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Atherosclerosis remains a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Despite the elucidation of several molecular, biochemical, and cellular aspects that contribute to the etio‐pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, much remains to be understood about the onset and progression of this disease. Emerging evidence supports a role for exosomes in the cellular basis of atherosclerosis. Indeed, exosomes of activated monocytes seem to accentuate a positive feedback loop that promotes recruitment of pro‐inflammatory leukocytes. Moreover, in addition to their role in promoting proliferation and invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells, exosomes can also induce neovascularization within lesions and increase endothelial permeability, two important features of fibrous plaques. Depending on their sources and cargo, exosomes can also induce clot formation and contribute to other hallmarks of atherosclerosis. Taken together, it is becoming increasingly evident that a better understanding of exosome biology is integral to elucidating the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and may thus provide insight into a potentially new therapeutic target for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and precision of facial anthropométrie mea - surements obtained by new stereophotogrammetric system compared to direct measurements. Study design: Validity study was performed in the aspects of accuracy and precision. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. The sample consisted of thirty participants with age range from 18-35 years of Malay origin. Twenty linear distances were directly measured from participant's face by digital caliper. The same distances were measured by a stereophotogrammetry system. The accuracy and bias of the direct versus indirect was estimated by Pearson's and Spearman's correlation and paired t-test. The intra and inter observer precision was estimated by mean absolute difference (MAD) and relative error magnitude (REM). Results: Significant correlation coefficients were recorded at p < 0.002 in all of the distances except mandibular depth (go-gn). Six out of twenty distances were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.002). However 4 out of 6 showed difference less than 1 mm. Those were intercanthal width (en-en), nasal width (alai), mouth width (ch-ch) and orbito-gonial distance (ex-go). The absolute mean difference (MAD) was less than 2 mm, except for mandibular depth (go-gn) and lower facial depth (t-gn). Moreover, REM percentages were less than 4.31% and 4.94% for the intra and inter observer respectively. Conclusion: The stereophotogrammetry system provided accurate and precise measurements for 18 out of 20 anthropométrie distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]