Short‐term LPS induces Aortic Valve thickening in ApoE*3Leiden mice

Background Recently, it was shown that 12 weeks of lipopolysacharide (LPS) administration to non‐atherosclerotic mice induced thickening of the aortic heart valve (AV). Whether such effects may also occur even earlier is unknown. As most patients with AV stenosis also have atherosclerosis, we studied the short‐term effect of LPS on the AVs in an...

LPS-Induced Systemic Inflammation Does Not Alter Atherosclerotic Plaque Area or Inflammation in APOE3*LEIDEN Mice in the Early Phase Up to 15 Days

Background and Aims: Observational studies show a peak incidence in cardiovascular events during and early after clinical conditions associated with substantial systemic inflammation, such as pneumonia. The acuteness of this increased risk suggests rapid plaque destabilization and associated intraplaque inflammation. We evaluated whether...

StemBell therapy stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques after myocardial infarction

Background aims. After a myocardial infarction (MI) atherosclerosis is accelerated leading to destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque. mesenchymal stromal cells are a promising therapeutic option for atherosclerosis. Previously, we demonstrated a novel stem cell delivery technique, with adipose stem cells coupled to microbubbles (i.e.,...

Orthopedic surgery increases atherosclerotic lesions and necrotic core area in ApoE−/− mice

Background and aims Observational studies show a peak incidence of cardiovascular events after major surgery. For example, the risk of myocardial infarction increases 25-fold early after hip replacement. The acuteness of this increased risk suggests abrupt enhancement in plaque vulnerability, which may be related to intra-plaque inflammation,...

Increased infiltration of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in the vessel wall of human veins after perfusion

Background: Several studies have suggested an association between Chlamydophila pneumoniae (Cp) infection and atherosclerosis. A recent study detected Cp DNA in the saphenous vein of 12% of all patients before bypass grafting and in 38% of failed grafts. We used a system in which human veins were perfused with autologous blood under arterial...

Decreased smooth muscle cell/extracellular matrix ratio of media of femoral artery in patients with atherosclerosis and hyperhomocysteinemia

The aim of this study was to determine whether the morphology of the muscular femoral artery in patients with atherosclerosis and hyperhomocysteinemia differs from that of atherosclerotic vessels from patients with normal homocysteine levels. Whole-vessel biopsies of the superficial femoral artery were taken from patients with symptomatic...