Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging最新文献

{"title":"Blood flow restriction combined with nordic hamstring exercise does not impair endothelial function but does not increase neuromuscular activation","authors":"Fuat Yuksel,&nbsp;Nevin Guzel,&nbsp;Ömer Burak Tor,&nbsp;Koray Akkan","doi":"10.1111/cpf.12926","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/cpf.12926","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Optimizing hamstring exercises is crucial for injury prevention and performance. This study explored the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) during Nordic hamstring exercises (NHE) on hamstring muscle activation and vascular function.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A randomized, single-blind study included 14 healthy, physically active males (mean age: 27.5 years). Each participant's lower extremities were randomly assigned to BFR or control groups. In the BFR group, blood flow was restricted to 60% of arterial occlusion pressure. Participants performed three sets of five NHE repetitions. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) via Doppler ultrasound before and after exercise. Surface electromyography (EMG) recorded neuromuscular activation of the semitendinosus (ST) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles during exercises.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>FMD values showed no significant differences between BFR and control groups (F(1,13) = 0.156, <i>p</i> = 0.7, partial η² = 0.012). Neuromuscular activations of ST and BF muscles decreased across sets in both groups but did not differ significantly between groups (ST: F(2,26) = 1.172, <i>p</i> = 0.448, partial η² = 0.09; BF: F(2,26) = 1.442, <i>p</i> = 0.527, partial η² = 0.1).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>BFR did not produce acute additional effects on muscle activation or endothelial function compared to standard NHE. This suggests that incorporating BFR in NHE may not enhance immediate neuromuscular or vascular responses. Further research is needed to evaluate its long-term benefits.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":10504,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143112613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of blood flow restriction intensity on pain perception and muscle recovery post-eccentric exercise","authors":"Ozgur Surenkok,&nbsp;Gamze Aydin,&nbsp;Ebru Aloglu Ciftci,&nbsp;Kubra Kendal,&nbsp;Emine Atici","doi":"10.1111/cpf.12925","DOIUrl":"10.1111/cpf.12925","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a well-established phenomenon characterized by ultrastructural muscle damage that typically develops following unfamiliar or high-intensity exercise. DOMS manifests with a constellation of symptoms, including muscle tenderness, stiffness, edema, mechanical hyperalgesia, and a reduced range of joint motion. In recent years, the application of blood flow restriction (BFR) has garnered attention for its potential impact on DOMS.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to investigate the effects of different BFR intensities on biomechanical alterations induced by DOMS in healthy individuals.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Thirty participants were split into two groups receiving either 80% or 20% BFR applied during low-intensity resistance exercise following DOMS induction. Pain perception, pressure pain threshold, muscle biometric characteristics, and strength were assessed before DOMS, after DOMS, and following BFR application at 24, 48, and 72 h.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The 80% BFR group experienced faster reductions in pain perception compared to the 20% BFR group. Muscle strength recovery was also statistically faster in the 80% BFR group. No significant differences were observed between groups in muscle stiffness, flexibility, or other mechanical properties.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings suggest that BFR, particularly at higher intensities, may alleviate DOMS symptoms and accelerate muscle strength recovery. However, the lack of a control group and limitations in muscle property assessment warrant further research to definitively determine BFR's efficacy in managing DOMS.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":10504,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142906802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Positive effect of erythromycin on ineffective oesophageal motility in laryngopharyngeal reflux patients: Room for a novel treatment?","authors":"Fienne Sime,&nbsp;David Tovmassian,&nbsp;Gregory L. Falk","doi":"10.1111/cpf.12924","DOIUrl":"10.1111/cpf.12924","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) management guidelines are currently derived from the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) which has been shown to be poorly effective in controlling symptoms for these patients. Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that has been used extensively as a prokinetic agent for the gastrointestinal tract. The management of LPR with prokinetics is a novel therapy being investigated with regard to its effectiveness. The purpose of this pilot study was to observe the effect of erythromycin on oesophageal motility with high resolution manometry (HRM) to establish if further study is warranted regarding its utility in management.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Consecutive patients were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained database at a single centre of patients with findings suggestive of LPR who had also undergone HRM. These patients all received lifestyle modification and erythromycin 250 mg BD with repeat HRM after 6 weeks of therapy.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>16 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 56.2 ± 14.9. Mean ineffective swallows were 54.38% ± 41.3% compared with 34.4% ± 35.2% pre and post-erythromycin therapy (<i>p</i> = 0.018). Mean distal contractile integral at baseline was 793.61 ± 854.96 mmHg at baseline increasing to 1347 ± 1094.73 mmHg after erythromycin therapy (<i>p</i> = 0.013). IRP also showed improvement from 8.99 ± 7.58 increasing to 10.93 ± 7.9 mmHg (<i>p</i> = 0.045). Subgroup analysis of patients with ineffective oesophageal motility reinforced above findings as well as increase in the amount of ‘normal’ peristalsis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This pilot study shows early evidence that erythromycin improves oesophageal motility. Further study is warranted to explore these findings in more detail.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":10504,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142902797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The value of semiquantitative analysis of [99mTc]MDP SPECT/CT in localizing responsible lesions for suspected fresh osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in patients with contraindications to MRI","authors":"Sheng Shi,&nbsp;Hai-Dong Cai,&nbsp;Gai-Xia Lu,&nbsp;Li-Guo Zhang,&nbsp;Shuang Zheng,&nbsp;Shi-Sheng He","doi":"10.1111/cpf.12923","DOIUrl":"10.1111/cpf.12923","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Purpose</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in detecting and localizing the causative vertebra in cases of suspected fresh osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) in patients with contraindications to MRI.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A total of 21 patients with severe back pain with 31 suspected OVCF segments and contraindications to MRI were initially identified through radiographs and the back pain-inducing test (BPIT). The responsible vertebral bodies were determined using [^99mTc]MDP SPECT/CT before percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). Clinical outcomes and radiographic parameters, including basic demographics, injury duration, focal kyphosis (FK), loss of vertebral height (LVH), and relative intensity values (RIVs) for target and nontarget segments in the SPECT/CT were measured.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>SPECT/CT identified 14 old and 26 fresh OVCFs. Of these, 18 patients with 26 fresh OVCF segments underwent PVP, and achieved satisfactory outcomes. Significant differences were observed in the RIV, FK, and LVH values between the fresh and old OCVF groups (all <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). RIVs showed a significant negative correlation with injury duration (r = −0.57, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), and a positive correlation with LVH (r = 0.43, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that injury duration was an independent predictor of RIVs (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>SPECT/CT is useful for detecting and differentiating fresh fractures from old fractures in patients having OVCF who cannot undergo MRI after BPIT validation, allowing these patients to achieve excellent clinical outcomes following PVP. The RIV serves as a valuable parameter for assessing the duration of fresh versus old OVCFs.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Trial Registration</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>ChiCTR, ChiCTR 2300077570. Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=206192.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":10504,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142892094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of fasting and dehydration on pupillary light reflex as detected by pupillometry","authors":"Mehmet Adam,&nbsp;Ali Osman Gündoğan,&nbsp;Ali Tezcan,&nbsp;Refik Oltulu,&nbsp;Selman Belviranlı,&nbsp;Enver Mirza,&nbsp;Mehmet Okka","doi":"10.1111/cpf.12921","DOIUrl":"10.1111/cpf.12921","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The pupillary light reflex could serve as a valuable method for measuring dynamic responses in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). However, it remains unclear whether physiological conditions such as fasting and dehydration affect pupillary reflexes. In this study, we investigated the effects of fasting and dehydration on pupillary responses using pupillometry. Measurements were taken after at least 12 h of Ramadan fasting (RF) and under a normal dietary pattern (NDP). Forty-nine volunteers, who had no complaints related to the ANS, participated in the study. The initial pupil diameter (IPD), amplitude of contraction, contraction velocity, contraction latency, dilatation duration, and dilation velocity were recorded. The IPD was 5.91 ± 0.65 mm in the RF condition and 5.72 ± 0.65 mm in the NDP condition (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Both contraction amplitude (CA) and dilatation velocity (DV) were higher in the RF condition (<i>p</i> = 0.010 and <i>p</i> = 0.022, respectively). Females exhibited a greater IPD in the NDP condition (<i>p</i> = 0.023). Differences between genders in the RF condition were observed in CA (<i>p</i> = 0.002), dilation duration (<i>p</i> = 0.016) and dilation latency (<i>p</i> = 0.041). These findings indicate that fasting and dehydration influence IPD, CA and DV. Therefore, it is informative to consider fasting and dehydration status when evaluating pupillometry results.</p>","PeriodicalId":10504,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142881614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationships between trunk tissue distribution, metabolic risk factors and physical performance in young people—A pilot study","authors":"Noriko Ishiguro-Tanaka,&nbsp;Funa Kitagawa,&nbsp;Hiroshi Akima","doi":"10.1111/cpf.12922","DOIUrl":"10.1111/cpf.12922","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The present study examined the relationships between trunk tissue distribution, metabolic risk factors, and physical performance in young Japanese individuals using cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Thirty-six healthy Japanese men (<i>n</i> = 20, body mass index [BMI]: 20.8 ± 2.0 kg/m²) and women (<i>n</i> = 16, BMI: 19.6 ± 2.0 kg/m²) aged 20–26 years old visited our laboratory twice with an interval of 1 year. The thicknesses of skeletal muscle (MT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT), and the intra-abdominal cavity (IAT) were assessed by ultrasound imaging and adjusted by body mass^1/3 (BM^1/3). Blood properties related to hepatic function or metabolic syndrome, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, hand grip strength, two-step-length/height scores, and sit-and-reach test scores were also measured. As a result of the cross-sectional analysis, significant relationships were observed between SCAT/BM^1/3 and indices of glucose metabolism (HOMA-IR and QUICKI) in men (<i>r</i> = 0.513 and -0.583), and between IAT/BM^1/3 and fasting blood glucose in women (<i>r</i> = 0.524). Longitudinal analyses of women showed that changes (%) in IAT and MT/IAT correlated with % changes in the indices of hepatic function (AST) and glucose metabolism (HOMA-IR and HOMA-β) (<i>r</i> = −0.673 to 0.686). Significant correlations were also observed between MT/IAT and walking ability (two-step-length/height) in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of men (<i>r</i> = 0.463 and 0.525). In conclusion, the trunk tissue distribution could be used to detect the early symptoms of metabolic risks and declines in physical performance in young men and women.</p>","PeriodicalId":10504,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11663261/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142871648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic healthy non-diabetic postmenopausal women","authors":"Jehona Ismaili,&nbsp;Pranvera Ibrahimi,&nbsp;Venera Berisha-Muharremi,&nbsp;Rona Karahoda,&nbsp;Mimoza Berbatovci-Ukimeraj,&nbsp;Nora Istrefi,&nbsp;Bujar Gjikolli,&nbsp;Arlind Batalli,&nbsp;Afrim Poniku,&nbsp;Shpend Elezi,&nbsp;Michael Y. Henein,&nbsp;Gani Bajraktari","doi":"10.1111/cpf.12920","DOIUrl":"10.1111/cpf.12920","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background and Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cardiovascular disease progresses after menopause. Conventional risk factors, particularly diabetes, for atherosclerosis are well-established predictors of phenotypic arterial disease. The aim of this study is to assess the predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic non-diabetic postmenopausal women.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This prospective study included 117 consecutive postmenopausal women (mean age 59 ± 7 years) referred from the outpatient Rheumatology Clinic of the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, recruited between September 2021 and December 2022. Clinical, biochemical, carotid ultrasound and coronary CT angiography data were analysed. Subclinical atherosclerosis was diagnosed when plaque and/or carotid intima-media thickness &gt;1.00 mm were present.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Women who had subclinical atherosclerosis had higher erythrocyte sedimentation (<i>p</i> = 0.022), higher total cholesterol (<i>p</i> = 0.013), higher CAC score (<i>p</i> = 0.017), and higher prevalence of CAC &gt; 100 HU and CAC &gt; 400 HU (<i>p</i> = 0.017 and <i>p</i> = 0.034, respectively) compared to those without subclinical atherosclerosis. Women who had mild coronary calcification (CAC score ≥10 HU) were older (<i>p</i> = 0.005), in longer menopause (<i>p</i> = 0.005), had thicker CIMT (<i>p</i> = 0.008) with higher prevalence (<i>p</i> = 0.03) compared to those with CAC score &lt;10 HU. Women with moderate coronary calcification (CAC score ≥100 HU) had higher triglycerides, worse CIMT (<i>p</i> = 0.005) with higher prevalence (<i>p</i> = 0.039) compared to those with CAC score &lt;100 HU. In multivariate analysis [odds ratio 95% confidence interval], age [1.101 (1.032–1.174), <i>p</i> = 0.037] and cholesterol [2.020 (1.225–3.331), <i>p</i> = 0.006] independently predicted the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In addition to the impact of age, hypercholesterolaemia is an important predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis in non-diabetic postmenopausal women.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":10504,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/cpf.12920","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142834405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of experience on visual and Simpson's biplane echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction","authors":"S. Akil,&nbsp;J. Castaings,&nbsp;P. Thind,&nbsp;T. Åhlfeldt,&nbsp;M. Akhtar,&nbsp;A. T. Gonon,&nbsp;M. Quintana,&nbsp;K. Bouma","doi":"10.1111/cpf.12918","DOIUrl":"10.1111/cpf.12918","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In clinical routine, health care professionals with various levels of experience assess left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by echocardiography. The aim was to investigate to what extent visual and Simpson's biplane assessment of LVEF, using two-dimensional (2D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), is affected by the evaluator's experience.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ultrasound images of 140 patients were assessed, visually and with Simpson's biplane method, by six evaluators divided into three groups based on echocardiographic experience level (beginner, intermediate and expert). The evaluators were blinded to each other's LVEF assessments. Bland-Altman analyses (bias±SD) were performed to assess agreement. <i>P</i>-values &lt; 0.05 with the performed paired t-test were considered statistically significant.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Level of agreement in LVEF was good between evaluators within the expert group: visual = LVEF_{expert 1} vs LVEF_{expert 2}: −0.4 ± 6.4 (<i>p</i> = 0.46); Simpson's biplane = LVEF_{expert 1} vs LVEF_{expert 2}: 0.96 ± 7.0 (<i>p</i> = 0.11), somewhat lower within the intermediate group: visual = LVEF_{intermediate 1} vs LVEF_{intermediate 2}: −1.2 ± 4.4 (<i>p</i> = 0.004); Simpson's biplane = LVEF_{intermediate 1} vs LVEF _{intermediate 2}: −3.3 ± 5.0 (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and lowest for beginners: visual = LVEF_{beginner 1} vs LVEF_{beginner 2}: 2.3 ± 9.8 (<i>p</i> = 0.007), Simpson's biplane = LVEF_{beginner 1} vs LVEF beginner 2: −1.8 ± 8.7 (<i>p</i> = 0.02). The agreement between LVEF_expert and LVEFs by the two other groups was: visual = LVEF_expert vs LVEF_beginner: 1.5 ± 6.0 (<i>p</i> = 0.005); LVEF_intermediate: −3.0 ± 4.4 (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and Simpson's biplane = LVEF_expert vs LVEF_beginner: 3.2 ± 6.3 (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001); LVEF_intermediate: −2.2 ± 4.7 (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The evaluator's level of experience affects visual and Simpson's biplane assessment of LVEF by 2D-TTE, with highest variability being among beginners. Furthermore, a second opinion is recommended when assessing reduced LVEF even for evaluators with intermediate and expert experience.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":10504,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/cpf.12918","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142766846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Within-session repeatability of Doppler ultrasound leg blood flow assessments during exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease","authors":"Milan Mohammad,&nbsp;Jacob P. Hartmann","doi":"10.1111/cpf.12919","DOIUrl":"10.1111/cpf.12919","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Doppler ultrasound can be used to evaluate leg blood flow (Q̇_leg), especially of interest when investigating peripheral vascular limitations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the within-session repeatability, a subdomain of test-retest reliability, of this method remains unknown. This study aimed to provide within-session repeatability estimates of Doppler ultrasound-based Q̇_leg at rest and during single-leg knee-extensor exercise (KEE) in patients with COPD, and to compare these estimates to matched healthy controls. In this case-controlled study, 16 participants with COPD were matched based on sex and age with 16 healthy controls. All participants underwent measurement of Q̇_leg using Doppler ultrasound in a KEE setup at various intensities with the same measurement being performed again separated by 10 s. Smallest real difference (SRD) was lowest at rest in both groups and increased during exercise, reaching values ranging from 164 to 231 mL in COPD and 122–180 mL in the control group. The coefficient of variance (CV) was highest at rest and decreased during exercise to values ranging from 4.0% to 5.0% in COPD and 2.6%–3.2% in the control group. The CV was significantly lower in the control group during 0 watt and exercise at 20% of max watt, but apart from that, no reliability estimates were different between groups. To conclude, Doppler ultrasound showed nearly equal within-session repeatability when evaluating Q̇_leg in COPD patients and healthy individuals with a CV not exceeding 5% during exercise for both groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":10504,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142750222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of structural factors around the accessory nerve on the pathogenesis of essential neck and upper-back stiffness: a sonographic investigation","authors":"Shohei Shibasaki,&nbsp;Tomonori Kishino,&nbsp;Yoriko Sei,&nbsp;Keiichiro Harashima,&nbsp;Konomi Sakata,&nbsp;Hiroaki Ohnishi,&nbsp;Takashi Watanabe","doi":"10.1111/cpf.12917","DOIUrl":"10.1111/cpf.12917","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Neck and upper-back stiffness involves discomfort/ache in the trapezius muscle (TM). The pathogenesis of ‘essential neck and upper-back stiffness’ without obvious causes remains uncertain. In symptomatic subjects, TM hardness correlates with decreased transverse cervical artery (TCA) blood flow to the TM. Neck and upper-back stiffness could be associated with both hemodynamic and neurological factors affecting the TM. We therefore sonographically evaluated structural factors around the accessory nerve innervating the TM impacting neck and upper-back stiffness.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants comprised 69 healthy young adults (33 men, 36 women; 21 ± 1 y) who completed questionnaires and underwent elastography to determine TM hardness as a strain ratio and pulsed Doppler sonography to determine TCA hemodynamics. Intermuscular length was measured as the distance between sternocleidomastoid and levator scapulae muscles around the accessory nerve. Relationships of intermuscular length with symptoms, TM hardness, and TCA hemodynamics were analyzed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Intermuscular length was greater in symptomatic subjects (median 2.3 mm, interquartile range 1.5–3.1 mm) than in asymptomatic subjects (median 1.8 mm, interquartile range 1.5–2.3 mm; <i>p</i> = 0.032). Intermuscular length correlated positively with symptom severity (<i>r</i> = 0.43, <i>p</i> = 0.014) and negatively with strain ratio for the TM (<i>r</i> = −0.39, <i>p</i> = 0.025) and peak systolic velocity in the TCA (<i>r</i> = −0.40, <i>p</i> = 0.022). Intermuscular length contributed independently to the presence of symptoms (<i>p</i> = 0.025, odds ratio 2.26, 95% confidence interval 1.11–4.62).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In symptomatic subjects, symptom severity, TM hardness and TCA hemodynamics all correlated with greater intermuscular length. Structures around the accessory nerve could be associated with the pathogenesis of essential neck and upper-back stiffness.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":10504,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142675337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}