Genetic Tools for the Analysis of Drosophila Stomatogastric Nervous System Development

The Drosophila stomatogastric nervous system (SNS) is a compact collection of neurons that arises from the migration of neural precursors. Here we describe genetic tools allowing functional analysis of the SNS during the migratory phase of development. We constructed GAL4 lines driven by fragments of the Ret promoter, which yielded expression in a subset of migrating neural SNS precursors and also included a distinct set of midgut associated cells. Screening of additional GAL4 lines driven by fragments of the Gfrl/Munin, forkhead, twist and goosecoid (Gsc) promoters identified a Gsc fragment with expression from initial selection of SNS precursors until the end of embryogenesis. Inhibition of EGFR signaling using three identified lines disrupted the correct patterning of the frontal and recurrent nerves. To manipulate the environment traveled by SNS precursors, a FasII-GAL4 line with strong expression throughout the entire intestinal tract was identified. The transgenic lines described offer the ability to specifically manipulate the migration of SNS precursors and will allow the modeling and in-depth analysis of neuronal migration in ENS disorders such as Hirschsprung’s disease.

Mirror-image artifact can affect transcranial Doppler interpretation

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) allows evaluation of blood-flow velocity in intracranial arteries detection and monitoring of vasospasm in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Spectral Doppler artifacts can affect TCD data. A 1-month series of TCD findings showed marked fluctuation in blood-flow velocity values in both the middle and anterior cerebral arteries of a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage. A mirror-image artifact of the Doppler fast Fourier transform velocity spectrum resulted in erroneous interpretation of higher flow velocity in certain vessels. This artifact may cause misinterpretation of TCD flow-velocity data and lead to improper diagnosis of the condition and treatment of patients.

[Volume flow in carotid occlusion. Measurement using ultrasound time domains and color M mode analysis]

AIM

To quantify the volume flow rate- (VFR-) effects of internal carotid disease on the common carotid artery both ipsi- and contralaterally for various degrees of stenosis.

METHOD

A non-invasive ultrasonic time domain processing (M-mode) was used. This proved to be reproducible in vivo and accurate in vitro. 109 patients (mean age 66.7 yrs.) having at least 50% stenosis of the internal carotid artery or a cerebral ischaemia were studied. The haemodynamic effect of the stenosis on the entire anterior brain circulation supplied by the carotid artery was assessed. Stenoses were graded in 4 groups.

RESULTS

Significant VFR reduction occurred ipsilaterally in high grade (75-94%) stenosis and occlusion of the internal carotid artery, but not with moderate (50-74%) stenosis (p < 0.05). Ipsilaterally to stenoses there was a decrease in VFR, which was more marked in higher than in lower grade stenoses. Contralaterally there was an increase in VFR. These groups differed in a statistically significant way (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This ultrasonic VFR method demonstrates the flow effect of carotid stenoses both ipsi- and contralaterally and adds to the understanding of the haemodynamics in individual patients.

Clinical cerebrovascular applications of arterial ultrasound volume flow rate estimates

A variety of disorders affect cerebral hemodynamics. Volume flow rate (VFR) estimates now allow accurate quantification of the effect of cerebrovascular lesions on the conduit vessels, with excellent in vivo and in vitro correlation. Four selected cases with VFR data and angiographic correlation are presented to illustrate potential clinical uses of this method. The VFR estimates were obtained with a color M-mode-based velocity imaging technique, which uses time-domain processing (P-700 Color Velocity Imaging System, Philips Ultrasound International, Irvine, CA). In a patient awaiting coronary artery surgery, with unilateral internal carotid artery occlusion and contralateral angiographic stenosis (50-80%, reader variation), the baseline and acetazolamide-challenged common carotid artery VFRs showed excellent conduit function ipsilateral to this stenosis. Thus, the angiographic stenosis did not have significant hemodynamic effects and endarterectomy was avoided. In a patient with an arteriovenous malformation fed by the left vertebral and left external carotid arteries, high in the left cervical region, VFR estimates of two to three times normal predicted the feeding vessels, influenced management, and proved helpful in follow-up. In a patient with subclavian steal syndrome, VFR estimates quantified the steal after brachial hyperemia. Finally, in a patient with delayed vasoconstriction after subarachnoid hemorrhage, very low VFR estimates preceded clinical deterioration. Quantification of hemodynamic changes with VFR estimates was useful for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of these patients with four types of cerebrovascular disease, and should be applicable in many others.

Angle correction in transcranial Doppler sonography

Since the introduction of transcranial Doppler sonography in the early 1980s, flow velocity estimates have assumed a 0- to 30-degree angle of insonation. Based on limited radiological and anatomical studies, such as assumption appeared justified, and seemed to confer only minimal potential for error due to the cosine function in the Doppler formula. The introduction of transcranial color duplex sonography allows the direct evaluation of this assumption and the effect on flow velocities. Fifteen healthy volunteers were studied bilaterally using a unilateral transtemporal approach from the right. Velocity measurements were taken from the middle, anterior, and posterior cerebral arteries. Flow velocities were obtained with and without angle correction (0 degree). After completion of the color duplex study, velocities were obtained with a conventional, "blind" Doppler transducer at corresponding depths. For all insonated vessels the average angle of insonation was around 30 degrees. However, there was a wide variability of individual angles of insonation (0-70 degrees) in specific vessels. In 74.5% of all vessels, the angle-corrected flow velocity did not exceed the uncorrected velocity by more than 25%. In 14.5% the angle-corrected velocity was 25 to 50% higher and in 10.8% it was more than 50% higher as compared to the uncorrected velocity. Thus, the angle of insonation was unpredictable and often higher than originally expected. Angle-corrected velocities were higher than uncorrected values, and were more than 25% higher in about one-fourth of the vessels studied. Understanding of the clinical importance of such differences requires further study.

In vitro validation of color velocity imaging and spectral Doppler for velocity determination

Color velocity imaging (CVI) is a new non-Doppler ultrasound technique for vascular color flow imaging. Using information contained in the two-dimensional B-mode, gray-scale image to determine velocity, CVI offers potential advantages over Doppler color flow imaging methods. In order to be used clinically, velocity determination with CVI must be validated by other current methods. A Doppler string phantom was studied with a Philips CVI ultrasound system. Velocity measurements were obtained by both CVI and duplex Doppler spectral analysis for constant string speeds from 10 to 200 cm/sec, at intervals of 10 cm/sec. Twenty separate estimates were obtained with each method, at each string speed. Linear regression assessed the relationship between estimated and actual string velocities, with CVI and spectral Doppler analysis yielding highly valid results (CVI = -0.713 + 1.000997 x phantom; r 2 = 0.9979). At all string speeds tested, the averaged estimated and the actual velocities for both methods were within the 95% confidence estimates. The range for the CVI 95% confidence limits from the regression line varied from +/-1.07 cm/sec at the lowest speed of 10 cm/sec (11.6%) to +/-7.72 cm/sec at 200 cm/sec (3.87%). Based on in vitro testing, CVI is as accurate as Doppler spectral analysis for the estimation of flow velocity.

Correlation of carotid bruits and carotid atherosclerosis detected by B-mode real-time ultrasonography

The extent of carotid atherosclerosis evaluated by B-mode real-time ultrasound and the presence of bruits established by carotid phonoangiography were determined in 1,107 patients. Unilateral bruit was associated with increased atherosclerosis compared with no bruit (p less than or equal to 0.0001). However, there was no association between laterality of the bruit and the degree of atherosclerosis (p = 0.66). There was marginal evidence that patients with bilateral bruits had more severe atherosclerosis than patients with unilateral bruit (p = 0.046). The relation between bruit and atherosclerosis categorized by B-mode ultrasound was not sufficient to reliably predict the presence or absence of disease in an individual patient, though the presence of a bruit should be viewed as a risk factor for, or an indicator of, increased risk of systemic atherosclerosis.

Three-dimensional transcranial Doppler blood flow mapping in patients with cerebrovascular disorders

We investigated 60 patients with cerebrovascular disorders using a three-dimensional transcranial Doppler blood flow mapping system. A composite display of the circle of Willis is created with computer assistance, allowing accurate vessel identification and optimal data documentation of blood flow velocity and direction in the basal cerebral arteries. The basilar artery was insonated in every patient; the middle cerebral artery and the most distal internal carotid artery were found in 95% of the patients, the anterior cerebral artery in 85%, and the posterior cerebral artery in 84%. Insonation problems occurred predominantly in elderly women. Transcranial Doppler blood flow mapping showed an abnormal result in 23 of 60 patients (38%). An intracranial stenosis with greater than 50% diameter reduction or occlusion was found in 10 of 31 patients (32%) with completed stroke, reversible ischemic neurologic deficit, or transient ischemic attack. Collateral blood flow mechanisms could be demonstrated in patients with extracranial carotid artery occlusions. Intra-arterial cerebral angiography performed in 21 patients confirmed the transcranial Doppler blood flow mapping diagnosis in 19 (90.5%). In one patient an arteriovenous malformation diagnosed by transcranial Doppler blood flow mapping was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging.