Decline of Low-Frequency Hearing in People With Ski-Slope Hearing Loss; Implications for Electrode Array Insertion.

Hypothesis: The decline of low-frequency hearing in people with ski-slope hearing loss varies and might depend on etiology.

Background: People with ski-sloping hearing loss might benefit from cochlear implantation with preservation of residual hearing. To reduce the risk of losing low-frequency hearing after implantation, the electrode-array can be inserted partially up to the desired frequency.

OCT-measured plaque free wall angle is indicative for plaque burden: overcoming the main limitation of OCT?

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the plaque free wall (PFW) measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the plaque burden (PB) measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). We hypothesize that measurement of the PFW could help to estimate the PB, thereby overcoming the limited ability of OCT to visualize the external elastic membrane in the presence of plaque. This could enable selection of the optimal stent-landing zone by OCT, which is traditionally defined by IVUS as a region with a PB < 40 %.

High shear stress relates to intraplaque haemorrhage in asymptomatic carotid plaques.

Background And Aims: Carotid artery plaques with vulnerable plaque components are related to a higher risk of cerebrovascular accidents. It is unknown which factors drive vulnerable plaque development. Shear stress, the frictional force of blood at the vessel wall, is known to influence plaque formation.

Positive remodeling at 3 year follow up is associated with plaque-free coronary wall segment at baseline: a serial IVUS study.

Aims: At present it is unknown what limits the arterial remodeling process during atherosclerotic plaque formation. In healthy arteries remodeling is regulated by the shear stress induced response by the endothelium. As endothelium at the plaque site is assumed to be dysfunctional, we tested the hypothesis that plaque free wall (PFW) determines vascular remodeling during atherosclerotic plaque build-up.