scholarly journals Abdominal ultrasonographic imaging of laboratory animals - Current techniques

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
K. MARINOU

Diagnostic ultrasonography is a non-invasive imaging technique developed and applicable both in reproductive and companion animals for the diagnosis of diseases. During the last years it has also been used in laboratory animals facilitating thus the advances of biomedical research. The ultrasonographic imaging of abdominal organs in laboratory animals may take place in soft tissue organs, such as the liver, the spleen, the kidneys, the urinary bladder, but also the uterus, especially before, during and after pregnancy, as well as during parturition. It has been proved to be extremely useful both for monitoring of organ architecture during several related experimental protocols and for diagnosing possible diseases that may occur during a laboratory animal's lifetime. During the last decade technological progress has been present in scientific life leading in several advances in ultrasonographic imaging. More specifically, ultra high frequency transducers, with a potential of using sophisticated software, are now able to provide researchers with extended field of view images even of small laboratory animals, such as mice. 3D ultrasonography relies on the acquisition of images in multiple scan planes from which a 3D image is created. 4D ultrasonography provides functional data in three dimensions, whereas microbubble contrast agents have shown clinical potential for characterizing blood flow in abdominal vessels, especially with the use of ultra high frequency transducers and 3D imaging. Doppler imaging provides information on blood flow and abdominal organs blood supply. Finally, ultrasound- guided biopsy and injection of substances are important tools in biomedical research protocols.

2019 ◽  
Vol 131 (5) ◽  
pp. 1632-1638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabien Almairac ◽  
Denys Fontaine ◽  
Thomas Demarcy ◽  
Hervé Delingette ◽  
Stéphanie Beuil ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVENeurovascular coupling reflects the link between neural activity and changes in cerebral blood flow. Despite many technical advances in functional exploration of the brain, including functional MRI, there are only a few reports of direct evidence of neurovascular coupling in humans. The authors aimed to explore, for the first time in humans, the local cerebral blood flow of the primary motor cortex using ultra–high-frequency ultrasound (UHF-US) Doppler imaging to detect low blood flow velocity (1 mm/sec).METHODSFour consecutive patients underwent awake craniotomy for glioma resection using cortical direct electrostimulation for brain mapping. The primary motor cortical area eliciting flexion of the contralateral forearm was identified. UHF-US color Doppler imaging of this cortical area was acquired at rest, during repeated spontaneous forearm flexion, and immediately after the movement’s termination. In each condition, the surface areas of the detectable vessels were measured after extraction of non–zero-velocity colored pixels and summed.RESULTSDuring movement, local cerebral blood flow increased significantly by 14.4% (range 5%–30%) compared with baseline. Immediately after the termination of movements, the local hyperemia decreased significantly by 8.6% (range 1.9%–15.7%).CONCLUSIONSTo the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to provide a real-time demonstration of the neurovascular coupling in the human cortex by ultrasound imaging. They assume that UHF-US may be used to gather original and advanced data on brain functioning, which could be used to help in the identification of functional cortical areas during brain surgery.Clinical trial registration no.: NCT03179176 (clinicaltrials.gov)


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihaela Elena Marina ◽  
Carolina Botar Jid ◽  
Sorana Daniela Bolboaca ◽  
Corina Bocsa ◽  
Carmen Mihaela Mihu ◽  
...  

Aim: To evaluate the morphostructural aspects and nail vascularity in the nail unit of patients with psoriasis, and to evaluate whether there are differences among psoriatic patients with and without nail involvement. Material and methods: Nail plates and nail bed changes, nailfold vessel resistance index (NVRI), power and color Doppler blood flow appearances were investigated in 23 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, with and without nail involvement, and compared to those of 11 healthy participants. Results: Ventral nail plate deposits were present only in psoriasis patients. Irregular or totally fused nail plates and increased nail plate thickness was frequently observed in psoriasis patients compared to controls. NVRI was increased in psoriatic patients’ nails compared to controls (0.62 vs. 0.57, p<0.0001). In the psoriasis patient group there was significant statistical difference in NVRI in patients with nail involvement compared to those without (0.66 vs. 0.55, p<0.0001). Conclusions: High-frequency gray scale sonography provides valuable information regarding morphostructural changes in nail unit structure in patients with psoriasis. Power Doppler imaging enables blood flow assessment in psoriasis nail induced changes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (83) ◽  
pp. 268-272
Author(s):  
Dominka Jaguś ◽  
◽  
Ewa Skrzypek ◽  
Bartosz Migda ◽  
Witold Woźniak ◽  
...  

Introduction: In recent years, ultrasonography has been used in an increasing number of fields, such as dermatology, aesthetic medicine and cosmetology. For skin imaging, research has shown the usefulness of both classic scanners equipped with linear transducers, and high-frequency scanners with mechanical transducers. An increasing number of reports indicating high usefulness of Doppler sonography have been published recently. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of high-frequency Doppler imaging in the diagnosis of vascular complications after aesthetic procedures using tissue fillers. Materials and methods: A total of 12 women aged 19–48 years (mean age 36.08 years) who had undergone hyaluronic acid treatment were included in the study group. Ultrasound scans were performed using standard ultrasound scanners, i.e. Philips Epiq 5 with a linear transducer and Samsung RS85 with linear transducers and Doppler Microflow Imaging option. Ultrasound scans were performed to assess the presence of blood flow using Color Power Doppler (CPA). Pulsed- Wave Doppler was used only for arteries. If no blood flow was recorded with Color Power Doppler, Microflow Imaging was used. Results: Doppler ultrasound showed normal blood flow despite reported symptoms in 3 cases. Vascular stenosis was found in 2 patients. In the other 7 patients, Doppler ultrasound showed no blood flow at the sites where complications developed. Conclusions: Skin ultrasound with Doppler options is a useful tool in the diagnosis of aesthetic medicine complications.


2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 5-12
Author(s):  
Alon Harris ◽  
Brent Siesky ◽  
Amelia Huang ◽  
Thai Do ◽  
Sunu Mathew ◽  
...  

Abstract. Introduction: To investigate the effects of a lutein complex supplementation on ocular blood flow in healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Sixteen healthy female patients (mean age 36.8 ± 12.1 years) were enrolled in this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, two-period crossover study. Subjects received daily an oral dose of the lutein with synergistic phytochemicals complex (lutein (10 mg), ascorbic acid (500 mg), tocopherols (364 mg), carnosic acid (2.5 mg), zeaxanthin (2 mg), copper (2 mg), with synergistic effects in reducing pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines when administered together in combination) and placebo during administration periods. Measurements were taken before and after three-week supplementation periods, with crossover visits separated by a three-week washout period. Data analysis included blood pressure, heart rate, intraocular pressure, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity detection, ocular perfusion pressure, confocal scanning laser Doppler imaging of retinal capillary blood flow, and Doppler imaging of the retrobulbar blood vessels. Results: Lutein complex supplementation produced a statistically significant increase in mean superior retinal capillary blood flow, measured in arbitrary units (60, p = 0.0466) and a decrease in the percentage of avascular area in the superior (−0.029, p = 0.0491) and inferior (−0.023, p = 0.0477) retina, as well as reduced systolic (−4.06, p = 0.0295) and diastolic (−3.69, p = 0.0441) blood pressure measured in mmHg from baseline. Data comparison between the two supplement groups revealed a significant decrease in systemic diastolic blood pressure (change from pre- to post-treatment with lutein supplement (mean (SE)): −3.69 (1.68); change from pre- to post-treatment with placebo: 0.31 (2.57); p = 0.0357) and a significant increase in the peak systolic velocity (measured in cm/sec) in the central retinal artery (change from pre- to post-treatment with lutein supplement: 0.36 (0.19); change from pre- to post-treatment with placebo: −0.33 (0.21); p = 0.0384) with lutein complex supplement; data analyses from the placebo group were all non-significant. Discussion: In healthy participants, oral administration of a lutein phytochemicals complex for three weeks produced increased ocular blood flow biomarkers within retinal vascular beds and reduced diastolic blood pressure compared to placebo.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas A. Bishop ◽  
Mohammod Ali ◽  
Jason Miller ◽  
David L. Zeppettella ◽  
William Baron ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thong Dao ◽  
Frank McGroarty ◽  
Andrew Urquhart

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (41) ◽  
pp. 35-43
Author(s):  
ALEKSEY A. VASIL’EV ◽  
◽  
ALEKSEY N. VASIL’EV ◽  
DMITRIY BUDNIKOV ◽  
ANTON SHARKO

The use of electrophysical influences for pre-sowing treatment of seeds is an effective way to increase their sowing quality. The use of these methods is limited by the fact that their implementation requires new technological equipment in grain processing lines. This problem is solved more easily when pre-sowing processing is performed using installations for active ventilation and grain drying. (Research purpose) The research purpose is in determining the possibility of using active ventilation units and ultra-high-frequency convective grain dryers for pre-sowing grain processing and to evaluating the effectiveness of such processing using computer modeling. (Materials and methods) It is necessary to ensure the uniformity of processing with external influence the seeds placed in a dense layer. Authors carried out pre-sowing treatment of seeds on real installations. Treated seeds were sown in experimental plots and the results of treatment were evaluated. (Results and discussion) The article presents graphs of changes in grain temperature and humidity during processing. To check the feasibility of pre-sowing treatment, authors performed modeling of air-heat and ultra-high-frequency convective seed treatment processes. Based on the results of field experiments, air-heat treatment stimulates the development of secondary plant roots, contributes to an intensive increase in the green mass of plants; ultra-high-frequency convective seed treatment allows increasing the number of productive stems in plants, the number of ears in one plant. (Conclusions) Technological equipment designed for drying and active ventilation of grain can be effectively used for pre-sowing seed processing. In the course of field experiments, it was revealed the possibility of controlling the structure of the crop using different types of external influence on seeds during their pre-sowing processing.


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