Summary Objective: To test for the feasibility of transabdominal Doppler sonography (color, power, pulse wave) to define uterine perfusion characteristics throughout the estrous cycle in gilts. Materials and methods: A total of 15 gilts were synchronized for estrus and scanned in their following spontaneous cycle while being restrained in a purpose-designed mobile crate. To define uterine perfusion characteristics, vessels in between and within uterine cross-sections were imaged and recorded as video sequences to be analyzed by PixelFlux® software for perfused area (Amix), blood flow velocity (vmix) and intensity (Imix) as well as resistance (RIvmix) and pulsatility index (PIvmix). Results: Color Doppler sonography proved to be the only feasible technique, as it was less affected by animal movements than power and pulse wave sonography. As determined by color Doppler sonography, all five parameters determined showed specific patterns through the estrous cycle, i. e. Amix, vmix, Imix were high in proestrus, decreased in estrus and remained low in midestrus and most parts of diestrus; RIvmix and PIvmix with inversely paralleled patterns. Conclusion and clinical relevance: This study has demonstrated that transabdominal color Doppler but not power and pulse wave Doppler sonography is feasible to be performed in crate-restrained gilts for studying uterine perfusion characteristics during the estrous cycle, and that changes of uterine perfusion over the course of the estrous cycle can be clearly followed by color Doppler sonography. Results encourage the use of color Doppler sonography for studying i. e. uterine capacity or uterus related infertility such as for cases of clinically unapparent endometritis.

Objective The aim of this study was to assess ovarian blood flow characteristics by applying transabdominal color Doppler ultrasonography during the course of the estrous cycle in gilts. Materials and methods Estrus and ovulation were synchronized in 15 pubertal gilts. During their consecutive spontaneous estrous cycle the gilts were sonographically scanned daily and ovarian blood flow was determined by imaging perfused areas of the ovarian hilus and the ovarian tissue. Recorded video clips were then analyzed for the parameters perfused area (Amix), blood flow velocity (vmix) as well as resistance (RIvmix) and pulsatility index (PIvmix) using the software PixelFlux®. Results All blood flow parameters showed an estrous cycle dependent course, with Amix and vmix being highest in diestrus, followed by proestrus, while RIvmix and PIvmix patterns were inversely proportional. Conclusion and clinical relevance Transabdominal color Doppler ultrasonography proved feasible to study ovarian perfusion characteristics in pubertal gilts. The ovarian blood flow was dependent on the stage of estrous cycle and highest in diestrus. The results of this study encourage the use of color Doppler ultrasonography to also investigate reasons of ovary-caused infertility including corpus luteum insufficiency or seasonal effects on ovary function.

ZusammenfassungDer Begriff „Biosensoren“ ist ein Sammelwort für tragbare Anwendungen, die biologische Funktionen erfassen. Die gängigsten Biosensoren sind Akzelerometer mit zunehmenden Anwendungsbereichen als Multi-Sensor-Anwendungen oder elektrodermale Sensoren. Akzelerometer nehmen eine Bewegung bzw. Beschleunigung von Objekten im Raum wahr und im Zuge der technischen Entwicklungen der letzten Jahre werden sie heutzutage bereits in viele „smart devices“ eingebaut (z. B. in Smartphones, Smartwatches etc.). Für Menschen mit Multipler Sklerose (MS) gibt es mittlerweile zahlreiche Studien, die eine Korrelation von Akzelerometriedaten mit der körperlichen Behinderung, insbesondere der Gehfähigkeit, nachweisen können. Sind differenziertere Analysen eines möglicherweise pathologischen Gangbilds notwendig, werden mit modernen dreidimensionalen Ganganalysen einzelne betroffene Muskelgruppen identifiziert. Gezielten Therapien etwa mit Botulinumtoxin oder angepassten Sprunggelenksorthesen werden auf Basis dieser Analysen durchgeführt bzw. angefertigt. Dieser Artikel beschreibt exemplarisch moderne Konzepte digitaler Bewegungsanalysen und gibt einen Ausblick auf mögliche digitale Anwendungsverfahren in der Betreuung von Menschen mit MS.

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