Background and Purpose-Three-dimensional (3-D) vascular ultrasound can be expected to improve qualitative evaluation of vessel pathology and to provide quantitative data on vascular morphology and function. The objective of this study was to develop an ultrafast 3-D vascular system and to validate its performance for quantitation of atherosclerosis and assessment of regional arterial distensibility. Methods-The quantitative analysis of focal atherosclerotic lesions was validated in vitro on 27 phantoms of fibroadipous plaques of known volume (range, 100 to 600 mm 3 ). In vivo reproducibility of plaque volume measurement was tested in 33 patients who had a total of 47 predominantly fibroadipous carotid plaques. Distensibility assessment was validated indirectly through the evaluation of age-related changes in distensibility of common carotid artery in healthy and hypertensive subjects (25 men in each group). Results-The volume of plaque phantoms measured from the 3-D data set showed a very close correlation with the true volume (rϭ0.99; yϭ0.96xϩ12.38; PϽ0.01), with the mean difference between the 2 measurements being Ϫ3.12Ϯ15.1 mm 3 . High reproducibility was found for measurement of carotid plaque volume in vivo: the mean difference between measurements from 2 observers for the same data set was 0.60Ϯ11.2 mm 3 . Indexes of arterial distensibility decreased with age in healthy population, whereas this relationship was lost in hypertensive subjects. Conclusions-Ultrafast 3-D ultrasound imaging of carotid artery demonstrates good accuracy and reproducibility for atherosclerotic plaque volume measurements. The system also allows the study of age-related degenerative vascular changes. (Stroke. 1998;29:1631-1637.)
- In its Order of 15 October 2008, rendered in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Georgia v. Russian Federation), the International Court of Justice indicated provisional measures directing both Parties, inter alia, to ensure that no action of racial discrimination be taken against the persons living in the Georgian territory of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The Court's Order deals with interesting issues concerning the extraterritorial application of the Convention on Racial Discrimination, the interpretation of the compromissory clause embodied in Article 22 of the Convention and the relationship between human rights law and humanitarian law. The most debated issue, however, revolved around the question as to whether there existed a dispute between the Parties as to the interpretation and application of the Convention. While Georgia may have used its unilateral application for political purposes which are connected to the broader conflict following Russian military intervention of August 2008, it is argued that the Court's decision on the existence prima facie of a dispute and of its jurisdiction appears to be a sound one.
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