Longitudinal imaging of murine atherosclerosis with 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose and [F]-sodium fluoride in genetically modified Apolipoprotein E knock-out and wild type mice.

In a longitudinal design, four arterial segments in mice were followed by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging. We aimed to determine how the tracers reflected the development of atherosclerosis via the uptake of 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose ([F]FDG) for imaging inflammation and [F]-sodium fluoride (Na[F]F) for imaging active microcalcification in a murine model of atherosclerosis. Apolipoprotein E knock-out (ApoE) mice and C57 BL/6NtaC (B6) mice were divided into four groups.

An advanced glycation endproduct (AGE)-rich diet promotes accumulation of AGEs in Achilles tendon.

Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs) accumulate in long-lived tissue proteins like collagen in bone and tendon causing modification of the biomechanical properties. This has been hypothesized to raise the risk of orthopedic injury such as bone fractures and tendon ruptures. We evaluated the relationship between AGE content in the diet and accumulation of AGEs in weight-bearing animal Achilles tendon.

HIV infection and arterial inflammation assessed by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET): a prospective cross-sectional study.

Background: HIV-infected patients are at increased risk of myocardial infarction and arterial inflammation has been suggested as a pathophysiological explanation. We compared the uptake of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) by PET in four arterial regions, and factors associated with FDG uptake in well-treated HIV-infected patients without cardiovascular disease (CVD) and healthy controls.

Methods And Results: We prospectively scanned 26 HIV-infected patients on stable antiretroviral therapy and 25 healthy volunteers with FDG PET/CT, measuring standardized uptake values (SUV) in the carotid arteries, the ascending, descending, and abdominal aorta.

Positron emission tomography of the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque in man--a contemporary review.

Atherosclerosis is the primary underlying cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world today and is set to become the prevailing disease and major cause of death worldwide by 2020. In the 1950s surgical intervention was introduced to treat symptomatic patients with high-grade carotid artery stenosis due to atherosclerosis--a procedure known as carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

(18)F-FDG imaging of human atherosclerotic carotid plaques reflects gene expression of the key hypoxia marker HIF-1α.

To investigate the association between gene expression of key molecular markers of hypoxia and inflammation in atherosclerotic carotid lesions with 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake as determined clinically by positron emission tomography (PET). Studies using PET have demonstrated (18)F-FDG-uptake in patients with confirmed plaques of the carotid artery. Inflammatory active or "vulnerable" plaques progressively increase in bulk, develop necrotic cores, poor vessel-wall vascularization and become prone to hypoxia.

Silent ischemic heart disease and pericardial fat volume in HIV-infected patients: a case-control myocardial perfusion scintigraphy study.

Objectives: to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic ischemic heart disease (IHD) in HIV patients by myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) and to determine the value of coronary artery calcium score (CACS), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and pericardial fat volume as screening tools for detection of IHD in subjects with HIV.

Background: Patients with HIV seem prone to early development of IHD.

Methods: 105 consecutive HIV patients (mean age 47.

Feasibility of simultaneous PET/MR of the carotid artery: first clinical experience and comparison to PET/CT.

The study aimed at comparing PET/MR to PET/CT for imaging the carotid arteries in patients with known increased risk of atherosclerosis. Six HIV-positive men underwent sequential PET/MR and PET/CT of the carotid arteries after injection of 400 MBq of (18)F-FDG. PET/MR was performed a median of 131 min after injection.

Small animal positron emission tomography imaging and in vivo studies of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a growing health challenge globally, and despite our knowledge of the disease has increased over the last couple of decades, many unanswered questions remain. As molecular imaging can be used to visualize, characterize and measure biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels in living systems, this technology represents an opportunity to investigate some of these questions in vivo. In addition, molecular imaging may be translated into clinical use and eventually pave the way for more personalized treatment regimes in patients.

(18)F-FDG PET imaging of murine atherosclerosis: association with gene expression of key molecular markers.

Aim: To study whether (18)F-FDG can be used for in vivo imaging of atherogenesis by examining the correlation between (18)F-FDG uptake and gene expression of key molecular markers of atherosclerosis in apoE(-/-) mice.

Methods: Nine groups of apoE(-/-) mice were given normal chow or high-fat diet. At different time-points, (18)F-FDG PET/contrast-enhanced CT scans were performed on dedicated animal scanners.

Limited value of novel pulmonary embolism biomarkers in patients with coronary atherosclerosis.

Background: Recent research supports the efficacy of various plasma biomarkers in diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) including E-selectin, MMP-9, MPO, sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, adiponectin, hs-CRP and tPAI-1.

Objective: We hypothesized that these biomarkers, which are affected in both venous and arterial thromboembolic diseases, have a limited potential of diagnosing PE in patients with concomitant coronary atherosclerosis, as assessed from a low-dose CT scan of the thorax, compared to patients without atherosclerosis.

Methods: Consecutive patients suspected of PE were referred.

Microvessel density but not neoangiogenesis is associated with 18F-FDG uptake in human atherosclerotic carotid plaques.

Introduction: The vulnerable atherosclerotic lesion exhibits the proliferation of neovessels and inflammation. The imaging modality 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D: -glucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET) is considered for the identification of vulnerable plaques.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the gene expression of neoangiogenesis and vulnerability-associated genes with (18)FDG uptake in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

Regional gene expression of LOX-1, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in aorta of HIV-1 transgenic rats.

Background: Increased prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected patients has been observed. The cause of this accelerated atherosclerosis is a matter of controversy. As clinical studies are complicated by a multiplicity of risk-factors and a low incidence of hard endpoints, studies in animal models could be attractive alternatives.