Atherosclerosis
-
Comparative Study
Cardiovascular function in healthy Himalayan high-altitude dwellers.
Residents of the Himalayan valleys uniquely adapted to their hypoxic environment in terms of pulmonary vasculature, but their systemic vascular function is still largely unexplored. The aim of the study was to investigate vascular function and structure in rural Sherpa population, permanently living at high altitude in Nepal (HA), in comparison with control Caucasian subjects (C) living at sea level. ⋯ HA exhibit reduced NO-mediated dilation in the brachial artery, which is associated to reduced hyperemic response, indicating microcirculatory dysfunction. A peculiar carotid phenotype, characterized by reduced IMT and enlarged diameter, was also found.
-
To evaluate the association between arterial stiffness and stroke severity and in-hospital outcome in patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke. ⋯ Increased AIx appears to be associated with lower in-hospital mortality rates in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke. Other markers of arterial stiffness do not appear to be associated with short-term outcome in this population.
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Circulating cytokines in relation to the extent and composition of coronary atherosclerosis: results from the ATHEROREMO-IVUS study.
We investigated whether concentrations of TNF-α, TNF-β, TNF-receptor 2, interferon-γ, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-18 are associated with extent and composition of coronary atherosclerosis determined by grayscale and virtual histology (VH)- intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). ⋯ Higher circulating TNF-α was associated with higher plaque burden and VH-TCFA lesions in SAP patients. Lower circulating IL-10 was associated with higher plaque burden and large VH-TCFA lesions. These in-vivo findings suggest a role for these cytokines in extent and vulnerability of atherosclerosis.