Microcirculation: its significance in clinical and molecular medicine

‘Go with the flow ’: A review of methods and advancements in blood flow imaging

“…Capillaries and the smallest venules are formed from a single layer of endothelial cells supported externally by a collagen rich basal laminar layer [26]. Blood perfusion through the capillaries serves several key functions within the body including regulation of blood pressure, supplying oxygen and nutrients to tissue, and removal of carbon dioxide and waste metabolites [31]. The transport of blood is by no means trivial [29]; complex boundary conditions, pulsatile flow patterns, and deformable, elastic vessel walls all interact with this non-Newtonian fluid, thus increasing the complexity of analysis.…”

Biophysical approach to the correction of supporting tissue microcirculation impairments

“…One of the basic pathogenetic units determining the markedness of catabolic processes in the bone tissue during the nearest post-traumatic period, is the impairment of microcirculation [4,7]. Recently, the most commonly used medicamentous correction of microcirculation impairments includes treatment with anticoagulants, non-steroid anti-inflammation agents and desaggregants [5].…”

In vivo functional human imaging using photoacoustic microscopy: response to ischemic and thermal stimuli

“…The microvasculature provides a window into systemic cardiovascular complications. And microvascular functioning could be used as a mechanism whereby cardiovascular related diseases could be diagnosed or assessed (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). A simple and repeatable method of evaluating vascular functioning is to perturb circulation and measure the response.…”

“…One method involves temporarily occluding blood flow and measuring the post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) response (6,7). In short, PORH is the transient increase of local perfusion that results from an ischemic event, specifically from the build-up of metabolic waste and low oxygenation (3,4,8). In a second measurement technique, a local region of the skin is heated and the ensuing local thermal hyperemia is evaluated (1,9).…”

“…Generally, non-invasive measurements of microcirculation are performed using near-infrared spectroscopy, laser Doppler, or plethysmography (1,4,8,10,11). Often, these techniques are limited to single parameter measurements, sO 2 , perfusion/changes in blood volume, or blood flow.…”