Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation - Volume 57, issue 2

Authors: Varady, E. | Feher, E. | Marko, L. | Battyany, I.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The aim of our article is to report normal values of β stiffness parameter and pulse wave velocity (PWV) determined via radio frequency echo-tracking technique first in different age groups of a healthy Central European population in both gender. Values of PWV and β stiffness parameters increase normally during aging and in certain vascular diseases including atherosclerosis. Detection of significant deviation from the normal values provides opportunity to diagnose the early stage atherosclerosis before morphological changes become visible and while therapy is more efficient. Atherosclerosis is responsible great percentage of morbidity and mortality in western world population therefore the detection …of these parameters could be important and useful in primary and secondary prevention. Show more

Keywords: RF echo-tracking, atherosclerosis, β stiffness, normal values

DOI: 10.3233/CH-141829

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 185-189, 2014

Authors: Wobser, Hella | Wiest, Reiner | Salzberger, Bernd | Wohlgemuth, Walter Alexander | Stroszczynski, Christian | Jung, Ernst-Michael

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate treatment response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with a new real-time imaging fusion technique of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with multi-slice detection computed tomography (CT) in comparison to conventional post-interventional follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 40 patients with HCC (26 male, ages 46–81 years) were evaluated 24 hours after TACE using CEUS with ultrasound volume navigation and image fusion with CT compared to non-enhanced CT and follow-up contrast-enhanced CT after 6–8 weeks. Reduction of tumor vascularization to less than 25% was regarded as “successful” treatment, whereas reduction to levels >25% was considered as “partial” treatment response. …Homogenous lipiodol retention was regarded as successful treatment in non-enhanced CT. RESULTS: Post-interventional image fusion of CEUS with CT was feasible in all 40 patients. In 24 patients (24/40), post-interventional image fusion with CEUS revealed residual tumor vascularity, that was confirmed by contrast-enhanced CT 6–8 weeks later in 24/24 patients. In 16 patients (16/40), post-interventional image fusion with CEUS demonstrated successful treatment, but follow-up CT detected residual viable tumor (6/16). Non-enhanced CT did not identify any case of treatment failure. Image fusion with CEUS assessed treatment efficacy with a specificity of 100%, sensitivity of 80% and a positive predictive value of 1 (negative predictive value 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: Image fusion of CEUS with CT allows a reliable, highly specific post-interventional evaluation of embolization response with good sensitivity without any further radiation exposure. It can detect residual viable tumor at early state, resulting in a close patient monitoring or re-therapy. Show more

Keywords: Real-time image fusion, CEUS, HCC, TACE, treatment response

DOI: 10.3233/CH-141830

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 191-201, 2014

Authors: Roch, Toralf | Schulz, Christian | Jung, Friedrich | Ma, Nan | Lendlein, Andreas

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: With the worldwide increase of atherosclerosis, the need for new engineered patient specific implants such as stents or vascular grafts is still emerging. Recently, very smooth poly(ether imide) (PEI) films were, based on their hemocompatibility and compatibility with endothelial cells, suggested as potential biomaterial for cardiovascular applications. In atherosclerosis, immune mechanisms such as complement activation, but also cellular responses such as monocytes and neutrophils activation, can mediate the inflammatory response. Therefore, it is important that the implant material itself does not trigger the inflammatory response. Early immune mechanisms - e.g. macrophage activation, complement induction, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), …and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by leukocytes - could potentiate the inflammatory responses, and may thereby alter endothelial cells behaviour or facilitate platelet activation. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the immuno-compatibility of PEI-films. The PEI-films were fabricated from commercially available PEI, which was dissolved in dichloromethane and pulled out on a cleaned, smooth glass surface and subsequently, solvent residues were removed during the drying procedure. Using a murine macrophage reporter cell line possible material bound microbial contaminations and material intrinsic immuno-stimulatory properties were investigated. The macrophages were viable after adhering on the PEI-films and did not show signs of activation, indicating that the used PEI-film was free of microbial contaminations. To determine whether PEI-films induced complement activation, the release of C5a in pooled human plasma was analyzed. The detected C5a levels did not differ between PEI-films and tissue culture plates (TCP), which served as control material. Furthermore, in whole human blood, the generation of ROS as well as the cytokine production were investigated by flow cytometry and by multiplex bead arrays, respectively. The production of IL-6 and TNF-α as well as the generation of ROS by immune cells of the whole blood was not induced upon contact with PEI-films. The immunological evaluation of PEI-films revealed that no substantial activation of the investigated early immune mechanisms occurred. Altogether, this data demonstrate that PEI is immuno-compatible and from that perspective may be a suitable biomaterial for cardiovascular applications. Show more

Keywords: Immuno-compatibility, endotoxins, biomaterial, poly(ether imide), cardiovascular implants

DOI: 10.3233/CH-141831

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 203-212, 2014

Article Type: Other

DOI: 10.3233/CH-141858

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 213-213, 2014