The vascular ultrasound of group 2 and group 3 in different weeks.

<p>Legend: (A) and (C): group 2 at week 12 and week 24; (B) and (D): group 3 at week 12 and week 24.</p

SI values in the three groups (mean [SD]).

<p>LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, SI: smoothness index, TC: total cholesterol.</p><p>*: <i>P</i><0.01,</p>c<p>: compared with group 1,</p>d<p>: compared with group 2.</p

The immuohistochemical staining of atherosclerosis in the 3 groups.

<p>Legend: Magnifications: ×400. MMP-9: matrix metalloproteinase-9; LOX-1: lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1. Representative pictures of MMP-9 and LOX-1 expressions immuohistochemical staining in the aortic atherosclerotic plaque of the three groups.</p

The H&E staining of atherosclerosis in the three groups.

<p>Legend: Magnifications: ×200(A–C2), ×400(C3). A: Normal aorta intima in group 1. B1–B2: Atherosclerotic plaque in group 2. The endothelial cells shed, numerous foam cells and cholesterol crystal (B1); cell necrosis and calcium deposition (B2). C1–C3: Atherosclerotic plaque in group 3. plaques with thin fibrous caps and big lipid cores (C1), the discontinuous fiber cap (C2), inflammatory cells (C3).</p

The intima with Oil Red O staining of atherosclerosis in the three groups.

<p>The intima with Oil Red O staining of atherosclerosis in the three groups.</p

The IMT of the three groups in different weeks (mean [SD], mm).

<p>IMT: intima-media thickness.</p>#<p>: <i>P</i><0.05,</p><p>*: <i>P</i><0.01,</p>a<p>: compared with 0 week,</p>b<p>: compared with week 12;</p>c<p>: compared with group 1,</p>d<p>: compared with group 2.</p

The fluctuations of serum lipids level in the three groups.

<p>The fluctuations of serum lipids level in the three groups.</p

Body weight in the three groups (mean [SD]).

#<p>: <i>P</i><0.05,</p><p>*: <i>P</i><0.01,</p>a<p>: compared with 0 week,</p>b<p>: compared with week 12.</p

The characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque in the three groups (mean [SD]).

#<p>: <i>P</i><0.05,</p><p>*: <i>P</i><0.01,</p>c<p>: compared with group 1,</p>d<p>: compared with group 2.</p

Serum hs-CRP, IL-18, ET-1, OX-LDL and NO levels in the three groups (mean [SD]).

<p>ET-1: endothelin-1, hs-CRP: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, IL-18: interleukin-18, NO: nitric oxide, OX-LDL: oxidized low density lipoprotein.</p>#<p>: <i>P</i><0.05,</p><p>*: <i>P</i><0.01,</p>a<p>: compared with 0 week,</p>b<p>: compared with week 12;</p>c<p>: compared with group 1,</p>d<p>:compared with group 2.</p