The effect of prenatal ultrasound heating throughout gestation on rabbit fetal weight

The aim of this in vivo experimental study is to determine the association between ultrasound exposure time and rabbit fetal weight. A total of 14 pregnant does were exposed to ultrasound heating for 30, 60, and 90 minutes of ultrasound exposure at their middle of each gestational stage, while another 4 pregnant does served as control. Total of 136 fetuses (1st stage, n=34 (25%); 2nd stage, n=28 (20.6%); 3rd stage, n=74 (54.4%)) were analyzed for fetal body weight. There were significant differences in fetal weight at all stages (p<0.05; 95% CI do not cross 0) of all groups at different length of exposure time. There were also negative correlation between groups with different exposure durations and fetal weight in the 1st and the 3rd stage (p<0.05; r = -0.40, p<0.05; r = -0.23 respectively). Exposure time was found poorly associated with fetal weight in the 1st and the 3rd stage (p<0.05; r2 = 0.15 and 0.04 respectively). This study suggests the heating effect of ultrasound exposure might act as a noxious agent that promotes intrauterine growth restriction in developing fetus that might consequently impacts the rabbit fetal weight. Therefore a considerably increase in awareness of negligible effects aroused from prenatal ultrasound exposure was concerned as it was widely applied to pregnant women

A review of the thermal effects during pregnancy by using ultrasound: Doppler mode

Doppler ultrasound is used in obstetrics and gynecology fields to serve as the complement mode in the standard prenatal scan. It aids in investigating fetus blood flow in expectant mothers’ wombs, usually those who come with pregnancy complications. In the conventional ultrasound beam, the heat produced by attenuation is distributed over the area. However, the Doppler ultrasound beam is focused at only one point. This leads the heat to accumulate at that particular area and hence there is an increase in the temperature. Heat is considered as a teratogen in pregnancy, whereby an increase in the fetal temperature can be fatal to the fetus. Studies have found that Doppler mode is associated with higher acoustic output as compared to the conventional two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound mode. Several studies done on animals have ruled out the evidence of Doppler ultrasound bioeffects. This narrative review only discusses the thermally induced effect of ultrasound by using Doppler mode. This study reviews prior studies with keywords such as Doppler ultrasound, bioeffects, heating effects, rabbit, and pregnancy. Earlier studies noted that the risk of thermal effects increased with the increase of exposure time. However, Doppler ultrasound wave inducing fetal hyperthermia is not the main reason for causing adverse neonatal outcomes without taking into account other external factors. Therefore, it is essential for the practitioners to adopt and adapt the concept of ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA) to avoid any subtle adverse effects. © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press

Prenatal ultrasound heating impacts on fluctuations in haematological analysis of Oryctolagus cuniculus

Prenatal Ultrasound (US) is commonly used as a routine procedure on pregnant women. It is generally perceived as a safe procedure due to the use of non-ionizing radiation. However, the neurotoxicity of diagnostic prenatal US was detected to have a correlation with high susceptibility to early developing fetus. This research involved in vivo experimental model by using 3rd trimester pregnant Oryctolagus cuniculus and exposing them to US exposures for 30, 60, and 90 minutes at their gestational day (GD) 28-29. The output power and intensities, spatial peak temporal average intensity (ISPTA) of US were varied from 0.4 to 0.7 W and 0.13 to 0.19 W/cm2 respectively were tested initially in free-field, water. Haematological analysis was carried out to detect any changes in blood constituents. Statistically significant differences were detected in red blood cell (RBC) count (P<0.001), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration (P<0.001) and also platelet (PLT) count (P<0.001) in newborn of Oryctolagus cuniculus. These findings indicate the possibility of US heating in causing defects on studied animal

Ficus deltoidea promotes bone formation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Context: Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of bone diseases including osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. We have previously demonstrated that Ficus deltoidea Jack (Moraceae) is capable of reducing hyperglycaemia. However, whether F. deltoidea could protect against diabetic osteoporosis remains to be determined. Objective: The study examines the effect of F. deltoidea on bone histomorphometric parameters, oxidative stress, and turnover markers in diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6 animals per group) received one of the following treatments via gavage for 8 weeks: saline (diabetic control), metformin (1000 mg/kg bwt), and methanol leaves extract of F. deltoidea (1000 mg/kg bwt). A group of healthy rats served as normal control. The femoral bones were excised and scanned ex vivo using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for histomorphometric analysis. The serum levels of insulin, oxidative stress, and bone turnover markers were determined by ELISA assays. Results: Treatment of diabetic rats with F. deltoidea could significantly increase bone mineral density (BMD) (from 526.98 ± 11.87 to 637.74 ± 3.90). Higher levels of insulin (2.41 ± 0.08 vs. 1.58 ± 0.16), osteocalcin (155.66 ± 4.11 vs. 14.35 ± 0.97), and total bone n-3 PUFA (2.34 ± 0.47 vs. 1.44 ± 0.18) in parallel with the presence of chondrocyte hypertrophy were also observed following F. deltoidea treatment compared to diabetic control. Conclusions: F. deltoidea could prevent diabetic osteoporosis by enhancing osteogenesis and inhibiting bone oxidative stress. These findings support the potential use of F. deltoidea for osteoporosis therapy in diabetes

Effects of prenatal diagnostic ultrasound exposure on rabbit fetus: in vivo physical and morphological changes

Ultrasound is extensively used in various clinical specialities since it was perceived to lack in bioeffects. In obstetrics and gynaecology, it has been proven useful in fetal assessment and abnormalities. Due to high sensitivity of developing fetus to external interferences, through diagnostic ultrasound advances, the revision of potential prenatal bioeffects is needed to be corroborated. This in-vivo experimental study was designed to determine the physical and morphological effects on fetus development. Twelve pregnant rabbits were exposed to ultrasound exposure durations of 30, 60 and 90 minutes in the middle of three stipulated gestational stages. All other acoustic output parameters were kept constant throughout the study. Total 136 foetuses; group O: n=31, A: n=35, B: n=31, and C: n=39 were analysed. One-way ANOVA showed significant differences in foetal weight at the 1st stage and 3rd stage exposed for 90 minutes (P=0.01 and 0.05 respectively), and at the 2nd stage exposed for 60 minutes (P=0.01). Pearson correlation showed negative correlations between exposure durations and foetal weight at the 1st and 3rd stage (P=0.02 and 0.04 respectively), while Simple Linear Regression showed significant linear relationship. For brain volume and surface, significant differences found in brain volume and surface at the 2nd stage exposed for 60 and 90 minutes, and at the 3rd stage exposed for 60 minutes. No significant linear relationship found between exposure durations and brain volume and surface at all stages. Result suggested that prenatal ultrasound exposure might interfere with those sensitive stages hence, plausibly interrupted the physical development. Further work is needed to provide more scientific evidences on prenatal ultrasound effects on foetus

Effects of smooth, medium smooth and medium reconstruction kernels on image quality in three-phase CT of liver

Reconstruction kernel is one of the parameters that affects the computed tomography (CT) image quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of applying three different reconstruction kernels on image quality in 3-phased CT of the liver. A total of 63 CT liver images including normal liver (n = 43) and liver lesion (n = 20) were retrospectively reviewed. Smooth (B20f), medium smooth (B30f) and medium (B40f) reconstruction kernels were employed in the image reconstruction process. Mean attenuation, image noise, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values from each kernel reconstruction were quantified and compared among those kernels using One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis. Significant changes in image noise and SNR were observed in the normal liver (p < 0.001, respectively) following the application of those reconstruction kernels. However, no significant changes in mean attenuation, image noise, and SNR were demonstrated in the liver lesion (p > 0.05). Application of smooth (B20f), medium smooth (B30f), and medium (B40f) kernel reconstructions would significantly affect the image noise and SNR in the normal liver of CT images instead of liver lesions. Hence, proper selection of reconstruction kernel is important in CT images reconstruction to improve precision in diagnostic CT interpretation

Prenatal ultrasound heating influences on fetal weight assessment of Oryctolagus cuniculus throughout pregnancy

The aim of this in vivo experimental study is to determine the association between ultrasound exposure time and Oryctolagus cuniculus’s fetal weight. A total of 14 pregnant does were exposed to ultrasound heating for 30, 60, and 90 minutes at each gestational stage. Meanwhile, another group of 4 pregnant does served as control, making it a total of 136 fetuses’ weight that were analyzed. There were significant differences in fetal weight during 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy between groups with different length of ultrasound exposure time. There were also fair correlation and association between groups with different length of ultrasound exposure time and fetal weight during 1st and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. This study suggested that the heating effects of ultrasound exposure might affect the Oryctolagus cuniculus’s fetal weight. Therefore, there should be a rising concern in the awareness towards the negligible effects produced from prenatal ultrasound exposure as it is widely applied during pregnancy in humans

Ficus deltoidea

Context: Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of bone diseases including osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. We have previously demonstrated that Ficus deltoidea Jack (Moraceae) is capable of reducing hyperglycaemia. However, whether F. deltoidea could protect against diabetic osteoporosis remains to be determined. Objective: The study examines the effect of F. deltoidea on bone histomorphometric parameters, oxidative stress, and turnover markers in diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6 animals per group) received one of the following treatments via gavage for 8 weeks: saline (diabetic control), metformin (1000 mg/kg bwt), and methanol leaves extract of F. deltoidea (1000 mg/kg bwt). A group of healthy rats served as normal control. The femoral bones were excised and scanned ex vivo using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for histomorphometric analysis. The serum levels of insulin, oxidative stress, and bone turnover markers were determined by ELISA assays. Results: Treatment of diabetic rats with F. deltoidea could significantly increase bone mineral density (BMD) (from 526.98 ± 11.87 to 637.74 ± 3.90). Higher levels of insulin (2.41 ± 0.08 vs. 1.58 ± 0.16), osteocalcin (155.66 ± 4.11 vs. 14.35 ± 0.97), and total bone n-3 PUFA (2.34 ± 0.47 vs. 1.44 ± 0.18) in parallel with the presence of chondrocyte hypertrophy were also observed following F. deltoidea treatment compared to diabetic control. Conclusions: F. deltoidea could prevent diabetic osteoporosis by enhancing osteogenesis and inhibiting bone oxidative stress. These findings support the potential use of F. deltoidea for osteoporosis therapy in diabetes

Changes in pancreatic histology, insulin secretion and oxidative status in diabetic rats following treatment with Ficus deltoidea and vitexin

Background: The potential application of Ficus deltoidea and vitexin for the management of symptomatologies associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) has gained much attention. However, less firm evidence comes from data to augment our understanding of the role of F. deltoidea and vitexin in protecting pancreatic β-cells. The aim of this study was to assess histological and oxidative stress changes in the pancreas of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats following F. deltoidea extract and vitexin treatment. Methods: F. deltoidea and vitexin was administrated orally to six-weeks STZ-induced diabetic rats over 8 weeks period. The glucose and insulin tolerances were assessed by intraperitoneal glucose (2 g/kg) tolerance test (IPGTT) and intraperitoneal insulin (0.65 U/kg) tolerance test (IPITT), respectively. Subsequently, insulin resistance was assessed by homeostasis assessment model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and the insulin/triglyceride-derived McAuley index. The histological changes in the pancreas were then observed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. Further, the pattern of fatty acid composition and infrared (IR) spectra of the serum and pancreas were monitored by gas chromatography (GC) method and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Results: F. deltoidea and vitexin increased pancreatic antioxidant enzymes and promoted islet regeneration. However, a significant increase in insulin secretion was observed only in rats treated with F. deltoidea. More importantly, reduction of fasting blood glucose is consistent with reduced FT-IR peaks at 1200-1000 cm−1. Conclusions: These results accentuate that F. deltoidea and vitexin could be a potential agent to attenuate pancreatic oxidative damage and advocate their therapeutic potential for treating DM