Background Atherosclerotic plaques indicate the occurrence of ischemia events and it is a difficult task for clinical physicians. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract （GSPE） has been reported to exert an antiatheroge...Background Atherosclerotic plaques indicate the occurrence of ischemia events and it is a difficult task for clinical physicians. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract （GSPE） has been reported to exert an antiatherogenic effect by inducing regression of atherosclerotic plaques in animal experimental studies. In this study, the antiatherogenic effect of GSPE has been investigated in clinical use. Methods Consecu- tive 287 patients diagnosed with asymptomatic carotid plaques or abnormal plaque free carotid intima-media thickness （CIMT） were ran- domly assigned to the GSPE group （n = 146） or control group （n = 141）. The patients in the GSPE group received GSPE 200 mg per day orally, while patients in the control group were only enrolled in a lifestyle intervention program. Carotid ultrasound examination was per- formed at baseline and 6, 12, 24 months during follow-up. Mean maximum CIMT （MMCIMT）, plaque score, echogenicity of plaques and ischemic vascular events were recorded. Results As anticipated, after treatment, GSPE resulted in significant reduction in MMCIMT pro- gression （4.2% decrease after six months, 4.9% decrease after 12 months and 5.8% decrease after 24 months） and plaque score （10.9% de- crease after six months, 24.1% decrease after 12 months and 33.1% decrease after 24 months） for the primary outcome, while MMCIMT and plaque score were stable and even increased with the time going on in control group. The number of plaques and unstable plaques also de- creased after treatment of GSPE. Furthermore, the carotid plaque can disappear after treatment with GSPE. The incidence rate for transitory ischemic attack （TIA）, arterial revascularization procedure, and hospital readmission for unstable angina in GSPE group were statistically significant lower （P = 0.02, 0.08, 0.002, respectively） compared with the control group. Conclusions GSPE inhibited the progression of MMCIMT and reduced carotid plaque size in GSPE treated patients, and with extended treatment, the superior efficacy on MMCIMT and carotid plaque occurred. Furthermore, the GSPE group showed lower rates of clinical vascular events.展开更多
The assessment and management of early-stage atherosclerosis are important for the prevention of cardiovascular disease(CVD).In this study,we used multi-contrast magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) to investigate the caro...The assessment and management of early-stage atherosclerosis are important for the prevention of cardiovascular disease(CVD).In this study,we used multi-contrast magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) to investigate the carotid plaque feature in asymptomatic,at-risk subjects;we also evaluated the correlation between MRI findings and Framingham risk score(FRS).One hundred sixty-six asymptomatic individuals with risk factors for CVD underwent multi-contrast MRI.After the arterial morphology and plaque components were outlined,the differences in carotid plaque burden among the various risk categories were analyzed.The FRS analysis showed that high-risk individuals had thicker vessel wall and higher plaque lipid content than did low risk participants.A substantial proportion of advanced carotid plaques occurred in low and intermediate-risk groups.Multi-contrast MRI may provide incremental value to the FRS in managing asymptomatic at-risk population.展开更多
Enhance extemal counterpulsation （ECP） procedure has exhbited itself to be an effective therapy for the m anagem entof ischem ic card iovascu lar diseases, However, considering that EECP significantly increases the...Enhance extemal counterpulsation （ECP） procedure has exhbited itself to be an effective therapy for the m anagem entof ischem ic card iovascu lar diseases, However, considering that EECP significantly increases the acute diastolic pressure, whether it will intervene in the chronic progression of advanced plaque causing great concern in clilical applkation, but yet rein ains elusive presently. In the current paper, a flu id-structure interface （FSI） num erical model of artery with p iaque corn ponent w as developed based on in vivo hem odynam ic m easurem entperfotm ed h a porcine model, to caku late the m echanical stresses of the plaque before and during EECP, and h lum to assess the potential effects of long-term EECP treatm ent on plaque progression. The resu Its show that E E C P augm ented the wall shear stress （WSS） and plaque w all stress （PWS） over the card lac cycles, aswell as the spacial oscillatory of W SS （WSSG ）. Durhg EECP treatm ent, the PW S level respectively raised 6.82% and 6.07% in two simulation cases. The currentpilot study suggests that E E C P treatm entre ay p lay a positive effect on inh biting the conthued plaque progression by hcreashg the PW S level over the card iac cycles. Meanwhile, the plaque morphology should be taken into consideration while m aking patient- specific plan for Ion g- term E E C P treatment in clinic.展开更多
文摘Background Atherosclerotic plaques indicate the occurrence of ischemia events and it is a difficult task for clinical physicians. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract （GSPE） has been reported to exert an antiatherogenic effect by inducing regression of atherosclerotic plaques in animal experimental studies. In this study, the antiatherogenic effect of GSPE has been investigated in clinical use. Methods Consecu- tive 287 patients diagnosed with asymptomatic carotid plaques or abnormal plaque free carotid intima-media thickness （CIMT） were ran- domly assigned to the GSPE group （n = 146） or control group （n = 141）. The patients in the GSPE group received GSPE 200 mg per day orally, while patients in the control group were only enrolled in a lifestyle intervention program. Carotid ultrasound examination was per- formed at baseline and 6, 12, 24 months during follow-up. Mean maximum CIMT （MMCIMT）, plaque score, echogenicity of plaques and ischemic vascular events were recorded. Results As anticipated, after treatment, GSPE resulted in significant reduction in MMCIMT pro- gression （4.2% decrease after six months, 4.9% decrease after 12 months and 5.8% decrease after 24 months） and plaque score （10.9% de- crease after six months, 24.1% decrease after 12 months and 33.1% decrease after 24 months） for the primary outcome, while MMCIMT and plaque score were stable and even increased with the time going on in control group. The number of plaques and unstable plaques also de- creased after treatment of GSPE. Furthermore, the carotid plaque can disappear after treatment with GSPE. The incidence rate for transitory ischemic attack （TIA）, arterial revascularization procedure, and hospital readmission for unstable angina in GSPE group were statistically significant lower （P = 0.02, 0.08, 0.002, respectively） compared with the control group. Conclusions GSPE inhibited the progression of MMCIMT and reduced carotid plaque size in GSPE treated patients, and with extended treatment, the superior efficacy on MMCIMT and carotid plaque occurred. Furthermore, the GSPE group showed lower rates of clinical vascular events.
文摘The assessment and management of early-stage atherosclerosis are important for the prevention of cardiovascular disease(CVD).In this study,we used multi-contrast magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) to investigate the carotid plaque feature in asymptomatic,at-risk subjects;we also evaluated the correlation between MRI findings and Framingham risk score(FRS).One hundred sixty-six asymptomatic individuals with risk factors for CVD underwent multi-contrast MRI.After the arterial morphology and plaque components were outlined,the differences in carotid plaque burden among the various risk categories were analyzed.The FRS analysis showed that high-risk individuals had thicker vessel wall and higher plaque lipid content than did low risk participants.A substantial proportion of advanced carotid plaques occurred in low and intermediate-risk groups.Multi-contrast MRI may provide incremental value to the FRS in managing asymptomatic at-risk population.
基金Key Clinical Project from the Ministry of Heatthgrant number:25400+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of Chinagrant number:81170272
文摘Enhance extemal counterpulsation （ECP） procedure has exhbited itself to be an effective therapy for the m anagem entof ischem ic card iovascu lar diseases, However, considering that EECP significantly increases the acute diastolic pressure, whether it will intervene in the chronic progression of advanced plaque causing great concern in clilical applkation, but yet rein ains elusive presently. In the current paper, a flu id-structure interface （FSI） num erical model of artery with p iaque corn ponent w as developed based on in vivo hem odynam ic m easurem entperfotm ed h a porcine model, to caku late the m echanical stresses of the plaque before and during EECP, and h lum to assess the potential effects of long-term EECP treatm ent on plaque progression. The resu Its show that E E C P augm ented the wall shear stress （WSS） and plaque w all stress （PWS） over the card lac cycles, aswell as the spacial oscillatory of W SS （WSSG ）. Durhg EECP treatm ent, the PW S level respectively raised 6.82% and 6.07% in two simulation cases. The currentpilot study suggests that E E C P treatm entre ay p lay a positive effect on inh biting the conthued plaque progression by hcreashg the PW S level over the card iac cycles. Meanwhile, the plaque morphology should be taken into consideration while m aking patient- specific plan for Ion g- term E E C P treatment in clinic.
