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A Human Ex Vivo Atherosclerotic Plaque Model to Study Lesion Biology
Published on: May 6, 2014
Noninvasive Imaging to Assess Atherosclerotic Plaque Composition and Disease Activity: Coronary and Carotid
Marwa Daghem1, Rong Bing1, Zahi A Fayad2
1British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Insights
Advanced imaging techniques now allow detailed assessment of atherosclerosis plaque composition and activity. This improves risk stratification for cardiovascular disease beyond traditional stenosis measurements.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular imaging
- Atherosclerosis research
- Medical diagnostics
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease is a major global health concern.
- Traditional atherosclerosis imaging focuses on stenosis and plaque burden.
- Advances enable noninvasive interrogation of plaque characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review multimodality imaging for atherosclerosis.
- To focus on carotid and coronary applications.
- To highlight potential improvements in risk stratification and clinical decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on advanced imaging techniques.
- Focus on noninvasive methods for plaque characterization.
- Analysis of applications in carotid and coronary arteries.
Main Results:
- Novel imaging modalities can assess plaque composition and activity.
- Differentiation between stable and unstable atherosclerotic plaques is possible.
- These techniques complement existing imaging assessments.
Conclusions:
- Multimodality imaging offers enhanced insights into atherosclerosis.
- Improved risk stratification for cardiovascular events is achievable.
- These advanced techniques have the potential to refine clinical decision-making.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Atherosclerosis imaging has traditionally focused on detection of obstructive luminal stenoses or measurements of plaque burden. However, with advances in imaging technology it has now become possible to noninvasively interrogate plaque composition and disease activity, thereby differentiating stable from unstable patterns of disease and potentially improving risk stratification. This manuscript reviews multimodality imaging in this field, focusing on carotid and coronary atherosclerosis and how these novel techniques have the potential to complement current imaging assessments and improve clinical decision making.
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Classifying Matter by Composition
According to its composition, the matter can be classified into two broad categories — pure substances and mixtures.
A pure substance is a form of matter that has a constant composition throughout with uniform properties. For example, any sample of sucrose has the same composition and same physical properties, such as melting point, color, and sweetness, regardless of the source from which it is isolated.
A mixture is composed of two or...