Reproducibility of Cardiac Multifrequency MR Elastography in Assessing Left Ventricular Stiffness and Viscosity.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) shows promise in assessing the mechanofunctional properties of the heart but faces clinical challenges, mainly synchronization with cardiac cycle, breathing, and external harmonic stimulation.

Purpose: To determine the reproducibility of in vivo cardiac multifrequency MRE (MMRE) for assessing diastolic left ventricular (LV) stiffness and viscosity.

Study Type: Prospective.

Rapid wideband characterization of viscoelastic material properties by Bessel function-based time harmonic ultrasound elastography (B-THE).

Elastography is an emerging diagnostic technique that uses conventional imaging modalities such as sonography or magnetic resonance imaging to quantify tissue stiffness. However, different elastography methods provide different stiffness values, which require calibration using well-characterized phantoms or tissue samples. A comprehensive, fast, and cost-effective elastography technique for phantoms or tissue samples is still lacking.

Stiffness pulsation of the human brain detected by non-invasive time-harmonic elastography.

Cerebral pulsation is a vital aspect of cerebral hemodynamics. Changes in arterial pressure in response to cardiac pulsation cause cerebral pulsation, which is related to cerebrovascular compliance and cerebral blood perfusion. Cerebrovascular compliance and blood perfusion influence the mechanical properties of the brain, causing pulsation-induced changes in cerebral stiffness.

Liquid-Liver Phantom: Mimicking the Viscoelastic Dispersion of Human Liver for Ultrasound- and MRI-Based Elastography.

Objectives: Tissue stiffness can guide medical diagnoses and is exploited as an imaging contrast in elastography. However, different elastography devices show different liver stiffness values in the same subject, hindering comparison of values and establishment of system-independent thresholds for disease detection. There is a need for standardized phantoms that specifically address the viscosity-related dispersion of stiffness over frequency.

Pro-neurotensin depends on renal function and is related to all-cause mortality in chronic kidney disease.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high risk of premature cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and show increased mortality. Pro-neurotensin (Pro-NT) was associated with metabolic diseases and predicted incident CVD and mortality. However, Pro-NT regulation in CKD and its potential role linking CKD and mortality have not been investigated, so far.

FSTL3 is increased in renal dysfunction.

Background: Follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3) is a novel cytokine that regulates insulin sensitivity and counteracts activin/myostatin signalling. In the present study, regulation of FSTL3 in renal dysfunction was investigated in both human chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney dysfunction (AKD). Furthermore, mFSTL3 expression was analysed in insulin-sensitive tissues in a mouse model of CKD.

Serum levels of fibroblast growth factor-21 are increased in chronic and acute renal dysfunction.

Objective: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 has recently been introduced as a circulating adipokine which reverses insulin resistance and obesity in rodents. In this study, regulation of FGF-21 in renal dysfunction was elucidated in both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney dysfunction (AKD).

Study Design And Methods: Serum concentrations of total FGF-21 were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 499 patients with CKD stages 1-5 (study population 1).

Serum levels of the myokine irisin in relation to metabolic and renal function.

Objective: Irisin has recently been introduced as a novel myokine which reverses visceral obesity and improves glucose metabolism in mice. However, regulation of irisin in humans in relation to renal and metabolic disease has not been comprehensively studied.

Design And Methods: Serum irisin levels were quantified by ELISA and correlated with anthropometric and biochemical parameters of renal function, glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as inflammation, in 532 patients with stages 1-5 of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Serum levels of the adipokine progranulin depend on renal function.

Objective: Progranulin has recently been introduced as a novel adipokine inducing insulin resistance and obesity. In the current study, we investigated renal elimination, as well as association of the adipokine with markers of the metabolic syndrome.

Research Design And Methods: Progranulin serum levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and correlated to anthropometric and biochemical parameters of renal function and glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as inflammation, in 532 patients with stages 1-5 of chronic kidney disease (CKD).