Vessel wall chracteristics measured by MRI.

<p>A. Diameter of the aortic arch in mm measured at end-diastole and end-systole measured in CINE MRI images from 3 months and 12 months old ApoE^−/− mice B. Distensibility of the aortic arch measured by the average maximal circumferential strain calculated for both age groups.</p

Detection of atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic arch using USPIOs.

<p>T2* effects of USPIO were observed on the basis of the aortic arch 24 hours after i.v. contrast agent injection. CNR significantly decreased from 2.1±1.3 before injection of contrast agent to −9.7±0.7, 24 hours after injection of micelles. The typical blooming effect by the USPIOs (arrow) was best observed in frontal views (B) of the aortic arch. C. CNR (C1) and delta CNR (C2) of both age groups before and 24 hours after USPIO injection.</p

Histological validation of atherosclerosis and MRI.

<p>A. Lipid depositions on the basis of the aortic arch and in the branches to the carotid and brachiocephalic arteries were shown by Oil Red O staining. B. Regions with atherosclerotic plaques corresponding to the regions in A are depicted in this MR image of the aortic arch. C. Plaque sizes of the 3 treatment groups in µm2 determined on histological slices. D. Anti-Gd-DTPA immunohistochemical DAB staining localized the micelles in atherosclerotic plaques. E. Iron deposits are visualized with Prussian blue enhanced with DAB in the wall of the aortic arch. F. Correlation CNR of atherosclerotic plaques on the inner curvature of the aortic arch (F1 micelles, F2 USPIO) with plaque sizes of the 3 groups determined on histological slices. G. Correlation of the aortic arch lesion area with the circumferential strain of the 3 treatment groups. H. Correlation of the CNR of both micelles (H1) as well as USPIO (H2) with the circumferential strain for all data-points together.</p

Atherosclerotic plaque detection in a cross-section of the aortic arch, including the effect of Gd-loaded micelles.

<p>A. Ten movie frames of a cross section of the aortic arch are generated. The black blood images used for positive contrast agent detection in the aortic arch are typically as those in image 6–8 (underlined). Circles indicate the region of the aortic arch cross section. White blood images 1–3 (dashed line), were used for the analysis of negative contrast agents B. A cross section of the aortic arch is shown before injection of micelles. Presumptive plaque regions are difficult to discriminate (arrow). C. Cross section of the aortic arch 12 hours after injection of micelles shows contrast enhancement on the basis of the aortic arch (arrow) D. Contrast to Noise Ratio (D1) and delta CNR (D2) of atherosclerotic plaques on the inner curvature of the aortic arch in 3 months old and 12–14 months old ApoE^−/− mice on a western diet.</p

Navigator signals for the reconstruction of self-gated MRI.

<p>Analysis of navigator signals for reconstruction of the self-gated MR acquisitions. A. Example of a raw navigator signal with corresponding filtered respiratory and cardiac signals. B. Under unstable physiological situations it is still possible to gather correct cardiac and respiratory traces. With the filtered reconstruction signals of both, it is possible to re-order data points in such a way a clear image of the aortic arch can still be generated. C. Representative black blood image before injection of contrast agent from the same animal shown above, with impaired cardiac and respiratory function. Retrospective gating led to a stable reconstruction of the aortic arch (arrow).</p

The effect of atorvastatin treatment on atherosclerotic plaques.

<p>A. CNR (A1) and ΔCNR (A2) of atherosclerotic plaques on the inner curvature of the aortic arch of 3 months old as well as 12–14 months old ApoE^−/− mice on a western diet with or without supplementation with atorvastatin after micelle injection. B. CNR (B1) and ΔCNR (B2) of atherosclerotic plaques on the inner curvature of the 3 treatment groups after USPIO injection. C. Diameter of the aortic arch in mm measured at end-diastole and end-systole measured in CINE MRI images in all 3 ApoE^−/− treatment groups. D. Average maximum circumferential strain values of the 3 treatment groups.</p

Contrast-to-Noise determination in the aortic arch.

<p>Region of interest (ROI) placement in the MR images were used to determine the contrast to noise ratios (CNR) in the atherosclerotic plaques in black blood images of a cross section of the aortic arch. ROI1 is placed in the atherosclerotic plaque in the vessel wall (Iwall). ROI2 is positioned in a muscle and used for normalization purposes (Imuscle). Noise levels were determined in ROI 3, placed in a region without signal. The standard deviation of the noise (stdevnoise) was used for normalization purposes.</p

Examples of spectra including the renal parenchyma and sinus, and including only the renal parenchyma.

<p>Unsuppressed localized renal proton spectra of triglyceride (TG) content with deliberate planning of the voxel including the renal sinus (in green) and including only the renal parenchyma (in red). Percentages TG content in this particular volunteer were 18% (renal sinus) and 0.64% (parenchyma).</p

Association of measures of body fat distribution on having at least one cardiometabolic risk factor.

<p>Data are presented as odds ratio (95% CI) per standard deviation of measure of body fat distribution in men and women. WHR, waist:hip ratio; WC, waist circumference; aSAT, abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue; VAT, visceral adipose tissue adjusted for age, ethnicity, education, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity. Associations of WHR, WC and VAT are additionally adjusted for total body fat and associations of aSAT additionally for VAT.</p

Odds ratios per SD of measures of body fat distribution on having at least one cardiometabolic risk factor.

<p>Odds ratios per SD of measures of body fat distribution on having at least one cardiometabolic risk factor.</p