Impact of structural factors around the accessory nerve on the pathogenesis of essential neck and upper-back stiffness: a sonographic investigation.

Introduction: Neck and upper-back stiffness involves discomfort/ache in the trapezius muscle (TM). The pathogenesis of 'essential neck and upper-back stiffness' without obvious causes remains uncertain. In symptomatic subjects, TM hardness correlates with decreased transverse cervical artery (TCA) blood flow to the TM.

Close relationships between neck and upper-back stiffness and transverse cervical artery flow velocity.

Purpose: Neck and upper-back stiffness is encountered in daily life, with symptoms appearing as dullness or aches predominantly in the trapezius muscle (TM). Our previous study demonstrated that TM hardness as measured with a muscle hardness meter correlates well with transverse cervical artery (TCA) flow supplying the TM. Muscle hardness meters, however, cannot measure hardness in the TM alone.

Sex-dependent impact of a short rest after lunch on hemodynamics as assessed by Doppler sonography.

Purpose: Taking a short rest after lunch suppresses increases in blood flow to the digestive organs and maintains blood flow to the brain in the afternoon, possibly providing beneficial effects in preventing post-prandial drowsiness. The present study investigated sex-dependent influences on changes in hemodynamics produced by taking a short rest after lunch.

Methods: Subjects comprised 20 healthy young adults (10 men, 10 women; mean age 21 ± 1 years).

Possible effects of short rest after lunch on hemodynamics in the afternoon.

Purpose: Drowsiness is often experienced in the afternoon after lunch. Decreases in blood flow to the brain secondary to increases in blood flow to the digestive organs after food intake could represent an underlying cause. As various beneficial effects of short rests on mental activities have been reported, the present study investigated hemodynamics using Doppler sonography of the common carotid artery (CCA) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) after lunch, comparing resting and non-resting cases.

Relationship between trapezius muscle hardness and transverse cervical artery flow in association with neck and upper-back stiffness.

Neck and upper-back stiffness is a common discomfort encountered occasionally in daily life among otherwise healthy subjects. The pathogenesis of this condition could be attributable to increased tension in muscles such as the trapezius muscle (TM). The transverse cervical artery (TCA) is one of the feeding arteries for the TM, and TCA flow is reportedly related to symptoms of neck and upper-back stiffness.

Sonographic detection of physiological lower leg oedema in the late afternoon in healthy young women.

Lower leg oedema occurs physiologically in the evening after daytime activity. Various oedema-related sonographic findings have recently been reported, but this physiological oedema has not been evaluated quantitatively using imaging examinations. The present study investigated whether sonography could detect physiological lower leg oedema, comparing measured values between the morning and late afternoon.

Influence of resting before sonographic examination on Doppler measurements of renal blood flow.

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension, via increases in plasma renin-angiotensin-aldosterone levels. Renal artery stenosis is diagnosed from blood examinations such as renin activity and from imaging examinations such as sonography. Patients are required to lie on the bed for 30 min before and during phlebotomy, since plasma renin activity is easily altered by posture.

Influence of breakfast on hemodynamics after lunch - a sonographic evaluation of mesenteric and cervical blood flows.

Hemodynamics is subject to change after eating meals, which may be related to various postprandial physical statuses such as hypotension or daytime sleepiness. Previous studies have shown that blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) increases after meals, but conflicting results have been reported regarding blood flow in the common carotid artery (CCA). In those studies, the fasting interval before the meal was not taken into account.

Meal Ingestion and Hemodynamic Interactions Regarding Renal Blood Flow on Duplex Sonography: Potential Diagnostic Implications.

Splanchnic blood flow changes dramatically after meal ingestion. The present study evaluated physiologic interactions between meal ingestion and hemodynamics with respect to renal blood flow on duplex sonography, assessing the possible influence on Doppler parameters used as diagnostic criteria for renal artery stenosis. Subjects comprised 26 healthy young men (mean age: 22 ± 2 y).

Long-term pioglitazone therapy improves arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist, not only improves insulin resistance and glycemic control, but may also have additional beneficial vascular effects in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We investigated whether pioglitazone had an influence on arterial stiffness, which is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events, in 204 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A prospective, nonrandomized, open-label trial was performed that involved 41 patients treated with pioglitazone, 46 patients receiving sulfonylureas, 67 patients on insulin, and 50 patients on diet/exercise only.