Ultrasound Variables Research Articles

Retinal vein occlusion in patients under 50 years. Analysis of vascular risk factors, thrombophilia, carotid ultrasound findings and uncommon aetiologies

IntrodutionRetinal vein occlusion (RVO) has been related to vascular risk factors and thrombophilia. MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study of all patients diagnosed with RVO and referred to an Internal Medicine clinic of a tertiary teaching hospital during a 10-year period. Clinical, laboratory and supra-aortic trunks ultrasound variables were analysed and compared according to age. ResultsSome 309 patients diagnosed with RVO were included, 25 of them younger than 50 years. The prevalence of high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, hyperhomocysteinemia, and carotid plaque was significantly higher in patients >50 years than in those below. However, the prevalence of inherited thrombophilia was higher in the younger group (32.0% vs 11.4%; p = 0.005). Uncommon diseases related to RVO such as hepatitis C, thalassemia minor, Lyme disease, vasculitis, and periphlebitis were observed in young patients without vascular risk factors. ConclusionWe suggest performing a genetic thrombophilia study in RVO patients younger than 50 years, while an exhaustive control of vascular risk factors is always recommended in all RVO patients. Moreover, we suggest bearing in mind uncommon diseases related to RVO, especially in young patients without vascular risk factors.

The Effects of Fluid Hydration Status on Ultrasound Muscle Measurement in Hemodialysis Patients

This study aimed to explore the effects of fluid hydration status on ultrasound muscle measurement in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Ultrasound muscle examination of the right rectus femoris and bioelectrical impedance analysis measurement of the right lower limb were performed in HD patients at the periods of predialysis and postdialysis. The correlations between the changes in the corresponding ultrasound and bioelectrical impedance analysis variables were analyzed. A total of 50 patients on maintenance HD were included, with mean age of 52.6±13.5years. Patients were 40% female (n=20), and average dialysis duration was 2.62±2.42years. Compared to predialysis, the measurements of cross-sectional area, muscle thickness, echo intensity (EI), and their percentage changes all decreased significantly after the HD procedure (P<.05). The change in EI and its percentage change were significantly correlated with changes in total body water, intracellular water, and extracellular water (P<.05). The HD session may have significant effects on ultrasound muscle measurement. Both the indicators of muscle quantity (cross-sectional area and muscle thickness) and quality (EI) significantly decreased after HD, which may contribute to the change in fluid hydration status and the change in fluid composition.

Oclusión venosa retiniana en pacientes menores de 50 años. Análisis de factores de riesgo vascular, trombofilia, hallazgos ecográficos carotídeos y etiologías poco frecuentes

IntroductionRetinal vein occlusion (RVO) has been related to vascular risk factors and thrombophilia. MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study of all patients diagnosed with RVO and referred to an Internal Medicine clinic of a tertiary teaching hospital during a 10-year period. Clinical, laboratory and supra-aortic trunks ultrasound variables were analysed and compared according to age. ResultsSome 309 patients diagnosed with RVO were included, 25 of them younger than 50 years. The prevalence of high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, hyperhomocysteinemia, and carotid plaque was significantly higher in patients>50 years than in those below. However, the prevalence of inherited thrombophilia was higher in the younger group (32.0 vs 11.4%; p = 0.005). Uncommon diseases related to RVO such as hepatitis C, thalassemia minor, Lyme disease, vasculitis, and periphlebitis were observed in young patients without vascular risk factors. ConclusionWe suggest performing a genetic thrombophilia study in RVO patients younger than 50 years, while an exhaustive control of vascular risk factors is always recommended in all RVO patients. Moreover, we suggest bearing in mind uncommon diseases related to RVO, especially in young patients without vascular risk factors.

Test-Retest Reliability of Ultrasonographic Measurements from the Rectus Femoris Muscle 1-5 Years after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the Ipsilateral and Contralateral Legs: An Observational, Case-Control Study.

About 40% of traumatic injuries in sports are related to the knee. Of these, 33% require arthroscopic surgery. The rehabilitative ultrasound imaging technique is a simple method to obtain objective real-time results on the state and measurement of the musculoskeletal tissue and its use can represent an important change in the process of functional diagnosis and recovery of these injuries. The aim was to quantify the differences in the thickness, muscle contraction time, and muscle relaxation time of the rectus femoris muscle between individuals with knee arthroscopy and healthy individuals and to verify the reliability of the inter-examiner measurements in these ultrasound variables. An observational case-control study with individuals (18–60 years aged) who underwent surgery for anterior cruciate ligament through knee arthroscopy a year or more before. A total of 38 subjects were divided into 2 groups, case and control. Ultrasound measurements were taken of the following outcomes: thickness at rest and contraction, muscle contraction time, and muscle relaxation time of the rectus femoris muscle. Excellent inter-examiner reliability was obtained for all ultrasound measurements (ICC3.3 > 0.90). No significant changes were found in the rate of contraction or rest of the rectus femoris muscle. On the other hand, if significant changes in the thickness of the rectus femoris muscle were found between control and case group. Arthroscopic surgery for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction does not appear to modify function but does modify the thickness of the rectus femoris muscle on ultrasound examination. Ultrasound appears to be a reliable tool for the study of these measurements in the rectus femoris muscle.

Muscle Quality Assessment by Ultrasound Imaging of the Intrinsic Foot Muscles in Individuals with and without Plantar Fasciitis: A Case-Control Study.

Objective: The primary aim of the present study was to compare the echo intensity (EI) and echovariation (EV) of the intrinsic foot muscles (IFMs) between individuals with and without plantar fasciitis (PF), using ultrasound imaging. The secondary objective was to study the intra-rater reliability of the echotexture variables. Methods: A case–control study was conducted with 64 participants, who were divided into the following two groups: A, the PF group (n = 32); B, the healthy group (n = 32). Results: The comparison between the two groups did not identify significant differences (p > 0.05) between the flexor hallucis brevis (FHB), flexor digitorum brevis (FDB), quadratus plantae (QP) and abductor hallucis brevis (AHB) variables for the EI and EV. Moreover, excellent intra-rater reliability was reported for the following ultrasound imaging EI variables: ABH (ICC = 0.951), FHB (ICC = 0.949), FDB (ICC = 0.981) and QP (ICC = 0.984). Conclusions: The muscle quality assessment using the EI and EV variables did not identify differences in the FHB, FDB, AHB and QP muscles between individuals with and without PF through USI evaluation. The reliability of all the IFM measurements was reported to be excellent.

Construction of a Prognostic Score for Ultrasound Evaluation of the Transobturator Sling for Stress Urinary Incontinence.

Currently, pelvic floor ultrasound allows us to correctly visualize the synthetic material used in stress urinary incontinence surgery. The objective of this study is the construction of a score and its correlation with the SUU clinic. During the study period, 81 patients with transobturator slings were studied using ultrasound. Through multivariate analysis, the statistically significant variables were the distance from the sling to the urethral wall (p = 0.004), the shape of the sling at rest (p = 0.003), and the symmetry of the mesh (p = 0.016). Through these variables, the construction of a score was carried out. Once the model was constructed, its internal validation was carried out to determine the discrimination capacity of patients who present clinical stress and those who do not, with an area under the curve of 0.848 (95% CI (0.72–0.97), p < 0.001). This simple score using three ultrasound variables serves to adequately and objectively discriminate patients who have successful surgery and absence of clinical effort.

Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound Pattern in Healthy Parturients: Prevalence of Pulmonary Interstitial Syndrome Following Vaginal Delivery, Elective and Unplanned Intrapartum Cesarean Delivery

(Anesth Analg. 2021;133:739–746. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005464) The risk of pulmonary edema for parturient women increases near term, and factors during and post labor lead to even greater risk of pulmonary edema in the early postpartum period. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a tool that helps to diagnose pulmonary edema earlier. Data on the effect of labor and early postpartum fluid shifts and hormonal changes on the occurrence of pulmonary interstitial syndrome is unknown. This exploratory study seeks to estimate the prevalence of pulmonary interstitial syndrome following vaginal delivery (VD), elective cesarean delivery (eCD), and unplanned intrapartum cesarean delivery (uCD). Secondary aims of the study include finding associations between positive lung regions found on lung ultrasound and several variables (eg, mode of delivery, duration) and estimating the prevalence of positive lung regions.

Ultrasound parameters used to characterize Iberian fresh pork loins of different feeding systems

The objective of this work was to characterize different commercial categories of pork loin non-destructively by inspection using low-intensity ultrasound at different frequencies. To this end, such ultrasound parameters as the ultrasound pulse velocity (UPV) and variables related to the attenuation and to the frequency components obtained from the fast Fourier transform (FFT) were considered. The acoustic parameters and those obtained using traditional instrumental analyses (physicochemical and texture) were subjected to a Pearson correlation analysis. Several ultrasound parameters allowed the two categories explored to be distinguished. Also, the acoustic determinations yielded many significant correlations with the rest of the parameters studied. The results show that ultrasound can be postulated as an instrument for characterizing and distinguishing samples of different categories of loin, and that it has a promising predictive character.

Optimization of an Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction Method Applied to the Extraction of Flavonoids from Moringa Leaves (Moringa oleífera Lam.)

Interest in phenolic compounds has recently increased due to their potential as antioxidant agents. Moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera) have a high content of phenolic compounds, which presents them as a promising source for the extraction of these compounds. However, it is necessary to use analytical techniques to identify and quantify their actual compound content to determine the quality of the raw material and the potential of the final product. Ultrasound assisted extraction is a green, rapid and environmentally friendly extraction technique that produces high quality extracts from natural products. Hence, the aim of this research is to optimize the variables of the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) process for the extraction of moringa leaves using response surface methodology (RSM) to extract the main flavonoids using methanol as the extraction solvent. A Box–Behnken design (BBD) has been used to evaluate the effect of the ultrasound extraction process variables. Finally, the optimal extraction time in the range between 2 and 30 min was determined. The results revealed that the methanol concentration was the most influential variable. The optimal extraction time was established at 15 min. Six of the main flavonoids were quantified by UHPLC-DAD and identified by UHPLC-QToF-MS. The results confirmed that UAE is an efficient method for the extraction and subsequent analysis and quality control of the flavonoids that can be found in moringa leaves.

Assessment of serum interleukin-20 level in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Relation to disease activity and ultrasound measures

Aim of the workTo investigate the serum interleukin-20 (IL-20) level in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to elucidate its relationship with disease activity and ultrasonographic (US) findings. Patients and methods45 RA patients and 45 matched controls were enrolled. Modified health assessment questionnaire (mHAQ) and disease activity score(DAS-28) were determined. Power Doppler (PD) and Gray-scale (GS) US evaluation was made using German US7 score. Serum IL-20 level was analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultsMean age of patients was 34.5 ± 11 years; 39 females and 6 males and disease duration 15.8 ± 8.3 years. Their mean DAS-28 was 4.1 ± 1.1. The serum IL-20 levels were highly significant in patients (30.2; 19.1–58.5 ng/l) than in controls 13.1; 11–15.1 ng/l; p < 0.001). Serum IL-20 significantly correlated with DAS-28 (r = 0.32, p = 0.03), mHAQ (r = 0.87, p < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.82, p < 0.001), C-reactive protein (r = 0.32, p = 0.03), and disease duration (r = 0.87, p < 0.001). Significant correlations were found between IL-20 level and German US7 variables including synovitis (PD: p = 0.02 and GS: p = 0.01), tenosynovitis (PD: p = 0.01 and GS: p = 0.01) and erosion (p = 0.02) scores. Only morning stiffness, tenosynovitis GS score, tender joint count and mHAQ were significant predictors of IL- 20 serum level (p = 0.045, p = 0.04, p = 0.03 and p = 0.001 respectively). Serum IL-20 at cut-off point of 15.4 ng/l could significantly distinguish patients from controls (AUC = 0.89; sensitivity 82.2%, specificity 77.8% and accuracy of 80%; p < 0.001). ConclusionPatients with RA exhibited a significant elevation in IL-20. Serum IL-20 level significantly correlated with disease activity and ultrasound variables and may serve as a potentially effective biomarker in the evaluation of disease activity in RA.

Role of Myo-inositol and D-Chiro-Inositol in Improvement of Endocrine and Clinical Parameters in Girls affected by PCOS

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of Myo-inositol and D-chiro-Inositol combination therapy in improvement of Endocrine and clinical parameters in teenage girls affected by PCOS. Methods: This Prospective Cohort study was conducted in the Department of Gynaecology &amp; Obstetrics, Avicenna Medical College and hospital after approval from Institutional ethical committee from January 2021 to June 2021. We have enrolled 106 teenage girls from 13 to 19 years with PCOS. Baseline clinical, ultrasound and biochemical parameters were noted and assigned them into two treatment groups (A &amp; B) randomly. Group A was given MI plus DCI and Group B was given placebo for 6 months. Differences were analyzed in pretreatment and post treatment ultrasound findings and Clinical variable of BMI, Acne, hirsutism and menstrual irregularities. Biochemical parameters including LH:FSH ratio, 17-beta Estradiol and fasting glucose were also evaluated in both groups. Statistical Analysis was done using SPSS version 21. Results: A statistically significant improvement was observed in clinical &amp; Laboratory parameters in treatment group showing reduced LH:FSH ratio, fasting glucose and increased Estradiol levels along with decreased BMI, Acne and hair growth and improved ultrasound parameters in same group as compared to placebo group. Conclusion: The current study showed promising results of combined therapy with MI plus DCI for treatment and improvement of clinical and lab parameters in teenage girls affected with PCOs as compared to placebo. Keywords: PCOS, Myo-inositol, D-chiro-inositol, Hirsutism, Acne.

Impact of ultrasound and sociodemographic variables on maternal foetal attachment in Taraba State, Nigeria

Background: Maternal foetal attachment is manifested in behaviors that demonstrate care and commitment to the foetus. Ultrasound decreases maternal anxiety and confers psychological benefit following a reassuring sonogram.Maternal-foetal attachment is affected by many socio-demographic factors which include maternal age, occupation, educational level, race, marriage duration, ethnicity, Religion, income status, pregnancy planning, and identification of the foetal gender.Aim: This study was aimed at assessing the effect of ultrasound and sociodemographic factors on maternal foetal attachment during pregnancy.Method: A prospective study was conducted from November, 2019 to March, 2020. A convenient sampling method was employed and included 404 pregnant women aged 18-45 years old in their 2nd and 3rd trimester. The data were collected using a maternal foetal attachment scale questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out at p value &lt; 0.05.Result: The score of maternal foetal attachment scale was greater with post ultrasound than the pre ultrasound. There was statistically significant difference between the pre and post ultrasound maternal foetal attachment scale (p=0.000). A statistically significant difference was observed in the maternalfoetal attachment across the different ethnic groups (p=0.000), planned and unplanned pregnancy (p=0.000).Conclusion: This study revealed that ultrasound scan has influence on maternal foetal attachment, planned pregnancy. Hausa, Bandawa and Jenjo were found to be more attached to their foetuses.

Effects of ultrasound frequency and process variables of modified ultrasound-assisted extraction on the extraction of anthocyanin from strawberry fruit

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of ultrasound frequencies from 18 to 90 kHz on the extraction of anthocyanin from strawberry fruit by using an approach of modified ultrasound-assisted extraction (MUAE) that was based on a frequency search device with six extraction tanks controlled by a computer. According to the obtained optimal frequency of 62-64 kHz, the effects of other different process variables, such as treatment time, temperature, ultrasound power and solvent to solid ratio, on the extraction of anthocyanin were also studied in comparison with heat assisted extraction (HAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The obtained results showed that the maximum yield of 796.9 μg/g of anthocyanin was obtained at the optimized conditions of ultrasound frequency of 62-64 kHz, solvent to solid ratio of 6 mL/g, ultrasound power of 120 W, temperature of 45°C and treatment time of 12 min with 55% ethanol as the solvent. The application of MUAE showed that anthocyanin yield increased by about 42% and 22% higher than that of HAE and UAE, respectively. These findings demonstrated MUAE is not only an effective and feasible method for extracting anthocyanin from strawberry fruit, but also promising for extracting active components from natural materials in industry.

The Placenta Accreta Index: Are additional ultrasound variables additive?

The Placenta Accreta Index (PAI) is a prospectively validated tool for the prediction of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in a high-risk population based on a standardized evaluation of ultrasound parameters. The aim of this study was to determine if additional ultrasound variables could enhance correlation of the PAI with surgical outcome.

Development of a Predictive Model for Screening Patients with Psoriasis at Increased Risk of Psoriatic Arthritis.

IntroductionThis study aimed to develop a predictive model based on ultrasound variables which can be used to screen patients with psoriasis who are prone to progress to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in clinical practice.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study conducted in a single center from October 2018 to November 2020. All subjects (non-PsA group, PsA group, and control group) underwent an ultrasound examination and their ultrasound abnormalities were recorded. On the basis of statistical analysis and clinical experts’ advice, several variables were selected for modelling. We used logistic regression to establish the prediction model. To assess the discrimination and accuracy of this model, internal validation and external validation were performed.ResultsA total of 852 patients with psoriasis but without PsA, 261 patients with PsA, and 86 healthy volunteers were included. Ultimately, the predictive model consisted of six variables, namely hand joint power Doppler (PD) signals (grade 0: OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.94–4.47; grade ≥ 1: OR 109.30, 95% CI 14.35–832.27; P < 0.001), wrist joint synovial thickening (grade 1: OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.69–2.43; grade 2: OR 4.30, 95% CI 1.92–9.65; grade 3: OR 11.05, 95% CI 1.01–120.64; P = 0.001), knee joint PD signals (grade 0: OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.56–1.80; grade ≥ 1: OR 14.77, 95% CI 3.99–54.69; P < 0.001), toe joint PD signals (grade 0: OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.78–1.79; grade ≥ 1: OR 5.74, 95% CI 2.84–11.63; P < 0.001), quadriceps tendon and patellar tendon enthesitis (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.36–2.78, P < 0.001), Achilles tendon and plantar aponeurosis enthesitis (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.14–2.32, P = 0.007). C-index for the predictive model was 0.80 (95% CI 0.76–0.83). After bootstrapping validation (1000 times), it was confirmed to be 0.79. The external validation showed the accuracy of the predictive model is 0.87 (95% CI 0.69–0.95).ConclusionThis study succeeded in developing a predictive model with a high degree of accuracy to predict the risk of PsA in patients with psoriasis.

Modulus of rupture prediction in Pinus sylvestris with multivariate models constructed with resonance, ultrasound, and wood heterogeneity variables

Multivariate models with multiple linear regression (MLR), artificial neural network (ANN), and k-nearest neighbors (KNN) were developed to predict the modulus of rupture of Pinus sylvestris structural timber. The aim of this study was to develop and compare these models obtained from resonance and ultrasound tests, static modulus of elasticity tests, and different measured wood feature. Resonance tests were performed in the three vibration modes (edgewise, flatwise, and longitudinal) to obtain the fundamental resonant frequencies. To compare the goodness-of-fit of the different models, the 10-fold cross-validation method was used, which proved to be an adequate strategy to avoid overfitting. The variable with the best predictive capacity of the modulus of rupture was knottiness. The error was notably lower in the multivariate than the univariate models. The ANN and KNN algorithms showed no improvement over the MLR. The most suitable MLR for prediction of the modulus of rupture was the model with four variables: knottiness, edgewise dynamic modulus of elasticity, velocity of ultrasounds, and longitudinal resonant frequency.

Safety and efficacy of directly-acting antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus in elderly people.

IntroductionIn Italy, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is higher in the elderly, although the efficacy and safety of treatment in this population has not been extensively studied. Moreover, little is known about how much pharmacological interaction affects eligibility to treatment and to what extent the treatment affects subsequent outcomes.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety of directly acting antivirals (DAAs), drug‐to‐drug interactions, and post‐treatment outcomes in 138 patients with HCV aged 70 years or older, who were consecutively treated in our center between 2015 and 2020.ResultsThe mean age was 77 years old (range = 70–95 years old). The Cumulative Illness Rating Scale of pretherapy severity was classified as moderate to severe in 65% of patients. Fifty‐five patients (40%) presented compensated cirrhosis, eight of which were complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and all were cured before treatment. One hundred two patients (74%) were taking two or more drugs (range = 0–5 concomitant drugs registered) and in 29 patients (21%) we found potential drug‐to‐drug interaction. In 11 of those 29 patients (38%), we were forced to change the chronic therapy, when all therapeutic regimens were equal in terms of efficacy and interactions, to avoid potentially serious drug interactions. One serious adverse event occurred in our sample population (i.e., diverticular bleeding due to interaction with direct oral anticoagulants [DOACs]), whereas mild side effects occurred in 37% of patients. The undetectability of HCV RNA at the end of treatment was achieved in 97% of patients, whereas a sustained virological response (SVR) 12 and SVR 24 were obtained in 98% of patients. When comparing pretherapy with post‐therapy data, after a medium follow‐up of 15 months (median = 1 year, minimum = 2 months, and maximum = 4 years), we observed a reduction in the incidence of episodes of liver decompensation in patients with cirrhosis and a slight increase in the incidence of HCC (with 6 recurrent and 5 de novo HCC), diagnosed within 13 months from the end of therapy. In all patients, we found a significant improvement in all ultrasound variables and a significant reduction in the elastographic measurements. No significant differences in outcomes were observed dividing the population into patients aged ≥ 80 and < 80 years old.ConclusionsDirectly acting antiviral therapy was found to be safe and effective in elderly people, and, despite the large number of concomitant drugs, pharmacological interactions appeared to not affect the adherence to therapy or the incidence of adverse events. Side effects were mostly independent from the type of DAA used and from the burden of comorbidity. In long‐term follow‐up, the benefit of DAA therapy mainly concerned liver pathology and should be strongly advised in patients with cirrhosis. The therapy was found to not affect extrahepatic comorbidities but allowed to end follow‐up in noncirrhotic patients with savings in terms of resources. Finally, patients should not be excluded based on age if they have a good performance status.

Fatigue Is Not Associated With Objective Assessments of Inflammation During Tocilizumab Treatment of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

ObjectiveIn patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the relation between fatigue and disease activity is not established, and our objective was to explore in post hoc analyses the associations between fatigue and subjective as well as objective assessments of inflammation during follow‐up of patients with RA initiating biologic treatment.MethodsIn a Nordic multicenter study, patients with RA starting tocilizumab were examined for fatigue (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue sum score) as well as patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) (patient's global disease activity, joint pain, and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index), clinical examinations (examiner's global disease activity, 28 tender/swollen joint counts), laboratory variables (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‐reactive protein), and ultrasound assessments (semiquantitative scoring [0‐3]) of gray scale and Doppler of 36 joints and 4 tendons) at baseline and 4, 12, and 24 weeks. The associations were explored by using nonparametric tests, including the Wilcoxon rank test, the Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman correlations, and a linear regression and linear mixed model.ResultsOne hundred ten patients were included (83% female, mean [SD] age 55.6 [12.1] years, mean [SD] RA duration 8.7 [9.5] years, 81% anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide positive). Fatigue, PROMs, and clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound variables all decreased significantly during follow‐up, already at 4 weeks (P < 0.001). Fatigue was both cross‐sectionally and longitudinally associated with PROMs, whereas there were no or low associations with clinical, laboratory, or ultrasound assessments of inflammation. Baseline fatigue was predictive of PROMs at 12 and 24 weeks (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively) but not of any objective assessments.ConclusionFatigue was primarily associated with subjective assessments of disease activity. Thus, the present study supports fatigue to reflect other aspects of RA disease activity than inflammation.

November 2021 at a glance: focus on prevention, comorbidities, cardiogenic shock and novel devices.

November 2021 at a glance: focus on prevention, comorbidities, cardiogenic shock and novel devices.

Vascular perfusion and the volume of the preovulatory follicle are affected by the temperament of Nellore cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of temperament on vascular perfusion and morphological characteristic (volume) of the preovulatory follicle (POF) and corpus luteum (CL) of Nellore cows submitted to timed artificial insemination (TAI). The effect of temperament on cortisol, P4 concentrations and on ovulation rates was also evaluated. To achieve this, the ovarian cycles of 201 beef cows were synchronized, and temperament assessments were carried out using the chute score and chute exit score at the time of TAI. According to the individual scores, the animals were classified into adequate temperament (ADQ) or excitable (EXC). Blood samples were collected at the time of TAI and 7 days later to measure cortisol and P4, respectively. Color Doppler ultrasound assessments were performed to determine the volume, and blood flow of the POF and CL at the time of TAI (D0) and seven days later (D7), respectively. The ovarian cycle synchronization and ovulation rates were compared between the ADQ and EXC groups using the chi-square test while hormonal concentrations and ultrasound variables were compared using a general linear model. Multiple comparisons between groups were conducted using Tukey's contrasts. The data were expressed as means and standard error. The number of color pixels (p ≤ 0.01), intensity of color pixels (p ≤ 0.01) and volume (p ≤ 0.01) in the POF were all lower for the EXC group. However, cortisol concentrations were higher in the EXC group compared to the ADQ (p ≤ 0.01). This was related to stress during TAI management. The number and intensity of the color pixels in the CL showed no difference between groups, however, the volume was lower (p ≤ 0.01) for the EXC group. There was no difference between groups regarding ovarian cycle synchronization, ovulation rates and P4 concentration. However, the P4/CL volume ratio was higher in the EXC group. The results indicate that the excitable temperament in Nellore cows has important endocrine effects and reflects on the ovarian structures, with less follicular blood flow and a reduction in the volume of the POF and CL, however, without compromising the ovulation rate.