Despite declining incidence and mortality rates in many countries, the abdominal aortic
aneurysm (AAA) continues to represent a life-threatening cardiovascular condition with an …

Collagen provides mechanical and biological support for virtually all human tissues in the
extracellular matrix (ECM). Its defining molecular structure, the triple-helix, could be …

The mechanical properties of human aortas are linked to the layered tissue and its
microstructure at different length scales. Each layer has specific mechanical and structural …

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide and include, among
others, critical conditions of the aortic wall. Importantly, such critical conditions require …

Soft biological tissues are natural biomaterials with structures that have evolved to perform
physiological functions, for example, conferring elasticity while preserving the mechanical …

Background Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that functions via direct
cell-cell contact. The Notch ligand Jagged1 (Jag1) has been extensively studied in vascular …

Rationale: The progressive disruption of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, particularly
early elastin fragmentation followed by abnormalities in collagen fibril organization, are key …

Purpose Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening event that occurs when the intimal entry
tear propagates and separates inner from outer layers of the aorta. Diameter, the current …

A common feature in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is the formation of a
nonocclusive intraluminal thrombus (ILT) in regions of aortic dilation. Platelets are known to …

Background The maximum aortic diameter remains the diagnostic criteria and the indicator
for prognosis prediction of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). An additional imaging …