Extensive atherosclerosis associated with mobile thrombus in the left carotid bulb in an elderly

A case of extensive atherosclerosis in an 88-year-old, chronic heavy smoker, associated with mobile thrombus in the left carotid bulb is presented. This patient also suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypertension. He was fully worked up and confirmed as a case of the mobile thrombus attached to the plaque in the left carotid bulb by echocardiography and carotid Doppler. Thrombolysis of a large, mobile clot poses a theoretical risk of stroke worsening from incomplete fibrinolysis. He was prescribed anticoagulants and has been doing fine till the last follow-up. The importance of preventing premature atherosclerosis in the next generations is also discussed. We report this case to create awareness about this preventable malady and treatment options.

Therapeutic effect of rosuvastatin on atherosclerosis of apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-knockout mice and its mechanism / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To explore the influence of rosuvastatin in the lipid levels, atherosclerosis plaque and apoptosis in the plaque of atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-knockout mouse models, and to clarify the mechanism of rosuvastatin in inhibiting atheromatous plaque and apoptosis in the plaque.Methods:Thirty healthy six-week old male mice were randomly divided into high fat diet group (n=10),rosuvastatin group (n=10)and general diet control group (n=10).The mice in first two groups were fed with high fat diet,and the mice in general diet control group were fed with general diet;4 weeks later the mice in three groups were respectively given 0.9% NaCl solution,rosuvastatin (10 mg·kg·d-1 )and 0.9% NaCl solution by gavage for 8 weeks.And then ELISA was used to detect the serum lipid levels,the area of atherosclerotic plaque was measured by HE staining, and the apoptosis in plaques was detected by TUNEL method;the expression of apoptosis-assoicated gene Bax protein was measured by immunohistochemical staining.Results:Compared with high fat diet group,the levels of total cholesterol (TC)and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)of the mice in rosuvastatin group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the 1evel of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)was significantly increased (P<0.01).The aortic atherosclerotic plaque of the mice in high fat diet group was massive with a great quantity of foam cells, cholesterol crystal, necrotic cells and inflammatory cells in the plaque;the aortic atherosclerotic plaque of the mice in rosuvastatin group was smaller with less foam cells,necrotic cells and inflammatory cells;the aortic atherosclerotic plaque area of the mice in rosuvastatin group was significantly smaller than that in high fat diet group (P<0.01);the apoptotic index in the aortic atherosclerotic plaque of the mice in rosuvastatin group was significantly lower than that in high fat diet group (P<0.01).Compared with high fat diet group,the expression of Bax protein in rosuvastatin group was significantly decreased.Conclusion:Rosuvastatin may inhibit the progression of atherosclerotic plaque and the apoptosis in plaques through mitochondrial pathway.

Effect of green tea extract on lipid peroxydation and aortic atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits

Green tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in Vietnam. Polyphenol in green tea possess biological effects such as antitumoral, anticarciogenic, anti-inflammatory and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by increasing the plasma antioxidative capacity in human. Lipid peroxidation and oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein have been implicated in human atherosclersis. Green tea extract with doses of 100 mg, 150 mg/kg body weight/day reduced levels of MDA plasma and injury of aortic atherosclerosis