Volume Flow Rate of Common Carotid Artery Measured by Doppler Method and Color Velocity Imaging Quantification (CVI-Q)

BACKGROUND: Common carotid artery (CCA) volume flow rate (VFR) is clinically useful for study of cerebrovascular disease. Color Velocity Imaging Quantification (CVI-Q; Philips Ultrasound International, Irvine, CA), previously reported as accurate and reliable, tracks the flow lumen over the cardiac cycle, as well as mean spatial velocity, which is multiplied by vessel area to obtain VFR. VFR can also be obtained by Doppler sampling for mean velocity, and vessel area based on static B-mode lumen diameter. We compared CCA VFR by CVI-Q and Doppler method (DM), since knowledge of how they compare is crucial when both are used clinically. METHOD: We prospectively studied patients having clinical carotid duplex exams and healthy controls. All had CCA VFR measured by both methods in the same exam session. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were reviewed. CCA VFR by CVI-Q in those without ICA stenosis was 337 +/- 96 mL/m, and by DM 359 +/- 130 mL/m; P = .33. There was no difference between methods for 50-75% or 75-95% ICA stenosis. In 7 patients with ICA occlusion, and 3 with 95-99% stenosis, VFR was higher by DM than by CVI-Q (Occlusion: 125 vs 58 mL/m, P = .007; 95-99%: 152 vs 63 mL/m, P = .038). There was no statistically significant difference between methods for measurement of the ratio of VFR between right and left CCA. CONCLUSION: In patients with 0-95% ICA stenosis, VFR by CVI-Q and DM showed no difference. For 95-100% ICA stenosis the methods differ; with higher VFR by DM. Side-to-side VFR ratios remain constant, irrespective of VFR method, and can still provide clinically useful information.     

Whole-brain 3D perfusion MRI at 3.0 T using CASL with a separate labeling coil.

A variety of continuous and pulsed arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion MRI techniques have been demonstrated in recent years. One of the reasons these methods are still not routinely used is the limited extent of the imaging region. Of the ASL methods proposed to date, continuous ASL (CASL) with a separate labeling coil is particularly attractive for whole-brain studies at high fields. This approach can provide an increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in perfusion images because there are no magnetization transfer (MT) effects, and lessen concerns regarding RF power deposition at high field because it uses a local labeling coil. In this work, we demonstrate CASL whole-brain quantitative perfusion imaging at 3.0 T using a combination of strategies: 3D volume acquisition, background tissue signal suppression, and a separate labeling coil. The results show that this approach can be used to acquire perfusion images in all brain regions with good sensitivity. Further, it is shown that the method can be performed safely on humans without exceeding the current RF power deposition limits. The current method can be extended to higher fields, and further improved by the use of multiple receiver coils and parallel imaging techniques to reduce scan time or provide increased resolution.     

Removing the effect of SVD algorithmic artifacts present in quantitative MR perfusion studies.

Quantitative cerebral blood flow (CBF) values can be obtained from dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MR perfusion studies using the standard singular value decomposition (sSVD) deconvolution algorithm. Reports in the literature from simulation and in vivo studies suggest that CBF estimates obtained using sSVD deconvolution depend on the arterial-tissue delay (ATD). By contrast, Fourier transform (FT) deconvolution produces CBF estimates that are independent of ATD. The diagnostic reliability of quantitative CBF measurements to define areas of normal tissue flow and tissue at risk is brought into doubt by such gross sensitivity to the specifics of the deconvolution approach. This variation of CBF values with ATD is shown to be an artifact associated with the current implementation of the sSVD deconvolution algorithm. A reformulated version of the SVD deconvolution algorithm (rSVD) is presented and compared to the standard SVD algorithm through simulation and patient case studies.     

Comparison of Asymmetry in Cerebral Blood Flow Between Brain Hemispheres Using Digital Subtraction Angiography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recently, endovascular techniques have gained significant therapeutic potential for both treatment and prevention of stroke. Cerebral angiography, which is an essential component of these procedures, has been used to provide morphological information regarding condition of blood vessels. In this study, we propose to determine the possibility of acquiring information regarding cerebral blood flow (CBF) in addition to morphologic information from data routinely available during angiography. METHODS: Digital subtraction angiography sequences were obtained for eight patients having occlusive disease in internal carotid artery (ICA) territories. Two regions-of-interest (ROIs) corresponding to the two brain hemispheres on AP view were delineated. For each image, the average pixel value within each ROI was calculated and used to generate time-density curves. Indices obtained from each curve were compared with each other and with the results obtained from the single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies performed a pre- or postangiography procedure. RESULTS: Comparison between ICA stenosis and cerebral perfusion measurements revealed that cerebral perfusion deficit can be independent of arterial occlusive disease. The indices obtained from the time-density curves exhibit a correlating trend with the results from SPECT studies. However, lack of sufficient sample data prevented any meaningful statistical analysis to be conducted. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a technique for utilizing the angiographic data for the important task of routinely and easily measuring CBF. Availability of CBF measurements during cerebral angiography may favorably impact upon the appropriate use of endovascular procedures and potentially contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with stroke.     

Duplex sonography of renal arteries as a diagnostic tool in hypertensive children

Computed duplex sonography was used to examine the renal arteries in 36 hypertensive children and adolescents (ages 4–17 years) with arterial hypertension of either renal or non-renal origin. Time-averaged flow velocities, maximum blood flow velocities as well as absolute renal blood flow and renal blood flow per gram kidney weight were measured. Normal flow velocities and normal to elevated renal blood flow volume was found in patients with acute glomerulonephritis and those with signs of chronic glomerulonephritis onset. Patients having advanced stages of chronic glomerulonephritis, on the other hand, were characterized by lower levels of all parameters. Unilateral renal artery stenosis was diagnosed correctly in four patients, although one intra-renal artery stenosis escaped imaging. Scarred kidneys exhibited low-normal or reduced flow velocities and renal blood flow volumes corresponded roughly to kidney size and preservation of normal kidney structure. Hypertension in some patients with normal kidneys showed a tendency to cause higher renal blood flow without consistent acceleration of blood flow velocities. We conclude that duplex sonography is a suitable primary diagnostic tool in measuring blood flow velocities and absolute renal blood flow volume in hypertensive children, thus facilitating the choice of the next diagnostic step.     

Applications of DNA Flow Cytometry and Fluorescence In situ Hybridization Using a Chromosome-specific DNA Probe on Paraffin-embedded Tissue Sections of Primary Malignant Melanomas

We have applied DNA flow cytometric analysis to paraffin-embedded tissue sections of primary malignant melanomas. Conventionally, flow cytometric analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue sections has been done by the method of Hedley et al. We added ultrasound treatment to the method of Hedley et al. and a lower value of coefficient of variation was shown. Furthermore, a new technique, fluorescence in situ hybridization with a chromosome-specific repetitive DNA probe, was used for the analysis of chromosomal numerical aberrations in the same paraffin-embedded tissue sections. The DNA flow cytometric analysis showed that in 8 cases six primary malignant melanomas were of the aneuploid pattern and two cases of lentigo maligna (melamona in situ) were of the diploid pattern. By fluorescence in situ hybridization, the two cases with the diploid pattern had spots/nucleus of 1.28 and 1.12, and those with the aneuploid pattern had spots/nucleus from 2.01 to 2.27. Only one nodular melanoma in an aneuploid case showed spots/nucleus of 1.71. These data indicate that fluorescence in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific repetitive DNA probes can serve as a cytogenetic tool for the analysis of interphase nuclei of solid human tumors and may be useful for the study of tumor cell heterogeneity.     

脐血抗—HPCA—2和Tük3标记的CD34阳性细胞的流式细胞仪比较分析

在标记脐血造血祖细胞表面抗原（ＨＰＣＡ），ＣＤ３４中，比较抗－ＨＰＣＡ－２－ＦＩＴＣ和Ｔｋ３（纯抗体）标记的ＣＤ（３４＋）细胞在流式细胞仪分析中的荧光特征及两种单抗标记的ＣＤ（３４＋）细胞与体外培养的粒单细胞集落形成单位（ＣＦＵ－ＧＭ），红系爆发形成单位（ＢＦＵ－Ｅ），和混合集落形成单位（ＣＦＵ－Ｍｉｘ）的相关性。结果发现脐血有核细胞中，抗ＨＰＣＡ－２阳性细胞占１．０５±０．７２％（ｎ＝１３），Ｔｋ３阳性细胞占２．０６±１．２５％（ｎ＝８），差别显著（Ｐ＜０．０５）。每毫升脐血两种抗体标记的细胞分别为９６．５６±５６．６４和２３１．４０±１６３．９３（Ｐ＜０．０５）。尽管ＨＰＣＡ－２阳性细胞与Ｔｋ３阳性细胞数量呈显著正相关（ｒ＝０．８７５，Ｐ＜０．０１），前者与ＣＦＵ－ＧＭ，ＢＦＵＥ，ＣＦＵ－Ｍｉｘ及集落总数ＣＦＵｓ均呈正相关，而后者仅与ＣＦＵ－ＧＭ，ＣＦＵｓ相关。研究提示在检测造血祖细胞时，用抗－ＨＰＣＡ－２－ＦＩＴＣ代替Ｔｋ３可降低假阳性，获得较好的ＯＤ（３４＋）细胞与ＣＦＵ间的线性关系。     

CROMAKALIM SUPPRESSES HYPERTONIC SALINE-INDUCED RENAL VASOCONSTRICTION IN ANAESTHETIZED DOGS

1. Intrarenal arterial infusion of hypertonic saline (HS) transiently increased and then gradually reduced renal blood flow (RBF) in anaesthetized dogs. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) but not filtration fraction decreased at the end of the infusion. 2. In the presence of a potassium channel opener cromakalim (0.3 μg/kg per min), HS infusion failed to reduce RBF; the initial increase in RBF was maintained throughout the infusion. Since cromakalim also prevented the decrease in GFR, HS infusion lowered filtration fraction. 3. The results suggest that cromakalim inhibits both pre-and postglomerular vasoconstriction induced by HS infusion.     

普鲁卡因静脉复合麻醉对肝脏血流和氧耗影响的实验研究

采用电磁血流仪和血气分析等技术，研究普鲁卡因静脉复合麻醉对犬体循环血流动力学及肝脏血流和氧耗影响。 １％普鲁卡因复合液以 １．０ｍｇ· ｋｇ－１／ｍｉｎ速度静滴时，随麻醉时间延长，血浆普鲁卡因浓度逐渐升高，６０分钟达５６．９±８．７ｍｇ／Ｌ。体循环各项血流动力学参数趋于稳定，仅在６０分钟产生明显的体循环抑制效应。心率和平均动脉压分别降低２７％、２５％，心指数由３．５２±０．２１Ｌ·ｍｉｎ－１／ｍ２降至 ３． ０８±０．１２Ｌ· ｍｉｎ－１／ｍ２。肝总血流量和氧耗与体循环动力学呈一致性变化。因此，肝脏疾患及肝手术的患者，只要控制血中普鲁卡因浓度不过高，仍可安全实施普鲁卡因静脉复合麻醉。