Development of laser speckle blood flowmeter for evaluating the physiological function of skin

Objective: We developed and demonstrated laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) for two-dimensional (2D) skin blood flow (SBF) measurements to facilitate the noninvasive comparisons of SBF between individuals. Approach: By using morphing technology with a face mesh to compare SBF spatial distributions among individuals, we examined the practicability of SBF measurement with LSFG. Main results: (1) The uniformity of SBF measurement was demonstrated by examinations at different distances and angles for healthy subjects. (2) Mean blur rate (MBR)—a blood flow index of LSFG—exhibited significant correlation with the thermal diffusion method (TDM)—an established blood flow measurement method—suggesting that MBR is an effective index of SBF. (3) Blowout time, the half-width duration/duration of one cardiac cycle, exhibited significant negative correlation with age and positive correlation with stratum corneum hydration. Significance: These results suggest that LSFG is useful for evaluating SBF-related skin properties, and it has significant potential in medicine and cosmetology

Development of laser speckle blood flowmeter for evaluating the physiological function of skin

Objective: We developed and demonstrated laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) for two-dimensional (2D) skin blood flow (SBF) measurements to facilitate the noninvasive comparisons of SBF between individuals. Approach: By using morphing technology with a face mesh to compare SBF spatial distributions among individuals, we examined the practicability of SBF measurement with LSFG. Main results: (1) The uniformity of SBF measurement was demonstrated by examinations at different distances and angles for healthy subjects. (2) Mean blur rate (MBR)—a blood flow index of LSFG—exhibited significant correlation with the thermal diffusion method (TDM)—an established blood flow measurement method—suggesting that MBR is an effective index of SBF. (3) Blowout time, the half-width duration/duration of one cardiac cycle, exhibited significant negative correlation with age and positive correlation with stratum corneum hydration. Significance: These results suggest that LSFG is useful for evaluating SBF-related skin properties, and it has significant potential in medicine and cosmetology

Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background The effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease who are at risk for disease progression are not well understood. The EMPA-KIDNEY trial was designed to assess the effects of treatment with empagliflozin in a broad range of such patients. Methods We enrolled patients with chronic kidney disease who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 20 but less than 45 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) of body-surface area, or who had an eGFR of at least 45 but less than 90 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams) of at least 200. Patients were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of progression of kidney disease (defined as end-stage kidney disease, a sustained decrease in eGFR to < 10 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2), a sustained decrease in eGFR of & GE;40% from baseline, or death from renal causes) or death from cardiovascular causes. Results A total of 6609 patients underwent randomization. During a median of 2.0 years of follow-up, progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes occurred in 432 of 3304 patients (13.1%) in the empagliflozin group and in 558 of 3305 patients (16.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 0.82; P < 0.001). Results were consistent among patients with or without diabetes and across subgroups defined according to eGFR ranges. The rate of hospitalization from any cause was lower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.95; P=0.003), but there were no significant between-group differences with respect to the composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes (which occurred in 4.0% in the empagliflozin group and 4.6% in the placebo group) or death from any cause (in 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively). The rates of serious adverse events were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Among a wide range of patients with chronic kidney disease who were at risk for disease progression, empagliflozin therapy led to a lower risk of progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes than placebo