In recent years, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) has become a useful clinical and research tool. HRMRI can be used to observe intracranial vascular wall lesions in vivo, providing more valuable pathophysiological information, and providing guidance for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and prognosis of intracranial atherosclerosis. For stenotic intracranial atherosclerosis, the morphology of the vessel wall can effectively differentiate various vascular stenosis diseases. Further, plaque composition, vessel wall enhancement, remodel mode provide information of plaque vulnerability. For non-stenotic intracranial atherosclerosis, the location of the plaque can reveal the pathophysiological mechanism. In addition, HRMRI can show the lesion in lenticulostriate artery. Therefore, this article will summarize the clinical application of HRMRI.
Objective To provide the anatomical basis for detecting distal outflow tract in late atherosclerosis obliteration in lower extremities. Methods Ten lower extremities that were amputated above knees because of late atherosclerosis obliteration were used in this experiment. The blood vessels in the residual bodies were perfused to run blood vessel cast mould to observe the anatomical and pathological change of the popliteal artery, the anterior and posterior tibial arteries and their collateral vessels. The number and distribution of those collateral vessels were also observed. Results The popliteal artery, anterior and posterior tibial arteries were all occluded due to atherosclerosis. However, there were three types of those collateral arteries: ① Atheromatous plaque in bole stretched into collateral arteries and led to occlusion. ② Obliteration was only observed at the initial segment, with no obstruction at the distal end but extenuated. ③ The collateral arteries originated from the bole artery symmetrically, keeping communicative with each other through punctiform interspaces. The last two types were mainly distributed at the inferior segment of popliteal artery, the superior segment of anterior and posterior tibial arteries, forming vascular anastomosing network in the whole cnemis muscle group. Conclusion Un-obstructed collateral arteries in certain places can be still found, though atherosclerosis obliteration is formed in popliteal artery, anterior and posterior tibial arteries in lower extremities. Therefore, it may be possible to construct collateral outflow tracts if endo-membrane stripping operation is performed.
Objective To review research advances in atherosclerosis of removal mechanisms of apoptotic cells.Method The literatures about the removal mechanisms of the apoptotic cells were reviewed．Results The removal factors of apoptotic cells， such as transglutaminase 2， milk fat globule-EGF-factor 8， complement system，c-Mer proto-oncogene tyrosine protein kinase，and Fas，might cause the lipid core of the atherosclerotic plaque if one of them was defective phagocytic clearance．Conclusion How to remove the surplus of the phagocytosis and study the common pathways of the downstream signal of its receptor were the future direction of development．
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of staged carotid artery stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting in the treatment of coronary heart disease complicated with carotid stenosis. MethodsThe clinical data of patients with coronary heart disease and carotid stenosis treated in Fuwai Hospital from November 2019 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent staged carotid artery stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting. The incidence and risk factors of severe complications such as myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction and death during the perioperative period and follow-up were analyzed. ResultsA total of 58 patients were enrolled, including 47 males and 11 females with an average age of 52-77 (64.2±5.6) years. No complications occurred before coronary artery bypass grafting. There was 1 myocardial infarction, 1 cerebral infarction and 1 death after the coronary artery bypass grafting. The early complication rate was 5.2%. During the follow-up of 18.3 months, 1 cerebral infarction and 2 deaths occurred, and the overall complication rate was 10.3%. According to Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis, patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis (log-rank, P=0.037) and placement of close-cell (log-rank, P=0.030) had a higher risk of postoperative ischemic cerebrovascular event, and patients with previous cerebral infarction had a higher risk of postoperative severe complications (log-rank, P=0.044). ConclusionStaged carotid artery stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting is safe and feasible for the treatment of coronary heart disease complicated with carotid stenosis.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on blood flow of carotid arteries in atherosclerosis rabbits.MethodsFifty Japan white rabbits were randomly divided into control group and three atherosclerosis groups. In atherosclerosis group, the rabbits were randomly subjected to CO2 pneumoperitoneum with an intraabdominal pressure of 0 mm Hg, 10 mm Hg or 15 mm Hg for 2 hours, after the model were created by feeding the rabbits with high fatty diet. The blood flow of the common carotid arteries were measured by electromagnetic blood flowmeter. Artery blood samples were collected for blood gas analysis at 30 minute intervals. ResultsHigher insufflation pressures and longer duration of CO2 pneumoperitoneum were associated with greater increase in blood flow of common carotid arteries. Compared with those in control group and atherosclerosis group with 0 mm Hg CO2 pneumoperitoneum, there were statistically significant increases in blood flow of the common carotid arteries during CO2 pneumoperitoneum in 10 mm Hg and 15 mm Hg pneumoperitoneum group, the changes in 15 mm Hg pneumoperitoneum group were more significant than those in 10 mm Hg pneumoperitoneum group (Plt;0.05). When compared with the blood flow before insufflation, those in 10 mm Hg and 15 mm Hg pneumoperitoneum group also increased significantly during CO2 pneumoperitoneum, even at 30 minute after desufflation (Plt;0.05). However, those in control group and 0 mm Hg pneumoperitoneum group did not change significantly (Pgt;0.05). There were significant decrease in pH and significant increase in PCO2 in both 10 mm Hg and 15 mm Hg groups, when compared with presufflation values or those in control group and 0 mm Hg pneumoperitoneum group(Plt;0.05). The changes in pH and PCO2, however, were no significant at any time point in control group and 0 mm Hg pneumoperitoneum group (Pgt;0.05). HCO3- did not change significantly in either group(Pgt;0.05).ConclusionUnder atherosclerosis conditions, CO2 pneumoperitoneum has an adverse influence on the blood flow of the common carotid arteries which may be associated with increased intrabdominal pressure,absorbed CO2 gas.
Coronary heart disease is the second leading cause of death worldwide. As a preventable and treatable chronic disease, early screening is of great importance for disease control. However, previous screening tools relied on physician assistance, thus cannot be used on a large scale. Many facial features have been reported to be associated with coronary heart disease and may be useful for screening. However, these facial features have limitations such as fewer types, irregular definitions and poor repeatability of manual judgment, so they can not be routinely applied in clinical practice. With the development of artificial intelligence, it is possible to integrate facial features to predict diseases. A recent study published in the European Heart Journal showed that coronary heart disease can be predicted using artificial intelligence based on facial photos. Although this work still has some limitations, this novel technology will be promise for improving disease screening and diagnosis in the future.
The treatment of patients suffering from both severe coronary artery disease (CAD) and malignancy is different from those who have isolated CAD or tumor, because their body condition is poorer and the lesions of coronary artery are severer, which poses severe challenges to doctors. At present, the surgical treatment for these patients mainly includes staged operation and simultaneous surgery. Staged operation, which separates coronary artery revascularization surgery from tumor resection, has a lower incidence of postoperative complications, but tumor progression may occur during the waiting period. Simultaneous surgery combines heart procedure with tumor resection at the same time, shortens the treatment period of patients, overcomes the defect of tumor progression that may occur during the waiting period of the staged surgery, but the incidence of postoperative complications is higher. The progress of surgical treatment in patients with CAD combined with malignant tumor is summarized.
Objective\ To discuss the characteristics and experience of coronary artery bypass grafting in senile patients. Methods\ The operative techniques and postoperative management of coronary artery bypass grafting in 31 cases of patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease over 70 years old at our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Results\ No operative death and no severe postoperative complications happened among this group. Conclusion\ Coronary artery bypass grafting for patients over 70 y...
Sclerostin, as a bone-derived secreted glycoprotein, is a suppressor of Wnt signaling pathway. Recently, adverse cardiovascular events in the treatment of osteoporosis with sclerostin inhibitors have raised concerns about the association of sclerostin with atherosclerotic heart disease. Whether the role of sclerostin in atherosclerotic heart disease is harmful or beneficial is not clear. This article reviews the progress of the mechanisms of sclerostin in vascular calcification and atherosclerotic heart disease, focusing on the relationship between sclerostin and vascular calcification, the impact of its concentration changes on atherosclerotic heart disease, and the effect of sclerostin inhibitor on cardiovascular events.