Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026
07:19
Recording of Inward Rectifying K+ Currents in Freshly Isolated Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Patch Clamp Technique
Published on: February 7, 2025
730
A 9-Year Longitudinal Study of Basilar Artery Diameter
Mariko Takeuchi1, Kaori Miwa2, Makiko Tanaka3
11 Department of Neurology and Stroke Center Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine Suita, Osaka Japan.
Journal of the American Heart Association
|February 26, 2019
Summary
A smaller longitudinal change in basilar artery (BA) diameter is linked to a higher incidence of cardiovascular events (CVEs). BA diameter generally increases over time, but this progression varies based on sex and initial BA size.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Basilar artery (BA) dilatation is a known predictor of cardiovascular events (CVEs).
- The association between the longitudinal change in BA diameter (Δ BA) and CVEs remains unclear.
- Understanding BA diameter changes may offer new insights into cardiovascular risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the relationship between longitudinal changes in BA diameter (Δ BA) and the incidence of CVEs.
- To assess the time course of BA diameter in a cohort with vascular risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of Japanese participants with vascular risk factors.
- Basilar artery (BA) diameter measured at the midpons level using T2-weighted MRI.
- Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model and linear regression analysis used for evaluation.
Main Results:
- A smaller Δ BA was independently associated with a higher incidence of CVEs (HR, 0.36; P=0.010).
- Over a mean follow-up of 8.7 years, 105 out of 493 patients developed CVEs.
- BA diameter increased over time (mean Δ BA of 0.41±0.46 mm over 9.4 years), influenced by sex and initial BA diameter.
Conclusions:
- Longitudinal changes in BA diameter are inversely associated with cardiovascular event incidence.
- Basilar artery diameter generally increases over time, with variations observed.
- Findings suggest Δ BA is a significant, independent predictor of CVEs.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Longitudinal Studies
498
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
498
02:20Longitudinal Research
13.2K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
13.2K
01:17Design Example: Calculating Safe Diameter for Wind-Exposed Disc
357
Assessing safety in wind-exposed installations is crucial to preventing potential failures. This example explores the calculation and design adjustments needed to mount a circular disc on a building facade, where wind forces are a primary concern. A 4-meter diameter disc was initially designed as an aesthetic feature facing winds at a velocity of 25 meters per second, with an air density of 1.25 kilograms per cubic meter. Given these conditions, the drag force on the disc was determined using...
357
01:20Arteries of Lower Limbs
4.5K
The external iliac artery transitions out of the body cavity, entering the femoral region of the lower leg, and is renamed the femoral artery at the point where it traverses the body wall. This artery is responsible for the distribution of blood to the thigh's deep muscles and the skin's ventral and lateral regions, achieved through several minor branches and the lateral deep femoral artery, which also spawns a lateral circumflex artery. The knee area receives blood from the genicular...
4.5K
01:16Arteries and Arterioles
6.6K
Arteries, the vasculature responsible for transporting blood from the heart, possess robust walls capable of enduring the elevated pressures exerted by the heartbeat. Arteries near the heart are especially thick-walled and enriched with elastic fibers across their three tunics, classifying them as elastic or conducting arteries. These arteries, usually with a diameter exceeding 10 mm, are characterized by their ability to dilate in response to the blood pumped from the heart's ventricles...
6.6K
01:12Arteries of the Upper Limbs
2.2K
The subclavian artery transitions into the axillary artery as it exits the chest and enters the axillary region. This artery is critical for supplying blood to the shoulder area, including the head of the humerus, through the humeral circumflex arteries. As the vessel continues into the upper arm or brachium, it becomes the brachial artery. This artery plays a key role in vascularizing the brachial region and bifurcates at the elbow into several branches. These branches include the deep...
2.2K