Can the difference of Doppler indexes at the different points of the umbilical artery predict to the umbilical cord length?

Background: The aim of the study is to investigate whether the Doppler indexes which measured at different points of the umbilical cord (UC) are related to the cord length.Materials and methods: In this prospective study, umbilical artery (UA) Doppler indexes were measured at the fetal and placental insertion, free loop (FL) and intra-abdominal (IA) portion at 37-42 weeks of gestation in low-risk singleton pregnancies. After birth, the UC was measured. The difference of Doppler indexes of different points was evaluated by nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test or analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and significant values have been adjusted by the Bonferroni correction for multiply tests. The correlation of between UC length and change of Doppler indexes which measured at different points of the UC was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation test.Results: The data of 74 participants were analyzed in this study. Mean UC length was 58 cm (min: 38 cm and max: 84 cm). There was no difference between characteristics of two groups that UC length <58 cm and ≥58 cm and different percentiles. UA systole/diastole (S/D) rate, resistance index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) were higher at the IA portion than other measurement points (p = .003, <.001, and <.001, respectively). The mean differences (delta values) of UA blood velocity between the fetal and placental ends (PEs) were correlated UC length (c = 0.32, p = .04).Conclusions: The differences of UA blood velocities between the fetal and PEs may be a useful marker for UC length prediction during antenatal period.

Intrafamilial aggregation and heritability of tissue Doppler indexes of left ventricular diastolic function in a group of African descent.

Although several indexes of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function show heritability, the genetic influence on the tissue Doppler index, E/e' (early transmitral velocity/velocity of myocardial tissue lengthening), an index of LV filling pressures in those of black African descent is currently unknown. Furthermore, whether any genetic influences on E/e' are through an impact of LV remodeling or aortic function is unknown. Intrafamilial aggregation and heritability (SAGE software) of E/e' (echocardiography) were assessed in 129 nuclear families (29 spouse pairs, 216 parent-child pairs, and 113 sibling-sibling pairs) from an urban developing community of black Africans, independent of LV mass index (LVMI), LV relative wall thickness (RWT), central aortic systolic pressure (SBPc), and backward wave pressures (Pb) (applanation tonometry, SphygmoCor software). Independent of confounders including LVMI and RWT, E/e' was correlated in parent-child (r = 0.23; P < .001) and sibling-sibling (r = 0.29; P < .005), but not in spouse (r = 0.13; P = .51) pairs. The relationships between parent-child (r = 0.22; P < .001) and sibling-sibling (r = 0.29; P < .005) pairs persisted with adjustments for SBPc. The relationships between parent-child (r = 0.22; P < .001) and sibling-sibling (r = 0.26; P < .01) pairs also persisted with adjustments for Pb. Independent of confounders including LVMI and RWT, E/e' showed significant heritability (h(2) ± standard error of the mean [SEM] = 0.51 ± 0.11; P < .0001) which similarly persisted with adjustments for SBPc (h(2) ± SEM = 0.50 ± 0.11; P < .0001) and Pb (h(2) ± SEM = 0.49 ± 0.11; P < .0001). In conclusion, in a group of African ancestry, independent of LV remodeling and aortic function, E/e' shows significant intrafamilial aggregation and robust heritability. Hence, genetic factors may play an important role in determining moderate-to-severe LV diastolic dysfunction independent of cardiac remodeling or aortic function in groups of black African ancestry.

Índices y velocidades de la arteria uterina como indicadores de hipoperfusión uterina en gestantes con restrición del crecimiento intrauterino

Objetivo: Evaluar los índices y velocidades de la arteria uterina como indicadores de hipoperfusión uterina en gestantes con restricción del crecimiento intrauterino. Diseño: Estudio analítico, de casos y controles. Institución: Hospital III Honorio Delgado de Arequipa, Perú. Participantes: Treinta gestantes con restricción del crecimiento intrauterino (RCIU) con peso del recién nacido menor al percentil 10; el grupo control estuvo conformado por 80 gestantes normales en el tercer trimestre. Metodología: Entre Julio del 2013 y abril del 2014 se realizó ecografía Doppler de las arterias uterinas en las gestantes que participaron del estudio, se calculó los índices y velocidades de las arterias uterinas, se comparó las medias y se hizo pruebas de validez diagnóstica de RCIU. Principales medidas de resultados: índices y velocidades de las arterias uterinas. Resultados: La media de la edad gestacional para los grupos de RCIU y control fueron 35,7 y 36,2 semanas, respectivamente. La media del peso de los RN con RCIU fue 1 932,60 g. La velocidad media (MnV) presentó sensibilidad 73%, especificidad 95%, valor predictivo positivo (VPP) 85%, valor predictivo negativo (VPN) 90%, odds ratio (OR) 52 Y razón de verosimilitud de 14,6. Los índices de pulsatilidad (IP) y de resistencia (IR) mostraron sensibilidad de 27%, especificidad 95%, VPP 67%, VPN 78%, OR 6,9 Y razón de verosimilitud 5,3. Conclusiones: Las velocidades y especialmente la velocidad media de la arteria uterina tuvieron mejor sensibilidad, VPP, VNP, OR y razón de verosimilitud que los índices, como indicadores de hipoperfusión uterina en gestantes con restricción del crecimiento intrauterino.

Objectives: To assess indexes and velocities of the uterine artery as indicators of uterine hypoperfusion in pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Hospital III Honorio Delgado, Arequipa, Peru. Participants: Thirty pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) confirmed birthweight below the 10th percentile; the control group included 80 normal pregnant women in the third trimester. Methods: Between [uly 2013 and April 2014 Doppler ultrasound of the uterine arteries was performed in pregnant women participating in the study and uterine arteries indexes and velocities were calculated; media were compared and RCIU diagnosis validity tests were performed. Main outcome measures: Calculation of indexes and velocities of the uterine arteries. Results: Mean gestational age for the IUGR and control groups were respectively 35.7 and 36.2 weeks. IUGR newborns average weight was 1 932.60 g. Mean velocity (MnV) had sensitivity of 73%, specificity 95%, positive predictive value (PPV) 85%, negative predictive value (NPV) 90%, odds ratio (OR) 52 and likelihood ratio (LR) 14.6. Pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) showed sensitivity 27%, specificity 95%, PPV 67%, NPV 78%, OR 6.9, and LR 5.3. Conclusions: The uterine arteryvelocities and especially mean velocity showed better sensitivity, PPV, NPV, odds ratio and likelihood ratio than indexes as indicators of uterine hypoperfusion in pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction.

Color Doppler indexes in early phase after kidney transplantation and their association with kidney function on six month follow up.

BACKGROUND: Doppler ultrasonography (DU) and measurement of its indexes, resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI), is used to investigate transplanted kidney hemodynamic status and function. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between Doppler indexes in the early phase after transplantation with long-term transplanted kidney function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study on 38 newly kidney transplant patients, we performed DU with assessment of its indexes within 48 hours, 1 week, and 6 months after kidney transplantation. Serum creatinine after stability and 6 months after kidney transplantation were assessed. Cyclosporine level was measured 1 week after kidney transplantation and compared with DU indexes. RESULTS: About 71% of kidney transplanted patients reached their normal initial creatinine level(cr<1.5 mg/ dl) and 28% of all patients were involved in kidney dysfunction after 6 months (increase in basic creatinine level more than 25%).There was no significant difference between mean RI and PI in patients with normal and disturbed kidney function based on creatinine level in early posttransplantation period but there was linear correlation between mean RI and PI within 48 hours and 1 week with kidney function after 6 months. Also no association between cyclosporine level and RI and PI was shown. There was a direct association between age and the levels of RI and PI 6 months after transplantation. CONCLUSION: This study suggests assessment of RI and PI in early period after transplantation and can be used as predictive parameters for long-term function of transplanted kidney and RI more than 0.80 in early phase after transplantation has an acceptable sensitivity and specificity to predict long-term kidney dysfunction.

Effect of Preexcitation on Doppler Indexes of Ventricular Filling in Patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Diastolic dysfuction can be assessed by Doppler echocardiography of mitral inflow. Multiple factors including atrioventricular (AV) delay affect the mitral inflow Doppler indexes. This study was designed to assess the changes of mitral inflow patterns after successful radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of accessory pathway associated with a short AV interval during pre-excitation in patients with WPW syndrome. METHOD: Echocardiogram, ECG and BP were recorded before and after RFCA for treatment of accessory pathway in 15 patients with WPW syndrome (mean age : 39.7+/-14.6). Doppler indexes including E wave velocity and its velocity time integral (EVTI) ,A wave velocity and its VTI (AVTI), deceleration time (DT), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), atrial filling fraction (AFF)and total mitral inflow VTI were measured. RESULTS: 1) PR interval prolonged 94+/-18msec to 174+/-34msec (p<0.001) without significant increment of heart rate and blood pressure after successful RFCA. 2) E/A ratio decreased from 1.29+/-0.58 to 1.1+/-0.53 (<0.001) but E wave velocity, DT and IVRT were not changed significantly after RFCA. 3) A wave velocity and AFF was 55.8+/-17.4msec and 0.35+/-0.08 and increased to 61.8+/-19.9msec and 0.42+/-0.1, respectively after RFCA (p<0.05). 4) Total mitral inflow VTI was 13.6+/-3.5cm and 14.9+/-3.6cm before and after RFCA, respectively (p<0.05) CONCLUSION: These results suggested that normalization of the PR interval after RFCA in patients with WPW syndrome had beneficial hemodynamic effects on the stroke volume by changing mitral inflow Doppler indexes. Therefore, the effect of AV delay is an another parameter to consider when evaluating Doppler indexes of LV filling.

Evaluation of doppler echocardiographic patterns of left ventricular filling in the patients with recent acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Diastolic function can be assessed by Doppler-derived left ventricular(LV) filling patterns. E/A ratio1,IVRT and atrial filling fraction(AFF) were significantly shortened, and LVEDP was significantly increased, compared to those of the patient's group of E/A1 and also was well correlated with LVEDP(r=0.8, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thus we conclude that normal of increased E/A ratio in recent acute myocardial infarction may reflect increased LVEDP due to increased myocardial stiffness.