Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation - Volume 33, issue 2

Authors: Kaymaz, Alev Akdogan | Tamer, Sule | Albeniz, Isil | Cefle, Kivanc | Palanduz, Sukru | Ozturk, Sukru | Salmayenli, Nihal

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Many studies have shown that diabetes mellitus is associated with increased whole and blood viscosity and decreased erythrocyte deformability. It has been suggested that these abnormalities in blood rheology may play a causative role in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications. However, less is known about the content and quality of membrane proteins which may contribute to abnormalities in membrane dynamic and decreased erythrocyte deformability. In the present study we analysed various rheological parameters (blood and plasma viscosity, erythrocyte deformability, haemotological parameters), in cats with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). We also investigated alterations in erythrocyte membrane protein content by …sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). We found that erythrocyte rigidity and plasma and whole blood viscosities were significantly higher in cats with NIDDM compared to controls. SDS-PAGE revealed that the band 5 corresponding to actin was weaker while band 4.5 corresponding to integral membrane proteins (glycophorin A, B and C) had disappeared. Also, band 4.9, which is composed of dematin (a protein with actin-bundling capacity) was lost. We suggest that the observed abnormalities in membrane proteins may play a role in reduced erythrocyte deformability associated with diabetes mellitus. Show more

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 81-88, 2005

Authors: Üsküdar, Oğuz | Erdem, Ayşen | Demiroğlu, Halûk | Dikmenoğlu, Neslihan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic recurrent systemic vasculitis of unknown cause. Thrombotic tendency is another characteristics of BD. While hemorheological changes play crucial role in thrombosis, erythrocyte deformability (ED), which is one of the main determinants of microcirculation and blood viscosity, has not been studied before in BD. ED was measured by the filtration method in 13 active BD patients diagnosed according to the criteria proposed by International Study Group for BD (ISG-BD) and in 13 age-, sex-, weight-, smoking habit-, and blood pressure-matched healthy controls. ED was decreased in active BD patients compared to the healthy control subjects. …The median deformability indices (DIs) in BD patients and healthy controls were 3.19 and 2.08 (p<0.001), respectively. The decrease in ED may be one of the reasons for increased thrombotic tendency in BD. Alteration in ED possibly plays a crucial role in the etiopathogenesis of thrombotic complications in BD and thus may be a target for treatment. Drugs increasing ED, such as pentoxifylline, have already been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of BD. Therefore, we propose that the therapeutic mechanism underlying the beneficial effect of this drug in BD is likely to be the correction of impaired ED. Show more

Keywords: Behçet's disease, thrombosis, hemorheology, erythrocyte deformability

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 89-94, 2005

Authors: Gu, Y.J. | Graaff, R. | de Hoog, E. | Veeger, N.J.G.M. | Panday, G. | Boonstra, P.W. | van Oeveren, W.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Erythrocyte aggregation is known to be affected by a number of factors including the concentration of various plasma proteins. This study was performed to examine the in vivo effect of hemodilution of plasma proteins on erythrocyte aggregation in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. Blood samples were taken before, during, and after operation from 40 coronary artery bypass grafting patients who were operated with CPB and concomitant hemodilution (CPB, n=20) and who without (nonCPB, n=20). Erythrocyte aggregation was determined with a LORCA aggregometer, during which all samples were standardized to a hematocrit level of 40%. Results showed that in the …CPB patients the aggregation index (AI) dropped to 44% of its preoperative baseline level 5 minutes after the start of hemodilution (from 47.7±10.1 to 26.6±11.4, p<0.01). Meanwhile, plasma concentration of fibrinogen (Fb) dropped to 55%, haptoglobin to 85%, ceruloplasmin to 55%, and albumin to 67%. In the nonCPB patients, however, there was only a slight drop in AI and the concentrations of plasma proteins during the similar period of time. On postoperative day 1, AI was rebounded to 37.1±12.4 in CPB patients compared with 44.3±11.7 in nonCPB patients. At baseline, AI was correlated only with Fb. During CPB and hemodilution, AI was correlated not only with Fb but also with haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin. Postoperatively, significant correlationship was found between AI and Fb, CRP, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, as well as albumin. These results indicate that hemodilution of plasma proteins significantly reduces the aggregability of erythrocytes in patients undergoing CPB. Besides Fb, other plasma proteins also contribute to AI during the early postoperative period when patients are recovering from CPB surgery. Show more

Keywords: Erythrocyte aggregation, erythrocyte deformability, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, albumin

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 95-107, 2005

Authors: Jung, Ernst Michael | Jungius, Karl-Peter | Rupp, Nikolaus | Gallegos, María | Ritter, Gunter | Lenhart, Markus | Clevert, Dirk-Andre | Kubale, Reinhard

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Purpose: To investigate the extent to which indeterminate lesions of the breast can be differentiated in the early and late phase after bolus injection of the ultrasound contrast medium Optison® . Materials and methods: Fifty female patients (mean age: 49 years) with a altogether 53 preoperatively impalpable indeterminate breast tumors, 20 fibroadenomas and 33 carcinomas, were examined by B-mode imaging and contrast medium-enhanced ultrasound with power Doppler (three patients had multifocal carcinomas). The tumors had a diameter of 5–15 mm (mean diameter: 9 mm). Histological confirmation was performed in all lesions by vacuum biopsies and/or surgical preparation. All examinations were …performed with a multifrequency linear array probe (5–10 MHz, Logiq9 and Logiq 7, GE). Power Doppler (PD) and B-mode imaging as well as tissue harmonic imaging (THI) were employed. A bolus of 0.5 ml Optison® was injected intravenously and spreading of the contrast enhancement and washout in the tumors were followed for at least 20 minutes. A low mechanical index was chosen to avoid early destruction of the microbubbles. Maximum tumor size was measured and tumors vessels were evaluated in digital cine ultrasound sequences. Results: Without CM administration, 14 of 19 tumor lesions smaller than 10 mm could be distinguished better from the surrounding tissue with THI compared to fundamental B-mode imaging. Both benign (17/20) and malignant (30/33) tumors exhibited increased tumor marginal vessels or intratumoral vessels in the early phase after CM injection. A diffuse contrast medium accumulation was observed in the late phase (8–18 min, mean: 12 min) in 30 of 33 malignant tumors, but in none of the benign tumors. The diagnostic confirmation for this late enhancement was there with 90% for the malignant tumors. Conclusion: After intravenous bolus administration of Optison® , breast carcinomas appear to have a prolonged diffuse enhancement of central tumor vasularity in the late phase compared to an earlier marginal vascularity of fibroadenomas. Show more

Keywords: Breast neoplasms, US, ultrasound, contrast media, ultrasound, power Doppler studies, ultrasound, harmonic studies

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 109-120, 2005

Authors: Muravyov, Alexei V. | Yakusevich, Vladimir V. | Kabanov, Adrei V. | Petrochenko, Alexander S.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This study was designed to examine changes of hemorheological parameters and red cell aggregation particularly in essential arterial hypertension subjects receiving antihypertensive diuretic therapy. Fifty six female subjects were enrolled in this study. Thirty seven subjects (group I) were treated for four weeks with Hydrochlorothiaszide (25 mg/day); Nineteen patients (group II) were infused with dose of furosemide 40 mg i.v. Both prior to and following drug treatment for four weeks and four hours after furosemide infusion hemorheological measurements included plasma viscosity; hematocrit, total plasma protein, red cell rigidity index (Tk) and RBC aggregation indices. In addition to this protocol the …erythrocytes of patients of group II were incubated with furosemide (0.03 mM; for 30 min at 37°C) to study a direct furosemide effect on red cell aggregation. Treatment and infusion with each of the two drugs significantly (p<0.05) reduced blood pressure in both groups. However, the hemorheological effects of hydrochlorothiaszide therapy were not significant. The effect of furosemide infusion and red cell incubation with it led to significant RBCA elevation. These results thus suggest that the rheologic effects of saluretic diuretics therapy were not significant. Single furosemide infusion and using it in vitro resulted in strong effect of red cell aggregation increase. Show more

Keywords: Red blood cell aggregation, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, hypertension, diuretic, hydrochlorothiaszide, furosemide

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 121-126, 2005

Authors: Yoysungnoen, P. | Wirachwong, P. | Bhattarakosol, P. | Niimi, H. | Patumraj, S.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Antiangiogenic activity of curcumin on the tumor neogenesis was investigated by evaluating the density of neocapillaries induced by Hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) in mice, using intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy. Male BALB/c nude mice (20–25 g) were used, and a dorsal skin-fold chamber was implanted. HepG2 (30 μl of 2×106 cells) were inoculated on the upper surface of the skin within the chamber. The mice were divided into two groups as follows. Dimethyl sulfoxide solution (0.1%) was fed (HepG2 group, n=5) or curcumin solution (3000 mg/kg bw) was fed oral daily (HepG2-Cur group, n=5), one day after the inoculation of HepG. …On days 7 and 14 post-tumor-inoculation, the tumor microvasculature was visualized by injecting 0.1 ml of 0.5% rhodamine B isothiocyanate-labeled dextran intravenously, and observed under an intravital fluorescence videomicroscope. Based on the recorded videoimage, the tumor neocapillary density and microvasculature were evaluated using a digital image analysis and correlated with the tumor area. The image analysis demonstrated that in the HepG2-group the neocapillary densities were significantly increased on day 7, and day 14, compared to the aged-matched Sham-group (P<0.05). In the HepG2-Cur group, the increase of tumor neocapillary density was attenuated significantly. It was suggested that high dose of curcumin might be an effective anti-angiogenic drug in the treatment against tumor. Show more

Keywords: Curcumin, hepatocellular carcinoma cells, intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy, neocapillary density, tumor angiogenesis

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 127-135, 2005

Authors: Patumraj, S. | Yoysungnoen, P. | Kachonrattanadet, P. | Wirachwong, P.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Tumor angiogenesis is an important process for several kinds of tumor, especially, during its angiogenic switch. The present study was aimed to investigate the dynamical process of tumor neocapillarization in Hepatocellular carcinoma cells implanted nude mice model. Male BALB/c nude mice (20–25 g) were used. After the implantation of a dorsal skin-fold chamber, the Hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) (30 μl of 2×106 cells) were inoculated into the upper layer of the skin within the chamber (HepG2-group), while the shammed control group (Sham-group) was received a normal saline. Intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy was performed to monitor the tumor neocapillary on days …7 and 14 post-inoculation by intravenous injection of 0.1 ml rhodamine B isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (0.5%). Based on the recorded videoimages, the tumor microvascular networks were measured using a digital image analysis. The neovascular density and configuration were represented in terms of microvascular density index (MVDI) and neovascular bifurcation ratio (BR). The MVDI levels of HepG2-group were significantly increased on day 7 and 14 compared to the age-matched Sham-group. The increase in MVDI agreed with the increase in the BR. In conclusion, our dorsal skin-fold chamber technique with intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy and digital image analysis was most useful to monitor the neovascular network for quantitatively evaluating the progression of tumor angiogenesis in terms of MVDI and BR values. Show more

Keywords: Bifurcation ratio, fluorescence videomicroscopy, hepatocellular carcinoma cells, microvascular density index, tumor angiogenesis

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 137-144, 2005

Authors: Falcó, Cristina | Vayá, Amparo | Simó, María | Contreras, Teresa | Santaolaria, Marisa | Aznar, Justo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Fibrinogen is one of the plasmatic proteins which has a major influence on erythrocyte aggregation. The level of fibrinogen at which erythrocyte aggregation does not further increase is not well established. Therefore we aim to determine erythrocyte aggregation with two devices: Myrenne aggregometer (M0 and M1 ) and Sefam erythro-aggregometer (Ta, AI10 and γD) in relation with fibrinogen levels, in patients with several diseases with fibrinogen levels ranging between 200–1100 mg/dl. With the Myrenne aggregometer a plateau can be observed for fibrinogen levels higher than 400 mg/dl, while with the Sefam erythro-aggregometer, aggregation increases proportionally with fibrinogen levels …higher than 400 mg/dl. In addition, for fibrinogen values higher than 400 mg/dl, only statististically significant correlations could be observed between fibrinogen and erythrocyte aggregation parameters with the Sefam erythro-aggregometer: r(Ta)=−0.463; r(AI10 )=0.624, r(γD)=0.817, p<0.01, but not with the Myrenne: r(M0 )=0.01, r(M1 )=0.02, ns. Although the Sefam erythro-aggregometer is a better tool for determining erythrocyte aggregation both at low and high fibrinogen levels, the Myrenne aggregometer may be useful for assessing the erythrocyte aggregation as an indicator of cardiovascular risk, as in such circumstances fibrinogen levels do not usually exceed values higher than 400 mg/dl. Show more

Keywords: Erythrocyte aggregability, erythrocyte disaggregability, fibrinogen

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 145-151, 2005

Authors: Lo Presti, Rosalia | Canino, Baldassare | Montana, Maria | Catania, Anna | Caimi, Gregorio

Article Type: Other

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 153-154, 2005

Authors: Bollini, A. | Hernández, G. | Bravo Luna, M. | Cinara, L. | Rasia, M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: During normal pregnancy the cardiovascular system undergoes extensive changes. In a previous work we demonstrated the role of the haemorheological profile as predictor of hypertensive gestational disorders through a retrospective study. In an attempt to clarify the rheological characteristics during normal gestation, blood and plasma viscosity, erythrocyte deformability and aggregation, and plasma fibrinogen levels were measured at second trimester of pregnancy. The interrelationships of different haemorheologic parameters, were analysed by Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed decreased erythrocyte deformability, and increased plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation due to increased fibrinogen in pregnant women. Despite these modifications blood viscosity did not …increase, but there was a decrease in relative blood viscosity, therefore, a profile in accordance, from the haemorheological point of view, with the classical concept stating that haemodilution is of the utmost importance to maintain an adequate microcirculation in the uteroplacental unit during normal gestation. Show more

Keywords: Pregnancy, haemorheology, blood viscosity, erythrocyte deformability, erythrocyte aggregation

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 155-161, 2005