Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation - Volume 70, issue 2

Authors: Smirnova, E. | Shulkina, S. | Loran, E. | Podtaev, S. | Antonova, N.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The focus of this paper is the determination of endothelial dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the establishment of a relationship between the traditional biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and the vascular tone regulation indices obtained from indirect cold tests in MetS patients. Our investigation was conducted on 30 patients aged 45.5±9 years. The control group comprised 14 healthy subjects aged 48.2±2.4 years. The mechanism of vascular tone regulation was investigated using the wavelet analysis of skin temperature oscillations (WAST). The degrees of microvascular vasoconstriction and vasodilatation were determined during contralateral cold tests in the endothelial (0.02–0.0095 Hz), neurogenic (0.05–0.02 Hz) …and myogenic (0.05–0.14 Hz) frequency ranges. In MetS patients, vasoconstriction indices were higher and vasodilatation indices were lower than in the subjects of the control group, which is indicative of disorders in the mechanisms of microvascular tone regulation. These indices correlate with the metabolic parameters and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) levels. The correlation of vasoconstriction and vasodilatation indices with the main factors of the metabolic syndrome testifies that the biological and functional aspects of the endothelial dysfunction are closely related. Show more

Keywords: Endothelial dysfunction, wavelet analysis of skin temperature oscillations, metabolic syndrome

DOI: 10.3233/CH-170247

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 129-142, 2018

Authors: You, Qi-Qin | Xu, Ming | Yao, Ming-Hua | Xu, Guang | Liu, Hui | Pu, Huan | Xiang, Li-Hua | Wu, Rong

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value of combined conventional ultrasound (US) and acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging for the differential diagnosis of BI-RADS category 4 breast lesions of different sizes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2013 to January 2015, 283 patients (with a total of 292 breast lesions) who underwent US and ARFI examination were included in this retrospective study. The SWV for the lesion and adjacent normal breast tissue were measured and the SWV ratio was calculated. VTI grade was also assessed. The lesions were separated into three groups on the basis of size, and two …combinations of ARFI parameters (SWV + VTI and SWV ratio + VTI) were applied to reassess the BI-RADS categories. Diagnoses were confirmed by pathological examination after biopsy or surgery. ROC analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic efficiency of each method. The Z test was used to compare the difference between AUC of the two methods. RESULTS: Significant improvement was seen in the diagnostic performance of US with the use of the ARFI parameters SWV + VTI (77/179 [43.0%] of BI-RADS category 4A breast lesions were downgraded) and SWV ratio + VTI (64/179 [35.8%] of BI-RADS category 4A breast lesions were downgraded, including two malignant cases that were misdiagnosed as benign) (P  < 0.01). The difference between the performances of the two combinations—SWV + VTI and SWV ratio + VTI—was significant only in breast lesions <10 mm in size, where the AUC of SWV ratio + VTI was significantly greater than the AUC of SWV + VTI (0.929 vs. 0.874; P  < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Combination of US with ARFI can improve diagnostic performance and help avoid unnecessary biopsy in BI-RADS category 4 breast lesions. The combination of SWV ratio + VTI can improve BI-RADS classification of small lesions (<10 mm size). Show more

Keywords: BI-RADS category 4, breast lesions, lesion size, VTQ, VTI

DOI: 10.3233/CH-170299

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 143-154, 2018

Authors: Horner, Jeffrey S. | Beris, Antony N. | Woulfe, Donna S. | Wagner, Norman J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Research on hemorheology is driven in part by its significance in blood diseases and the possible use of hemorheology as a diagnostic tool. However, existing data on blood rheology are limited largely to measurements of steady shear behavior often with varying measurement protocols and insufficient characterization of the physiology. OBJECTIVE: The effects of ex vivo aging and environmental conditions on blood viscosity are investigated to improve standards for hemorheology measurements. METHODS: Measurements on the viscosity of blood from nine healthy donors are obtained and the physiological state of the blood determined. Steady and transient …shear measurements are reported as a function of time from withdrawal. The effect of transportation temperature is also assessed. RESULTS: Blood transported at 4 °C may exhibit anomalous viscosity variations for short to intermediate times, as opposed to blood transported at room temperature. A time of approximately 3.0 hours was identified as the maximum time after the initial test that accurate rheological tests can be conducted on blood samples. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement protocol and time limit guidelines are established for conducting accurate rheological measurements on blood. Show more

Keywords: Hemorheology, aging, thixotropy, measurement protocol, hyperviscosity

DOI: 10.3233/CH-170330

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 155-172, 2018

Authors: Kulikov, Dmitry | Glazkov, Alexey | Dreval, Alexander | Kovaleva, Yulia | Rogatkin, Dmitry | Kulikov, Alexander | Molochkov, Anton

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Laser Doppler flowmetry is widely used in scientific studies of blood microcirculation but constrained in clinical use due to the low diagnostic significance. OBJECTIVE: This research is aimed at creation of approaches to prognostic value increase in detection of microcirculation disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The study included 10 volunteers and 10 patients with t2DM. Participants were observed using postural-heating test with LAKK-02 complex. We calculated median microcirculation for each period and then held a retroactive classification of the surveyed groups. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences between groups were found …in the perfusion during the combination of postural and heating impacts. Conversion of this perfusion in the relative index (Irel ) (relative to the baseline perfusion), allowed us to increase the significance of the differences. The value of AUC (95% CI) during the ROC-analysis in reverse classification was 0.81 (0,60–1,0) for the period of the impacts combination, and 0.93 (0,81–1,0) for Irel index. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the possibility of using LDF method to achieve predictive value in the detection of microcirculatory disorders in an individual patient with diabetes. This extends the perspectives of the method beyond the purely scientific research. Show more

Keywords: Laser-Doppler flowmetry, microcirculation, diabetes mellitus, diabetes complications

DOI: 10.3233/CH-170294

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 173-179, 2018

Authors: Magyar, Zsuzsanna | Mester, Anita | Nadubinszky, Gabor | Varga, Gabor | Ghanem, Souleiman | Somogyi, Viktoria | Tanczos, Bence | Deak, Adam | Bidiga, Laszlo | Oltean, Mihai | Peto, Katalin | Nemeth, Norbert

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) can be protective against the damage. However, there is no consensus on the optimal amount of tissue, the number and duration of the ischemic cycles, and the timing of the preconditioning. The hemorheological background of the process is also unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of remote organ ischemic preconditioning on micro-rheological parameters during liver ischemia-reperfusion in rats. METHODS: In anesthetized rats 60-minute partial liver ischemia was induced with 120-minute reperfusion (Control, n  = 7). In the preconditioned groups a tourniquet was applied on the left thigh for 3×10 minutes 1 hour …(RIPC-1, n  = 7) or 24 hours (RIPC-24, n  = 7) prior to the liver ischemia. Blood samples were taken before the operation and during the reperfusion. Acid-base, hematological parameters, erythrocyte aggregation and deformability were tested. RESULTS: Lactate concentration significantly increased by the end of the reperfusion. Erythrocyte deformability was improved in the RIPC-1 group, erythrocyte aggregation increased during the reperfusion, particularly in the RIPC-24 group. CONCLUSIONS: RIPC alleviated several hemorheological changes caused by the liver I/R. However, the optimal timing of the RIPC cannot be defined based on these results. Show more

Keywords: Ischemia-reperfusion, remote ischemic preconditioning, hemorheology

DOI: 10.3233/CH-170351

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 181-190, 2018

Authors: Kuehlmann, Britta | Burkhardt, Rebekka | Kosaric, Nina | Prantl, Lukas

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Implant-based breast augmentation is one of the most frequently performed operations in plastic surgery worldwide, for aesthetic and reconstructive reasons. Capsular fibrosis is the most common long-term foreign body response after breast implant augmentation. OBJECTIVE: To compare the occurrence of capsular contracture in aesthetic and reconstructive-cancer patients, including those patients who received radiotherapy prior to breast reconstruction with implants. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective evaluation of 319 patients who underwent breast implant revision between Jan 2000 and Oct 2016. The patient group was comprised of 175 reconstructive-cancer patients and 144 patients who underwent operation for …aesthetic reasons. The occurrence of capsular fibrosis, other complications and the time-period between implantation of breast implants and revision surgery (TP) was analyzed. RESULTS: For all 319 patients the mean TP was 7.9 years (7.86±0.45). The most common complication in all revisions was capsular fibrosis (65.1% of all revisions). In aesthetic patients with capsular fibrosis the mean TP was 11.9 years (11.89±0.95, p  < 0.001). This mean TP was significantly higher than the mean TP of 6.1 years (6.13±0.56, p  < 0.001) in breast cancer patients with capsular fibrosis. Preoperatively irradiated cancer patients had a mean TP of 6.2 years (6.17±0.95), compared to a mean TP of 5.1 years (5.07±0.19, p  = 0.051) in non-irradiated cancer patients, which was not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: We found that aesthetic patients exhibit a significantly higher mean TP compared to breast cancer patients, suggesting that reconstructive-cancer patients in general develop capsular fibrosis earlier. Despite the literature, we did not find a significant influence of preoperative radiotherapy on the occurrence of capsular fibrosis in reconstructive-cancer patients. Further clinical studies need to be conducted to identify methods to decrease the risk of developing capsular fibrosis. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/CH-170365

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 191-200, 2018

Authors: Yuan, Hai-Xia | Wang, Wen-Ping | Guan, Pei-Shan | Lin, Le-Wu | Wen, Jie-Xian | Yu, Qing | Chen, Xue-Jun

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Focal gallbladder adenomyomatosis (ADM) is a common disease that mimics gallbladder cancer (GBC) on ultrasonography. OBJECTIVE: Here we aim to assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differentiating ADM from GBC. METHODS: Forty-one histopathologically proven focal ADMs and 34 GBCs (≤T2 stage) were enrolled in the study. Lesion location, blood flow signals, contrast pattern and appearance on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) were compared respectively. RESULTS: Lesions were detected in fundus, body, neck at the rates of 61.0% (25/41), 26.8% (11/41) and 12.2% (5/41), respectively, in ADM patients, in comparison to 29.4% (10/34), 32.4% …(11/34) and 38.2% (13/34), respectively, in GBC patients (p  = 0.009). Blood flow signals were detected in 19.5% (8/41) of cases in ADMs, compared to 58.8% (20/34) in GBCs (p  = 0.001). On CEUS, iso-enhancement, hypo-enhancement, intramural anechoic space and intactness of GB wall were detected in 41.5% (17/41), 39.0% (16/41), 56.1% (23/41) and 80.5% (33/41) cases of ADMs, in contrast to 17.6% (6/34), 20.6% (7/34), 20.6% (7/34) and 17.6% (6/34) of GBCs (p  = 0.001, p  = 0.001, p  = 0.002, p  < 0.001, respectively). The prior Youden’s index were 0.81 based on intactness of GB wall on CEUS. CONCLUSION: Combined with CEUS helps improve the differential diagnosis accuracy of focal gallbladder ADMs. Show more

Keywords: Gallbladder adenomyomatosis, gallbladder carcinoma, contrast-enhanced ultrasound

DOI: 10.3233/CH-180376

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 201-211, 2018

Authors: Martini, Romeo | Bagno, Andrea

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The wavelet analysis has been applied to the Laser Doppler Fluxmetry for assessing the frequency spectrum of the flowmotion to study the microvascular function waves. Although the application of wavelet analysis has allowed a detailed evaluation of the microvascular function, its use does not seem to be yet widespread over the last two decades. Aiming to improve the diffusion of this methodology, we herein present a systematic review of the literature about the application of the wavelet analysis to the laser Doppler fluxmetry signal. A computer research has been performed on PubMed and Scopus databases from January 1990 …to December 2017. The used terms for the investigation have been “wavelet analysis”, “wavelet transform analysis”, “Morlet wavelet transform” along with the terms “laser Doppler”, “laserdoppler” and/or “flowmetry” or “fluxmetry”. One hundred and eighteen studies have been found. After the scrutiny, 97 studies reporting data on humans have been selected. Fifty-three studies, 54.0% (95% CI 44.2–63.6) pooled rate, have been performed on 892 healthy subjects and 44, 45,9 % (95% CI 36.3–55.7%) pooled rate have been performed on 1679 patients. No significant difference has been found between the two groups (p 0,81). On average, the number of studies published each year was 4.8 (95% CI 3.4–6.2). The trend of studies production has increased significantly from 1998 to 2017, (p 0.0006). But only the studies on patients have shown a significant increase trend along the years (p 0.0003), than the studies on healthy subjects (p 0.09). In conclusion, this review highlights that despite being a promising and interesting methodology for the study of the microcirculatory function, the wavelet analysis has remained still neglected. Show more

Keywords: Wavelet analysis, laser Doppler fluxmetry, microvascular function

DOI: 10.3233/CH-189903

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 213-229, 2018

Authors: Miyaji, Akane | Ikemura, Tsukasa | Hayashi, Naoyuki

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The CO2 reactivity is often used to assess vascular function, but it is still unclear whether this reactivity is affected by aging. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of aging on the CO2 reactivity in ocular and cerebral vessels, both of which are highly sensitive to hypercapnia, we compared the CO2 reactivity in the retinal artery (RA), retinal and choroidal vessels (RCV), optic nerve head (ONH), and middle cerebral artery (MCA) between young and middle-aged subjects. METHODS: We measured the CO2 reactivity in 14 young and 11 middle-aged males using laser-speckle flowgraphy …during a 3-min inhalation of CO2 -rich air. RESULTS: The CO2 reactivity in the RA and ONH were lower in the middle-aged group than in the young group, but no significant effect of age was observed in the RCV or MCA. The CO2 reactivity in the RA and ONH were correlated significantly with age, whereas those in the RCV or MCA were not. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that there are regional differences in the effect of age on the CO2 reactivity among not only ocular and cerebral vessels, but also the retinal and choroidal vessels, even though these vessels are in neighboring areas. Show more

Keywords: CO2 reactivity, aging, ocular vessels, cerebral vessels, vascular function

DOI: 10.3233/CH-170332

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 231-240, 2018