Effect of blood flow patterns on localized platelet adhesion under physiologic flow conditions using two-dimensional and three-dimensional stent models: An experimental and computational approach

This dissertation presents dynamic flow experiments with fluorescently labeled platelets to allow for spatial observation of wall attachment in inter-strut spacings, to investigate their relationship to flow patterns. Human blood with fluorescently labeled platelets was circulated through an in vitro system that produced physiologic pulsatile flow in (1) a parallel plate blow chamber that contained two-dimensional (2D) stents that feature completely recirculating flow, partially recirculating flow, and completely reattached flow, and (2) a three-dimensional (3D) cylindrical tube that contained stents of various geometric designs. ^ Flow detachment and reattachment points exhibited very low platelet deposition. Platelet deposition was very low in the recirculation regions in the 3D stents unlike the 2D stents. Deposition distal to a strut was always high in 2D and 3D stents. Spirally recirculating regions were found in 3D unlike in 2D stents, where the deposition was higher than at well-separated regions of recirculation. ^

Blue flicker modifies the subfoveal choroidal blood flow in the human eye

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Piezoelectric energy harvesting using blood-flow-like excitation for implantable devices

The goal of this research is to produce a system for powering medical implants to increase the lifetime of the implanted devices and reduce the battery size. The system consists of a number of elements – the piezoelectric material for generating power, the device design, the circuit for rectification and energy storage. The piezoelectric material is analysed and a process for producing a repeatable high quality piezoelectric material is described. A full width half maximum (FWHM) of the rocking curve X-Ray diffraction (XRD) scan of between ~1.5° to ~1.7° for test wafers was achieved. This is state of the art for AlN on silicon and means devices with good piezoelectric constants can be fabricated. Finite element modelling FEM) was used to design the structures for energy harvesting. The models developed in this work were established to have an accuracy better than 5% in terms of the difference between measured and modelled results. Devices made from this material were analysed for power harvesting ability as well as the effect that they have on the flow of liquid which is an important consideration for implantable devices. The FEM results are compared to experimental results from laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV), magnetic shaker and perfusion machine tests. The rectifying circuitry for the energy harvester was also investigated. The final solution uses multiple devices to provide the power to augment the battery and so this was a key feature to be considered. Many circuits were examined and a solution based on a fully autonomous circuit was advanced. This circuit was analysed for use with multiple low power inputs similar to the results from previous investigations into the energy harvesting devices. Polymer materials were also studied for use as a substitute for the piezoelectric material as well as the substrate because silicon is more brittle.

Blue flicker modifies the subfoveal choroidal blood flow in the human eye

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Raloxifene therapy does not affect uterine blood flow in postmenopausal women: a transvaginal Doppler study

AZEVEDO, George Dantas de et al. Raloxifene therapy does not affect uterine blood flow in postmenopausal women: a transvaginal Doppler study. Maturitas, Amsterdam, v.47, n.3, p.195-200, 2004

Guided qualitative and quantitative analysis of cardiac 4D PC-MRI blood flow data

Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Fakultät für Informatik, Dissertation, 2016

Myocardial blood flow quantification by Rb-82 cardiac PET/CT: A detailed reproducibility study between two semi-automatic analysis programs.

BACKGROUND: Several analysis software packages for myocardial blood flow (MBF) quantification from cardiac PET studies exist, but they have not been compared using concordance analysis, which can characterize precision and bias separately. Reproducible measurements are needed for quantification to fully develop its clinical potential. METHODS: Fifty-one patients underwent dynamic Rb-82 PET at rest and during adenosine stress. Data were processed with PMOD and FlowQuant (Lortie model). MBF and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) polar maps were quantified and analyzed using a 17-segment model. Comparisons used Pearson's correlation ρ (measuring precision), Bland and Altman limit-of-agreement and Lin's concordance correlation ρc = ρ·C b (C b measuring systematic bias). RESULTS: Lin's concordance and Pearson's correlation values were very similar, suggesting no systematic bias between software packages with an excellent precision ρ for MBF (ρ = 0.97, ρc = 0.96, C b = 0.99) and good precision for MFR (ρ = 0.83, ρc = 0.76, C b = 0.92). On a per-segment basis, no mean bias was observed on Bland-Altman plots, although PMOD provided slightly higher values than FlowQuant at higher MBF and MFR values (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Concordance between software packages was excellent for MBF and MFR, despite higher values by PMOD at higher MBF values. Both software packages can be used interchangeably for quantification in daily practice of Rb-82 cardiac PET.

Raloxifene therapy does not affect uterine blood flow in postmenopausal women: a transvaginal Doppler study

AZEVEDO, George Dantas de et al. Raloxifene therapy does not affect uterine blood flow in postmenopausal women: a transvaginal Doppler study. Maturitas, Amsterdam, v.47, n.3, p.195-200, 2004

Dietary nitrate modulates cerebral blood flow parameters and cognitive performance in humans : a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover investigation

Why do arms extract less oxygen than legs during exercise?

[EN] To determine whether conditions for O2 utilization and O2 off-loading from the hemoglobin are different in exercising arms and legs, six cross-country skiers participated in this study. Femoral and subclavian vein blood flow and gases were determined during skiing on a treadmill at approximately 76% maximal O2 uptake (V(O2)max) and at V(O2)max with different techniques: diagonal stride (combined arm and leg exercise), double poling (predominantly arm exercise), and leg skiing (predominantly leg exercise). The percentage of O2 extraction was always higher for the legs than for the arms. At maximal exercise (diagonal stride), the corresponding mean values were 93 and 85% (n = 3; P < 0.05). During exercise, mean arm O2 extraction correlated with the P(O2) value that causes hemoglobin to be 50% saturated (P50: r = 0.93, P < 0.05), but for a given value of P50, O2 extraction was always higher in the legs than in the arms. Mean capillary muscle O2 conductance of the arm during double poling was 14.5 (SD 2.6) ml.min(-1).mmHg(-1), and mean capillary P(O2) was 47.7 (SD 2.6) mmHg. Corresponding values for the legs during maximal exercise were 48.3 (SD 13.0) ml.min(-1).mmHg(-1) and 33.8 (SD 2.6) mmHg, respectively. Because conditions for O2 off-loading from the hemoglobin are similar in leg and arm muscles, the observed differences in maximal arm and leg O2 extraction should be attributed to other factors, such as a higher heterogeneity in blood flow distribution, shorter mean transit time, smaller diffusing area, and larger diffusing distance, in arms than in legs.

Wavelet entropy of Doppler ultrasound blood velocity flow waveforms distinguishes nitric oxide-modulated states

Wavelet entropy assesses the degree of order or disorder in signals and presents this complex information in a simple metric. Relative wavelet entropy assesses the similarity between the spectral distributions of two signals, again in a simple metric. Wavelet entropy is therefore potentially a very attractive tool for waveform analysis. The ability of this method to track the effects of pharmacologic modulation of vascular function on Doppler blood velocity waveforms was assessed. Waveforms were captured from ophthalmic arteries of 10 healthy subjects at baseline, after the administration of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) and after two doses of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) to produce vasodilation and vasoconstriction, respectively. Wavelet entropy had a tendency to decrease from baseline in response to GTN, but significantly increased after the administration of L-NAME (mean: 1.60 ± 0.07 after 0.25 mg/kg and 1.72 ± 0.13 after 0.5 mg/kg vs. 1.50 ± 0.10 at baseline, p < 0.05). Relative wavelet entropy had a spectral distribution from increasing doses of L-NAME comparable to baseline, 0.07 ± 0.04 and 0.08 ± 0.03, respectively, whereas GTN had the most dissimilar spectral distribution compared with baseline (0.17 ± 0.08, p = 0.002). Wavelet entropy can detect subtle changes in Doppler blood velocity waveform structure in response to nitric-oxide-mediated changes in arteriolar smooth muscle tone.

Portal hypertension in dogs

Portal hypertension (PH) is the pathological increase in portal vein pressure above normal limits. Two variables control the pressure in the portal system: the resistance to blood flow and blood flow volume in the portal system. If one these variables changes, PH may develop. Classification: Pre-hepatic (e. g. compression of the portal vein), intrahepatic (e. g. chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis) or post-hepatic (e. g. right heart failure). The invasive methods (intravenous catheter) were replaced by an indirect method of diagnosis: Doppler Ultrasound. This technique does not measure portal pressure, but indirectly allows the diagnosis of PH. Average speed of portal flow decrease (<10 cm/s) and hepatofugal flow have been reported in cirrhotic dogs with PH. Currently, the focus of the ultrasound is the detection of acquired collateral portal circulation (ACPC), closely correlated with hepatic encephalopathy. The characterization of these vessels is essential to differentiate them from congenital shunts. They are usually multiple vessels, small and tortuous, with turbulent flow, near to the kidneys, and/or a single and larger vessel, draining into the left renal vein (dilated gonadal vein). Gastric, esophageal and mesenteric varices may occur. After identifying the PH, it is important to determine its origin in order to treat the underlying disease. B-Mode Ultrasound and Doppler are the best choices in cases of suspected PH, because they may recognize not just the hypertension, but also its complications and origin.

The immediate and sustained effects of volume challenge on regional blood flows in pigs

BACKGROUND: The postoperative assessment of volume status is not straightforward because of concomitant changes in intravascular volume and vascular tone. Hypovolemia and blood flow redistribution may compromise the perfusion of the intraabdominal organs. We investigated the effects of a volume challenge in different intra- and extraabdominal vascular beds. METHODS: Twelve pigs were studied 6 h after major intraabdominal surgery under general anesthesia when clinically normovolemic. Volume challenges consisted of 200 mL rapidly infused 6% hydroxyethyl starch. Systemic (continuous thermodilution) and regional (ultrasound Doppler) flows in carotid, renal, celiac trunk, hepatic, and superior mesenteric arteries and the portal vein were continuously measured. The acute and sustained effects of the challenge were compared with baseline. RESULTS: Volume challenge produced a sustained increase of 22% +/- 15% in cardiac output (P < 0.001). Blood flow increased by 10% +/- 9% in the renal artery, by 22% +/- 15% in the carotid artery, by 26% +/- 15% in the superior mesenteric artery, and by 31% +/- 20% in the portal vein (all P < 0.001). Blood flow increases in the celiac trunk (8% +/- 13%) and the hepatic artery (7% +/- 19%) were not significant. Increases in regional blood flow occurred early and were sustained. Mean arterial and central venous blood pressures increased early and decreased later (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A volume challenge in clinically euvolemic postoperative animals was associated with a sustained increase in blood flow to all vascular beds, although the increase in the celiac trunk and the hepatic artery was very modest and did not reach statistical significance. Whether improved postoperative organ perfusion is accompanied by a lower complication rate should be evaluated in further studies.