20 research outputs found
Are the Morphological Indices of the Vertebrobasilar System Heritable? A Twin Study Based on 3D Reconstructed Models
No full textBackground and Objectives: The asymmetrical vertebral artery (VA) flow and diameter are common findings, which can result in an asymmetrical blood flow in the basilar artery (BA), leading to bending of the artery over time. This study investigated whether the variation of the different vertebrobasilar morphological indices that influence flow characteristics might be inherited. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 200 cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of healthy Caucasian twins (100 pairs) who underwent time-of-flight MRI. From the scans, we reconstructed the 3D mesh of the posterior circulation from the start of the V4 segment to the basilar tip and subsequently analyzed the morphology of the vertebrobasilar system. The phenotypic covariances of the different morphological parameters were decomposed into heritability (A), shared (C), and unshared (E) environmental effects. Results: 39% of the twins had left dominant VA, while 32.5% had right dominant. In addition, 28.5% were classified as equal. The vertebral artery V4 segment diameter, curvature, and tortuosity were mainly influenced by shared (C) and unshared (E) environmental factors. A moderate heritability was found for the BA length (A: 63%; 95% CI: 45.7–75.2%; E: 37%; 95% CI: 24.8–54.3%) and volume (A: 60.1%; 95% CI: 42.4–73.2%; E: 39.9%; 95% CI: 26.8–57.6%), while the torsion of both arteries showed no heritability and were only influenced by the unshared environment. Conclusions: The length and volume of the BA show a moderate genetical influence. However, most of the measured morphological indices were influenced by shared and unshared factors, which highlight the role of the ever-changing hemodynamic influences shaping the geometry of the vertebrobasilar system
Strong Genetic Effects on Bone Mineral Density in Multiple Locations with Two Different Techniques: Results from a Cross-Sectional Twin Study
No full textBackground and Objectives: Previous studies have demonstrated that risk of hip fracture is at least partly heritable. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of the genetic component of bone mineral density (BMD), using both X-ray and ultrasound assessment at multiple sites. Materials and Methods: 216 adult, healthy Hungarian twins (124 monozygotic, MZ, 92 dizygotic, DZ; mean age 54.2 ± 14.3 years), recruited from the Hungarian Twin Registry with no history of oncologic disease underwent cross-sectional BMD studies. We measured BMD, T- and Z-scores with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at multiple sites (lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip and radius). Quantitative bone ultrasound (QUS) was also performed, resulting in a calculated value of estimated bone mineral density (eBMD) in the heel bone. Heritability was calculated using the univariate ACE model. Results: Bone density had a strong genetic component at all sites with estimates of heritability ranging from 0.613 to 0.838 in the total sample. Lumbar BMD and calcaneus eBMD had major genetic components with estimates of 0.828 and 0.838 respectively, and least heritable (0.653) at the total hip. BMD of the radius had also a strong genetic component with an estimate of 0.806. No common environmental effect was found. The remaining variance was influenced by unique environment (0.162 to 0.387). In females only, slightly higher additive genetic estimates were found, especially in the case of the femoral neck and total hip. Conclusion: Bone mineral density is strongly heritable, especially in females at all locations using both DEXA and QUS, which may explain the importance of family history as a risk factor for bone fractures. Unshared environmental effects account for the rest of the variance with slight differences in magnitude across various bone regions, supporting the role of lifestyle in preventing osteoporotic fractures with various efficacy in different bone regions
The prognostic role of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in obstructive sleep apnoea based on lateral oropharyngeal wall obstruction
No full textPurpose
This study examined the prognostic value of the lateral pharyngeal wall (LPW)-based obstruction and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) prediction using ultrasound (US) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
Methods
One hundred patients with and without OSA were enrolled, according to overnight polysomnography. The LPW thickness (LPWT) was measured using a Philips Ingenia 1.5 T MRI device, and US measurements were carried out at rest and during Müller’s manoeuvre (MM) with a Samsung RS85 device. The obstruction was localised under drug-induced sleep endoscopy.
Results
Significantly greater LPWT using MRI was observed in the OSA group compared to the control group, while US results showed a significant difference only in the case of LPWT during MM on the left side. Obese patients presented significantly higher LPWT values. A significant correlation between BMI and LPWT was observed. Men presented significantly higher LPWT MRI values and left-sided LPWT using US compared to women. LPWT and AHI parameters were significantly correlated. The severity of LPW obstruction correlated with LPWT, while the LPW collapse significantly correlated with AHI. The severity of LPW collapse differed depending on the AHI values. Using US LPWT values and anthropometric parameters, a 93% effectiveness in OSA prognostication and 89% in LPWT-based obstruction were detected. MRI detected OSA in 90% and LPW-based obstruction in 84%. US successfully detected LPW-based collapse severity in 67%.
Conclusion
US LPWT measurements were helpful in detecting OSA and LPWT-based obstruction. These examinations may be useful for surgical planning
P121 Background of the Development of Carotid and Femoral Atherosclerotic Plaques in Twins
No full textAbstract Introduction Development of carotid and femoral atherosclerotic plaques proved to be heritable in previous studies. However, no comprehensive ultrasonographic evaluation of the volume and types of plaque has been performed. Methods Comprehensive carotid and femoral arterial ultrasound examination (Samsung RS85, arterial analysis, 15 MHz probe) was performed in 92 Hungarian twins (54 monozygotic, MZ and 38 dizygotic, DZ twin pairs, mean age 54 ± 13 years). The volume of plaques was automatically measured, and the plaque type was grouped according to echogenicity. Raw heritability was evaluated using the Falconer formula. Results No heritability of the total number of carotid and femoral plaques and total plaque volume was detected. Although the number of carotid plaques themselves has been found to be hereditary (h2 = 0.492), the volume of carotid and femoral plaques as well as the number of femoral plaques were not heritable. More MZ twin pairs were discordant in the presence of soft plaques in the carotid artery as DZ twin pairs, but greater similarity in femoral plaques was not detected between MZ twins, which does not indicate a genetic background. The presence of calcified and mixed echogenic carotid plaques in the MZ twins was more concordant as in DZ twins, indicating inheritance. Conclusion The total number and volume of carotid and femoral plaques are influenced by the environment. Different plaque types have different backgrounds: while calcified and mixed echogenic carotid plaques are more affected by genetics, soft carotid and femoral plaques are more affected by the environment
Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Tongue in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
No full textTo examine the geometrical parameters of the tongue in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) based on sex, age and BMI parameters and ultrasound (US) and MRI. The presence of OSA and tongue-based obstruction can be predicted using these parameters. Of 100 patients, 64% were diagnosed with OSA according to overnight polysomnography. MRI and US devices were used to measure tongue parameters. The location of the obstruction was identified using drug-induced sleep endoscopy. Statistical analysis was performed using the quadratic discriminant analysis. Men presented higher tongue volumes and axial diameter during Müller’s maneuver (MM) of US and coronal diameter of the MRI. In women, all examined MRI parameters were significantly correlated with apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI). A stronger correlation between BMI and AHI parameters was observed in women than in men. Using our algorithm, which includes tongue parameters and anthropometric values, the presence of OSA could be predicted in 91% with US and 82% with MRI. The detection of tongue-based obstruction was successful in 89% using US and 87% using MRI, whereas tongue-based obstruction was successful in 70% using US. Using MRI and US of the tongue combined with basic anthropometric parameters, the presence of OSA and tongue-based obstruction can be identified with high precision
Heritability of Cardiothoracic Ratio and Aortic Arch Calcification in Twins
No full textBackground and Objectives: Aortic arch calcification (AoAC) is associated with a variety of cardiovascular complications. The measurement and grading of AoAC using posteroanterior (PA) chest X-rays are well established. The cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) can be simultaneously measured with PA chest X-rays and used as an index of cardiomegaly. The genetic and environmental contributions to the degree of the AoAC and CTR are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of genetics and environmental factors on the AoAC and CTR. Materials and Methods: A total of 684 twins from the South Korean twin registry (261 monozygotic, MZ and 81 dizygotic, DZ pairs; mean age 38.6 ± 7.9 years, male/female = 264/420) underwent PA chest X-rays. Cardiovascular risk factors and anthropometric data were also collected. The AoAC and CTR were measured and graded using a standardized method. A structural equation method was used to calculate the proportion of variance explained by genetic and environmental factors behind AoAC and CTR. Results: The within-pair differences were low regarding the grade of AoAC, with only a few twin pairs showing large intra-pair differences. We found that the thoracic width showed high heritability (0.67, 95% CI: 0.59–0.73, p = 1). Moderate heritability was detected regarding cardiac width (0.54, 95% CI: 0.45–0.62, p = 0.572) and CTR (0.54, 95% CI: 0.44–0.62, p = 0.701). Conclusions: The heritable component was significant regarding thoracic width, cardiac width, and the CTR
Carotis-atherosclerosis ultrahangos fenotípusainak radiomikai vizsgálata a demencia tükrében
No full textHeritability analysis of liver stiffness detected by ultrasound shear wave elastography: A twin study
No full textAre the Morphological Indices of the Vertebrobasilar System Heritable? A Twin Study Based on 3D Reconstructed Models
No full textBackground and Objectives: The asymmetrical vertebral artery (VA) flow and diameter
are common findings, which can result in an asymmetrical blood flow in the basilar artery (BA),
leading to bending of the artery over time. This study investigated whether the variation of the
different vertebrobasilar morphological indices that influence flow characteristics might be inherited.
Materials and Methods: We analyzed 200 cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of healthy
Caucasian twins (100 pairs) who underwent time-of-flight MRI. From the scans, we reconstructed
the 3D mesh of the posterior circulation from the start of the V4 segment to the basilar tip and
subsequently analyzed the morphology of the vertebrobasilar system. The phenotypic covariances
of the different morphological parameters were decomposed into heritability (A), shared (C), and
unshared (E) environmental effects. Results: 39% of the twins had left dominant VA, while 32.5% had
right dominant. In addition, 28.5% were classified as equal. The vertebral artery V4 segment diameter,
curvature, and tortuosity were mainly influenced by shared (C) and unshared (E) environmental
factors. A moderate heritability was found for the BA length (A: 63%; 95% CI: 45.7–75.2%; E: 37%;
95% CI: 24.8–54.3%) and volume (A: 60.1%; 95% CI: 42.4–73.2%; E: 39.9%; 95% CI: 26.8–57.6%),
while the torsion of both arteries showed no heritability and were only influenced by the unshared
environment. Conclusions: The length and volume of the BA show a moderate genetical influence.
However, most of the measured morphological indices were influenced by shared and unshared
factors, which highlight the role of the ever-changing hemodynamic influences shaping the geometry
of the vertebrobasilar system
