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Biomedical subjects

A Roncin

Publications and source records attributed to A Roncin.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of cerebral blood flow in rabbits with transcranial Doppler sonography: first results.

A transcranial Doppler sonographic system with a special 2-MHz probe for prolonged experimentation has been developed for Doppler waveform recordings from the basilar artery on rabbits. Measurements were made from the maximum velocity wave form, and Pourcelot's resistance index was used to express the results. The diastolic flow, similar to that observed in humans in physiological conditions, decreases with increased intracranial pressure during chronic intracranial hypertension. This Doppler model may be valuable for assessing rapid changes of cerebral blood flow in conscious animals during prolonged or acute experimental procedures.

Animals

Visualization of the fetal circle of Willis and intra-cerebral arteries by color-coded Doppler.

We report here the visualization of the intra-cerebral vessels in a normal fetus of 28 weeks gestational age, by color-coded Doppler. The color-flow mapping method makes it possible to identify very small vessels that up to date could not be detected on B-mode imaging, and will permit new clinical and physiological studies of the circulation in specific areas of the fetal brain.

Cerebral Arteries

Fetal cerebral circulation assessment by Doppler ultrasound in normal and pathological pregnancies.

During normal pregnancies (n = 40) the cerebral index (Rc = S - D/S) (with S = systolic and D-telediastolic amplitudes) is always higher than the placental index (Rp), and the cerebro/placental ratio (Rc/Rp) greater than 1. Of 29 pregnant women with hypertension (including two twins), 17 delivered normally (Rc, Rp and CPR normal), 14 delivered an hypotrophic fetus, in 12 out of these 14 pregnancies one of the two indices (Rc or Rp) was abnormal and the cerebro/placental ratio, CPR, was always less or equal to 1. CPR sensitivity was 86% the specificity 100%. In 11 pregnancies with idiopathic fetal-growth retardation, the CPR was less or equal to 1 in eight cases (73% of the cases), and greater than 1 in three cases (three false-negative results).

Cerebrovascular Circulation

A linear array system for deep vessel explorations.

A system for the exploration of deep vessels is proposed. This device is based on a single 300 element linear array in which a "Doppler area" is selected to electronically steer a Doppler beam. Characteristics of the equipment are excellent and it is as easy to handle as a simple linear array scanner. A real-time spectrum analyser is used to process the Doppler signals. The probe and the associated electronics are described and some results are given to illustrate the capabilities of the device such as blood flow estimation and deep vessel studies.

Aorta

Exploration of the fetal cerebral blood flow by duplex Doppler--linear array system in normal and pathological pregnancies.

The umbilical circulation can be investigated by Doppler ultrasound techniques very easily. The Doppler frequency spectrum from the umbilical arteries provides information on the placental circulation. The diastolic flow amplitude is directly related to the vascular resistances of the placenta (Rp). In cases of pathological pregnancies with hypertension the decrease of the diastolic flow and the increase of the resistance index Rp have been correlated with intrauterine fetal growth retardation. Fetal cerebral arteries have also been explored during normal pregnancies (n = 40). The index of cerebral resistance (Rc) as defined by Pourcelot is Rc = S-D/S (with S systolic amplitude and D diastolic amplitude) and shows variations similar to the placental index. During normal pregnancy, the cerebral index is higher than the placental index and the cerebro-placental ratio (Rc/Rp) is greater than 1. This preliminary study of both umbilical and cerebral circulation seems to demonstrate that during pathological pregnancies with hypertension (n = 21), with fetal growth retardation one of the indices, Rc or Rp may be out of the normal range but the cerebro-placental ratio (CPR) is always less than 1. However a larger number of patients should be explored in order to evaluate the clinical usefulness of such an observation.

Cerebral Arteries

[Doppler examination of the umbilical and cerebral arterial circulation of the fetus].

Umbilical circulation can be explored by Doppler ultrasound methods very easily. The umbilical arteries spectrum provides information on the placental circulation. The diastolic flow is directly related to the vascular resistances of the placenta (Rp). In cases of pathological pregnancies with hypertension the decrease in the diastolic flow and the increase in the resistance index Rp have been correlated with intra-uterine fetal growth retardation. The specificity of this index Rp is of 95% but the sensitivity much more lower (approximately 70%). For that reason Doppler assessment of the fetal circulation in other areas has been recently carried out. Fetal cerebral arteries have been explored during normal pregnancies. The index of cerebral resistances as defined by Pourcelot Rc = S-D divided by S (with S systolic amplitude and D diastolic amplitude) show similar variations to the placental index but later in the pregnancy. During the pregnancy the cerebral index is higher than the placental one and the cerebro placental ratio (CPR) superior to 1. During pathological pregnancy (hypertension) with fetal growth retardation one of the index Rc or Rp may be out of the normal range but the cerebro placental ratio CPR is always lower than 1. The follow up of both the umbilical and cerebral circulation increases notably the accuracy of the Doppler method for the detection of intra-uterine fetal growth retardation.

Cerebrovascular Circulation