Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology of Endothelium (JCET)
Professor Niżankowski is the Head of the Angiology Department of the 2nd Department of Internal Medicine in the Jagiellonian University Medical College (UJ MC) and has many years of experience in pharmacological and surgical treatment of peripheral vascular diseases. The Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology of Endothelium of the 2nd Department of Internal Medicine CM UJ carries out research in humans using all currently available techniques of non-invasive measurement of endothelial function. Endothelial dysfunction is an independent prognostic factor, allowing the assessment of individual cardiovascular risk. Therefore there are a number of tests for monitoring endothelial dysfunction that allow for better evaluation of the effectiveness of the therapy of cardiovascular diseases than currently applied methods. In the laboratory there are used: the standard ultrasound method, which is evaluating the flow-mediated dilation (FDM) of the brachial artery, the recently developed reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT), as well as other methods. There are also non-invasive methods for assessment of blood vessel wall stiffness based on pulse wave analysis.
Acuson S2000 Ultrasonograph (Siemens) along with a linear probe of frequency 14 MHz and ECG curve recording is dedicated to a standard method of assessment of endothelial function based on a flow-mediated dilation of brachial artery (FMD).
Endo-PAT 2000 (Itamar Medical) is a device dedicated especially for the measurement of endothelial function based on the changes of peripherial arterial tone (PAT) on the finger tip under conditions of reactive hyperemia (RH-PAT), associated with the reactive hyperemia induced
changes in finger volume.
Endothelix (Vendys) is a digital, electronic device designed for simultaneous measurement of blood pressure and the temperature of skin of a finger. This device is dedicated to measure endothelial function based on the changes of the skin of finger temperature during the reactive hyperemia induced by blood pressure cuff clamping for several minutes.
PulseTrace (Micro Medical) is a portable device for measurement of the pulse wave using photopulsoxymetric converter placed on a finger. The device measures real time pulse wave curve as well as averaged values and, basing on this analysis allows calculation of the factors determining stiffness of the conduit arteries and tension of small resistance arteries; SI (stiffness index)
and RI (reflection index).
SphygmoCor PWA Pulse Wave Analysis (AtCor Medica) is a portable device which, basing on the applanation tonometry method, allows getting a calibrated curve of a pulse wave from the ascending aorta, reconstructed from non-invasively registered pulse wave from the radial artery. Basing on the analysis of shape of the blood pressure wave in aorta, the stiffness of the artery, the afterload, central systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and other parametersmay be evaluated The apparatus also allows measuring the speed of the pulse wave based on the sequential measurements of pulse wave in two points of the blood vessel.
Endo-PAT 2000 apparatus with a visible central unit and arterial tension peripheral signal sensors. Sensors are placed on forefingers of both hands. During the examination the finger volume changes during the reactive hyperemia and control test for the other hand ared measured simultaneously. The system is connected to a PC, where the dedicated registering software is installed.