1,721,281 research outputs found
Stress echo in microvascular disease
No full textCoronary microcirculation is a fundamental portion of the coronary artery tree, as it contains most of the coronary blood volume and represents the main regulator of the coronary blood flow. Arterioles, capillaries, and venules originating from the major coronary artery branches and extending inside myocardium, with a diameter less than 300 μm, constitute the whole coronary microcirculation. While in the past only epicardial segments of coronary arteries were recognized to be potentially diseased by atherosclerotic process, in the last years growing evidences have suggested that some impairment may also affect the microcirculation. Interestingly, coronary microvascular impairment greatly contributes to pathophysiology of many cardiac diseases and to patient prognosis. As worth of note, different degrees of coronary microvascular impairment can be found both with and without epicardial obstructive atherosclerosis: indeed, recently, coronary microvascular abnormalities have been described in patients with normal coronary angiograms. Several conditions can be clustered together in the syndrome of microvascular disease (Table 30.1) [1]. In some of these conditions, the abnormalities of the microvasculature represent important markers of risk and may even determine myocardial ischemia, thus becoming important therapeutic targets [1]
The risk of cumulative radiation exposure in chest imaging and the advantage of bedside ultrasound
No full textThe increasing use and complexity of imaging techniques have not been matched by increasing awareness and knowledge by prescribers and practitioners. Imaging examinations that expose to ionizing radiation provide immense benefits when appropriate, yet they may result in an increased incidence of radiation-induced cancer in the long-term. The radiation issue is relevant not only for the individual patient but also for the community because small individual risks multiplied by millions of examinations become a significant population risk. As recently highlighted by recent European and American Guidelines, the long-term risk associated with radiation exposure should be considered in the risk-benefit assessment behind appropriate prescription of diagnostic testing
Prognostic value of extravascular lung water assessed with ultrasound lung comets by chest sonography in patients with dyspnea and/or chest pain
No full textFibrosis, lipids, and calcium in human atherosclerotic plaque. In vitro differentiation from normal aortic walls by ultrasonic attenuation
No full textDifferent degrees of atherosclerosis detected by backscattered ultrasound: An in vitro study on fixed human aortic walls
No full textThe use of frequency histograms of ultrasonic backscatter amplitudes for detection of atherosclerosis in vitro
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Attenuation measurements in atherosclerotic tissues: Problems with phase-cancellation artefacts
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