ABSTRACT
Introduction ● Background ● c-IMT ● Arterial wall remodeling and vasa vasorum ● Case studies ● Future advances: 3D imaging, IMV, vasa vasorum, and the therapeutic uses of ultrasound ● Summary of the clinical observations
INTRODUCTION Today with the increased ingestion of diets composed of high contents of saturated fats and carbohydrates, and sedentary lifestyle behaviors, the incidence of cardiovascular disease is expected to increase significantly associated with the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. A recent review of the subject highlighted the worldwide epidemic.1 Today 58 million people per year die from cardiovascular (CV) disease, with diabetes and hypertension serving as the main predisposing factors. Nearly 1.3 billion people are considered overweight, with 312 million classified as obese, and 155 million are children by WHO definitions. According to the authors, obesity rates have tripled in developing countries which have achieved a Western lifestyle, and in particular the Middle East, Pacific Islands, and South East Asia and China. With regard to diabetes, today it is estimated that 147 million people exhibit impaired glucose tolerance, which is predicted to increase to 420 million people by 2025, and is most notable in developing countries.
