Blood flow distribution during forced and voluntary diving in ducks, and the energetic cost of diving was investigated. It has been suggested that in order for the leg muscles to generate enough power for ducks to dive, blood flow to those tissues must be maintained. A technique to determine blood flow distribution which could be used during voluntary diving was first developed and tested during forced laboratory dives of ducks. This technique was then used to determine the blood flow distribution during voluntary diving. Regional blood flow distribution was visualized by utilizing a radioactive tracer technique (macro aggregated albumin labelled with ⁹⁹ⅿ technetium). The tracer when injected into an animal is trapped and held by capillaries. During forced dives in dabbling (Anas platyrhynchos) and diving (Aythya affinis) ducks the blood flow distribution was found to be restricted to the thoracic and head areas. Whereas during a voluntary dive in A. affinis blood flow distribution was shown to be preferentially directed towards three tissue areas, the heart, brain, and active leg muscles. The work required to dive was determined from the measurement of subsurface drag forces and buoyancy in A. affinis. Subsurface drag increased as a nonlinear function of swimming velocity. At a velocity of 1 m•s⁻¹, the drag force was approximately 1.067 N. The average measured buoyant force of 11 ducks was 0.953 N. The calculated mechanical work done by ducks during a 14.4 s unrestrained dive was 9.34 J. The power output during voluntary was estimated to be 0.751 W (0.0374 ml 0₂•s⁻¹). During diving buoyancy is clearly the dominant force (8.8 J) against which ducks have to work while drag (0.54 J) adds little (~6%) to the energetic cost of diving. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Ekokardiologiska undersökningar erbjuder en lätt, snabb och icke-invasiv metod för diagnostik av vänster förmaksvolym (LAV). I dagsläget är hjärt-magnetresonanstomografi (CMR) referensmetod för mätningen. Dock är CMR både tid- och kostnadskrävande, vilket leder till att tvådimensionell ekokardiografi (2DE) istället används. Den relativt nya metoden tredimensionell ekokardiografi (3DE) erbjuder en intressant valmöjlighet vid bedömning av förmaksvolym. Det är studiens syfte att ställa 2DE mot 3DE, gällande modaliteternas korrelation av vänster förmaksvolym, med CMR som referensmetod. Studien undersöker även förhållandet för modaliteternas intra- och inter-bedömar variation. Studien har använt databaserna Pubmed och Medline där systematiska litteratursökningar genomförts under april månad år 2020. Flera inklusions och exklusions kriterier har använts, studien har endast använt artiklar publicerade från 2010 och framåt. 3DE uppvisar en högre korrelation mot CMR vid volymbestämning av LAV. Resultatet visade även att 3DE har en lägre variation mellan både intra- och inter-bedömare än 2DE. 3DE har både en starkare korrelation mot CMR och en lägre bedömarvariation än 2DE, dock lider denna modalitet av begränsningar i dagsläget. Begränsningarna är: tid, personalens erfarenhet, brist på referensvärden samt kostnad för klinikerna. Författarna rekommenderar användning av 3DE för säkrare bedömning av LAV. Fortsatt kunskap som ger adekvata referensvärden och standardiserade mjukvarusystem behövs. / Echocardiological examinations offer an easy, quick, and non-invasive method for diagnosing the left atrium volume (LAV). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is currently the golden-standard method. However, CMR is time-consuming and costly. Instead two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) modality is used. The relatively new three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) method offers an interesting choice when assessing LAV. It’s the purpose of this study to plot 2DE against 3DE regarding LAV correlation and with CMR as reference. The study will examine the relationship between modalities intra- and interobserver variation. Pubmed and Medline databases were used, and systematic literature searches were carried out during April 2020. Inclusion and exclusion criterias have been adopted; the study has only used articles published from 2010 onwards. 3DE shows a higher correlation with CMR in assessment of LAV. The result also showed that 3DE has a lower variation between both intra- and interobserver. 3DE has a stronger correlation to CMR and a lower variation than 2DE, however, 3DE suffers from limitations. These limitations are time, staff experience, lack of reference values and cost to clinics. The authors recommend 3DE for more accurate LAV assessment. Further research for more adequate reference-values and software systems is needed.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as the imaging modality of choice in a wide variety experimental and clinical applications. In this dissertation, I will describe novel MRI techniques for the characterization of neural and pulmonary vascular function in preclinical models of disease. In the first part of this dissertation, experimental results will be presented comparing the identification of ischemic lesions in experimental stroke using dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) and a well validated arterial spin labeling (ASL). We show that DSC measurements of an index of cerebral blood flow are sensitive to ischemia, treatment, and stroke subregions. Further, we derived a threshold of cerebral blood flow for ischemia as measured by DSC. Finally, we show that ischemic lesion volumes as defined by DSC are comparable to those defined by ASL. In the second part of this dissertation, a methodology of visualizing clots in experimental animal models of stroke is presented. Clots were rendered visible by MRI through the addition of a gadolinium based contrast agent during formation. Modified clots were used to induce an experimental embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion. Clots in the cerebral vasculature were visualized in vivousing MRI. Further, the efficacy of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) and the combination of r-tPA and recombinant annexin-2 (rA2) was characterized by clot visualization during lysis. In the third part of this dissertation, we present results of the application of hyperpolarized helium (HP-He) in the characterization of new model of experimental pulmonary ischemia. The longitudinal relaxation time of HP-He is sensitive to the presence of paramagnetic oxygen. During ischemia, oxygen exchange from the airspaces of the lungs to the capillaries is hindered resulting in increased alveolar oxygen content which resulted in the shortening of the HP-He longitudinal relaxation time. Results of measurements of the HP-He relaxation time in both normal and ischemic animals are presented. In the final part of this dissertation, I will present results of a new method to measure pulmonary blood volume (PBV) using proton based MRI. A T1 weighted, inversion recovery spin echo sequence with cardiac and respiratory gating was developed to measure the changes in signal intensity of lung parenchyma before and after the injection of a long acting intravascular contrast agent. PBV is related to the signal change in the lung parenchyma and blood before and after contrast agent. We validate our method using a model of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in rats.

A administração intravenosa de solução salina hipertônica (HSS) induz alterações sistêmicas circulatórias como o aumento da pressão arterial e do volume circulante efetivo, além de ter efeitos locais sobre a microcirculação. No presente estudo foram analisados os efeitos produzidos pela administração de solução salina hipertônica 7,5% sobre a hemodinâmica do tumor através de estudos de imagem funcional e posteriormente, foi avaliado o seu potencial de otimizar a entrega de moléculas no tumor. A velocidade do sangue nos vasos tumorais estimada por Ultrassom Color Doppler foi aumentada após a injeção da HSS em comparação ao controle PBS em tumores de melanoma (B16F10 (p=0,019), SK-MEL-147 (p =0,028)) e de mama (4T1 (p=0,015)). Este mesmo efeito não foi observado nas artérias segmentarias do rim (p=0,476). Ultrassonografia com contraste por microbolhas (CEUS) foi realizada em xenoenxertos de tumor de melanoma (B16F10), carcinoma de cólon (HCT-116) e mama (MDA-MB-231), e como controle foi realizada imagem no rim e no músculo nos animais portadores destes tipos tumorais (n=3 por grupo). Após a injeção da HSS, o volume relativo de sangue foi aumentado nos tumores B16F10 (p=0,022) e HCT-116 (P = 0,039), mas o mesmo não foi observado com o tumor MDA-MB-231 (p=0,186). Além disso, não houve alterações nos tecidos normais (rim p = 0,957; músculo p = 0,104). Todos os testes estatísticos foram bicaudais. Quando a HSS foi utilizada como veículo para entrega de moléculas de baixo peso molecular como cisplatina e doxorrubicina no tratamento de tumores B16F10 e 4T1 respectivamente, não houve aumento da eficácia terapêutica, avaliada através do crescimento tumoral e peso dos tumores. O efeito da HSS sobre a retenção de macromoléculas nos tumores SK-Mel- 147 e 4T1, avaliado através de imagem por epifluorescência do contraste ótico IR-783, não foi suficientemente notório para rejeitar a hipótese nula. Assim, a HSS induz um aumento transitório na velocidade do sangue e do volume sanguíneo, de maneira relativamente seletiva para os tumores avaliados, com exceção do MDA-MB-231. Portanto, esta pode ser uma estratégia útil para aumentar a entrega de moléculas e otimizar tanto o efeito terapêutico, quanto o diagnóstico por imagem / Intravenous administration of Hypertonic saline solution (HSS) induces systemic circulatory changes including blood pressure rising, effective circulating volume increase as well as local effects on microvasculature. We analyzed the effects produced by Hypertonic Saline 7,5% administration on tumor hemodynamics through functional imaging studies as well as whether it enhances molecular delivery in tumor tissue when used as a vehicle. Blood velocity assessed by Color Doppler Ultrasound was increased after HSS injection compared to PBS in the following tumors: B16F10 (p=0,019), SKMEL- 147 (p=0,028) and 4T1 (p=0,015). No statistical difference was observed on the segmental kidney arteries (p=0,476). Dynamic Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was done in B16F10, HCT-116 and MDA-MB-231 tumor xenografts, kidney and muscle tissues (n=3 per group). After HSS injection, relative blood volume was increased in B16F10 (p=0,022) and HCT-116 (p=0,039) but not on MDA-MB-231 (p=0,186). Changes on normal tissues were not statistically different (kidney p=0,957; muscle p=0,104). All statistical tests were two-sided. Administration of HSS as a vehicle for low molecular weight molecules cisplatin and doxorubicin in the treatment of B16F10 and 4T1 tumors respectively had no significant improvement of therapeutic efficacy, estimated by tumor growth and tumor weight measurements. Effect of HSS over retention of macromolecules in tumors SK-Mel-147 and 4T1, evaluated by epifluorescence imaging of the optical contrast IR- 783 was not large enough to reject the null hypothesis. HSS induces a transient increase in velocity of the blood as well as the blood volume that is relatively selective for the evaluated tumors with exception of MDA-MB-231. Data suggest that HSS administration might be a useful strategy to increase the delivery of molecules and optimize both therapy and diagnostic imaging

A administração intravenosa de solução salina hipertônica (HSS) induz alterações sistêmicas circulatórias como o aumento da pressão arterial e do volume circulante efetivo, além de ter efeitos locais sobre a microcirculação. No presente estudo foram analisados os efeitos produzidos pela administração de solução salina hipertônica 7,5% sobre a hemodinâmica do tumor através de estudos de imagem funcional e posteriormente, foi avaliado o seu potencial de otimizar a entrega de moléculas no tumor. A velocidade do sangue nos vasos tumorais estimada por Ultrassom Color Doppler foi aumentada após a injeção da HSS em comparação ao controle PBS em tumores de melanoma (B16F10 (p=0,019), SK-MEL-147 (p =0,028)) e de mama (4T1 (p=0,015)). Este mesmo efeito não foi observado nas artérias segmentarias do rim (p=0,476). Ultrassonografia com contraste por microbolhas (CEUS) foi realizada em xenoenxertos de tumor de melanoma (B16F10), carcinoma de cólon (HCT-116) e mama (MDA-MB-231), e como controle foi realizada imagem no rim e no músculo nos animais portadores destes tipos tumorais (n=3 por grupo). Após a injeção da HSS, o volume relativo de sangue foi aumentado nos tumores B16F10 (p=0,022) e HCT-116 (P = 0,039), mas o mesmo não foi observado com o tumor MDA-MB-231 (p=0,186). Além disso, não houve alterações nos tecidos normais (rim p = 0,957; músculo p = 0,104). Todos os testes estatísticos foram bicaudais. Quando a HSS foi utilizada como veículo para entrega de moléculas de baixo peso molecular como cisplatina e doxorrubicina no tratamento de tumores B16F10 e 4T1 respectivamente, não houve aumento da eficácia terapêutica, avaliada através do crescimento tumoral e peso dos tumores. O efeito da HSS sobre a retenção de macromoléculas nos tumores SK-Mel- 147 e 4T1, avaliado através de imagem por epifluorescência do contraste ótico IR-783, não foi suficientemente notório para rejeitar a hipótese nula. Assim, a HSS induz um aumento transitório na velocidade do sangue e do volume sanguíneo, de maneira relativamente seletiva para os tumores avaliados, com exceção do MDA-MB-231. Portanto, esta pode ser uma estratégia útil para aumentar a entrega de moléculas e otimizar tanto o efeito terapêutico, quanto o diagnóstico por imagem / Intravenous administration of Hypertonic saline solution (HSS) induces systemic circulatory changes including blood pressure rising, effective circulating volume increase as well as local effects on microvasculature. We analyzed the effects produced by Hypertonic Saline 7,5% administration on tumor hemodynamics through functional imaging studies as well as whether it enhances molecular delivery in tumor tissue when used as a vehicle. Blood velocity assessed by Color Doppler Ultrasound was increased after HSS injection compared to PBS in the following tumors: B16F10 (p=0,019), SKMEL- 147 (p=0,028) and 4T1 (p=0,015). No statistical difference was observed on the segmental kidney arteries (p=0,476). Dynamic Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was done in B16F10, HCT-116 and MDA-MB-231 tumor xenografts, kidney and muscle tissues (n=3 per group). After HSS injection, relative blood volume was increased in B16F10 (p=0,022) and HCT-116 (p=0,039) but not on MDA-MB-231 (p=0,186). Changes on normal tissues were not statistically different (kidney p=0,957; muscle p=0,104). All statistical tests were two-sided. Administration of HSS as a vehicle for low molecular weight molecules cisplatin and doxorubicin in the treatment of B16F10 and 4T1 tumors respectively had no significant improvement of therapeutic efficacy, estimated by tumor growth and tumor weight measurements. Effect of HSS over retention of macromolecules in tumors SK-Mel-147 and 4T1, evaluated by epifluorescence imaging of the optical contrast IR- 783 was not large enough to reject the null hypothesis. HSS induces a transient increase in velocity of the blood as well as the blood volume that is relatively selective for the evaluated tumors with exception of MDA-MB-231. Data suggest that HSS administration might be a useful strategy to increase the delivery of molecules and optimize both therapy and diagnostic imaging