Local mechanical and structural properties of healthy and diseased human ascending aorta tissue

ObjectiveThis study investigates the mechanics and histology of healthy and dilated human ascending aortas (AA). The regional variation in mechanical response and tissue structure were compared.MethodsRings of human AA from healthy (n=5), dilated tricuspid aortic valve (TAV, n=5), and dilated bicuspid aortic valve (BAV, n=6) patients were mechanically tested. Each aortic ring was sectioned into quadrants—anterior, posterior, medial (inner curvature) and lateral (outer curvature). Low- and high-stress elastic moduli were calculated from the equibiaxial stress strain curve to determine the local mechanical properties. Histological analysis was used to quantify the percent composition of elastin, collagen, and smooth muscle cells.ResultsBAV tissue was thinnest and contained the largest percent composition of collagen. Both TAV and BAV tissue had significantly less elastin than healthy tissue. At low strain in the circumferential direction, TAV tissue was on average the least stiff. The elastic modulus was dependent on quadrant and tissue type but not direction (isotropic). Generally, the lateral quadrant tissue was the stiffest and the medial quadrant the least stiff. There were no apparent local variations in the tissue histology.ConclusionsLocal variations in tissue thickness and mechanical properties were evident in all samples analyzed and may be linked to the type of aortic valve present.     

Biomechanical characterization of ascending aortic aneurysm with concomitant bicuspid aortic valve and bovine aortic arch

Studies have shown that patients harboring bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) or bovine aortic arch (BAA) are more likely than the general population to develop ascending aortic aneurysm (AsAA). A thorough quantification of the AsAA tissue properties for these patient groups may offer insights into the underlying mechanisms of AsAA development. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate and compare the mechanical and microstructural properties of aortic tissues from AsAA patients with and without concomitant BAV or BAA. AsAA (n = 20), BAV (n = 20) and BAA (n = 15) human tissues were obtained from patients who underwent elective AsAA surgery. Planar biaxial and uniaxial failure tests were used to characterize the mechanical and failure properties of the tissues, respectively. Histological analysis was performed to detect medial degenerative characteristics of aortic aneurysm. Individual layer thickness and composition were quantified for each patient group. The circumferential stress–strain response of the BAV samples was stiffer than both AsAA (p = 0.473) and BAA (p = 0.152) tissues at a low load. The BAV samples were nearly isotropic, while AsAA and BAA samples were anisotropic. The areal strain of BAV samples was significantly less than that of AsAA (p = 0.041) and BAA (p = 0.004) samples at a low load. The BAA samples were similar to the AsAA samples in both mechanical and failure properties. On the microstructural level, all samples displayed moderate medial degeneration, characterized by elastin fragmentation, cell loss, mucoid accumulation and fibrosis. The ultimate tensile strength of BAV and BAA sampleswere also found to decrease with age. Overall, the BAV samples were stiffer than both AsAA and BAA samples, and the BAA samples were similar to the AsAA samples. The BAV samples were thinnest, with less elastin than AsAA and BAA samples, which may be attributed to the loss of extensibility of these tissues at a low load. No apparent difference in failure mechanics among the tissue groups suggests that each of the patient groups may have a similar risk of rupture.     

Delayed Activation and Retrograde Propagation in Cardiac Muscle: Implication of Virtual Electrode Effects

Point cathodal stimulation of cardiac tissue was shown previously to produce both a dog-bone shaped virtual cathode transverse to the muscle fibers and two longitudinal virtual anodes. We hypothesize that virtual anodes can cause a region of delayed activation, separating two regions of early activation caused by the virtual cathode. Using a high-density electrode array in 42 superfused epicardial slices from 14 canine left ventricles, we observed regions of early and delayed activation and different pathways of retrograde propagation corresponding to the earlier patterns. Retrograde propagation was seen from the transversely located early activation area through areas of delayed activation toward the cathode, and from the early activation area toward the cathode directly. These pathways caused a wide dispersion in the direction of retrograde propagation (2° ± 31°, n = 179, relative to the fast axis of threshold activation; radial velocity: 0.5 ± 0.2m/s, n = 95, in 12 slices from 8 hearts with stimuli of 330 s, 0.8–30 mA). Delayed activations were observed 0° ± 6° (n = 32) from the axis in 23 maps (at differing stimulation strengths) recorded in 13 slices from 10 hearts. We conclude that point cathodal stimulation induce delayed activation along the fiber axis and retrograde propagation both along and transverse to the axis. © 2000 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC00: 8719Ff, 8719Hh, 8716Uv, 8754Dt, 8719Nn     

Ulnar and tibial bending stiffness as an index of bone strength in synchronized swimmers and gymnasts

The purpose of this study is to compare a mechanical property of bone in world-class female athletes with different loading histories. Bone bending stiffness or EI (E is the modulus of elasticity and I, the moment of inertia) was measured noninvasively with the mechanical response tissue analyzer, that analyzes the response of bone to a vibratory stimulus. We evaluated the ulna, ulnar width, wrist density and tibia in 13 synchronized swimmers (SYN), eight gymnasts (GYM) and 16 untrained women (UNT) of similar age. Muscle strength in the flexors and extensors at elbows and knees was measured in the athletes. SYN were taller than GYM or UNT (168±0.7 vs. 152±1.1 or 157±1.2 cm, P< 0.01). Ulnar EI, Nm², was similar in SYN and GYM (41±5.4 vs. 42±4.2, NS) and 50% higher than in UNT (27±2.1, P<0.05). Ulnar EI, Nm² was related to ulnar width (r=0.497, P<0.002, n=37) but not to wrist density. Tibial EI, Nm², in SYN and GYM (270±42 vs. 285±49, NS) was similar and more than twice as high as in UNT (119±6; p<0.05). Knee flexor strength measured at 60° s^–1 and elbow extensor strength at 200° s^–1 correlated with tibial EI (r=0.44 and 0.41, P<0.05). In spite of different loading histories, the tibiae and ulnas of world-class athletes showed similar high values for bending stiffness that exceeded values in untrained women. EI in the ulna could be related to bone width and in the tibia, to muscle strength.     

Mechanical behaviour and rupture of normal and pathological human ascending aortic wall

The mechanical properties of aortic wall, both healthy and pathological, are needed in order to develop and improve diagnostic and interventional criteria, and for the development of mechanical models to assess arterial integrity. This study focuses on the mechanical behaviour and rupture conditions of the human ascending aorta and its relationship with age and pathologies. Fresh ascending aortic specimens harvested from 23 healthy donors, 12 patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and 14 with aneurysm were tensile-tested in vitro under physiological conditions. Tensile strength, stretch at failure and elbow stress were measured. The obtained results showed that age causes a major reduction in the mechanical parameters of healthy ascending aortic tissue, and that no significant differences are found between the mechanical strength of aneurysmal or BAV aortic specimens and the corresponding age-matched control group. The physiological level of the stress in the circumferential direction was also computed to assess the physiological operation range of healthy and diseased ascending aortas. The mean physiological wall stress acting on pathologic aortas was found to be far from rupture, with factors of safety (defined as the ratio of tensile strength to the mean wall stress) larger than six. In contrast, the physiological operation of pathologic vessels lays in the stiff part of the response curve, losing part of its function of damping the pressure waves from the heart.     

Systolic stretching of the ascending aorta

IntroductionLongitudinal stretching of the aorta due to systolic heart motion contributes to the stress in the wall of the ascending aorta. The objective of this study was to assess longitudinal systolic stretching of the aorta and its correlation with the diameters of the ascending aorta and the aortic root.Material and methodsAortographies of 122 patients were analyzed. The longitudinal systolic stretching of the aorta caused by the contraction of the heart during systole and the maximum dimensions of the aortic root and ascending aorta were measured in all patients.ResultsThe maximum dimension of the aortic root was on average 34.9 ±4.5 mm and the mean diameter of the ascending aorta was 33.9 ±5.4 mm. The systolic aortic stretching negatively correlated with age (r = –0.49, p < 0.001) and the diameter of the tubular ascending aorta (r = –0.44, p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the stretching and the dimension of the aortic root (r = –0.11, p = 0.239). There was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) difference in the longitudinal aortic stretching values between patients with a normal aortic valve (10.6 ±3.1 mm) and an aortic valve pathology (8.0 ±3.2 mm in all patients with an aortic valve pathology; 7.5 ±4.3 mm in isolated aortic stenosis, 8.5 ±2.9 mm in the case of isolated insufficiency, 8.2 ±2.8 mm for valves that were both stenotic and insufficient).ConclusionsSystolic aortic stretching negatively correlates with the diameter of the tubular ascending aorta and the age of the patients, and does not correlate with the diameter of the aortic root. It is lower in patients with an aortic valve pathology.     

Protein supplementation before and after resistance training in older men

We determined the effects of protein supplementation immediately before (PRO-B) and after (PRO-A) resistance training (RT; 12 weeks) in older men (59–76 years), and whether this reduces deficits in muscle mass and strength compared to younger men (18–40 years). Older men were randomized to PRO-B (0.3 g/kg protein before RT + placebo after RT, n=9), PRO-A (placebo before + protein after RT, n=10), or PLA (placebo before and after RT, n=10). Lean tissue mass, muscle thickness of the elbow, knee, and ankle flexors and extensors, and leg and bench press strength were measured before and after RT and compared to databases of younger subjects (n=22–60). Myofibrillar protein degradation (3-methylhistidine) and bone resorption (cross-linked N-telopeptides) were also measured before and after RT. Lean tissue mass, muscle thickness (except ankle dorsi flexors), and strength increased with training (P<0.05), with little difference between groups. There were no changes in 3-methylhistidine or cross-linked N-telopeptides. Before RT, all measures were lower in the older compared to younger groups (P<0.05), except for elbow extensor muscle thickness. Following training, muscle thickness of the elbow flexors and ankle dorsi flexors and leg press strength were no longer different than the young, and elbow extensor muscle thickness was greater in the old men (P<0.05). Supplementation with protein before or after training has no effect on muscle mass and strength in older men. RT was sufficient to overcome deficits in muscle size of the elbow flexors and ankle dorsi flexors and leg press strength in older compared to younger men.     

Dissection properties and mechanical strength of tissue components in human carotid bifurcations

Carotid artery dissections can be triggered by several factors. The underlying biomechanical phenomena and properties are unclear. This study investigates the dissection properties of 62 human carotid bifurcations using two experimental methods: direct tension and peeling tests. Direct tension tests study the mechanical strength of the tissue components in radial direction, while peeling tests quantify the fracture energy required to propagate a dissection in a tissue. Results show that the interface between the healthy adventitia and media has the highest radial failure stress (132 ± 20 kPa, mean ± SD, n = 25), whereas the lowest value occurs between the diseased intima and media (104 ± 24 kPa, n = 18). The radial tissue strength at the bifurcation is the highest compared with locations that are away from the central region of the bifurcation. Force/width values required to separate the individual layers and to dissect the media in the circumferential direction are always lower than related values in the axial direction, suggesting anisotropic dissection properties. Dissection energies per reference area generated during the peeling tests are also lower for strips in the circumferential direction than for axial strips, and they vary significantly with the location, as shown for the media. Histological investigations demonstrate that interfacial ruptures mainly occur in the media in both types of tests and are 2-5 elastic lamellae away from the external and internal elastic laminae. A remarkably “rougher” dissection surface is generated during axial peeling tests when compared with tests performed in the circumferential direction.     

Effects of ouabain and temperature on cell membrane potentials in isolated perfused straight proximal tubules of the mouse kidney

In isolated perfused segments of the mouse proximal tubule, the potential difference across the basolateral cell membrane (PDbl) was determined with conventional microelectrodes. Under control conditions with symmetrical solutions it amounted to –62±1 mV (n=118). The potential difference across the epithelium (PDte) was –1.7±0.1 mV (n=45). Transepithelial resistance amounted to 1.82±0.09 k cm (n=28), corresponding to 11.4±0.6 cm². Increasing bath potassium concentration from 5 to 20 mmol/l depolarized PDbl by +24±1 mV (n=103), and PDte by +1.6±0.1 mV (n=19). Thus, the basolateral cell membrane is preferably conductive to potassium. Rapid cooling of the bath perfusate from 38°C to 10°C led to a transient hyperpolarization of PDbl from –60±1 to –65±1 mV (n=21) within 40 s followed by gradual depolarization by +18±1% (n=14) within 5 min. The transepithelial resistance increased significantly from 1.78±0.11 k cm to 2.20±0.21 k cm (n=15). Rapid rewarming of the bath to 38°C caused a depolarization from –61±2 mV (n=17) to –43±2 mV (n=16) within 15 s followed by a repolarization to –59±2 mV (n=10) within 40 s. Ouabain invariably depolarized PDbl. During both, sustained cooling or application of ouabain, the sensitivity of PDbl to bath potassium concentration decreased in parallel to PDbl pointing to a gradual decrease of potassium conductance. Phlorizin hyperpolarized the cell membrane from –59±2 to –66±1 mV (n=13), virtually abolished the transient hyperpolarization under cooling, and significantly reduced the depolarization after rewarming from +17±2 mV (n=16) to +9±3 mV (n=9).The present data indicate that the contribution of peritubular potassium conductance to the cell membrane conductance decreases following inhibition of basolateral (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase. Apparently, cooling from 37° to 10°C does not only reduce (Na^–+K⁺)-ATPase activity but in addition luminal sodium uptake mechanisms such as the sodium glucose cotransporter. As a result, cooling leads to an initial hyperpolarization of the cell followed by depolarization only after some delay.Parts of this study have been presented at the 60th and 61th Meeting of the Deutsche Physiologische Gesellschaft, Dortmund 1984 and Berlin 1985     

Lack of soluble carbonic anhydrase in aortic smooth muscle of the rabbit

Rabbit aorta was investigated for the occurrence of soluble, methazolamide-sensitive carbonic anhydrase (CA) by measuring electrometrically the rate of acidification of a weakly alkaline CO₂ solution buffered with 12.5 mM veronal/HCl at 0°C. For this purpose, aortae of 10 rabbits with the endothelium carefully preserved, were homogenized, centrifuged, and the supernatants pooled. The proteins were fractionated by FPLC, and tested for their CA activity. In control experiments, the pH change resulting from the spontaneous CO₂ hydration was found to be –0.92±0.01 pH units/min (mean±SE,n=10). Aliquots of the 30,000 dalton protein fraction corresponding to 100 mg of aortic tissue wet weight did not alter the hydration rate significantly (–0.94±0.01 pH units/min,n=10). Also, in the presence of 10^–4 M of the CA inhibitor, methazolamide, these rates were not altered significantly (–0.94±0.01 and –0.93±0.01 pH units/min, respectively,n=10). No CA activity was found in the other FPLC fractions, either. — These results suggest that soluble CA is absent from the myocytes and the endothelium of the rabbit aorta.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within the SFB 90 Cardiovasculäres System     

Gender-specific differences in aortic sinus curvature during aging: an anatomical and computational study

IntroductionOur goal was to investigate the potential impact of aortic sinus wall curvature on the risk for type A aortic dissection.MethodsWe measured the curvature and carried out histological tests of the aortic noncoronary sinus in 46 patients who did not die from cardiac disease. Based on observed curvature values, we investigated the mechanical stress in the aortic root using finite element analysis.ResultsSinus curvature was found to experience a more than fourfold increase with age in males and reached the higher, age-independent values measured in females by age 65. The histological tests revealed that degenerative alterations did not significantly increase with aging in either gender, although fibrosis did in older women. Finite element analysis illustrated that the risk for a circumferential tear to occur was smallest when sinus curvature was highest.ConclusionsWe established significant gender-specific disparities in the aortic root during aging: while aortic sinus curvature was high in females throughout their lives, it experienced a more than fourfold increase in the lifetime of males, matching values in females only by age 65. Our mechanical analyses confirmed the overall potential protective role of higher sinus wall curvature with respect to type A aortic dissection, and geometry alone could not account for the known gender difference in aortic dissection prevalence.     

The effect of temperature on contractile activation of intact and chemically skinned ‘catch’ muscle fibre bundles of Mytilus edulis

Summary The effect of temperature (5–35° C) on maximum force production was examined in intact and chemically skinned muscle fibre bundles (10–25 fibres) from the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis. In intact fibre bundles, 10 m acetylcholine induced a tonic contraction which had a magnitude of 65.4±4.0 N cm^-2 (n=30) at 23° C. Activation by caffeine (20 mm) produced a force response which was 157.1±7.9% (n=16) of the acetylcholine response at 23° C and acetylcholine and caffeine together produced force which was not significantly different from the response to caffeine alone. At 5° C the acetylcholine and caffeine responses were decreased by 9.6±3.4% (n=6) and 14.6±2.8% (n=8) compared with the respective responses at 23° C. However, there was no significant reduction of the response induced by the combined action of acetylcholine and caffeine when the temperature was decreased from 23° C to 5° C. The 20–80% of peak force activation time increased by about one order of magnitude for all acetylcholine, caffeine and combined acetylcholine-caffeine-induced responses when the temperature was decreased from 23–5° C. Repeated exposure of the intact preparation to caffeine caused a marked decrease in the caffeine-induced response (complete abolition of force after the third exposure to caffeine), but the response to caffeine could be fully restored following one acetylcholine-induced activation. The maximum Ca²⁺-activated force after skinning the preparation with saponin was not significantly different from the caffeine or combined acetylcholine-caffeine-induced responses before skinning. In the saponin skinned fibre preparation a drop in temperature from 23° C to 15° C or 5° C decreased the maximum Ca²⁺-activated force by 13.2±1.4% (n=8) and 41.4±3.1% (n=5) respectively. The activation time between 20–80% of the peak Ca²⁺-activated force increased at 15° C and 5° C by a factor of 1.5±0.1 (n=5) and 6.8±1.1 (n=5) respectively when compared to corresponding values at 23° C. The relaxation half-time decreased by a factor of 1.7±0.2 (n=5) and 3.0±0.2 (n=5) at 15° C and 5° C respectively compared with that at 23° C. It was possible to distinguish between the temperature effects on the contractile apparatus per se and the Ca²⁺ regulatory system with the results indicating that the contractile apparatus was more sensitive to a change in temperature than the Ca²⁺-regulatory system. Increasing the temperature to 35° C irreversibly affected the ability to develop and maintain force in both intact and skinned muscle preparations. These results indicate that: (1) acetylcholine does not fully activate the intact catch muscle at 23° C; (2) acetylcholine is able to replenish the internal stores after depletion by caffeine; (3) compensatory mechanisms which oppose the inhibitory effect of lower temperatures on the contractile apparatus and the Ca²⁺-regulatory system must be operating in the intact fibre preparations.     

Effects of swelling pressure and hydraulic permeability on dynamic compressive behavior of lumbar annulus fibrosus

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of swelling pressure and hydraulic permeability on the dynamic behavior of intervertebral disk tissue in confined compression. Normal (served as a control) and trypsin-treated, axial annulus fibrosus (AF) specimens from the porcine lumbar disks were tested and their swelling strain, swelling pressure, equilibrium compressive modulus (H _A, dynamic modulus, and hydraulic permeability (k) were determined at 30% and 40% swelling strain levels. The proteoglycan depletion due to trypsin treatment resulted in significantly lower values of the free swelling strain, swelling pressure, equilibrium modulus, dynamic modulus, and higher value of hydraulic permeability for trypsin-treated group, comparing to those for the control group. At the 30% swelling strain level, the equilibrium moduli were 51.84±14.53 kPa (n=8) for the control group and 15.11±5.67 kPa (n=8) for the trypsin-treated group; and the hydraulic permeabilities were 4.50E-15±1.60E-15 m⁴/Ns and 8.43E-15±4.29E-15 m⁴/Ns for control and trypsin-treated groups, respectively. No statistically significant difference in wet tissue density or dry tissue density was found between control and trypsin-treated groups. There was a significant correlation between swelling pressure and compressive (aggregate) modulus (R²=0.824, m=22). The decrease in measured dynamic modulus for trypsin-treated group was attributed to the reduced swelling pressure (or modulus H _A and increased hydraulic permeability (k) due to PG depletion. © 2002 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2002: 8719Rr, 8719Tt, 8360Jk     

Reflex Torque Response to Movement of the Spastic Elbow: Theoretical Analyses and Implications for Quantification of Spasticity

A parametric model of the human reflex torque response to a large-amplitude, constant angular velocity elbow extension was developed in order to help quantify spasticity in hemiparetic stroke patients, and to better understand its pathophysiology. The model accounted for the routinely observed leveling of torque (i.e., a plateau) at a mean angular increment of 51°±10° s.d. (n=98) after the initial rise. This torque plateau was observed in all eight subjects, and in 98 of 125 trials across 25 experimental sessions. The occurrence of this plateau cannot be explained by decreases in elbow flexor moment arms during elbow extension. Rather, the plateau is attributable to a consistent leveling in muscle activation as confirmed both qualitatively from recordings of rectified, smoothed electromyograph (EMG) activity, and quantitatively using an EMG coefficient model. A parametric model was developed in which the pattern of muscle activation in the stretch reflex response of elbow flexors was described as a cumulative normal distribution with respect to joint angle. Two activation functions, one related to biceps and the other to brachioradialis/brachialis, were incorporated into the model in order to account for observations of a bimodal angular stiffness profile. The resulting model yielded biologically plausible parameters of the stretch reflex response which may prove useful for quantifying spasticity. In addition, the model parameters had clear pathophysiological analogs, which may help us understand the nature of the stretch reflex response in spastic muscles. © 1999 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC99: 8719Rr, 8719Xx, 8719St, 8719Nn, 8719Ff, 8710+e     

The association between wedging of the aorta and cardiac structural anatomy as revealed using multidetector‐row computed tomography

The aortic root is wedged within the cardiac base. The precise extent of aortic wedging, however, and its influence on the surrounding cardiac structures, has not been systematically investigated. We analysed 100 consecutive patients, who underwent coronary arterial computed tomographic angiography. We assessed the extent of aortic wedging by measuring the vertical distance between the non‐adjacent aortic sinus and the inferior epicardium. A shorter distance indicates deeper aortic wedging. We assessed the tilt angle and diameter of the ascending aorta, the relative heights of the left atrial roof and the oval fossa, the shape of the proximal right coronary artery, the angle of the aorta relative to the left ventricular axis, and the lung volume. The mean extent of wedging was 42.7 ± 9.8 mm. Multivariate analysis revealed that ageing, male gender, increased body mass index, patients without cardiomyopathy, the extent of tilting and dilation of the ascending aorta, and lung volume were all independent predictors for deeper aortic wedging (R² = 0.7400, P < 0.0001). The extent of wedging was additionally correlated with a relatively high left atrial roof (R² = 0.1394, P < 0.0001) and oval fossa (R² = 0.1713, P < 0.0001), the shepherd's crook shape of the proximal right coronary artery (R² = 0.2376, P < 0.0001), and the narrowness of the angulation of the root relative to the left ventricular axis (R² = 0.2544, P < 0.0001). In conclusion, ageing, male gender, obesity, background cardiac disease, aortic tilting and dilation, and lung volume are all correlated with the extent of wedging of the aortic root within the cardiac base.     

Functional differences in type-I fibres from two slow skeletal muscles of rabbit

The present study addressed the question of whether the slow fibres of mammalian skeletal muscle, containing the myosin heavy chain MHCI (type-I fibres), are a functionally homogeneous population. We compared various properties of Ca²⁺-activated, skinned, type-I fibres from the soleus and semitendinosus muscles of a rabbit. Soleus type-I fibres showed significantly faster kinetics of stretch activation, measured as the time-to-peak of the stretch-induced, delayed force increase, t₃, than semitendinosus fibres (1239±438 ms, n=136, vs. 1600±409 ms, n=208 respectively) (means±SD, 22 °C). Similarly, the speed of unloaded shortening at 15 °C was faster in soleus than in semitendinosus fibres [0.79±0.16 fibre lengths (FL) s^–1, n=44, vs. 0.65±0.15 FL s^–1, n=35 respectively]. The kinetics of stretch activation were more temperature sensitive in semitendinosus than in soleus fibres. Finally, the generation of steady-state isometric force was more sensitive to Ca²⁺ in semitendinosus than in soleus fibres: [pCa₅₀ (–log [Ca²⁺] for half-maximal activation) at 22 °C: 6.29±0.15, n=28, vs. 6.19±0.10, n=18 respectively]. These results suggest strongly that there is no functional homogeneity within type-I fibres of different muscles. The observed differences might reflect the existence of more than one functionally different slow myosin heavy chain isoforms or other modifications of contractile proteins.     

Quantification of vessel wall cyclic strain using cine phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging

In vivo quantification of vessel wall cyclic strain has important applications in physiology and disease research and the design of intravascular devices. We describe a method to calculate vessel wall strain from cine PC-MRI velocity data. Forward–backward time integration is used to calculate displacement fields from the velocities, and cyclic Green–Lagrange strain is computed in segments defined by the displacements. The method was validated using a combination of in vitro cine PC-MRI and marker tracking studies. Phantom experiments demonstrated that wall displacements and strain could be calculated accurately from PC-MRI velocity data, with a mean displacement difference of 0.20±0.16 mm (pixel size 0.39 mm) and a mean strain difference of 0.01 (strain extent 0.20). A propagation of error analysis defined the relationship between the standard deviations in displacements and strain based on original segment length and strain magnitude. Based on the measured displacement standard deviation, strain standard deviations were calculated to be 0.015 (validation segment length) and 0.045 (typical segment length). To verify the feasibility of using this method in vivo, cyclic strain was calculated in the thoracic aorta of a normal human subject. Results demonstrated nonuniform deformation and circumferential variation in cyclic strain, with a peak average strain of 0.08±0.11. © 2002 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2002: 8761-c, 8719Uv, 8719Rr, 8757Gg     

Vasopressin stimulation of NaCl transport in the medullary thick ascending limb of Henle's loop is decreased in aging mice

The maximal urinary osmolality that can be reached by the kidney is reduced with age. This may be due to impaired NaCl transport by the medullary thick ascending limb of Henle's loop, which is part of the renal concentrating mechanism and is modulated by antidiuretic hormone (ADH). We therefore tested in vitro a possible age-related change in the transport capacity and in the response of this nephron segment to ADH in young (1–2 months) and old (20–24 months) mice. The transepithelial potential difference (V _te) was significantly higher in young mice (+8.5±0.4 mV, n=13) than in old ones (+6.6±0.5 mV, n=17). Addition of 0.1 nmol.l^–1 ADH to the bath solution significantly increased V _te by 5.2±0.5 mV in the young and by 3.1±0.6 mV in the old animals. Application of dibutyryl-cAMP (0.1 mmol.1^–1) did not further increase the hormonal response in both groups. The ADH-mediated increase in the corresponding equivalent short-circuit current (I _SC = V _te/R_te) was twice as great in young mice as in old, indicating that the stimulation of NaCl transport by ADH across the medullary thick ascending limb is significantly reduced with age. These results suggest that the previously reported age-related defect in the urinary concentrating ability of the kidney is partly due to a decreased response of the medullary thick ascending limb to ADH.     

Correlation between number of renal cysts and aortic circumferences measured using autopsy material

Although the presence of renal cysts has been reported to be associated with aortic aneurysm or dissection by imaging studies, an autopsy study has not been performed. Therefore, in our institute, recent consecutive adult autopsy cases (n = 108, 64 males and 44 females) were reviewed. The circumferences and atherosclerosis ratios of both thoracic and abdominal aorta were individually measured and graded. The number of renal cysts was scored and graded. Age of subjects along with histories of smoking, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were confirmed. Multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that severity of atherosclerosis and the number of renal cysts were correlated with thoracic aortic circumference, while only the number of renal cysts was correlated with abdominal aortic circumference (p < 0.05), which was more predominant in female subjects (p < 0.05). Microscopically, significantly more dilated renal tubules (by Student's t-test, p < 0.05) along with decreased stainability of basement membrane by Periodic acid-Schiff staining and immunostaining of type IV collagen were noted in background renal tissues in cases with numerous renal cysts than in age- and sex-matched controls without renal cysts (n = 10 vs. 10). The present study suggests that a syndrome that affects both aorta and renal tubules may exist.     

Intracellular pH and buffer power of type 1 and 2 fibres from skeletal muscle ofXenopus laevis

Intracellular pH (pH_i) and buffering power of type 1 and type 2 fibres from the iliofibularis muscle of the clawed frog,Xenopus laevis, have been measured using pH-sensitive microelectrodes. In phosphate buffered Ringer's solution (extracellular pH 7.25, 20–22°C), mean pH_i and its variance were similar in the two fibre types (6.86±SD 0.15±SEM 0.03,n=24, type 1, and 6.86±SD 0.12±SEM 0.03,n=15, type 2). On changing to Ringer's solution containing CO₂ and HCO ₃ ^– (extracellular pH 7.25, 20–22°C), pH_i became more acid in both fibre types. Although H⁺ ions were not at electrochemical equilibrium across the surface membrane, active transport did not return pH_i to its original value during exposure to CO₂. The buffering powers calculated from the changes in pH_i were not significantly different, 41.6 mmol·l^–1 per pH unit (±SEM 4.0,n=17) for type 1 and 49.3 mmol·l per pH unit (±SEM 7.2,n=11) for type 2 fibres. Thus differences in the mechanical properties of these fibre types are not due simply to a difference of the intracellular pH or buffering of resting fibres. Other possible explanations are discussed for the changes in some contractile properties that occur when pH_i is acidified.