Nemio xg

The ultrasound machine used for this study was 3D ultrasound machine (Nemio-XG: Toshiba, Japan) having 4D volumetric probe. During early pregnancy, 2D intra-operative probe of this machine having frequencies between 5 and 10 MHz was made stiff by fixing it on a 0.5” PVC pipe after splitting it and using adhesive tape. It was used for transrectal ultrasonography. Later on 2D convex transducer switchable between 3 and 6 MHz was used for 2D images. For the 3D images, the 3D mechanical volumetric probe having a frequency between 3 and 6 MHz was used. The stage of gestation at the time of examination was calculated from the date of mating.

Color and pulse Doppler ultrasonography was conducted from day 20 after mating and continued till 4 months of gestation. The ultrasonography was conducted 2 times in a week from day 20 to day 60, then weekly till the end of the experiment. The animals were placed on the operating table by restraining of fore and hind limbs with neck support to lie down on the table on lateral recumbency. No sedation was given to animals. For trans-abdominal ultrasonography of the goat, the scanning area was around teats and lateral abdomen (Figure-1a). The ultrasound machine used for this study was 3D ultrasound machine (Nemio-XG: Toshiba, Japan) having 4D volumetric probe. To the ultrasound machine, computer was attached with software for recording scanning by Doppler ultrasonography.

Scanning area was shaved properly and enough ultrasound gel was applied over the site and the surface of the transducer to have better skin transducer contact to get a better image. The dogs were sedated with xylazine @ 1 mg/kg body weight for restraining. The ultrasound machine used for this study was 3D ultrasound machine (Nemio-XG: Toshiba, Japan) having four-dimensional (4D) volumetric transducer. The images were acquired with 3-6 MHz 2D curvilinear transducer and 4.2-6 MHz 4D volumetric curvilinear transducer operated at 3-5 MHz frequency. For scanning of stomach, the animals were kept in right lateral recumbency keeping in view the topographic position of the stomach just below the left rib cage. For scanning, the curvilinear probe was placed below the left rib cage. After completing the cross-sectional imaging of the stomach, the transducer is turned 90° to evaluate in the longitudinal plane [6 ]. The canine stomach can be accessed immediately caudal to the liver, at the level of the xiphoid [3 ]. The canine stomach is centrally placed and the long axis is essentially perpendicular to the vertebral column, so the longitudinal imaging planes allow cross-sectional images of the stomach [6 ]. Fasting for a period of time prior to the examination will minimize the fluid and air present in the stomach resulting in better quality images [7 (link)].

The study was conducted on 11 clinical cases of different age groups of dogs suffering from kidney diseases brought to TVCC, LUVAS, Hisar. The dogs were sedated with xylazine at 1 mg/kg body weight for restraining. For scanning of kidneys, the area caudal to the 11^th rib up to the pubis on either side of the midline, up to the level of transverse process of lumbar vertebrae was shaved properly. The dogs were controlled in lateral recumbency, i.e., left lateral recumbency for right kidney and right lateral recumbency for left kidney. The left kidney was scanned below the transverse process of first to third lumbar vertebrae and for the right kidney, in addition, an intercostal approach through the last or second last intercostal space was used to scan it in its transverse plane. Scanning area was shaved properly and enough gel was applied over the site and the surface of the transducer to get a better image. The US machine used for this study was 3D US machine (Nemio-XG: Toshiba, Japan) having four-dimensional (4D) volumetric probe. The images were acquired with 3-6 MHz two-dimensional (2D) curvilinear transducer and 4.2-6 MHz 4D volumetric curvilinear transducer.

Echocardiography was analysed from the short-axis view of the Left ventricular (LV) acquired by two-dimensional targeted M-mode tracings using a Nemio XG image-analysis system (SSA-580A; Toshiba Medical Systems). Left ventricular internal diameter (LVID) was measured as the largest anteroposterior diameter in either diastole (LVIDd) or systole (LVIDs). The fractional shortening (FS) was calculated as FS = [(left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd) – left ventricular internal diameter in systole (LVIDs))/LVIDd] × 100. The ejection fraction (EF) was calculated as EF = [(end-diastolic volume (EDV) – end-systolic volume (ESV))/EDV] × 100. EDV and ESV were calculated according to Teichholz’s method.
To assess LV diastolic function, pulsed wave Doppler imaging was performed using Prospect T1 (S-Sharp Corporation). LV filling peak velocity (E, mm/s) and atrial contraction flow peak velocity (A, mm/s) were acquired from the images of mitral valve Doppler flow from apical four-chamber view. The E/A ratio, a marker of the diastolic function of the left ventricle, was calculated.
All echocardiography measurements were performed under inhalation anaesthesia (1.5~2.0% of isoflurane at flow rate 2 L/min) to keep the heart rate between 450 and 520 bpm.

Macrovascular function was assessed using percentage change in flow-mediated dilation. Smoking is associated with reduced FMD. Reduced altered brachial artery FMD is an early marker for endothelial dysfunction, a CVD risk factor [6 ], and considered a predictor for long-term, adverse cardiovascular events [25 (link)]. FMD is a non-invasive, nitric oxide-mediated measure. Baseline scanning to assess resting vessel diameter was recorded over 3 min, following a 10-min resting period, using a Nemio XG (Toshiba, Tokyo, Japan) ultrasound machine, according to the International Brachial Artery Reactivity Task Force guidelines [26 (link)]. Fixed anatomic landmarks (side branches) were used to ensure that the same artery portion was assessed on each occasion. The technical error in our lab for FMD is 5% [26 (link)]. FMD is presented as change in post-stimulus diameter as a percentage of the baseline diameter (%FMD).