Dynamic magnetic resonance measurements of calf muscle oxygenation and energy metabolism in peripheral artery disease.

Background: Clinical assessments of peripheral artery disease (PAD) severity are insensitive to pathophysiological changes in muscle tissue oxygenation and energy metabolism distal to the affected artery.

Purpose: To quantify the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) response and phosphocreatine (PCr) recovery kinetics on a clinical MR system during a single exercise-recovery session in PAD patients.

Study Type: Case-control study.

Multimodal Positron Emission Tomography Imaging to Quantify Uptake of Zr-Labeled Liposomes in the Atherosclerotic Vessel Wall.

Nanotherapy has recently emerged as an experimental treatment option for atherosclerosis. To fulfill its promise, robust noninvasive imaging approaches for subject selection and treatment evaluation are warranted. To that end, we present here a positron emission tomography (PET)-based method for quantification of liposomal nanoparticle uptake in the atherosclerotic vessel wall.

In Vivo PET Imaging of HDL in Multiple Atherosclerosis Models.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to develop and validate a noninvasive imaging tool to visualize the in vivo behavior of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) by using positron emission tomography (PET), with an emphasis on its plaque-targeting abilities.

Background: HDL is a natural nanoparticle that interacts with atherosclerotic plaque macrophages to facilitate reverse cholesterol transport. HDL-cholesterol concentration in blood is inversely associated with risk of coronary heart disease and remains one of the strongest independent predictors of incident cardiovascular events.