Section Of Artery Research Articles

Comparison of a histology based multi layer artery model to its simplified axisymmetric model.

Abstract Arteries are vessel structures that serve vital function of transportation of blood to different parts of the body. Researchers have experimented with some approaches to model the arterial behaviour and to analyse its biomechanical properties. To analyse the in-vivo arterial properties, at Furtwangen University an inflatable sensoractuator system is being developed, which provides the basis for a decision support system for vascular surgeons. The capabilities of this sensor shall be evaluated in simulations which requires appropriate modelling of the arteries. The inverse problem, i.e. how to efficiently identify arterial wall properties from sensor readings is targeted. A histology motivated 3D artery model was implemented in FEM using COMSOL (v5.5). The geometry of one model was based on a cross section of a real artery. The second model was axisymmetric and of equal dimensions with respect to volume, layer thickness etc. A biomechanical pressure-stretch analysis was performed applying an inflating pressure inside the walls of the vessels. Stretch in different areas of the first model was evaluated and the circumferential strain was compared to the axisymmetric model. The results show variation of strains within the segments of the first model of upto 10 percent. In addition, its outer wall circumferential stretch was found to be 10 percent lower compared to the axisymmetric setup. This comparison sheds light upon whether a simplification of arterial models is possible, without loss of accuracy in the context of the novel sensor evaluation. It provides useful information whether e.g. standardizing vessel structures to axisymmetric models will still provide results within allowable tolerance limits. Simulations proved useful to evaluate different vessel model formulations in the context of arterial diagnostics.

Image processing to delineate the boundaries of peripheral arterial walls

Abstract The analysis of the arterial wall properties is vital in the prediction of stroke events and arterial hypertension in humans. Numerous researchers have experimented with several approaches to model arterial vessels and to analyse their biomechanical behaviour for many years now. Our study is focussed on image processing of peripheral arterial cross sections to detect and isolate the distinct layers. These boundaries will enable the creation of FEM models for further analysis of arterial wall properties. In a clinical setting, it facilitates doctors to identify the optimum pressure that can be applied to the artery for the treatment of stenosis without damaging the morphology of the blood vessels. This paper aims at distinguishing the various layers of arterial walls from images by minimizing human intervention. Cross section images of arteries from various sources were collected[10][11]. The boundaries from the image were obtained using image processing techniques of MATLAB(R2021a). The approach identified was to convert the input RGB images to grayscale, thresholding and applying morphological operators to delineate the Intima, Media, and Adventitia. These regions of interests (ROI) were then superimposed to generate an image with differentiated boundaries and void of unnecessary noise and inhomogeneity. This approach gave us an insight of the differences in various methods of boundary detection and to infer the optimum approach for accurate demarcation of boundaries of the three layers of arterial walls. It paves a pathway for forward modelling and to perform detailed FEM analysis in in-vitro diagnostics. In a nutshell, it was observed that the edge detection procedure implemented could be used for healthy and stenotic arteries. Further studies must be conducted to test the efficiency across a wide range of images and hence generalise its usage. Upon satisfactory boundary detection, forward modelling could be performed using the identified geometric forms.

Distance analysis of U-turn round facilities for sustainable urban development (case study of Ahmad Yani Road, Tirtayasa and Cilegon road)

Cilegon City is an industrial city with internal and internal movements occurring on one access road stretching from Jalan Raya Cilegon, Jalan Ahmad Yani, and Jalan Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. This arterial road section has a total road length of 5 km that passes through the Cilegon City area, which is the center of activity. Efficient use of traffic space by arranging the traffic space efficiency is used the distance between U-turns so that delays and queues are low. As long this road network has the highest volume of 2,399 pcu/h with an average speed of 32 km/h and reaching a VCR of 0.8 has a median number of 13-point openings, the number of uncontrolled U-turns causes many conflicts traffic that will cause traffic disruption when a vehicle makes a U-turn. The purpose of this study is to improve the performance of the road network in the Area of the City of Cilegon by knowing the best distance between U-Turns. Simulation analysis uses Vissim software to produce the ideal distance for each opening in the Cilegon City arterial road, which is then utilized in the arrange of the U-turn facility itself. The method used is the calculates of existing traffic performance and simulation to determine the ideal distance between U-Turn facilities. The simulation results with the ideal Vissim model of the distance between the turning facilities were 650 meters with an average delay of 17.56 seconds, a network speed of 33.07 km/h, a total distance of 28,453.34 km, and the total travel time to be 847.30 hours.

Ascending aorta and aortic root replacement in an infant: a case report

We herein report the first clinical case of prosthetic replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic arch to repair a giant aneurysm in a 7-month-old child. The ascending aorta and arch replacement to the level of left subclavian artery was performed using a no. 16 Polymaille prosthesis, the brachiocephalic trunk was reimplanted into the vascular prosthesis and the kinked section of the left common carotid artery was removed, followed by reimplanting the left common carotid artery into the left subclavian artery. First, proximal anastomosis with the vascular prosthesis was created using a no. 16 Polymaille prosthesis and the vascular suture was strengthened with a Teflon strip. During circulatory arrest, the aortic arch was crossed between the orifice of the left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery, with the cut extended to the isthmus region along the small curvature of the arch. The brachiocephalic trunk was aligned and brought down, with subsequent implantation into the ascending aorta prosthesis 2 cm below the initial fixation point. In the final stage, the kinked section of the left common carotid artery was resected and the aligned left carotid artery was directly reimplanted into the left subclavian artery using end-to-side anastomosis. The patient developed tracheobronchitis and moderate heart failure during the postoperative period. The duration of mechanical ventilation was 16 hours. Infusion and antibacterial therapy were discontinued on postoperative day 8. On postoperative day 13, the patient was discharged and referred to the outpatient centre for further treatment and rehabilitation. A sufficiently large-sized prosthesis allows for further development in paediatric patients. This is facilitated by the preservation of the native aortic root with restored valve function and the formation of a bevelled distal anastomosis with a small unchanged aortic section in the isthmus region, which maintains growth potential. This first reported case of an infant demonstrates the possibility of combination interventions on the aortic arch and brachiocephalic artery during the first year of life.Received 30 January 2021. Revised 24 March 2021. Accepted 29 March 2021.Funding: The study did not have sponsorship.Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interests.Contribution of the authors: The authors contributed equally to this article.

Histopathological evidence of central retinal artery occlusion secondary to angio-invasive fungal infection amidst SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) can present in various forms, the most common being ophthalmoplegia, with or without central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO).[123] Patients with minimal to no evidence of orbital involvement by fungus on imaging also develop restrictions of ocular movement in all gazes. Lesions causing ophthalmoplegia usually involve the orbital apex and/or the cavernous sinus. Mucor has a tendency for angioinvasion leading to thrombosis of blood vessels and resultant tissue necrosis.[4] A 64-year-old diabetic gentleman presented to us with loss of vision, absent ocular motility, and ptosis in the right eye after having recovered from COVID-19 infection 3 weeks prior [Fig. 1a]. He was noted to have CRAO in the right eye [Fig. 1b]. He was subsequently diagnosed with ROCM and underwent right orbital exenteration due to worsening. Despite minimal cellulitis secondary to orbital apex involvement, the muscular arteries were invaded by fungus with aseptate hyphae (as noted on histopathological examination), leading to ophthalmoplegia and ptosis. Histopathological (HPE) analysis of the right optic nerve stump of the exenterated specimen in our patient with ophthalmoplegia and CRAO revealed occlusion of the central retinal artery secondary to invasion of its muscular coat by a fungus with aseptate hyphae [Fig. 1c and d]. Endothelial cell damage and activation of coagulation cascade is the key pathophysiological mechanism for thrombus formation.[45]Figure 1: (a) Clinical picture of a patient with right-eye complete ophthalmoplegia with ptosis. (b) Fundus photograph highlighting right-eye central retinal artery occlusion leading to vision loss. (c) Optic nerve (black asterisk) and central retinal artery (black arrow) invaded by fungal hyphae leading to arterial occlusion (low power). (d) Periodic acid–Schiff staining showing the section of the central retinal artery with vascular invasion (black arrowheads) with broad aseptate hyphae highlighted (high power)To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported direct histopathological evidence of angioinvasion of the central retinal artery by Mucorales species leading to vision loss in a case of ROCM. Declaration of patient consent The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form, the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.

Clinical and Variant Anatomy of the Blood Supply to the Body and Tail of the Human Pancreas

The aim of the study was to specify peculiarities of the blood supply to the body and tail of the human pancreas determining topographic variants and vascular bed of the splenic artery.Material and methods. The artery basin of the pancreas body and tail was studied in 46 native and 42 organ complexes consisting of the pancreas, duodenum, spleen, retropancreatic tissue, celiac trunk with the main branches, a section of the superior mesenteric artery up to the entrance into the root of the small intestine mesentery with the preliminary artery injection by gelatin mass. The organ complexes were fixed in 10% formalin solution.Results. The study revealed two variants of the splenic artery topography in relation to the pancreas and determined the degree of tortuosity of the artery. In 31.7% of cases the vessel passed retro-pancreatically and in 68.3% suprapancreatically. Moderate tortuosity of the splenic artery was detected most frequently (44.82%); in 34.48% of cases severe tortuosity was detected; in 17.24% of cases there was no tortuosity in the artery. The correlation between area/convolution and the number of pancreatic arteries was found to be 0.864 (p=0.05), which is considered to be a high parameter according to the Cheddock scale. In severe tortuosity of the splenic artery 3.16±0.37 pancreatic arteries on average closed to the corpus caudal segment of the pancreas, in moderate tortuosity – 5.09±1.24, in straight passage – 9±1.22.Conclusion. The regularities revealed in the spleen artery topography, blood supply of the pancreas body and tail allow determining operational risks and tactics of surgical interventions on the corpus caudal segment of the pancreas.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXPRESSION LEVELS OF TISSUE INHIBITOR OF METALLOPROTEINASES-3 (TIMP3) AND SEVERITY OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Objective: TIMP3 is one of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which binds to the components of the extracellular matrix, and has crucial roles in atherosclerogenesis and adipose tissue differentiation. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of TIMP3 gene expression levels on severity of atherosclerosis in different tissues. Material and Methods: The first group of the study (evaluated for coronary artery disease) were cases classified as high and low plaque scores according to the degree and location of atherosclerotic lesions. In the second group (post-mortem cases) were male cadavers who died due to coronary heart disease (CHD, n=26) and non-cardiac trauma (T-nonP, n=4). The TIMP3 expression levels were examined in leukocyte and peri-coronary epicardial adipose tissues (EAT) samples (n=69 and n=34, respectively) of the first group and EAT and coronary artery samples (n=12 and n=30, respectively) of the second group using quantitative RT-PCR. In addition, the protein expressions of TIMP3 were analysed on artery sections by immunofluorestaining. Results: In the post-mortem study group, the TIMP3 expression levels were found to increase in no plaque segments of arteries of cases with CHD (CHD-nonP) compared to advanced atherosclerotic arteries (CHD-P) and normal arteries of T-nonP cases (p=0.01 and p=0.05, respectively). The TIMP3 expressions in EATs and leukocytes were not statistically significant between the study groups. In addition, TIMP3 protein was detected in normal arteries, peri-coronary EATs and mostly in macrophages-rich areas in advanced atherosclerotic arteries. Conclusion: TIMP3 expression levels increase in normal coronary arterial segments of cases with CHD, which depict a protective role of TIMP3 in development of atherosclerosis.

Prediction of Resthenosis After Carotid Endarterectomy by the Method of Computer Simulation

The article describes a computer modeling technique that allows predicting the development of restenosis of the internal carotid artery after carotid endarterectomy (CEE). A clinical case has been demonstrated that proves the effectiveness of the developed method. It is indicated that for the correct formation of the geometric model, data from multispiral computed tomography with angiography of the patient after CEE with a layer thickness of 0.6 mm and a current of 355 mA are required. To build a flow model, data of color duplex scanning in three sections are required: 1. In the proximal section of the common carotid artery (3 cm proximal to the bifurcation); 2. In the section of the external carotid artery, 2 cm distal to the carotid sinus; 3. In the section of the internal carotid artery, 2 cm distal to the carotid sinus. The result of computer calculations using specialized software (Sim Vascular, Python, Open Foam) is a mathematical model of blood flow in a vessel. It is an array of calculated data describing the speed and other characteristics of the flow at each point of the artery. Based on the analysis of RRT and TAWSS indicators, a computer model of bifurcation is formed, which makes it possible to predict areas of increased risk of restenosis development. Thus, the developed technique is able to identify a cohort of patients after CEE, subjected to a high probability of loss of the vessel lumen. Such an opportunity will provide a more precise supervision of these patients in the postoperative period with the aim of early diagnosis of restenosis and timely prevention of the development of adverse cardiovascular events.

Ovarian, uterine and luteal hemodynamic variations between pregnant and non-pregnant pluriparous Egyptian buffalos with special reference to their anatomical and histological features

This study determined the ovarian, uterine, and luteal hemodynamic variations using Doppler between pregnant and non-pregnant pluriparous buffalos in relation to their anatomical and histological basics during the first 31 days after natural mating. Adult healthy cyclic Egyptian buffalo (n = 10) were selected and categorized into two groups; group 1 (n = 5) was mated naturally by a fertile bull during the late estrus phase, and group 2 (n = 5) was not mated. Animals were subjected to Doppler ultrasonography to evaluate luteal, ovarian, and uterine blood flows from day 7 until day 31 post-mating. Besides, three pregnant (one month) and other non-pregnant uterus (n = 6) were obtained from a local abattoir to study the anatomical and histological features. Our results revealed that the luteal, ovarian, and uterine arteries cross-sectional diameters/mm increased (P < 0.05) from day 7 till day 31. Resistance (RI) and pulsatility indices (PI) decreased linearly (P < 0.05) in pregnant buffalos till day 31, but the peak systolic, end diastolic velocities and flow volume of those arteries were increased. Additionally, luteal colored areas away and toward CL were increased (P < 0.05) in the pregnant group compared to non-pregnant ones. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the lumen diameter of luteal, ovarian, and uterine artery sections in pregnant buffalos compared to those of non-pregnant ones. While the mean value of tunica media's thickness of both luteal and uterine artery was significantly higher in non-pregnant buffalos than pregnant ones, except for that of the ovarian artery. Additionally, the ovarian and uterine artery tunica muscularis relative area % was (P < 0.05) higher in pregnant buffalos than in non-pregnant ones, except for that of the luteal artery. It was concluded that in pregnant buffalos, ovarian, uterine, and luteal blood flows were improved from the first week until 31 days post-mating via a decline in both Doppler indices with an increase in Doppler velocities and blood flow volume in relation to their histological changes based on their anatomical architecture in comparison to non-pregnant one.

Reexamining Pedestrian Crossing Warrants based on Vehicular Delay at Urban Arterial Midblock Sections under Mixed Traffic Conditions

AbstractPedestrian crossing activity at unmarked crosswalks on urban roads in developing countries like India is a common phenomenon. Pedestrians used to cross the road at their place of interest t...

Incidental identification of the aberrant origin of left vertebral artery using magnetic resonance angiography: A case report

Background: The vertebral arteries originate from the root of the neck as the first branches of the subclavian arteries. Variations of vertebral arteries are congenital anomalies occurring during embryonic development. Anatomic variations of the left vertebral artery are clinically symptomless and recognized incidentally during angiographic assessments or imaging techniques so the diagnosis of these anomalies is a serious challenge. Anomalous origin of vertebral arteries may lead to neurologic disorders. It is, thus, important to identify variations of the large vessels of the aortic arch when planning neck and cervical spine interventions and diagnostic radiology. For this reason, we would like to present this rare case of left vertebral artery showing a different origin. Case report: In this work, we describe a 60-year-old female patient with headache, lethargy and blurred vision. We employed magnetic resonance angiography for both the brain and neck. There was no lesion in the brain. Incidentally, we found that the root of the left vertebral artery was anatomically aberrant. The left vertebral artery arose from the nearest section of the left external carotid artery, next to the bifurcation of the left common carotid artery, which is a rare variation. Conclusion: Understanding the state of anomalous variations of the origin of the vertebral artery might have crucial implications in angiographic and surgical procedures. It is beneficial to perform more screening with noninvasive studies like neck magnetic resonance angiography in clinical cases with potential symptoms coexisting with other diseases in order to predict possible future problems in intracranial and extracranial interventions. Keywords: Vertebral artery; external carotid artery; anatomic variation; magnetic resonance angiography.

Patient-specific simulation of the blood flow in a proximal femoral artery-graft junction

The paper presents a computational procedure developed for patient-specified blood flow simulation in the proximal anastomosis of femoral-popliteal bypass. The calculations are based on a three-dimensional geometric model constructed from a CT angiography scan of the vascular bed in the anastomotic region and boundary conditions obtained by ultrasound Doppler measurements of the velocity in control sections of the bed. A numerical analysis of 3D pulsating flow structure in a particular model of the proximal anastomosis has been carried out. The model includes sections of the common femoral artery (CFA), the graft, the deep femoral artery and the superficial femoral artery. The Reynolds number based on the CFA inner diameter and the inlet bulk velocity is 880. The sizes and location of stagnant zones, areas with low values of the time-averaged wall shear stress modulus and with high values of the oscillatory shear index are determined. It is shown that the results of the prediction of areas with low values of the time-averaged shear stress modulus are in qualitative agreement with the data of local measurements of neointima thickness formed along the graft wall one year after the operation.

Lattice Boltzmann simulation of transient blood flow in arterial geometries using a regularised, viscoplastic and shear‐thinning fluid

This paper presents a lattice Boltzmann framework for the transient simulation of blood flow using biologically inspired geometries and pressure boundary conditions. The Kuang-Luo rheological model is used to represent blood as a homogeneous continuum. This model includes the two primary non-Newtonian characteristics of blood, namely viscoplasticity and pseudoplasticity. This paper makes two contributions. First, the numerical challenges associated with zero strain rates and infinite viscosity, as a consequence of the yield stress in the Kuang-Luo model, were addressed by regularising the constitutive equation so that the viscosity tends towards a finite value at low strain rates. A two-relaxation-time operator, which exhibits improved performance over the single-relaxation-time operator and lower computational overhead than the multiple-relaxation-time operator, is employed in the collision process. The recursive relationship between the local strain rate and relaxation rate was addressed by use of an implicit solver for these two quantities. The implemented model was benchmarked against analytic solutions for Poiseuille flow between parallel plates in two dimensions and in a cylindrical tube in three dimensions. More importantly, the transient performance of the implemented model was demonstrated by matching the predicted start-up flow of the Poiseuille flow of a Bingham fluid with the corresponding analytical solution. Second, the numerical developments were applied in the simulation of transient blood flow in complex configurations. The development and implementation of physically inspired pressure profiles highlighted the shortcomings of using a sinusoidal pressure profile in the prediction of velocity and stress distributions. Finally, the simulation of blood flow in a section of a carotid artery indicated a number of flow characteristics that will be of interest to future investigations of clinical problems.

A randomized trial of use of a modified reverse sural neurofasciocutaneous flap to extend the reconstruction range.

BackgroundWhen a reverse sural neurofasciocutaneous flap is used to reconstruct a forefoot defect, usually, the transverse length of the flap is increased or the pivot point is lowered to ensure the reconstruction range. Therefore, proximal partial necrosis leading to surgery failure is sometimes caused by insufficient arterial supply if the flap is too long or the pivot point is too low and has no a reliable perforator in the pedicle. Herein, we describe a new method for extending the reconstruction range of the reverse sural neurofasciocutaneous flap that can provide a higher survival rate.MethodsBetween July 2010 and July 2014, 24 patients with forefoot defect were randomly assigned into two groups. In the research group, 12 modified reverse sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps with extended reconstruction range were used to reconstruct forefoot defect. We dissected the septum along the last perforator to locate the main trunk of the peroneal artery, disconnected the proximal end of the peroneal artery at the root of the perforator, and separated the peroneal artery more distally to obtain a lower rotation point to extend the reconstruction range. The last perforator and a section of the peroneal artery were contained in the pedicle. In the control group, 12 traditional reverse sural neurofasciocutaneous flap procedures were performed.ResultsIn the research group, 11 flaps survived with good quality and esthetic contours. Partial distal necrosis occurred in 1 flap. In the control group, 7 flaps survived. Partial necrosis occurred in the other 5 flaps. Compared with control group, the survival rate in the research group was significantly higher while the healing time was significantly shorter. All patients were satisfied with the therapeutic outcome in the research group.ConclusionsOur modified method proved efficacious in extending the reconstruction range of the reverse sural neurofasciocutaneous flap. Meanwhile, partial necrosis was avoided because the length of the flap was shortened, and a reliable perforator was preserved in the artery pedicle.Trial RegistrationChictr.org Identifier: ChiCTR2100046323.

Mass transfer and blood flow in a patient-specific three-dimensional Willis circle

The paper carries on numerical mass transfer and fluid flow of a Non-Newtonian (Casson-like) blood in a complete patient specific Circle of Willis (CoW), for the first time in the literature. Pressures, fluid flow and mass transfer variables are presented. As far as the distribution of Wall Shear Stress (WSS) is concerned, the paper shows that regions with WSS greater than the fisiologic limit (equal to 150 dyne/cm2) tend to superimpose to vascular zones, typical of saccular cerebral aneurysms. Zones with high WSS coincide with those of high MGS, where, according to literature, the formation of cerebral aneurysms is more probable, as close to arterial branchings and cross section changes. As far as mass transfer of LDL and Glucose are concerned, greater concentrations are observed in zones more exposed to atherosclerosis risk. Zones with greater values of Sherwood number coincide with the regions with greater frequency of atherosclerotic plaques.

Ultrasound evaluation of the radial artery in young adults — A pilot study

The radial artery is a vessel frequently used in various medical procedures which carry a risk of complications. One such method used to minimize the number of complications is a profound knowledge of the artery’s diameter, which allows for appropriate selection of an instrument to use for puncture. The purpose of this study is to determine the diameter of the radial artery and its depth from the skin surface in young adults. Material and methods96 volunteers participated in the study. The average age of the volunteers was 20.43 years. All participants underwent a B-mode ultrasonography to measure the distal radial artery’s diameter. Certified anthropometric instruments were used to determine the relation between the artery diameter and the selected basic anthropometric parameters. ResultsThe mean right arterial diameter for the entire examined population at the level of the styloid process was mean 1.42 (SD 0.26) mm and its distance to the skin was mean 4.00 (SD1.20) mm. Statistical analysis revealed the presence of moderate positive relationship between the diameter of the radial artery and body weight and between the diameter of the radial artery and BMI. A weak correlation between the artery diameter and the width of the wrist was also present. ConclusionIn the present work, we aimed to determine the dimensions of the distal section of the radial artery in young people free from symptoms of cardiovascular diseases. The obtained initial study results advise selecting instruments for vascular puncture individually, with special attention paid to slender people with slim wrists.

A Nano-Emulsion Platform Functionalized with a Fully Human scFv-Fc Antibody for Atheroma Targeting: Towards a Theranostic Approach to Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is at the onset of the cardiovascular diseases that are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Currently, high-risk plaques, also called vulnerable atheromatous plaques, remain often undiagnosed until the occurrence of severe complications, such as stroke or myocardial infarction. Molecular imaging agents that target high-risk atheromatous lesions could greatly improve the diagnosis of atherosclerosis by identifying sites of high disease activity. Moreover, a “theranostic approach” that combines molecular imaging agents (for diagnosis) and therapeutic molecules would be of great value for the local management of atheromatous plaques. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize an innovative theranostic tool for atherosclerosis. We engineered oil-in-water nano-emulsions (NEs) loaded with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) purposes. Dynamic MRI showed that NE-SPIO nanoparticles decorated with a polyethylene glycol (PEG) layer reduced their liver uptake and extended their half-life. Next, the NE-SPIO-PEG formulation was functionalized with a fully human scFv-Fc antibody (P3) recognizing galectin 3, an atherosclerosis biomarker. The P3-functionalized formulation targeted atheromatous plaques, as demonstrated in an immunohistochemistry analyses of mouse aorta and human artery sections and in an Apoe−/− mouse model of atherosclerosis. Moreover, the formulation was loaded with SPIO nanoparticles and/or alpha-tocopherol to be used as a theranostic tool for atherosclerosis imaging (SPIO) and for delivery of drugs that reduce oxidation (here, alpha-tocopherol) in atheromatous plaques. This study paves the way to non-invasive targeted imaging of atherosclerosis and synergistic therapeutic applications.

Comparison of the effects of intravitreal ranibizumab and aflibercept on retinal vessel diameters in patients with diabetic macular edema

PurposeTo evaluate and compare the effects of intravitreal ranibizumab and aflibercept treatment on retinal vessel diameters in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). MethodsThirty initial-treatment naïve patients with DME who received three loading doses at monthly intervals of intravitreal ranibizumab or aflibercept were retrospectively reviewed. The diameters of the central retinal artery and vein sections at a distance of 1500 microns from the optical disc boundary were measured and evaluated at baseline and after the first, second, and third month of the treatment, using infrared images from optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). ResultsIn the superotemporal artery (STA) measurements, the mean basal vessel diameter decreased from 110.00 ± 17.25 μm to 102.60 ± 16.90 μm (p = 0.001) in the third month of the treatment in the ranibizumab group. In the aflibercept group, measurements of the basal STA vessel diameter decreased from 110.20 ± 21.25 μm to 103.93 ± 19.03 μm (p = 0.001) at the third month. The mean basal inferotemporal artery (ITA) vessel diameter was significantly decreased at the third month in both ranibizumab (p = 0.001) and aflibercept groups (p = 0.005). In the superotemporal vein (STV) and inferotemporal vein (ITV) measurements, vessel diameters were found significantly decreased at the end of the third month compared with basal measurements in both the ranibizumab (p = 0.001; p = 0.001, respectively) and aflibercept (p = 0.001; p = 0.004, respectively) treatment groups. The retinal vessel measurements were not found to differ significantly between the two intravitreal treatment agents (p > 0.05). ConclusionBoth intravitreal ranibizumab and aflibercept agents cause a significant narrowing in the retinal vessel diameters in patients with DME after three loading doses at monthly intervals.

Flow of blood mixed with copper nanoparticles in an inclined overlapping stenosed artery with magnetic field

A literature survey related to nanoparticles reveals that nanofluids are getting more popularity in hematological treatment. Development in this direction motivated us to write a theoretical study on the flow of blood mixed with suspended copper nanoparticles with water as a base fluid in an inclined overlapping stenosed artery under the influence of a magnetic field. The geometry of an overlapping stenosed arterial section is being written mathematically by an appropriate geometric expression. The rheology of the blood is formulated mathematically by coupled partial differential equations. The coupled partial differential equations governing the problem are simplified and solved analytically under mild stenosis assumptions. The expressions for velocity, temperature, pressure droplet, flow resistance, and wall shear stress distribution are obtained in the present analysis. Effects of some emerging physical parameters on arterial blood flow characteristics are shown graphically and discussed briefly for copper nanoparticles.

Decidua basalis and acute atherosis: Expression of atherosclerotic foam cell associated proteins

IntroductionUteroplacental acute atherosis is frequently observed in preeclampsia, and shares features with early atherosclerotic lesions, including artery wall foam cells. The lipid-associated proteins FABP4 (fatty acid binding protein 4), perilipin-2, and LOX-1 (lectin-like oxidized LDL-receptor 1) are involved in atherosclerotic foam cell formation. Increased levels of these proteins have been associated with preeclampsia systemically and in placental tissue. Their role in acute atherosis is yet unidentified. Our aim was to describe the presence of these proteins in acute atherosis, and compare our findings to what is known in early atherosclerotic lesions. MethodsSerial sections of decidua basalis tissue from 12 normotensive (4 with acute atherosis) and 23 preeclamptic pregnancies (16 with acute atherosis) were stained with HE and immunostained for CK7, CD68, FABP4, perilipin-2, and LOX-1. Artery wall and perivascular protein expression was assessed in 190 spiral artery sections; 55 with acute atherosis. ResultsAcute atherosis foam cells were commonly positive for perilipin-2 (55%), less often for FABP4 (13%), and never for LOX-1. LOX-1 was frequently observed in intramural trophoblasts of normal spiral arteries. Perivascularly, LOX-1 positivity of decidual stromal cells surrounding arteries with acute atherosis was significantly increased as compared to arteries lacking acute atherosis (38% vs. 15%, p < 0.001). DiscussionWe found that perilipin-2 and FABP4 are expressed by acute atherosis foam cells, similar to atherosclerosis, supporting possible shared pathways for foam cell generation. Unlike atherosclerosis, LOX-1 is not present in acute atherosis, possibly explained by pregnancy-specific routes to decidua basalis foam cell generation.