Plasma levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product (sRAGE) correlate with altered ascending aortic microstructures. A, Ascending aortic diameter measurement by computed tomographic scan (cm), age, and sRAGE concentration (pg/mL) detected in the plasma of the patient nos. 1 to 7. B, Graph representing sRAGE values (bars), proteoglycan deposition (scored from 0 to +3; triangles), and elastin fragmentation (scored from 0 to −3; squares). C, Representative images of modified Movat’s pentachrome staining performed on optimal cutting temperature compound section of ascending aortic tissues excised from patient nos. 1 to 7. Media layer (magnification, ×40). AA indicates ascending aortic replacement.