Head Drop Research Articles

Expanded neuromuscular morbidity in Hodgkin lymphoma after radiotherapy.

Our study aims to quantitate neuromuscular morbidity from radiotherapy in Hodgkin lymphoma including: (i) frequency and (ii) time of onsets for neurological localizations; (iii) degree of disabilities and (iv) number of clinical visits compared to cardiopulmonary Hodgkin lymphoma-radiation complications. Medical records from Mayo Health systems were retrieved; identifying neuromuscular radiation treated Hodgkin lymphoma-complications from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2016. Of an estimated 4100 post-radiotherapy Hodgkin lymphoma patients, 4.6% (189) were identified with complications. Mean latency to physician visit for symptoms was 23.7 years (range: 1–50). Most commonly identified complications included: head drop 10% (19) with or without myopathy, myopathy 39% (73), plexopathy 29% (54), myelopathy 27% (51) and polyradiculopathy 13% (24). Other findings included benign and malignant nerve sheath tumours 5% (9), phrenic and long thoracic mononeuropathies 7% (14) and compressive spinal meningioma 2% (4). Patients frequently had multiple coexisting complications (single = 76% [144], double = 17% [33], triple = 4% [8], quadruple = 2% [4]). Cardiac 28% (53) and pulmonary 15% (29) complications were also seen in these patients. History of Hodgkin lymphoma was initially overlooked by neurologists (14.3%, 48/336 clinical notes). Hospital and outpatient visits for complications were frequent: neuromuscular 19% (77/411) versus cardiopulmonary 30% (125/411). Testing was largely exclusionary, except when imaging identified secondary malignancy. Modified Rankin score at diagnosis varied: 0–1 (55.8%), 2–3 (5.8%) and 4–5 (38.3%). Neuromuscular complications among post-radiation Hodgkin lymphoma are diverse, occurring in ∼1 of 20 having markedly delayed onsets often eluding diagnosis. Frequent care visits and major morbidity are common. Survivorship recommendations should recognize the diverse neurological complications.

Myopathies presenting with head drop: Clinical spectrum and treatment outcomes

Dropped head syndrome can be the presenting feature of a wide spectrum of neurological conditions. In this study, we aimed to define the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of 107 patients, where head drop was the presenting or predominant clinical feature of a myopathy. Median age at presentation was 68 years (range 42–88). A specific diagnosis was reached in 53% of patients: Inflammatory myopathy (n = 16), myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (n = 10), radiation-induced myopathy (n = 8), sporadic late-onset nemaline myopathy (n = 7), myofibrillar myopathy (n = 4), facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (n = 3), inclusion body myositis (n = 2), mitochondrial myopathy (n = 2), scleroderma-associated myopathy (n = 2), and single cases of necrotizing autoimmune myopathy, drug-induced myopathy, and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia-myopathy. Splenius capitis had the highest diagnostic yield for a muscle biopsy (67%). When tested, 31/35 (89%) of patients had abnormal pulmonary function tests, 15/30 (50%) abnormal swallow evaluation, 24/65 (37%) abnormal electrocardiogram and 5/38 (13%) abnormal transthoracic echocardiogram. 23/43 (53%) treated patients responded to treatment. Patient-reported limb weakness and neck flexion weakness on physical examination were associated with good response to treatment. A wide spectrum of acquired and hereditary myopathies can present with head drop, some of which are potentially treatable. Establishing a diagnosis is crucial for timely treatment administration, screening for swallowing and cardiorespiratory involvement, and counseling regarding prognosis.

Variation in contaminant removal efficiency in free-water surface wetlands with heterogeneous vegetation density

The interaction between flow and vegetation in constructed wetlands plays a major role in determining wetland performance. In this study, a two-dimensional depth-averaged model was used to simulate flow, mass transport and contaminant removal in a conceptual free-water surface (FWS) wetland with heterogeneous vegetation patterns. The main objectives of this study were (1) to quantify the effectiveness of FWS wetlands with different vegetation patterns in reducing pollutant load, and (2) to identify optimal vegetation distributions that maximize contaminant removal. Simulations were performed for different random vegetation fields characterized by imposed mean, variance and correlation lengths of stem density. The wetland was assumed to receive water from a stream and to deliver it back to the same stream according to an imposed head drop. The simulations show that the concentration reduction efficiency increases monotonically with average stem density, whereas mass removal has a peak for an intermediate value of average stem density. The ensemble average of the total mass removal decreases for increasing stem density variance and correlation length, because the presence of vegetation patches with significantly different stem density promotes preferential flow paths. Preferential flow paths parallel to the mean flow direction were found to reduce the hydraulic efficiency of wetlands by producing short-circuiting, whereas, for the same mean stem density, alternating stripes of stem density perpendicular to the flow direction provided higher concentration and mass reduction. By providing a quantitative understanding of the impact of spatial vegetation heterogeneity, the results provide useful guidelines for design and maintenance of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment.

Incorporation of a Non-Constant Thrust Force Coefficient to Assess Tidal-Stream Energy

A novel method for modelling tidal-stream energy capture at the regional scale is used to evaluate the performance of two marine turbine arrays configured as a fence and a partial fence. These configurations were used to study bounded and unbounded flow scenarios, respectively. The method implemented uses turbine operating conditions (TOC) and the parametrisation of changes produced by power extraction within the turbine near-field to compute a non-constant thrust coefficient, and it is referred to as a momentum sink TOC. Additionally, the effects of using a shock-capture capability to evaluate the resource are studied by comparing the performance of a gradually varying flow (GVF) and a rapidly varying flow (RVF) solver. Tidal-stream energy assessment of bounded flow scenarios through a full fence configuration is better performed using a GVF solver, because the head drop is more accurately simulated; however, the solver underestimates velocity reductions due to power extraction. On the other hand, assessment of unbounded flow scenarios through a partial fence was better performed by the RVF solver. This scheme approximated the head drop and velocity reduction more accurately, thus suggesting that resource assessment with realistic turbine configurations requires the correct solution of the discontinuities produced in the tidal-stream by power extraction.

Cavitation Performance of Constant and Variable Pitch Helical Inducers for Centrifugal Pumps: Effect of Inducer Tip Clearance

AbstractIn this paper, the effect of the inducer tip clearance is studied to understand its impact on the cavitating and noncavitating performance of centrifugal pumps. Helical inducers with constant pitch and with variable (progressive) pitch are considered. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of a single stage pump are conducted on each inducer type to determine the cavitating (two-phase) and noncavitating (single-phase) performance for varying inducer tip clearance. The Rayleigh–Plesset cavitation model is used to understand the bubble dynamics under the assumptions of single fluid undergoing no thermal energy transfer between each phase. Experimental tests are conducted on a pump with the variable pitch inducer to determine the true performance in cavitating and noncavitating operating conditions. Experimental results are compared to the simulations to validate the accuracy of the proposed numerical modeling. Net positive suction head (NPSH) with 3% differential head drop is used as a criterion to identify the true cavitation performance of each inducer configuration. It is found that, as the inducer tip clearance increases, excessive back leakage and larger vortex recirculation occur at the tip location. This results in pressure loss within the inducer and, consequently, degrades the cavitation performance. In addition, the change in cavitation performance with the tip clearance is much more evident for variable pitch inducer geometries as compared to the constant pitch case. Furthermore, the impact on the noncavitating performance of inducer tip clearance is found to be minimal.

Eating Epilepsy: Pathophysiologic Models, Electroclinical Phenotypes, and Outcome

AbstractEating epilepsy (EE) is a rare form of reflex epilepsy precipitated by food. Ictal semiology may vary depending on the etiology, age at onset, and cerebral areas involved in the epileptogenic network. In childhood, EE could manifest as tonic head drop seizures, generalized seizures, or late-onset epileptic spasms. However, in teenagers or adults, seizures are often preceded by aura and commonly manifest as focal seizures with or without impaired awareness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities are seen in less than half of the reported cases. Posterior or multifocal interictal discharges can be seen in patients with EE. No randomized data about treatment are available. Structural epilepsies or coexistent unprovoked seizures other than eating seizures are poor prognostic factors for pharmacological outcome.

Myopathies presenting with head drop: Clinical spectrum and treatment outcomes

Dropped-head syndrome can be the presenting feature of a wide spectrum of neurological conditions. However, little is known regarding myopathies presenting with head drop posing a major diagnostic and management challenge. We performed a retrospective chart review to identify patients with a myopathy evaluated between 2000 and 2018, where head drop was the presenting or predominant clinical feature of a myopathy. We identified 107 adult patients with a median age at presentation was 68 years, and median duration of the head drop was 12 months. A specific diagnosis was reached in 53% of patients and included the following: Inflammatory myopathy (n = 16), myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (n = 10), radiation-induced myopathy (n = 8), sporadic late-onset nemaline myopathy (n = 7), myofibrillar myopathy (n = 4), facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (n = 3), inclusion body myositis (n = 2), mitochondrial myopathy (n = 2), scleroderma-associated myopathy (n = 2), necrotizing autoimmune myopathy (n = 1), a drug-induced myopathy (Binimetinib, n = 1), and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia-associated myopathy (n = 1). Splenius capitis had the highest diagnostic yield for a muscle biopsy (67%).When tested, 89% of patients had abnormal pulmonary function tests, 50% abnormal swallow evaluation, 37% abnormal electrocardiogram and 13% abnormal transthoracic echocardiogram. 23 out of 43 (53%) treated patients responded to treatment. Patient-reported limb weakness and neck flexion weakness on physical examination were associated with good response to treatment, while isolated neck extensor weakness was not associated with refractoriness to treatment. A wide spectrum of acquired and hereditary, treatable and non-treatable myopathies can present with head drop. Establishing a diagnosis in such patients is crucial for timely treatment administration.

EP.124Myopathies presenting with head drop: clinical spectrum and treatment outcomes

Dropped-head syndrome (DHS) can be the presenting feature of a wide spectrum of neurological conditions including a myopathy. There is a common presumption that myopathic DHS is frequently associated with a non-treatable, nonspecific myopathy. In this study, we performed a retrospective chart review to identify patients seen between 2000-2018, where head drop was the presenting or predominant feature of a myopathy, highlighting the clinical spectrum, extraskeletal muscle manifestations and treatment outcomes of myopathic DHS. We identified 107 patients with a median age at presentation of 68 years, and median duration of the head drop of 12 months. A specific diagnosis was reached in 53% of patients [inflammatory myopathy, 16 patients; myopathy with rimmed vacuoles, 10; radiation-induced myopathy, 8; sporadic late-onset nemaline myopathy, 7; myofibrillar myopathy, 4; facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, 3; inclusion body myositis 2; mitochondrial myopathy, 2; scleroderma-associated myopathy, 2; necrotizing autoimmune myopathy, 1; Binimetinib-induced myopathy, 1; and chronic lymphocytic leukemia-associated myopathy, 1]. Splenius capitis had the highest diagnostic yield for biopsy (67%). When tested, 89% of patients had abnormal pulmonary function tests, 50% abnormal swallow evaluation, 37% abnormal ECG and 13% abnormal transthoracic echocardiogram. 23 out of 43 (53%) treated patients responded to immunomodulatory therapy. Patient-reported limb weakness and neck flexion weakness on examination were associated with good response to treatment, while isolated neck extensor weakness was not associated with refractoriness to treatment. A wide spectrum of acquired and hereditary, treatable and non-treatable myopathies can present with DHS. Establishing a diagnosis is crucial for timely treatment administration, screening for extraskeletal muscle involvement, and counseling regarding prognosis

5. Isolated head drop: first symptom of anti-synthetase syndrome

IntroductionHead drop is an unusual clinical manifestation of myositis or neuromuscular weakness, and typically requires extensive investigation to identify the underlying pathology. Case report data are limited on this topic.Case descriptionA 72-year-old man with a background of extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) negative mixed connective tissue disease, trigeminal neuralgia, interstitial nephritis and ischaemic heart disease presented with an isolated head drop. On further prompting, he confirmed mild shortness of breath on exertion. He had sclerodactyly but no features of mechanic’s hands. Serum creatinine kinase was 1398 IU/L. Electromyography was myelopathic. Muscle biopsy taken from the neck was inconclusive. He had a strongly positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test, and borderline myositis ENA panel result with borderline positive anti-EJ antibody.The myositis panel result prompted further investigation for underlying interstitial lung disease. Pulmonary function testing revealed a restrictive picture, with KCO of 82%. High resolution computed tomography showed areas of fine interstitial fibrotic change in all lobes.He was treated with a reducing course of oral prednisolone and 15mg weekly oral methotrexate with an excellent clinical response, with resolution of the head drop and normalisation of serum CK value. Repeat pulmonary function testing remains stable after 5 months.DiscussionThis is an unusual presentation of presumed anti-synthetase syndrome. As methotrexate had already been prescribed before the underlying lung pathology was identified with resulting excellent clinical response and stable respiratory symptoms, a multi-disciplinary decision was made to continue with this choice of disease modifying agent. The decision to use methotrexate in the presence of interstitial fibrosis is always difficult, and requires close liaison between rheumatology and respiratory colleagues.Key learning pointsPositive anti-synthetase antibodies should prompt further investigation for underlying interstitial lung disease. Head drop can be a first symptom of autoimmune myositis and warrants further investigation.Conflicts of interestThe authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Electromyography guided - treatment with botulinum toxin of head drop in Parkinson's disease

Electromyography guided - treatment with botulinum toxin of head drop in Parkinson's disease

Hydrogeological characterization and assessment of anthropic impacts in the Lower Piura Sub-basin Aquifer in Peru

The Lower Piura Sub-basin Aquifer is a vital source of water in the north of Peru. Despite its importance, few local studies describe this formation. Most are limited to reporting hydraulic characteristics and abstraction rates, lacking a broader analysis. This article characterizes the aquifer, presenting the development of a conceptual and mathematical model with sparse data, completed using several assumptions and interpolations. The model will improve understanding of the aquifer system and the impacts of abstraction. The aquifer system includes an unconfined aquifer connected to a confined aquifer through an aquitard. Steady-state and transient-state models from 2004 to 2014 were used. The development and calibration of the model have led to proper identification of hydraulic parameters and boundary conditions, clarifying the dynamics of the system. In the unconfined aquifer, groundwater flows towards the south-west without significant variation in the water table. Conversely, the piezometric surface of the confined aquifer shows a cone of depression with a falling trend of 1.6 m/year between 2004 and 2014. Outflows include abstractions (48.42 × 106 m3/year), gaining surface waters (6.33 × 106 m3/year), and sea discharge (18.50 × 106 m3/year). Inflows are from irrigation return (34.67 × 106 m3/year) and from the Higher Piura Aquifer (27.23 × 106 m3/year). The imbalance of 11.24 × 106 m3/year is abstracted from aquifer storage leading to hydraulic head drops and flow changes, revealing a clearly unsustainable overexploitation scenario that impacts more intensively the confined aquifer. Model results provide the basis to understand how this is happening and help to suggest strategies to alleviate the current aquifer situation.

Increased frequency of anti-Ma2 encephalitis associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

ObjectiveTo report the induction of anti–Ma2 antibody–associated paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome (Ma2-PNS) in 6 patients after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We also analyzed (1) patient clinical features compared with a cohort of 44 patients who developed Ma2-PNS without receiving ICI treatment and (2) the frequency of neuronal antibody detection before and after ICI implementation.MethodsRetrospective nationwide study of all patients with Ma2-PNS developed during ICI treatment between 2017 and 2018.ResultsOur series of patients included 5 men and 1 woman (median age, 63 years). The patients were receiving nivolumab (n = 3), pembrolizumab (n = 2), or a combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab (n = 1) for treatment of neoplasms that included lung (n = 4) and kidney (n = 1) cancers and pleural mesothelioma (n = 1). Clinical syndromes comprised a combination of limbic encephalitis and diencephalitis (n = 3), isolated limbic encephalitis (n = 2), and a syndrome characterized by ophthalmoplegia and head drop (n = 1). No significant clinical difference was observed between our 6 patients and the overall cohort of Ma2-PNS cases. Post-ICI Ma2-PNS accounted for 35% of the total 17 Ma2-PNS diagnosed in our center over the 2017–2018 biennium. Eight cases had been detected in the preceding biennium 2015–2016, corresponding to a 112% increase of Ma2-PNS frequency since the implementation of ICIs in France. Despite ICI withdrawal and immunotherapy, 4/6 patients died, and the remaining 2 showed a moderate to severe disability.ConclusionsWe show a clear association between ICI use and increased diagnosis of Ma2-PNS. Physicians need to be aware that ICIs can trigger Ma2-PNS because clinical presentation can be challenging.

A robotic neck brace to characterize head-neck motion and muscle electromyography in subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ObjectiveThis paper presents the first study where a dynamic neck brace was used to characterize the head motion of ALS patients while concurrently recording the surface electromyography (EMG) of the neck muscles.MethodsEleven ALS patients and 10 age‐matched healthy controls consented and participated in an experiment. Each participant was asked to perform three single‐plane motions of the head‐neck that included flexion–extension in the sagittal plane, lateral bending in the coronal plane, and axial rotation in the transverse plane. Each motion was performed in a cycle and was repeated five times at self‐selected speeds.ResultsDuring single‐plane flexion–extension under gravity, compared to healthy peers, ALS patients showed a shorter duration to reach the maximum flexion and an earlier EMG onset in the neck extensors starting from the neutral. The brace measures in activation of the neck muscles in ALS patients were well correlated with clinically measured scores, such as the ALSFRS‐r and the FVC. The activation duration of sternocleidomastoid, used to rotate the head, correlated well with the ALSFRS‐r and FVC in ALS patients during axial rotation.InterpretationThe ability to synchronously activate a pair of muscles to execute single‐plane motions in ALS patients seems to have been compromised due to the disease and potentially results in head drop. The neck brace measures can be adapted in the clinic to complement self‐reporting in ALS patients and used to assess the head drop and progress of the disease.

WITHDRAWN: Electromyography guided - treatment with botulinum toxin of head drop in Parkinson’s disease

WITHDRAWN: Electromyography guided - treatment with botulinum toxin of head drop in Parkinson’s disease

GP.03 Diagnostic yield of next generation sequencing and myositis autoantibody panels in patients with axial myopathy

Background: Axial myopathy is a rare neuromuscular disorder of variable etiology characterised by preferential involvement of the paraspinal muscles. We reviewed clinical features of patients with axial myopathies and the diagnostic yield of myositis-associated antibodies and targeted next generation sequencing panels. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients presenting with axial myopathy at the Montreal Neurological Hospital from 2011-2018. Data collection included clinical presentation, disease course, results of electromyography, imaging, laboratory and genetic testing, and histopathology on muscle biopsy. Results: Twenty-five patients were identified. Initial manifestation of axial weakness was head drop (15), camptocormia (8), and rigid spine (2). Autoimmune myositis was diagnosed in 9 patients, seropositive in 7 out of 7 tested for myositis-associated antibodies. Genetic testing was consistent with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy in one patient and RYR-1 (ryanodine receptor 1) related core myopathy in another. Local radiotherapy or spine surgery preceded the onset of axial weakness in 1 and 6 patients, respectively. Muscle biopsies were available in 17 patients and revealed myopathic changes (16), inflammatory changes (6), and myopathy with vacuoles (3). Conclusions: Recent advancements in genetic and antibody testing, combined with paraspinal muscle biopsy, allow for more precise classification and identification of potentially treatable axial myopathies.

Performance analysis of a two-stage gravitational water vortex turbine

In the present study the performance of two-stage gravitational water vortex turbine (GWVT) assembled in a conical basin with Savonius blade profile configuration has been investigated at different flow rate and vortex elevation. Two-stage GWVT with conical basin, not only increases the performance parameters with increase in flow parameters, but the lower stages also feed additional impact to the stage located above it because of forced vortex generation in the vicinity of top stage. Moreover, maximum hydraulic head drop near the orifice is the main contributor in the power generation of the bottom stage, by giving rise to strong tangential velocity. A stage starts power production as soon as the parabolic surface of the vortex approaches the corners of the blades even in the absence of a significant water-blade interaction. The developed analytical model qualitatively predicts the performance of the turbine minutely leading the experimental results quantitatively.

Effects of bed slope on the flow field of vertical slot fishways

AbstractVertical slot fishways (VSFs) are the most efficient and least selective typology of technical fish passage, due to their ability to remain effective even when significant upstream and/or downstream water level fluctuations occur. Fishway construction costs can be reduced by increasing its bed slope, but this affects the flow field inside the pools, with higher head drops between the basins, as well as turbulence levels and flow velocities, which may affect fish passage. In light of this, a VSF was investigated by 3D numerical simulations to identify the possible effects of the bed slope (using values from 1.67% to 10%) on the flow field and subsequent implications for fish passage. A particular focus was devoted to cyprinind species, but the results can be extended to other species of similar swimming abilities and, therefore, be applicable to multispecies rivers. Flow velocity and turbulence values such as turbulent kinetic energy and Reynolds stresses were analysed from a fish passage perspective in relation to threshold values derived from previous studies. Pool areas where turbulence values are compatible with fish ability and behaviour were quantified. Maps of the location of fish‐friendly zones in the VSF pools were produced and can constitute a reference for practical applications in fishway design. The flow field generated with bed slopes lower than 6.67% is more compatible with fish swimming capabilities, because it exhibits a predominantly 2D behaviour and more suitable hydraulic conditions, whereas at higher slopes, turbulence levels in the pools increase.

Numerical Analysis on the Cavitation Performance of a Seawater Cooling Pump

In this study, a centrifugal seawater cooling pump was analyzed to investigate its cavitation behavior over different operating flow rates. 3D two-phase simulations were carried out with ANSYS-CFX commercial code. The k-e turbulence and Rayleigh-Plesset cavitation models were employed in the simulations. A head drop characteristics curves for three discharge rates was built based on numerical predictions. At higher flow rates, the impeller was more vulnerable to bubble cavitation. The 3 % head drop points of the pump working at 0.7Q, Q, and 1.3Q (Q: design flow rate) corresponded with NPSHa 1.21 m, 1.83 m, and 3.45 m, respectively. The volume of vapor bubbles was estimated and cavitation locations were anticipated to visualize the development of the cavity within the impeller. Moreover, the distribution of pressure coefficient and a blade loading chart are specifically presented, bringing out the harmful impacts of cavitation on the pump operation.

Use of Irradiated Fracture Toughness Values in Nuclear Vessel and Component Design Specifications for Fitness-For-Service Analysis Using the Unified Curve Method

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Section III Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components subsection NB-2331 Material for Vessels requires that the effects of irradiation shall be considered on material toughness properties in the core belt line region of the reactor vessel. The code also states that “the design specifications shall include additional requirements, as necessary, to ensure adequate fracture toughness for the service lifetime of the vessel.” In a design report of nuclear pressure vessel, the design and service loads do not include loads that are affected by fracture toughness of the material. However, in the cases of fitness-for-service assessment for component flaws (prevalent with age of component), irradiated material properties become highly relevant. An example of a fitness-for-service is that of a beyond design basis reactor vessel head drop accident in a pressurized water reactor with a nozzle junction flaw. As a case study, the critical size of a postulated external surface semielliptical circumferential crack in the combustion engineering three-loop pressurized water reactor nozzle–vessel junction is calculated using ansys Workbench (Academic version) with the applied impact load from the vessel head drop accident. Failure assessment diagrams for numerous crack depths and lengths were developed considering the fracture toughness properties of the irradiated reactor vessel steel. The mode I stress intensity results used in the failure assessment diagram were compared with the available finite element and the American Petroleum Institute (API) standard API 579 analytical solutions for validation, showing good agreement. From this case study, it is demonstrated that the effects of irradiation on fracture toughness become prominent at the same postulated crack size in the nozzle–vessel junction dispositioned as “safe” becomes “unsafe” in the fracture assessment diagram. Using the unified curve method, the irradiated fracture toughness data in design specification can be supplied so that it may be used in fitness-for-service analysis to account for component aging.

Hydraulics and swimming behavior of schizothorax prenanti in vertical slot fishways

This paper presents a novel experiment for the correlation between the hydraulics and the swimming behavior of Schizothorax prenanti, a rare species of fish in southwest China, in passing a vertical slot fishway. With an acoustic Doppler velocimeter, the velocities of a physical model in the equidimension fishway in the Shaping II power station are measured. The hydraulic parameters include the hydraulic head drop, the velocity patterns and the flow rate, and the swimming behavior includes the burst-coast, the sustained swimming and the migratory path, and they are analyzed under the test conditions. The sustained swimming velocity is in the range from 0.65m/s to 1.09m/s. The estimated hydraulic head drop of each pool is calculated and is in the range from 0.08-0.11 m, which means that 2.6% slope is reasonable. For the same slope, the maximum velocity is further reduced from 1.24 m/s to 1.14 m/s by using an L shape baffle structure. The above findings are used as the basis to evaluate the hydraulic performance of the fishways, where the L shape baffle structure is expected to be effective for creating a preferencial flow for the fish. For the main stream of the pool, an “Ω” shape flow pattern is more fish-friendly, which can effectively extend the energy dissipation distance and avoid the bursting through a high velocity zone. This paper provides a useful complementary tool for practical designs.