Thoracic Aortic Atherosclerosis (thoracic aortic + atherosclerosis)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Platelet activation and secretion in patients with major depression, thoracic aortic atherosclerosis, or renal dialysis treatment

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 3 2002
Dominique L. Musselman M.D., M.S.
Abstract Relatively little is known concerning the magnitude of alterations of platelet activation and secretion markers of patients with major depression when compared to patients at increased risk for, or with current, clinically significant atherosclerosis. Markers of in vivo platelet stimulation and secretion were measured under basal conditions in normal comparison subjects (n = 12) and three patient groups: patients diagnosed with DSM-IV major depression (n = 15), dialysis-dependent patients (n = 12), and patients with severe thoracic aortic atherosclerosis (n = 10). In comparison to normal comparison subjects, depressed patients and patients with thoracic aortic atherosclerosis exhibited the greatest platelet stimulation as detected by increased anti-LIBS platelet binding. Dialysis-dependent patients exhibited the highest plasma concentrations of the renally-excreted platelet-specific secretion protein, ,-thromboglobulin. This study extends previous observations of increased platelet activation in patients with major depression and documents similar alterations in patients with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-documented thoracic aortic atherosclerosis. Future studies will determine whether the magnitude of platelet stimulation and secretion in patients with comorbid depression and atherosclerotic aortic disease is greater than that observed in nondepressed patients with atherosclerotic aortic disease or major depression alone. These findings provide further evidence for either increased platelet activation and/or intrinsic heightened platelet reactivity as one of the biological substrates underlying the increased risk of depressed patients for cardiovascular disease. Depression and Anxiety 15:91,101, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Relationship Between Plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity and Thoracic Aortic Intima-Media Thickness

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2006
Recep Demirbag M.D.
It is known that antioxidants have an important role in the prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD). Low total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is a risk factor for ischemic heart disease. However, no data are available concerning the relationship between TAC and severity of thoracic aortic atherosclerosis. This study using multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examined the relationship between atherosclerotic thoracic aortic intima-media thickness (TAIMT) and TAC. Twenty-nine patients (17 male, 12 female; mean age 36 ± 8 years) without a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease referred for TEE were included. The patients with obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and CAD were excluded. The TAC was measured for each patient using a more recently developed method. TAIMT and grade of thoracic aortic atherosclerosis were evaluated in each patient by using TEE. Mean TAC level was 1.91 ± 0.53 mmol Trolox equiv/l. There was a negative and significant correlation between the TAC levels and TAIMT and grade of thoracic aortic atherosclerosis (r =,0.799, P < 0.001 versus r =,0.827, P < 0.001, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that TAIMT was independently associated with TAC (,=,0.734, P < 0.001). The mean values of TAC in grade I, II, and III were 2.23 ± 0.31, 1.58 ± 0.31, and 1.04 ± 0.27 mmol Trolox equiv/l, respectively (ANOVA P < 0.001). This study indicates that the TAC is an independent variable for TAIMT and it has a potential for an independent variable for atherosclerotic lesions in the major arterial locations. [source]