No abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in abdominal fat distribution in the fasting month of Ramadan. Thirty-eight healthy volunteers (17 women and 21 men) who fasted in the month of Ramadan in 2002 were included in this prospective study. Waist, hip and thigh circumferences, weight and height of all subjects were measured. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-thigh ratio (WTR) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated for each subject. For assessing the fat distribution in the abdomen, computed tomography (CT) was performed. Both subcutaneous and visceral fat areas were calculated by the CT scanning technique. All of the calculations were done before (first measurement) and after (second measurement) Ramadan fasting and the changes were evaluated. No statistically significant differences were found in all subjects between the first and second measurements, which include total, subcutaneous and visceral fat areas, waist, hip and thigh circumferences, weight, BMI, WHR, and WTR (p > 0.05). In females and the individuals in their twenties, there was a significant decrease in visceral fat area (p < 0.05). Despite of the general opinion that supposes the change of weight during the fasting month of Ramadan, there were no significant differences in weight and abdominal fat distribution. However in female and young individuals, there was a reduction in visceral fat compartment. This could be due to fat redistribution, because they have more physical activity than males and older individuals. computed tomography; fat; abdomen

Purpose. To measure with Doppler sonography the velocity and volume of blood flow in the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and vertebral artery (VA) of healthy adults and to calculate total cerebral blood flow volume (tCBFV).Methods. Bilateral ICA and VA were examined sonographically in 180 healthy adults. Angle-corrected peak systolic (Vps), end-diastolic (Ved), and time-averaged maximum blood flow velocity (TAV) were measured in pulsed Doppler mode, and the resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were calculated. The cross-sectional area (A) was measured on gray-scale images. Volume flow was calculated as FV ¼ TAV Â A, and tCBFV was calculated as the sum of the right and left ICA and VA volume flow.Results. tCBFV was 651 6 96 ml/min for the entire population. There was a significant decrease in Vps, Ved, TAV, and tCBFV with age in all arteries. RI and PI values initially declined and then increased with age. Cross-sectional area increased with age in ICA but not in VA. PI and RI were higher in men than in women. Blood flow velocity and volume were higher, and RI was lower in the left than in the right VA.Conclusion. The Doppler sonographic assessment of extracranial ICA and VA blood flow volume may be useful for the study of cerebral hemodynamic changes in patients with cerebrovascular disorders. Age-dependent changes should be considered, for instance, in the management of intensive care patients with impaired cerebral perfusion. V V C 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

We found there was no direct relationship between blood flow rate of AV fistula and PAP. Other factors may play a role in the development of pulmonary hypertension.

Our study indicates that RI might be a useful marker for early diagnosis and follow-up of diabetic retinopathy, and orbital RI assessment would be beneficial for diabetic patients with retinopathy.