Determination of left ventricular wall thickness and muscle mass by intravenous digital subtractionangiocardiography: validation of the method

Left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and muscle mass are importantmeasures of LV hypertrophy. In 24 patients LV end-diastolicwall thickness and muscle mass were determined (two observers)by digital subtraction angiocardiography (DSA) and conventionalLV angiocardiography (LVA). Wall thickness was determined overthe anterolateral wall of the left ventricle according to thetechnique of Rackley (method 1) or by planimetry (method 2).Seventeen patients were studied at rest and seven during dynamicexercise. Wall thickness correlated well between LVA and DSA;the best correlations were obtained by a combined subtractionmode using either method 1 or 2 (method 1, r0–80; method2,r0. 75). The standard error of estimate of the mean (SEE) wasslightly lower for method 2 ( 10%) than for method 1 ( 13%).DSA significantly overestimated wall thickness by 5–7%with method 1 and underestimated by 12–14% with method2. Muscle mass correlated well between LVA and DSA; the SEEwas 15% for method 1 and 12% for method 2. Overestimation ofmuscle mass by DSA was 7–11% with method 1 and underestimationwas 13–15% with method 2.It is concluded that LV wallthickness can be determined accurately by DSA with an SEE rangingbetween 10 and 13%. Determination of LV muscle mass is slightlyless accurate and the SEE is slightly larger ranging between13 to 17%. With method 1, wall thickness and muscle mass wereover estimated and with method 2 underestimated.     

老年ICU-AW患者超声测得四肢骨骼肌厚度与MRC评分相关性及对预后的预测ROC曲线分析

目的 探讨老年重症加强护理病房(intensive care unit, ICU)获得性肌无力(ICU-acquiredweakness, ICU-AW)患者超声测得四肢骨骼肌厚度与英国医学研究委员会(medical research council, MRC)量表评分相关性,并绘制受试者工作特征(receiver operating characteristic, ROC)曲线评价其对预后的预测价值。方法 选取我院老年ICU-AW患者60例作为研究组,另选取同期老年ICU接受机械通气无ICU-AW患者60例作为对照组,比较2组超声测得四肢骨骼肌厚度、MRC评分,分析四肢骨骼肌厚度与MRC评分的相关性,比较不同预后患者临床资料、四肢骨骼肌厚度、MRC评分,分析四肢骨骼肌厚度、MRC评分与老年ICU-AW患者预后的关系及预测预后的价值。结果 研究组肱二头肌、桡侧腕屈肌、股四头肌、胫前屈肌厚度及MRC评分低于对照组(P<0.05);老年ICU-AW患者肱二头肌、桡侧腕屈肌、股四头肌、胫前屈肌厚度与MRC评分呈正相关(P<0.05);病死患者28 d时机械通气天数高于生存患者,肱...     

中医综合疗法对假性近视患者黄斑处脉络膜厚度及微血流密度的影响

[目的] 研究中医综合疗法对青少年假性近视患者黄斑处脉络膜厚度及微血流密度的影响,为中医疗法在青少年假性近视的治疗方面提供依据。[方法] 使用SPSS 21.0软件产生随机数字,将51例（102只眼）假性近视青少年患者随机分成对照组和治疗组。对照组患者27例（54只眼）,单纯使用复方托吡卡胺滴眼液点眼治疗;治疗组患者24例（48只眼）,在对照组治疗的基础上配合中药雾化、中药眼贴和耳穴埋籽等中医综合治疗。两组患者疗程均为8周,治疗前后检测两组患者裸眼远视力、电脑验光屈光度数、黄斑中心凹下脉络膜厚度及黄斑区浅层血流密度,并评价两组患者疗效。[结果] 1）治疗组1例因中药雾化过敏导致脱落,最终纳入23例（46只眼）。2）治疗8周后,治疗组总有效率为92.3%,对照组总有效率为75.0%,治疗组疗效优于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。3）治疗后,治疗组患者平均视力较治疗前提高,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;对照组患者平均视力较治疗前无明显改善,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。组间比较方面,治疗组治疗后平均视力较对照组有一定提高,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。4）经治疗,治疗组患者平均假性近视度数较治疗前下降,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;对照组患者平均假性近视度数较治疗前略有下降,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。组间比较方面,治疗组治疗后平均假性近视度数较对照组有一定下降,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。5）治疗组患者黄斑中心凹下脉络膜厚度较治疗前增厚,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;对照组黄斑中心凹下脉络膜厚度较治疗前无明显改变,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;组间比较方面,治疗组治疗后黄斑中心凹下脉络膜厚度较对照组增厚,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。6）治疗后,治疗组黄斑区浅层血流密度较治疗前增加,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;对照组黄斑区浅层血流密度较治疗前增加,但差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;组间比较方面,治疗组治疗后黄斑区浅层血流密度较对照组明显增加,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。[结论] 采用中医综合疗法对青少年假性近视治疗效果较好,并且可以增加黄斑中心凹下脉络膜厚度及黄斑区浅层血流密度,短期观察无不良反应,值得临床推广运用。     

Relative motion of lung and chest wall promotes uniform pleural space thickness

The pleural space is modeled in two dimensions as a thin layer of fluid separating a deformable membrane and a rigid surface containing a bump. We computed the steady-state membrane configuration and fluid pressure distribution during relative sliding of the two surfaces. For physiologically relevant values of membrane tension, shear flow-induced pressures near the bump and far-field pressure gradients are similar to those measured in vivo within the pleural space (e.g. Lai-Fook et al.) [J. Appl. Physiol.: Respirat. Environ. Exercise Physiol. 56 (1984) 1633-1639]. Deformation of the membrane over the bump suggests that the pressure field generated by the sliding motion promotes an even layer of fluid in the pleural space, preventing asperities from touching. Results also suggest a possible mechanism for pleural fluid redistribution during breathing, whereby irreversible fluid motion is associated with the deformability of the membrane.     

A natriuresis receptor at the carotid bifurcation specifically activated by oxytocin

Summary Rats anaesthetised with Inactin, body temp. maintained at 37°C, were infused with mannitol-saline until both urine flow rate and conductivity reached a balanced state. In separate experiments under analogous conditions cardiac output was measured by dye dilution and organ flow rates by⁸⁶Rb distribution. Doses of oxytocin of 3 ng or less, injected at or just below the carotid bifurcation, caused a highly significant natriuresis with increased tubular rejection, but no measureable haemodynamic changes. The same oxytocin dose given into the internal or external carotid artery above the bifurcation caused neither haemodynamic changes nor natriuresis. Injection of vasopressin, angiotensin and -MSH at the sensitive site did not result in natriuresis in the same dosage range. Section of the sinus nerve significantly decreased the natriuretic response to oxytocin. It is suggested that the carotid body contains a specific oxytocin receptor capable of eliciting natriuresis in the rat.     

Diet salinity and vasopressin as reproduction modulators in the desert-dwelling golden spiny mouse (Acomys russatus)

The time for reproduction in mammals largely depends on the availability of water and food in their habitat. Therefore, in regions where rains are limited to definite seasons of the year, mammals presumably will restrict their breeding correspondingly. But while mammals living in predictable ecosystems would benefit by timing their season to an ultimate predictable cue, such as photoperiod, in unpredictable ecosystems (e.g., deserts) they will need to use a more proximate signal. We suggest a mechanism by which water shortage (low water content in plants) could act as a proximate cue for ending the reproductive season. The golden spiny mouse (Acomys russatus), a diurnal rodent living in extreme deserts, may face an increased dietary salt content as the summer progresses and the vegetation becomes dry. Under laboratory conditions, increased diet salinity lead to reproductive hiatus in females, notable in imperforated vagina, and a significant decrease in the ovaries, uteri, and body masses. In females treated with vasopressin (VP), a hormone expressed during water stress, the uteri and body masses have decreased significantly, and the ovaries exhibited an increased number of atretic follicles. VP has also led to a significant decrease in relative medullary thickness (RMT) of the kidney. It is thus suggested that VP could act as a modulator linking the reproductive system with water economy in desert rodents, possibly through its act on the energetic pathways.     

采用高脂饲料加空气干燥术建立颈动脉粥样硬化动物模型

目的:利用高脂饮食加空气干燥术建立一种稳定、重复性好、有较典型动脉粥样硬化病理改变的动物模型。方法:32只日本大耳白兔随机分为模型组(n=24)、对照组(n=8)。模型组给予高脂饲料喂养加空气干燥术,术中结扎左侧颈动脉分支血管,对照组正常饲料喂养,分别于术后第2、4、8、12周处死动物。取颈动脉组织切片HE染色,光镜下观察。结果:(1)75%兔颈总动脉存在细小血管分支,暂时结扎侧支血管后干燥效果更好。(2)对双侧颈动脉实施手术,结扎左侧分支,成模率更高。部分斑块显示出不稳定性。结论:采用改进后高脂饮食加空气干燥术可成功建立兔颈动脉粥样硬化模型,其病理特点适合于目前临床研究。     

EEG asymmetries may be affected by cranial and Brain parenchymal asymmetries

Summary The plagiocephaly index, an index that reflects an underlying anatomic asymmetry of the brain, was assessed in ten schizophrenic patients and its values were correlated with the lateral distribution of quantitatively evaluated EEG. The correlations between the index and alpha power at F7 were significant, positive for frontal asymmetry (frontal bulging) and negative for occipital flattening. We then studied ten normal subjects in an attempt to illuminate the contribution of several cephalic and cranial variables to the imbalance of alpha-afterdischarges (AD) of VEP recorded at O1–O2. The asymmetry index of AD was computed and correlated with asymmetries of CT-derived measures of occipital bone thickness, occipital lobe width, mastoid area, and sulcal asymmetry (the asymmetry of intraparietal sulcus location from the longitudinal fissure). With the exception of the sulcal variable all measures significantly covaried with alpha AD. These findings caution that it may be important to determine cranial and brain parenchymal asymmetries where brain laterality is pertinent to studies of EEG.     

Fine structure of the carotid body of the midterm human fetus

Summary The human fetal carotid body was studied using both histochemical and electron microscopic methods. The glomus cells of a mid term fetal carotid body evidently contain catecholamines. This was demonstrated both by formaldehyder-induced fluorescence of the cells and by the presence of typical dense-cored vesicles (diameter 1430–3200 Å) in the cytoplasm of the chief cells. The glomus cells were densely innervated and the synapses found on their surface were probably cholinergic in type, containing agranular synaptic vesicles measuring 400–700 Å in diameter with a few dense-cored vesicles measuring 900 to 1300 Å. Synapses were not found in any other cell type within the glomus caroticum. The prominent feature of the glomus cell cytoplasm was the presence of the dense-cored vesicles. The density of the vesicular core varied only slightly from cell to cell. There were no perceptible differences in vesicular size between the different cells. The glomus cells were mostly surrounded by the processes of the sustentacular cells, which usually also surrounded the capillary walls. No glomus cells were ever found in direct contact with the capillary wall. The capillaries were wide and very numerous over the restricted area of the organ. They formed sinusoidal loops, probably anastomosing with each other. Finally, the features of the fine structure are discussed, correlating the present findings with our knowledge about the adult functional carotic body.     

3D MRI-Based Multicomponent FSI Models for Atherosclerotic Plaques

A three-dimensional (3D) MRI-based computational model with multicomponent plaque structure and fluid-structure interactions (FSI) is introduced to perform mechanical analysis for human atherosclerotic plaques and identify critical flow and stress/strain conditions which may be related to plaque rupture. Three-dimensional geometry of a human carotid plaque was reconstructed from 3D MR images and computational mesh was generated using Visualization Toolkit. Both the artery wall and the plaque components were assumed to be hyperelastic, isotropic, incompressible, and homogeneous. The flow was assumed to be laminar, Newtonian, viscous, and incompressible. The fully coupled fluid and structure models were solved by ADINA, a well-tested finite element package. Results from two-dimensional (2D) and 3D models, based on ex vivo MRI and histological images (HI), with different component sizes and plaque cap thickness, under different pressure and axial stretch conditions, were obtained and compared. Our results indicate that large lipid pools and thin plaque caps are associated with both extreme maximum (stretch) and minimum (compression when negative) stress/strain levels. Large cyclic stress/strain variations in the plaque under pulsating pressure were observed which may lead to artery fatigue and possible plaque rupture. Large-scale patient studies are needed to validate the computational findings for possible plaque vulnerability assessment and rupture predictions.