No abstract available.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Collateral Circulation ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis/diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Middle Aged ; Moyamoya Disease/diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Scleroderma, Systemic/*complications ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

We measured the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ABI in 97 ischemic stroke patients and 93 control subjects to investigate the relationship between baPWV, ABI and risk factors of ischemic stroke. The stroke patients were grouped according to the results of MRA and Carotid artery color Doppler ultrasound. The correlation of baPWV and ABI to the arteriosclerosis was discussed. There was a significant difference in the patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, baPWV and ABI between ischemic stroke patients and control subjects. baPWV was the most sensitive risk factor for ischemic stroke. ABI and diabetes mellitus were the relatively sensitive risk factors for ischemic stroke. baPWV were found to have a positive correlation with common carotid arteriosclerosis (gamma=0.215, P=0.048), while ABI had a negative correlation with intracranial arteriosclerosis (gamma=-0.237, P<0.05). BaPWV and ABI may closely relate to severity of ischemic stroke. Simple measurements of baPWV and ABI in patients could be a useful tool for evaluating the risk of ischemic stroke.
Aged ; Ankle ; blood supply ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Arteriosclerosis ; physiopathology ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Brachial Artery ; physiopathology ; Brain ; blood supply ; pathology ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; Carotid Arteries ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulsatile Flow ; Pulse ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; diagnosis ; etiology ; physiopathology

PURPOSE: Koreans have been undergoing rapid lifestyle changes that may have an effect on patterns of cerebral artery atherosclerosis. This study was aimed at determining the frequency and distribution of atherosclerosis in the cerebral arteries and associated temporal changes over the past eight-year period among Korean stroke patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By using stroke registry data registered between April 1999 and March 2007, we investigated the presence, severity, and location of cerebral artery atherosclerosis as determined by angiographic findings. Their annual patterns and association with vascular risk factors were investigated. RESULTS: Of 1,955 patients, 1,517 patients (77.6%) demonstrated atherosclerosis in one or more arteries. A significantly increasing trend of atherosclerosis was observed during the past eight years, which was ascribed to an increase of combined extracranial (EC) and intracranial (IC) atherosclerosis. The number of atherosclerotic arteries increased as the number of risk factors increased. In the multivariate analysis, the year and vascular risk factors were independent predictors of the presence of atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: We found that the atherosclerotic burden has been increasing for the past eight years in Korean stroke patients, particularly the combined EC and IC subtype. Lifestyle changes and increase in vascular risk factors may be contributing factors.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; *Cost of Illness ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis/*epidemiology/etiology/pathology ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Koreans have been undergoing rapid lifestyle changes that may have an effect on patterns of cerebral artery atherosclerosis. This study was aimed at determining the frequency and distribution of atherosclerosis in the cerebral arteries and associated temporal changes over the past eight-year period among Korean stroke patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By using stroke registry data registered between April 1999 and March 2007, we investigated the presence, severity, and location of cerebral artery atherosclerosis as determined by angiographic findings. Their annual patterns and association with vascular risk factors were investigated. RESULTS: Of 1,955 patients, 1,517 patients (77.6%) demonstrated atherosclerosis in one or more arteries. A significantly increasing trend of atherosclerosis was observed during the past eight years, which was ascribed to an increase of combined extracranial (EC) and intracranial (IC) atherosclerosis. The number of atherosclerotic arteries increased as the number of risk factors increased. In the multivariate analysis, the year and vascular risk factors were independent predictors of the presence of atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: We found that the atherosclerotic burden has been increasing for the past eight years in Korean stroke patients, particularly the combined EC and IC subtype. Lifestyle changes and increase in vascular risk factors may be contributing factors.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; *Cost of Illness ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis/*epidemiology/etiology/pathology ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of the polymorphism of SG13S114A/T in ALOX5AP gene with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI).

METHODSBy polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, polymorphism of SG13S114A/T in ALOX5AP gene in 412 cases with ACI and 368 non-ACI controls were analyzed.

RESULTThere were no statistically significant differences in the ALOX5AP gene SG13S114 AA genotype and A allele frequencies between ACI group and control group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results do not support genotype SG13S114 A allele as the risk gene for ACI.control group.

5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins ; genetics ; Alleles ; Cerebral Infarction ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis ; complications ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tongmai Recipe (TMR) on atherosclerosis (AS) in patients with early lower extremity arteriopathy disease (LEAD) caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODSPatients were randomly assigned to two groups. The 23 patients in the treatment group were treated by TMR and the 22 in the control group were given Cilostazo, all for 3 months. Before and after treatment, lower extremity vascular color Doppler image, blood levels of glucose, insulin, serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured.

RESULTSThe thickness of AS plaque and that of arterial intima-media obviously reduced (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), insulin sensitivity improved noticeably (P < 0.01), and serum levels of MMP-9 and IL-6 lowered obviously (P < 0.05) in the treatment group after treatment, but these indexes were unchanged in the control group statistically.

CONCLUSIONTMR has remarkable action in reducing the thickness of AS plaque and intima-media of artery, its mechanism might be related with improving of insulin sensitivity and anti-inflammatory reaction, and reducing of serum MMP-9 level as well in patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Arteriosclerosis ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lower Extremity ; blood supply ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; blood ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Tibial Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect and safety of Shuxuetong Injection (SXT) in treating patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus accompanying lower extremity atherosclerotic obliterans.

METHODSThe selected patients were assigned by randomized digital table to the treated group (180 cases treated with SXT) and the control group (80 cases treated with alprostadil). The clinical efficacy was assessed after 4 weeks of treatment, and the inner diameters and blood flow of the superficial femoral artery, the posterior tibial artery and the foot dorsal artery were measured and compared before and after treatment using Doppler's ultrasonography.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the treated group was 94.4% (170/180), better than that in the control group, 85.0% (68/80, P < 0.01). Ultrasonic examination showed that the inner diameter and the blood flow of all the arteries measured in the treated groups increased after treatment (P < 0.01), with the increase superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05). No adverse reaction was found during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONSXT has the effect of activating blood circulation, dissolving stasis and dredging collaterals, it could reduce or eliminate the formation of thrombi, being effective and safe when applied in clinical practice for the treatment of lower extremity diabetic atherosclerotic obliterans.

Adult ; Aged ; Arteriosclerosis Obliterans ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Lower Extremity ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of chronic enhanced external counterpulastion (EECP) on gene expression profiles of arterial endothelial cells (ECs) of pigs fed with high-cholesterol diet.

METHODSEight male pigs were fed with high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks to induce arteriosclerosis and subjected to EECP for accumulative 36 h (2 h every other day for 18 sessions). Another 8 pigs on cholesterol-enriched diet and 6 normally fed pigs served as the arteriosclerosis model group and normal control group, respectively, and the high-cholesterol diet was maintained until the end of EECP treatment. The coronary artery was then isolated for transmission electro microscopy, and the abdominal aorta was observed using Sudan III staining. The gene expression profiles in ECs from the thoracic aorta using cDNA microarrays.

RESULTSMacrophages and foam cells were detected beneath the ECs in the coronary artery of pigs in the model group, but not in the other two groups. The ratios of Sudan III-positive area in the celiac aorta were significantly lower in normal control and EECP groups than in the model control group (P<0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the gene expressions of integrins-beta1 and CTGF were up-regulated in the model group. Compared with the model group, the expressions of integrins-beta1, CTGF and VCAM-1 were down-regulated and eNOS up-regulated in EECP group.

CONCLUSIONChronic EECP may reduce endothelial injury, down-regulate the gene expression level of integrin-beta1, CTGF and VCAM-1, lower cholesterol uptake and attenuate arterial endothelial inflammation to protect the pigs fed with high-cholesterol diet from arteriosclerosis.

Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Arteriosclerosis ; etiology ; genetics ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; metabolism ; pathology ; Counterpulsation ; methods ; Diet, Atherogenic ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Swine

Arteriosclerosis ; complications ; Blood Pressure ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Dietary Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Sclerosis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the outcomes of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stenting in the treatment of critical lower extremity ischemia of arteriosclerosis obliterans.

METHODSFrom April 2005 to May 2006, PTA and stenting was performed on 29 limbs of 24 patients with critical lower limb ischemia. Among all these patients, their main clinical symptom was rest pain, while ulceration and gangrene were also found in 12 patients. Four limbs underwent PTA, 4 limbs underwent prosthetic femoral-popliteal bypass with infrapopliteal balloon dilatation simultaneously, and the remaining 21 limbs were performed by PTA and stent placement.

RESULTSThe success rate of endovascular procedure was 100% for femoral-popliteal artery, and 88% for infrapopliteal artery. Rest pain disappeared and the ulcers were healed after the operations. Only 1 patient received amputation during the operation.

CONCLUSIONEndovascular therapy is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of critical lower limb ischemia.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; methods ; Arteriosclerosis Obliterans ; complications ; therapy ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Ischemia ; etiology ; therapy ; Leg ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Popliteal Artery ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Tibial Arteries ; Treatment Outcome