Abstract 348: Serial MRI Differentiates the Natural History of Stable and Vulnerable Plaques in a Rabbit Aorta

Non-invasive monitoring of human atherosclerotic plaque progression would be extremely valuable for determining the characteristics of vulnerable plaques before they rupture and for evaluating therapeutic interventions. We have shown that MRI is a reliable method for differentiating stable and vulnerable aortic atherosclerotic plaques in a rabbit model of atherothrombosis. In this study, we imaged rabbits at 4 time points (baseline, 1, 2 and 3 months) to monitor the progression of plaques and investigate when stable and vulnerable plaques can be differentiated. MR images and histology of two plaques in the same rabbit aorta are compared below. The top row of black blood (BB) T1 images (with fat suppression) show no significant changes in the lumen or the vessel wall area, and no thrombus in the stable plaque after triggering to induce plaque rupture. The histology showed an intact fibrous cap, overlying diffuse lipids. In comparison, there is a marked increase in vessel wall area in the vulnerable plaque (from 4.1 to 15 mm2 over 3 months). The second row (T1BB FS with Gd) shows some uptake of Gd into the stable plaque and surrounding tissue, but the vulnerable plaque showed rapidly increased Gd uptake between months 2 and 3. The vulnerable plaque also showed a large luminal thrombus in the MR images of the live rabbit and in the corresponding histology slice. In addition, the vulnerable plaque showed excessive outward remodeling at 2 months (data not shown). Our study shows a progression of vulnerable features, clearly evident at 2 months, in the plaque that disrupted. We are currently investigating whether therapies initiated at 2 months will reduce the progression of plaque vulnerability.

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Comparison of carotid vessel wall area measurements using three different contrast-weighted black blood MR imaging techniques

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

10.1016/s0730-725x(01)00408-8 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 795-802 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Shaoxiong Zhang ◽

Thomas S Hatsukami ◽

Nayak L Polissar ◽

Chao Han ◽

Chun Yuan

Keyword(s):

Mr Imaging ◽

Vessel Wall ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Black Blood ◽

Wall Area ◽

Vessel Wall Area ◽

Carotid Vessel Wall ◽

Carotid Vessel

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Bordered pit and ray morphology involvement in elm resistance to Ophiostoma novo-ulmi

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x08-183 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 420-429 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Juan A. Martín ◽

Alejandro Solla ◽

Luis G. Esteban ◽

Paloma de Palacios ◽

Luis Gil

Keyword(s):

Vessel Wall ◽

Fungal Growth ◽

Principal Component ◽

Dutch Elm Disease ◽

Mean Values ◽

Anatomical Features ◽

Wall Area ◽

Pit Membrane ◽

Vessel Wall Area ◽

Component Loadings

The main objective of this study was to identify differential anatomical features between Ulmus pumila L. and Ulmus minor Mill. clones resistant to Dutch elm disease and U. minor clones susceptible to Dutch elm disease, with a focus on the intervascular pits and medullary rays. Resistant elms showed lower mean values than susceptible elms for pit membrane diameter, pit aperture area, pit membrane abundance per vessel-wall area, ray width, and ray tangential area. A principal component analysis of the parameters measured revealed slight differentiation between species but clearly grouped U. minor clones according to their susceptibility group. In comparison with susceptible elms, the pit structure observed in resistant elms may limit passive fungal spread within the sapflow, lower the probability of fungal cells passively reaching pit membranes, and reduce the vulnerability of the xylem to cavitation. Similarly, the ray structure observed in the resistant elms is likely to reduce the amount of easily accessible nutrients available for fungal growth as well as the rate of radial colonization in comparison with susceptible elms. Examination of the principal component loadings suggested that susceptible U. minor clones were mainly characterized by enhanced values of pit membrane abundance per vessel-wall area relative to resistant U. minor trees.

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A phase III multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (TANGO) to evaluate CER-001 on carotid atherosclerosis (vessel wall area) in patients with familial primary hypoalphalipoproteinaemia

Atherosclerosis ◽

10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.07.609 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 252 ◽

pp. e111-e112

Author(s):

E. Stroes ◽

R. Benghozi ◽

J.L. Dasseux ◽

J. Genest ◽

H. Ginsberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vessel Wall ◽

Carotid Atherosclerosis ◽

Phase Iii ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Double Blind ◽

Double Blind Placebo ◽

Wall Area ◽

Vessel Wall Area

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Measurements of blood vessel wall areas in black-blood MR images using global minimum snake algorithm

1999 IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing. Proceedings. ICASSP99 (Cat. No.99CH36258) ◽

10.1109/icassp.1999.757574 ◽

1999 ◽

Author(s):

E. Lin ◽

Jenq-Neng Hwang ◽

Chun Yuan

Keyword(s):

Blood Vessel ◽

Vessel Wall ◽

Global Minimum ◽

Black Blood ◽

Blood Vessel Wall ◽

Mr Images ◽

Snake Algorithm

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High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of carotid atherosclerotic plaques – a correlation study with histopathology

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526/a000626 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 46 (4) ◽

pp. 283-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zhangyong Xia ◽

Hua Yang ◽

Xiaochun Yuan ◽

Jiyue Wang ◽

Shigang Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance ◽

High Resolution ◽

Vulnerable Plaque ◽

Vessel Wall ◽

Necrotic Core ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Histopathological Findings ◽

Fibrous Cap ◽

High Resolution Mri ◽

Stable Plaque

Abstract. Background: This study aimed to utilize high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the characteristics of stable and vulnerable carotid arteriosclerotic plaques, with correlations to histopathological findings. Patients and methods: High-resolution MRI was performed in 817 patients, using three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography. Plaque composition was evaluated by measuring the areas occupied by calcification, a lipid-rich necrotic core, intra-plaque haemorrhage, and fibrous cap rupture. Plaque morphology was analysed by measuring vessel wall area, thickness, and luminal area at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. Plaque tissues were sampled during carotid endarterectomy and examined using haematoxylin-eosin, Oil Red O, Masson trichrome staining, and immunohistochemical staining for CD68. Results: Patients were divided into stable plaque group (n = 462) and vulnerable plaque group (n = 355), based on intraoperative observations and postoperative histopathological findings. Compared to the stable plaque group, the vulnerable plaque group exhibited increased vessel wall areas and thickness, and decreased mean luminal areas (P < 0.001). The vulnerable plaque group also had a lower collagen content, a higher lipid content, and higher CD68 expression in plaque tissues on histological examinations (P < 0.01). Incidences of lipid-rich necrotic core (38.1 % vs. 34.3 %), intra-plaque haemorrhage (26.9 % vs. 22.8 %), plaque calcification (45.2 % vs. 40.9 %), and fibrous cap rupture (36.0 % vs 39.8 %) in the plaques were concordant with MRI observations and histopathological findings (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Stable and vulnerable carotid plaques had different morphologies and compositions. High-resolution MRI can assess such differences qualitatively and quantitatively in vivo and provide guidance for risk stratification and management.

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Reproducibility of the carotid vessel wall area and dimensions at 3.0 T MRI

Vascular Pharmacology ◽

10.1016/j.vph.2006.08.300 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. e111

Author(s):

Reza Alizadeh Dehnavi ◽

Joost Doornbos ◽

Jouke T. Tamsma ◽

Matthias Stuber ◽

Hein Putter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vessel Wall ◽

Wall Area ◽

Vessel Wall Area ◽

3.0 T ◽

Carotid Vessel Wall ◽

3.0 T Mri ◽

Carotid Vessel

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Tu-P9:375 Reproducibility of the carotid vessel wall area and dimensions at 3.0T MRI

Atherosclerosis Supplements ◽

10.1016/s1567-5688(06)81077-9 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 267

Author(s):

R. Alizadeh Dehnavi ◽

J. Doornbos ◽

J.T. Tamsma ◽

M. Stuber ◽

H. Putter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vessel Wall ◽

Wall Area ◽

Vessel Wall Area ◽

Carotid Vessel Wall ◽

3.0T Mri ◽

Carotid Vessel

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Thrombogenicity of the Injured Vessel Wall – Role of Antithrombin and Heparin

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1642399 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 71 (01) ◽

pp. 147-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Siw Frebelius ◽

Ulf Hedin ◽

Jesper Swedenborg

Keyword(s):

Vessel Wall ◽

Antithrombin Iii ◽

Rabbit Aorta ◽

Continuous Treatment ◽

Balloon Injury ◽

Coagulant Activity ◽

Risk For Thrombosis ◽

Inhibition Of Thrombin

SummaryThe thrombogenicity of the vessel wall after endothelial denudation is partly explained by an impaired inhibition of thrombin on the subendothelium. We have previously reported that thrombin coagulant activity can be detected on the vessel wall after balloon injury in vivo. The glycosaminoglycans of the subendothelium differ from those of the endothelium and have a lower catalyzing effect on antithrombin III, but inhibition of thrombin can still be augmented by addition of antithrombin III to the injured vessel surface.In this study the effect of antithrombin III and heparin on thrombin coagulant activity on the vessel wall was studied after in vivo balloon injury of the rabbit aorta using biochemical and immunohistochemical methods and thrombin was analysed after excision of the vessel. Continuous treatment with heparin, lasting until sacrifice of the animal, or treatment with antithrombin III resulted in significant reduction of thrombin coagulant activity on the injured aorta. Heparin given only in conjunction with the injury did not prevent thrombin coagulant activity or deposition of fibrin on the surface.The capacity of the injured vessel wall to inhibit thrombin in vitro was improved on aortic segments obtained from animals receiving antithrombin III but not from those given heparin. It is concluded that treatment with antithrombin III interferes with thrombin appearance on the vessel wall after injury and thereby reduces the risk for thrombosis.

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Deep convolutional neural networks for cardiovascular vulnerable plaque detection

MATEC Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/matecconf/201927702024 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 277 ◽

pp. 02024 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lincan Li ◽

Tong Jia ◽

Tianqi Meng ◽

Yizhe Liu

Keyword(s):

Neural Networks ◽

Deep Learning ◽

Convolutional Neural Networks ◽

Vulnerable Plaque ◽

Recall Rate ◽

Superior Performance ◽

Learning Approaches ◽

Deep Convolutional Neural Networks ◽

Vulnerable Plaques ◽

Plaque Detection

In this paper, an accurate two-stage deep learning method is proposed to detect vulnerable plaques in ultrasonic images of cardiovascular. Firstly, a Fully Convonutional Neural Network (FCN) named U-Net is used to segment the original Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography (IVOCT) cardiovascular images. We experiment on different threshold values to find the best threshold for removing noise and background in the original images. Secondly, a modified Faster RCNN is adopted to do precise detection. The modified Faster R-CNN utilize six-scale anchors (122,162,322,642,1282,2562) instead of the conventional one scale or three scale approaches. First, we present three problems in cardiovascular vulnerable plaque diagnosis, then we demonstrate how our method solve these problems. The proposed method in this paper apply deep convolutional neural networks to the whole diagnostic procedure. Test results show the Recall rate, Precision rate, IoU (Intersection-over-Union) rate and Total score are 0.94, 0.885, 0.913 and 0.913 respectively, higher than the 1st team of CCCV2017 Cardiovascular OCT Vulnerable Plaque Detection Challenge. AP of the designed Faster RCNN is 83.4%, higher than conventional approaches which use one-scale or three-scale anchors. These results demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed method and the power of deep learning approaches in diagnose cardiovascular vulnerable plaques.

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