Decafluorobutane as a phase-change contrast agent for low-energy extravascular ultrasonic imaging.

Currently available microbubbles used for ultrasound imaging and therapeutics are limited to intravascular space due to their size distribution in the micron range. Phase-change contrast agents (PCCAs) have been proposed as a means to overcome this limitation, since droplets formed in the hundred nanometer size range might be able to extravasate through leaky microvasculature, after which they could be activated to form larger highly echogenic microbubbles. Existing PCCAs in the sub-micron size range require substantial acoustic energy to be vaporized, increasing the likelihood of unwanted bioeffects.

Left ventricular endocardial and epicardial border length delineation with perflutren contrast during transthoracic echocardiography.

Objective: Precise estimation of wall motion abnormalities during routine echocardiography rests on optimal endocardial border visualization. Endocardial "dropout" may result in the misinterpretation of regional wall motion. Left ventricular opacification (LVO) with intravenous contrast improves the visualization of the left ventricular endocardial border length (EnBL).

Color M-mode echocardiography is more reproducible than conventional M-mode echocardiography for septal-to-posterior wall motion delay measurements.

Objective: To compare the reproducibility of conventional gray-scale M-mode to color Doppler M-mode assessment of the septal-to-posterior wall motion delay (SPWMD) which is used as a marker of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony.

Methods: Forty-two SPWMD datasets were interpreted by two experienced cardiologists and the inter- and intraobserver correlation coefficients were determined. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients with severe septal wall motion abnormalities.

Insulin sensitivity is normalized in the third generation (F3) offspring of developmentally programmed insulin resistant (F2) rats fed an energy-restricted diet.

Background/aims: The offspring and grandoffspring of female rats fed low protein diets during pregnancy and lactation, but fed nutritionally adequate diets thereafter, have been shown to exhibit altered insulin sensitivity in adulthood. The current study investigates the insulin sensitivity of the offspring and grandoffspring of female rats fed low protein diets during pregnancy, and then maintained on energy-restricted diets post weaning over three generations.

Methods: Female Sprague Dawley rats (F0) were mated with control males and protein malnourished during pregnancy/lactation.