TO THE EDITOR: I read with interest the study by Smeets et al, who evaluated the association between pre-operative distensibility measurements and objective and clinical outcomes after transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) surgery. The study concluded that distensibility measurements have no added value in the pre-operative diagnostic work-up or in the post-procedure evaluation of endolum...

Motivation Biomechanical modeling of atherosclerotic plaques is emerging as a useful tool to provide markers of plaque vulnerability. However, the success of this modeling effort depends on the accurate estimation of local mechanical properties along the diseased vessel wall. Recent studies in healthy carotid bifurcations reported differences in wall distensibility between common and internal c...

Myocardial ischemia causes both systolic and diastolic dysfunction. A variety of positive inotropic agents with different subcellular mechanisms may be used clinically in an attempt to reverse ischemic contractile failure. We tested the hypothesis that two inotropic agents, isoproterenol (a beta-adrenergic agonist) and ouabain (a sodium pump inhibitor), might have different effects on left vent...

Introduction: The use of Fourier-velocity-encoding(FVE) M-mode MRI to measure pulse wave velocity (PWV) in arteries has great potential in determining vessel health as PWV provides an indirect measure of distensibility [1]. Previous reports have shown compelling results indicating the utility of this method in vivo. However, the actual values of arterial compliance in vivo are generally unknown...

The distensibility of the splanchnic portion of the portal system has been evaluated by studying pressure and volume changes with or without any interruption of blood flow. The results of these determinations indicate two types of distensibility of the system: (1) a rapid elastic distension representing relatively small volumes, and (2) a secondary phase of slow distension, designated "delayed ...

Results Aortic arch PWV was significantly increased in FD patients (6.5±3.1vs 5.0 ±1.5 m/s, p<0.01) Compared to control subjects, patients with FD had also markedly decreased distensibility (2.73±1.14 vs 3.45±1.13 10-2 kPa-1, p<0.01) and increased stiffness index beta (9.4 ±6.7.10-2 vs 5.9±2.7.10-2, p<0.001) in the ascending aorta. Descending aortic stiffness parameters were also impaired with ...

Introduction Arterial stiffness had been proposed as the cause of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with COPD. Vascular studies in COPD patients were mainly assessed by carotid-femoral (aortic) pulse wave velocity using micromanometer applanation tonometry. The evaluation of pulmonary artery (PA) elasticity in COPD has not been assessed. This study seeks to evaluate indices o...