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Kiernan MJ, Al Mukaddim R, Mitchell CC, Maybock J, Wilbrand SM, Dempsey RJ, Varghese T. Lumen segmentation using a Mask R-CNN in carotid arteries with stenotic atherosclerotic plaque. ULTRASONICS 2024; 137:107193. [PMID: 37952384 PMCID: PMC10841729 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2023.107193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
In patients at high risk for ischemic stroke, clinical carotid ultrasound is often used to grade stenosis, determine plaque burden and assess stroke risk. Analysis currently requires a trained sonographer to manually identify vessel and plaque regions, which is time and labor intensive. We present a method for automatically determining bounding boxes and lumen segmentation using a Mask R-CNN network trained on sonographer assisted ground-truth carotid lumen segmentations. Automatic lumen segmentation also lays the groundwork for developing methods for accurate plaque segmentation, and wall thickness measurements in cases with no plaque. Different training schemes are used to identify the Mask R-CNN model with the highest accuracy. Utilizing a single-channel B-mode training input, our model produces a mean bounding box intersection over union (IoU) of 0.81 and a mean lumen segmentation IoU of 0.75. However, we encountered errors in prediction when the jugular vein is the most prominently visualized vessel in the B-mode image. This was due to the fact that our dataset has limited instances of B-mode images with both the jugular vein and carotid artery where the vein is dominantly visualized. Additional training datasets are anticipated to mitigate this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell J Kiernan
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UW-SMPH), United States.
| | - Rashid Al Mukaddim
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UW-SMPH), United States
| | | | - Jenna Maybock
- Department of Neurological Surgery, UW-SMPH. Madison, WI, United States
| | | | - Robert J Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, UW-SMPH. Madison, WI, United States
| | - Tomy Varghese
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UW-SMPH), United States.
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Cress HJ, Mitchell CC, Wilbrand SM, Wesley UV, Morel Valdés GM, Hess T, Varghese T, Maybock J, Metoxen M, Riesenberg A, Vandenberg C, Blohowiak CJ, Kennard J, Danforth D, Dempsey RJ. Methods in Stroke Prevention in the Wisconsin Native American Population. Neuroepidemiology 2024; 58:300-309. [PMID: 38295773 DOI: 10.1159/000536426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Native American individuals are more frequently affected by cerebrovascular diseases including stroke and vascular cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to determine stroke risk factors that are most prevalent in Wisconsin Native Americans and to examine how education at the community and individual level as well as intensive health wellness coaching may influence modification of stroke risk factors. Additionally, we will investigate the role novel stroke biomarkers may play in stroke risk in this population. This paper details the aims and methods employed in the "Stroke Prevention in the Wisconsin Native American Population" (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04382963) study including participant health assessments, clinical ultrasound exam of the carotid arteries, cognitive testing battery, and structure and execution of the coaching program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah J Cress
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Carol C Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Stephanie M Wilbrand
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Umadevi V Wesley
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Gloria M Morel Valdés
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy Hess
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Tomy Varghese
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jenna Maybock
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Melissa Metoxen
- Native American Center for Health Professions, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jay Kennard
- Oneida Comprehensive Health Division, Oneida, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Debra Danforth
- Oneida Comprehensive Health Division, Oneida, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Robert J Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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3
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Karageorgos GM, Liang P, Mobadersany N, Gami P, Konofagou EE. Unsupervised deep learning-based displacement estimation for vascular elasticity imaging applications. Phys Med Biol 2023; 68:10.1088/1361-6560/ace0f0. [PMID: 37348487 PMCID: PMC10528442 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ace0f0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Objective. Arterial wall stiffness can provide valuable information on the proper function of the cardiovascular system. Ultrasound elasticity imaging techniques have shown great promise as a low-cost and non-invasive tool to enable localized maps of arterial wall stiffness. Such techniques rely upon motion detection algorithms that provide arterial wall displacement estimation.Approach. In this study, we propose an unsupervised deep learning-based approach, originally proposed for image registration, in order to enable improved quality arterial wall displacement estimation at high temporal and spatial resolutions. The performance of the proposed network was assessed through phantom experiments, where various models were trained by using ultrasound RF signals, or B-mode images, as well as different loss functions.Main results. Using the mean square error (MSE) for the training process provided the highest signal-to-noise ratio when training on the B-modes images (30.36 ± 1.14 dB) and highest contrast-to-noise ratio when training on the RF signals (32.84 ± 1.89 dB). In addition, training the model on RF signals demonstrated the capability of providing accurate localized pulse wave velocity (PWV) maps, with a mean relative error (MREPWV) of 3.32 ± 1.80% and anR2 of 0.97 ± 0.03. Finally, the developed model was tested in human common carotid arteriesin vivo, providing accurate tracking of the distension pulse wave propagation, with an MREPWV= 3.86 ± 2.69% andR2 = 0.95 ± 0.03.Significance. In conclusion, a novel displacement estimation approach was presented, showing promise in improving vascular elasticity imaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grigorios M Karageorgos
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Pengcheng Liang
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Nima Mobadersany
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Parth Gami
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Elisa E Konofagou
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
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4
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David E, Martinelli O, Pacini P, Di Serafino M, Huang P, Dolcetti V, Del Gaudio G, Barr RG, Renda M, Lucarelli GT, Di Marzo L, Clevert DA, Solito C, Di Bella C, Cantisani V. New Technologies in the Assessment of Carotid Stenosis: Beyond the Color-Doppler Ultrasound-High Frame Rate Vector-Flow and 3D Arterial Analysis Ultrasound. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13081478. [PMID: 37189578 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13081478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid artery is the main cause of ischemic stroke, with a high incidence rate among people over 65 years. A timely and precise diagnosis can help to prevent the ischemic event and decide patient management, such as follow up, medical, or surgical treatment. Presently, diagnostic imaging techniques available include color-Doppler ultrasound, as a first evaluation technique, computed tomography angiography, which, however, uses ionizing radiation, magnetic resonance angiography, still not in widespread use, and cerebral angiography, which is an invasively procedure reserved for therapeutically purposes. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is carving out an important and emerging role which can significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy of an ultrasound. Modern ultrasound technologies, still not universally utilized, are opening new horizons in the arterial pathologies research field. In this paper, the technical development of various carotid artery stenosis diagnostic imaging modalities and their impact on clinical efficacy is thoroughly reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele David
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Radiology Unit 1, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University Hospital "Policlinico G. Rodolico", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
- Radiology Unit, Papardo-Hospital, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Ombretta Martinelli
- Department of Surgery "Paride Stefanini", Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Division, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pacini
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Di Serafino
- Department of General and Emergency Radiology, "Antonio Cardarelli" Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Pintong Huang
- Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 242332, China
| | - Vincenzo Dolcetti
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Del Gaudio
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Richard G Barr
- Department of Radiology, Northeastern Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA
- Southwoods Imaging, Youngstown, OH 44512, USA
| | - Maurizio Renda
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe T Lucarelli
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Di Marzo
- Department of Surgery "Paride Stefanini", Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Division, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Dirk A Clevert
- Interdisciplinary Ultrasound-Center, Department of Radiology, University of Munich, Grosshadern Campus, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Carmen Solito
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Di Bella
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Vito Cantisani
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Koueik J, Wesley UV, Dempsey RJ. Pathophysiology, cellular and molecular mechanisms of large and small vessel diseases. Neurochem Int 2023; 164:105499. [PMID: 36746322 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is the second most common cause of cognitive impairment and dementia in aged population. CVD presents in a myriad number of clinical ways based on the functional location of pathology. While primary clinical emphasis has been placed on motor, speech and visual deficits, vascular cognitive decline is a vastly under recognized and devastating condition afflicting millions of Americans. CVD, a disease of the blood vessels that supply blood to brain involves an integration between small and large vessels. Cerebral large vessel diseases (LVD) are associated with atherosclerosis, artery-to-artery embolism, intracardiac embolism and a large vessel stroke leading to substantial functional disability. Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is critically involved in stroke, brain hemorrhages, cognitive decline and functional loss in elderly patients. An evolving understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms emphasizes that inflammatory vascular changes contribute to systemic pathologic conditions of the central nervous systems (CNS), with specific clinical presentations including, cognitive decline. Advances in an understanding of pathophysiology of disease processes and therapeutic interventions may help improve outcomes. This review will focus on large and small vessels diseases and their relationship to vascular cognitive decline, atherosclerosis, stroke, and inflammatory neurodegeneration. We will also emphasize the molecular and cellular mechanisms, as well as genetic and epigenetic factors associated with LVD and SVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Koueik
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53792, USA
| | - Umadevi V Wesley
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53792, USA
| | - Robert J Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53792, USA.
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Li D, Huang Z, Dai Y, Guo L, Lin S, Liu X. Bioinformatic identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in carotid atherosclerosis and vascular dementia. Front Neurol 2023; 13:1091453. [PMID: 36703641 PMCID: PMC9872033 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1091453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Vascular disease is the second most common cause of dementia. The prevalence of vascular dementia (VaD) has increased over the past decade. However, there are no licensed treatments for this disease. Carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) is highly prevalent and is the main cause of ischemic stroke and VaD. We studied co-expressed genes to understand the relationships between CAS and VaD and further reveal the potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of CAS and VaD. Methods CAS and VaD differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified through bioinformatic analysis Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets GSE43292 and GSE122063, respectively. Furthermore, a variety of target prediction methods and network analysis approaches were used to assess the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, the Gene Ontology (GO) terms, and the pathway enrichment for DEGs, and the top 7 hub genes, coupled with corresponding predicted miRNAs involved in CAS and VaD, were assessed as well. Result A total of 60 upregulated DEGs and 159 downregulated DEGs were identified, of which the top 7 hub genes with a high degree of connectivity were selected. Overexpression of these hub genes was associated with CAS and VaD. Finally, the top 7 hub genes were coupled with corresponding predicted miRNAs. hsa-miR-567 and hsa-miR-4652-5p may be significantly associated with CAS and VaD.
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7
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Li G, Chen Q. lncRNA PCA3 Suppressed Carotid Artery Stenosis and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Function via Negatively Modulating the miR-124-3p/ITGB1 Axis. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost 2023; 29:10760296231190383. [PMID: 37583257 PMCID: PMC10467385 DOI: 10.1177/10760296231190383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Due to the hidden pathogen, carotid artery stenosis (CAS) always occurred at an advanced stage leading to serious sequelae and even deaths. The significance of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) in CAS incidence and progression were evaluated aiming to explore a potential target for its therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Serum samples were collected from 83 asymptomatic CAS patients and 52 healthy individuals and PCA3 was compared using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCA3 levels were compared between stable and unstable plaque in CAS patients. The effect of PCA3 on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and motility was assessed by CCK8 and transwell assay. RESULTS PCA3 was downregulated in CAS patients and their unstable plaque tissues compared with healthy individuals and stable plaque, respectively. Reduced PCA3 could discriminate CAS patients with relatively high sensitivity and specificity and were associated with higher total cholesterol level and stenosis degree, unstable plaque, and complications. PCA3 downregulation predicted the adverse outcomes of CAS patients. In VSMCs, overexpressing PCA3 significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which was alleviated by miR-124-3p/ITGB1 axis. CONCLUSION PCA3 served as a biomarker of CAS and regulates the function of VSMCs through sponging miR-124-3p/ITGB1 and indirectly influence the stability of plaque.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guosheng Li
- The Affiliated Taizhou Second People's Hospital of Yangzhou University, Taizhou, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Neurology, Huai'an Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, China
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Chandran R, He L, Nie X, Voltin J, Jamil S, Doueiry C, Falangola MF, Ergul A, Li W. Magnetic resonance imaging reveals microemboli-mediated pathological changes in brain microstructure in diabetic rats: relevance to vascular cognitive impairment/dementia. Clin Sci (Lond) 2022; 136:1555-1570. [PMID: 36314470 PMCID: PMC10066787 DOI: 10.1042/cs20220465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Diabetes doubles the risk of vascular cognitive impairment, but the underlying reasons remain unclear. In the present study, we determined the temporal and spatial changes in the brain structure after microemboli (ME) injection using diffusion MRI (dMRI). Control and diabetic rats received cholesterol crystal ME (40-70 µm) injections. Cognitive tests were followed up to 16 weeks, while dMRI scans were performed at baseline and 12 weeks post-ME. The novel object recognition test had a lower d2 recognition index along with a decrease in spontaneous alternations in the Y maze test in diabetic rats with ME. dMRI showed that ME injection caused infarction in two diabetic animals (n=5) but none in controls (n=6). In diabetes, radial diffusivity (DR) was increased while fractional anisotropy (FA) was decreased in the cortex, indicating loss of tissue integrity and edema. In the dorsal hippocampus, mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (DA), and DR were significantly increased, indicating loss of axons and myelin damage. Histological analyses confirmed more tissue damage and microglial activation in diabetic rats with ME. These results suggest that ME injury and associated cerebrovascular dysfunction are greater in diabetes, which may cause cognitive deficits. Strategies to improve vascular function can be a preventive and therapeutic approach for vascular cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavendar Chandran
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Lianying He
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Xingju Nie
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Joshua Voltin
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Sarah Jamil
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Caren Doueiry
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Maria Fatima Falangola
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Adviye Ergul
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Weiguo Li
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
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Golemati S, Cokkinos DD. Recent advances in vascular ultrasound imaging technology and their clinical implications. ULTRASONICS 2022; 119:106599. [PMID: 34624584 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2021.106599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In this paper recent advances in vascular ultrasound imaging technology are discussed, including three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and strain- (SE) and shear-wave-elastography (SWE). 3DUS imaging allows visualisation of the actual 3D anatomy and more recently of flow, and assessment of geometrical, morphological and mechanical features in the carotid artery and the aorta. CEUS involves the use of microbubble contrast agents to estimate sensitive blood flow and neovascularisation (formation of new microvessels). Recent developments include the implementation of computerised tools for automated analysis and quantification of CEUS images, and the possibility to measure blood flow velocity in the aorta. SE, which yields anatomical maps of tissue strain, is increasingly being used to investigate the vulnerability of the carotid plaque, but is also promising for the coronary artery and the aorta. SWE relies on the generation of a shear wave by remote acoustic palpation and its acquisition by ultrafast imaging, and is useful for measuring arterial stiffness. Such advances in vascular ultrasound technology, with appropriate validation in clinical trials, could positively change current management of patients with vascular disease, and improve stratification of cardiovascular risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyretta Golemati
- Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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10
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Kemper P, Nauleau P, Karageorgos G, Weber R, Kwon N, Szabolcs M, Konofagou E. Feasibility of longitudinal monitoring of atherosclerosis with pulse wave imaging in a swine model. Physiol Meas 2021; 42:10.1088/1361-6579/ac290f. [PMID: 34551396 PMCID: PMC8733748 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6579/ac290f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Objective.Atherosclerosis is a vascular disease characterized by compositional and mechanical changes in the arterial walls that lead to a plaque buildup. Depending on its geometry and composition, a plaque can ruptured and cause stroke, ischemia or infarction. Pulse wave imaging (PWI) is an ultrasound-based technique developed to locally quantify the stiffness of arteries. This technique has shown promising results when applied to patients. The objective of this study is to assess the capability of PWI to monitor the disease progression in a swine model that mimics human pathology.Approach.The left common carotid of three hypercholesterolemic Wisconsin miniature swines, fed an atherogenic diet, was ligated. Ligated and contralateral carotids were imaged once a month over 9 months, at a high-frame-rate, with a 5-plane wave compounding sequence and a 5 MHz linear array. Each acquisition was repeated after probe repositioning to evaluate the reproducibility. Wall displacements were estimated from the beamformed RF-data and were arranged as spatiotemporal maps depicting the wave propagation. The pulse wave velocity (PWV) estimated by tracking the 50% upstroke of the wave was converted in compliance using the Bramwell-Hill model. At the termination of the experiment, the carotids were extracted for histology analysis.Main results.PWI was able to monitor the evolution of compliance in both carotids of the animals. Reproducibility was demonstrated as the difference of PWV between cardiac cycles was similar to the difference between acquisitions (9.04% versus 9.91%). The plaque components were similar to the ones usually observed in patients. Each animal presented a unique pattern of compliance progression, which was confirmed by the plaque composition observed histologically.Significance.This study provides important insights on the vascular wall stiffness progression in an atherosclerotic swine model. It therefore paves the way for a thorough longitudinal study that examines the role of stiffness in both the plaque formation and plaque progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Kemper
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Pierre Nauleau
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Grigorios Karageorgos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Rachel Weber
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Nancy Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Matthias Szabolcs
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Elisa Konofagou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
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11
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Viticchi G, Falsetti L, Potente E, Bartolini M, Silvestrini M. Impact of carotid stenosis on cerebral hemodynamic failure and cognitive impairment progression: a narrative review. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1209. [PMID: 34430650 PMCID: PMC8350657 DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-7226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Carotid atherosclerosis has a relevant impact on cerebral blood flow regulation. There is accruing evidence that hemodynamic impairment related to the presence of a significant carotid lumen narrowing may predispose to the development of cerebral dysfunctions, including a reduction in cognitive abilities. In the last years an increasing number of findings showed that carotid stenosis did contribute to cognitive impairment not only in relation to the occurrence of cerebral ischemic lesions, but also as an independent risk factor. The principal mechanisms involved are chronic hypoperfusion, microembolization and cerebrovascular reactivity impairment. Moreover, more recent studies showed alterations of regional functional connectivity. In this narrative review, we analyzed the relationships between carotid stenosis, cerebral hemodynamic derangement and cognitive impairment onset and progression, and underlined that cognitive impairment is the final result of the complex interaction between different elements, including also collateral circulation, cerebral hemodynamic status, brain connectivity and pro-inflammatory state. Further, therapeutic approaches, with a specific focus on vascular risk factors correction and on the effectiveness of surgical or endovascular interventions were discussed. We particularly focused our attention on the concept of “asymptomatic carotid stenosis”, and how could a cognitive impairment improve after an intervention, and how this could change the indications to surgical approach. Larger studies and randomized controlled trials are urgently required to better define time, characteristics and effectiveness of both medical and surgical/endovascular approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lorenzo Falsetti
- Internal and Subintensive Medicine, Ospedali Riuniti Ancona, Italy
| | - Eleonora Potente
- Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Marco Bartolini
- Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
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12
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Huang YT, Hong FF, Yang SL. Atherosclerosis: The Culprit and Co-victim of Vascular Dementia. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:673440. [PMID: 34421513 PMCID: PMC8377286 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.673440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular dementia (VD), a cerebrovascular disease which causes cognitive impairment, is one of the significant factors that affects the quality of senectitude. Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory syndrome and closely associated with VD. Analyzing the role of AS in VD contribute greatly to its early detection and prevention, but their relationship has not been integrated into a complete network. This review summarizes AS biomarkers as VD predictors for the first time and describes the direct mechanisms of AS causing VD from five aspects: vascular morphogenesis, hemodynamic change, neurovascular unit damage (NVU), oxidative stress, and microRNA (miRNA). Finally, it discriminates the relationship between AS and VD in common risk factors which can be disease or some molecules. In particular, these data imply that the role of AS in VD is not only a pathogenic factor but also a comorbidity in VD. This review aims to bring new ideas for the prediction and treatment of VD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ting Huang
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Queen Marry College, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Fen-Fang Hong
- Experimental Center of Pathogen Biology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Shu-Long Yang
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Department of Physiology, Fuzhou Medical College, Fuzhou, China
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Liu J, Zhou B, Guo Y, Zhang A, Yang K, He Y, Wang J, Cheng Y, Cui D. SR-A-Targeted Nanoplatform for Sequential Photothermal/Photodynamic Ablation of Activated Macrophages to Alleviate Atherosclerosis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:29349-29362. [PMID: 34133141 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c06380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases induced by atherosclerosis (AS) have become the dominant cause of disability and mortality throughout the world. The typical early pathological process of AS involves the activation of inflammatory macrophages in the vulnerable plaque. In this work, we first employed chitosan-coated carbon nanocages (CS-CNCs) as nanocarriers to load Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and then linked dextran sulfate (DS) to the outermost layer by electrostatic adsorption to create a multifunctional therapeutic nanoplatform, CS-CNCs@Ce6/DS. The DS of the nanoplatform can recognize and bind to the type A scavenger receptor (SR-A), which is expressed only on the activated macrophages of the arterial plaque, so the proposed nanoplatform selectively targets these macrophages and accumulates there. Furthermore, DS can competitively inhibit cellular endocytosis of oxidized low-density lipoproteins via blocking of SR-A. The rapid photothermal conversion capability of CS-CNCs enables efficient therapeutic delivery during photothermal therapy (PTT). Interestingly, near-infrared-accelerated drug release induced by initial 808-nm laser irradiation was observed, thus enhancing the Ce6 concentration in the atherosclerotic plaque area and the efficiency of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Sequential photothermal/photodynamic ablation of the activated macrophages reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and alleviated the proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells. These finally resulted in the stabilization and shrinkage of atherosclerotic plaques, further inhibiting the development and exacerbation of AS. Therefore, this work achieved a "1 + 1 greater than 2" effect by providing a novel approach to the treatment of atherosclerotic plaques, which is promising for the prevention of AS-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, P. R. China
| | - Bi Zhou
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, P. R. China
| | - Yuliang Guo
- Rehabilitation Department at Shanghai Putuo District People's Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Amin Zhang
- School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Kai Yang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, P. R. China
| | - Yu He
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, P. R. China
| | - Jianbo Wang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, P. R. China
| | - Yingsheng Cheng
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, P. R. China
| | - Daxiang Cui
- School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
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14
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Effects of site, cerebral perfusion and degree of cerebral artery stenosis on cognitive function. Neuroreport 2021; 32:252-258. [PMID: 33470762 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of site, cerebral perfusion and degree of cerebral artery stenosis (CAS) on cognitive function. METHODS A total of 57 patients with CAS and 53 controls from January 2019 to December 2019 were included. The former group was further divided into different subgroups according to the site, cerebral perfusion and degree of CAS. A series of neuropsychological tests were performed to evaluate the cognitive domains (such as memory, executive function, psychomotor speed, etc.). Rank sum test, t test, Chi-square test and analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the site, cerebral perfusion and degree of CAS and all tests' scores. RESULTS For patients with CAS who have decreased cerebral perfusion, their global cognitive function, memory, psychomotor speed, executive function and frontal lobe function were significantly impaired (all P < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in global cognitive function, psychomotor speed, memory, executive function and frontal lobe function in patients with anterior circulation stenosis (all P < 0.05). Moderate and severe CAS impaired subjects' global cognitive function, memory, psychomotor speed, executive function and frontal lobe function (all P < 0.05). There was a correlation between the site, cerebral perfusion, the degree of CAS and cognitive function. CONCLUSION Global cognitive function, memory, psychomotor speed, frontal lobe function and executive function are impaired in patients with CAS, especially in those with anterior circulatory stenosis, moderate to severe stenosis and low cerebral perfusion.See Video Abstract, http://links.lww.com/WNR/A613.
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Li H, Poree J, Chayer B, Cardinal MHR, Cloutier G. Parameterized Strain Estimation for Vascular Ultrasound Elastography With Sparse Representation. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2020; 39:3788-3800. [PMID: 32746123 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2020.3005017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound vascular strain imaging has shown its potential to interrogate the motion of the vessel wall induced by the cardiac pulsation for predicting plaque instability. In this study, a sparse model strain estimator (SMSE) is proposed to reconstruct a dense strain field at a high resolution, with no spatial derivatives, and a high computation efficiency. This sparse model utilizes the highly-compacted property of discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients, thereby allowing to parameterize displacement and strain fields with truncated DCT coefficients. The derivation of affine strain components (axial and lateral strains and shears) was reformulated into solving truncated DCT coefficients and then reconstructed with them. Moreover, an analytical solution was derived to reduce estimation time. With simulations, the SMSE reduced estimation errors by up to 50% compared with the state-of-the-art window-based Lagrangian speckle model estimator (LSME). The SMSE was also proven to be more robust than the LSME against global and local noise. For in vitro and in vivo tests, residual strains assessing cumulated errors with the SMSE were 2 to 3 times lower than with the LSME. Regarding computation efficiency, the processing time of the SMSE was reduced by 4 to 25 times compared with the LSME, according to simulations, in vitro and in vivo results. Finally, phantom studies demonstrated the enhanced spatial resolution of the proposed SMSE algorithm against LSME.
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Li S, Weinstein G, Zare H, Teumer A, Völker U, Friedrich N, Knol MJ, Satizabal CL, Petyuk VA, Adams HHH, Launer LJ, Bennett DA, De Jager PL, Grabe HJ, Ikram MA, Gudnason V, Yang Q, Seshadri S. The genetics of circulating BDNF: towards understanding the role of BDNF in brain structure and function in middle and old ages. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa176. [PMID: 33345186 PMCID: PMC7734441 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in brain development and function. Substantial amounts of BDNF are present in peripheral blood, and may serve as biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease incidence as well as targets for intervention to reduce Alzheimer’s disease risk. With the exception of the genetic polymorphism in the BDNF gene, Val66Met, which has been extensively studied with regard to neurodegenerative diseases, the genetic variation that influences circulating BDNF levels is unknown. We aimed to explore the genetic determinants of circulating BDNF levels in order to clarify its mechanistic involvement in brain structure and function and Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology in middle-aged and old adults. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association study of circulating BDNF in 11 785 middle- and old-aged individuals of European ancestry from the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study (AGES), the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), the Rotterdam Study and the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-Trend). Furthermore, we performed functional annotation analysis and related the genetic polymorphism influencing circulating BDNF to common Alzheimer’s disease pathologies from brain autopsies. Mendelian randomization was conducted to examine the possible causal role of circulating BDNF levels with various phenotypes including cognitive function, stroke, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, physical activity and diet patterns. Gene interaction networks analysis was also performed. The estimated heritability of BDNF levels was 30% (standard error = 0.0246, P-value = 4 × 10−48). We identified seven novel independent loci mapped near the BDNF gene and in BRD3, CSRNP1, KDELC2, RUNX1 (two single-nucleotide polymorphisms) and BDNF-AS. The expression of BDNF was associated with neurofibrillary tangles in brain tissues from the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP). Seven additional genes (ACAT1, ATM, NPAT, WDR48, TTC21A, SCN114 and COX7B) were identified through expression and protein quantitative trait loci analyses. Mendelian randomization analyses indicated a potential causal role of BDNF in cardioembolism. Lastly, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis placed circulating BDNF levels in four major networks. Our study provides novel insights into genes and molecular pathways associated with circulating BDNF levels and highlights the possible involvement of plaque instability as an underlying mechanism linking BDNF with brain neurodegeneration. These findings provide a foundation for a better understanding of BDNF regulation and function in the context of brain aging and neurodegenerative pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Li
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Galit Weinstein
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Habil Zare
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.,Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, 78229 TX, USA
| | - Alexander Teumer
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uwe Völker
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
| | - Nele Friedrich
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
| | - Maria J Knol
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia L Satizabal
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, 78229 TX, USA.,Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.,The Framingham Study, Framingham, MA 01702, USA.,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | | | - Hieab H H Adams
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015 CN, The Netherlands
| | - Lenore J Launer
- Department of Health and Human Services, Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Department of Neurology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.,Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Philip L De Jager
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Program in Population and Medical Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegererative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
| | - M Arfan Ikram
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - Vilmundur Gudnason
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland.,Icelandic Heart Association, 201 Kopavogur, Iceland
| | - Qiong Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sudha Seshadri
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, 78229 TX, USA.,The Framingham Study, Framingham, MA 01702, USA.,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Meshram NH, Jackson D, Mitchell CC, Wilbrand SM, Dempsey RJ, Hermann BP, Varghese T. Study of the Relationship Between Ultrasound Strain Indices and Cognitive Decline for Vulnerable Carotid Plaque. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2020:2088-2091. [PMID: 33018417 DOI: 10.1109/embc44109.2020.9175911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A relationship between ultrasound strain indices in carotid plaque to cognitive domains of executive and language function are studied in 42 symptomatic and 34 asymptomatic patients. The mean and standard deviation of the percentage stenosis were 72.10 ± 15.19 and 77.41 ± 11.20 for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients respectively. Pearson's correlation between axial, lateral and shear strain indices versus executive and language composite scores was performed.. A significant inverse correlation for both executive and language function for symptomatic patients to strain indices was found. On the other hand, for asymptomatic patients only executive function was inversely correlated with the corresponding strain indices. Our hypothesis that microemboli from vulnerable plaque and possible 'silent strokes' may be responsible for decline in executive function for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients'. Strokes and transient ischemic attacks may be responsible for further cognitive decline in language function for symptomatic patients.
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Mitchell CC, Wilbrand SM, Cook TD, Meshram NH, Steffel CN, Nye R, Varghese T, Hermann BP, Dempsey RJ. Carotid Plaque Strain Indices Were Correlated With Cognitive Performance in a Cohort With Advanced Atherosclerosis, and Traditional Doppler Measures Showed no Association. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2020; 39:2033-2042. [PMID: 32395885 PMCID: PMC7531894 DOI: 10.1002/jum.15311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Traditional Doppler measures have been used to predict cognitive performance in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. Novel measures, such as carotid plaque strain indices (CPSIs), have shown associations with cognitive performance. We hypothesized that lower mean middle cerebral artery (MCA) velocities, higher bulb-internal carotid artery (ICA) velocities, the MCA pulsatility index (PI), and CPSIs would be associated with poorer cognitive performance in individuals with advanced atherosclerosis. METHODS Neurocognitive testing, carotid ultrasound imaging, transcranial Doppler imaging, and carotid strain imaging were performed on 40 patients scheduled for carotid endarterectomy. Kendall tau correlations were used to examine relationships between cognitive tests and the surgical-side maximum peak systolic velocity (PSV; from the bulb, proximal, mid, or distal ICA), mean MCA velocity and PI, and maximum CPSIs (axial, lateral, and shear strain indices used to characterize plaque deformations with arterial pulsation). Cognitive measures included age-adjusted indices of verbal fluency, verbal and visual learning/memory, psychomotor speed, auditory attention/working memory, visuospatial construction, and mental flexibility. RESULTS Participants had a median age of 71.0 (interquartile range, 9.75) years; 26 were male (65%), and 14 were female (35%). Traditional Doppler parameters, PSV, mean MCA velocity, and MCA PI did not predict cognitive performance (all P > .05). Maximum CPSIs were significantly associated with cognitive performance (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Traditional velocity measurements of the maximum bulb-ICA PSV, mean MCA velocity, and PI were not associated with cognitive performance in patients with advanced atherosclerotic disease; however, maximum CPSIs were associated with cognitive performance. These findings suggest that cognition may be associated with unstable plaque rather than blood flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol C. Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular
Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland
Avenue, Madison, WI, USA 53792
| | - Stephanie M. Wilbrand
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, USA
53792
| | - Thomas D. Cook
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics,
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 610 Walnut Street,
Madison WI, USA 53726
| | - Nirvedh H. Meshram
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland
Avenue, Madison, WI, USA 53705
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering
Drive, Madison, WI, USA 53706
- Corresponding Author: Carol C. Mitchell,
PhD, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, USA 53792, 608-262-0680,
| | - Catherine N. Steffel
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland
Avenue, Madison, WI, USA 53705
| | - Rebecca Nye
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular
Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland
Avenue, Madison, WI, USA 53792
| | - Tomy Varghese
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland
Avenue, Madison, WI, USA 53705
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering
Drive, Madison, WI, USA 53706
| | - Bruce P. Hermann
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of
Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI USA 53792
| | - Robert J. Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, USA
53792
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Rizi FY, Au J, Yli-Ollila H, Golemati S, Makūnaitė M, Orkisz M, Navab N, MacDonald M, Laitinen TM, Behnam H, Gao Z, Gastounioti A, Jurkonis R, Vray D, Laitinen T, Sérusclat A, Nikita KS, Zahnd G. Carotid Wall Longitudinal Motion in Ultrasound Imaging: An Expert Consensus Review. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:2605-2624. [PMID: 32709520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Motion extracted from the carotid artery wall provides unique information for vascular health evaluation. Carotid artery longitudinal wall motion corresponds to the multiphasic arterial wall excursion in the direction parallel to blood flow during the cardiac cycle. While this motion phenomenon has been well characterized, there is a general lack of awareness regarding its implications for vascular health assessment or even basic vascular physiology. In the last decade, novel estimation strategies and clinical investigations have greatly advanced our understanding of the bi-axial behavior of the carotid artery, necessitating an up-to-date review to summarize and classify the published literature in collaboration with technical and clinical experts in the field. Within this review, the state-of-the-art methodologies for carotid wall motion estimation are described, and the observed relationships between longitudinal motion-derived indices and vascular health are reported. The vast number of studies describing the longitudinal motion pattern in plaque-free arteries, with its putative application to cardiovascular disease prediction, point to the need for characterizing the added value and applicability of longitudinal motion beyond established biomarkers. To this aim, the main purpose of this review was to provide a strong base of theoretical knowledge, together with a curated set of practical guidelines and recommendations for longitudinal motion estimation in patients, to foster future discoveries in the field, toward the integration of longitudinal motion in basic science as well as clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Yousefi Rizi
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Jason Au
- Schlegel Research Institute for Aging, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Heikki Yli-Ollila
- Department of Radiology, Kanta-Häme Central Hospital, Hämeenlinna, Finland; Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Spyretta Golemati
- Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Monika Makūnaitė
- Biomedical Engineering Institute, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Maciej Orkisz
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSA-Lyon, UJM-Saint Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, CREATIS UMR 5220, U1206, F-69621 Villeurbanne cedex, France
| | - Nassir Navab
- Computer Aided Medical Procedures, Technische Universität München, Garching bei München, Germany; Computer Aided Medical Procedures, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Maureen MacDonald
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tiina Marja Laitinen
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hamid Behnam
- Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Electrical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran, Iran
| | - Zhifan Gao
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Aimilia Gastounioti
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rytis Jurkonis
- Biomedical Engineering Institute, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Didier Vray
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSA-Lyon, UJM-Saint Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, CREATIS UMR 5220, U1206, F-69621 Villeurbanne cedex, France
| | - Tomi Laitinen
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - André Sérusclat
- Department of Radiology, Louis Pradel Hospital; Hospices Civils de Lyon; Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Konstantina S Nikita
- Biomedical Simulations and Imaging Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Guillaume Zahnd
- Computer Aided Medical Procedures, Technische Universität München, Garching bei München, Germany
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20
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Kashiwazaki D, Yamamoto S, Akioka N, Hori E, Shibata T, Kuwayama N, Noguchi K, Kuroda S. High-intensity vessel sign on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging: a novel imaging marker of high-risk carotid stenosis-a MRI and SPECT study. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2020; 162:2573-2581. [PMID: 32458404 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-020-04408-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Measurement of luminal stenosis and determination of plaque instability using MR plaque imaging are effective strategies for evaluating high-risk carotid stenosis. Nevertheless, new methods are required to identify patients with carotid stenosis at risk of future stroke. We aimed to clarify the mechanisms and clinical implications of the hyperintense vessel sign (HVS) as a marker of high-risk carotid stenosis. METHODS We included 148 patients who underwent carotid stent (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA). MRI FLAIR was performed to detect HVS prior to and within 7 days after CAS/CEA. MR plaque imaging and 123I-iodoamphetamine SPECT was performed prior to CEA/CAS. Detailed characteristics of HVS were categorized in terms of symptomatic status, hemodynamic state, plaque composition, and HVS on time series. RESULTS Forty-six of 80 symptomatic hemispheres (57.5%) and 5 of 68 asymptomatic hemispheres (7.4%) presented HVS (P < 0.01). Of the 46 symptomatic hemispheres with HVS, 19 (41.3%) presented with hemodynamic impairment and 27 (58.7%) presented without hemodynamic impairment. Of 19 hemispheres with hemodynamic impairment, 12 subjects (63.2%) showed high intensity and 7 (36.8%) showed iso-intensity plaques on T1WI. All 27 hemispheres without hemodynamic impairment showed high-intensity plaques. Of the five asymptomatic and HVS-positive hemispheres, one showed hemodynamic impairment; MR plaque imaging revealed T1 iso-intensity. The other four hemispheres that did not show hemodynamic impairment showed T1WI high-intensity plaques. CONCLUSION There are two possible mechanisms of HVS, hemodynamic impairment due to severe carotid stenosis and micro-embolism from unstable plaques. HVS could be a radiological marker for high-risk carotid stenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daina Kashiwazaki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.
| | - Shusuke Yamamoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Naoki Akioka
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Emiko Hori
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Takashi Shibata
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Naoya Kuwayama
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Kyo Noguchi
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kuroda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
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Chandran R, Li W, Ahmed HA, Dong G, Ward RA, He L, Doueiry C, Ergul A. Diabetic rats are more susceptible to cognitive decline in a model of microemboli-mediated vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia. Brain Res 2020; 1749:147132. [PMID: 33002484 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Vascular disease plays an important role in all kinds of cognitive impairment and dementia. Diabetes increases the risk of vascular disease and dementia. However, it is not clear how existing vascular disease in the brain accelerates the development of small vessel disease and promotes cognitive dysfunction in diabetes. We used microemboli (ME) injection model in the current study to test the hypothesis that cerebrovascular dysfunction in diabetes facilitates entrapment of ME leading to inflammation and cognitive decline. We investigated cognitive function, axonal/white matter (WM) changes, neurovascular coupling, and microglial activation in control and diabetic male and female Wistar rats subjected to sham or low/high dose ME injection. Diabetic male animals had cognitive deficits, WM demyelination and greater microglial activation than the control animals even at baseline. Functional hyperemia gradually declined in diabetic male animals after ME injection. Both low and high ME injection worsened WM damage and increased microglial activation in diabetic male and female animals. Low ME did not cause cognitive decline in controls, while promoting learning/memory deficits in diabetic female rats and no further decline in diabetic male animals. High ME led to cognitive decline in control male rats and exacerbated the deficits in diabetic cohort. These results suggest that the existing cerebrovascular dysfunction in diabetes may facilitate ME-mediated demyelination leading to cognitive decline. It is important to integrate comorbidities/sex as a biological variable into experimental models for the development of preventive or therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavendar Chandran
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Weiguo Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.
| | - Heba A Ahmed
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Guangkuo Dong
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Rebecca A Ward
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lianying He
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Caren Doueiry
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Adviye Ergul
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States; Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States
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22
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Golemati S, Patelaki E, Gastounioti A, Andreadis I, Liapis CD, Nikita KS. Motion synchronisation patterns of the carotid atheromatous plaque from B-mode ultrasound. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11221. [PMID: 32641773 PMCID: PMC7343786 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65340-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Asynchronous movement of the carotid atheromatous plaque from B-mode ultrasound has been previously reported, and associated with higher risk of stroke, but not quantitatively estimated. Based on the hypothesis that asynchronous plaque motion is associated with vulnerable plaque, in this study, synchronisation patterns of different tissue areas were estimated using cross-correlations of displacement waveforms. In 135 plaques (77 subjects), plaque radial deformation was synchronised by approximately 50% with the arterial diameter, and the mean phase shift was 0.4 s. Within the plaque, the mean phase shifts between the displacements of the top and bottom surfaces were 0.2 s and 0.3 s, in the radial and longitudinal directions, respectively, and the synchronisation about 80% in both directions. Classification of phase-shift-based features using Random Forests yielded Area-Under-the-Curve scores of 0.81, 0.79, 0.89 and 0.90 for echogenicity, symptomaticity, stenosis degree and plaque risk, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that echolucent, high-stenosis and high-risk plaques exhibited higher phase shifts between the radial displacements of their top and bottom surfaces. These findings are useful in the study of plaque kinematics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyretta Golemati
- Biomedical Simulations and Imaging Lab., School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Eleni Patelaki
- Biomedical Simulations and Imaging Lab., School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Ioannis Andreadis
- Biomedical Simulations and Imaging Lab., School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Athens, Greece
| | - Christos D Liapis
- Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina S Nikita
- Biomedical Simulations and Imaging Lab., School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Athens, Greece
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Meshram NH, Mitchell CC, Wilbrand S, Dempsey RJ, Varghese T. Deep Learning for Carotid Plaque Segmentation using a Dilated U-Net Architecture. ULTRASONIC IMAGING 2020; 42:221-230. [PMID: 32885739 PMCID: PMC8045553 DOI: 10.1177/0161734620951216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Carotid plaque segmentation in ultrasound longitudinal B-mode images using deep learning is presented in this work. We report on 101 severely stenotic carotid plaque patients. A standard U-Net is compared with a dilated U-Net architecture in which the dilated convolution layers were used in the bottleneck. Both a fully automatic and a semi-automatic approach with a bounding box was implemented. The performance degradation in plaque segmentation due to errors in the bounding box is quantified. We found that the bounding box significantly improved the performance of the networks with U-Net Dice coefficients of 0.48 for automatic and 0.83 for semi-automatic segmentation of plaque. Similar results were also obtained for the dilated U-Net with Dice coefficients of 0.55 for automatic and 0.84 for semi-automatic when compared to manual segmentations of the same plaque by an experienced sonographer. A 5% error in the bounding box in both dimensions reduced the Dice coefficient to 0.79 and 0.80 for U-Net and dilated U-Net respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirvedh H Meshram
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Carol C Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Stephanie Wilbrand
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Robert J Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Tomy Varghese
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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24
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Dempsey RJ, Bowman K. The past, present, and future of neurosurgery's role in stroke. J Neurosurg 2020; 133:260-266. [PMID: 32244210 DOI: 10.3171/2020.1.jns193043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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25
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Wang Y, Jiang C, Huang H, Liu N, Wang Y, Chen Z, Liang S, Wu M, Jiang Y, Wang X, Zhou T, Chen H, Zhang L, Li H. Correlation of Cerebral White Matter Lesions with Carotid Intraplaque Neovascularization assessed by Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2020; 29:104928. [PMID: 32689582 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.104928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Carotid atherosclerotic plaque is closely associated with cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs), while intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) contributes significantly to arterial remodeling and plaque vulnerability. In this study, we aim to evaluate the correlation of carotid IPN with cerebral WMLs. METHODS The presence of IPN and WMLs were assessed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and MRI respectively. IPN was evaluated utilizing semi-quantification visual grading scale and WMLs was divided according to Fazekas grading scale. We investigated the baseline data, Fazekas grades, and IPN grades among 269 participants. We explored the influences of each variable on Fazekas grades using ordinal logistic regression and evaluated the relationship between IPN grades and WMLs Fazekas grades. RESULTS Increased age (OR: 1.06, P<0.001), hypertension (OR: 2.17, P=0.002), cerebral infarction (OR: 1.74, P=0.046), and elevated carotid IPN grading were significantly associated with aggravated Fazekas grades (grade 2 or 3). To be specific, people having grade 3, 2, and 1 carotid IPN were 25.84 (P<0.001), 10.64 (P<0.001), and 5.96 (P=0.010) times as likely to have elevated Fazekas grades compared with those who having grade 0 carotid IPN. CONCLUSION Increased carotid IPN is independently correlated with aggravated cerebral WMLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; First Clinical Medical School, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
| | - Chao Jiang
- Department of Public Health, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Ultrasound, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Niu Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhaoyao Chen
- Department of Neurology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sen Liang
- Department of Neurology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Minghua Wu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yajun Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- GCP Center, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tingting Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; First Clinical Medical School, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hu Chen
- Department of Radiology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; First Clinical Medical School, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Neurology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; First Clinical Medical School, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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26
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Steffel CN, Salamat S, Cook TD, Wilbrand SM, Dempsey RJ, Mitchell CC, Varghese T. Attenuation Coefficient Parameter Computations for Tissue Composition Assessment of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque in Vivo. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:1513-1532. [PMID: 32291105 PMCID: PMC7216316 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative ultrasound has been used to assess carotid plaque tissue composition. Here, we compute the attenuation coefficient (AC) in vivo with the optimum power spectral shift estimator (OPSSE) and reference phantom method (RPM), extract AC parameters and form parametric maps. Differences between OPSSE and RPM AC parameters are computed. Relationships between AC parameters, surgical scores and histopathology assessments are examined. Kendall's τ correlations between OPSSE AC and surgical scores are significant, including those between cholesterol and Standard Deviation (adjusted p = 0.038); thrombus and Minimum (adjusted p = 0.002), Maximum (adjusted p = 0.021) and Standard Deviation (adjusted p = 0.001); ulceration and Average (adjusted p = 0.033), Median (unadjusted p = 0.013), Maximum (unadjusted p = 0.039) and Mode (adjusted p = 0.009). The strongest correlations with histopathology are percentage cholesterol and Median OPSSE (unadjusted p = 0.007); percentage hemorrhage and Minimum OPSSE (adjusted p < 0.001); hemosiderin score and Median OPSSE (adjusted p = 0.010); and percentage calcium and Percentage Non-physical RPM Pixels (unadjusted p = 0.014). Kruskal-Wallis H and Dunn's post hoc tests have the ability to distinguish between groups (p < 0.05). Results suggest AC parameters may assist in vivo evaluation of carotid plaque vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine N Steffel
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
| | - Shahriar Salamat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Thomas D Cook
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Stephanie M Wilbrand
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Robert J Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Carol C Mitchell
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Tomy Varghese
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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27
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Increased carotid artery wall stiffness and plaque prevalence in HIV infected patients measured with ultrasound elastography. Eur Radiol 2020; 30:3178-3187. [DOI: 10.1007/s00330-020-06660-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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28
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Karageorgos GM, Apostolakis IZ, Nauleau P, Gatti V, Weber R, Connolly ES, Miller EC, Konofagou EE. Arterial wall mechanical inhomogeneity detection and atherosclerotic plaque characterization using high frame rate pulse wave imaging in carotid artery disease patients in vivo. Phys Med Biol 2020; 65:025010. [PMID: 31746784 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ab58fa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pulse wave imaging (PWI) is a non-invasive, ultrasound-based technique, which provides information on arterial wall stiffness by estimating the pulse wave velocity (PWV) along an imaged arterial wall segment. The aims of the present study were to: (1) utilize the PWI information to automatically and optimally divide the artery into the segments with most homogeneous properties and (2) assess the feasibility of this method to provide arterial wall mechanical characterization in normal and atherosclerotic carotid arteries in vivo. A silicone phantom consisting of a soft and stiff segment along its longitudinal axis was scanned at the stiffness transition, and the PWV in each segment was estimated through static testing. The proposed algorithm detected the stiffness interface with an average error of 0.98 ± 0.49 mm and 1.04 ± 0.27 mm in the soft-to-stiff and stiff-to-soft pulse wave transmission direction, respectively. Mean PWVs estimated in the case of the soft-to-stiff pulse wave transmission direction were 2.47 [Formula: see text] 0.04 m s-1 and 3.43 [Formula: see text] 0.08 m s-1 for the soft and stiff phantom segments, respectively, while in the case of stiff-to-soft transmission direction PWVs were 2.60 [Formula: see text] 0.18 m s-1 and 3.72 [Formula: see text] 0.08 m s-1 for the soft and stiff phantom segments, respectively, which were in good agreement with the PWVs obtained through static testing (soft segment: 2.41 m s-1, stiff segment: 3.52 m s-1). Furthermore, the carotid arteries of N = 9 young subjects (22-32 y.o.) and N = 9 elderly subjects (60-73 y.o.) with no prior history of carotid artery disease were scanned, in vivo, as well as the atherosclerotic carotid arteries of N = 12 (59-85 y.o.) carotid artery disease patients. One-way ANOVA with Holm-Sidak correction showed that the number of most homogeneous segments in which the artery was divided was significantly higher in the case of carotid artery disease patients compared to young (3.25 [Formula: see text] 0.86 segments versus 1.00 [Formula: see text] 0.00 segments, p -value < 0.0001) and elderly non-atherosclerotic subjects (3.25 [Formula: see text] 0.86 segments versus 1.44 [Formula: see text] 0.51 segments p -value < 0.0001), indicating increased wall inhomogeneity in atherosclerotic arteries. The compliance provided by the proposed algorithm was significantly higher in non-calcified/high-lipid plaques as compared with calcified plaques (3.35 [Formula: see text] 2.45 *[Formula: see text] versus 0.22 [Formula: see text] 0.18 * [Formula: see text], p -value < 0.01) and the compliance estimated in elderly subjects (3.35 [Formula: see text] 2.45 * [Formula: see text] versus 0.79 [Formula: see text] 0.30 * [Formula: see text], p -value < 0.01). Moreover, lower compliance was estimated in cases where vulnerable plaque characteristics were present (i.e. necrotic lipid core, thrombus), compared to stable plaque components (calcification), as evaluated through plaque histological examination. The proposed algorithm was thus capable of evaluating arterial wall inhomogeneity and characterize wall mechanical properties, showing promise in vascular disease diagnosis and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grigorios M Karageorgos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America. Grigorios M Karageorgos and Iason Z Apostolakis contributed equally to this work
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29
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Wang Y, Yao M, Zou M, Li S, Ge Z, Hong Y, Cai S, Wang H, Li J. Assessment of Carotid Intraplaque Neovascularization Using Superb Microvascular Imaging in High Risk of Stroke Individuals: Results From a Community-Based Study. Front Neurol 2019; 10:1146. [PMID: 31787918 PMCID: PMC6854025 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.01146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Improved stroke risk stratification may improve stroke prevention. We aimed to study the value of a novel Doppler method, superb microvascular imaging (SMI), in correlating plaque thickness and evidence of intra-plaque neovascularization with a history stroke and TIA involving any cerebrovascular territory among community residents considered at high stroke risk. Methods: We selected residents aged at least 40 years from the Donghuashi community in China who had at least three stroke risk factors (including a history of stroke or TIA) and carotid plaque thickness of at least 1.5 mm (but without heavy calcification) and no history of carotid endarterectomy or stenting. In this cross-sectional study, each subject underwent carotid plaque examination with standard ultrasound and SMI. SMI evidence of plaque neovascularization was categorized as none or mild (Grade 1) or moderate or marked (Grade 2) and correlated with past history of stroke or TIA. Results: A total of 131 individuals (mean age 69 ± 8 years, 63% male) met the study inclusion criteria. SMI revealed no or mild neovascularization in 74 subjects (56.5%) and moderate or marked neovascularization in 57 subjects (43.5%). Subjects with moderate or marked neovascularization were more likely to have a history of any territory stroke or TIA, 43.9 vs. 17.6% (P = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed a thicker plaque (odds ratio: 2.272, 95% CI: 1.351–3.822, P = 0.002) and a history of stroke or TIA (odds ratio: 4.017, 95% CI: 1.719–9.387, P = 0.001) significantly correlated with evidence of moderate to marked intra-plaque neovascularization. Conclusions: Moderate to marked intraplaque neovascularization detected by SMI was more likely in subjects with a history of any territory stroke or TIA or thicker plaque. This indicates a potential new role of SMI in stratifying future risk of stroke or other arterial disease complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Yao
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mi Zou
- Department of Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shengde Li
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhitong Ge
- Department of Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yuehui Hong
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Siman Cai
- Department of Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyan Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jianchu Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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30
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Varghese T, Meshram NH, Mitchell CC, Wilbrand SM, Hermann BP, Dempsey RJ. Lagrangian carotid strain imaging indices normalized to blood pressure for vulnerable plaque. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND : JCU 2019; 47:477-485. [PMID: 31168787 PMCID: PMC6760247 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.22739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ultrasound Lagrangian carotid strain imaging (LCSI) utilizes physiological deformation caused by arterial pressure variations to generate strain tensor maps of the vessel walls and plaques. LCSI has been criticized for the lack of normalization of magnitude-based strain indices to physiological stimuli, namely blood pressure. We evaluated the impact of normalization of magnitude-based strain indices to blood pressure measured immediately after the acquisition of radiofrequency (RF) data loops for LCSI. MATERIALS AND METHODS A complete clinical ultrasound examination along with RF data loops for LCSI was performed on 50 patients (30 males and 20 females) who presented with >60% carotid stenosis and were scheduled for carotid endarterectomy. Cognition was assessed using the 60-minute neuropsychological test protocol. RESULTS For axial strains correlation of maximum accumulated strain indices (MASI), cognition scores were -0.46 for non-normalized and -0.45, -0.49, -0.37, and -0.48 for systolic, diastolic, pulse pressure, and mean arterial pressure normalized data, respectively. The corresponding area under the curve (AUC) values for classifiers designed using maximum likelihood estimation of a binormal distribution with a median-split of the executive function cognition scores were 0.73, 0.70, 0.71, 0.70, and 0.71, respectively. CONCLUSIONS No significant differences in the AUC estimates were obtained between normalized and non-normalized magnitude-based strain indices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomy Varghese
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Nirvedh H Meshram
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Carol C Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Stephanie M Wilbrand
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Bruce P Hermann
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Robert J Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
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31
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Dempsey RJ, Jackson DC, Wilbrand SM, Mitchell CC, Berman SE, Johnson SC, Meshram NH, Varghese T, Hermann BP. The Preservation of Cognition 1 Year After Carotid Endarterectomy in Patients With Prior Cognitive Decline. Neurosurgery 2019; 82:322-328. [PMID: 28575478 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyx173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular cognitive decline is critically important in the course of atherosclerosis and stroke. OBJECTIVE To explore the hypothesis that carotid endarterectomy (CEA) by removing an unstable plaque may slow the course of vascular cognitive decline in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. METHODS Patients with clinically significant (>60%) carotid stenosis were studied preop and 1 yr post-CEA for clinical symptoms, vascular cognitive decline, instability of carotid plaque-presence of microemboli, brain white matter changes, and medical risk factors. RESULTS Forty-six percent were classically symptomatic. All patients showed vascular cognitive decline at presentation which correlated with degree of plaque instability. Significant white matter hyperintensity changes (48.7%) and cerebral emboli (25%) were also seen at baseline in both classically symptomatic and asymptomatic. One year after CEA, both groups showed no decline in cognitive function and significant improvement in 2 tests (P = .028 and P = .013). Brain white matter hyperintensities were unchanged. Microemboli were reduced but remained present (17.86%). Improvement was predicted by the presence of hypertension (P = .001), or less advanced cognitive decline preoperatively (P = .009). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the importance of vascular cognitive decline in atherosclerotic disease. This is a function of the degree of instability of the atherosclerotic plaque more than the presence of stroke symptoms. It further suggests that atherosclerotic vascular cognitive decline need not be inevitable, and may be modified by treating hypertension and removal of the unstable plaque. This highlights the need for continued research on the cognitive effects of cerebrovascular disease and the synergistic benefits of intensive medical and surgical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Daren C Jackson
- Wisconsin Surgical Outcomes Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Stephanie M Wilbrand
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Carol C Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Sara E Berman
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Sterling C Johnson
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Nirvedh H Meshram
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Tomy Varghese
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Bruce P Hermann
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Centennial Building, Madison, Wisconsin
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Saxena A, Ng EYK, Lim ST. Imaging modalities to diagnose carotid artery stenosis: progress and prospect. Biomed Eng Online 2019; 18:66. [PMID: 31138235 PMCID: PMC6537161 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-019-0685-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past few decades, imaging has been developed to a high level of sophistication. Improvements from one-dimension (1D) to 2D images, and from 2D images to 3D models, have revolutionized the field of imaging. This not only helps in diagnosing various critical and fatal diseases in the early stages but also contributes to making informed clinical decisions on the follow-up treatment profile. Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) may potentially cause debilitating stroke, and its accurate early detection is therefore important. In this paper, the technical development of various CAS diagnosis imaging modalities and its impact on the clinical efficacy is thoroughly reviewed. These imaging modalities include duplex ultrasound (DUS), computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). For each of the imaging modalities considered, imaging methodology (principle), critical imaging parameters, and the extent of imaging the vulnerable plaque are discussed. DUS is usually the initial recommended CAS diagnostic examination. However, for the therapeutic intervention, either MRA or CTA is recommended for confirmation, and for added information on intracranial cerebral circulation and aortic arch condition for procedural planning. Over the past few decades, the focus of CAS diagnosis has also shifted from pure stenosis quantification to plaque characterization. This has led to further advancement in the existing imaging tools and development of other potential imaging tools like Optical coherence tomography (OCT), photoacoustic tomography (PAT), and infrared (IR) thermography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Saxena
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, Block N3, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Eddie Yin Kwee Ng
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, Block N3, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
| | - Soo Teik Lim
- Department of Cardiology, National Heart Center Singapore, 5 Hospital Dr, Singapore, 169609, Singapore
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Meshram NH, Mitchell CC, Wilbrand SM, Dempsey RJ, Varghese T. In vivo carotid strain imaging using principal strains in longitudinal view. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2019; 5. [PMID: 31240113 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ab15c9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Carotid plaque rupture can result in stroke or transient ischemic attack that can be devastating for patients. Ultrasound strain imaging provides a noninvasive method to identify unstable plaque likely to rupture. Axial, lateral and shear strains in carotid plaque have been shown to be linked to carotid plaque instability. Recently, there has been interest in using principal strains, which do not depend on angle of insonification of the carotid artery for quantifying instability in plaque along the longitudinal view. In this work relationships between angle dependent axial, lateral and shear strain along with axis independent principal strains are compared. Three strain indices were defined, 1) Average Mean Strain (AMS), 2) Maximum Mean Strain (MMS) and 3) Mean Standard Deviation (MSD) to identify relationships between these five strain image types in a group of 76 in vivo patients. The maximum principal strain demonstrated the highest strain values when compared to axial strain for all patients with a linear regression slope of 1.6 and a y intercept of 2.4 percent strain for AMS. The maximum shear strain when compared to shear strain had a slope of 1.15 and a y intercept of 0.21 percent for AMS. Next, the effect of insonification angle, which is the angle subtended by the artery at the location of plaque was studied. Patients were divided into three sub groups, i.e. less than 5 degrees (n = 31), between 5 and 10 degrees (n = 24) and above 10 degrees (n = 21). The angle of insonification did not make a significant difference between the three angle groups when comparing the relationship between the angle dependent and independent strain values.
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Affiliation(s)
- N H Meshram
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706
| | - C C Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706
| | - S M Wilbrand
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706
| | - R J Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706
| | - T Varghese
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706
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Kolb B, Fadel H, Rajah G, Saber H, Luqman A, Rangel-Castilla L. Effect of revascularization on cognitive outcomes in intracranial steno-occlusive disease: a systematic review. Neurosurg Focus 2019; 46:E14. [PMID: 30717064 DOI: 10.3171/2018.11.focus18517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVESteno-occlusive diseases of the cerebral vasculature have been associated with cognitive decline. The authors performed a systematic review of the existing literature on intracranial steno-occlusive disease, including intracranial atherosclerosis and moyamoya disease (MMD), to determine the extent and quality of evidence for the effect of revascularization on cognitive performance.METHODSA systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, the Thomson Reuters Web of Science Core Collection, and the KCI Korean Journal Database was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the English-language literature and observational studies that compared cognitive outcomes before and after revascularization in patients with steno-occlusive disease of the intracranial vasculature, from which data were extracted and analyzed.RESULTSNine papers were included, consisting of 2 RCTs and 7 observational cohort studies. Results from 2 randomized trials including 142 patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic steno-occlusion found no additional benefit to revascularization when added to maximal medical therapy. The certainty in the results of these trials was limited by concerns for bias and indirectness. Results from 7 observational trials including 282 patients found some cognitive benefit for revascularization for symptomatic atherosclerotic steno-occlusion and for steno-occlusion related to MMD in children. The certainty of these conclusions was low to very low, due to both inherent limitations in observational studies for inferring causality and concerns for added risk of bias and indirectness in some studies.CONCLUSIONSThe effects of revascularization on cognitive performance in intracranial steno-occlusive disease remain uncertain due to limitations in existing studies. More well-designed randomized trials and observational studies are needed to determine if revascularization can arrest or reverse cognitive decline in these patients.
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Nagm A, Horiuchi T, Hongo K. Letter to the Editor. Carotid atherosclerotic plaque instability and cognition: collecting additional data. J Neurosurg 2018; 129:1373-1374. [PMID: 30168736 DOI: 10.3171/2018.5.jns181177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alhusain Nagm
- 1Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan; and
- 2Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Kazuhiro Hongo
- 1Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan; and
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36
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Nagm A, Horiuchi T, Hongo K. Letter: The Preservation of Cognition 1 Year After Carotid Endarterectomy in Patients With Prior Cognitive Decline. Neurosurgery 2018; 83:E179-E180. [PMID: 31222268 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyy323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alhusain Nagm
- Department of Neurosurgery Shinshu University School of Medicine Matsumoto, Japan.,Department of Neurosurgery Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine-Nasr City Cairo, Egypt
| | - Tetsuyoshi Horiuchi
- Department of Neurosurgery Shinshu University School of Medicine Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Hongo
- Department of Neurosurgery Shinshu University School of Medicine Matsumoto, Japan
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Meshram NH, Varghese T. GPU Accelerated Multilevel Lagrangian Carotid Strain Imaging. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2018; 65:1370-1379. [PMID: 29993716 PMCID: PMC6128663 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2018.2841346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
A multilevel Lagrangian carotid strain imaging algorithm is analyzed to identify computational bottlenecks for implementation on a graphics processing unit (GPU). Displacement tracking including regularization was found to be the most computationally expensive aspect of this strain imaging algorithm taking about 2.2 h for an entire cardiac cycle. This intensive displacement tracking was essential to obtain Lagrangian strain tensors. However, most of the computational techniques used for displacement tracking are parallelizable, and hence GPU implementation is expected to be beneficial. A new scheme for subsample displacement estimation referred to as a multilevel global peak finder was also developed since the Nelder-Mead simplex optimization technique used in the CPU implementation was not suitable for GPU implementation. GPU optimizations to minimize thread divergence and utilization of shared and texture memories were also implemented. This enables efficient use of the GPU computational hardware and memory bandwidth. Overall, an application speedup of was obtained enabling the algorithm to finish in about 50 s for a cardiac cycle. Last, comparison of GPU and CPU implementations demonstrated no significant difference in the quality of displacement vector and strain tensor estimation with the two implementations up to a 5% interframe deformation. Hence, a GPU implementation is feasible for clinical adoption and opens opportunity for other computationally intensive techniques.
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Chen WH, Jin W, Lyu PY, Liu Y, Li R, Hu M, Xiao XJ. Carotid Atherosclerosis and Cognitive Impairment in Nonstroke Patients. Chin Med J (Engl) 2018; 130:2375-2379. [PMID: 28937045 PMCID: PMC5634090 DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.215331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: As a vascular risk factor, carotid atherosclerosis is crucial to cognitive impairment. While carotid intima-media thickness, carotid artery plaque, and carotid stenosis can reflect carotid atherosclerosis in different stages, this review aimed to explore researches on the role of carotid intima-media thickness, carotid artery plaque, and carotid stenosis in the progress of cognitive impairment in nonstroke patients and tried to illustrate the possible mechanisms. Data Sources: We searched the PubMed database for recently published research articles up to July 2017, with the key words of “carotid atherosclerosis,” “carotid intima-media thickness,” “carotid plaque,” “carotid stenosis,” “nonstroke,” and “cognitive impairment.” Study Selection: Articles were obtained and reviewed to analyze the role of carotid atherosclerosis such as carotid intima-thickness, carotid plaque, and carotid stenosis in the progress of cognitive impairment in nonstroke patients and the possible mechanisms. Results: In recent years, most studies proved that by evaluating carotid atherosclerosis with ultrasonography, carotid atherosclerosis accounts for the development of cognitive decline in nonstroke patients. Carotid atherosclerosis not only impairs the subtle general cognitive function but also decreases the specific domains of cognitive function, such as memory, motor function, visual perception, attention, and executive function. But, it is still controversial. The possible mechanisms of cognitive impairment in nonstroke patients with carotid atherosclerosis can be classified as systemic global cerebrovascular function, small-vessel diseases, and the mixed lesions. Conclusions: Carotid atherosclerosis can be used to predict the risk of cognitive impairment. Furthermore, diagnosing and treating carotid atherosclerosis at early stage might help clinicians prevent and treat vascular cognitive impairment in nonstroke patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Hong Chen
- Graduate School, Hebei Medical University; Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China
| | - Wei Jin
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China
| | - Pei-Yuan Lyu
- Graduate School, Hebei Medical University; Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Graduate School, Hebei Medical University; Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China
| | - Rui Li
- Graduate School, Hebei Medical University; Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China
| | - Ming Hu
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China
| | - Xiang-Jian Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China
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39
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Mitchell CC, Wilbrand SM, Kundu B, Steffel CN, Varghese T, Meshram NH, Li G, Cook TD, Salamat MS, Dempsey RJ. Transcranial Doppler and Microemboli Detection: Relationships to Symptomatic Status and Histopathology Findings. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2017. [PMID: 28645797 PMCID: PMC5532746 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2017.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between symptomatic status, transcranial Doppler (TCD) microemboli presence and plaque histopathology findings. TCD was performed on 60 patients (37 symptomatic, 23 asymptomatic) before undergoing clinically indicated carotid endarterectomy. The frequency of microemboli signals was not significantly different between symptomatic and asymptomatic subject groups (p = 0.88) and there were no differences observed in the macroscopic or histopathology scoring of these plaques (p-values all > 0.05). The presence of microemboli was associated with an ulceration score (regardless of symptomatic or asymptomatic status, p = 0.034), with a one-level increase in ulceration rating associated with an odds ratio of 5.86 (95% [CI] 1.55, 43.4). These findings suggest that both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients may have plaque with similar features of instability and ability to create emboli. Thus, identifying new ways to measure plaque instability may provide important information for optimizing treatment to prevent future stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol C Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Stephanie M Wilbrand
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Bornali Kundu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Catherine N Steffel
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Tomy Varghese
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Nirvedh H Meshram
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Geng Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Thomas D Cook
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - M Shahriar Salamat
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Robert J Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
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40
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Meshram NH, Varghese T, Mitchell CC, Jackson DC, Wilbrand SM, Hermann BP, Dempsey RJ. Quantification of carotid artery plaque stability with multiple region of interest based ultrasound strain indices and relationship with cognition. Phys Med Biol 2017; 62:6341-6360. [PMID: 28594333 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aa781f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Vulnerability and instability in carotid artery plaque has been assessed based on strain variations using noninvasive ultrasound imaging. We previously demonstrated that carotid plaques with higher strain indices in a region of interest (ROI) correlated to patients with lower cognition, probably due to cerebrovascular emboli arising from these unstable plaques. This work attempts to characterize the strain distribution throughout the entire plaque region instead of being restricted to a single localized ROI. Multiple ROIs are selected within the entire plaque region, based on thresholds determined by the maximum and average strains in the entire plaque, enabling generation of additional relevant strain indices. Ultrasound strain imaging of carotid plaques, was performed on 60 human patients using an 18L6 transducer coupled to a Siemens Acuson S2000 system to acquire radiofrequency data over several cardiac cycles. Patients also underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests under a protocol based on National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Canadian Stroke Network guidelines. Correlation of strain indices with composite cognitive index of executive function revealed a negative association relating high strain to poor cognition. Patients grouped into high and low cognition groups were then classified using these additional strain indices. One of our newer indices, namely the average L - 1 norm with plaque (AL1NWP) presented with significantly improved correlation with executive function when compared to our previously reported maximum accumulated strain indices. An optimal combination of three of the new indices generated classifiers of patient cognition with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.880, 0.921 and 0.905 for all (n = 60), symptomatic (n = 33) and asymptomatic patients (n = 27) whereas classifiers using maximum accumulated strain indices alone provided AUC values of 0.817, 0.815 and 0.813 respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- N H Meshram
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI-53706, United States of America. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI-53706, United States of America
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