Macrophage presence within atherosclerotic plaque is a feature of instability and a risk factor for plaque rupture and clinical events. Activated macrophages express high levels of the translocator protein/peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (TSPO/PBR). In this study, we investigated the potential for quantifying plaque inflammation by targeting this receptor. TSPO expression and distribution in...

Abstract Background Vascular inflammation has been recognized as one of the key factors in pathogenesis acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Peri-coronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation by computed tomography angiography (CTA) emerged a marker specific for artery inflammation. We examined relationship between clinical presentation and assessed PCAT plaque characteristics. Methods Patients with AC...

Ivabradine is a new bradycardiac agent acting on the If current channels of sinoatrial nodal cells to decrease the rate of diastolic depolarization and thus the heart rate. Ivabradine has been shown to safely and effectively reduce heart rate without compromising cardiac function in patients with coronary artery disease and more recently in patients with heart failure and raised heart rate. The...

Atherosclerosis remains the leading cause of death in North America and Europe. During the natural course of atherosclerosis, inflammation plays a major role in the development of complex plaque lesions containing activated macrophages, foam cells, T lymphocytes, mast cells, and a necrotic lipid-rich core (1). When such a plaque becomes unstable due to uncontrolled inflammation and thinning of ...

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. It still the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in world. Inflammation vessels plays most important role pathogenesis atherosclerosis. Many studies have been emphasized that Chlamydia pneumoniae triggers inflammation associated with stated chlamydial infections are asymptomatic around 40% adult individuals infected. has different subgroup...

New insights into atherosclerosis, the most common disease affecting coronary arteries, may change therapeutic strategies from largely symptomatic to causal. Atherosclerotic plaques contain a lipid-related, immune-mediated inflammation, with release of secretory products capable of changing plaque morphology. Plaques prone to complications contain large numbers of inflammatory cells; stable pla...

Endothelial microparticles (EMPs) are released from dysfunctional endothelial cells. We hypothesised that patients with unstable carotid plaque have higher levels of circulating microparticles compared to patients with stable plaques, and may correlate with serum markers of plaque instability and inflammation. Circulating EMPs, platelet MPs (PMPs) and inflammatory markers were measured in healt...