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 in...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.展开更多
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 v...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.展开更多
Cerebral blood flow of 10 asphyxiated term newborns was continuously measured during the first 7 days of life and compared with that of 10 normal term infants by CDI. Frequency spectrum and blood flow variables in the...Cerebral blood flow of 10 asphyxiated term newborns was continuously measured during the first 7 days of life and compared with that of 10 normal term infants by CDI. Frequency spectrum and blood flow variables in the anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries were studied. The results showed evidently lower systolic amplitude in patients than that in normal subjects. End diastolic amplitude was zero in part of vessels, and values of bloed flow variables were all lower in day 1 of the life as compared with the control groups. Frequency spectrum recovered to normal patterns in 9 survived infants in day 2. but blood flow variables recovered to normal by day 7. Values of resistance index (RI) rose to 1 in some vessels of moderate hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) infants and stayed at 1 in the severe HIE infants. It is concluded that low CBF plays a key role in brain damage of post-asphyxiated newborns and RI may be an important parameter in the evaluation prognosis.展开更多
The present study aimed to improve the processing of data acquired from laser speckle contrast imaging(LSCI) to provide a standardization method to explore changes in regional cerebral blood flow(r CBF) and to det...The present study aimed to improve the processing of data acquired from laser speckle contrast imaging(LSCI) to provide a standardization method to explore changes in regional cerebral blood flow(r CBF) and to determine the correlations among r CBF, cerebral ischemic lesion volume and microvascular density over time in a focal ischemic region. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to focal photothrombotic(PT) ischemia. r CBF was measured using LSCI at different time points before and after PT ischemia through an intact skull. Standardized r CBF(Sr CBF), defined as the ratio of r CBF measured in the ipsilateral region of interest(ROI) to that in the corresponding contralateral region, was calculated to evaluate potential changes. In addition, the volume of the ischemic lesion and the microvascular density were determined using Nissl staining and immunofluorescence, respectively. The relationships among the ischemic lesion volume, microvascular density and Sr CBF were analyzed over time. The results showed that the cortical r CBF measured using LSCI following PT ischemia in the C57BL/6J mice gradually increased. Changes in the cerebral ischemic lesion volume were negatively correlated with Sr CBF in the ischemic region. Changes in the microvascular density were similar to those observed in Sr CBF. Our findings indicate that LSCI is a practical technique for observing changes in murine cortical r CBF without skull opening and for analyzing the relationships among the ischemic lesion volume, microvascular density and Sr CBF following focal cerebral ischemia. Preliminary results also suggest that the use of LSCI to observe the formation of collateral circulation is feasible.展开更多
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 no...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.展开更多
AIM: To describe retinal findings of various imaging modalities in acute retinal ischemia. METHODS: Fluorescein angiography(FA), spectral domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT), OCTangiography(OCT-A) and ...AIM: To describe retinal findings of various imaging modalities in acute retinal ischemia. METHODS: Fluorescein angiography(FA), spectral domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT), OCTangiography(OCT-A) and fundus autofluorescence(FAF) images of 13 patients(mean age 64y, range 28-86y) with acute retinal ischemia were evaluated. Six suffered from branch arterial occlusion, 2 had a central retinal artery occlusion, 2 had a combined arteriovenous occlusions, 1 patient had a retrobulbar arterial compression by an orbital haemangioma and 2 patients showed an ocular ischemic syndrome.RESULTS: All patients showed increased reflectivity and thickening of the ischemic retinal tissue. In 10 out of 13 patients SD-OCT revealed an additional highly reflective band located within or above the outer plexiform layer. Morphological characteristics were a decreasing intensity with distance from the fovea, partially segmental occurrence and manifestation limited in time. OCT-A showed a loss of flow signal in the superficial and deep capillary plexus at the affected areas. Reduced flow signal was detected underneath the regions with retinal edema. FAF showed areas of altered signal intensity at the posterior pole. The regions of decreased FAF signal corresponded to peri-venous regions. CONCLUSION: Multimodal imaging modalities in retinal ischemia yield characteristic findings and valuable diagnostic information. Conventional OCT identifies hyperreflectivity and thickening and a mid-retinal hyperreflective band is frequently observed. OCT-A examination reveals demarcation of the ischemic retinal area on the vascular level. FAF shows decreased fluorescence signal in areas of retinal edema often corresponding to peri-venous regions.展开更多
Since its introduction in the 1970’s,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)has become a standard imaging modality.With its broad and standardized application,it is firmly established in the clinical routine and an essential...Since its introduction in the 1970’s,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)has become a standard imaging modality.With its broad and standardized application,it is firmly established in the clinical routine and an essential element in cardiovascular and abdominal imaging.In addition to sonography and computer tomography,MRI is a valuable tool for diagnosing cardiovascular and abdominal diseases,for determining disease severity,and for assessing therapeutic success.MRI techniques have improved over the last few decades,revealing not just morphologic information,but functional information about perfusion,diffusion and hemodynamics as well.Four-dimensional(4D)flow MRI,a time-resolved phase contrast-MRI with three-dimensional(3D)anatomic coverage and velocity encoding along all three flow directions has been used to comprehensively assess complex cardiovascular hemodynamics in multiple regions of the body.The technique enables visualization of 3D blood flow patterns and retrospective quantification of blood flow parameters in a region of interest.Over the last few years,4D flow MRI has been increasingly performed in the abdominal region.By applying different acceleration techniques,taking 4D flow MRI measurements has dropped to a reasonable scanning time of 8 to 12 min.These new developments have encouraged a growing number of patient studies in the literature validating the technique’s potential for enhanced evaluation of blood flow parameters within the liver’s complex vascular system.The purpose of this review article is to broaden our understanding of 4D flow MRI for the assessment of liver hemodynamics by providing insights into acquisition,data analysis,visualization and quantification.Furthermore,in this article we highlight its development,focussing on the clinical application of the technique.展开更多
Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography(DOCT)is a noninvasive optical diagnostic technique,which is well suited for the quantitative mapping of microflow velocity profiles and the analysis of flow-vessel interactions.The...Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography(DOCT)is a noninvasive optical diagnostic technique,which is well suited for the quantitative mapping of microflow velocity profiles and the analysis of flow-vessel interactions.The noninvasive imaging and quantitative analysis of blood flow in the complex-structured vascular bed is required in many biomedical applications,including those where the determination of mechanical properties of vessels or the knowledge of the mechanic interactions between the flow and the housing medium plays a key role.The change of microvessel wall elasticity could be a potential indicator of cardiovascular disease at the very early stage,whilst monitoring the blood flow dynamics and associated temporal and spatial variations in vessel’s wall shear stress could help predicting the possible rupture of atherosclerotic plaques.The results of feasibility studies of application of DOCT for the evaluation of mechanical properties of elastic vessel model are presented.The technique has also been applied for imaging of sub-cranial rat blood flow in vivo.展开更多
Earthing (grounding) refers to the human body being in contact with the surface of the Earth by barefoot exposure outdoors or using special indoor systems connected to the Earth. Previous studies have showed multiple ...Earthing (grounding) refers to the human body being in contact with the surface of the Earth by barefoot exposure outdoors or using special indoor systems connected to the Earth. Previous studies have showed multiple beneficial effects as a result of such contact, including better sleep, normalization of cortisol, reduced inflammation, pain and stress, and better blood flow. To determine if Earthing for one hour improves facial blood circulation, forty middle-aged volunteers were divided into a grounded group and a sham-grounded group according to a double-blind procedure. They were asked to sit in a comfortable recliner chair equipped with a grounding mat, pillow and patches. The grounding systems were either grounded or sham-grounded via a wire to the ground port of a power outlet. An infrared imaging camera was used to measure changes in blood flow and temperature. Thermal imaging showed clearly improved circulation of fluids (including blood) throughout the torso, which in turn, translates into enhanced delivery of blood to the head and improved blood circulation in the face as well. The results of this innovative study demonstrate that even one-hour contact with the Earth appears to promote significantly autonomic nervous system control of body fluids and peripheral blood flow that may improve blood circulation in the torso and face, facial tissue repair, skin health and vitality and optimize facial appearance (face anterior view p = 0.002;face lateral views p = 0.017;full anterior torso view p = 0.002). Further study using larger comparison groups and following subjects for a longer period of time (longitudinal study) is warranted.展开更多
Using the laser speckle contrast imaging and wavelet-based analyses,we investigate a latent("hidden")stage of the development of intracranial hemorrhages(ICHs)in newborn rats.We apply two measures based on t...Using the laser speckle contrast imaging and wavelet-based analyses,we investigate a latent("hidden")stage of the development of intracranial hemorrhages(ICHs)in newborn rats.We apply two measures based on the continuous wavelet-transform of blood flow velocity in the sagittal sinus,namely,the spectral energy in distinct frequency ranges and a multiscality degree characterizing complexity of experimental data.We show that the wavelet-based multifractal formalism reveals changes in the cerebrovascular blood flow at the development of ICH.展开更多
Global cerebral perfusion parameters were measured using dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) in eight healthy volunteers examined during normal breathing and spontaneous hyperventilati...Global cerebral perfusion parameters were measured using dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) in eight healthy volunteers examined during normal breathing and spontaneous hyperventilation. DSC-MRI-based cerebral blood flow (CBF) de-creased during hyperventilation in all volun-teers (average decrease 29%), and the corre-sponding global CBF estimates were 73±19ml/ (min100g) during normal breathing and 52± 7.9ml/(min100g) during hyperventilation (mean ±SD, n=8). Furthermore, the hypocapnic condi-tions induced by hyperventilation resulted in a prolongation of the global mean transit time (MTT) by on average 14%. The observed CBF estimates appeared to be systematically over-estimated, in accordance with previously pub-lished DSC-MRI results, but reduced to more reasonable levels when a previously retrieved calibration factor was applied.展开更多
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a dementing disorder and one of the major public health problems in countries with greater longevity. The cerebral cortical thickness and cerebral blood flow (CBF), which are considered as...Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a dementing disorder and one of the major public health problems in countries with greater longevity. The cerebral cortical thickness and cerebral blood flow (CBF), which are considered as morphological and functional image features, respectively, could be decreased in specific cerebral regions of patients with dementia of Alzheimer type. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a computer-aided classification system for AD patients based on machine learning with the morphological and functional image features derived from a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system. The cortical thicknesses in ten cerebral regions were derived as morphological features by using gradient vector trajectories in fuzzy membership images. Functional CBF maps were measured with an arterial spin labeling technique, and ten regional CBF values were obtained by registration between the CBF map and Talairach atlas using an affine transformation and a free form deformation. We applied two systems based on an arterial neural network (ANN) and a support vector machine (SVM), which were trained with 4 morphological and 6 functional image features, to 15 AD patients and 15 clinically normal (CN) subjects for classification of AD. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values for the two systems based on the ANN and SVM with both image?features were 0.901 and 0.915, respectively. The AUC values for the ANN-and SVM-based systems with the morphological features were 0.710 and 0.660, respectively, and those with the functional features were 0.878 and 0.903, respectively. Our preliminary results suggest that the proposed method may have potential for assisting radiologists in the differential diagnosis of AD patients by using morphological and functional image features.展开更多
Earthing (grounding) refers to bringing the human body in direct contact with the negative electric charge of the earth’s surface by barefoot exposure outdoors or using special conductive indoor systems that are conn...Earthing (grounding) refers to bringing the human body in direct contact with the negative electric charge of the earth’s surface by barefoot exposure outdoors or using special conductive indoor systems that are connected to the Earth. To determine if earthing improves facial blood circulation/flow, a double-blind study was designed with forty subjects either grounded or sham-grounded (27 grounded subjects and 13 sham-grounded subjects acting as controls) for at least one hour in a comfortable recliner chair equipped with conductive mat, pillow, and patches. The grounding systems were either grounded or sham-grounded via a wire to the ground port (third hole) of a power outlet. A Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging camera was used to continuously record changes in facial blood flow non-invasively. Facial blood flow regulation clearly improved among grounded— but not sham-grounded—subjects. The results demonstrate, for the first time, that even one-hour contact with the earth restores blood flow regulation to the face suggesting enhanced skin tissue repair and improved facial appearance with possible implications for overall health. Further studies, using larger comparison groups, longer monitoring times, and more measuring methods, are warranted in order to confirm the novel influence of the Earth as a protector of skin health and appearance.展开更多
Purpose: To assess if injured eyes develop ocular blood flow disturbances that may contribute to development of traumatic glaucoma. Materials and Methods: 25 patients hospitalized for eye injury and elevated IOP were ...Purpose: To assess if injured eyes develop ocular blood flow disturbances that may contribute to development of traumatic glaucoma. Materials and Methods: 25 patients hospitalized for eye injury and elevated IOP were evaluated 24 months after the trauma. All injured and fellow eyes underwent IOP measure, visual field (HFAII, Central 30/2SITA), pulsatile ocular blood flow analysis (POBF, OBF Labs UK), CDI examination (PSV, EDV, and RI) of Ophthalmic Artery, Central Retinal Artery, Short Posterior Ciliary Arteries. Results: IOP was significantly higher in injured eyes (15.1 vs 13.0±2.7mmHg) (P= 0,01), but only 2 eyes (8.8%) were under medical treatment POBF values were significantly lower in injured eyes: 11,25 μl/s in traumatised eyes and 15,40 μl/s in fellow eyes (P = 0.002). Resistivity Index (RI) of all investigated retrobulbar vessels was very significantly higher in injured eyes than in fellow eyes (P= 0.0001). There is no significant correlation between IOP and ocular blood flow disturbances.展开更多
The influence of ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)action on pancreatic blood flow(PBF)and the development of acute pancreatitis(AP)in laboratory rats is evaluated in vivo by using the laser speckle contrast imaging(LSCI).Addi...The influence of ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)action on pancreatic blood flow(PBF)and the development of acute pancreatitis(AP)in laboratory rats is evaluated in vivo by using the laser speckle contrast imaging(LSCI).Additionally,the optical properties in norm and under condition of AP in rats were assessed using a modied integrating sphere spectrometer and inverse Monte Carlo(IMC)software.The results of the experimental study of microcirculation of the pancreas in 82 rats in the ischemic model are presented.The data obtained conrm the fact that local ischemia and changes in the blood°ow velocity of the main vessels cause and provoke acute pancreatitis.展开更多
Numerous pathophysiologic observations in humans and animals led to the formulation of the response-to-injury hypothesis of atherosclerosis, which proposed that endothelial denu- dation by the blood flow was the first...Numerous pathophysiologic observations in humans and animals led to the formulation of the response-to-injury hypothesis of atherosclerosis, which proposed that endothelial denu- dation by the blood flow was the first step in atherosclerosis. At present it is impossible to describe hemodynamics only by the Navier-Stokes or Oldroyd-B equations because in the large arteries blood flow is unsteady, with the flow separation and waveform propagation of the thyxotropic mass. The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of the arterial pulse wave on the blood flow and initial factors of atherosclerosis. In 12 healthy men (25-39 years of age) peak velocity, mean velocity, mean flow and net flow in the aorta have been investigated by МR angiography. Initial velocity was registered after 43msec of the ECG-R wave, and it differed from zero at all sites of the aorta, although net flow was equal to zero. Womersley’s number from the ascending to the thoracic aorta decreased from 12.5 ±1.5 to 7.3 ±1.2;flow modified from inertio-elastic to viscous. In the aortic arch in protodiastole blood flow separated into the opposite directed streams resulting in wave superposition with the high net flow. At the isthmus area separated waves interferences and reflects to anterograde direction. Here flow acceleration in protodiastole is 6 times higher than in systole. Pulse waves move on artery walls fifteen or more times more rapidly than the blood flow. Pulse oscillation increases strain rate to the contiguous vessel wall flow layers. At the sites with the flow wave negative interference vessel pulse oscillation attenuates and at the boundary reflection flow wave can shift the vessel wall.展开更多
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-con...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.展开更多
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant/Award Numbers 62075135 and 61975126)the Science and Technology Innovation Commission of Shenzhen(Grant/Award Numbers JCYJ20190808174819083 and JCYJ20190808175201640)Shenzhen Science and Technology Planning Project(ZDSYS 20210623092006020).
文摘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.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81741115)Military Creative Project(No.16CXZ014)Military Healthcare Project(No.16BJZ11)。
文摘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.
文摘Cerebral blood flow of 10 asphyxiated term newborns was continuously measured during the first 7 days of life and compared with that of 10 normal term infants by CDI. Frequency spectrum and blood flow variables in the anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries were studied. The results showed evidently lower systolic amplitude in patients than that in normal subjects. End diastolic amplitude was zero in part of vessels, and values of bloed flow variables were all lower in day 1 of the life as compared with the control groups. Frequency spectrum recovered to normal patterns in 9 survived infants in day 2. but blood flow variables recovered to normal by day 7. Values of resistance index (RI) rose to 1 in some vessels of moderate hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) infants and stayed at 1 in the severe HIE infants. It is concluded that low CBF plays a key role in brain damage of post-asphyxiated newborns and RI may be an important parameter in the evaluation prognosis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81271407)
文摘The present study aimed to improve the processing of data acquired from laser speckle contrast imaging(LSCI) to provide a standardization method to explore changes in regional cerebral blood flow(r CBF) and to determine the correlations among r CBF, cerebral ischemic lesion volume and microvascular density over time in a focal ischemic region. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to focal photothrombotic(PT) ischemia. r CBF was measured using LSCI at different time points before and after PT ischemia through an intact skull. Standardized r CBF(Sr CBF), defined as the ratio of r CBF measured in the ipsilateral region of interest(ROI) to that in the corresponding contralateral region, was calculated to evaluate potential changes. In addition, the volume of the ischemic lesion and the microvascular density were determined using Nissl staining and immunofluorescence, respectively. The relationships among the ischemic lesion volume, microvascular density and Sr CBF were analyzed over time. The results showed that the cortical r CBF measured using LSCI following PT ischemia in the C57BL/6J mice gradually increased. Changes in the cerebral ischemic lesion volume were negatively correlated with Sr CBF in the ischemic region. Changes in the microvascular density were similar to those observed in Sr CBF. Our findings indicate that LSCI is a practical technique for observing changes in murine cortical r CBF without skull opening and for analyzing the relationships among the ischemic lesion volume, microvascular density and Sr CBF following focal cerebral ischemia. Preliminary results also suggest that the use of LSCI to observe the formation of collateral circulation is feasible.
基金supported by China Scholarship Council(202208210093,to RJ)。
文摘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.
文摘AIM: To describe retinal findings of various imaging modalities in acute retinal ischemia. METHODS: Fluorescein angiography(FA), spectral domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT), OCTangiography(OCT-A) and fundus autofluorescence(FAF) images of 13 patients(mean age 64y, range 28-86y) with acute retinal ischemia were evaluated. Six suffered from branch arterial occlusion, 2 had a central retinal artery occlusion, 2 had a combined arteriovenous occlusions, 1 patient had a retrobulbar arterial compression by an orbital haemangioma and 2 patients showed an ocular ischemic syndrome.RESULTS: All patients showed increased reflectivity and thickening of the ischemic retinal tissue. In 10 out of 13 patients SD-OCT revealed an additional highly reflective band located within or above the outer plexiform layer. Morphological characteristics were a decreasing intensity with distance from the fovea, partially segmental occurrence and manifestation limited in time. OCT-A showed a loss of flow signal in the superficial and deep capillary plexus at the affected areas. Reduced flow signal was detected underneath the regions with retinal edema. FAF showed areas of altered signal intensity at the posterior pole. The regions of decreased FAF signal corresponded to peri-venous regions. CONCLUSION: Multimodal imaging modalities in retinal ischemia yield characteristic findings and valuable diagnostic information. Conventional OCT identifies hyperreflectivity and thickening and a mid-retinal hyperreflective band is frequently observed. OCT-A examination reveals demarcation of the ischemic retinal area on the vascular level. FAF shows decreased fluorescence signal in areas of retinal edema often corresponding to peri-venous regions.
文摘Since its introduction in the 1970’s,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)has become a standard imaging modality.With its broad and standardized application,it is firmly established in the clinical routine and an essential element in cardiovascular and abdominal imaging.In addition to sonography and computer tomography,MRI is a valuable tool for diagnosing cardiovascular and abdominal diseases,for determining disease severity,and for assessing therapeutic success.MRI techniques have improved over the last few decades,revealing not just morphologic information,but functional information about perfusion,diffusion and hemodynamics as well.Four-dimensional(4D)flow MRI,a time-resolved phase contrast-MRI with three-dimensional(3D)anatomic coverage and velocity encoding along all three flow directions has been used to comprehensively assess complex cardiovascular hemodynamics in multiple regions of the body.The technique enables visualization of 3D blood flow patterns and retrospective quantification of blood flow parameters in a region of interest.Over the last few years,4D flow MRI has been increasingly performed in the abdominal region.By applying different acceleration techniques,taking 4D flow MRI measurements has dropped to a reasonable scanning time of 8 to 12 min.These new developments have encouraged a growing number of patient studies in the literature validating the technique’s potential for enhanced evaluation of blood flow parameters within the liver’s complex vascular system.The purpose of this review article is to broaden our understanding of 4D flow MRI for the assessment of liver hemodynamics by providing insights into acquisition,data analysis,visualization and quantification.Furthermore,in this article we highlight its development,focussing on the clinical application of the technique.
文摘Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography(DOCT)is a noninvasive optical diagnostic technique,which is well suited for the quantitative mapping of microflow velocity profiles and the analysis of flow-vessel interactions.The noninvasive imaging and quantitative analysis of blood flow in the complex-structured vascular bed is required in many biomedical applications,including those where the determination of mechanical properties of vessels or the knowledge of the mechanic interactions between the flow and the housing medium plays a key role.The change of microvessel wall elasticity could be a potential indicator of cardiovascular disease at the very early stage,whilst monitoring the blood flow dynamics and associated temporal and spatial variations in vessel’s wall shear stress could help predicting the possible rupture of atherosclerotic plaques.The results of feasibility studies of application of DOCT for the evaluation of mechanical properties of elastic vessel model are presented.The technique has also been applied for imaging of sub-cranial rat blood flow in vivo.
文摘Earthing (grounding) refers to the human body being in contact with the surface of the Earth by barefoot exposure outdoors or using special indoor systems connected to the Earth. Previous studies have showed multiple beneficial effects as a result of such contact, including better sleep, normalization of cortisol, reduced inflammation, pain and stress, and better blood flow. To determine if Earthing for one hour improves facial blood circulation, forty middle-aged volunteers were divided into a grounded group and a sham-grounded group according to a double-blind procedure. They were asked to sit in a comfortable recliner chair equipped with a grounding mat, pillow and patches. The grounding systems were either grounded or sham-grounded via a wire to the ground port of a power outlet. An infrared imaging camera was used to measure changes in blood flow and temperature. Thermal imaging showed clearly improved circulation of fluids (including blood) throughout the torso, which in turn, translates into enhanced delivery of blood to the head and improved blood circulation in the face as well. The results of this innovative study demonstrate that even one-hour contact with the Earth appears to promote significantly autonomic nervous system control of body fluids and peripheral blood flow that may improve blood circulation in the torso and face, facial tissue repair, skin health and vitality and optimize facial appearance (face anterior view p = 0.002;face lateral views p = 0.017;full anterior torso view p = 0.002). Further study using larger comparison groups and following subjects for a longer period of time (longitudinal study) is warranted.
基金This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation(Agreement 14-15-00128).
文摘Using the laser speckle contrast imaging and wavelet-based analyses,we investigate a latent("hidden")stage of the development of intracranial hemorrhages(ICHs)in newborn rats.We apply two measures based on the continuous wavelet-transform of blood flow velocity in the sagittal sinus,namely,the spectral energy in distinct frequency ranges and a multiscality degree characterizing complexity of experimental data.We show that the wavelet-based multifractal formalism reveals changes in the cerebrovascular blood flow at the development of ICH.
文摘Global cerebral perfusion parameters were measured using dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) in eight healthy volunteers examined during normal breathing and spontaneous hyperventilation. DSC-MRI-based cerebral blood flow (CBF) de-creased during hyperventilation in all volun-teers (average decrease 29%), and the corre-sponding global CBF estimates were 73±19ml/ (min100g) during normal breathing and 52± 7.9ml/(min100g) during hyperventilation (mean ±SD, n=8). Furthermore, the hypocapnic condi-tions induced by hyperventilation resulted in a prolongation of the global mean transit time (MTT) by on average 14%. The observed CBF estimates appeared to be systematically over-estimated, in accordance with previously pub-lished DSC-MRI results, but reduced to more reasonable levels when a previously retrieved calibration factor was applied.
文摘Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a dementing disorder and one of the major public health problems in countries with greater longevity. The cerebral cortical thickness and cerebral blood flow (CBF), which are considered as morphological and functional image features, respectively, could be decreased in specific cerebral regions of patients with dementia of Alzheimer type. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a computer-aided classification system for AD patients based on machine learning with the morphological and functional image features derived from a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system. The cortical thicknesses in ten cerebral regions were derived as morphological features by using gradient vector trajectories in fuzzy membership images. Functional CBF maps were measured with an arterial spin labeling technique, and ten regional CBF values were obtained by registration between the CBF map and Talairach atlas using an affine transformation and a free form deformation. We applied two systems based on an arterial neural network (ANN) and a support vector machine (SVM), which were trained with 4 morphological and 6 functional image features, to 15 AD patients and 15 clinically normal (CN) subjects for classification of AD. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values for the two systems based on the ANN and SVM with both image?features were 0.901 and 0.915, respectively. The AUC values for the ANN-and SVM-based systems with the morphological features were 0.710 and 0.660, respectively, and those with the functional features were 0.878 and 0.903, respectively. Our preliminary results suggest that the proposed method may have potential for assisting radiologists in the differential diagnosis of AD patients by using morphological and functional image features.
文摘Earthing (grounding) refers to bringing the human body in direct contact with the negative electric charge of the earth’s surface by barefoot exposure outdoors or using special conductive indoor systems that are connected to the Earth. To determine if earthing improves facial blood circulation/flow, a double-blind study was designed with forty subjects either grounded or sham-grounded (27 grounded subjects and 13 sham-grounded subjects acting as controls) for at least one hour in a comfortable recliner chair equipped with conductive mat, pillow, and patches. The grounding systems were either grounded or sham-grounded via a wire to the ground port (third hole) of a power outlet. A Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging camera was used to continuously record changes in facial blood flow non-invasively. Facial blood flow regulation clearly improved among grounded— but not sham-grounded—subjects. The results demonstrate, for the first time, that even one-hour contact with the earth restores blood flow regulation to the face suggesting enhanced skin tissue repair and improved facial appearance with possible implications for overall health. Further studies, using larger comparison groups, longer monitoring times, and more measuring methods, are warranted in order to confirm the novel influence of the Earth as a protector of skin health and appearance.
文摘Purpose: To assess if injured eyes develop ocular blood flow disturbances that may contribute to development of traumatic glaucoma. Materials and Methods: 25 patients hospitalized for eye injury and elevated IOP were evaluated 24 months after the trauma. All injured and fellow eyes underwent IOP measure, visual field (HFAII, Central 30/2SITA), pulsatile ocular blood flow analysis (POBF, OBF Labs UK), CDI examination (PSV, EDV, and RI) of Ophthalmic Artery, Central Retinal Artery, Short Posterior Ciliary Arteries. Results: IOP was significantly higher in injured eyes (15.1 vs 13.0±2.7mmHg) (P= 0,01), but only 2 eyes (8.8%) were under medical treatment POBF values were significantly lower in injured eyes: 11,25 μl/s in traumatised eyes and 15,40 μl/s in fellow eyes (P = 0.002). Resistivity Index (RI) of all investigated retrobulbar vessels was very significantly higher in injured eyes than in fellow eyes (P= 0.0001). There is no significant correlation between IOP and ocular blood flow disturbances.
基金the nancial sup-port of the Project No.13.2251.21.0009 of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
文摘The influence of ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)action on pancreatic blood flow(PBF)and the development of acute pancreatitis(AP)in laboratory rats is evaluated in vivo by using the laser speckle contrast imaging(LSCI).Additionally,the optical properties in norm and under condition of AP in rats were assessed using a modied integrating sphere spectrometer and inverse Monte Carlo(IMC)software.The results of the experimental study of microcirculation of the pancreas in 82 rats in the ischemic model are presented.The data obtained conrm the fact that local ischemia and changes in the blood°ow velocity of the main vessels cause and provoke acute pancreatitis.
文摘Numerous pathophysiologic observations in humans and animals led to the formulation of the response-to-injury hypothesis of atherosclerosis, which proposed that endothelial denu- dation by the blood flow was the first step in atherosclerosis. At present it is impossible to describe hemodynamics only by the Navier-Stokes or Oldroyd-B equations because in the large arteries blood flow is unsteady, with the flow separation and waveform propagation of the thyxotropic mass. The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of the arterial pulse wave on the blood flow and initial factors of atherosclerosis. In 12 healthy men (25-39 years of age) peak velocity, mean velocity, mean flow and net flow in the aorta have been investigated by МR angiography. Initial velocity was registered after 43msec of the ECG-R wave, and it differed from zero at all sites of the aorta, although net flow was equal to zero. Womersley’s number from the ascending to the thoracic aorta decreased from 12.5 ±1.5 to 7.3 ±1.2;flow modified from inertio-elastic to viscous. In the aortic arch in protodiastole blood flow separated into the opposite directed streams resulting in wave superposition with the high net flow. At the isthmus area separated waves interferences and reflects to anterograde direction. Here flow acceleration in protodiastole is 6 times higher than in systole. Pulse waves move on artery walls fifteen or more times more rapidly than the blood flow. Pulse oscillation increases strain rate to the contiguous vessel wall flow layers. At the sites with the flow wave negative interference vessel pulse oscillation attenuates and at the boundary reflection flow wave can shift the vessel wall.
基金the Medical Program of the Scientific & Technical Foundation in Xiamen(MRI study of chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency) in 2008,No.3502Z20084028
文摘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.