Method for evaluating vascular endothelium function and a system therefor
First Claim
1. A method for determination of parameters for evaluating vascular endothelium function in a human subject, the method comprising:
- (a) measuring and recording as a function of time the intensity of one NADH fluorescence emission wavelength signal emitted from skin tissue cells in a selected location on an upper limb of said subject to obtain a baseline, wherein said NADH fluorescence signal is emitted upon illumination with and absorption of one wavelength of UV exciting light;
(b) blocking blood flow in an artery to the upper limb upstream to the selected location, while continuing measuring and recording said intensity as it grows up as a function of time;
(c) releasing the block of blood flow while continuing measuring and recording said intensity as it changes as a function of time until obtaining a stationary state; and
(d) determining parameters indicative of endothelial function from the course of changes of said intensity, the parameters being one or more selected from the group consisting of;
the difference Δ
l between the maximum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal upon blocking blood flow and the minimum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence after releasing the block of blood flow in step (c);
the difference Δ
l1 between the baseline intensity of NADH fluorescence signal in step (a) prior to blocking blood flow and the maximum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal upon said blocking blood flow in stet (b); and
the difference Δ
l2, between the minimum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal and the stationary state of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal after releasing the block of blood flow in step (c).
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Abstract
A method for evaluating vascular endothelium function in a human subject comprises monitoring changes in intensity of NADH fluorescence signal emitted from skin tissue cells of an upper limb of said subject as a function of time, wherein said changes result from reactive hyperaemia caused by blocking and releasing blood flow in the same upper limb of said subject. A system for evaluating vascular endothelium function in a human subject comprises a means for illuminating a skin on an upper limb of said subject with exciting light, a means for measuring intensity of fluorescence signal emitted from the skin and recording changes of said intensity of the fluorescence signal over time; and a restriction means for blocking and releasing blood flow in the upper limb of said subject.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for determination of parameters for evaluating vascular endothelium function in a human subject, the method comprising:
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(a) measuring and recording as a function of time the intensity of one NADH fluorescence emission wavelength signal emitted from skin tissue cells in a selected location on an upper limb of said subject to obtain a baseline, wherein said NADH fluorescence signal is emitted upon illumination with and absorption of one wavelength of UV exciting light; (b) blocking blood flow in an artery to the upper limb upstream to the selected location, while continuing measuring and recording said intensity as it grows up as a function of time; (c) releasing the block of blood flow while continuing measuring and recording said intensity as it changes as a function of time until obtaining a stationary state; and (d) determining parameters indicative of endothelial function from the course of changes of said intensity, the parameters being one or more selected from the group consisting of; the difference Δ
l between the maximum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal upon blocking blood flow and the minimum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence after releasing the block of blood flow in step (c);the difference Δ
l1 between the baseline intensity of NADH fluorescence signal in step (a) prior to blocking blood flow and the maximum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal upon said blocking blood flow in stet (b); andthe difference Δ
l2, between the minimum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal and the stationary state of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal after releasing the block of blood flow in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for evaluation of vascular endothelium function in a human subject, said system comprising
a means for illumination of a skin tissue of an upper limb of said subject with UV exciting light; -
a means for measuring intensity of fluorescence signal emitted from the skin upon illumination with and absorption of UV exciting light and for recording changes of said intensity of the fluorescence signal over time, including measuring and recording as a function of time the intensity of one NADH fluorescence emission wavelength signal emitted from skin tissue cells in a selected location on an upper limb of said subject to obtain a baseline and measurement data, wherein said NADH fluorescence signal is emitted upon illumination with and absorption of one wavelength of UV exciting light; a restriction means for blocking and releasing blood flow in an artery in the upper limb of said subject, including subsequent to obtaining the baseline, blocking blood flow in an artery on the upper limb upstream to the selected location, while said means for measuring continues measuring and recording said intensity as it grows as a function of time and releasing the block of blood flow while said means for measuring continues measuring and recording said intensity as it changes as a function of time until obtaining a stationary state; a processor means for determining parameters indicative of endothelial function from the course of changes of said intensity, the parameters being one or more selected from the group consisting of; the difference Δ
l1 between the maximum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal upon blocking blood flow and the minimum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence after releasing the block of blood flow;the difference Δ
l1 between the baseline intensity of NADH fluorescence signal prior to blocking blood flow and the maximum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal upon said blocking blood flow; andthe difference Δ
l2 between the minimum level of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal and the stationary state of intensity of NADH fluorescence signal after releasing the block of blood flow. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification