Assessment of Carotid Artery Stenosis and Lower Limb Peripheral Ischemia Prior to CABG
Carotid Artery DiseasesPeripheral Artery DiseaseFrom our experience among Egyptian population in our institution, there is an increased prevalence of hidden subclinical peripheral artery disease along with carotid artery affection. Thus, increasing the risk of post-operative morbid complications.We aim to evaluate routine/ non-selective carotid and peripheral arterial screening in asymptomatic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in the Egyptian populationIt is a prospective, non-randomized, comparative study including two groups of patients. The study will start from the day of approval of the ethical committee. It will include 260 patients, on basis of "all new comers". Patients will be examined and classified as "high-risk" group (ɳ = 130) or "low-risk" group (ɳ=130). All patients will have the "routine" preoperative investigations along with evaluation of extracranial carotid system by non-invasive carotid duplex and lower limb arterial system by non-invasive bilateral lower limb arterial duplex.
Effect of Bydureon on Carotid Atherosclerosis Progression in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Type 2 DiabetesInvestigators will be determining whether a once weekly injectable medication Bydureon versus placebo is able to reduce the development of atherosclerosis. Investigators are testing the overall hypothesis that 18 months of Bydureon treatment will improve cardiovascular risk factors, endothelial function and retard carotid atherosclerosis plaque progression in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Investigators anticipate these studies will provide novel information about the temporal relationship between Bydureon induced changes in risk factors, endothelial function and atherosclerosis progression.
Diffusion Weighted-MRI Based Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Endovascular Clamping During Carotid...
Carotid Artery DiseaseStroke PreventionThe purpose of this study is to detect new ischemic lesions after carotid artery stenting (with the Cristallo Ideale stent), in patients with high grade carotid artery stenosis, by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), using the endovascular proximal flow blockage (Mo.Ma device) for cerebral protection.
PET Imaging of Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptors in Patients With Carotid Atherosclerosis
AtherosclerosisHealthyInflammation in the vascular wall is important in atherosclerosis and the blockage of the artery. The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor is involved in inflammation and in this protocol we will attempt to take pictures, using PET camera, of inflammation in patients with atherosclerosis and compare those of healthy people.
Visualization of Carotid Atherosclerosis by 68Ga-MSA
AtherosclerosisCarotid Atherosclerosis1 moreUntil now, no specific atherosclerosis-targeting agent labeled with positron emitter is not yet available. Investigators developed neomannosyl human serum albumin(MSA) for the terminal mannose residues of MSA binding with the mannose receptors of macrophages in atherosclerosis, and investigators investigate whether 68Ga-MSA can be a novel agent for non-invasive molecular imaging of carotid atherosclerotic lesion in PET.
PET Imaging of Natriuretic Peptide Receptor C (NPR-C) in Carotid Atherosclerosis
Carotid AtherosclerosisTo demonstrate feasibility of imaging Cu[64]-25%-CANF-Comb uptake in the atherosclerosis of the carotid artery of patients for whom carotid artery endarterectomy surgery is planned in comparison to the carotid artery for which intervention is not planned.
Imaging 61CuATSM Uptake in Atherosclerotic Plaque Using PET-CT
Carotid AtherosclerosisThe build up of plaque in the wall of the artery supplying blood to the brain poses a risk of stroke when the plaques become unstable and fragile. It is important to determine which patients are most at risk so that surgery can be performed. There is evidence that the risk is greatest when these plaques become oxygen deficient (hypoxic). The investigators wish to use PET imaging to identify hypoxic plaque, to help decide whether and when to perform surgery. The investigators have developed radiotracers (imaging agents) for this purpose, and this study is to determine whether they will work in patients.
Supplementation of Lycopene in Carotid Atheroma
Carotid Atherosclerotic DiseaseStroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. One of the causes of stroke which can be treated is narrowing of the carotid artery. Currently the only definite treatment option is surgery or endovascular treatment. All patients not qualified for or awaiting surgery are, therefore, left with best medical therapy and with a yearly risk of stroke anywhere between 1% - 35% depending on the severity of the disease. The study will use the properties of a tomato extract containing lycopene. Previously studies have demonstrated beneficial properties of tomato extracts: It decreases lipid oxidation It decreases DNA damage It has properties that reduce the speed and amount of cell divisions that inflammatory and smooth muscle cells undergo (both of these cell types contribute to atheroma formation). The investigators wish to assess whether long-term food supplementation with a tomato extract containing lycopene could influence atherosclerotic plaque characteristics. The investigators will assess this using Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the plaque and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography for counting the number of blood clots that go to the brain's arteries. Furthermore the investigators wish to examine the effect of long-term food supplementation with a tomato extract containing lycopene on blood cholesterol levels and lipid oxidation and blood markers of inflammation and injury of the inner lining of the arteries. This will be a single center, double blind, randomised, placebo controlled study.
"Carotid Web Incidence and Radiological Classification, Determination of Its Relationship With Ischemic...
StrokeTransient Ischemic Attack1 moreIn our research, we aim to increase awareness on this issue by classifying the frequency of carotid webs and their radiological classification; Evaluating the clinical data and vascular risk factors of carotid web cases and determining their relationship with ischemic stroke and determining the measures that can be taken for future optimal treatment. We aimed to contribute to their approach.
Assessment of Carotid Artery Calcifications
Carotid Artery CalcificationPeriodontal DiseasesThe aim of the study was to determine retrospectively the presence of carotid artery calcification (CAC) detected on digital panoramic radiographs (DPRs) and correlate the finding of such calcifications with gender, smoking status, medical history and periodontal status.The authors hypothesized that more CACs could observed in DPRs of individuals with periodontitis and CACs may correlate with the various risk factors included age, gender, smoking status, medical history.DPRs, periodontal status, medical (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease) and smoking stories of 1101 patients (576 males, 525 females) were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups as CAC detected in dental DPRs [CAC(+)] and those who were not [CAC (-)]. Periodontal status categorized as gingivitis, periodontitis and gingivitis with reduced periodontium.