Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation - Volume Pre-press, issue Pre-press

Authors: Li, Lisha | Wang, Hongjun | Pan, Yalong | Liu, Kun

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: This article reviews the latest research results of the use of ultrasound technology in the perioperative period of carotid endarterectomy and carotid stenting and discusses the role of ultrasound technology in accurately evaluating carotid stenosis and plaque stability, assisting in selecting the most suitable surgical method, and providing optimal perioperative imaging to guide carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) to reduce the occurrence and progression of stroke. METHODS: The research published in recent years on the application of ultrasound in the perioperative period of CEA and CAS was reviewed through the databases of CNKI, Pubmed, …and Web of Science. RESULTS: Ultrasound has high clinical value in preoperative screening for indications, assessing the degree of carotid artery stenosis and the nature of plaque; monitoring hemodynamic changes intraoperatively to prevent cerebral ischemia or overperfusion; and evaluating surgical outcomes postoperatively and in late follow-up review. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is currently widely used perioperatively in CEA and CAS and has even become the preferred choice of clinicians to evaluate the efficacy of surgery and follow-up. The presence of vulnerable plaque is an important risk factor for ischemic stroke. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is an excellent tool to assess plaque stability. In most studies, ultrasound has been used only in a short follow-up period after CEA and CAS, and data from longer follow-ups are needed to provide more reliable evidence. Show more

Keywords: Carotid artery stent implantation, carotid artery ultrasound, carotid endarterectomy, ischemic stroke, neovascularization

DOI: 10.3233/CH-242412

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-14, 2024

Authors: Deng, Jiayi | Wu, Weihao | Zhang, Zimiao | Ma, Xiaomei | Chen, Congjie | Huang, Yanhong | Lai, Yueyuan | Chen, Liling | Chen, Longtian

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between the hemoglobin-to-red blood cell distribution width ratio (HRR) and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality in people who have diabetes. METHODS: Data derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), between the years 1999 to 2018, were meticulously analyzed. Mortality data, encompassing events until December 31, 2019, were systematically collected. A comprehensive group comprising of 8,732 participants were subjected to scrutiny, and subsequently, classified into four distinct groups predicated upon quartiles of baseline HRR levels: Q1 (n  = 2,183), Q2 (n  = 2,181), Q3 (n  = 2,185), and Q4 …(n  = 2,183). The correlation between HRR and CVD-related mortality was examined through the use of survival curves and Cox proportional hazard regression models, the latter incorporating weights as advised by NHANES. RESULTS: Among the 8,732 participants in the study cohort, CVD-related mortality was identified in 710 cases. The Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a significant association, indicating that a decreased HRR was correlated with a reduction in survival in cases with CVD. Both univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses consistently indicated that patients exhibiting a lower HRR exhibited a markedly elevated risk of CVD-related mortality in comparison to those with higher HRR. Notably, the correlation between HRR and decreasing CVD-related mortality was discerned to be non-linear. CONCLUSION: In patients with diabetes, a decreased HRR was associated with an increased risk of CVD-related mortality. Show more

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease-related mortality, diabetes mellitus, hemoglobin, NHANES, Red cell distribution width

DOI: 10.3233/CH-242209

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-13, 2024

Authors: Carallo, Claudio | Destito, Michela | Zaffino, Paolo | Caglioti, Chiara | Silipo, Vittorio | De Masi, Paolo Maria | Gnasso, Agostino | Spadea, Maria Francesca

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Longitudinal Displacement (LD) is the relative motion of the intima-media upon adventitia of the arterial wall during the cardiac cycle, probably linked to atherosclerosis. It has a direction, physiologically first backward in its main components with respect to the arterial flow. Here, LD was investigated in various disease and in presence of a unilateral carotid stent. METHODS: Carotid acquisitions were performed by ultrasound imaging on both body sides of 75 participants (150 Arteries). LD was measured in its percent quantity and direction. RESULTS: Obesity (p  = 0.001) and carotid plaques (p  = 0.01) were independently associated to …quantity decrease of LD in the whole population. In a subgroup analysis, it was respectively 143% in healthy (n  = 48 carotids), 129% (n  = 34) in presence of cardiovascular risk factors, 121% (n  = 20) in MACE patients, 119% (n  = 24) in the carotid contralateral to a stent, 110% (n  = 24) in carotids with stents. Regarding the direction of LD, in a subgroup analysis an inverted movement was identified in aged (p  = 0.001) and diseased (p  = 0.001) participants who also showed less quantity of LD (p  = 0.001), but independently with age only (p  = 0.002) in the whole population. CONCLUSIONS: This observational study suggests that LD within carotid wall layers is lower additively with ageing, cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular diseases, and stent. Even if stent is surely beneficial, these data might shed some light on stent restenosis, emphasising the need for interventional studies. Show more

Keywords: Arterial displacement, longitudinal sliding, atherosclerosis, stent

DOI: 10.3233/CH-242357

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-15, 2024

Authors: Liu, Jinming | Jiao, Wei | Li, Fang | Xie, Yanan | Meng, Mingjie | Hao, Jie

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study intends to explore the effects of Rosuvastatin on ox-LDL induced platelet activation and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: Platelet aggregation rate was detected by aggregometer. ELISA kit was used to detect the levels of cAMP. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the platelet adhesion. The expression levels of platelet surface markers CD62p and PAC-1 were detected by flow cytometry. The protein levels of p-p38, p-IKKa and p-IKKB in platelets were detected by western blot. RESULTS: We found that rosuvastatin significantly inhibited platelet aggregation and increased the level of cAMP in a dose-dependent manner. Immunofluorescence …staining results showed that rosuvastatin could inhibit platelet adhesion. Flow cytometry results showed that rosuvastatin could reduce the expression of platelet activation markers. Western blot results showed that rosuvastatin could down-regulate the expression levels of p-p38, p-IKKa and p-IKKb. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed the rosuvastatin could inhibit the aggregation, adhesion and activation of platelet induced by ox-LDL, its mechanism may be related to inhibition of p38/MAPK signal pathway. Show more

Keywords: Rosuvastatin, platelet, aggregation, adhesion, p38/MAPK

DOI: 10.3233/CH-242359

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-10, 2024

Authors: Wu, Zehong | Li, Huajuan | Chen, Zihao | Zhou, Honglian | Liang, Xin | Huang, Xing | Wang, Jiexin | Chen, Ting | Xu, Xiaohong | Yang, Yuping

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the conventional ultrasound (US), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) manifestations and the corresponding histopathological characteristics of patients diagnosed with breast encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) and to explore the value of CEUS in diagnosis of EPC. METHODS: The clinical, pathological, US, and CEUS features of 16 patients (17 lesions) with EPC confirmed by postoperative histopathology were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: EPC was prevalent in the postmenopausal women. The majority of conventional US images of EPC showed complex cystic and solid masses with circumscribed margins (70.6%), enhanced posterior echo (94.1%), no sonographic calcification (88.2%), rich blood flow in …the solid components within lesions (70.6%) on Color Doppler flow imaging, and high resistance index of blood flow (94.1%). Moreover, CEUS showed mainly centripetal hyperenhancement of the solid components within the lesions with irregular outline, and the enhancement area of the whole masses was essentially the same as the B-mode US area. CONCLUSIONS: EPC typically presents as a complex cystic and solid mass. CEUS is helpful to clarify the extent of the solid component and facilitate preoperative core-needle biopsy. A comprehensive evaluation by CEUS is valuable for diagnosing EPC and combining it with clinical features are helpful to further improve the diagnosis of this rare kind of breast cancer. Show more

Keywords: Breast tumor, encapsulated papillary carcinoma of the breast, ultrasound features, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, pathology

DOI: 10.3233/CH-242263

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-13, 2024

Authors: Lusha, E. | Zhao, Ping

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury is accompanied by ferroptosis mediated by reactive oxygen species and iron ions, which aggravates myocardial tissue damage. The present study aims to explore the molecular mechanism underlying the mitigating effects f PCSK9 on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. MI/R rat model and OGD/R induced H9c2 model were established. The interaction between PCSK9 inhibitor and LRP8 was predicted by STRING database and verified by Immunoprecipitation assay experiment. CCK-8 kit results confirmed that PCSK9 inhibitor effectively protected against cardiomyocyte damage induced by OGD/R. TTC and histological examination via H&E staining revealed a significant alleviation of myocardial infarction and pathological alterations upon …treatment with the PCSK9 inhibitor. Besides, DCFH-DA staining and biochemical kit results showed that PCSK9 inhibitor could regulate the changes of ferroptosis related indicators [ROS, iron level, MDA, SOD] and inhibit ferroptosis. Rescue experiments showed that PCSK9 inhibitors targeted LRP8 expression and inhibited GPX4/ROS-mediated ferroptosis in I/R-induced rats. Our study suggested that PCSK9 inhibitors could attenuate myocardial I/R injury, with the underlying mechanism intimately tied to the targeted modulation of LRP8/GPX4-mediated ferroptosis. Show more

Keywords: PCSK9 inhibitor, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, LRP8, ferroptosis

DOI: 10.3233/CH-242444

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-11, 2024

Authors: Tang, Ding-Zhong | Wang, Wei-Wei | Chen, Xin-Xin | Yin, Song-He | Zhang, Lei | Liang, Xue-Lin | Luo, Guo-Jun | Yu, Chun-Li

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of serum inflammatory factor levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing revascularization therapy. METHODS: The study included 94 patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent revascularization therapy at our hospital. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score assessed three months post-treatment. Patients were categorized into two groups: those with a poor prognosis (mRS score > 2) and those with a good prognosis (mRS score≤2). The patients were divided into two groups based on the type of revascularization treatment received: thrombus extraction or intravenous thrombolysis. Logistic regression analysis …was used to identify independent risk factors associated with the prognosis of patients treated with recanalization for acute ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Among the 94 patients, 59 had a good prognosis, and 35 had a poor prognosis. At admission, the patients in the good prognosis group exhibited lower NIHSS scores, shorter hospital stays, fewer previous cardiac events, lower LDL levels, fasting glucose, IL-6, and TNF-a compared to those in the poor prognosis group (all P  < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified TNF-a (odd ratio (OD), 1.623; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.282–1.933; P  = 0.035) and IL-6 (OD, 1.055; 95% CI, 1.024–1.088, P  = 0.023) as independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients after revascularization. Additionally, pre-hospital NIHSS scores, IL-6, and TNF-a levels were significantly lower in the good prognosis group compared to the poor prognosis group, with these differences being statistically significant. CONCLUSION: IL-6 and TNF-α may serve as prognostic markers for outcomes following revascularization therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke, including those receiving intravenous thrombolysis. Show more

Keywords: IL-6, prognosis, revascularization therapy, risk factors, TNF-a

DOI: 10.3233/CH-242435

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-10, 2024