Methods Via CMR (1.5T GE, WI), 35 carotid arteries of 18 asymptomatic, ‘statin naïve’ patients with maximum carotid stenosis >50% (mean 64±21), were imaged at baseline and following 12 months of randomized, blinded statin therapy (simvastatin 40mg or Vytorin (Ezetimibe 10mg/ simvastatin 40mg)). The effects of statins on these lesions were evaluated as changes in carotid outer wall area (OWA), l...

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease is characterized by stiffening, thinning, dilatation, and increased circumferential wall stress of large arteries, associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Kidney transplantation (KT) reverses many pathological features of chronic kidney disease and improves life expectancy; however, longitudinal studies exploring the impact of KT on recipient large arter...

The tunica media of the giraffe carotid artery is characterised by a predominantly muscular structure, except for a small area at the origins of the occipital and the vestigal internal carotid arteries. The latter has a preponderantly elastic structure and corresponds in extent to the parts of the carotid arterial wall innervated by a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve. Sensory nerve terminal...

High-resolution carotid MRI allows visualization of carotid atherosclerotic plaque characteristics. MRI serves as a noninvasive option for the detection of active plaque inflammation and intraplaque hemorrhage. Significant gains in signal-tonoise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio can be obtained for carotid atheroma imaging at 3T compared with 1.5T. Normalized wall index or wall area on MRI has...

Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) occurs when the dynamic water hammer forces; cause vibrations in the pipe wall. FSI in pipe systems due to Poisson and junction coupling has been the center of attention in recent years. It causes fluctuations in pressure heads and vibrations in the pipe wall. The governing equations of this phenomenon include a system of first order hyperbolic partial differen...

permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Previous studies have reported stroke magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments that included a carotid magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition with gradient-echo (MPRAGE) sequence. The findings of these studies showed that a carotid MPRAGE-positive signal was...

Finite element simulations of fluid-solid interactions were used to investigate inter-individual variations in flow dynamics and wall mechanics at the carotid artery bifurcation, and its effects on atherogenesis, in three healthy humans (normal volunteers: NV1, NV2, NV4). Subject-specific calculations were based on MR images of structural anatomy and ultrasound measurements of flow at domain bo...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Endovascular placement of coronary balloon-expandable stents in patients with recurrent cerebral ischemia has emerged as a treatment option for intracranial arterial occlusive disease. We have developed an in vitro model matching the tortuous curve of the carotid siphon that allows the assessment of apposition of stents to a curved vessel wall. METHODS Six types of ball...

Fluid mechanic forces play a key role in the early development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, which predominantly occurs in areas of disturbed flow and low wall shear stress (WSS). In the present study, we perform particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements in an anatomically realistic transparent flow phantom of a human carotid artery. Steady blood flow conditions are simulated ...

Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measured by B-mode ultrasound is the most widely used noninvasive imaging method to assess atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. CIMT has been consistently associated with coronary artery disease and stroke; however, recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews suggest that its clinical usefulness may be limited because the addition of CIMT to traditional...