However, univariate analysis showed that neutrophil count (OR, 3.48; 95% Cl, 1.23-9.85) but not hs-CRT was associated with echolucent carotid plaques. At multivariate analysis, neutrophil count exceeding the median remained associated with echolucent carotid plaques (OR, 5.71; 95% CI, 1.37-23.85), whereas the association between femoral and carotid echolucency was attenuated (Oft, 3.75; 95% CI, 0.98-4.43).
Conclusions. In PAD, the presence of echolucent femoral plaques is associated with a greater prevalence of echolucent
carotid plaques, probably as a consequence of a more pronounced inflammatory profile. This confirms and extends the finding that plaque echolucency is a multivessel phenomenon. Prospective
studies are needed to selleck products assess whether HDAC inhibitor carotid screening in PAD patients might contribute to improving clinical decision-making. (J Vasc Surg 2009;49:346-51.)”
“The aim of the present study is to investigate whether immunoreactive (1) calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) content is decreased in plasma and mesenteric arteries (resistance arteries) in middle-aged rats and if so, whether sex steroid hormones enhance I-CGRP in middle-aged female rats. We also examined whether vascular CGRP receptor components, calcitonin receptor like receptor (CRLR) and receptor activity modifying protein 1 (RAMP(1)) are elevated by sex steroid hormones treatment in middle-aged female rats. Young adult (3 months old) and middle-aged (10-12 months old) ovariectomized rats were treated subcutaneously with estradiol-17 beta (E(2); 2 mg), Dehydratase progesterone (P(4); 5 mg), E(2) + P(4) (2 mg + 20 mg) or placebo (control). Radioimmunoassay and Western blot analysis were performed to measure I-CGRP content and CGRP receptor components in dorsal root ganglia (DRG), in resistance arteries and in plasma. Immunofluorescent staining
methods were employed to determine cellular localization of CRLR, RAMP(1) in resistance arteries. Our data demonstrated that I-CGRP content was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the plasma and resistance arteries of middle-aged female rats compared to young controls. Both RAMP(1) and CRLR were concentrated in vascular endothelium and the underlying smooth muscle cells. RAMP(1) but not CRLR appeared to be decreased in middle-aged rat vasculature. Chronic perfusion of sex steroid hormones to ovariectomized rats: (1) significantly (p<0.05) elevated I-CGRP in the DRG and in the plasma, and (2) significantly elevated RAMP(1) (p<0.05) but did not alter CRLR in resistance arteries. These data suggest that female sex steroid treatment enhances I-CGRP and its receptors, and thus regulate the blood pressure in aged female rats. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.