TY - JOUR AB - Growing evidence indicates that vulnerable carotid plaque rupture is an important cause of stroke. However, the role of novel gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) in the assessment of vulnerable carotid plaques has remained to be sufficiently explored. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to provide a comprehensive evaluation of carotid atherosclerotic plaques using both GSI imaging biomarkers and serological biomarkers, and further explore their possible roles in the atherogenic process. The present study analyzed GSI data, including calcium content of carotid atherosclerotic plaques and spectral curve slope, as well as serum high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (Hs‑CRP) and monocyte chemotactic protein‑1 (MCP‑1) levels in patients with a carotid atherosclerotic plaque using GSI‑computed tomographic angiography and immunoturbidimetry. Patients with unstable plaque exhibited a significantly lower calcium content and higher spectral curve slope than those of the stable plaque group. In addition, patients with unstable plaque exhibited an increase in Hs‑CRP and MCP‑1 levels compared with those of the stable plaque and normal control groups. The alteration in GSI calcium content and spectral curve slope reflects a close link between calcification and plaque instability, while aberrant Hs‑CRP and MCP‑1 expression are involved in the formation or development of vulnerable plaques. Taken together, the present results strongly support the feasibility of using these serological and newly identified imaging parameters as multiple potential biomarkers relevant to plaque vulnerability or stroke progression. AD - Department of Neurology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, P.R. China Department of Neurology, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China Department of Imaging, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China AU - Fan,Ze-Xin AU - Yuan,Shao-Jie AU - Li,Xiao-Qing AU - Yang,Ting-Ting AU - Niu,Tian-Tong AU - Ma,Lin AU - Sun,Kai AU - Wang,Li AU - Liu,Guang-Zhi AU - Fan,Ze-Xin AU - Yuan,Shao-Jie AU - Li,Xiao-Qing AU - Yang,Ting-Ting AU - Niu,Tian-Tong AU - Ma,Lin AU - Sun,Kai AU - Wang,Li AU - Liu,Guang-Zhi DA - 2022/05/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2022.11254 IS - 5 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - gemstone spectral imaging high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein monocyte chemotactic protein‑1 plaque vulnerability PY - 2022 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 325 ST - Preliminary study on the differentiation of vulnerable carotid plaques via analysis of calcium content and spectral curve slope by using gemstone spectral imaging T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Preliminary study on the differentiation of vulnerable carotid plaques via analysis of calcium content and spectral curve slope by using gemstone spectral imaging UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11254 VL - 23 ER -