Magnetic Resonance Elastography through Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the root cause of the majority of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Although the pathogenesis of the disease is extremely complex, atherosclerosis is characterized by an accumulation of low density lipoproteins in the vascular wall. The development of the disease can lead to a narrowing of the lumen, known as a stenosis. 

Atherosclerosis

Histologically, the American Heart Association classifies the advancement of a plaque by its composition. Type VI lesions include those where thrombosis has been generated by exposure of the plaque core. This clinical event is known as atherosclerotic plaque rupture and can lead to ischemia. The symptoms and severity of this depend on the location of the disease. The more severe consequences of atherosclerosis are heart attack and stroke, caused by ischemia in the coronary and carotid arteries respectively. Read More>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Intracellular Zinc: A mediator of Vascular Aging and Disease?

Aging is a major risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Accumulation of waste materials like damaged mitochondria and decline in stress response mechanisms contribute to increased oxidative stress over time. The free radical theory of aging postulates that increased levels of reactive oxygen species [ROS] cause genomic and mitochondrial DNA damage leading to sustained oxidative stress that promotes tissue dysfunction and aging. In the cardiovascular system, NADPH oxidasesproduce ROS that are involved in normal function; however, overproduction ofROS by these enzymes, as well as decreased expression of antioxidant enzymes are associated with vascular dysfunction and disease.

Cellular senescence, a hallmark of mammalian aging, is a process of permanent cell cycle arrest  that has been linked to the development of age-related diseases, including atherosclerosis. A causative role for senescence in disease development was reported as the selective removal of senescent cells in vivo showed a delay in age-related diseases. Although senescent cells have lost their replicative capability, they possess a secretory and pro-oxidative/inflammatory phenotype  that likely contributes to organ dysfunction during aging.

It is well known that nutritional status plays an important role in disease development. Over-consumption of high calorie foods is a risk factor for diseases like metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis and diabetes; however less is known about the consequences of micronutrient deficiencies in cardiovascular disease progression. Read more............

Radiation-Induced Arterial Injury in the Upper Limb

RIAI was first reported by Thomas as a condition in which radiation therapy causes stenosis and obstruction of the great vessels. Incidence and prevalence of radiation induced subclavian artery stenosisTo date, it has been considered that RIAI is rare after radiation therapy. However, because of advanced imaging technology and the fact that clinicians have become aware of the concept of RIAI, reports of RIAI have increased.

Lam compared newly diagnosed patients with nasopharyngeal cancer patients before and after they underwent radiation therapy and reported that arterial stenosis was more common in the irradiated area of the post-radiation group compared with that of the pre-radiation group(56/71 vs. 11/51). Furthermore, arterial stenosis of 50% or more was only observed following radiation therapy.In addition, the probability of carotid stenosis of 70% or more after radiation therapy is 6.3% according to Elerding and 11.7%–16% according to Cheng. It is also reported that the symptom due to this vascular stenosis appears in 14.6% of the cases. 

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