Table 2.
Effect of hypercaloric diets, high-fat (HF) and high fat-high sucrose (HFHSu), on pulmonary artery mineralization.
| Experimental group | Pathology findings | Score (distribution) |
|---|---|---|
| CTL | Mineralization, intimal, focal | 1 |
| No changes | 0 | |
| Mineralization, intimal, focal | 1 | |
| Mineralization, intimal and subintimal, multifocal | 2 | |
| No changes | 0 | |
| No changes | 0 | |
| Mineralization, intimal, focal | 1 | |
| HF | No changes | 0 |
| No changes | 0 | |
| No changes | 0 | |
| Mineralization, intimal, focal | 1 | |
| HFHSu | Mineralization, intimal, subintimal and adventitia, multifocal | 2 |
| Mineralization, intimal, multifocal | 2 | |
| Mineralization, intimal, multifocal | 2 | |
| Mineralization, intimal, multifocal | 2 | |
| Mineralization, intimal, multifocal | 2 | |
| Mineralization, intimal, multifocal | 2 | |
| Mineralization, intimal and media, multifocal | 2 | |
| Mineralization, intimal, focal | 1 |
Vascular mineralization was classified using a scoring system, determined based on calcification in arterial cross section according to a 4-tier severity scale: 0, no calcification; 1, focal calcification spots; 2, partial calcification covering 20–80% of the arterial circumference; and 3, circumferential calcification.