Abstract
A clear correlation has been observed between the resonance Raman (RR) spectra of plaques in the aortic tunica intimal wall of a human corpse and three states of plaque evolution: fibrolipid plaques, calcified and ossified plaques, and vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques (VPs). These three states of atherosclerotic plaque lesions demonstrated unique RR molecular fingerprints from key molecules, rendering their spectra unique with respect to one another. The vibrational modes of lipids, cholesterol, carotenoids, tryptophan and heme proteins, the amide I, II, III bands, and methyl/methylene groups from the intrinsic atherosclerotic VPs in tissues were studied. The salient outcome of the investigation was demonstrating the correlation between RR measurements of VPs and the thickness measurements of fibrous caps on VPs using standard histopathology methods, an important metric in evaluating the stability of a VP. The RR results show that VPs undergo a structural change when their caps thin to 66 ?? ? m , very close to the 65 - ? m empirical medical definition of a thin cap fibroatheroma plaque, the most unstable type of VP.
Highlights
Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity in developed Western countries
The patterns of resonance Raman (RR) peaks in the spectra collected from different positions (Fig. 1) on the intimal aortic wall lesions correlate with the disease process as it progresses through the development of arterial fibrolipid plaques, vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques (VPs), and calcification and ossification
The visible RR (VRR) system has the advantage of requiring less power and accumulation time to collect signals, compared with NIR or FT-Raman systems.[12,13,14,15]
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity in developed Western countries. Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque (VP) is an important topic in cardiology research, since patients with these unstable plaques are at great risk for a sudden heart attack (i.e., myocardial infarction) when a plaque suddenly ruptures. Rupture of the thin fibrous cap when its thickness is
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
