Morphology of the transverse ligament of the atlas and the alar ligaments in the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes var)

Background Recent new anatomical and histological features of craniocervical junction in dogs and cats were described providing evidence of differences between the carnivore species. No information on these structures in foxes exists. Results Two parts of the alar ligaments were found. A longer one aroused from dens of axis to the internal (medial) surface of the occipital condyles and was called apical part. A shorter part originated from the entire length of the lateral edge of the dens of axis and terminated on the internal wall of the vertebral foramen of atlas and thus was called the lateral part. The transverse ligament of the atlas was widened in the mid region, above the dens of axis, and thickened at enthesis. Periosteal fibrocartilage was detected in the transverse ligament of the atlas at the enthesis, and sesamoid fibrocartilage was present on periphery in the middle of the ligament. Conclusions The craniocervical junction in foxes differs in part from other carnivores such as dogs and cats but resembles that of mesaticephalic dogs. The sesamoid and periosteal fibrocartilage supports the transverse ligament of the atlas whereas the alar ligaments have no cartilage

Ocena funkcji prawego przedsionka za pomocą echokardiografii metodą śledzenia markerów akustycznych

Introduction. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a well-established tool to assess cardiac function parameters, however, the value of this tool in the assessment of right atrial (RA) function is still largely unknown. The aim of the study is to investigate the feasibility of RA function assessment by STE and the relationship between right ventricular (RV) deformation and the function of the RA. Material and methods. 94 patients with various cardiovascular pathologies have been included in the study group. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography with subsequent off-line analysis using speckle tracking technique and measurement of numerous RA deformation parameters, including peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) and peak atrial contraction strain (PACS), as well as established indices of RV function, such as tricuspid annular peak systolic excursion (TAPSE) and global longitudinal strain (GLS). Results. RA function assessment by STE was feasible in all patients. A statistically significant correlation was observed between RA strain (PACS and PALS) and RV parameters. RV-GLS showed weak correlation with PALS (r = –0.38; p = 0.0015) and PACS (r = –0.30; p = 0.013). Similarly, TAPSE correlated with PALS and PACS (r = 0.34; p = 0.02) and (r = 0.23; p = 0.04) respectively. Conclusion. RA function assessment by STE is feasible. The RA deformation parameters weakly correlate with RV function indices, indicating that other factors significantly influence RA function. Therefore, the RA function cannot be regarded as a direct barometer of the RV function.Wstęp. Echokardiografia metodą śledzenia markerów akustycznych (STE) jest uznanym narzędziem oceny parametrów czynności serca, jednak wartość tego narzędzia w ocenie czynności prawego przedsionka (RA) jest nadal w dużej mierze nieznana. Celem pracy jest zbadanie możliwości oceny funkcji RA za pomocą STE oraz związku między deformacją prawej komory (RV) a funkcją RA. Materiał i metody. Do badanej grupy włączono 94 osoby z różnymi patologiami sercowo-naczyniowymi. U wszystkich pacjentów wykonano echokardiografię przezklatkową z późniejszą analizą off-line z wykorzystaniem techniki śledzenia markerów akustycznych i pomiarem licznych parametrów deformacji RA, w tym szczytowe odkształcenie podłużne przedsionków (PALS) i szczytowe napięcie skurczowe przedsionków (PACS), a także ustalonych wskaźników funkcji RV, takich jak: wychylenie skurczowe pierścienia trójdzielnego (TAPSE) i globalne odkształcenie podłużne (GLS). Wyniki. Ocena funkcji RA za pomocą echokardiografii śladowej plamki była możliwa u wszystkich pacjentów. Zaobserwowano statystycznie istotną korelację między odkształceniem prawej komory (PACS i PALS) a parametrami RV. RV-GLS wykazało słabą korelację z PALS (r = –0,38; p = 0,0015) i PACS (r = –0,30; p = 0,013). Podobnie TAPSE korelowało z PALS i PACS (r = 0,34; p = 0,02) i (r = 0,23; p = 0,04). Wnioski. Ocena funkcji RA za pomocą echokardiografii metodą śledzenia markerów akustycznych jest możliwa. Parametry deformacji RA słabo korelują ze wskaźnikami funkcji RV, co wskazuje, że inne czynniki mają istotny wpływ na funkcję RA. Dlatego funkcja RA nie może być traktowana jako bezpośredni barometr funkcji RV

Multicentric Atrial Strain COmparison between Two Different Modalities: MASCOT HIT Study

Two methods are currently available for left atrial (LA) strain measurement by speckle tracking echocardiography, with two different reference timings for starting the analysis: QRS (QRS-LASr) and P wave (P-LASr). The aim of MASCOT HIT study was to define which of the two was more reproducible, more feasible, and less time consuming. In 26 expert centers, LA strain was analyzed by two different echocardiographers (young vs senior) in a blinded fashion. The study population included: healthy subjects, patients with arterial hypertension or aortic stenosis (LA pressure overload, group 2) and patients with mitral regurgitation or heart failure (LA volume–pressure overload, group 3). Difference between the inter-correlation coefficient (ICC) by the two echocardiographers using the two techniques, feasibility and analysis time of both methods were analyzed. A total of 938 subjects were included: 309 controls, 333 patients in group 2, and 296 patients in group 3. The ICC was comparable between QRS-LASr (0.93) and P-LASr (0.90). The young echocardiographers calculated QRS-LASr in 90% of cases, the expert ones in 95%. The feasibility of P-LASr was 85% by young echocardiographers and 88% by senior ones. QRS-LASr young median time was 110 s (interquartile range, IR, 78-149) vs senior 110 s (IR 78-155); for P-LASr, 120 s (IR 80-165) and 120 s (IR 90-161), respectively. LA strain was feasible in the majority of patients with similar reproducibility for both methods. QRS complex guaranteed a slightly higher feasibility and a lower time wasting compared to the use of P wave as the reference