Publications by authors named "Maria Serena De Franceschi"

Background And Aims: Atherosclerosis is associated with clinical, biochemical and haemodynamic risk factors. In a group of subjects studied twelve years apart, we evaluated carotid plaque development in relation to baseline and to changes at follow-up in common carotid haemodynamic profile.

Methods: Forty-eight participants were recruited to a cardiovascular disease prevention programme.

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Periodontal disease is associated with endothelial dysfunction of the brachial artery and hemodynamic alterations of the common carotid artery. Periodontal therapy improves endothelial function. It is not known if it is able also to improve the hemodynamics of the carotid artery.

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Objective: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a numerical measure, reported as part of a standard complete blood count, usually employed for differential diagnosis of anemic state. Some lines of evidence demonstrate that RDW associates with type 2 diabetes incidence and its complications. To further explore the role of RDW as predictor of abnormal glucose metabolism, we have analyzed the relationship between RDW and 2-hours plasma glucose concentration during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

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Objective: Elastic properties of the vessel wall are associated with atherosclerosis and major cardiovascular events. Several physiological and pathological conditions can affect arterial elasticity, but few studies have considered the role of hemorheological parameters. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between hemorheological parameters and vascular stiffness in the carotid artery district.

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Objective: Heparin-induced Extracorporeal Low Density Lipoprotein Precipitation (HELP) Apheresis gives beneficial reductions in Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels; otherwise, extracorporeal circulation settings might elicit inflammation and platelet aggregation. The net effect of these variations on carotid hemodynamic has not been established. Aim of the present study was to investigate periprocedural variations of common carotid artery wall shear stress, circumferential wall tension, and Peterson's elastic modulus.

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Objective: Peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk (CVR). Recently it has been reported that also the increased stiffness of lower limb arteries is associated with increased CVR. In particular, subjects with poorly compressible arteries (PCA) appear to have a CVR even higher than that of subjects with PAOD.

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Objective: Blood viscosity (BV) is higher in diabetic patients and might represent a risk factor for the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, data in subjects with normal glucose or prediabetes are missing. In the current study, we evaluated the relationship between BV and blood glucose in subjects with normal glucose or prediabetes.

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Aim: In patients affected by periodontal disease, hypertension and systemic inflammation might cause an arterial hemodynamic derangement; this, in turn, can act as a mediator of the atherogenic process often seen in these patients. This study aimed at a comprehensive hemodynamic evaluation in periodontal patients.

Methods: Fourty-eight subjects participating to a cardiovascular prevention programme were enrolled.

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Background And Aim: The relationship between hyperlipidemia and blood and plasma viscosity is not completely clear. While increasing viscosity is often reported with increasing blood lipids, lipid-lowering treatments are often unable to normalize the viscosity values. Aim of this study is to try to clarify the relationship between blood lipids and viscosity.

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Hemodynamic forces play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. Their variations with age have been assessed in cross-sectional, but not longitudinal, studies. The aim of the present study was to investigate in both sexes the age-dependent change in wall shear stress and arterial stiffness in subjects studied twice 12 years apart.

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Objective: The link between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis has not yet been clarified, though systemic inflammation seems to be the common soil for both conditions. Inflammation influences also hemodynamic forces, that act as local risk factors for carotid plaques. It is not known if the link between periodontitis and carotid atherosclerosis is mediated, at least in part, by physical forces.

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According to the focal nature of atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke is frequently unilateral. Atherosclerotic plaques are favoured by local hemodynamic factors as low wall shear stress and/or elevated circumferential wall tension. Aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association between hemodynamic forces and cerebrovascular disease.

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