Hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible transcription factor, and macrophages in human atherosclerotic plaques are correlated with intraplaque angiogenesis.

Objectives: We sought to examine the presence of hypoxia in human carotid atherosclerosis and its association with hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) and intraplaque angiogenesis.

Background: Atherosclerotic plaques develop intraplaque angiogenesis, which is a typical feature of hypoxic tissue and expression of HIF.

Methods: To examine the presence of hypoxia in atherosclerotic plaques, the hypoxia marker pimonidazole was infused before carotid endarterectomy in 7 symptomatic patients.

In situ preservation of kidneys from donors after cardiac death: results and complications.

Objectives: To describe the results and complications of in situ preservation (ISP) of kidneys from donors after cardiac death (DCD).

Background: DCD donors are increasingly being used to expand the pool of donor kidneys. ISP reduces warm ischemic injury which is associated with DCD donation.

Dead or alive: gene expression profiles of advanced atherosclerotic plaques from autopsy and surgery.

Since inclusion of atherosclerotic tissues from different sources is often indispensable to study the full atherogenic spectrum, we investigated to what extent the expression profiles of advanced, stable atherosclerotic lesions obtained during autopsy and surgery are comparable. The gene expression profiles of human carotids with advanced atherosclerosis obtained at autopsy and at vascular surgery were studied by microarray analysis. Expression analysis was performed both at the single gene (Rosetta, Gene Ontology) and at the pathway level using Ingenuity and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis.

Synergistic effect of Toll-like receptor 4 and CD14 polymorphisms on the total atherosclerosis burden in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Background: Genes involved in the regulation of immune responses, such as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and CD14, show genetic variations with potential functional implications. Because atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process apparently modulated by chronic infections, we studied the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TLR4 and CD14 on the extent of clinically relevant atherosclerosis in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Methods: Using an in-house-developed polymerase chain reaction-based restriction length polymorphism assay, we determined the genotype, allele frequency, and carrier traits of the TLR4 +896 A>G and the CD14 -260 C>T SNPs in 607 white Dutch patients with PAD.

C-reactive protein in peripheral arterial disease: relation to severity of the disease and to future cardiovascular events.

Background: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) has proven to be an independent marker of the extent of atherosclerosis in patients with coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial disease. In this prospective observational study, we wanted to assess the relationship between serum CRP and extent of disease transversely and longitudinally in time, as well as future cardiovascular complications in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Hypothesizing that CRP not only is a marker of but also actively participates in atherogenesis, we explored the possibility of CRP production by femoral atherosclerotic plaques.

Proteomic analysis of differential protein expression in human atherosclerotic plaque progression.

In this study, differential protein expression was assessed during human atherosclerotic plaque progression. A multifaceted approach was used in which differential protein expression was studied by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis and validated in individual patients using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. 2D profiles of whole-mount advanced stable lesions were compared to those of plaques containing a thrombus.