RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Atherosclerotic plaques in the brain-supplying arteries are slowly-developing alterations of vascular structures that can lead to neurological impairment due to stenosis and insufficient oxygenation of eloquent brain areas. The aim of this study is to provide detailed demographic information related to the incidence of atherosclerotic plaques in the cerebral arteries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-eight circles of Willis (21 men, 21 women, mean age: 70.26, six samples unknown) were macroscopically analyzed for length, diameter, and presence of atherosclerotic plaques. Statistical analysis was used to identify potential differences in the locations and frequencies of atherosclerotic plaques in relation to age and sex. RESULTS: The study sample revealed 261 atherosclerotic plaques. The key findings were significant correlations between plaque development and age and between plaque location and age; however, there was no significant sex difference. CONCLUSION: The upper and lower branches of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were novel locations predisposing to plaque development. A cut-off value at 60 years revealed a significant difference in plaque development and distribution. There were no significant sex differences in the occurrence of atherosclerotic plaques.
Asunto(s)
Aterosclerosis , Placa Aterosclerótica , Anciano , Encéfalo , Círculo Arterial Cerebral , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Arteria Cerebral MediaRESUMEN
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Asunto(s)
Humanos , Comunicación no Verbal , Dolor en el Pecho/diagnóstico , Dolor en el Pecho/etiología , Taquipnea/etiología , Síndrome Coronario Agudo/etiología , InvestigaciónRESUMEN
Plasma fibronectin was determined by laser immunonephelometry in controls (90 women, 66 men) and 167 diabetic patients between 10 and 60 years of age, 72 insulin-dependent males, 45 insulin-dependent females, 29 noninsulin-dependent males and 21 non-insulin-dependent females. The distribution and intensity of immunofluorescent tissue fibronectin were also studied in the patients using skin biopsies. The diabetic patients had a significantly lower plasma fibronectin level than the controls of the same age-groups and did not exhibit the strong age-dependent increase found for controls. This was true for both females and males, and especially pronounced for the insulin-dependent male patients below 45 years. The duration (less or more than 10 years), and control of diabetes (judged by the glycosylated hemoglobin A1C levels, presence or absence of retinopathy), had a lesser influence on plasma fibronectin levels, although the duration of the disease tended to increase plasma fibronectin levels. Tissue fibronectin appeared to increase as estimated by the intensity and distribution of immunofluorescence in the papillary dermis, and in vascular and dermo-epidermal basement membranes, suggesting an inverse variation of tissue and plasma fibronectin in diabetes.