Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29402768›Full record

ArticleCerebrovascular diseases extra2018

Spotty Carotid Plaques Are Associated with Inflammation and the Occurrence of Cerebrovascular Symptoms.

Sanela Halak, Gerd Östling, Andreas Edsfeldt, Cecilia Kennbäck, Magnus Dencker, Isabel Gonçalves, Giuseppe Asciutto

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cerebrovascular diseases extra, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 28% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Osteopontin and osteoprotegerin in atherosclerotic plaque - are they significant markers of plaque vulnerability?Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Sanela HalakDepartment of Medical Imaging and Physiology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Gerd ÖstlingDepartment of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Andreas EdsfeldtDepartment of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Cecilia KennbäckDepartment of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Magnus DenckerDepartment of Medical Imaging and Physiology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Isabel GonçalvesDepartment of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Giuseppe AsciuttoDepartment of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Skåne University Hospital · SELund University · SE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEcholucent carotid plaques have been related to an increased risk of ischemic cerebrovascular events. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether a new objective ultrasonographic parameter, the statistical geometric feature (SGF), reflecting spottiness of carotid plaques, can be associated with cerebrovascular symptoms and with a rupture-prone plaque phenotype.

methodsThe plaques of 144 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy were included in this study. SGF and plaque area were estimated by outlining the plaque on ultrasound (US) images. The correlation coefficient for inter- and intraobserver variability was 0.69 and 0.93, respectively. The SGF values were normalized to the degree of stenosis (SGF/DS). The plaques collected at surgery 1 day after the US were analyzed histologically, and inflammatory markers and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were measured.

resultsPatients with ipsilateral hemispheric symptoms had higher SGF/DS compared to patients without symptoms (0.82 [0.59-1.16] vs. 0.70 [0.56-0.89], p = 0.01). Analysis of plaque components revealed a positive correlation between SGF/DS and the percentage of the plaque area stained for lipids, macrophages, and hemorrhage. A correlation was also found between SGF/DS and plaque expression of interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, vascular endothelial growth factor A, C-C motif chemokine 3 and 20, and MMP-9. An inverse correlation was found with plaque levels of osteoprotegerin.

conclusionsThe present study supports the concept that spottiness is a feature of the carotid plaques rich in inflammation and can be associated with the typical phenotype of high-risk plaques.

Indexed as

AgedBiomarkersCarotid ArteriesCerebrovascular DisordersEndarterectomyFemaleHumansInflammationInterleukin-6MacrophagesMaleMatrix MetalloproteinasesMiddle AgedModels, StatisticalObserver VariationPlaque, AtheroscleroticBiomarkersInterleukin-6Matrix MetalloproteinasesVascular Endothelial Growth Factor ACerebrovascular diseasePlaqueUltrasound in stroke

Identifiers

PMID29402768
PMCPMC5836198
OpenAlexW2783868725

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.