Background/Aim: The pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis continue to be the subject of intensive research and study by the scientific community. Based on Fourier-transform infrared spectra and 3D-Doppler echogram, we attempted to develop a computational simulation model for predicting the association of atherosclerotic risk factors with pathogenic molecular structural changes. Materials and Methods: Atheromatic carotid arteries from 56 patients (60-85 years old) were used as samples. Color 3D-Doppler echogram screening was performed on all patients preoperatively. Each infrared spectrum consisted of 120 co-added spectra at a spectral resolution of 4 cm −1 . Results: The infrared spectral analysis reveals 'marker bands', such as the 1,744 cm −1 band assigned to aldehyde formation and to the 'fingerprint' digital spectral region of 1,050-1,169 cm −1 , characteristic of the presence of advanced glycation end products (C-O-C). The accumulation of calcium phosphate salts increases the formation rate of stenosis. The critical point of stenosis risk starts at about 45%, while when stenosis is over 60-70%, the risk of ischemic stroke or other major adverse cardiovascular events increases dramatically. Conclusion: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and mathematical simulation models showed that carotid artery stenosis over 45% reduces the blood flow rate, while stenosis over 65% dramatically increases the hemodynamic disturbance, with a parallel increase the rate of ischemic stroke or other major adverse cardiovascular events.

Breast cancer affects the female population worldwide. Radiotherapy (RT) is part of the therapeutic modality in the management of breast cancer, after radical mastectomy or conserving surgery. The FTIR spectroscopic “marker bands” will lead us to approach the mechanism of skin damage due to the interaction of ionizing radiation and skin, on a molecular level at the very early stages. FT-IR spectroscopy, breast digital pictures, and ImageJ software were used in the study. Healthy breast skin was irradiated <em>ex-vivo</em> with a 4 Gy dose of a γ-⁶⁰Co course Gammachamber 4000A. The FT-IR spectra showed that the low-dose irradiation induces skin dehydration, collagen secondary structure changes and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) as a result of free radicals as mediated products. The infrared “marker bands” at about 1743, 1160, and 870 cm^-1 are characteristic, indicating the development of inflammation, glycations, and peroxidations respectively, due to ionizing radiation-induced oxidative stress. ImageJ analysis provided the sharp surface of the skin after RT irradiation in contrast to the smooth surface of the non-irradiated healthy skin. The most important damages, induced by radiotherapy, were connective tissue lesions, glycosylation, and phosphorylation processes in the skin. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) free radicals prefer to abstract H atoms from lipids, sugar rings of glycoproteins, and base ribose of DNA. The produced intermediate free radicals, as a result of ROS reactions, led to the formation of AGEs and peroxides.

Background The atherosclerotic ascending aorta could represent a potential source of emboli or could be an indicator of atherosclerosis in general with high mortality. The mechanism of aneurysm formation and atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta at the molecular level has not yet been clarified. To approach the mechanism of ascending aortic lesions and mineralization at a molecular level, we used the non-destructive FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, SEM and Hypermicroscope. Methods Six ascending aorta biopsies were obtained from patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) cardiac surgery. CytoViva (einst inc) hyperspectral microscope was used to obtain the images of ascending aorta. The samples were dissolved in hexane on a microscope glass plate. The FT-IR and Raman spectra were recorded with Nicolet 6700 thermoshintific and micro-Raman Reinshaw (785nm, 145 mwatt), respectively. The architecture of ascending aorta biopsies was obtained by using scanning electron microscope (SEM of Fei Co) without any coating. Results FT-IR and Raman spectra showed changes arising from the increasing of lipophilic environment and aggregate formation (Fig. 1). The band at 1744 cm–1 is attributed to aldehyde CHO mode due to oxidation of lipids. The shifts of the bands of the amide I and amide II bands to lower are associated with protein damage, in agreement with SEM data. The bands at about 1170–1000 cm–1 resulted from the C-O-C of advanced glycation products as result of connecting tissues fragmentations and polymerization. The spectroscopic data were analogous with the lesions observed with SEM and hypermicroscopic images. Conclusions The present innovate molecular structure analysis showed that upon ascending aorta aneurysm development an excess of lipophilic aggregate formation and protein lesions, changing the elasticity of the aorta's wall. The released Ca2+ interacted mostly with carbonate-terminal of cellular protein chains accelerated the ascending aorta calcifications. Figure 1. FT-IR and Raman spectra Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Introduction Coronary artery atherosclerotic disease is the most common cardiovascular disease and bypass grafting surgery (CABG) is an effective treatment. However, the pathogenic mechanism of coronary arteries atherosclerosis and disease progression is not yet clear. Purpose The use of FT-IR spectroscopy, hyperspectral microscope and mathematical simulation models are some of the tools to predict the morphological and elasticity disorders in the vessel wall due to molecular structure changes. Methods Biopsies of atherosclerotic native coronary arteries from 54 patients (44–85 years), who underwent coronary endarterectomy during bypass grafting surgery (CABG), were examined ex vivo. The FT-IR-spectra were recorded with a Nicolet-6700 spectrometer. Morphological changes of atheromatic plaques were performed with SEM-EDX, Fei-Co. CytoVita-Olympus hyperspectral microscope was used to obtain the cells. Results FT-IR spectroscopy (Figure 1A) showed that the disease affects the protein folding, leading to amyloid formation (beta-sheets), lipid peroxidation and AGEs (Advanced Glycation end products) production. The detection of amorphous CaCO3 (1415 and 872 cm–1) deposits in high lipophilic regions was of high importance. Increased mineral concentration leads to increased formation of crystalline deposits, consisting of CaCO3, CaHPO4, Ca3(PO4)2 and inorganic hydroxyapatite, resulting in arterial stenosis. Hyperspectral images confirmed the formation of micelles (1) due to amyloidosis and calcified cells (2), in agreement with FT-IR, ImageJ analysis data. Mathematical simulation model based on finite element method (Figure 1E) showed that arterial wall damage and elasticity changes were not homogenous. This model provides the time of crystallization of the calcium salts, which play crucial role to stenosis. Conclusions FT-IR spectra showed that the formation of amorphous CaCO3 in the presence of Mg2+, in reach of oxidized lipids regions, inhibit the development of coronary artery stenosis. Excessive of Ca2+ efflux promotes the crystallinity of CaCO3 and Ca3(PO4)2 deposits, leading to the development of atherosclerotic plaques and coronary artery stenosis. Mathematical models approach in a much better way the progression of arterial atherosclerosis. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1