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Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of... May 2024Collagen fiber arrangement is decisive for constitutive description of anisotropic mechanical response of arterial wall. In this study, their orientation in human common...
Collagen fiber arrangement is decisive for constitutive description of anisotropic mechanical response of arterial wall. In this study, their orientation in human common carotid artery was investigated using polarized light microscopy and an automated algorithm giving more than 4·10 fiber angles per slice. In total 113 slices acquired from 18 arteries taken from 14 cadavers were used for fiber orientation in the circumferential-axial plane. All histograms were approximated with unimodal von Mises distribution to evaluate dominant direction of fibers and their concentration parameter. 10 specimens were analyzed also in circumferential-radial and axial-radial planes (2-4 slices per specimen in each plane); the portion of radially oriented fibers was found insignificant. In the circumferential-axial plane, most specimens showed a pronounced unimodal distribution with angle to circumferential direction μ = 0.7° ± 9.4° and concentration parameter b = 3.4 ± 1.9. Suitability of the unimodal fit was confirmed by high values of coefficient of determination (mean R = 0.97, median R = 0.99). Differences between media and adventitia layers were not found statistically significant. The results are directly applicable as structural parameters in the GOH constitutive model of arterial wall if the postulated two fiber families are unified into one with circumferential orientation.
Topics: Humans; Carotid Arteries; Extracellular Matrix; Adventitia; Algorithms; Stress, Mechanical; Biomechanical Phenomena; Collagen
PubMed: 38507995
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106494 -
Portuguese Journal of Cardiac Thoracic... Oct 2023We report a case of a 67-years old non-smoking female diagnosed with hypertension when 24-years-old and complicated with chronic kidney and hypertensive heart diseases....
We report a case of a 67-years old non-smoking female diagnosed with hypertension when 24-years-old and complicated with chronic kidney and hypertensive heart diseases. On CT-Chest an incidental discovery of a lesion (16x14x23mm) adjacent to the abdominal aorta was made. Initially suspected to be paraganglioma, a hypothesis which the subsequent MRI did not exclude. Urine analysis showed normal Metanephrine with slightly elevated Chromogranin-A levels. During VATs-procedure "bulging" below the adventitial layer of the descending aorta at the level of the diaphragmatic gutter was identified. By opening the adventitia, a lipomatous lesion with a nodular, consistent center was identified and excised. Final histopathological report confirmed the diagnosis of lymph node not suggestive of neoplasia. Currently, 12 months after the surgery, the patient's condition is good being under surveillance in the Thoracosurgical Outpatient Clinic. Despite not having identified any neuroendocrine component, the patient had clinical signs of clear improvement of arterial hypertension.
Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Aorta, Abdominal; Hypertension; Lymph Nodes; Metanephrine; Paraganglioma
PubMed: 38499028
DOI: 10.48729/pjctvs.352 -
Vascular Medicine (London, England) Jun 2024Takayasu arteritis (TA) is associated with microvascularization of the wall of large arteries and is related to inflammation. Ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM),... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Takayasu arteritis (TA) is associated with microvascularization of the wall of large arteries and is related to inflammation. Ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM), combining ultrafast ultrasound imaging with microbubble (MB) injection, can track the path of MBs within the arterial wall and thus provide imaging of the vasa vasorum. From the analysis of MB tracks in the common carotid arteries of patients with active TA, we report the presence of microvessels in connection with the carotid lumen (i.e., vasa vasorum interna [VVI]). ULM maps were obtained on five patients with active disease in the observational single-center series of the TAK-UF study. MB tracks connected to the carotid lumen were automatically identified, allowing the reconstruction of VVI. MB tracking allows us to observe a microvascular network on the inner part of the wall, with some vessels in communication with the carotid lumen. This type of vessel was identified in all patients with active TA ( = 5) with a median of 2.2 [1.1-3.0] vessels per acquisition (2D longitudinal view of 3 cm of the common carotid artery). The blood flow within these vessels is mainly centrifugal; that is, toward the adventitia (88% [54-100] of MB tracks with flow directed to the outer part of the wall). VVI are present in humans in the case of active TA and emphasize the involvement of the intima in the pathological process. .
Topics: Humans; Vasa Vasorum; Takayasu Arteritis; Predictive Value of Tests; Female; Adult; Microbubbles; Carotid Artery, Common; Male; Contrast Media; Microcirculation; Microscopy, Acoustic; Middle Aged; Microvessels; Young Adult
PubMed: 38488572
DOI: 10.1177/1358863X241228262 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024Radiation-induced cystitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the urinary bladder, which can develop as a side effect of abdominopelvic radiotherapy, specifically...
Radiation-induced cystitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the urinary bladder, which can develop as a side effect of abdominopelvic radiotherapy, specifically external-beam radiation therapy or myeloablative radiotherapy. A possible involvement of mast cells in the pathophysiology of radiation-induced cystitis has been indicated in cases of external-beam radiation therapy; however, there is no evidence that these findings apply to the myeloablative aetiology. As such, this study investigated potential changes to urinary bladder mast cell prevalence when exposed to myeloablative radiation. Lethally irradiated C57BL/6J mice that received donor rescue bone marrow cells exhibited an increased mast cell frequency amongst host leukocytes 1 week following irradiation. By 4 weeks, no significant difference in either frequency or cell density was observed. However mast cell diameter was smaller, and a significant increase in mast cell number in the adventitia was observed. This study highlights that mast cells constitute a significant portion of the remaining host leukocyte population following radiation exposure, with changes to mast cell distribution and decreased cell diameter four weeks following radiation-induced injury.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Urinary Bladder; Mast Cells; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Cystitis; Pelvis
PubMed: 38485999
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56655-5 -
Journal of Neurosurgery. Case Lessons Mar 2024The authors report the case of a patient with occipital headache whose imaging studies revealed no abnormalities but who died 1 day later due to vertebral artery (VA)...
BACKGROUND
The authors report the case of a patient with occipital headache whose imaging studies revealed no abnormalities but who died 1 day later due to vertebral artery (VA) aneurysm rupture.
OBSERVATIONS
A male in his 40s with no relevant medical history had been taking over-the-counter medication for headache several times a month. One day before he visited our neurosurgery department, he experienced occipital headache, took the usual medicine, and applied a warm compress. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) studies returned no abnormal findings, and he went home. On the following day, his wife found his lifeless body in rigor mortis and requested a medicolegal autopsy. Preautopsy brain computed tomography showed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Histopathologically, there was no obvious VA dissection. The vascular wall at the rupture site lacked internal elastic lamina and media, it was covered only with thin fibrous connective tissue, and the adventitia was expanded. The cause of death was determined to be SAH due to rupture of a VA blister aneurysm.
LESSONS
In our patient, brain MRI and MRA studies returned no abnormal findings. However, he died suddenly the next day. Autopsy identified SAH due to rupture of a blister-like VA aneurysm without dissection.
PubMed: 38467045
DOI: 10.3171/CASE23723 -
BMC Urology Mar 2024Mast cells have been implicated in the pathology of various urinary bladder disorders. However, the distribution of mast cells throughout urinary bladder tissue remains...
BACKGROUND
Mast cells have been implicated in the pathology of various urinary bladder disorders. However, the distribution of mast cells throughout urinary bladder tissue remains uncertain despite mast cell prevalence being relatively well-defined. Using a mouse tissue model, this study aims to characterise the prevalence and distribution of mast cells throughout the urinary bladder.
METHODS
Bladder tissues were collected from six C57BL/6J female mice. Mast cell prevalence was quantified by flow cytometry, based on the expression of the following characteristic markers: CD45, CD117 and FcɛRIα. The toluidine blue stain assessed mast cell distribution, size, and proximity to vasculature. A repeated measures one-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the density of mast cells between the discrete layers of the urinary bladder, and an ordinary one-way ANOVA was used to assess potential differences between mast cell size across the urinary bladder wall.
RESULTS
It was determined that mast cells compose less than 4% of all live leukocytes in the urinary bladder. They were also found to be more prominent in the lamina propria and detrusor muscle layers, compared to the urothelium and adventitia. In addition, 20.89% of mast cells were located near vasculature, which may be an important factor in consideration of their function and potential to contribute to various bladder pathologies, such as cystitis or overactive bladder.
CONCLUSION
These findings provide a baseline understanding of mast cell prevalence and distribution throughout the urinary bladder.
Topics: Female; Mice; Animals; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Urinary Bladder; Mast Cells; Prevalence; Pelvis; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38443866
DOI: 10.1186/s12894-024-01435-6 -
Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in... Feb 2024Clinical verification of rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) persists as a mid-to-late diagnosis with medical imaging or biopsy. Early and subclinical presentations of RV, in...
INTRODUCTION
Clinical verification of rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) persists as a mid-to-late diagnosis with medical imaging or biopsy. Early and subclinical presentations of RV, in particular, can remain underdiagnosed in the absence of adequate diagnostic testing. In this study, the research demonstrated the precursory changes for RV in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using non-invasive ultrasound imaging of a peripheral vessel.
METHOD
Six participants were recruited: three participants with (RA) and three age- and gender-matched healthy controls. All participants completed a Foot Health Survey Questionnaire (FHSQ), and participants with RA completed a Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index-5 (RADAI-5). Bilateral B-mode and Doppler ultrasound of the dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) was performed. The degree of inflammation, lumen and artery diameters, lumen diameter-to-artery diameter ratio and peak systolic velocity in the proximal DPA were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
The mean RADAI-5 score (5.4 ± 0.8 out of 10) indicated moderate disease activity amongst participants with RA. Inflammation was observed in the DPA wall in all participants with RA, compared to no inflammation observed in the control group (Friedmans two-way analysis: χ = 15.733, P = 0.003). Differences between groups for inflammation, lumen diameter and lumen diameter-to-artery diameter ratio were found (P < 0.034), without differences for artery diameter and peak systolic velocity (P > 0.605). DPA wall inflammation did not correlate with FHSQ scores ( = -0.770, P = 0.073).
CONCLUSION
Despite moderate RA disease activity, this is the first study to demonstrate the use of ultrasound to observe inflammation in small vessel disease. Our findings suggest ultrasound imaging may be a viable screening tool to demonstrate arterial wall inflammation, indicating the precursory changes of RV.
PubMed: 38434542
DOI: 10.1002/ajum.12373 -
Basic Research in Cardiology Apr 2024The coronary perivascular adipose tissue (cPVAT) has been associated to the burden of cardiovascular risk factors and to the underlying vessel atherosclerotic plaque...
The coronary perivascular adipose tissue (cPVAT) has been associated to the burden of cardiovascular risk factors and to the underlying vessel atherosclerotic plaque severity. Although the "outside to inside" hypothesis of PVAT-derived-adipokine regulation of vessel function is currently accepted, whether the resident mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) in PVAT have a regulatory role on the underlying vascular arterial smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is not known. Here, we investigated the interactions between resident PVAT-ASCs and VSMCs. ASCs were obtained from PVAT overlying the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery of hearts removed at heart transplant operations. PVAT was obtained both from patients with non-ischemic and ischemic heart disease as the cause of heart transplant. ASCs were isolated from PVAT, phenotypically characterized by flow cytometry, functionally tested for proliferation, and differentiation. Crosstalk between ASCs and VSMCs was investigated by co-culture studies. ASCs were detected in the adventitia of the LAD-PVAT showing differentiation capacity and angiogenic potential. ASCs obtained from PVAT of non-ischemic and ischemic hearts showed different tissue factor (TF) expression levels, different VSMCs recruitment capacity through the axis ERK1/2-ETS1 signaling and different angiogenic potential. Induced upregulation of TF in ASCs isolated from ischemic PVAT rescued their angiogenic capacity in subcutaneously implanted plugs in mice, whereas silencing TF in ASCs decreased the proangiogenic capacity of non-ischemic ASCs. The results indicate for the first time a novel mechanism of regulation of VSMCs by PVAT-ASCs in angiogenesis, mediated by TF expression in ASCs. Regulation of TF in ASCs may become a therapeutic intervention to increase cardiac protection.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Thromboplastin; Adipocytes; Adipose Tissue; Heart; Stem Cells
PubMed: 38430261
DOI: 10.1007/s00395-024-01037-1 -
Integrative Medicine (Encinitas, Calif.) Jan 2024We report on 6 patients in our care who were harboring atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries. This condition poses a risk of acute ischemic stroke and indicates...
We report on 6 patients in our care who were harboring atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries. This condition poses a risk of acute ischemic stroke and indicates potential atherosclerosis elsewhere in the vascular system. The plaque was revealed by routine ultrasound measurement of carotid intima-medial thickness (CIMT) defined as the distance between the lumen-intima interface and the media-adventitia interface. Recent improvements in image resolution and edge detection algorithms have resulted in improved reliability and clinical usefulness of the technology. The patients were enrolled in a systems-based functional medicine program of cardiology prevention to address root causes. The program provided personalized interventions that included drug therapy, dietary supplements, and lifestyle modification. The 6 patients followed the integrative regimen, which successfully managed existing cardiovascular symptoms and risk factors while keeping various biomarkers under control. However, they continued to exhibit carotid plaque with no improvement. A novel dietary supplement that targets endothelial glycocalyx regeneration was added to the personalized intervention programs. The supplement contains a proprietary extract of rhamnan sulfate from the green seaweed The 6 participants consumed the supplement daily, and their plaque burden was measured after 6 months using the same CIMT technology. In every case, the total plaque burden was reduced, with an average reduction in the 6 patients of 5.55 mm, which is statistically significant. Significant reductions in maximum carotid plaque thickness were also observed at the end of the 6 months. The study suggests that rhamnan sulfate from may provide a safe and effective intervention for reducing atherosclerotic plaque, and should be evaluated as an adjunct therapy for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
PubMed: 38404609
DOI: No ID Found