Blood Vessels In Patients Research Articles

Mechanisms of pathophysiology of blood vessels in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with ozone therapy: a systematic review.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) defines as an intricate disease with numerous pathophysiological processes, including: inflammation, demyelination, oxidative stress, axonal damage, and repair mechanisms that interfere in this disease and highly related to the pathogenesis of MS. In parallel, recent studies have shown that the ozone administration could be very useful in treating neurological disorders and inflammatory and degenerative neurological diseases. In this review, we examine the recent literature on the pathophysiology of blood vessels in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with ozone therapy. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Association of advanced oxidation protein product, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and total sulfhydryl groups with retinal blood vessels caliber

Introduction/Objective. Intensive oxidative stress is proven in patients with diabetes mellitus and important in the development of a microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between morphometric parameters of retinal blood vessels in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the levels of parameters of oxidative stress: advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total sulfhydryl (SH) groups in blood samples. Methods. The patients (the group with DR and controls) were sex- and age-matched. Glycaemia, hemoglobin A1C HbA1C, total cholesterol and its fractions, and triglycerides were measured in blood samples. AOPP and total SH groups were determined in the plasma by specific methods. Modification of the thiobarbituric acid method was used for the determination of TBARS. The number and diameter of retinal blood vessels, as morphometric parameters on digital retinal photography, was determined by using the ImageJ software. Student?s t-test was used as the statistical method for the evaluation of differences between the morphometric and blood test parameters. The significance of differences in morphometric parameters of retinal blood was establish by one-way ANOVA. Results. Significantly higher levels of parameters of oxidative stress (AOPP and TBARS) were in the group of patients with DR than in the controls. This difference was also present among the patients with mild and severe forms of DR (AOPP F 77.03, p < 0.001) (TBARS F 63.28, p < 0.001). The diameter of retinal blood vessels correlated with levels of AOPP, but only in patients with mild DR. Conclusion. Parameters of oxidative stress, AOPP and TBARS, may be important for the follow-up of DR. In early stages in diabetic retinopathy, AOPP can be a valuable biomarker.

Contactless monitoring of the blood-flow changes in upper limbs.

Vasomotor reactivity, which is important to estimate neurogenic regulation of blood vessels in patients with different pathologies, is still assessed by occlusion plethysmography using sensors contacting the limbs. Recently we proposed a contactless approach for measuring blood flow changes during venous occlusion using imaging photoplethysmography [Kamshilin et al., Sci. Rep.7, 4642017]. In this work, the response of the vascular system on the occlusion was studied simultaneously by contact air-plethysmography system and remote optical system under illumination by incoherent polarized green light. A high correlation (r > 0.93) between the waveforms measured by both system was observed. Moreover, we found that the response of the optical system on the venous occlusion is uniform at the whole area of the forearm. The new optical technique is more convenient for assessment of the blood flow dynamics because it can be used for measurements in any part of the body. Method of imaging photoplethysmography is very promising for use in equipment intended for evaluation of neurogenic mechanisms of regulation of vascular blood flow.

Somatic MAP2K1 Mutations Are Enriched in Blood Vessels in Patients with Arteriovenous Malformations

Goss, Jeremy A. MD*; Alomari, Mohammed H. MD; Elzein, Sophie MD; Greene, Arin K. MD, MMSc Author Information

Pulse-wave velocity is associated with cognitive impairment in haemodialysis patients.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common, its prevalence increasing with age. Cognitive impairment is common in the elderly, in CKD and in those on maintenance haemodialysis. As cognitive impairment is the precursor to dementia, the identification of reversible risk factors for cognitive decline is the key to reducing dementia risk. Arterial stiffness is one such potential risk factor. It is independently associated with cardiovascular outcome in dialysis patients. Importantly, the recent demonstration of an independent association between arterial stiffness and cognitive impairment in these patients suggests that vascular stiffness might be potentially causative in the development of cognitive impairment and also be an opportune target for interventions. Whether unstiffening of blood vessels in patients on maintenance haemodialysis can reduce the incidence of cognitive impairment or indeed slow its progression to dementia, remain unanswered questions. In this issue of the Clinical Science, Angermann and colleagues present thought-provoking data related to cognitive impairment in haemodialysis patients.

SS20 Arterial Reconstruction With Human Bioengineered Blood Vessels in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease

SS20 Arterial Reconstruction With Human Bioengineered Blood Vessels in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease

Safety and nursing interventions of intra-hospital transport for critical cardiovascular patients

Objective To summary safety and nursing interventions of intra-hospital transport of critical cardiovascular patients. Methods Totals of 237 cardiovascular critical patients in First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from September 2012toSeptember 2015 were as objects of study. Through patients assessment before transport, we should fully prepared before transport, be careful for transit monitoring and observation of vital signs, prevention and treatment of adverse events in time to implement the nurse and make a good record of transportation. Results The complications of cardiovascular critically patients were decreased during the transfer process of transhipment, and adverse events got timely and effective treatment and nursing. Conclusions Through overall assessment of the cardiovascular critically patients, fully prepared before transport, closely observation of the patients condition changes, and giving treatment measures in a timely manner, those all can prevent blood vessels in patients with severe condition changes and reduce the occurrence of adverse events during transport. Key words: Nursing; Safety; Cardiovascular critical patients; Transportation of patients

The peculiarities of structural and functional state of the myocardium and blood vessels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension depending on the dynamics of adipokines

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

Use of Crossed Polarizers to Enhance Images of the Eyelids.

To describe imaging of the external eye with Crossed Polarizers to enhance clinically important features in digital photographs of the eyelids. External photographs with and without crossed polarizing filters were taken of patients with blepharitis and controls with no clinical eye pathology. Photographing eyelid skin through Crossed Polarizers decreased reflections on the skin surface and improved visualization of eyelid telangiectasias and blood vessels in patients with a broad range of skin pigmentation and ethnicities. The use of Crossed Polarizers in imaging the external eye reduces reflections and glare from the eyelid skin and margins, thereby allowing for a more detailed evaluation of underlying structures and analysis of images. These findings suggest that including Crossed Polarizers in clinical photography has informative applications for assessing eyelid disease.

Orbital Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis in Thyroid Eye Disease: An Analysis of Vascular Growth Factors with Clinical Correlation

The human orbit is an environment that is vulnerable to inflammation and edema in the setting of autoimmune thyroid disease. Our study investigated the tenet that orbital adipose tissue lacks lymphatic vessels and analyzed the clinicopathologic differences between patients with acute and chronic thyroid eye disease (TED). The underlying molecular mediators of blood and lymphatic vessel formation within the orbital fat also were evaluated. Retrospective cohort study. The study included fat specimens from 26 orbits of 15 patients with TED undergoing orbital decompression. Orbital fat specimens from patients without TED as well as cadaveric orbital fat served as controls. Tissue specimens were processed as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections or frozen cryosections for immunohistochemistry. Total RNA was extracted and analyzed via quantitative (real-time) reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Clinicopathologic correlation was made by determining the clinical activity score (CAS) of each patient with TED. Samples were examined for vascular and lymphatic markers including podoplanin, lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE-1), and cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) by immunohistochemistry, as well as for mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptors, semaphorin 3F, neuropilin 1, neuropilin 2, podoplanin, and LYVE-1 by quantitative (real-time) reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Clinicopathologic correlation revealed increased staining of CD31-positive blood vessels in patients with acute TED with a CAS more than 4, as well as rare staining of podoplanin-positive lymphatic vessels within acutely inflamed orbital fat tissue. Additionally, quantitative (real-time) reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated increased expression of VEGF receptor (VEGFR) 2 as well as VEGF signaling molecules VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D. In acute TED, compared with chronic TED and control orbital fat, there is increased blood vessel density, suggesting neovascularization and rare lymphatic vessels suggestive of limited lymphangiogenesis. This proangiogenic and prolymphangiogenic microenvironment is likely the result of the increased expression of VEGFR-2, VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D. These findings imply that orbital edema in acute TED may be mediated, in part, by both the formation of new, immature blood vessels and the formation of lymphatic capillaries that are functionally incapable of draining interstitial fluid.

Detection of retinal blood vessel changes in multiple sclerosis with optical coherence tomography.

Although retinal vasculitis is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), it is not known if MS is associated with quantitative abnormalities in retinal blood vessels (BVs). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is suitable for examining the integrity of the anterior visual pathways in MS. In this paper we have compared the size and number of retinal blood vessels in patients with MS, with and without a history of optic neuritis (ON), and control subjects from the cross-sectional retinal images from OCT. Blood vessel diameter (BVD), blood vessel number (BVN), and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) were extracted from OCT images collected from around the optic nerves of 129 eyes (24 control, 24 MS + ON, 81 MS-ON) of 71 subjects. Associations between blood vessel metrics, MS diagnosis, MS disability, ON, and RNFLT were evaluated using generalized estimating equation (GEE) models. MS eyes had a lower total BVD and BVN than control eyes. The effect was more pronounced with increased MS disability, and persisted in multivariate models adjusting for RNFLT and ON history. Twenty-nine percent (29%) of MS subjects had fewer retinal blood vessels than all control subjects. MS diagnosis, disability, and ON history were not associated with average blood vessel size. The relationship between MS and lower total BVD/BVN is not accounted for by RNFLT or ON. Further study is needed to determine the relationship between OCT blood vessel metrics and qualitative retinal blood vessel abnormalities in MS.

Aflibercept for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Aflibercept for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Oxygen Saturation in Closed-Globe Blunt Ocular Trauma.

Purpose. To evaluate the oxygen saturation in retinal blood vessels in patients after closed-globe blunt ocular trauma. Design. Retrospective observational case series. Methods. Retinal oximetry was performed in both eyes of 29 patients with unilateral closed-globe blunt ocular trauma. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), arteriovenous difference in oxygen saturation (SO2), arteriolar diameter, venular diameter, and arteriovenous difference in diameter were measured. Association parameters including age, finger pulse oximetry, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and heart rate were analyzed. Results. The mean SaO2 in traumatic eyes (98.1% ± 6.8%) was not significantly different from SaO2 in unaffected ones (95.3% ± 7.2%) (p = 0.136). Mean SvO2 in traumatic eyes (57.1% ± 10.6%) was significantly lower than in unaffected ones (62.3% ± 8.4%) (p = 0.044). The arteriovenous difference in SO2 in traumatic eyes (41.0% ± 11.2%) was significantly larger than in unaffected ones (33.0% ± 6.9%) (p = 0.002). No significant difference was observed between traumatic eyes and unaffected ones in arteriolar (p = 0.249) and venular diameter (p = 0.972) as well as arteriovenous difference in diameter (p = 0.275). Conclusions. Oxygen consumption is increased in eyes after cgBOT, associated with lower SvO2 and enlarged arteriovenous difference in SO2 but not with changes in diameter of retinal vessels.

Retinal oximetry imaging in Alzheimer's disease.

Structural and physiological abnormalities have been reported in the retina in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Retinal oximetry detects changes in retinal oxygen metabolism in many eye diseases, where structural changes are seen. To compare oxygen saturation in retinal blood vessels in patients with AD and a healthy cohort. Oxygen saturation of hemoglobin was measured in retinal blood vessels, using imaging with spectrophotometric noninvasive retinal oximeter. 18 individuals with mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer-type (stage 3-5 according to the Global Deterioration Scale) and 18 healthy subjects underwent retinal oximetry in a case control study. Retinal oxygen saturation in arterioles and venules in patients with moderate AD was significantly elevated compared to healthy individuals. Retinal arterioles have 94.2 ± 5.4% oxygen saturation in moderate AD compared with 90.5 ± 3.1% in healthy subjects (mean ± SD, n = 10, p = 0.028). Retinal venules were 51.9 ± 6.0% saturated in moderate AD compared with 49.7 ± 7.0% in healthy subjects (mean ± SD, n = 10, p = 0.02). This is the first study of retinal oxygen metabolism in any central nervous system disease. It discovers abnormalities in retinal oxygen metabolism in AD. The findings are similar to those seen in age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Noninvasive retinal oximetry may offer new insights into pathophysiology of AD. Further studies are needed to confirm and expand these findings.

Ascending Aortic Proaneurysmal Genetic Mutations with Antiatherogenic Effects

Thoracic aortic aneurysms are common and are associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Despite this lethal diagnosis, there is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that the diagnosis of an aneurysm, specifically in the ascending thoracic aorta, may significantly reduce the risk of developing systemic atherosclerosis. Clinical observations in the operating room have shown pristine blood vessels in patients undergoing surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysms. There is now evidence that both the carotid intima-media thickness and arterial calcification, which are early and late signs of atherosclerosis respectively, are decreased in those with thoracic aortic aneurysms. These clinical studies are supported by molecular, genetic, and pharmacological evidence. Two principle mechanisms have been identified to explain the relationship of a proaneurysmal state conferring protection from atherosclerosis. These include an excess proteolytic balance of matrix metalloproteinase activity, leading to fragmentation of elastic lamellae and disordered collagen deposition. In addition, transforming growth factor β modulates vascular smooth muscle cells, extracellular matrix, and leukocytes. This confers protection from the initial plaque formation and, later provides stability to the plaque possibly through alteration of the types I and II transforming growth factor β receptor ratio. Furthermore, studies are now beginning to establish an important role for statins and estradiol in modulating these complex pathways. In the future, as our understanding of these complex mechanisms underlying aneurysmal protection against atherosclerosis increases, corresponding therapies may be developed to offer protection from atherosclerosis.

Impact of Immunosuppressive Treatment on the Cardiovascular System in Patients After Hand Transplantation

BackgroundCardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality in solid organ allograft recipients. Hand transplantation is not a lifesaving procedure, thus the effect of long-term immunosuppression on the cardiovascular system in these patients should be monitored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphology and function of heart and blood vessels in patients after hand transplantation. MethodsThe study included 5 patients at ages 32 to 58 years, mean 39 years, who underwent hand transplantation between 2006 and 2010. Immunosuppressive treatment included basiliximab in induction and tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone. Cardiac status was assessed by echocardiography (according to the American Society of Echocardiography) and cardiac biomarkers. Blood vessels were estimated by carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). The examinations were performed at 28 to 79 (mean 43) months after transplantation. ResultsCardiovascular risk factors were observed in all patients after transplantation: 2 had insulin-dependent diabetes, 3 developed dyslipidemia and hypertension, 2 had chronic kidney disease stage 3. Concentric left ventricular hypertrophy was found in 1 and ventricular concentric remodeling in 4 patients. Impaired diastolic function (E/e’ > 8) was observed in 2 patients. The index volume of the left atrium was higher in all patients. The cardiac biomarkers N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein, and troponins were within normal range. Carotid intima-media thickness was higher in 1 patient and normal in 4 patients. Arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity was not increased in all patients. Native brachial artery FMD response, an index of endothelium-dependent function, was abnormal in 2 patients, but in the transplanted extremity FMD was abnormal in 4 patients. ConclusionsPathologic changes in cardiac structures were found in all patients, but the arterial wall changes and endothelial dysfunction were observed in some patients. Patients after hand transplantation are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease.

C-reactive protein and chitinase 3-like protein 1 as biomarkers of spatial redistribution of retinal blood vessels on digital retinal photography in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and chitinase 3-like protein 1 (YKL-40) in blood samples with morpohometric parameters of retinal blood vessels in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Blood laboratory examination of 90 patients included the measurement of glycemia, HbA1C, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides and CRP. Levels of YKL-40 were detected and measured in serum by ELISA (Micro VueYKL-40 EIA Kit, Quidel Corporation, San Diego, USA). YKL-40 correlated positively with diameter and negatively with number of retinal blood vessels. The average number of the blood vessels per retinal zone was significantly higher in the group of patients with mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy than in the group with severe form in the optic disc and all five retinal zones. The average outer diameter of the evaluated retinal zones and optic disc vessels was significantly higher in the group with severe compared to the group with mild diabetic retinopathy. Morphological analysis of the retinal vessels on digital fundus photography and correlation with YKL-40 may be valuable for the follow-up of diabetic retinopathy.

Curious relationship between cognitive impairment and diabetic retinopathy.

Curious relationship between cognitive impairment and diabetic retinopathy.

Fetuin-A and albumin alter cytotoxic effects of calcium phosphate nanoparticles on human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Calcification is a detrimental process in vascular ageing and in diseases such as atherosclerosis and arthritis. In particular, small calcium phosphate (CaP) crystal deposits are associated with inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque de-stabilisation. We previously reported that CaP particles caused human vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) death and that serum reduced the toxic effects of the particles. Here, we found that the serum proteins fetuin-A and albumin (≥1 µM) reduced intracellular Ca2+ elevations and cell death in VSMCs in response to CaP particles. In addition, CaP particles functionalised with fetuin-A, but not albumin, were less toxic than naked CaP particles. Electron microscopic studies revealed that CaP particles were internalised in different ways; via macropinocytosis, membrane invagination or plasma membrane damage, which occurred within 10 minutes of exposure to particles. However, cell death did not occur until approximately 30 minutes, suggesting that plasma membrane repair and survival mechanisms were activated. In the presence of fetuin-A, CaP particle-induced damage was inhibited and CaP/plasma membrane interactions and particle uptake were delayed. Fetuin-A also reduced dissolution of CaP particles under acidic conditions, which may contribute to its cytoprotective effects after CaP particle exposure to VSMCs. These studies are particularly relevant to the calcification observed in blood vessels in patients with kidney disease, where circulating levels of fetuin-A and albumin are low, and in pathological situations where CaP crystal formation outweighs calcification-inhibitory mechanisms.

PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES AND THEIR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM

The study of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein in 101 patients with hypothyroidism revealed a close relationship between metabolic, proinflammatory factors and the state of blood vessels in patients with hypothyroidism (p 0,05) compared to healthy individuals. Formation of pro-inflammatory state is a risk factor for vascular intimal lesions in patients with hypothyroidism, especially with the idiopathic form of it.