Carotid Intima and Media Thickness Correlation with Central Blood Pressure Measurements by Tonometric and Oscillometric Methods: A Proof of Concept

Abstract Background The early detection of vascular damage in subclinical stages of hypertensive disease may be the key point in the prevention of cardiovascular outcomes. Objectives to correlate parameters of structural vascular damage (measurement of the carotid intima-media thickness) with parameters of functional vascular damage (central hemodynamic measurements) in pre-hypertensive and hypertensive patients taking up to two classes of anti-hypertensive drugs. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted with a convenience sample of patients attending the Liga de Hipertensão Arterial , a multidisciplinary program for the diagnosis and treatment of systemic hypertension, of the Federal university of Goias. Patients with arrythmia, diabetes, previous cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, and end-stage diseases were excluded. Carotid Doppler test, measurements of peripheral and central blood pressure by applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor®) and oscillometry (Mobil-O-Graph®) were performed. The t-test was used for comparisons and the Pearson correlation test for correlations, considering a p<0.05 statistically significant. Results twenty patients (12 women) were evaluated, mean age 53.8 ± 14.3 years. Higher values of central pulse pressure (42.9±13.9 vs. 34.7±9.6, p=0.01) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) (9.0±1.9 vs. 7.9±1.5, p=0.01) were obtained by applanation tonometry compared with oscillometry. No difference between the methods was observed for the other measures. A significant correlation was found between carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) and PWV (r=0.659; p=0.002) by the oscillometric test, but not with applanation tonometry. No correlation was found between central hemodynamic variables and the presence of carotid artery plaques. Conclusion PWV, estimated by oscillometry, was the only central hemodynamic parameter that correlated significantly with CA-IMT in pre-hypertensive and hypertensive patients at low cardiovascular risk. International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0

Adequate Number of Swallows for Pharyngeal Pressure Measurement of a Subject using High-resolution Manometry

Abstract Introduction The number of pressure measurements that need to be recorded using high-resolution manometry (HRM) for the accurate evaluation of pharyngeal function is not well established. Objective The purpose of this study is to clarify the number of swallows required to obtain an accurate pharyngeal manometric profile of a person. Methods Forty healthy adults performed a dry swallow and bolus swallows using 3-, 5-, or 10 ml of water and underwent measurements using the Starlet HRM system. Each subject underwent 10 swallows for each of the four bolus volume conditions. Results The mean of up to seven measurements of maximum pre-swallow upper esophageal sphincter pressure with 10 ml of swallow was close to the mean of up to eight measurements in 95% of the subjects. Similarly, the rate of change of the average for the eighth and ninth measurements and the rate of change for the average of the ninth and tenth measurements were less than 5 %. When the other parameters were similarly measured up to the sixth measurement, no major change in the average value was observed even if more measurements were taken. Conclusion A minimum of six measurements are required, and seven swallows are sufficient for evaluating the pharyngeal manometric profile of a single person. This number of measurements can be a useful criterion when performing HRM measurements on individual subjects.

ESOPHAGEAL MOTILITY IN MEN AND WOMEN EVALUATED BY HIGH-RESOLUTION MANOMETRY / Motilidade do esôfago em homens e mulheres avaliada pela manometria de alta resolução

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Esophageal motility has been described in the literature as having differences between men and women. Most of these investigations use the water perfusion method for esophageal manometry. In this investigation the esophageal motility of men and women was compared with high-resolution manometry of the esophagus. OBJECTIVE To compare the esophageal motility of men and women with the high-resolution manometry method for esophageal manometry, performed in the sitting position. The hypothesis was that men and women have differences in esophageal motility. METHODS High-resolution manometry was performed in normal volunteers, 10 men [mean age: 37.5 (8.1) years] and 12 women [mean age: 38.7 (7.5) years], in the sitting position and with 10 swallows of a 5 mL bolus of saline, with an interval of at least 30 seconds between consecutive swallows. We evaluated the integrated relaxation pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, contraction front velocity, distal contraction integral, distal latency, proximal contraction extension, proximal contraction duration >30 mmHg, proximal contraction duration, proximal contraction integral and maximal upper esophageal sphincter pressure. RESULTS There was no significant difference between men and women in the variables measured. CONCLUSION There was no difference in esophageal motility of men and women evaluated by the high resolution manometry method, in the sitting position with swallows of a liquid bolus.

RESUMO CONTEXTO É descrita a existência de diferenças na motilidade de esôfago entre homens e mulheres. A maioria destes trabalhos utilizaram o método de perfusão continua com água para a manometria esofágica. Nesta investigação foi comparada a motilidade do esôfago de homens e mulheres com o método de manometria de alta resolução, realizada na posição sentada e com deglutição de bolo líquido. OBJETIVO Comparar a motilidade do esôfago em homens e mulheres, na posição sentada, com o método de manometria de alta resolução. A hipótese é que homens e mulheres têm diferenças na motilidade do esôfago. MÉTODOS Manometria de alta resolução foi realizada em voluntários saudáveis, 10 homens [média de idade: 37,7 (8,1) anos] e 12 mulheres [média de idade: 38,7 (7,5) anos], na posição sentada e com 10 deglutições de 5 mL de solução salina. Foram avaliadas a pressão integrada de relaxamento do esfíncter inferior do esôfago, velocidade da contração peristáltica, integral da contração distal, latência distal, extensão da contração proximal, duração da contração proximal >30 mmHg, duração da contração proximal, integral da contração proximal, pressão máxima do esfíncter superior do esôfago. RESULTADOS Não houve diferença significativa entre homens e mulheres nas variáveis medidas. CONCLUSÃO Não há diferença entre homens e mulheres na motilidade do esôfago avaliada pelo método de manometria de alta resolução, na posição sentada e com deglutição de um bolo líquido.

Uso de tonometria arterial periférica - hiperemia reativa e biomarcadores séricos para predição prognóstica na sepse / Use of reactive hyperemia - peripheral arterial tonometry and circulating biological markers to predict outcomes in sepsis

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a utilidade e o valor prognóstico da tonometria arterial periférica - hiperemia reativa em pacientes com sepse, e investigar a associação dos resultados deste exame com os níveis séricos de algumas moléculas inflamatórias. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo, realizado em uma unidade de terapia intensiva para pacientes adultos com 18 leitos. Os critérios de exclusão foram imunossupressão grave ou tratamento com antibióticos iniciado mais de 48 horas antes da avaliação. Aplicamos o exame de tonometria arterial periférica - hiperemia reativa quando da inclusão (dia 1) e no dia 3. Avaliamos os níveis de interleucina 6, interleucina 10, proteínas do grupo 1 de mobilidade alta e de ST2 solúvel no sangue obtido quando da inclusão. Resultados: Dos 79 pacientes incluídos, 17 (21,6%) tiveram os sinais da tonometria arterial periférica - hiperemia reativa considerados tecnicamente não confiáveis, tendo sido excluídos do estudo. Assim, incluímos na análise final 62 pacientes, que foram submetidos a 95 exames de tonometria arterial periférica - hiperemia reativa dentro das primeiras 48 horas após sua inclusão. A média de idade foi de 51,5 (DP: 18,9), e 49 (62%) dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino. Os índices de hiperemia reativa dos dias 1 e 3 não se associaram com necessidade de vasopressores, SOFA, APACHE II ou mortalidade aos 28 dias. Dentre os pacientes que morreram, em comparação aos sobreviventes, houve aumento significante nos índices de hiperemia reativa no dia 3 em comparação ao dia 1 (p = 0,0045). Ocorreu fraca correlação negativa entre o índice obtido por tonometria arterial periférica - hiperemia reativa no dia 1 e os níveis de proteínas do grupo 1 de mobilidade alta (r = -0,287). Conclusão: Dificuldades técnicas e falta de associações claras dos resultados do exame com a gravidade clínica e com o desfecho foram fortes limitantes da utilidade do exame de tonometria arterial periférica - hiperemia reativa em pacientes sépticos admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the usefulness and prognostic value of reactive hyperemia - peripheral arterial tonometry in patients with sepsis. Moreover, we investigated the association of reactive hyperemia - peripheral arterial tonometry results with serum levels of certain inflammatory molecules. Methods: Prospective study, conducted in an 18-bed mixed intensive care unit for adults. The exclusion criteria included severe immunosuppression or antibiotic therapy initiated more than 48 hours before assessment. We measured the reactive hyperemia - peripheral arterial tonometry on inclusion (day 1) and on day 3. Interleukin-6, interleukin-10, high-mobility group box 1 protein and soluble ST2 levels were measured in the blood obtained upon inclusion. Results: Seventeen of the 79 patients (21.6%) enrolled were determined to have reactive hyperemia - peripheral arterial tonometry signals considered technically unreliable and were excluded from the study. Thus, 62 patients were included in the final analysis, and they underwent a total of 95 reactive hyperemia - peripheral arterial tonometry exams within the first 48 hours after inclusion. The mean age was 51.5 (SD: 18.9), and 49 (62%) of the patients were male. Reactive hyperemia indexes from days 1 and 3 were not associated with vasopressor need, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, or 28-day mortality. Among the patients who died, compared with survivors, there was a significant increase in the day 3 reactive hyperemia index compared with day 1 (p = 0.045). There was a weak negative correlation between the day 1 reactive hyperemia - peripheral arterial tonometry index and the levels of high-mobility group box 1 protein (r = -0.287). Conclusion: Technical difficulties and the lack of clear associations between the exam results and clinical severity or outcomes strongly limits the utility of reactive hyperemia - peripheral arterial tonometry in septic patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

A pictorial presentation of 3. 0 Chicago Classification for esophageal motility disorders / Apresentação em imagens da Classificação de Chicago versão 3. 0 das doenças da motilidade esofagiana

ABSTRACT High resolution manometry changed several esophageal motility paradigms. The 3.0 Chicago Classification defined manometric criteria for named esophageal motility disorders. We present a pictorial atlas of motility disorders. Achalasia types, esophagogastric junction obstruction, absent contractility, distal esophageal spasm, hypercontractile esophagus (jackhammer), ineffective esophageal motility, and fragmented peristalsis are depicted with high-resolution manometry plots.

RESUMO A manometria de alta resolução mudou vários paradigmas da motilidade digestiva. A Classificação de Chicago, na versão 3.0, definiu critérios manométricos para as doenças da motilidade esofagiana. O presente artigo é um atlas das dismotilidades descritas. Tipos de acalásia, obstrução ao nível da junção esofagogástrica, contrações ausentes, espasmo esofagiano distal, esôfago hipercontrátil, motilidade esofagiana ineficaz e peristalse fragmentada são mostradas em traçados de manometria de alta resolução.