Detection of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability has critical clinical implications for avoiding sudden death in patients with high risk of plaque rupture. We report on multimodality imaging of ex-vivo human carotid plaque samples using a system that integrates fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), ultrasonic backscatter microscopy (UBM), and photoacoustic imaging (PAI). Biochemical compositio...

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the most severe form of ischemic heart disease. Although it caused by atherosclerotic plaque thrombosis or nonatherosclerotic causes, its pathophysiological mechanism ACS not fully understood, and concept constantly updated developed. At present, main mechanisms include rupture, erosion, calcified nodules (CN) non-atherosclerotic causes such as vasospasm myocard...

The past decade has witnessed revolutionary changes in the understanding of the pathogenesis and management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The major cause of ACS is the rupture or erosion of an atherosclerotic plaque and subsequent thrombosis leading to variable obstruction in the coronary arterial lumen. Clinical strategies for the management of ACS now focus more on creating plaque stabil...

Atherosclerosis and its sequelae have a major impact on morbidity and mortality. The rupture of an inflamed atherosclerotic plaque is a crucial event, since it can result in acute thrombotic closure of an arterial vessel, resulting e. g. in myocardial infarction or stroke. Not only detection of early plaque rupture with imminent closure is therefore of clinical interest, but also timely detecti...

Despite recent advances in medical and surgical treatments to prevent arterial stroke, the cerebrovascular burden of atherosclerosis remains high. Factors associated with a high risk for arterial stroke include stenosis .50% and ulcerated plaque. Given the important role of inflammation in atherosclerotic plaque progression and rupture, a measure of plaque inflammation may help stratify arteria...

A therosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent thrombus formation in the culprit lesion are recognized to be the seminal events in the majority of cases of acute coronary syndrome. Plaque stability is determined by many factors, including lipid deposits, oxidative stress, inflammation, and extracellular matrix degradation. Accumulation of lipid in the atherosclerotic lesion increases mechanical...