scholarly journals Grayscale histogram analysis to study the echogenicity and echotexture of the walls of the common carotid arteries of horses and mules

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-229
Author(s):  
Jéssica L. Fogaça ◽  
Michel C. Vettorato ◽  
José Nicolau P. Puoli-Filho ◽  
Marco A.R. Fernandes ◽  
Vânia Maria V. Machado

ABSTRACT: Visual inspection of ultrasound examination for assessment of echogenicity and echotexture of blood vessel tissues is a technique routinely used in medical practice in humans. However, simple visual inspection can lead to poor quality diagnoses and errors. The use of grayscale histogram (GSH) analysis has proved to be an efficient technique to quantify the region of interest, allowing minimization of image interpretation errors. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the echogenicity and echotexture of the walls of the common carotid arteries of healthy female horses and mules using the GSH technique and correlate them with age, body mass, and vessel diameters. B-mode ultrasound examinations were performed in the left and right common carotid arteries in three regions (cranial, middle, and caudal) in 11 horses and 11 healthy mules. The GSH of the animals showed heterogeneous walls, but did not differentiate statistically between female horses and mules. The Mean variable of the middle right, middle left and caudal right sides showed differences, more significant in the mules. On the middle right side, the Min variable was different, higher in the mules. On the middle and caudal left side, the variables Max and Mode showed higher values in the mules. For the mules, the age factor presented negative correlation with the Mean, Mode,, Mode(Count), and Mode(Count)/Count(%) variables, and the body mass factor presented negative correlation with the Mode, Mean and Max variables. For the female horses, the body mass factor showed positive correlation with the Mean and Mode variables. Echogenicity of the carotid artery walls differed between female horses and mules, whereas echotexture was heterogeneous and statistically similar among the animals. The age and body mass factors inversely influenced the echogenicity of the mules, but were not significant in the female horses, in which only the body mass factor positively influenced echogenicity.

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-84
Author(s):  
Jéssica L. Fogaça ◽  
Maria C.R. Castiglioni ◽  
Michel C. Vettorato ◽  
Danilo G.A. Andrade ◽  
José N.P. Puoli-Filho ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: As age increases, changes in cardiovascular anatomy and physiology occur, even in the absence of disease. Thus, studies of vessel hemodynamics are considered primordial to detect any cardiovascular changes. The objective of this study has been to describe the parameters of B-mode and spectral Doppler ultrasonography in the evaluation of the common carotid arteries of 11 equine and 11 mules, and correlate with age, body mass and neck circumferences. The diameters, intima - media thickness (IMT), resistivity index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), systolic velocity (SV), diastolic velocity (DV), maximum velocity (MV), vascular flow index (VFI), body mass, age, circumference and neck length. Ultrasonographic variables were evaluated in three different region called cranial, middle and caudal. Equine females presented higher values regarding the body mass, age and neck length, as compared to the neck circumferences of the animals, those of the mules were superior. The age of the mules had a positive correlation with the body mass, diameter and neck circumferences, it has a negative correlation between age and vessel diameters. The body mass of the mules had a positive correlation with age and vessel diameters, and with vessel diameters and neck circumferences in equine females. The RI and PI variables had a positive correlation with body mass for mules, and with age for equine females. The DV had a negative correlation with body mass for both equine and mule females. Regarding the variables MV and VFI, age correlated negatively for mules, while it was not significant for equine females. It found a difference between equine females and mules in the correlations performed, with body mass, age, neck circumferences and between B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography variables.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Casti ◽  
Christian Scarano ◽  
Maria Cristina Piras ◽  
Paolo Merella ◽  
Sonia Muglia ◽  
...  

Anisakiasis is a gastrointestinal fishborne zoonosis caused by the ingestion of third stage larvae of the genus <em>Anisakis</em>. Between January and December 2013, 1112 specimens of four commercial fish species (<em>Engraulis encrasicolus, Merluccius merluccius, Scomber colias</em> and <em>Trachurus mediterraneus</em>) marketed in Sardinia (Italy) were examined for <em>Anisakis</em> sp. The overall prevalence of <em>Anisakis</em> spp larvae was 39.9%, all morphologically identified as Type I. <em>Scomber colias</em> showed the highest prevalence (100%), followed by <em>M. merluccius</em> (Atlantic 91.0%, Mediterranean 71.2%), <em>T. mediterraneus</em> (32.7%) and <em>E. encrasicolus</em> (25.9%). All the larvae found in Mediterranean hosts were genetically identified as <em>Anisakis pegreffii</em>, whereas 90.0% of the larvae found in the Atlantic <em>M. merluccius</em> belonged to <em>Anisakis simplex sensu stricto</em> and 10.0% to <em>A. pegreffii</em>. The mean abundance of <em>Anisakis</em> sp. larvae was positively correlated with fish size in <em>E. encrasicolus</em>, Atlantic <em>M. merluccius</em> and local <em>M. merluccius</em>. The prevalence of infection was greater in the body cavity (37.9%) than in the edible muscle (9.4%). However, 1.8% of the examined fish were infected exclusively in the muscle. Therefore, the risk associated to the consumption of raw or undercooked fishery products poses the need of measures such as visual inspection and preventive treatments to guarantee consumers’ health.


Cureus ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lexian J McBain ◽  
Joe Iwanaga ◽  
Rod J Oskouian ◽  
Marios Loukas ◽  
R. Shane Tubbs

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven C Masley ◽  
Richard Roetzheim ◽  
Timothy P McNamara ◽  
Lucas V Masley ◽  
Douglas D Schocken

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the number one cause of mortality in the western world. Carotid intimal media thickness (carotid IMT) is a safe and reliable predictor of future CVD risk. Hypothesis: The study aims to assess the hypothesis that lifestyle factors impact carotid IMT, and determine which nutrition and fitness risk factors best predict mean carotid IMT scores. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional analysis of 592 men and women undergoing health and cardiovascular risk screening. This study reflects the first visit of these subjects, age 23 to 65 (mean = 48.2), who are followed longitudinally and who were participants at a “wellness” oriented program for patients who are generally well-educated and mostly in good health. Measurements were made of fitness using VO2max stress testing and push-up and sit-up scores following the American College of Sports Medicine testing protocols, diet intake using a 3-day dietary intake survey and computerized analyses. Mean carotid IMT scores were obtained using high resolution B-mode ultrasonography of the common carotid arteries. Each subject had ≥10 images collected from the far wall of the right and left distal 1 cm of the common carotid arteries at end diastole. The carotid intimal thickness was measured as a continuous variable, using both multivariate linear and bivariate linear regression. Multivariate analyses adjusted for potential confounders using multiple linear regression and included measures of body composition, blood pressure, fasting lipid and glucose levels, and statin use. Results: Multivariate analyses show that higher mean carotid IMT values are associated with increasing age (p<0.0001), male gender (p<.0.0001), lower aerobic capacity (p=0.0045), lower intake of fish (p=0.05), and lower intake of zinc (p=0.0002). Bivariate analyses controlling for age and gender, with and without statin use, showed higher mean carotid IMT scores were statistically associated with lower levels of aerobic fitness, (p = 0.0007), lower intake of fiber (p=0.02) and lower intake of magnesium (p=0.019). Intake of protein, carbohydrate, and fat as percent of calories; as well as intake of saturated fat, sodium, calcium, potassium, and vitamin K; measures of strength (assessed with push-up and sit-up testing); and self-reported exercise minutes per week were not associated with mean carotid IMT scores. Conclusions: In this database, aerobic fitness and dietary intake of fiber, fish, magnesium, and zinc are associated with lower carotid IMT scores. Further studies are warranted to explore the impact of emerging lifestyle factors on cardiovascular risk and clinical outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Ibrahim ◽  
Bushra Hussein A. Malik ◽  
Moawia Gameraddin

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (7) ◽  
pp. E81-E86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Surmeli ◽  
Ildem Deveci ◽  
Hasan Canakci ◽  
Mustafa Salih Canpolat ◽  
Burak Karabulut ◽  
...  

In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and the morphometric properties of auricula and its acoustic gain characteristics. A total of 45 participants between 18 and 45 years of age were enrolled into the study. Participants’ height and weight measurements were recorded for the BMI calculation. On both sides, the morphometric properties of the auricula were measured and recorded. Additionally, the participants were subjected to multidirectional dynamic real ear measurements (REMs) to specify the intensity and frequency values of the maximum hearing gain. Participants consisted of 24 women and 21 men. The mean BMI was 23.42. The mean auricular area was 22.70 cm2. Statistically significant positive correlation was found between the auricular area and BMI ( r = 0.427, P = .03). The mean postauricular sulcus angle was 20.99°. The mastoid-helix distance was 16.07 mm. There was no statistically significant correlation between BMI level and postauricular sulcus angle and mastoid-helix distance ( P > .05). The mean dynamic REM measurement was evaluated. The maximum acoustic gain at anterior, lateral, and posterior vectorial stimulation was calculated as 20.9, 24.2, and 20.7 dB Sound Presure Level (SPL), respectively. Statistically significant negative correlation was found between the three directions acoustic gain level and BMI in the statistical examination ( r = −0.365, r = −0.386, r = −0.453, respectively, and P < .05 for all). The results of acoustic gain frequency were 2967.4, 2963, and 2934 Hz, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between acoustic gain frequency and BMI ( P > .05). When participants were grouped according to their BMI, participants with a BMI >25 had a statistically significantly bigger auricular area and lower maximum acoustic gain when compared with those with BMI <25 ( P < .05). We found that the auricular area increased with BMI. We think that this is related to soft tissue thickening of the auricula related to high BMI. In addition, we found that the acoustic gain level decreased inversely with BMI. We believe that the decrease in acoustic gain is due to the increase of acoustic resistance after the increase of soft tissue thickness. In conclusion, we think that BMI has a negative effect on auditory function according to findings in our study.


1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. G. Caro ◽  
C. L. Dumoulin ◽  
J. M. R. Graham ◽  
K. H. Parker ◽  
S. P. Souza

The blood flow in arteries affects both the biology of the vessels and the development of atherosclerosis. The flow is three dimensional, unsteady, and difficult to measure or to model computationally. We have used phase-shift-based magnetic resonance angiography to image and measure the flow in the common carotid arteries of a healthy human subject. There was curvature of the vessels and thin-slice dynamic flow imaging showed evidence of the presence of secondary motions. Flexing the cervical spine straightened the vessels and reduced the asymmetry of the flow.


2015 ◽  
Vol 120 (10) ◽  
pp. 982-988
Author(s):  
Abolhassan Shakeri ◽  
Mojtaba Varshochi ◽  
Naser Atapour ◽  
Masoud Nemati ◽  
Manoochehr Khoshbaten ◽  
...  

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