Arterial

Researchers have discovered that RvT4, a molecule, significantly boosts the body’s defenses against atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients by enhancing macrophages’ ability to reduce inflammation and clear vascular blockages. This finding opens up new avenues for treating individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, who are at a heightened risk for cardiovascular diseases. Credit: SciTechDaily.comA new study reveals that RvT4 improves macrophage function to fight atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting new…

A new study has found that moderate increases in blood pressure and cholesterol have a greater impact on arterial plaque, or atherosclerosis, progression in 40-year-olds than in people over 48. The findings suggest that intervening to address these risk factors earlier may slow or stop the disease.Despite advances in medicine, cardiovascular disease linked to atherosclerosis continues to be a leading cause of death. Because atherosclerosis often begins early in life and develops without obvious symptoms, detecting the…

Lasers are one of the tools physicians can lean on to tackle plaque buildup on arterial walls, but current approaches carry a risk of complications and can be limited in their effectiveness. By bringing ultrasound into the mix, scientists at the University of Kansas have demonstrated a new take on this treatment that relies on exploding microbubbles to destroy plaque with greater safety and efficiency, while hinting at some unique long-term advantages.The novel ultrasound-assisted laser technique builds off what's known…

UC San Diego researchers describe an imbalance of opposing cell signals that cause deadly disease, and how a novel monoclonal antibody therapy might treat or prevent itPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a type of high blood pressure in the lungs, in which blood vessels are narrowed, blocked, or destroyed, causing the heart to work harder and, in time, result in cardiac weakness and failure.The disease is relatively rare, but affects an estimated 100,000 people in the United States, and results in 20,000 deaths…