Changes in Blood Factors and Ultrasound Findings in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

Figure 1. The distribution of participants and atherosclerotic condition. (A) Of participant, patients groups are three. Without cognitive decline, patients with atherosclerosis only are 57.1% of total patients. With atherosclerosis, patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are composed in 32.1% and patients with dementia are constituted in 14.3%. (B) Intima-media thickness (IMT) is shown as mean ± SD. Differences of IMT is significant between dementia and control group. Also it is significant between dementia and MCI. (C) Numbers of plaques are shown as mean ± SD. There are significant differences between control and MCI; control and dementia; and MCI and dementia. *p < 0.05 vs. control group, **p < 0.01 vs. control group.

Figure 2. Expression of circulating blood factors by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. (A) Circulating levels of monocyte aggregated with platelets in each group. (B) Circulating levels of leukocyte aggregated with CD40Ligand (CD154) in each group. (C) Circulating levels of leukocyte aggregated with p-selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL; CD162) in each group. The data presents with % as an event number per gate by FACS analysis. Bars represent median values, and the error bar, the standard deviation. *p < 0.05 vs. control group, **p < 0.01 vs. control group, ***p < 0.001 vs. control group. NS, not significant.

Figure 3. CD62p and CD162 expression in cell surface marker and soluble level. (A,B) Level of platelet surface expressing CD62p (p-selectin) or CD162 (PSGL) was evaluated by FACS analysis. (C,D) Level of CD62p or CD162 in plasma was evaluated by ELISA. The data of FACS represents with % as an event number per gate. The result of ELISA is presented as ng/ml. Bars represent median values, and the error bar, the standard deviation. *p < 0.05 vs. control group. NS, not significant.