Cardiovascular diseases and vulnerable plaques: data, modeling, predictions and clinical applications PREFACE

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Dalin Tang, Southeast University; Zhi-Yong Li, Southeast University; Frank Gijsen, ErasmusMC; Don Giddens, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2015-01-09
• Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2015 Tang et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1475-925X-14-S1-S1
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Biomedical Engineering Online
• Volume: 14
• Issue: Suppl 1
• Start Page: S1
• End Page: S1
• Grant/Funding Information: The WPI symposium was partially supported by a grant from NIH/NIBIB 1R13 EB018724.
• Keywords: Engineering, Biomedical; Technology; MECHANICS; SHEAR-STRESS; ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUE; Science & Technology; Engineering; ARTERY; IN-VIVO; RUPTURE; PROGRESSION; MRI

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Huge effort has been made in many disciplines including medical imaging, computational modeling, biomechanics, bioengineering, medical devices, animal and clinical studies, population studies as well as genomic, molecular, cellular and organ-level studies seeking improved methods for early detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of these diseases [1-14]. However, the mechanisms governing the initiation, progression and the occurrence of final acute clinical CVD events are still poorly understood. A large number of victims of these diseases who are apparently healthy die suddenly without prior symptoms. Available screening and diagnostic methods are insufficient to identify the victims before the event occurs [8,9]. Most cardiovascular diseases are associated with vulnerable plaques. A grand challenge here is to develop new imaging techniques, predictive methods and patient screening tools to identify vulnerable plaques and patients who are more vulnerable to plaque rupture and associated clinical events such as stroke and heart attack, and recommend proper treatment plans to prevent those clinical events from happening. Articles in this special issue came from two symposia held recently focusing on "Cardiovascular Diseases and Vulnerable Plaques: Data, Modeling, Predictions and Clinical Applications." One was held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Worcester, MA, USA, July 13-14, 2014, right after the 7th World Congress of Biomechanics. This symposium was endorsed by the World Council of Biomechanics, and partially supported by a grant from NIH-National Institute of Biomedical Image and Bioengineering. The other was held at Southeast University (SEU), Nanjing, China, April 18-20, 2014.