Associations between aortic miR levels and surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease.

<p>Multivariable analysis of miR levels and certain surrogate markers of CHD. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient are given with asterisks indicating significant positive or negative correlations set by a p-value <0.05 (*).</p><p>Associations between aortic miR levels and surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease.</p

Baseline characteristics of participants divided into groups based on microvascular endothelial function.

<p>Endothelial dysfunction was described as a percent increase in blood flow below 50% in response to maximum acetylecholine. Most of the general demographics were not statistically significant between the groups with the exception of a higher number of diabetics in the normal microvascular function group.</p><p>Baseline characteristics of participants divided into groups based on microvascular endothelial function.</p

Associations between coronary sinus miR levels and surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease.

<p>Multivariable analysis of miR levels and certain surrogate markers of CHD. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient are given with asterisks indicating significant positive or negative correlations set by a p-value <0.05 (*).</p><p>Associations between coronary sinus miR levels and surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease.</p

Transcoronary gradients normalized using the delta Cp method, in patients with normal coronary endothelial function and those with CED with regard to endothelial-related miRs (A), myocardial-related miRs (B), and vascular/inflammatory miRs (C).

<p>The transcoronary gradients of miR-92a (A) and miR-133 (B) were significantly elevated in patients with CED compared to those with normal coronary endothelial function (*, p<0.05).</p

Associations between miR transcoronary gradients and surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease.

<p>Multivariable analysis of miR levels and certain surrogate markers of CHD. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient are given with asterisks indicating significant positive or negative correlations set by a p-value <0.05 (*).</p><p>Associations between miR transcoronary gradients and surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease.</p

Transcoronary gradient of miR-133 versus the percent change in microcirculatory blood flow showing an inverse correlation (r² = 0.11, p = 0.03).

<p>Transcoronary gradient of miR-133 versus the percent change in microcirculatory blood flow showing an inverse correlation (r² = 0.11, p = 0.03).</p

HN is localized to multiple cells of the atheromatous plaque.

<p>Immunofluorescence of the carotid plaque to detect the presence of (A) HN with (B) CD68. (C) Nuclei can be visualized using a DAPI counterstain. (D) Merging of these images demonstrates co-localization of HN with plaque macrophages, (E) seen better with increased magnification. Merged images below demonstrate co-localization of HN with (F) smooth muscle α-actinin, (G) fibroblast vimentin, and (H) dendritic cell fascin.</p

HN is expressed in M2 phase macrophages.

<p>HN-secreting macrophages in the M2 polarization phase (indicated by arginase-1) were present, but less in number than HN-secreting M1 macrophages. No differences were seen between groups.</p

Cellular apoptosis is greater in plaques of symptomatic patients.

<p>Representative TUNEL staining can been seen in carotid plaques from (A) asymptomatic and (B) symptomatic patients. Inserts show magnification of the black boxes in the main figure and arrows indicate brown apoptotic nuclei (original magnification 200×). Proportion of apoptotic nuclei was greater in plaques of symptomatic patients compared to asymptomatic (p<0.01).</p

Clinical Characteristics of Study Population.

<p>BMI indicates body mass index; CAD indicates coronary artery disease; LDL indicates low density lipoprotein; HDL indicates high density lipoprotein; ARB indicates angiotensin II receptor blocker; Values are expressed as mean±SEM for continuous variables;</p><p>*p<0.05 vs. asymptomatic.</p