Vascular calcification, long thought to result from passive degeneration, involves a complex, regulated process of biomineralization resembling osteogenesis. Evidence indicates that proteins controlling bone mineralization are also involved in the regulation of vascular calcification. Artery wall cells grown in culture are induced to become osteogenic by inflammatory and atherogenic stimuli. Fu...

OBJECTIVES This investigation was designed to determine the relationship between National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) ATP-II lipid guidelines and subclinical atherosclerosis, defined by electron beam tomography (EBT) calcified coronary plaque, in asymptomatic women. BACKGROUND NCEP guidelines are used to identify women at increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) on the basis ...

OBJECTIVE It has been reported that epicardial adipose tissue could locally modulate the coronary artery functions through secretion of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Epicardial fat tissue is further implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) because of its proximity to the adventitia of the major epicardial coronary arteries. We investigated the relations...

Vascular calcification, long thought to result from passive degeneration, involves a complex, regulated process of biomineralization resembling osteogenesis. Evidence indicates that proteins controlling bone mineralization are also involved in the regulation of vascular calcification. Artery wall cells grown in culture are induced to become osteogenic by inflammatory and atherogenic stimuli. Fu...

Abstract Introduction Peyronie’s disease (PD), estimated to affect around 10% of the male population, is an acquired disorder penile fibrotic tissue. The only FDA approved medical treatment for PD Intralesional Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum (CCh). CCh a mixture AUX1 and AUXII, two different forms collagenase that cleave collage type I III, leading plaque degradation. plaques, however, al...

Pathogenic bacteria located in the subgingival area can cause periodontal diseases, gingivitis, and periodontitis. These bacterial species stick to the root surfaces and are found in a complex structure called dental plaque, which is a form of biofilm. Dental plaque, where appropriate oral hygiene is lacking, may become calcified, thereby creating calculus mainly formed from crystalline. The po...

OBJECTIVE To investigate possible protrusions through stent cells, and the factors affecting protrusions after carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS). METHODS This ex-vivo clinical study was performed between July 2010 and August 2011 at the Department of Radiology, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. After approval by the Institutional Board, 15 successive carotid plaques, whic...

The article by Zhao et al 1 is the first definitive study to describe the use of high-resolution MRI to monitor the effects of intensive drug treatment on the dimensions and composition of atherosclerotic plaques in human carotid arteries. (An earlier brief rapid communication by Corti and coworkers2 described the effect of lipid-lowering therapy on carotid and aortic vessel dimensions but not ...

BACKGROUND Neoangiogenesis is crucial in plaque progression and instability. Previous data from our group showed that Nestin-positive intraplaque neovessels correlated with histological complications. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the relationship between neoangiogenesis, plaque morphology, and clinical instability of the plaque. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-three patients (53 m...

BACKGROUND Apoprotein B-containing lipoproteins are atherogenic, but atheroprotective functions of apoprotein A-containing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles are poorly understood. The association between lipoproteins and plaque components by coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) and intravascular ultrasound with radiofrequency backscatter (IVUS/VH) has not been evaluated. METH...