Background—Common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and distensibility are markers of structural and functional vessel wall properties. Both parameters have been found in population-based studies to be associated with cardiovascular risk factors and prevalent cardiovascular disease. We investigated cross-sectionally whether IMT and distensibility are associated with cardiovascular risk in pa...

AIMS The role of cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in the aetiology of abdominal aortic aneurysms is not well understood. The aim of this study was to determine the association between atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysm in the general population and the extent to which cardiovascular risk factors might increase the risk of aneurysm independently of an effect on atherosclerotic di...

OBJECTIVES The study determined, in a population-based setting, whether dilatation of the thoracic aorta is an atherosclerosis-related process. BACKGROUND The role of atherosclerosis in thoracic aortic dilatation and aneurysm formation is poorly defined. METHODS The dimensions of the thoracic aorta were measured with transesophageal echocardiography in 373 subjects participating in a population...

Background—It is estimated that about half of cardiovascular disease risk is explained by conventional risk factors. The realization that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease has led to a search for new stroke and cardiovascular disease risk factors and treatments. As such, the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque has become the main focus for new medical strategies for plaque stabilization ...

Atherogenesis starts from the fetal life, and its natural course consists of interrelations between traditional risk factors and inflammatory, immune, and endothelial biomarkers. Even the early-stages of atherosclerotic lesions, i.e. fatty streaks present the features of chronic inflammation. Markers of inflammation are associated with insulin resistance and major atherosclerosis risk factors. ...

OBJECTIVES We determined the prevalence of classical risk factors for atherosclerosis and mortality risk in patients with CGI. METHODS A case-control study was conducted. Patients referred with suspected CGI underwent a standard work-up including risk factors for atherosclerosis, radiological imaging of abdominal vessels and tonometry. Cases were patients with confirmed atherosclerotic CGI. C...

BACKGROUND Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is a marker of cardiovascular damage that can be modified by traditional risk factors. AIM To determine attributable risk factors for a high CIMT among healthy adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS A sample of 1270 individuals (636 males and 634 females) aged 44 ± 11 years, was studied. Blood pressure, weight, height, lipid profile and blood glucose w...

Atherosclerosis is a complex inflammatory disorder of the medium and large-sized arteries. Recent experiments demonstrated that atherosclerosis is a Th1 dominant autoimmune condition, whereas Th2 cells are rarely detected within the atherosclerotic lesions. Several studies have indicated that Th2 type cytokines could be effective in the reduction and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaque. The...

It has been suggested that atherosclerotic plaques can be visualized in a panoramic radiograph but this tool is not reliable for systematic screening of patients due to its low sensitivity. This study investigated the potential role for dental practitioners in using an ultrasound machine to detect carotid artery plaques. 100 subjects completed a survey concerning theiratherosclerosis risk facto...

BACKGROUND Little is known about whether vascular risk factors predispose to atherosclerotic stroke depending on age. We evaluated predictors of large vessel atherosclerotic stroke (LVAS) stratified by age in two geographically and racially distinct study populations. METHODS Data collected over a 4-year period in prospectively maintained registries on 3,053 subjects with ischemic cerebrovasc...