Search results for "vascular calcification"
showing 10 items of 18 documents
Lysed Erythrocyte Membranes Promote Vascular Calcification
2019
Background: Intraplaque hemorrhage promotes atherosclerosis progression, and erythrocytes may contribute to this process. In this study we examined the effects of red blood cells on smooth muscle cell mineralization and vascular calcification and the possible mechanisms involved. Methods: Erythrocytes were isolated from human and murine whole blood. Intact and lysed erythrocytes and their membrane fraction or specific erythrocyte components were examined in vitro using diverse calcification assays, ex vivo by using the murine aortic ring calcification model, and in vivo after murine erythrocyte membrane injection into neointimal lesions of hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E–deficient mi…
Relation between diagnosis of atheromatous plaque from orthopantomographs and cardiovascular risk factors. A study of cases and control subjects.
2014
Background In recent years the use of orthopantomography has been proposed as a low-cost, reliable and non-invasive diagnostic medium for detecting atheromatous plaque. The purpose of this study was to correlate the presence of carotid calcifications (atheroma) in orthopantomographs with specific risk factors for cerebrovascular accidents (previous cerebrovascular accidents, arterial hypertension, and diabetes). Material and Methods The methods used in this observational study of cases and control subjects followed STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology) recommendations. The study analyzed a total of 1,602 panoramic radiographs taken for dental diagnost…
Calcified carotid artery atheromas on panoramic radiographs of head and neck cancer patients before and after radiotherapy
2017
Background The aims of this study were to verify if head and neck radiotherapy (RT) is able to induce calcified carotid artery atheroma (CCAA) in a large head and neck cancer (HNC) population and also to compare the socio-demographic and clinical findings of patients with and without CCAA detected on panoramic radiographs. Material and Methods Panoramic radiographs taken before and after head and neck radiotherapy (RT) of 180 HNC patients were selected and analyzed in order to identify the presence of CCAA. In addition, CCAA presence or absence on panoramic radiographs were compared and correlated with clinicopathological findings. Results A high overall prevalence of CCAA was found on pano…
Prevalence of carotid artery calcifications among 2,500 digital panoramic radiographs of an adult Brazilian population
2018
Background The aim of the present study was to analyze the epidemiological data of digital panoramic radiographs revealing suggestive images of carotid artery calcifications (CAC) from a Northeast Brazilian population. Material and Methods A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted with 2,500 digital panoramic radiographs obtained from a single imaging reference center in Northeast Brazil. Images from individuals of both sexes and older than 18 years were included and those that did not cover the region of cervical vertebrae or presented low radiographic quality were excluded. Data were analyzed regarding prevalence, location (bilateral, right or left), sex, and age using the Chi-s…
Cigarette Smoking is Associated with Decreased Bone Gla-protein (BGP) Levels in Hemodialysis Patients
2018
Background: Bone Gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla)-protein (BGP or osteocalcin) is a vitamin K-dependent protein involved in the regulation of bone mineralization. Smoking is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Methods: We carried out a secondary analysis of the Vitamin K Italian (VIKI) study to investigate the association between cigarette smoking and BGP levels in patients with end stage renal disease. Data were collected in 370 haemodialysis patients, 37% (136) smokers (or ex-smokers) and 63% (234) nonsmokers. Vascular calcifications and vertebral fractures (quantitative morphometry) were identified on spine radiographs. Results: Smokers had significantly lower BGP levels (152 vs. 204 μg/L, p…
Influence of image reconstruction parameters on cardiovascular risk reclassification by Computed Tomography Coronary Artery Calcium Score
2018
Objective: To investigate the influence of different CT reconstruction parameters on coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) values and reclassification of predicted cardiovascular (CV) risk. Methods: CACS was evaluated in 113 patients undergoing ECG-gated 64-slice CT. Reference CACS protocol included standard kernel filter (B35f) with slice thickness/increment of 3/1.5 mm, and field-of-view (FOV) of 150â180 mm. Influence of different image reconstruction algorithms (reconstructed slice thickness/increment 2.0/1.0â1.5/0.8â3.0/2.0â3.0/3.0 mm; slice kernel B30f-B45f; FOV 200â250 mm) on Agatston score was assessed by Bland-Altman plots and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) ana…
Cross-clamping a porcelain aorta: an alternative technique for high-risk patients
2018
Background Aortic cross-clamping in patients with porcelain aorta is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. The aim is to establish a new approach to improve the outcome in this high-risk population. Methods Between September 2007 and November 2012, 42 patients with an aortic (N.=33; 81.3±6.4 years) or mitral valve disease (N.=9; 80.3±5.7) combined with a porcelain aorta underwent aortic (AVR) or mitral valve replacement (MVR). After arterial cannulation via distal aortic arch or femoral artery, longitudinal aortotomy under total cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was performed. The aorta was slowly clamped, thus mobilized atherosclerotic material could leave the aorta through the op…
Quantification of epicardial adipose tissue in coronary calcium score and CT coronary angiography image data sets: comparison of attenuation values, …
2016
The aim of the study was to compare epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) characteristics assessed with coronary calcium score (CS) and CT coronary angiography (CTCA) image data sets.In 76 patients (mean age 59 ± 13 years) who underwent CS and CTCA owing to suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), EAT was quantified in terms of density (Hounsfield units), thickness and volume. The EAT volume was extracted with a semi-automatic software.A moderate correlation was found between EAT density in CS and CTCA image data sets (-100 ± 19 HU vs -70 ± 24 HU; p 0.05, r = 0.55). The distribution of EAT was not symmetrical with a maximal thickness at the right atrioventricular groove (14.2 ± 5.3 mm in CS, 15.…
Intravascular Lithotripsy for Treatment of Calcified Lesions During Carotid Artery Stenting
2020
Purpose: To report the use of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) in the treatment of calcified carotid artery lesions. Materials and Methods: The records of 21 high-surgical-risk patients (mean age 75.1±8.1 years; 17 men) who were treated at 8 centers for carotid artery stenosis ≥70% were retrospectively reviewed. Twelve patients had a history of cerebrovascular disease. All patients had heavily calcified carotid artery lesions: 19 de novo and 2 in-stent restenoses (ISR). The mean baseline stenosis was 82.3%±9.7%. IVL was utilized at the discretion of the operator, followed by balloon angioplasty. Embolic protection devices were used in all cases. Results: In 19 patients, IVL was followed by s…
Fetuin-A is Associated to Serum Calcium and AHSG T256S Genotype but Not to Coronary Artery Calcification
2015
Vascular calcification has been recently associated to an increased cardiovascular risk and mortality. In few studies, Fetuin-A showed an association to coronary artery calcification (CAC), although the physiopathological mechanism underlying this association has not been fully established yet. Seventy-four patients with one or more cardiovascular risk factor and asymptomatic for coronary vasculopathy were included in the study. CAC was evaluated by Agatston score. Serum Fetuin-A levels were determined by ELISA. Molecular analysis of AHSG T256S gene variant (rs4918) was performed by PCR-RFLP. Serum Fetuin-A was correlated to serum calcium (r = 0,321; P = 0,018), but not to serum phosphorous…