Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Denis A. Golovin, Tatyana M. Rostovtseva, Yuri S. Kudryavtsev, Alexander B. Berdalin, Svetlana E. Lelyuk, Vladimir G. Lelyuk
Summary: Carotid artery elongation is common in patients with ischemic stroke, but it is not directly associated with acute ischemic lesions. The prevalence of carotid artery elongation is the same among different types of stroke. Patients with carotid artery elongation have significantly decreased arterial velocities.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Maria Alexandratou, Angeliki Papachristodoulou, Xin Li, Sasan Partovi, Andjoli Davidhi, Vasileios Rafailidis, Panos Prassopoulos, Vasileios Kamperidis, Ioanna Koutroulou, Georgios Tsivgoulis, Nikolaos Grigoriadis, Christos Krogias, Theodore Karapanayiotides
Summary: Carotid atherosclerosis is a major risk factor for stroke. Ultrasonography is the preferred method for diagnosing and grading carotid atherosclerotic disease. Modern research has identified multiple imaging biomarkers, such as plaque echogenicity and morphology, neovascularization, and vasa vasorum, that play a role in predicting the risk of carotid plaque rupture and subsequent cerebrovascular events. Additionally, nonstenosing atheromas may be associated with embolic strokes of undetermined origin. Therefore, state-of-the-art carotid ultrasound should incorporate recent technical advancements to provide detailed information on thrombogenic and emboligenic arterial wall features.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Acoustics
Maxwell J. Kiernan, Rashid Al Mukaddim, Carol C. Mitchell, Jenna Maybock, Stephanie M. Wilbrand, Robert J. Dempsey, Tomy Varghese
Summary: In this study, a method for automatically determining bounding boxes and lumen segmentation using a Mask R-CNN network trained on sonographer assisted groundtruth carotid lumen segmentations is presented. This method is of great importance for analyzing ultrasound images that require time and labor, and it also lays the foundation for developing accurate plaque segmentation and wall thickness measurement methods.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Olivier Bill, Michael V. V. Mazya, Patrik Michel, Tiago Prazeres Moreira, Dimitris Lambrou, Ivo A. A. Meyer, Lorenz Hirt
Summary: In the first week after an acute stroke, diabetic patients exhibit higher common carotid artery pulsatility index (PI) and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), indicating a greater degree of atherosclerosis compared to non-diabetic patients.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yang Guang, Wen He, Bin Ning, Hongxia Zhang, Chen Yin, Mingchang Zhao, Fang Nie, Pintong Huang, Rui-Fang Zhang, Qiang Yong, Yanli Guo, Jianjun Yuan, Yicheng Wang, Lijun Yuan, Litao Ruan, Tengfei Yu, Haiman Song, Yukang Zhang
Summary: The study successfully demonstrated the superior performance of deep learning-based detection and classification of carotid plaque in contrast-enhanced ultrasound, showing promising potential for assessing vulnerability in patients.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xiangdong Zhang, Dan Wu, Hongye Li, Yonghan Fang, Huahua Xiong, Ye Li
Summary: This study quantitatively investigated the effects of IICAS on ICA flow velocity waveforms and proposed a new index called FHR for diagnosing IICAS. Simulation and statistical analyses revealed that FHR has superior diagnostic performance for IICAS compared to other classical hemodynamic indices.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Ewa Kopyto, Marcin Czeczelewski, Eryk Mikos, Karol Stepniak, Maja Kopyto, Malgorzata Matuszek, Karolina Nieoczym, Adam Czarnecki, Maryla Kuczynska, Mateusz Cheda, Anna Drelich-Zbroja, Tomasz Jargiello
Summary: Carotid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has become increasingly important in evaluating carotid plaque, detecting surface irregularities and ulcerations, as well as intraplaque neovascularization and its alignment with histology. Initial indications suggest that CEUS might have the potential to predict cerebrovascular incidents, but further studies are needed to explore the relationship between CEUS observations and patient clinical outcomes in cases of carotid atherosclerotic disease.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Cassiana Trandafir, Sabine Laurent-Chabalier, Catalin Cosma, Julien Frandon, Eric Thouvenot, Dimitri Renard
Summary: This study aimed to analyze computed tomographic angiography (CTA) images of patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis to determine the relationship between symptomatic carotids and areas of low-density vulnerable carotid plaque (CAP). The study found that there is a correlation between symptomatic carotids and CAP areas with low densities on CTA.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarez, Miriam Linares-Sanchez, Carlos Suarez, Fernando Lopez, Orlando Guntinas-Lichius, Antti A. Makitie, Patrick J. Bradley, Alfio Ferlito
Summary: The traditional approach of assessing carotid artery disease based on luminal narrowing is being challenged by modern risk stratification approaches that focus on the vulnerable plaque. Imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and optical coherence tomography, have become important tools in detecting and characterizing unstable carotid plaques.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Aureliusz Kolonko, Rafal Ficek, Beata Styrc, Michal Sobolewski, Roksana Stankowska, Jerzy Chudek, Andrzej Wiecek
Summary: Significant differences in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) values and distribution of carotid plaques are present in stable kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Age, gender, and coronary artery disease are independent factors associated with IMT, while age, gender, and duration of renal insufficiency before transplantation are confirmed as independent variables for the occurrence of calcified carotid plaques.
REVIEWS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yan Song, Ying Dang, Jichang Wang, Hui Cai, Jun Feng, Hongmei Zhang, Litao Ruan
Summary: The study found that intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) detected through CEUS can independently predict the risk of ischemic stroke recurrence in patients with recent strokes and carotid atherosclerosis. IPN may be an earlier indicator than carotid stenosis in predicting stroke recurrence, helping in risk stratification.
Article
Acoustics
Jing Gao, Juhyun Lee, Andrew Phan, J. Brian Fowlkes
Summary: The study showed significant differences in VVI parameters and patterns among different age groups, hypertension status, and presence of atherosclerotic plaque in CCA. CCA motion and time-to-peak motion parameters were correlated with age and carotid intima-media thickness, with remarkable wall motion dyssynchrony in seniors. The repeatability and reproducibility for carotid artery VVI were good.
JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Qingqing Zhou, Rui Li, Shuo Feng, Fengling Qu, Chunrong Tao, Wei Hu, Yuyou Zhu, Xinfeng Liu
Summary: This study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) compared to conventional ultrasound in carotid web (CaW) diagnosis, and compared the clinical characteristics of patients in different age groups. The results showed that CEUS had a higher diagnostic accuracy for CaW with thrombosis, and there was a significant difference in thrombus diagnosis between CEUS and conventional ultrasound. Additionally, the occurrence of thrombosis showed significant differences between age groups.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lidia Puertas-Umbert, Nuria Puig, Mercedes Camacho, Ana Paula Dantas, Rebeca Marin, Joan Marti-Fabregas, Elena Jimenez-Xarrie, Sonia Benitez, Pol Camps-Renom, Francesc Jimenez-Altayo
Summary: Severe carotid atherosclerosis may worsen endothelial dysfunction in stroke, increasing the risk of further cerebrovascular events. Serum from stroke patients induces endothelium dysfunction in mice carotid arteries, especially in patients with recurrent strokes or vascular death within 1 year. Serum from patients with high-grade stenosis induces more severe carotid artery endothelial dysfunction, associated with elevated levels of circulating IL-1 beta. The study suggests that targeting COX in the carotid artery wall may be a potential therapeutic strategy for secondary stroke prevention.
TRANSLATIONAL STROKE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tomoaki Tamada, Toshio Imaizumi, Shoichi Komura, Tatsufumi Nomura, Aya Kanno, Shigeru Inamura, Tadashi Nonaka
Summary: The study found that elongated internal carotid arteries were positively associated with age and severe deep white matter hyperintensities, and negatively associated with severe carotid artery stenosis.
CURRENT NEUROVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2021)
Letter
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
M. Reza Azarpazhooh, Ellisiv Mathiesen, Tatjana Rundek, Michel Romanens, Ansgar Adams, Luis Armando, Hernan Perez, Hugo Villafane, Nestor H. Garcia, Borja Ibanez, Chrysi Bogiatzi, Reza Tabrizi, Valentin Fuster, J. David Spence
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
J. David Spence
Summary: The purpose of this review is to evaluate the validity of anticoagulation therapy for embolic stroke of unknown source (ESUS) and to assess the benefits and safety of direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Recent findings suggest that the lack of benefit from anticoagulation may be due to misclassification of large artery atherosclerosis as ESUS. DOACs have important differences, and apixaban may be more effective and safer than rivaroxaban. Plaque burden should be considered in the definition of ESUS, and anticoagulation is more effective than antiplatelet agents for cardioembolic stroke.
CURRENT NEUROLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
J. David Spence, Catherine Viscoli, Walter N. Kernan, Lawrence H. Young, Karen Furie, Ralph DeFronzo, Muhammad Abdul-Ghani, Paresh Dandona, Silvio E. Inzucchi
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness and risks of lower versus higher doses of pioglitazone in patients with stroke. The results showed that lower doses of pioglitazone had fewer adverse effects while still providing substantial effects in preventing cardiovascular events and new-onset diabetes.
DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kosmas I. Paraskevas, J. David Spence, Dimitri P. Mikhailidis, Pier Luigi Antignani, Peter Gloviczki, Hans-Henning Eckstein, Francesco Spinelli, Francesco Stilo, Luca Saba, Pavel Poredos, Alan Dardik, Christos D. Liapis, Armando Mansilha, Gianluca Faggioli, Rodolfo Pini, Mateja K. Jezovnik, Sherif Sultan, Piotr Musia, Guillaume Goudot, George S. Lavenson, Arkadiusz Jawien, Ales Blinc, Piotr Myrcha, Jose Fernandes e Fernandes, George Geroulakos, Stavros K. Kakkos, Michael Knoflach, Robert M. Proczka, Laura Capoccia, Tatjana Rundek, Alexei S. Svetlikov, Mauro Silvestrini, Jean-Baptiste Ricco, Alun H. Davies, Vincenzo Di Lazzaro, Jasjit S. Suri, Gaetano Lanza, Gustav Fraedrich, Clark J. Zeebregts, Andrew N. Nicolaides
Summary: Current guidelines do not recommend screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (AsxCS) due to the potential risks associated with unnecessary interventions. Conversely, screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms is strongly recommended.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Clinical Neurology
J. David Spence
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
J. David Spence
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tavia E. Evans, Maria J. Knol, Petra Schwingenschuh, Katharina Wittfeld, Saima Hilal, M. Arfan Ikram, Florian Dubost, Kimberlin M. H. van Wijnen, Petra Katschnig, Pinar Yilmaz, Marleen de Bruijne, Mohamad Habes, Christopher Chen, Soenke Langer, Henry Volzke, M. Kamran Ikram, Hans J. Grabe, Reinhold Schmidt, Hieab H. H. Adams, Meike W. Vernooij
Summary: This study identified determinants of perivascular spaces (PVS) burden by pooling data from multiple cohort studies and using a uniform rating method. The results showed that PVS count increases with age, men have more PVS in the mesencephalon but less in the hippocampus, and higher blood pressure is associated with increased PVS in all regions. Furthermore, other factors such as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, glucose levels, APOE genotypes, and presence of lacunes are also associated with PVS burden.
Letter
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kosmas I. Paraskevas, Hans-Henning Eckstein, Armando Mansilha, Jean-Baptiste Ricco, George Geroulakos, Vincenzo Di Lazzaro, Tatjana Rundek, Gaetano Lanza, Gustav Fraedrich, Alexei S. Svetlikov, Jasjit S. Suri, Clark J. Zeebregts, Alun H. Davies, Laura Capoccia, Robert M. Proczka, Piotr Myrcha, Pier Luigi Antignani, Jose Fernandes e Fernandes, J. David Spence, Alan Dardik, Mateja K. Jezovnik, Michael Knoflach, George S. Lavenson, Stavros K. Kakkos, Arkadiusz Jawien, Mauro Silvestrini, Ales Blinc, Francesco Spinelli, Francesco Stilo, Piotr Musialek, Sherif Sultan, Guillaume Goudot, Christos Liapis, Luca Saba, Gianluca Faggioli, Rodolfo Pini, Pavel Poredos, Dimitri P. Mikhailidis, Peter Gloviczki, Andrew N. Nicolaides
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Ran Zhou, Fumin Guo, M. Reza Azarpazhooh, J. David Spence, Haitao Gan, Mingyue Ding, Aaron Fenster
Summary: In this study, a UNet++ ensemble approach was developed for automated vessel wall volume (VWV) measurement, trained on five small data sets and tested on 100 participants with coronary artery disease. The results showed that our approach could provide accurate and reproducible carotid VWV measurements using relatively small training data sets, supporting deep learning applications for monitoring atherosclerosis progression.
ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
X. Liu, M. Kayser, S. A. Kushner, H. Tiemeier, F. Rivadeneira, V. W. V. Jaddoe, W. J. Niessen, E. B. Wolvius, G. Roshchupkin
Summary: This study found that low-to-moderate levels of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) were associated with children's facial shape, even at levels below 12 g of alcohol per week. However, this association diminished as children grew older.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Raed Gasemaltayeb, Thapat Wannarong, Hemani Ticku, David C. Preston
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed patients referred for HRUS in a university laboratory in 2021. The findings suggest that HRUS is an effective diagnostic tool that provides additional useful information and plays a decisive role in patient management.
Review
Biology
Michael F. Dinatolo, Daiana Roxana Pur, Roy Eagleson, Sandrine de Ribaupierre
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review of pediatric BOLD signal variability (SV) and identified 10 different methods of quantifying SV. The results showed that BOLD SV was associated with age and factors related to mental and neurological disorders, indicating its potential as a biomarker for neurodevelopmental and mental disorders. However, further research is needed to establish clinical significance and mechanisms before clinical applications can be utilized.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Bahareh Salafian, Eyal Fishel Ben-Knaan, Nir Shlezinger, Sandrine De Ribaupierre, Nariman Farsad
Summary: We propose a hybrid model-based data-driven seizure detection algorithm called MICAL, which utilizes neural MI estimators, 1D CNN, and factor graph inference to improve the detection of seizures from EEG signals. The method successfully captures inter-channel statistical dependence and temporal correlation, leading to state-of-the-art performance.
Letter
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
J. David Spence
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Ran Zhou, Yanghan Ou, Xiaoyue Fang, M. Reza Azarpazhooh, Haitao Gan, Zhiwei Ye, J. David Spence, Xiangyang Xu, Aaron Fenster
Summary: This article proposes an image reconstruction-based self-supervised learning algorithm (IR-SSL) for carotid plaque segmentation when few labeled images are available. Through evaluation on two independent datasets, it was found that IR-SSL improved segmentation performance when trained on limited labeled images and showed strong correlation with manual results.
MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
(2023)