Risk Of Plaque Formation Research Articles

Effect of Strawberry Juice (Fragaria Ananassa) on Mechanical Properties of Nanofilled Composite Resins


 Introduction: Nanofilled composite resins have small filler particles size (1-100 nm). Its mechanical properties consist of hardness, surface roughness, and water absorption. Composite resins easily degraded by acid pH because it contains polymer with unstable bonds. Degradation can cause water absorption. It can be scratched more easily if they have low hardness. Rough surfaces can cause the risk of plaque formation, secondary caries, discoloration, damage to the surface of the patch, reduces resistance, accelerates abrasion, and can cause irritation to the surrounding soft tissue. Objective: To analyze the effect of mechanical properties (water absorption, hardness, and surface roughness) on nanofilled composite resins after strawberry juice (Fragaria ananassa) immersion. Methods: This research was a laboratory experimental with post-test and control group design. Forty cylindrical samples of nanofilled composite resins Filtek Z350XT (3M ESPE) (10mm x 2 mm) were divided into four groups: water absorption group, hardness tested group, surface roughness tested group, and control group. Surface roughness tested group and hardness tested group were immersed in strawberry juice each 10 mL for 2 hours a day and repeated for 12 days. After 10 and 12 days of immersion, hardness tested group, surface roughness tested group, and control group will be measured using surface roughness test and hardness test. Water absorption test will be carried out before immersion and after 10 and 12 days of immersion. Results: One Way ANOVA statistical test on surface roughness test showed a p-value of 0.001 (p<0.05) and the water absorption test show a p-value of 0.983 (p>0.05). Post Hoc Tukey test had significant difference of roughness tested on day 12 and control group with a p-value of 0.01 (p<0.05). Conclusions: Strawberry juice increases surface roughness of nanofilled composite resins after 2 hours immersion for 12 days in comparison with control group.

Shengmai Yin alleviated plaque vulnerability and ischemic myocardial damage in diesel exhaust particle-aggravated atherosclerosis with myocardial ischemia

Exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) increases the risk of ischemic heart disease, especially heart attacks and ischemic/thrombotic strokes. Shengmai Yin (SMY) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to determine the protective role of SMY and the mechanism by which SMY affects DEP-induced cardiovascular injury. This study is expected to provide the basis for the development of an adaptive signature of SMY in the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and premature death from global air pollution exposure. We developed animal models of myocardial ischemia and atherosclerosis (AS) in response to DEP exposure. After SMY treatment, serum lipids returned to normal. Aortic plaque area and MMP9 expression were significantly reduced and collagen fiber expression increased after SMY treatment compared to DEP exposure alone. Thus, the risk of plaque formation and vulnerability is reduced. In addition, SMY improved left ventricular structure, morphology, function, blood flow, infarct area, myocardial damage, and ROS accumulation to varying degrees in ApoE-/- mice. These results indicate that the use of SMY is effective, to varying degrees, for the treatment of dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, and oxidative stress in ApoE-/- mice. SMY has a potential protective effect in DEP-aggravated AS in people with myocardial ischemia.

Ultrasonography of lower limb vascular angiopathy and plaque formation in type 2 diabetes patients and finding its relevance to the carotid atherosclerotic formation

Objective: One of the major complications of diabetes is blood vessel disease, termed angiopathy, which is characterized by abnormal angiogenesis. The objective of this study was to discuss the characteristics of lower limb vascular angiopathy and plaque formation in type 2 diabetes patients and finding its relevance to the carotid atherosclerotic plaque formation, thus directing the clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods: The ultrasonography was used to monitor the patients with carotid artery and lower limb artery. Results: Compared with the control group, decreased blood flow to lower limb and lower limb angiopathy occurred more obviously in dorsal artery of foot than in popliteal artery. The study revealed that the detection rate of the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis plaque and lower limb arterial plaque and the combination of plaque both carotid and lower limb arteries in diabetic patients was 369:342:296 (about 1.25:1.15:1) and that the prevalence of carotid plaque and lower limb arterial plaque in all subjects with plaque was 71.3%. The risk of plaque formation also had positive correlation with patient’s age. Color Doppler ultrasound had a clinical significance in the early diagnosis and curative effect observation in type 2 diabetes with lower limb angiopathy. The risk of simultaneous plaque formation in both carotid artery and lower extremity artery was greater in type 2 diabetes than that of control subjects, but they were not necessarily to occur simultaneously. The symptoms were inconspicuous in the early course of diabetes. Conclusion: The application of ultrasound monitoring in patients with carotid artery and lower limb artery might play a role in early warning, delaying the occurrence of macrovascular diseases, and slowing down the development of macroangiopathy such as cerebral infarction and diabetic foot and so on, thus providing a significant basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.