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Diagnostics
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Advances in Diagnosis and Pathophysiology of Microvascular Dysfunction
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Advances in Diagnosis and Pathophysiology of Microvascular Dysfunction

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 15556

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yih-Kuen Jan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Rehabilitation Engineering Lab, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Interests: biomechanics; rehabilitation engineering; computational modeling; exercise physiology; signal analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microcirculation is the system that brings oxygen and nutrients to local cells and removes metabolic wastes. The study of the structure, function, and adaptation of the microvascular system has played an essential role in understanding cardiovascular diseases. Research studies have shown promise of using the onset and progression of microvascular dysfunction as an indicator and risk determinant of other diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and stroke. Additionally, microvasculature is recognized as one of the most important routes for drug delivering in disease conditions.

Recent advances in computational models and imaging technologies have provided new opportunities to investigate microvascular dysfunction. Under pathophysiological conditions (e.g., diabetes and cancer), structural and functional adaptations of microvascular networks can be quantified using novel imaging technologies and advanced quantification metrics, such as multispectral and hyperspectral imaging, optical coherence tomography, and laser speckle contrast imaging. The use of wavelet analysis of laser Doppler signals has provided a novel way to diagnose the underlying mechanisms of microvascular dysfunction caused by the endothelial, neurogenic, and myogenic controls. The complexity analysis of microvascular blood flow reveals pathophysiological conditions that cannot be assessed through traditional methods.

The objective of this Special Issue is to bring together researchers from various fields to better understand the role of microvascular dysfunction in the development of diseases using advanced computational dynamics, novel imaging technologies, and theoretical models. This Special Issue also welcomes the applications of these novel methods and technologies in various clinical patients for early diagnosis of microvascular dysfunction and better understanding of the role of microvascular dysfunction in progression of various diseases. All topics related to the recent advances in diagnosis and pathophysiology of microvascular dysfunction are welcome.

Dr. Yih-Kuen Jan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Blood flow regulation
  • Microvascular dynamics
  • Microvascular assessments of an organ (e.g., skin, heart, and msucle)
  • Microvascular network modeling
  • Microvascular physiology
  • Microvasuclar remodeling
  • Thermoregulation

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 159 KiB  
Editorial
Advances in Diagnosis and Pathophysiology of Microvascular Dysfunction
by Yih-Kuen Jan
Diagnostics 2022, 12(3), 620; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12030620 - 02 Mar 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1472
Abstract
Microcirculation is the system that brings oxygen and nutrients to local cells and removes metabolic wastes [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnosis and Pathophysiology of Microvascular Dysfunction)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

10 pages, 781 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Shoulder Microcirculation Abnormality Using Laser Doppler Flowmetry
by Taipau Chia, Jian-Guo Bau, Guo-Dung Hung, Sz-Huan Tsai and Che-Ming Hu
Diagnostics 2022, 12(1), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12010143 - 07 Jan 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1203
Abstract
Severe neck-shoulder pain induces functional limitations in both life and work. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of shoulder microcirculation abnormality in workers. This study recruited 32 workers and patients, both n = 16. Questionnaires were administered, and Laser [...] Read more.
Severe neck-shoulder pain induces functional limitations in both life and work. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of shoulder microcirculation abnormality in workers. This study recruited 32 workers and patients, both n = 16. Questionnaires were administered, and Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) was used to measure microcirculatory blood flow (MBF) at the myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) on the shoulders. The absolute-deviationMMBF represented the mean MBF (MMBF) variability among subjects. The differences in the life characteristics, shoulder pain level, and microcirculatory characteristics at MTrPs between the two groups were compared. It was found that shoulder pain level was significantly higher in the patient than in the control group (p < 0.001). Deviation of the MMBF value beyond the postulated “normal range” of 60–80 was significantly higher in the patient than in the control group (p < 0.001). The MMBF deviation was significantly correlated with shoulder pain level, pain duration, and the symptom effect (p < 0.01, n = 32). A normal range for the MMBF of 60–80 on the shoulder near MTrPs is hypothesized for the first time based on this study. Noninvasive LDF can be used to assess abnormality in the MBF on shoulder MTrPs at an early stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnosis and Pathophysiology of Microvascular Dysfunction)
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12 pages, 923 KiB  
Article
Myofascial Treatment for Microcirculation in Patients with Postural Neck and Shoulder Pain
by Jian-Guo Bau, Shyi-Kuen Wu, Bo-Wen Huang, Tony Tung-Liang Lin and Shih-Chung Huang
Diagnostics 2021, 11(12), 2226; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11122226 - 29 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2434
Abstract
Vascular impairment is a crucial factor associated with chronic muscle pain, but relevant research from the microcirculatory aspect is lacking. Here, we investigated the differences in neck muscle microcirculation detected through laser-doppler flowmetry (LDF) and cervical biomechanics by a videofluoroscopic image in asymptomatic [...] Read more.
Vascular impairment is a crucial factor associated with chronic muscle pain, but relevant research from the microcirculatory aspect is lacking. Here, we investigated the differences in neck muscle microcirculation detected through laser-doppler flowmetry (LDF) and cervical biomechanics by a videofluoroscopic image in asymptomatic participants and patients with postural neck and shoulder pain. To understand the mechanism behind the effect of myofascial treatment, transverse friction massage (TFM) was applied and the immediate effects of muscular intervention on microcirculation were monitored. In total, 16 asymptomatic participants and 22 patients (mean age = 26.3 ± 2.4 and 25.4 ± 3.2 years, respectively) were recruited. Their neck muscle microcirculation and spinal image sequence were assessed. The differences in the baseline blood flow between the asymptomatic and patient groups were nonsignificant. However, the standard deviations in the measurements of the upper trapezius muscle in the patients were significantly larger (p < 0.05). Regarding the TFM-induced responses of skin microcirculation, the blood flow ratio was significantly higher in the patients than in the asymptomatic participants (p < 0.05). In conclusion, postintervention hyperemia determined through noninvasive LDF may be an indicator for the understanding of the mechanism underlying massage therapies and the design of interventions for postural pain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnosis and Pathophysiology of Microvascular Dysfunction)
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23 pages, 3928 KiB  
Article
Red Blood Cells: Tethering, Vesiculation, and Disease in Micro-Vascular Flow
by Robert J. Asaro and Pedro Cabrales
Diagnostics 2021, 11(6), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11060971 - 27 May 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3749
Abstract
The red blood cell has become implicated in the progression of a range of diseases; mechanisms by which red cells are involved appear to include the transport of inflammatory species via red cell-derived vesicles. We review this role of RBCs in diseases such [...] Read more.
The red blood cell has become implicated in the progression of a range of diseases; mechanisms by which red cells are involved appear to include the transport of inflammatory species via red cell-derived vesicles. We review this role of RBCs in diseases such as diabetes mellitus, sickle cell anemia, polycythemia vera, central retinal vein occlusion, Gaucher disease, atherosclerosis, and myeloproliferative neoplasms. We propose a possibly unifying, and novel, paradigm for the inducement of RBC vesiculation during vascular flow of red cells adhered to the vascular endothelium as well as to the red pulp of the spleen. Indeed, we review the evidence for this hypothesis that links physiological conditions favoring both vesiculation and enhanced RBC adhesion and demonstrate the veracity of this hypothesis by way of a specific example occurring in splenic flow which we argue has various renderings in a wide range of vascular flows, in particular microvascular flows. We provide a mechanistic basis for membrane loss and the formation of lysed red blood cells in the spleen that may mediate their turnover. Our detailed explanation for this example also makes clear what features of red cell deformability are involved in the vesiculation process and hence require quantification and a new form of quantitative indexing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnosis and Pathophysiology of Microvascular Dysfunction)
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11 pages, 2221 KiB  
Article
Detection of Autophagy-Related Gene Expression by Conjunctival Impression Cytology in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
by Chih-Wen Shu, Youn-Shen Bee, Jiunn-Liang Chen, Chui-Lien Tsen, Wei-Lun Tsai and Shwu-Jiuan Sheu
Diagnostics 2021, 11(2), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11020296 - 12 Feb 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1812
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the association of autophagy-related gene expression with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Patients with AMD were recruited for analysis by conjunctival impression cytology. mRNA was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to evaluate whether the expression of 26 autophagy-related [...] Read more.
Purpose: To investigate the association of autophagy-related gene expression with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Patients with AMD were recruited for analysis by conjunctival impression cytology. mRNA was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to evaluate whether the expression of 26 autophagy-related genes (ATGs) was correlated with AMD. Further studies on cell viability and autophagic flux in response to oxidative stress by H2O2 were performed in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell lines based on the results of impression cytology. Results: Both the neovascular AMD (nAMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) groups had significantly higher mRNA levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor-associated protein-like 1 (GABARAPL1) and microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (MAP1LC3B) than the control group, but there was no significant difference between these two groups. Age difference existed only in the AMD group. GABARAPL1 and MAP1LC3B mRNA expression increased significantly after acute oxidative stress in adult retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells. Cell viability significantly increased and decreased in the cells harboring GABARAPL1 expression vector and silenced with siRNA against GABARAPL1, respectively, during short-term oxidative stress, whereas viability increased in the GABARAPL1-silenced cells after long-term oxidative stress. Silencing GABARAPL1 itself caused a reduction in autophagic flux under both short and long-term oxidative stress. Conclusion: Our study showed the possibility of assessing autophagy-related gene expression by conjunctival impression cytology. GABARAPL1 was significantly higher in AMD. Although an in vitro study showed an initial protective effect of autophagy, a cell viability study revealed the possibility of a harmful effect after long-term oxidative injury. The underlying mechanism or critical factors require further investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnosis and Pathophysiology of Microvascular Dysfunction)
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Review

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16 pages, 416 KiB  
Review
Role of Gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 in Healthy and Complicated Pregnancy and Their Future Potential as Preeclampsia Biomarkers
by Asparuh Nikolov and Nikola Popovski
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030480 - 09 Mar 2021
Cited by 55 | Viewed by 3958
Abstract
Gelatinases (matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9) are enzymes from the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) family, which are associated with collagen degradation. MMP-2 is capable of cleaving gelatine, types I and IV collagens, while MMP-9 is incapable of direct proteolysis of collagen I and digests collagen [...] Read more.
Gelatinases (matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9) are enzymes from the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) family, which are associated with collagen degradation. MMP-2 is capable of cleaving gelatine, types I and IV collagens, while MMP-9 is incapable of direct proteolysis of collagen I and digests collagen type IV. MMP-2 and -9 are both important regulators of vascular and uterine remodeling in a healthy pregnancy. Alterations in the collagen structure of the uterus and spiral arteries are observed in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Dysregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 has been implicated in abnormal vasodilation, placentation, and uterine expansion in preeclampsia. Early preeclampsia detection is paramount for risk stratification and prevention of further complications. Understanding the role of MMP-2 and-9 in uteroplacental and vascular remodeling could help design new approaches for prediction and management of preeclampsia. This review presents a general survey of MMP-2 and MMP-9 faulty regulation and impaired collagen types I and IV turnover in complicated pregnancies. Their potential role as circulating markers for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of preeclampsia development is discussed as well. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnosis and Pathophysiology of Microvascular Dysfunction)
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