting the spinal cord mic rocirc ulation after spinal cord injury.

Reduction of epinephrine in the lumbar spinal cord following repetitive blast-induced traumatic brain injury in rats

Traumatic brain inju ry-induced unfavorable outcomes in human patients have independently been associated with dysregulated levels of monoamines,especially epinephrine,although few preclinical studies have examined the epinephrine level in the central nervous system after traumatic brain injury.Epinephrine has been shown to regulate the activities of spinal motoneurons as well as increase the heart rate,blood pressure,and blood flow to the hindlimb muscles.Therefore,the purpose of the present study was to determine the impact of repeated blast-induced traumatic brain injury on the epinephrine levels in seve ral function-s pecific central nervous system regions in rats.Following three repeated blast injuries at 3-day intervals,the hippocampus,motor cortex,locus coeruleus,vestibular nuclei,and lumbar spinal cord were harvested at post-injury day eight and processed for epinephrine assays using a high-sensitive electrochemical detector cou pled with high-performance liquid chromatography.Our results showed that the epinephrine levels were significantly decreased in the lumbar spinal cord tissues of blast-induced traumatic brain injury animals compared to the levels detected in age-and sex-matched sham controls.In other function-specific central nervous system regions,although the epinephrine levels were slightly altered following blast-induced tra u matic brain injury,they were not statistically significant.These results suggest that blast injury-induced significant downregulation of epinephrine in the lumbar spinal cord could negatively impact the motor and cardiovascular function.This is the first repo rt to show altered epinephrine levels in the spinal cord following repetitive mild blast-induced traumatic brain injury.

Relationship between ultrasound parameters of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries and intrauterine fetal distress

BACKGROUND By comprehensively analyzing the blood flow parameters of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries,doctors can more accurately identify fetal intrauterine distress,as well as assess its severity,so that timely interventions can be implemented to safeguard the health and safety of the fetus.AIM To identify the relationship between ultrasound parameters of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries and intrauterine distress.METHODS Clinical data of pregnant women admitted between January 2021 and January 2023 were collected and divided into the observation and control groups(n=50 each),according to the presence or absence of intrauterine distress.The ultrasound hemodynamic parameters of the uterine artery(UtA),fetal middle cerebral artery(MCA),and umbilical artery(UmA)were compared with neonatal outcomes and occurrence of intrauterine distress in the two groups.RESULTS Comparison of ultrasonic hemodynamic parameters,resistance index(RI),pulsatility index(PI),and systolic maximal blood flow velocity of UmA compared to diastolic blood flow velocity(S/D),revealed higher values of fetal MCA,PI,and S/D of UmA in pregnant women with UtA compared to controls(P<0.05),while there was no difference between the two groups in terms of RI(P<0.05)The incidence of a neonatal Apgar score of 8-10 points was lower in the observation group(66.7%)than in the control group(90.0%),and neonatal weight(2675.5±27.6 g)was lower than in the control group(3117.5±31.2 g).Further,cesarean section rate was higher in the observation group(70.0%)than in the control group(11.7%),and preterm labor rate was higher in the observation group(40.0%)than in the control group(10.0%).The incidence of fetal distress,neonatal growth restriction and neonatal asphyxia were also higher in the observation group(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION Fetal MCA,UmA,and maternal UtA hemodynamic abnormalities all develop in pregnant women with intrauterine distress during late pregnancy,which suggests that clinical attention should be paid to them,and monitoring should be strengthened to provide guidance for clinical intervention.

Application of buried auricular point combined with Wenjing Sanhan prescription in arteriosclerosis obliterans patients with resting pain

BACKGROUND Research on the combined use of ear acupoint embedding beans and warming meridians with cold-dispersing formulas for alleviating resting pain in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans(ASO)remains limited.AIM To explore the therapeutic efficacy of auricular point embedding beans combined with Wenjing Sanhan prescription in alleviating resting pain in patients with lower-limb ASO.METHODS A total of 100 patients with ASO experiencing resting pain who were treated at our hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were enrolled.They were randomly allocated into two groups using a double-blind approach.The control group was treated using a warming meridian with a cold-dispersing formula,while the study group received additional treatment with ear acupoint embedding beans.The clinical efficacy,ankle-brachial artery pressure ratio,hemorheological indicators,and traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The clinical efficacy rate in the study group was significantly higher(94.00%)than that in the control group(72.00%,P<0.05).Moreover,the ankle-brachial artery pressure ratio was significantly higher in the study group after treatment(P<0.05).Hemorheological parameters,including whole blood viscosity,plasma viscosity(1.83±0.11)mPa/s,fibrinogen levels(3.30±0.21)g/L,platelet adhesion rate(49.87%±10.51%),and erythrocyte aggregation index(1.79±0)were improved in the study group compared to the control group.In addition,the scores for decreased skin temperature(1.41±0.26),intermittent claudication(1.30±0.20),and resting pain(1.23±0.31)were significantly lower in the study group than those in the control group(all P<0.05).The level of oxidative stress in the study group also exhibited significant improvement(P<0.05),and the levels of inflammatory factors were considerably lower than those in the control group.CONCLUSION The combination of ear point embedding beans and Wenjing Sanhan prescription demonstrates promising clinical efficacy in alleviating resting pain associated with ASO.