SELECTIVE LASER ATHERECTOMY--THE ROLE OF CAROTENOIDS

虽然激光可以有效地消融动脉粥样硬化斑块，但他们的 临床应用受到限制作用的困难。 激光照射到斑块上。不小心照射到邻近的或 正常动脉下经常会导致穿孔，夹层， 痉挛、疼痛和血栓形成。这项建议的目标是加强 激光照射对天然斑块的特异性研究 生色团：类胡萝卜素。这些化合物会在斑块中积累，但不会 在正常动脉中，并通过增加吸收来增强选择性 激光通过光谱区域中的斑块发出，其中 被正常动脉吸收。促进健康的最佳类胡萝卜素 选择性将通过首先确定类胡萝卜素 在人类的斑块中自然积累，然后确定这些 在最短的时间内提供最大的优惠吸收 在动脉粥样硬化的动物模型中。类胡萝卜素的表征 在人类斑块中发现将识别分子结构特征和 对斑块具有亲和力的物理化学性质。今年5月 也有助于解释最近发现的与β胡萝卜素的联系， 一种常见的类胡萝卜素，可以显著减少心肌梗死， 中风和血管手术。一旦确定了最佳的类胡萝卜素， 它们在提高激光质量和选择性方面的潜力 动脉粥样硬化切除将在动脉粥样硬化的动物模型中进行评估。 识别哪些人类斑块积累了最多的 类胡萝卜素将决定哪些类型的动脉粥样硬化斑块具有 最大的优先吸收，因此，最适合于通过 选择性激光动脉粥样硬化切除术。 这项研究不仅探索了两人相互作用的基本方面 类胡萝卜素有动脉粥样硬化斑块，但成功，可能会导致 去除动脉粥样硬化更安全、更有效的方法 障碍物。

Although lasers can effectively ablate atherosclerotic plaque, their clinical application is limited by difficulties in confining the effects of laser radiation to the plaque. Inadvertent irradiation of adjacent or underlying normal artery frequently causes perforations, dissections, spasm, pain and thrombosis. The goal of this proposal is to enhance the specificity of laser radiation for plaque by the use of naturally occurring chromophores: carotenoids. These compounds accumulate in plaque but not in normal artery and enhance selectivity by increasing the absorption of laser light by plaque in a spectral region where there is minimal absorption by normal artery. The optimal carotenoids for enhancing selectivity will be determined by first identifying the carotenoids that naturally accumulate in human plaque, and then determining which of these confers the greatest preferential absorption in the shortest period of time in an animal model of atherosclerosis. Characterizing the carotenoids found in human plaque will identify molecular structural features and physical-chemical properties which confer affinity for plaque. This may also help to explain the recently discovered association of beta carotene, a common carotenoid, with a significant reduction in myocardial infarction, stroke and vascular surgery. Once the optimal carotenoids are identified, their potential for enhancing the quality and selectivity of laser atherectomy will be assessed in an atherosclerotic animal model. Identifying those human plaques which accumulate the greatest amount of carotenoids will determine which types of atherosclerotic plaque have the greatest preferential absorption and thus, are best suited for removal by selective laser atherectomy. This research not only explores fundamental aspects of the interaction of carotenoids with atherosclerotic plaque but is successful, may result in a safer, more effective method for removing atherosclerotic arterial obstructions.