Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of cardiovascular death due to the increasing prevalence of the disease and the impact of risk factors such as diabetes, obesity or smoking. Sudden cardiac death is the primary consequence of coronary artery disease in 50% of men and 64% of women. Currently the only available strategy to reduce mortality in the at-risk population is primary prevention; the target population must receive screening for atherosclerosis. The value of screening for subclinical atherosclerosis is still relevant, it has become standard clinical practice with the emergence of new noninvasive techniques (radio frequency [RF] measurement of intima-media thickness [RFQIMT] and arterial stiffness [RFQAS], and flow-mediated vasodilatation [FMV]), which have been used by our team since 2007 and are based on detection marker integrators which reflect the deleterious effect of risk factors on arterial remodeling before the onset of clinical events. These techniques allow the study of values according to age and diagnosis of the pathological value, the thickness of the intima media (RFQIMT), the speed of the pulse wave (RFQAS), and the degree of endothelial dysfunction (FMV). This screening is justified in asymptomatic patients with cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, and tobacco smoking). Studies conducted by RF coupled with two-dimensional echo since 2007 have led to a more detailed analysis of the state of the arterial wall. The various examinations allow an assessment of the degree of subclinical atherosclerosis and its impact on arterial remodeling and endothelial function. The use of noninvasive imaging in screening and early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis is reliable and reproducible and allows us to assess the susceptibility of our patients with risk factors and ensures better monitoring of atherosclerosis, thus reducing the occurrence of cardiovascular events in the long term.

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Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis by noninvasive methods in asymptomatic patients with risk factors

Moving particles and the topographic bed under muddy water or in sediment-laden flow are often clouded by suspended sediments, making it hard to detect or analyze for visualization. This paper concerns applications of ultrasound imaging measurement method for the visual measurement of related water-sand parameters during sediment transport process in hydraulic model experiments. We use a B-mode ultrasound imaging system to measure the related parameters of suspended sediment concentration (SSC), underwater topographic riverbed, flow velocity and sediment incipient motion, conducted at a water channel. A comprehensive measuring system for the visualization of multiple water-sand parameters is established. Results show that the measurement and analysis of SSC and its space distribution, topography bedform, flow velocity and flow field, and sediment incipient velocity can be realized. Ultrasound imaging measurements of SSC and their space distribution can be shown in real time, and also dynamic monitoring and analysis of sediment incipient motion and topography bedform during the sediment transport process. This method realizes the experimental visualization of the topographic bed and sediment-laden flow. Application of an ultrasound imaging measurement system has promoted the development of sediment movement law research and related hydraulic model experiment measurement technique.

Applications of ultrasound imaging system for measuring water-sand parameters during sediment transport process in hydraulic model experiments

Non-invasive imaging is widely used to assess vascular dysfunction, including measurement of flow-mediated vasodilatation of the brachial artery (FMD), pulse wave velocity (PWV), the augmentation index (AI), and central blood pressure. Endothelial dysfunction, a main contributor of atherosclerosis is possible diagnostic tool by FMD. An arterial stiffness, assessing by the PWV and/or arterial dispensability and beta stiffness index have been associated with cardiovascular risk. Ultrasound-based methods are used to assess elastic properties of the arterial walls in studies of arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis. In asymptomatic individuals is essential in order to detect, predict and prevent cardiovascular diseases first be estimated based on the global assessment of risk factors? Nowadays is recommended in daily routine screening for coronary artery disease in asymptomatic individuals with intermediate (10-20% 10-year risk of coronary artery disease) or high risk (>20% 10-year risk of coronary artery disease) to provide a further screening.

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The Role of Noninvasive Imaging for Detection High Risk Patients with Subclinical Atherosclerosis

Non-invasive measurement of the multiple velocity component of blood flow would be extremely useful for hemodynamic diagnosis of many cardiovascular problems such as athermoma, intimal hyperplasia, thrombus, and hemolysis. In recent years, Zheng et al. have developed a new ultrasound based velocimetry technique, termed echo particle image velocimetry (echo PIV) to measure the multiple velocity components. Based on the technique, we had optimize the velocimetry algorithm which is used for processing images and generating vectors, to improve the accuracy of the vectors and reduce computational cost of the algorithm.

Jing Wang

Papers

A new velocimetry algorithm for optimizing ultrasonic PIV imaging method