Comparison of aortic blood flow rotational direction in healthy volunteers and patients with bicuspid aortic valves using volumetric velocity-sensitive cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: The rotational direction (RD) of helical blood flow can be classified as either a clockwise (RD) or counter-clockwise (RD) flow. We hypothesized that this simple classification might not be sufficient for analysis and a simultaneous existence of RD may occur. We utilized volumetric velocity-sensitive cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) to analyze rotational blood flow in the thoracic aorta.

Quantitative 4D flow MRI-derived thoracic aortic normal values of 2D flow MRI parameters in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: To utilize 4 D flow MRI to acquire normal values of "conventional 2 D flow MRI parameters" in healthy volunteers in order to replace multiple single 2 D flow measurements with a single 4 D flow acquisition.

Materials And Methods: A kt-GRAPPA accelerated 4 D flow sequence was used. Flow volumes were assessed by forward (FFV), backward (BFV), and net flow volumes (NFV) [ml/heartbeat] and flow velocities by axial (VAX) and absolute velocity (VABS) [m/s] in 116 volunteers (58 females, 43 ± 13 years).

Quantitative normal values of helical flow, flow jets and wall shear stress of healthy volunteers in the ascending aorta.

Objectives: 4D flow MRI enables quantitative assessment of helical flow. We sought to generate normal values and elucidate changes of helical flow (duration, volume, length, velocities and rotational direction) and flow jet (displacement, flow angle) as well as wall shear stress (WSS).

Methods: We assessed the temporal helical existence (TH), maximum helical volume (HV), accumulated helical volume (HV), accumulated helical volume length (HVL), maximum forward velocity (maxV), maximum circumferential velocity (maxV), rotational direction (RD) and maximum wall shear stress (WSS) as reported elsewhere using the software tool Bloodline in 86 healthy volunteers (46 females, mean age 41 ± 13 years).

Automated Quantitative Extraction and Analysis of 4D flow Patterns in the Ascending Aorta: An intraindividual comparison at 1.5 T and 3 T.

4D flow MRI enables quantitative assessment of helical flow. Current methods are susceptible to noise. To evaluate helical flow patterns in healthy volunteers and patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) at 1.

[Parenting facts and desires in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity].

Homosexual parents as well as gay and lesbian individuals wanting children are increasingly a topic of public discourse. To estimate the importance of parenting for this group, 1 289 non-heterosexual individuals were examined by means of an anonymous online survey. Their answers were compared to 1 022 heterosexual participants of a representative control group.