Portal vein pulsatility index is a more important indicator than congestion index in the clinical evaluation of right heart function

AIM： To study the changes of portal blood flow in congestive heart failure. METHODS： We studied the congestion index （CI） and portal vein pulsatility index （PI） in patients with varied degrees of congestive heart failure using ultrasonic Doppler. Ten patients with mean right atrial pressure （RA） 〈10 mmHg were classified as group 1 and the remaining 10 patients with RA〉 10 mmHg as group 2. RESULTS： There were no difference on cardiac index （HI, P= 0.28）, aortic pressure （AO, P= 0.78）, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure （LVED, P=0.06）, maximum portal blood velocity （Vmax, P= 0.17）, mean portal blood velocity （Vmean, P=0.15） and portal blood flow volume （PBF, P= 0.95） between the two groups. Group 2 patients had higher pulmonary wedge pressure （PW, 29.9 ± 9.3 mmHg vs 14.6±7.3 mmHg, P=0.002）, pulmonary arterial pressure （PA, 46.3± 13.2 mmHg vs 25.0±8.2 mmHg, P=0.004）, RA （17.5±5.7 mmHg vs 4.7±2.4 mmHg, P〈 0.001）, right ventricular end-diastolic pressure （RVED, 18.3±5.6 mmHg vs 6.4±2.7 mmHg, P〈0.001）, CI （8.7±2.4 vs 5.8± 1.2, P=0.03）, and PI （87.8±32.3% vs 27.0±7.4%, P〈0.001） than Group 1. CI was correlated with PI （P〈0.001）, PW （P〈0.001）, PA （P〈0.001）, RA （P=0.043）, RVED （P=0.005）, HI （P〈0.001）, AO （P〈0.001）, CO （P〈0.001）, LVED （P〈0.001）, Vmax （P〈0.001）, Vmax （P〈0.001）, cross-sectional area of the main portal vein （P〈0.001） and PBF （P〈0.001）. CI could be as high as 8.3 in patients with RA〈 10 mmHg and as low as 5.9 in those with RA≥10 mmHg.CONCLUSION： Our data show that RI is a more significant indicator than CI in the clinical evaluation of high RA≥ 10 mmHg, whereas CI is better than PI in the assessment of left heart function.

Comparison of Ultrasound Blood Flow Characteristics of the Lower Limb in Diabetics with Early-Stage Peripheral Artery Disease and Non-Diabetic Controls

The aim of this study was to compare lower limb blood flow in asymptomatic diabetic patients with early-stage peripheral artery disease (PAD) and non-diabetic controls using duplex ultrasound parameters. This was a comparative cohort study of lower limb blood flow in 35 Black-African diabetic patients (25 females and 10 males with early-stage PAD median age 54 [IQR, 47 - 61] years;median HbA1c 6.3 [IQR, 5.7 - 8.0]%;BMI 29.2 ± 6.7;ABI 1.1 ± 0.1) and 36 non-diabetic controls (28 females and 8 males;median age 54 [IQR, 47 - 61] years;median HbA1c 6.3 [IQR, 5.7 - 8.0] %, BMI 29.2 ± 6.7;ABI 1.1 ± 0.1). Peak systolic velocity (PSV), pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI), were utilised to compare blood flow in the popliteal arteries (PA), anterior tibial arteries (ATA) and posterior tibial arteries (PTA) in addition to ankle brachial index. All the ultrasound parameters showed good (ICC ≥ 0.7;0.50 - 0.85, 95% CI) to excellent (ICC = 1.0;1.0 - 1.0, 95% CI) reliability within groups as well as acceptable variability () other than pulsatility index of the anterior tibial artery within diabetic patients (11.1% CV). PSV, RI and PI were significantly and meaningfully higher (P;d ≥ 0.33), in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic controls except for PI - PTA (P = 0.72;d = 0.11). Differences in PSV and RI highlighted the effects of early-stage PAD on lower limb blood flow of diabetic patients. In contrast, the effects of early-stage PAD on blood flow were not demonstrated in the PTA and ATA of diabetic patients by PI.

The Study of Ovarian Artery Hemodynamics in Patients with Infertility by Color Doppler Energy

Seventy four cases of infertility were examined to study the hemodynamics of the bilateral ovarian arteries at 21st day during the corpus luteum phase by color Doppler energy(CDE) and color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI). All the patients were verified by laparoscopy, fallopian tube patency examination and ovarian function test. Twenty two healthy women served as controls. The results showed that the difference of resistance index(RI)and pulsatility index (PI) of bilateral ovarian arteries between the infertility and the normal controls had statistical significance ( P <0.01), and the PI showed negative correlation with the thickness of endometrium (left side: r =0.724, P <0.01; right side: r =0.756, P <0.01). The results also showed that CDE was more sensitive than CDFI in displaying the ovarian arteries. It could be concluded that the elevated resistance of ovarian artery during the corpus luteum phase was one of the important factors that resulted in infertility.

Testicular vascularization at two locations in relation to hormonal levels,and pixel echotexture in bulls at different ages

Objective:To assess the hemodynamic changes that occurred in the main testicular artery at two different locations such as supra and marginal ones in bulls at three different ages.Methods:Eighteen Baladi bulls were divided according to their age into three different age groups:1 year[n=6;groupⅠwith bodyweight(380±10)kg],3 years[n=6;groupⅡwith bodyweight(570±10)kg],and 6 years old[n=6;groupⅢwith bodyweight(650±10)kg]Baladi bulls.Circumference of the scrotum,thickness of the mediastinum,testicular dimensions,vascularity,and hormonal levels were measured.Testicular hemodynamics were assessed by Doppler ultrasound scanning.Results:Testicular width,length,and volume were significantly different among the three age groups,with the highest in bulls of groupⅢ(P<0.05).The bulls in groupⅢhad significantly higher mediastinal line thickness and scrotal circumference than groupⅠ(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between groupⅡand groupⅢ.Bulls in groupⅡshowed a decline in Doppler indices(resistance and pulsatility indexes)at both testicular branches compared to the other two groups(P<0.05).Supra and marginal end diastolic velocities in the three age groups were significantly different,with the highest in groupⅡ(P<0.05).Time average velocity(cm/s)was significantly elevated in groupⅡcompared to the other two groups(P<0.05).Both testicular echotextures were significantly decreased in groupⅡ(P<0.05).Estradiol and nitric oxide metabolites were significantly high in groupⅡcompared to the other two groups(P<0.05).Meanwhile,the level of plasma testosterone was maximum in groupⅢ(P<0.05).Positive correlations were found between supratesticular artery resistance and pulsatility indexes(r=0.81;P<0.001),while both resistance and pulsatility indexes had correlated negative with estradiol(r=-0.71 and r=-0.91;P<0.001),and nitric oxide metabolites(r=-0.92 and r=-0.72;P<0.001).Conclusions:Three-year old Baladi bull has the lesser Doppler indices with lesser echotexture and greater nitric oxide with estradiol concentrations,which directs a significant ability for the thermoregulation process.These parameters will help in breeding selection.

COLOR FLOW IMAGING OF HEPATIC CARCINOMA

Color flow imaging(CFI)ultrasound technique can discover the tumor vascularity and superimposed it to convontional B-mode ultrasonogram in real-time. The flow velocity on spectral Doppler sonogram can be measured by setting the sample volume to any selected site.One hundred and thirty-six patients with solid hepatic space-occupied lesions had been admitted and 113 cases were confirmed by operation and pathology,23 patients were strongly suspected by hepatic angiography (HAA).Ninety nine patients with 109 nodules were finally diagnosed as hepatic cellular carcinoma(HCC).According to color flow distribution pattern,3 kinds of color configuation had been nominated.Tumor vascularity discovered by CFI,especially the arterial blood flow was easy to be recognized,and its emerge rate was quite different between HCC group(94.5%)and hemangioma(HCH)group(17.07%)(P<0.01).Spectral Doppler studies were also carried out in these cases and the detectability of arterial flow in HCC group(95.41%)was much higher than that to HCH group (21. 95%) (P<0. 005).Resistant index(RI)and pulsatile index(PI)could be used to differentiate HCC (>0. 50 and >0.80 respectively)from HCH (P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively).Arterial-portal(A-P) shunt could also be detected by CFI and spectral Doppler(mostly its Vmax>0.6m/s).The detection rate of A-P shunt was 64% in HCC group,but no case could be detected in HCH group.

Optimization of parameters of Yi Zhi Chan Tuina manipulation promotes peripheral circulation

OBJECTIVE:To explore the most effective parameters of Yi Zhi Chan Tuina manipulation for improving peripheral blood circulation.METHODS:A total of 45 volunteers were recruited from Pudong district in Shanghai,China,from October to December 2010,and randomly divided into nine groups using computer-generated random numbers.Participants received Yi Zhi Chan Tuina manipulation on Chengjin(BL 56) acupoint;each group received a particular combination of manipulation force and treatment time.We used a two-factor,three-level factorial design to examine the effects of force and treatment time on changes in popliteal artery average volume flow,pulsatility index,and vessel diameter to determine the optimal parameter group.Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after Tuina manipulation by interviewers blind to treatment group status.RESULTS:After manipulation,two of the nine groups showed an increase in popliteal artery volume flow.An inter-participants effect test showed that for main effect of time,F = 0.331,P = 0.720;for main effect of force,F = 2.934,P = 0.066;and for the force-time interaction effect,F = 1.072,P = 0.385,indicating no interaction between force and time.However,a pairwise comparison of the three levels of time showed that a treatment time of 10 min was significantly more effective than that of 2 min(P = 0.024).A pairwise comparison of light force,medium force,and heavy force showed a statistically significant effect for medium force(P = 0.035).CONCLUSION:Yi Zhi Chan Tuina manipulation with vertical force of 9.31 N for 10 min is most effective in improving peripheral circulation.

Screening and Prevention of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia(PE)is a multisystem disorder of pregnancy classically characterized by hypertension with significant proteinuria after 20 weeks'gestation.This disorder is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.PE can be subdivided into preterm PE(with delivery at<37 weeks'gestation)and term PE(with delivery at≥37 weeks'gestation).Preterm PE is associated with a higher risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes than term PE.Traditional method of screening as recommended by professional guidelines has limited predictive performance and therefore should be updated to reflect recent scientific evidence that the target of screening should be preterm PE,the best way to identify the high-risk group is the Bayes-based method that combines maternal risk factors and biomarkers,the threshold should be set at screen positive rate of 10%,aspirin should be started before 16 weeks'gestation,and the daily dose should be higher than 100mg.