scholarly journals Osteoid Metaplasia in Femoral Artery Plaques Is Associated With the Clinical Severity of Lower Extremity Artery Disease in Men

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjami Laivuori ◽  
Johanna Tolva ◽  
A. Inkeri Lokki ◽  
Nina Linder ◽  
Johan Lundin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Deep Learning ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Femoral Artery ◽  
Analysis Algorithm ◽  
Image Analysis Algorithm ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
Area Percentage ◽  
Lower Extremity Artery Disease ◽  
Whole Slide Images

Lamellar metaplastic bone, osteoid metaplasia (OM), is found in atherosclerotic plaques, especially in the femoral arteries. In the carotid arteries, OM has been documented to be associated with plaque stability. This study investigated the clinical impact of OM load in femoral artery plaques of patients with lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) by using a deep learning-based image analysis algorithm. Plaques from 90 patients undergoing endarterectomy of the common femoral artery were collected and analyzed. After decalcification and fixation, 4-μm-thick longitudinal sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, digitized, and uploaded as whole-slide images on a cloud-based platform. A deep learning-based image analysis algorithm was trained to analyze the area percentage of OM in whole-slide images. Clinical data were extracted from electronic patient records, and the association with OM was analyzed. Fifty-one (56.7%) sections had OM. Females with diabetes had a higher area percentage of OM than females without diabetes. In male patients, the area percentage of OM inversely correlated with toe pressure and was significantly associated with severe symptoms of LEAD including rest pain, ulcer, or gangrene. According to our results, OM is a typical feature of femoral artery plaques and can be quantified using a deep learning-based image analysis method. The association of OM load with clinical features of LEAD appears to differ between male and female patients, highlighting the need for a gender-specific approach in the study of the mechanisms of atherosclerotic disease. In addition, the role of plaque characteristics in the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions warrants further consideration in the future.

scholarly journals Application of Combined Superficial Femoral Artery Stenting and Deep Femoral Artery Profundoplasty in Chinese Patients With Lower Extremity Artery Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoqing Chi ◽  
Mingchao Ding
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Femoral Artery ◽  
Superficial Femoral Artery ◽  
Patency Rate ◽  
Chinese Patients ◽  
Deep Femoral Artery ◽  
Hybrid Operation ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
Lower Extremity Artery Disease

Objective: Lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) increases sharply with age and results in severe burden in individuals and in society. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of simple superficial femoral artery stenting (SFAS) and the hybrid operation, such as combined SFAS and deep femoral artery profundoplasty (DFAP), in the treatment of Chinese patients with LEAD, classified as Rutherford grades 3–5.Methods: There were 200 patients with LEAD classified as Rutherford grades 3–5 included in the simple SFAS group (n = 100) and the combined SFAS and DFAP group (n = 100).Results: All the patients had median age of 71 years, and there were 143 males (71.5%). Not only the increase rate of ankle brachial index (ABI), but also reduction rate of Rutherford grade, were significantly higher after surgery in the combined SFAS and DFAP group than in the simple SFAS group (P < 0.05 for all). The patency rate of patients in the combined SFAS and DFAP group was significantly higher than that of patients in the simple SFAS group during the follow-up (P < 0.05). Proportion of amputation and claudication distance <200 m had no significant difference between the two groups during the 2-year follow-up (P > 0.05 for all).Conclusion: This study demonstrated that, compared with SFAS, combined SFAS and DFAP improved not only the ABI and the Rutherford grade after surgery but also the patency rate during the follow-up in Chinese patients with LEAD. Hybrid operation has significant value in alleviating clinical symptoms after surgery, and, thereby, improving vascular prognosis in Chinese patients.

Antithrombotic Therapy in Lower Extremity Artery Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mislav Vrsalovic ◽  
Victor Aboyans
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Antiplatelet Therapy ◽  
Antithrombotic Therapy ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Cardiovascular Outcomes ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Stent Type ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
Lower Extremity Artery Disease

Lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) is a marker of a more advanced atherosclerotic process often affecting multiple vascular beds beyond the lower limbs, with a consequent increased risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Antithrombotic therapy is the cornerstone of management of these patients to prevent ischaemic cardiovascular and limb events and death. In patients with symptomatic LEAD, the efficacy of aspirin has been established long ago for the prevention of cardiovascular events. In the current guidelines, clopidogrel may be preferred over aspirin following its incremental ability to prevent cardiovascular events, while ticagrelor is not superior to clopidogrel in reducing cardiovascular outcomes. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT, aspirin with clopidogrel) is currently recommended for at least 1 month after endovascular interventions irrespective of the stent type. Antiplatelet monotherapy is recommended after infra-inguinal bypass surgery, and DAPT may be considered in below-the-knee bypass with a prosthetic graft. In symptomatic LEAD, the addition of anticoagulant (vitamin K antagonists) to antiplatelet therapy increased the risk of major and life-threatening bleeding without benefit regarding cardiovascular outcomes. In a recent trial, low dose of direct oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban plus aspirin showed promising results, not only to reduce death and major cardiovascular events, but also major limb events including amputation. Yet, this option should be considered especially in very high risk patients, after considering also the bleeding risk. Despite all the evidence accumulated since >40 years, many patients with LEAD remain undertreated and deserve close attention and implementation of guidelines advocating the use of antithrombotic therapies, tailored according to their level of risk.

scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms Associated with ROS-Dependent Angiogenesis in Lower Extremity Artery Disease

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 735
Author(s):  
Greg Hutchings ◽  
Łukasz Kruszyna ◽  
Mariusz J. Nawrocki ◽  
Ewa Strauss ◽  
Rut Bryl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Blood Vessel ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Lower Extremities ◽  
Tissue Response ◽  
Peripheral Arteries ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
Lower Extremity Artery Disease

Currently, atherosclerosis, which affects the vascular bed of all vital organs and tissues, is considered as a leading cause of death. Most commonly, atherosclerosis involves coronary and peripheral arteries, which results in acute (e.g., myocardial infarction, lower extremities ischemia) or chronic (persistent ischemia leading to severe heart failure) consequences. All of them have a marked unfavorable impact on the quality of life and are associated with increased mortality and morbidity in human populations. Lower extremity artery disease (LEAD, also defined as peripheral artery disease, PAD) refers to atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremities, where partial or complete obstruction of peripheral arteries is observed. Decreased perfusion can result in ischemic pain, non-healing wounds, and ischemic ulcers, and significantly reduce the quality of life. However, the progressive atherosclerotic changes cause stimulation of tissue response processes, like vessel wall remodeling and neovascularization. These mechanisms of adapting the vascular network to pathological conditions seem to play a key role in reducing the impact of the changes limiting the flow of blood. Neovascularization as a response to ischemia induces sprouting and expansion of the endothelium to repair and grow the vessels of the circulatory system. Neovascularization consists of three different biological processes: vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and arteriogenesis. Both molecular and environmental factors that may affect the process of development and growth of blood vessels were analyzed. Particular attention was paid to the changes taking place during LEAD. It is important to consider the molecular mechanisms underpinning vessel growth. These mechanisms will also be examined in the context of diseases commonly affecting blood vessel function, or those treatable in part by manipulation of angiogenesis. Furthermore, it may be possible to induce the process of blood vessel development and growth to treat peripheral vascular disease and wound healing. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in regulation of essential cellular signaling pathways such as cell differentiation, proliferation, migration and apoptosis. With regard to the repair processes taking place during diseases such as LEAD, prospective therapeutic methods have been described that could significantly improve the treatment of vessel diseases in the future. Summarizing, regenerative medicine holds the potential to transform the therapeutic methods in heart and vessel diseases treatment.

Are hypertensive patients with history of coronary artery disease at risk for silent lower extremity artery disease?

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eka Prasetya Budi Mulia ◽  
Kevin Yuwono ◽  
Raden Mohammad Budiarto
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Ankle Brachial Index ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Hypertensive Patients ◽  
History Of ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
Lower Extremity Artery Disease

Abstract Objectives We aimed to investigate the association between hypertension and asymptomatic lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) in outpatients with known history of coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Patients with known history of CAD who have been undergone coronary angiography and have significant coronary artery stenosis (more than 60%) were included. LEAD was defined as ankle-brachial index (ABI) < 0.9 in either leg. The risk of LEAD in hypertensive group was analyzed using chi-square test, and correlation between blood pressure (BP) and ABI was analyzed using Pearson correlation test in SPSS v.25. Results One hundred and four patients were included. 82.7% of patients were male. Mean age was 57.05 ± 7.97. The prevalence of hypertension was 35.6%, and the prevalence of LEAD was 16.3%. A higher proportion of LEAD was found in hypertensive (18.9%) compared to non-hypertensive (14.9%), although not statistically significant (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 0.46 to 3.85; p=0.598). There was an association between ABI and systolic BP (p=0.016), but not with diastolic BP (p=0.102). Conclusions Our study showed that the prevalence of LEAD in hypertension, especially in the CAD population, is relatively high. There was no association between hypertension and LEAD, but a higher prevalence of LEAD was found in hypertensive patients. Nevertheless, LEAD screening is still recommended in hypertensive patients, especially in the CAD population, given the fact that outcomes of health and mortality are worse for those with concomitants of these diseases.

scholarly journals Analysis algorithm for sky type and ice halo recognition in all-sky images

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 4241-4259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylke Boyd ◽  
Stephen Sorenson ◽  
Shelby Richard ◽  
Michelle King ◽  
Morton Greenslit
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Image Analysis ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Detailed Comparison ◽  
Analysis Algorithm ◽  
Long Time Series ◽  
Image Analysis Algorithm ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Atmospheric Radiation Measurement ◽  
Sky Type

Abstract. Halo displays, in particular the 22∘ halo, have been captured in long time series of images obtained from total sky imagers (TSIs) at various Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) sites. Halo displays form if smooth-faced hexagonal ice crystals are present in the optical path. We describe an image analysis algorithm for long time series of TSI images which scores images with respect to the presence of 22∘ halos. Each image is assigned an ice halo score (IHS) for 22∘ halos, as well as a photographic sky type (PST), which differentiates cirrostratus (PST-CS), partially cloudy (PST-PCL), cloudy (PST-CLD), or clear (PST-CLR) within a near-solar image analysis area. The color-resolved radial brightness behavior of the near-solar region is used to define the discriminant properties used to classify photographic sky type and assign an ice halo score. The scoring is based on the tools of multivariate Gaussian analysis applied to a standardized sun-centered image produced from the raw TSI image, following a series of calibrations, rotation, and coordinate transformation. The algorithm is trained based on a training set for each class of images. We present test results on halo observations and photographic sky type for the first 4 months of the year 2018, for TSI images obtained at the Southern Great Plains (SGP) ARM site. A detailed comparison of visual and algorithm scores for the month of March 2018 shows that the algorithm is about 90 % reliable in discriminating the four photographic sky types and identifies 86 % of all visual halos correctly. Numerous instances of halo appearances were identified for the period January through April 2018, with persistence times between 5 and 220 min. Varying by month, we found that between 9 % and 22 % of cirrostratus skies exhibited a full or partial 22∘ halo.

scholarly journals Validation of an image analysis algorithm to quantify leukocyte populations using whole slide image analysis

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J Milici ◽  
David Young ◽  
Steven J Potts ◽  
Holger Lange ◽  
Nicholas D Landis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Analysis Algorithm ◽  
Whole Slide Image ◽  
Image Analysis Algorithm ◽  
Slide Image ◽  
Leukocyte Populations
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