Cross-sectional analysis of blood leukocyte responsiveness to interleukin-10 and interleukin-6 across age and physical activity level.

Objectives: To determine how the anti-inflammatory actions of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-6 differ across age and physical activity levels.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, fasted blood samples were obtained from younger physically inactive (YI: n=10, age: 22.7 ± 3.

Doppler ultrasonography of the uterine artery and the response to chemotherapy in patients with gestational trophoblastic tumors.

Purpose: Increasing new blood vessel formation (neoangiogenesis) within tumors is an adverse prognostic factor for survival in several cancers. Neoangiogenesis is usually determined histopathologically and not in vivo. To assess neoangiogenesis in vivo, we have used Doppler ultrasonography (US) to measure the uterine artery pulsatility index (UAPI) in patients with gestational trophoblastic tumors (GTTs).

An ultrasound scoring system for the diagnosis of liver disease in cystic fibrosis.

Advances in the management of the pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis may result in an increasing prevalence of patients with chronic liver disease which may, therefore, become more important in the long-term management of cystic fibrosis patients. However, no simple and reliable test is available for the diagnosis of liver disease in cystic fibrosis. In particular percutaneous liver biopsy is highly inaccurate and potentially dangerous.

Diaphragmatic movement in hemiplegic patients measured by ultrasonography.

Background: It is known that automatic breathing is controlled by centres in the lower brain stem, whereas volitional breathing is controlled by the cerebral cortical centres. In hemiplegia, lesions above the brain stem result in paralysis of limb muscles. This study was performed to determine whether the diaphragm might also be affected in patients with hemiplegia.

Excursion-volume relation of the right hemidiaphragm measured by ultrasonography and respiratory airflow measurements.

Background: Although real time ultrasonography has been used in the last decade to record diaphragmatic motion, the relation between diaphragmatic excursion and different inspired volumes (VT) has not been assessed by ultrasound.

Methods: Ten normal subjects were studied in the supine posture. Diaphragmatic excursion and VT were assessed simultaneously by M mode ultrasonography and respiratory airflow measurements at different inspired volumes.