Severe Artery Stenosis Research Articles

Subclavian Artery-Carotid Artery Bypass for Subclavian Artery or Common Carotid Artery Severe Stenosis or Occlusion.

Various surgical treatments are available for occlusive subclavian and common carotid artery diseases. Nevertheless, to date, when cerebral endovascular treatment is utilized, revascularization via direct surgery may be required. This study reported five symptomatic cases of revascularization for CCA and SCA occlusive and stenotic lesions that were expected to be challenging to treat with endovascular treatment. We performed subclavian artery-common carotid artery or internal carotid artery bypass using artificial blood vessels or saphenous vein grafts in five patients with subclavian steal syndrome, symptomatic common carotid artery occlusion, and severe proximal common carotid artery stenosis. In this study, good bypass patency was achieved in all five cases. Although there were no intraoperative complications, one patient had a postoperative lymphatic leak. Moreover, there was no recurrence of stroke during postoperative follow-up for an average of 2 years. Conclusively, subclavian artery-common carotid artery bypass can be an effective surgical treatment for common carotid artery occlusion, proximal common carotid artery stenosis, and subclavian artery occlusion.

Basing on the machine learning model to analyse the coronary calcification score and the coronary flow reserve score to evaluate the degree of coronary artery stenosis

AimTo obtain the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) for each branch in coronary artery computed tomography angiography (CCTA) examination combined with the flow fraction reserve (FFR) of each branch in the coronary artery detected by CT and apply a machine learning model (ML) to analyse and predict the severity of coronary artery stenosis. MethodsAll patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) from January 2019 to April 2022 in the HOSPITAL (T.C.M) AFFILIATED TO SOUTHWEST MEDICAL UNIVERSITY) were retrospectively screened, and their sex, age, characteristics of lipid-containing lesions, coronary calcium score (CACS) and CT-FFR values were collected. Five machine learning models, random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbour algorithm (KNN), kernel logistic regression, support vector machine (SVM) and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), were used as predictive models to evaluate the severity of coronary stenosis. ResultsAmong the five machine learning models, the SVM model achieved the best prediction performance, and the prediction accuracy of mild stenosis was up to 90%. Second, age and male sex were important influencing factors of increasing CACS and decreasing CT-FFR. Moreover, the critical CACS value of myocardial ischemia >200.70 was calculated. ConclusionThrough computer machine learning model analysis, we prove the importance of CACS and FFR in predicting coronary stenosis, especially the prominent vector machine model, which promotes the application of artificial intelligence computer learning methods in the field of medical analysis.

Correlation Analysis and Diagnostic Value of Serum Homocysteine, Cystatin C and Uric Acid Levels with the Severity of Coronary Artery Stenosis in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease.

Coronary angiography (CAG) is an invasive examination with high risks and costs and various complications may occur. It is necessary to find a diagnostic method, non-invasiveness, inexpensive with low risk. This study aims to analyze the correlation between the levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy), cystatin C (Cys C) and uric acid (UA) and Gensini score in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and assess their diagnostic value for CHD. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1412 patients underwent CAG from October 2019 to December 2021, and we conducted this study from January to July 2022. A total of 765 patients with CHD confirmed by CAG were selected as the research group, while 647 patients revealed as non-obstructive stenosis by CAG as the control group. The serum Hcy, Cys C and UA levels were detected and the correlation between Gensini score and variables was analyzed. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to assess the diagnostic value of the Hcy, Cys C and UA for CHD. The serum Hcy, Cys C and UA levels in the research group were higher as compared with the control group (p<0.05). Spearman correlation and multivariate linear regression analysis showed that there was a significantly positive correlation between Gensini score and serum Hcy, Cys C and UA levels (p<0.05). The ROC curve analysis presented the combined Hcy and Cys C with UA having the highest specificity of diagnostic value for CHD (area under the curve (AUC)=0.768, 95% CI 0.706-0.823, specificity = 72.34%, sensitivity = 67.88%, Youden Index = 0.4022). The serum Hcy, Cys C and UA levels in patients with CHD were significantly increased, positive correlation with Gensini score. The combined Hcy and Cys C with UA could be used to assess the severity of coronary artery stenosis and provide predictive and early intervention treatment values for CHD and a new way of diagnosing CHD, which is cheap, safe, effective and deserving of clinical application.

Coronary Artery Stenosis Severity in Patients With Different Coronary Artery Calcium Scores on Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography.

Background In this study, we aimed to determine coronary artery stenosis severity in patients with different coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores. Methodology A total of 145 patients were included in the study. All patients were given beta-blockers 12 hours and two hours before the test to keep their heart rate between 55 and 65 beats per minute. Computed tomography angiography was done from the pulmonary hilum up to the base of the heart and the patients were asked to hold their breath. The CAC score and stenosis were assessed. Results The mean age of the patients was 41.35 ± 4.95 years. In total, 112 (77.24%) patients were male and 33 (22.76%) were female. Regarding the frequency of the CAC score, a score of 0-9 was observed in 43 (29.66%) patients, 10-99 was observed in 55 (37.93%) patients, and 100-400 was observed in 47 (32.41%) patients. The CAC score was 0-9 in 86.4% of patients having normal coronary arteries. Two (5.2%) patients with a CAC score of 100-400 had mild coronary artery stenosis, 11 (32.3%) patients had moderate coronary artery disease, and 33 (66.0%) patients had severe coronary artery disease (p < 0.00001). Conclusions There is a strong association between CAC scores and the severity of coronary artery stenosis. A CAC score of zero is associated with a very low risk of having coronary artery stenosis.

Luminal Gain After Atherectomy Measured by Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) and Impact on Short-term Results

Atherectomy has been proposed to debulk lesions prior to intervention. Data on the degree of luminal gain after this procedure are not available. We evaluated immediate luminal gain, measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) following various types of percutaneous atherectomy. Short-term patency and residual stenosis was measured by duplex ultrasound (DUS). We prospectively collected data on 79 consecutive lower extremity revascularization procedures where atherectomy was performed. Severity of arterial stenosis was measured using angiography and IVUS. IVUS was used to identify severe (>70%) stenosis and the percent stenosis pre and immediately post atherectomy. The difference represented percent luminal gain by atherectomy alone. Comparisons were analyzed using various atherectomy techniques including excimer laser, excisional rotational, and orbital atherectomy. Peak systolic velocities from pretreatment DUS were compared with post treatment DUS at 1 month follow up to evaluate effectiveness of atherectomy type in relation to degree of stenosis. We performed lower extremity angiography with atherectomy on 79 legs in 75 patients with an average age of 75.4 years (range, 40-91 years). Procedures included excimer laser (n = 35), excisional rotational (n = 33), and orbital atherectomy (n = 11). Sixty-eight above-knee (ATK) atherectomy and 28 below-knee (BTK) atherectomy procedures were performed. Patients presented with Rutherford Class 3 (62%; n = 49), Class 4 (16%; n = 13), Class 5 (19%; n = 15), and Class 6 (1.3%; n = 1). Atherectomy was performed in 68 vessels ATK and 28 vessels BTK with 16% of patients having multivessel intervention. In-stent stenosis was the indication for atherectomy in 22 vessels (28%). Average luminal gain was 23.6% for ATK atherectomy (range, 10%-39%) and 24.2% for BTK vessels (range, 11%-34%; P > .05). There was no difference in luminal gain based on atherectomy type, laser (25%), excisional rotational (23%) and orbital atherectomy (23%; P > .05. There was also no difference in luminal gain based on gender, male 26% and female 24% (P > .05). Using DUS pre and post angiogram with intervention, we noted an average decrease in PSV of 90 cm/s, 122.4 cm/s, 106.9 cm/s, and 31.4 cm/s for the common femoral artery, superficial femoral artery, above-knee popliteal artery, and below-knee popliteal artery, respectively. Atherectomy results in an average luminal gain of 24% regardless of location of atherectomy (ATK vs BTK), type of atherectomy device, or gender. This is associated with high rates of patency in both BTK and ATK vessels at short-term follow-up.

Association of bone turnover biomarkers with severe intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis is associated with cerebral infarction. Vascular calcification and atherosclerosis are the main causes of stenosis and major risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Bone turnover biomarkers (BTMs) are associated with vascular calcification, atherosclerosis, glucose, and lipid metabolism. To investigate the association of circulating BTM levels with severe intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis in patients with T2DM. For this cross-sectional study including 257 T2DM patients, levels of the BTMs serum osteocalcin (OC), C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), and procollagen type I N-peptide were measured by electrical chemiluminescent immunoassay, and artery stenosis was assessed by color Doppler and transcranial Doppler. Patients were grouped according to the existence and location (intracranial vs. extracranial) of artery stenosis. Correlations between BTM levels, previous stroke, stenosis location, and glucose and lipid metabolism were analyzed. T2DM patients with severe artery stenosis had a higher frequency of previous stroke and levels of all three tested BTMs (all P < 0.05) than patients without. Some differences in OC and CTX levels were observed according to the location of artery stenosis. Significant associations were also observed between BTM levels and some glucose and lipid homeostasis parameters. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, all BTMs were significant predictors of artery stenosis in T2DM patients with and without adjustment for confounding factors (all P < 0.001), and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated the ability of BTM levels to predict artery stenosis in T2DM patients. BTM levels were found to be independent risk factors for severe intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis and were differentially associated with glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with T2DM. Therefore, BTMs may be promising biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for artery stenosis.

The Relationship between the Serum NLRP1 Level and Coronary Lesions in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

The pathogenesis of coronary artery disease is complex, and inflammation is one of the regulatory factors. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 1 (NLRP1) plays an important role in the cellular inflammatory response, cell apoptosis, cell death, and autoimmune diseases. Whether the level of NLRP1 is related to the severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been reported. To test the serum level of NLRP1 in unstable angina (UA) patients and investigate the effect of NLRP1 on coronary stenosis severity of the coronary artery disease (CAD). 307 patients hospitalized in the Department of Cardiology of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University for coronary angiography from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022 were included. We detect the level of NLRP1 in the serum of the included patients. Patients were divided into UA group and control group according to coronary angiography results and other clinical data. We use logistic regression to screen the influencing factors of UA. Then, subgroups were divided according to the Gensini score and the number of coronary artery lesions, and the difference of serum NLRP1 level between the groups was compared. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between the serum NLRP1 level and Gensini score. We analyze the diagnostic value of NLRP1 for UA by drawing ROC curve. The median level of serum NLRP1 in patients with UA (n = 257) was 49.71 pg/ml, IQR 30.15, 80.21, and that in patients without UA (n = 50) was 24.75 pg/ml, IQR 13.49, 41.95. Serum NLRP1 levels were significantly different among different subgroups. The patient's Gensini score was correlated with the patient's serum NLRP1 level. The serum NLRP1 level is increased in patients with UA, which is increased with the increasing severity of coronary lesions.

Hemichorea secondary to isolated temporal infarction with severe middle cerebral artery stenosis: a case report and review of literature

BackgroundHemichorea typically results from a contralateral subthalamic nuclei (STN) lesion, although it has been reported in the cortex in a minority of cases. However, to our best knowledge, there are no documented cases in literature of hemichorea occurring as a secondary condition to an isolated temporal stroke.Case presentationWe present a case of an elderly female who sustained a sudden onset of hemichorea in her right extremities, predominantly in the distal region, lasting over a period of two days. Brain diffuse weighted image (DWI) demonstrated a high signal in the temporal region, while magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed severe stenosis of the middle cerebral artery. During the symptomatic phase, computed tomography perfusion (CTP) revealed delayed perfusion in the left middle cerebral artery territory, characterized by the time-to-peak (TTP) measure. Based on the results of her medical history and laboratory tests, we were able to rule out the possibility of infectious, toxic, or metabolic encephalopathy. Her symptoms gradually improved with antithrombotic and symptomatic treatment.ConclusionsIt is important to recognize and consider acute onset hemichorea as an initial symptom of stroke to avoid misdiagnosis and delays in appropriate treatment. Further research on temporal lesion that lead to hemichorea is warranted to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms.

Abstract #1399545: Calcification of Left Atrial Appendage in Autosomal Recessive Hypophosphatemic Rickets Type 2 (ENPP1 Mutation)

Autosomal Recessive Hypophosphatemic Rickets type 2 (ARHR2) is a rare genetic condition secondary to a loss-of-function mutation in ENPP1 gene. ARHR2 is associated with renal phosphate wasting and suppressed 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D due to increased FGF-23 levels and causing abnormal bone mineralization. Furthermore, as ENPP1 is implicated in the generation of PPi (inorganic pyrophosphate) which inhibits hydroxyapatite deposition, some ARHR2 patients present with life-treating generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI). We reported the case of a 32-year-old woman with a known diagnosis of ARHR2 since the age of seven. At that time, she presented a growth failure, bowed legs but no GACI history. She was treated from the age of 7 to 18 with phosphate supplements and calcitriol. She had ten surgeries for her leg deformities and had a subtotal parathyroidectomy at age 13 for primary hyperparathyroidism. She was referred to a tertiary centre for management of hypophosphatemia and diffuse bone pain. The alkaline phosphatase was at the upper limit of normal but imagings, including computed tomography scans and bone scintigraphy, did not show pseudofractures. Her chronic pain was associated with osteoarthritis and periarticular calcifications. She was treated for hypertension, and had a history of preeclampsia at 33 weeks of pregnancy. At the physical exam, a 30 mm Hg systolic blood pressure differential was noted between the right and left arms, suspect of severe subclavian artery stenosis. Additional investigations demonstrated a normal cardiac ultrasound (US), an Agatson score of 0 (coronary calcium scan) but extensive calcifications of the left atrial appendage, dense calcifications of the mitral valve and numerous calcifications in the ascending aortic wall. The spectrum of clinical manifestations associated with ENPP1-related conditions (GACI and ARHR2) is still unclear. In some patients who survive GACI, resolution of vascular calcifications has been reported. Furthermore, this case raises the possibility of undetected vascular calcifications in the infancy uncovered only after the diagnosis of ARHR2. Previous cases reported pulmonary stenosis, thickening of the aortic valve, and increased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with ARHR2 phenotype. Left atrial calcifications have been described in mechanical valve replacement, mitral stenosis, post-radiotherapy and in chronic kidney disease. Recommendations of cardiac US and kidney US have been proposed at the diagnosis of AHRH2. We further suggest vascular screening with cardiac scans to examine large vessels, and calcium score in these patients.

Clinical Relevance of Plaque Distribution for Basilar Artery Stenosis.

There is no clear association between plaque distribution and postoperative complications in patients with basilar artery atherosclerotic stenosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether plaque distribution and postoperative complications after endovascular treatment for basilar artery stenosis are related. Our study enrolled patients with severe basilar artery stenosis who were scanned with high-resolution MR imaging and followed by DSA before the intervention. According to high-resolution MR imaging, plaques can be classified as ventral, lateral, dorsal, or involved in 2 quadrants. Plaques affecting the proximal, distal, or junctional segments of the basilar artery were classified according to DSA. An experienced independent team assessed ischemic events after the intervention using MR imaging. Further analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between plaque distribution and postoperative complications. A total of 140 eligible patients were included in the study, with a postoperative complication rate of 11.4%. These patients were an average age of 61.9 (SD, 7.7) years. Dorsal wall plaques accounted for 34.3% of all plaques, and plaques distal to the anterior-inferior cerebellar artery accounted for 60.7%. Postoperative complications of endovascular treatment were associated with plaques located at the lateral wall (OR = 4.00; 95% CI, 1.21-13.23; P = .023), junctional segment (OR = 8.75; 95% CI, 1.16-66.22; P = .036), and plaque burden (OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06; P = .042). Plaques with a large burden located at the junctional segment and lateral wall of the basilar artery may increase the likelihood of postoperative complications following endovascular therapy. A larger sample size is needed for future studies.

A case of surgical pulmonary artery plasty for pulmonary artery stenosis after right single-lung transplantation

BackgroundIn lung transplantation, vascular complications are relatively rare. However, severe pulmonary artery stenosis after lung transplantation can cause clinical symptoms and lead to graft dysfunction.Case presentationThe present patient underwent right lung transplantation for severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. After lung transplantation, pulmonary blood flow scintigraphy showed a decreased blood flow to the transplanted lung, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed pulmonary artery anastomotic stenosis. As the initial treatment, balloon dilation of the pulmonary artery was attempted and unsuccessful. Right pulmonary artery plasty was then performed 5 months after lung transplantation. Following the procedure, the pulmonary artery stenosis was released, and the blood flow to the transplanted lung improved.ConclusionSurgical treatment should be considered for pulmonary artery stenosis after lung transplantation if minimally invasive intervention is not effective.

Patterns and implications of artery remodeling based on high-resolution vessel wall imaging in symptomatic severe basilar artery stenosis.

Knowledge regarding the influence of arterial remodeling patterns on plaque characteristics and postoperative outcomes in patients with severe basilar artery (BA) stenosis after endovascular treatment is lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate plaque characteristics, remodeling patterns, and perioperative outcomes in patients with severe BA stenosis. A prospective cohort study was conducted on symptomatic patients with severe BA stenosis who underwent high-resolution MRI before endovascular treatment. The remodeling index, plaque burden, and area of stenosis were evaluated for each plaque. Based on the remodeling index calculated by high-resolution MRI, remodeling patterns were classified as negative remodeling (NR) or non-negative remodeling (non-NR). Baseline demographics, plaque features, and treatment characteristics were compared between the NR and non-NR groups. Correlations between the remodeling index, plaque burden, and stenosis severity were also examined. In total, 140 eligible patients were included and analyzed, including 91 non-NR cases and 49 NR cases. A strong correlation existed between the remodeling index and plaque burden (r=0.973, P<0.001), and a marginal correlation was observed between the remodeling index and degree of stenosis by area (r=-0.261, P=0.0019). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of perioperative complications related to ischemic events and new ischemic cerebral lesions (NICLs). Under the current submaximal angioplasty and/or stenting treatment paradigms, remodeling patterns may not influence the outcome of ischemic events and NICLs. However, the remodeling index is strongly associated with plaque burden, which may provide insight for the evaluation of severe BA stenosis. Further research is warranted.

MP05-17 RISKS OF CAROTID ARTERY STENOSIS AND ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH CALCIUM KIDNEY STONE: ASSESSMENT OF SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP05-17 RISKS OF CAROTID ARTERY STENOSIS AND ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH CALCIUM KIDNEY STONE: ASSESSMENT OF SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS Chang Te Wang, Chan Jung Liu, Hau Chern Jan, and Ho Shiang Huang Chang Te WangChang Te Wang More articles by this author , Chan Jung LiuChan Jung Liu More articles by this author , Hau Chern JanHau Chern Jan More articles by this author , and Ho Shiang HuangHo Shiang Huang More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003216.17AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical significance of preoperative inflammatory biomarkers combined with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score to evaluate carotid artery stenosis in patients with calcium kidney stones. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational case-control study, enrolling seventy four patients with calcium kidney stones and sixty six age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We calculated the inflammatory biomarkers including the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI). Ultrasound of the carotid arteries was performed on all participants to identify the severity of the stenosis. RESULTS: All inflammatory biomarkers and the severity of carotid artery stenosis were higher in the calcium kidney stone group than in controls. After stratification of ASCVD, inflammatory biomarkers and carotid artery stenosis severity were still significantly higher in the calcium kidney stone group. Multivariate analyses showed that calcium kidney stones significantly increased the risk of ASCVD and carotid artery stenosis. In multivariate linear logistic regression analyses, calcium kidney stone and ASCVD score had a significant association with carotid artery occlusion, but SIRI did not. CONCLUSIONS: Calcium kidney stone is associated with higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers and carotid artery stenosis. Source of Funding: None © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e50 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Chang Te Wang More articles by this author Chan Jung Liu More articles by this author Hau Chern Jan More articles by this author Ho Shiang Huang More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets: Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Left Carotid Artery Stenosis with Coronary Artery Disease.

Patients with left carotid artery atherosclerotic stenosis have an increased ischemic stroke risk. Left carotid stenosis, the most common cause of the transient ischemic attack, is related to a higher risk of acute stroke. Left carotid artery stenosis is also associated with cerebral artery infarction. The significant coronary stenosis promotes ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions. The severe coronary stenosis plays an important role in development and progression of myocardial infarction. However, the dynamic changes of circulating oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in the carotid stenosis combined with coronary artery stenosis are not clear, and it also remains unknown whether markers of oxidative stress and inflammation are potential therapeutic targets for carotid stenosis combined with coronary artery stenosis. This study aims to explore the effects of oxidative stress combined with an inflammatory response on left carotid artery stenosis with coronary artery disease in patients. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that levels of markers of oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with coexistent severe carotid and coronary artery stenosis in patients. We measured the circulating levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL), homocysteine (Hcy), F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), prostaglandin E2 (PG-E2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in patients with combined carotid and coronary artery severe stenosis. We also assessed the relationships among oxidative stress, inflammation, and severe stenosis of the carotid with a coronary artery in patients. Levels of MDA, OX-LDL, Hcy, F2-IsoPs, TNF-α, hs-CRP, PG-E2, and IFN-γ were remarkably increased (P < 0.001) in patients with combined carotid and coronary artery severe stenosis. High levels of oxidative stress and inflammation may be related to severe stenosis of the carotid with coronary arteries in patients. Our observations indicated that measurements of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers may be valuable for the assessment of the degree of carotid with coronary artery stenosis. The biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammatory response may become therapeutic targets for carotid artery stenosis with coronary artery stenosis in patients.

Patient-specific computational simulation of coronary artery bypass grafting.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is an intervention in patients with extensive obstructive coronary artery disease diagnosed with invasive coronary angiography. Here we present and test a novel application of non-invasive computational assessment of coronary hemodynamics before and after bypass grafting. We tested the computational CABG platform in n = 2 post-CABG patients. The computationally calculated fractional flow reserve showed high agreement with the angiography-based fractional flow reserve. Furthermore, we performed multiscale computational fluid dynamics simulations of pre- and post-CABG under simulated resting and hyperemic conditions in n = 2 patient-specific anatomies 3D reconstructed from coronary computed tomography angiography. We computationally created different degrees of stenosis in the left anterior descending artery, and we showed that increasing severity of native artery stenosis resulted in augmented flow through the graft and improvement of resting and hyperemic flow in the distal part of the grafted native artery. We presented a comprehensive patient-specific computational platform that can simulate the hemodynamic conditions before and after CABG and faithfully reproduce the hemodynamic effects of bypass grafting on the native coronary artery flow. Further clinical studies are warranted to validate this preliminary data.

Transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells overexpressing mir-126-3p improves vascular repair in a diabetic rat model.

Transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells overexpressing mir-126-3p improves vascular repair in a diabetic rat model.

Nicotine dependence and visceral adiposity as risk factors for the development and severity of carotid artery stenosis.

Nicotine dependence (ND) and visceral adiposity are emerging as independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including carotid artery stenosis (CAS). This study aimed to determine the relationship between ND and the contribution of abdominal fat to the onset of CAS, which is indicated by a luminal narrowing of at least 60% as determined by duplex and/or Doppler ultrasound. We prospectively collected data from 60 patients with CAS and 60 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), a common research tool, was used in the study. The original questionnaire was designed to gather social and demographic data. Anthropometric measurements, visceral adiposity index (VAI), and lipid accumulation products (LAP) were used to assess obesity. Most patients showed a high or mild-moderate degree of ND: 46.67% and 35%, respectively. The median visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP) in patients was 3.92 and 32.83, respectively. Prolonged smoking duration, increased intensity, and high ND are hallmarks of CAS patients.

Association of Hs-CRP Levels in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes and it’s Correlation with Angiographic Severity of Coronary Artery Stenosis

Objectives: Significant advances have been made toward the development of biomarkers for prognostication of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. One such marker is high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). It is a marker of inflammation mainly used to predict the risk of adverse cardiovascular (CV) events. Recent research also supports its role in atherogenesis. It is involved throughout the process of atheromatous plaque development. However, limited information is available about the relationship between levels of hs-CRP levels in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and its association with outcomes. We conducted this study to assess the correlation between the levels of hs-CRP and the coronary angiographic findings in patients presenting with ACS and its correlation with outcomes. Materials and Methods: we carried an observational prospective study in patients presenting with ACS admitted to cardiology intensive coronary care unit in a tertiary care hospital. Patients underwent invasive coronary angiogram and serum Hs-CRP levels testing apart from other routine investigations. Correlation between severity of coronary stenosis, Hs-CRP levels and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at discharge was then assessed using statistical analysis. Results: Positive correlation was found between Hs-CRP levels and severity of coronary stenosis. Negative correlation was found between Hs-CRP levels and LVEF at discharge. Conclusion: We found that hs-CRP levels correlate well with angiographic severity. It was also observed that higher the hs-CRP levels more the number of vessels involved with patients with the left main + triple vessel disease (TVD) and TVD having maximum scores.

Alteration in expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells could be considered for estimating the severity of coronary artery stenosis

Background and aims: Atherosclerosis is one of the main reasons why people die from cardiovascular disease. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis may have been aided by the deregulation of cellular and molecular events in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). This study aimed to investigate the alteration of the expression of matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) in PBMCs of subjects who underwent angiography. Methods: Following a thorough clinical examination and anthropometric assessments, 90 individuals were divided into two groups: 56 coronary artery disease (CAD) participants (subjects with coronary artery stenosis≥50%) and 34 non-CAD participants (subjects with coronary artery stenosis≤30%). Then, this study evaluated fasting serum glucose (FSG), total cholesterol (Chol), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG). Next, the severity of coronary artery stenosis was recorded. Additionally, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess the gene expression of MMP-9. MMP-9 protein level was also assessed using western blot techniques. The overexpression of MMP-9 and elevated level of FSG were positively associated with coronary artery stenosis. Results: Our results revealed that MMP-9 was upregulated both at the level of transcription and translation. Moreover, the upregulation of MMP-9 had a significant positive correlation with the severity of coronary artery stenosis. Conclusion: Significant correlation between the overexpression of MMP-9 and coronary artery stenosis confirms our hypothesis that the upregulation of MMP-9 in PBMCs has an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis before monocyte recruitment and its subsequent processes.

Evaluation of Sciatic Nerve Stiffness Using Shear Wave Elastography in Patients with Unilateral Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

To evaluate the stiffness of the sciatic nerve by shear wave elastography (SWE) and to determine whether SWE can be used to predict diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in a patient with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Sixteen patients (thirty-two lower limbs) with unilateral DFU were studied retrospectively. The ultrasonographic parameters including cross-sectional area (CSA) of sciatic nerve, intraneural blood flow, peak systolic velocity (Vmax) and resistive index (RI) in the intraneural artery of the sciatic nerve, and the SWE stiffness value of the sciatic nerve were measured. The examinations of arteries of the lower limbs were also performed by ultrasound. According to the presence or absence of DFU, the 32 lower limbs were divided into two groups: the DFU group and the non-DFU group. The ultrasonographic parameters were compared between these two groups. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the two groups for CSA, intraneural blood flow, Vmax and RI in the intraneural artery of the sciatic nerve, and numbers of severe artery stenosis or full occlusion of the artery in the lower limbs. However, SWE stiffness values in the sciatic nerve in the DFU group are higher than the non-DFU group (p < 0.05). When the SWE stiffness values were used for prediction of DFU in patients with DPN, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.727 (95% CI: 0.541-0.868). When the best SWE stiffness value of 24.48 kPa was taken as a cutoff for prediction of DFU, the sensitivity was 62.50% (95% CI: 35.4-84.8%), and the specificity was 75% (95% CI: 47.6-92.7%). Sciatic nerve stiffness is significantly higher in lower limbs with DFU. SWE is a noninvasive imaging method that may be used to evaluate sciatic nerve stiffness, then potentially predict DFU in patients with DPN.