Aortic elasticity and size in bicuspid aortic valve syndrome.

AIMS: To investigate the relation between aortic elastic properties and size in bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs). METHODS AND RESULTS: 127 BAV outpatients (121 males; age 23 +/- 10 years) with no or mild valvular impairment, were recruited with 114 control subjects comparable for age, gender, and body size. Aortic distensibility (DIS) and stiffness index (SI) were derived by M-mode evaluation of the aortic root together with blood pressure measured by cuff sphygmomanometer. BAVs vs. controls had increased aortic diameter (P < 0.0001), higher systolic (P = 0.02) and pulse (P = 0.04) pressures. DIS was lower in BAVs than in controls (4.71 +/- 3.67 vs. 7.44 +/- 3.94 10(-6) cm(2)dyne(-1), respectively; P < 0.0001) and SI was greater in BAVs (7.21 +/- 4.93 vs. 3.57 +/- 1.88, respectively; P < 0.0001). Definite impairment in aortic elasticity was present in 53 (42%) BAVs. Both DIS and SI were related (P < 0.0001) to aortic size in BAVs and controls. After adjusting for aortic size and blood pressure, the regression relations between SI and aortic diameter of BAVs were significantly different from controls (P = 0.0052). CONCLUSION: Abnormal aortic elasticity is a common finding in BAVs with no or mild aortic valve impairment. However, impaired aortic stiffness is not due to aortic dilation. Simple assessment of aortic size may thus fail to identify early abnormal load bearing characteristics of the aortic wall in BAVs.     

Value of shear wave elastography with maximal elasticity in differentiating benign and malignant solid focal liver lesions

BACKGROUNDIt is important to differentiate benign and malignant focal liver lesions (FLLs) accurately. Despite the wide use and acceptance of shear wave elastography (SWE), its value for assessing the elasticity of FLLs and differentiating benign and malignant FLLs is still investigational. Previous studies of SWE for FLLs used mean elasticity as the parameter to reflect the stiffness of FLLs. Considering the inhomogeneity of tumor stiffness, maximal elasticity (Emax) might be the suitable parameter to reflect the stiffness of FLLs and to differentiate malignant FLLs from benign ones.AIMTo explore the value of SWE with Emax in differential diagnosis of solid FLLs.METHODSWe included 104 solid FLLs in 95 patients and 50 healthy volunteers. All the subjects were examined using conventional ultrasound (US) and virtual touch tissue quantification(VTQ) imaging. A diagnosis of benign or malignant FLL was made using conventional US. Ten VTQ values were acquired after 10 consecutive measurements for each FLL and each normal liver, and the largest value was recorded as Emax.RESULTSThere were 56 cases of malignant FLLs and 48 cases of benign FLLs in this study. Emax of malignant FLLs (3.29 ± 0.88 m/s) was significantly higher than that of benign FLLs (1.30 ± 0.46 m/s, P < 0.01) and that of livers in healthy volunteers (1.15 ± 0.17 m/s, P < 0.01). The cut-off point of Emax was 1.945, and the area under the curve was 0.978. The sensitivity and specificity of Emax were 92.9% and 91.7%, respectively, higher (but not significantly) than those of conventional US (80.4% for sensitivity and 81.3% for specificity). Combined diagnosis of conventional US and Emax using parallel testing improved the sensitivity to 100% with specificity of 75%.CONCLUSIONSWE is a convenient and easy method to obtain accurate stiffness information of solid FLLs. Emax is useful for differential diagnosis of FLLs, especially in combination with conventional US.     

丁苯酞软胶囊治疗血管性认知障碍的临床研究

目的观察丁苯酞软胶囊治疗血管性认知障碍的临床疗效。方法选取2016年3月—2018年5月在天津中医药大学第一附属医院治疗的166例血管性认知障碍患者作为研究对象,患者按就诊顺序随机分为对照组和治疗组,每组各83例。对照组口服尼莫地平片,2片/次,3次/d。治疗组口服丁苯酞软胶囊,2粒/次,3次/d。所有患者均治疗3个月。观察两组患者的临床疗效,同时比较两组治疗前后的蒙特利尔认知量表(MoCA)、简易智力状态检查量表(MMSE)、日常生活能力量表(ADL)、血管弹性指标和血流动力学指标。结果治疗后,对照组和治疗组的总有效率分别为60.2%、75.9%,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.01)。治疗后,两组视空间/执行能力、注意力、语言、抽象能力、定向力评分和总分均显著上升,同组治疗前后比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05、0.01);治疗后,治疗组上述评分均明显高于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05、0.01)。治疗后,两组MMSE评分均有所提高,而ADL评分显著降低,同组治疗前后比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05、0.01);治疗后,治疗组ADL评分显著低于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,治疗组患者的血管压力–应变弹性系数(Ep)、僵硬程度指数(β)和脉搏波传导速度(PWVβ)降低,而顺应性(AC)升高,同组治疗前后比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后,治疗组血管弹性指标显著优于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者大脑中动脉、前动脉和椎动脉的血流搏动指数(PI)显著下降,收缩期峰值血流速度(Vs)和舒张期血流速度(Vd)显著升高,同组治疗前后比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05、0.01);治疗后,治疗组血流动力学指标明显优于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05、0.01)。结论丁苯酞软胶囊治疗血管性认知障碍能显著提高患者的认知功能和生活自理能力,改善血管弹性、顺应性和脑部血流灌注,具有一定的临床推广应用价值。     

瞬时弹性成像技术、APRI及FIB-4对胆道闭锁患儿肝纤维化程度的诊断价值

目的探讨肝脏瞬时弹性成像技术检测肝脏硬度(LSM)、AST-PLT比值指数(APRI)、基于4因子的肝纤维化指数(FIB-4)对胆道闭锁患儿肝纤维化程度的诊断价值。方法选取2016年1月1日-2018年12月31日于湖南省儿童医院新生儿外科行Kasai术的胆道闭锁患儿110例。收集患儿术中肝脏病理活检标本及术前1周内血常规、肝功能、瞬时弹性成像检查结果。计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验,非正态分布的计量资料多组间比较采用Kruskal-Wallis H秩和检验。采用MedCalc软件绘制受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线),通过ROC曲线评估瞬时弹性成像技术、APRI和FIB-4对胆道闭锁患儿肝纤维化程度的诊断效能。采用Spearman相关法进行相关性分析。结果ROC曲线分析显示,LSM、APRI、FIB-4用于判断胆道闭锁明显肝纤维化(F≥2)的临界值分别为9.250 kPa、0.680、0.047,ROC曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.874[95%可信区间(95%CI):0.778~0.970]、0.636(95%CI:0.362~0.911)、0.622(95%CI:0.363~0.880);LSM、APRI、FIB-4用于判断胆道闭锁进展性肝纤维化(F≥3)的临界值分别为10.75 kPa、0.70、0.05,AUC分别为0.781(95%CI:0.689~0.873)、0.519(95%CI:0.401~0.636)、0.506(95%CI:0.389~0.623);LSM、APRI、FIB-4用于判断胆道闭锁肝硬化(F≥4)的临界值分别为11.85 kPa、0.82、0.09,AUC分别为0.855(95%CI:0.769~0.942)、0.701(95%CI:0.599~0.803)、0.717(95%CI:0.609~0.825)。相关性分析结果显示,LSM值与AST水平呈正相关(r=0.258,P=0.007),与PLT水平呈负相关(r=-0.248,P=0.009)。结论瞬时弹性成像技术对于胆道闭锁患儿肝纤维化分级具有较高的准确性,其诊断肝纤维化程度的临床价值高于APRI、FIB-4。     

声辐射力脉冲弹性成像技术预测肝硬化食管静脉曲张破裂出血的临床价值

目的探讨声辐射力脉冲弹性成像(ARFI)技术在预测肝硬化食管静脉曲张破裂出血中的临床价值。方法回顾分析2014年10月-2017年5月于解放军总医院第五医学中心就诊的271例肝硬化患者资料,所有患者均应用ARFI技术对肝脏和脾脏的超声弹性进行检测,并根据有无食管静脉曲张破裂出血将患者分为出血组(n=56)和无出血组(n=215),比较两组间相关指标的差异并结合受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)评估分析ARFI弹性测值对肝硬化食管静脉曲张破裂出血的诊断价值。正态分布的计量资料2组间比较采用t检验;非正态分布的计量资料2组间比较采用Mann-Whitney U检验;计数资料2组间比较采用χ2检验。结果肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血组及无出血组脾脏ARFI弹性测值分别为3.89(3.49~4.11)m/s和3.46(2.93~3.80)m/s,出血组显著高于无出血组(Z=-4.941,P<0.001);出血组及无出血组肝脏ARFI弹性值分别为2.08(1.57~2.74)m/s和1.98(1.49~2.70)m/s,两组间差异无统计学意义(Z=-1.025,P=0.305)。脾脏和肝脏ARFI弹性测值预测肝硬化食管静脉曲张破裂出血的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.714和0.544(P=0.0025),以3.71 m/s作为脾脏ARFI弹性测值预测食管静脉曲张出血发生的诊断界值,其敏感度为0.68,特异度0.69。结论脾脏ARFI弹性测值较肝脏弹性测值可更有效预测肝硬化食管静脉曲张破裂出血的风险,具有良好的临床应用前景。     

Time-dependent hardening of blood clots quantitatively measured in vivo with shear-wave ultrasound imaging in a rabbit model of venous thrombosis

Objective

Provide in vivo blood clot hardening evolution with ultrasound using supersonic imaging of shear waves.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study in flow stasis-induced venous thrombosis within jugular veins of white female New Zealand rabbits. Blood clot elasticity was noninvasively measured in vivo using the Young's modulus (in kilopascals), on a 2-hour and a 2-week periods after thrombus induction. Monitoring was followed by a necropsy and ex vivo mechanical characterization to validate the existence and elasticity of explanted thrombi.

Results

Stagnant blood in the region of interest underwent clotting and progressive hardening with thrombus aging. The mean Young's moduli varied from 1.0 ± 0.6 kPa (at 10 min) to 5.3 ± 1.6 kPa (at 2 hours), then to 25.0 ± 6.8 kPa (at 14 days) post-surgery. Mean ex vivo moduli of 6.2 ± 0.7 kPa at 2 hours and 29.0 ± 2.4 kPa at 2 weeks agreed with in vivo measures.

Conclusions

Supersonic imaging of shear waves provides consistent quantitative non-invasive elasticity measurements not available with standard compression ultrasound imaging for diagnosing and following venous thromboembolism. This information translatable to humans could aid in determining whether continued anticoagulant treatment is necessary, especially in the setting of unprovoked venous thromboembolism.     

系统性炎症与慢性阻塞性肺疾病大动脉弹性的相关性研究

目的 探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病( COPD)患者系统性炎症与大动脉弹性之间的关系.方法 采用病例对照研究的方法,研究对象分为两组:病例组:102例COPD稳定期患者;对照组:83例同期健康体检者.两组研究对象用同样的方法应用脉搏波速度自动测定仪测定颈-股动脉搏波传导速度(C-FPWV)和颈-足背动脉搏波传导速度(C-DPWV)作为大动脉弹性的参数,应用免疫比浊法测定血清超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)浓度,放射免疫分析法测定血清白介素1(IL-1)、白介素6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)浓度,这些炎性因子的测定作为系统性炎症的参数,与正常对照组作比较.结果 ①病例组C-FPWV、C-DPWV、IL-1、IL-6、TNF-α、hs-CRP均高于正常对照组,差异有统计学意义,P＜0.05.②病例组C-FPWV与年龄、吸烟指数、收缩压、IL-1、IL-6、TNF-α、hs-CRP呈正相关,P＜0.05.C-DPWV与年龄、吸烟指数、IL-1、IL-6、TNF-α、hs-CRP呈正相关,P＜0.05.③IL-6、吸烟指数、TNF-α是影响C-FPWV的独立因素;IL-6是影响GDPWV的独立因素.结论 系统性炎症与COPD患者大动脉弹性间存在相关性.系统性炎症可能参与了COPD患者大动脉弹性下降的发病过程,它是COPD患者发生心血管疾病的高危因素.     

The influence of denture supporting tissue properties on pressure-pain threshold: –Measurement in dentate subjects–

PurposeThe present study was designed to clarify the relationship between the properties of the palatal mucosa and the pressure-pain threshold.MethodsThree parts of the palatal mucosa of 17 dentate subjects were measured: the median part of the palate, the lateral part of the first molar, and the midpoint between these two parts. The subjects were instructed to press a pushbutton when he or she felt pressure-pain. The probe pressure was gradually increased (1 N/s). The thickness (T) (mm) and elasticity (E) (MPa) were used as the parameters of the properties of the palatal mucosa, whereas pressure (P) (MPa), compressibility (C) (%), and subsidence (S) (mm) were used as the parameters of the pressure-pain threshold. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to consider the data of distribution of normality for each measurement point, as obtained from the 17 subjects. A Kruskal–Wallis test and a Wilcoxon signed rank test were performed for multiple comparisons, the Bonferroni method was used to compensate for the P-value. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was calculated.ResultsT correlated with the values of S at the median points (P = 0.001) and midpoints (P = 0.011).ConclusionThickness can be an index of the amount of relief where pain is caused easily. In addition, modulus of elasticity is important as an indicator of the bearing ability of denture support tissues, it is necessary to consider how to evaluate the modulus of elasticity and to evaluate the relationship between the parameters of the pain threshold.