BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Non-invasive detection and characterization of plaque composition may constitute an important step in risk stratification and monitoring of the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) allows for accurate, non-invasive detection and characterization of atherosclerotic plaques, as well as determination of coronary artery stenosis. T...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Our hypothesis was that symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid plaques are different. The aim of this study was to identify the sonographic tissue and surface characteristics of plaques and their degree of stenosis that corresponded to these two clinical presentations. METHODS We studied 81 symptomatic and 111 asymptomatic plaques (150 patients) having 50% to 99% stenosis...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Complicated (irregular or ulcerated) carotid plaques have proven to be independent predictors of stroke. We analyzed the frequency and location of plaque irregularities in a large cohort of patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease and the relation with severity of stenosis, cardiovascular risk factors, and symptomatology. METHODS Multidetector CT angiography image...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Echolucent carotid plaques have been associated with increased risk for stroke. Histological studies suggested that echolucent plaques are hemorrhage- and lipid-rich, whereas echogenic plaques are characterized by fibrosis and calcification. This is the first study to relate echogenicity to plaque composition analyzed biochemically. METHODS Echogenicity of human carotid...

BACKGROUND Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may have multiple complex coronary plaques that are not limited to the culprit lesions. However, it is unknown whether they tend to progress in severity, regress, or remain stable. The aim of this angiographic study is to evaluate the natural history of these lesions. METHODS We consecutively enrolled 229 patients who underwent corona...

PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate the frequency and extent of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients with a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score of zero and establish the demographic characteristics and the cardiovascular risk factors that affect the formation of atheromatous plaques. MATERIALS AND METHODS Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography was performed in 288 cases with a CAC sco...

Unstable human atherosclerotic plaques are characterized by a thin fibrous cap that contains few smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and numerous foam cells of macrophagic origin. Apoptosis of SMCs in the fibrous cap could destabilize the plaque and promote plaque rupture. In an experimental approach, we have studied apoptotic cell death and related proteins in atherosclerotic plaques of cholesterol-fed...

OBJECTIVE To comparatively evaluate black-blood coronary arterial wall MRI and 64-multidetector computed tomography (64-MDCT) for detection and classification of coronary artery plaques. METHODS We included 15 patients with confirmed coronary artery plaques in the proximal or middle segments of coronary arteries by 64-MDCT, who underwent black-blood coronary wall MRI at 1.5 T within 10 days. ...

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of neurodegenerative diseases. Amyloid deposits/plaques, one of its characteristic lesions, constitute the main target for diagnostics and therapeutics and have previously been identified in transgenic mouse models of AD using magnetic resonance (MR) microscopy [1,2]. These plaques typically appear as hypointense spots on T2 or T2*-...