Traditional Chinese medicine preparation for treating atherosclerotic plaque

Abstract

The invention discloses a traditional Chinese medicine preparation for treating atherosclerotic plaque. The traditional Chinese medicine preparation is prepared from the following raw material medicines in parts by mass: 4-6 parts of raw radix astragali, 1-3 parts of radix saposhnikoviae, 1-3 parts of lumbricus and 4-6 parts of radix angelicae sinensis. The traditional Chinese medicine preparation can be prepared into different conventional traditional Chinese medicine preparations such as pills, capsules or oral liquid by adding different auxiliary materials into active powder by adopting a conventional traditional Chinese medicine preparation method, has the effects of tonifying qi, reducing phlegm, promoting blood circulation and dredging collaterals, is mainly used for stabilizing atherosclerotic plaque and preventing diseases such as arterial stenosis, and has the advantages of low cost and quick effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of traditional Chinese medicines, and relates to a traditional Chinese medicine preparation for treating atherosclerotic plaques. Background Art

[0002] Atherosclerosis is one of the main pathogenic factors of cardiovascular disease, with calcification of the middle layer of arteries, thickening and hardening of arterial walls, and stenosis of the lumen as the main manifestations, which can occur in arteries throughout the body. Western medicine believes that atherosclerosis is a type of disease in which atherosclerosis deposits appear on the walls of arterial vessels, causing thickening of the walls, stenosis of the lumen, and reduced vascular elasticity, and is closely related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Western medicine treatment mainly relies on oral statins, which have a long cycle and unsatisfactory efficacy. Patients who take the drug for a long time may experience adverse reactions such as liver damage and muscle tissue pain. Traditional Chinese medicine theory classifies atherosclerosis into the categories of "dizziness", "chest pain", "pulse accumulation", etc., which are mostly caused by factors such as diet, seven emotions, fatigue, and aging, resulting in deficiency of the original body, and "evil qi" such as phlegm and blood stasis stagnates in the blood vessels, accumulating poison over time, damaging the veins, and promoting the process of atherosclerosis. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the combination of phlegm and blood stasis is the basic pathogenesis of the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment plans guided by the theory of invigorating Qi and resolving phlegm, promoting blood circulation and unblocking collaterals can delay the occurrence and development of atherosclerotic plaques, stabilize plaques, and have few adverse reactions. Summary of the invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a traditional Chinese medicine preparation for treating atherosclerotic plaques which has the effects of invigorating qi and resolving phlegm, promoting blood circulation and unblocking collaterals.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a traditional Chinese medicine preparation for treating atherosclerotic plaques, which is made of the following raw materials in parts by weight: 4-6 parts of raw astragalus, 1-3 parts of siler, 1-3 parts of earthworm, and 4-6 parts of angelica.

[0005] Preferably, it is made of the following raw materials in parts by mass: 4 parts of raw astragalus, 1 part of siler, 1 part of earthworm, and 4 parts of angelica.

[0006] Traditional Chinese medicine preparations include pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and are made into decoctions, decoction pastes, pills, granules, tablets, capsules or oral solutions.

[0007] The arteriosclerosis refers to calcification of the middle layer of the artery, thickening and hardening of the arterial wall, and stenosis of the lumen.

[0008] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the traditional Chinese medicine for treating atherosclerotic plaques of the present invention has the effects of invigorating qi and resolving phlegm, promoting blood circulation and unblocking collaterals, adopts a plurality of traditional Chinese medicines to optimize the formula, can effectively treat and prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, prevent arterial stenosis and other diseases in clinical treatment, has the characteristics of good efficacy, safety, low cost and easy operation, and is worthy of clinical promotion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clear, the present invention is further described in detail. It should be understood that the specific implementation methods described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0010] The traditional Chinese medicine preparation for treating atherosclerotic plaque is prepared from the following raw medicines in parts by weight: 4-6 parts of raw astragalus, 1-3 parts of siler, 1-3 parts of earthworm and 4-6 parts of angelica.

[0011] Preferably, it is made of the following raw materials in parts by mass: 4 parts of raw astragalus, 1 part of siler, 1 part of earthworm, and 4 parts of angelica.

[0012] Traditional Chinese medicine preparations include pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and are made into decoctions, decoction pastes, pills, granules, tablets, capsules or oral solutions.

[0013] The arteriosclerosis refers to calcification of the middle layer of the artery, thickening and hardening of the arterial wall, and stenosis of the lumen.

[0014] Dosage: 1 dose of decoction or decoction paste per day, 2 decoctions per dose, take on an empty stomach in the morning and evening; pills, granules, tablets, capsules, oral solution 3 times a day, half an hour after breakfast, lunch, and dinner; take medicine and eat about half an hour apart to avoid affecting the digestion and absorption of medicine and food and the effect of medicine; the course of treatment is at least 2 weeks. Avoid smoking and drinking, drinking strong tea, eating raw, cold, spicy, irritating food, and overeating during the medication period; if used in combination with western medicine, take it at a different time from western medicine.

[0015] Main functions: replenishing qi and resolving phlegm, promoting blood circulation and unblocking meridians

[0016] Diseases treated: Atherosclerotic plaque

[0017] The details of the Chinese medicine used in the present invention are as follows:

[0018] Raw Astragalus: sweet, slightly warm; enters the spleen and lung meridians; efficacy: replenishing qi and raising yang, consolidating the exterior and stopping sweating, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, promoting fluid and nourishing blood, relieving stagnation and relieving arthritis, expelling toxins and draining pus, and healing sores and promoting tissue regeneration. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Astragalus contains a variety of glycosides, polysaccharides, selenium, iron, zinc and other glycosides, polysaccharides, amino acids and trace elements, which have multiple pharmacological effects such as enhancing immunity and hematopoietic function, regulating blood sugar and blood pressure, lowering blood lipids, resisting stress, anti-oxidation, strengthening the heart and protecting the liver, resisting cerebral ischemia, and anti-tumor. It is often used clinically to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, hypertension, and primary kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy, recurrent respiratory tract infection, neuralgia and other diseases, with good efficacy and extremely high development and promotion value. The root cause of stroke is the deficiency of vital energy. Deficiency of vital energy, insufficient yin and yang, qi and blood, and disorder of the rise and fall of qi, blood, yin and yang, lead to stroke. Astragalus is better at replenishing qi, and when qi moves, blood moves. It can expel bad blood from the five internal organs, regulate blood vessels, and restore the normal circulation of qi and blood. It has a relieving effect on atherosclerosis. The key factor in the development of atherosclerosis is the adverse reaction caused by inflammation, and astragalus can significantly reduce the level of inflammatory mediators, so it has a significant effect in preventing atherosclerosis and delaying target organ damage.

[0019] Saposhnikovia divaricata: spicy, slightly sweet, warm in nature, enters the liver, bladder, and spleen meridians, and has the effects of dispelling wind and relieving exterior symptoms, relieving dampness and relieving pain, and stopping spasms. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Saposhnikovia divaricata contains chemical components such as chromones, polysaccharides, volatile oils, and coumarins, and has been proven to have pharmacological activities such as antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-tumor, and anticoagulant. Saposhnikovia divaricata has an anticoagulant effect, and its n-butanol extract can significantly inhibit the adhesion function of platelets, inhibit the formation of thrombi in the carotid artery-venous bypass, and can also inhibit in vitro thrombi, shorten the length of wet thrombi, and reduce wet weight and dry weight. The n-butanol extract can also significantly reduce the high shear viscosity, low shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen content, hematocrit, and reduced viscosity of whole blood, mainly by affecting the content and function of red blood cells and fibrinogen to play a role in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.

[0020] Earthworm: salty and cold, belongs to the liver, spleen and bladder meridians, and has the following effects: clearing away heat and calming the nerves, extinguishing wind and stopping spasms, unblocking and activating collaterals, relieving asthma, diuresis and lowering blood pressure. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that earthworms contain a variety of active ingredients such as proteins, amino acids, lipids, nucleotides, enzymes and trace elements. Earthworms have the effects of anti-platelet aggregation, improving cerebral circulation, protecting neurons, resisting cell apoptosis, inhibiting oxygen free radical activity, and resisting infection. They play an important role in the treatment of brain damage caused by stroke and thrombosis. In the treatment of cerebral ischemia, the ingredients contained in earthworms are mainly fibrinolytic enzyme active ingredients, which have the effects of anti-thrombosis, inhibiting platelet aggregation, and resisting infection, and have significant clinical effects and high safety.

[0021] Angelica: sweet, spicy, warm in nature, enters the heart, spleen, and liver meridians, and has the following effects: nourishing blood and activating blood circulation, regulating menstruation and relieving pain, and moistening the intestines and relieving constipation. In modern pharmacological research, Angelica contains volatile oils, polysaccharides, organic acids, amino acids, flavonoids, etc., which have the functions of regulating blood circulation, protecting from ischemic damage, resisting tissue fibrosis, relieving pain, protecting the brain and nerves, improving the state of bone damage, and improving the body's immunity. It has a wide range of clinical applications and a high frequency, and has great potential value.

[0022] Raw Astragalus nourishes the middle and replenishes Qi; Saposhnikovia dispels wind and stops convulsions; Earthworm extinguishes wind and unblocks the meridians and stops convulsions; Angelica nourishes blood and activates blood circulation. The above medicines are used together to have the effects of replenishing Qi, activating blood circulation, dispelling wind and unblocking meridians.

[0023] The raw materials and dosage of the drug of the present invention are obtained through extensive exploration and summary by the inventors. The drug of the present invention can be prepared into conventional oral preparations such as decoctions, decoction pastes, pills, granules, tablets, capsules or oral liquids by conventional methods of Chinese medicine preparations. The relevant preparation methods are as follows:

[0024] 1. The preferred preparation method of the present invention is a decoction, which comprises the following steps: weigh the raw materials according to the above-mentioned proportion (raw astragalus 40g, siler 10g, earthworm 10g, angelica 40g), put them into a disposable non-woven medicine bag, add 3-5 cm of water above the plane of the medicine, and soak for 20-40 minutes; first decoct the medicine in a decoction vessel (such as a casserole), boil it with high heat, then turn to low heat and decoct for 30-40 minutes, filter out the medicine liquid after decoction, and obtain 200 ml; when decoctioning for the second time, add an appropriate amount of water (preferably to cover the medicine residue), boil it with high heat, then turn to low heat and decoct for about 20 minutes, filter the medicine liquid, and obtain 100 ml of medicine liquid; mix the two medicine liquids to obtain 300 ml of medicine liquid. Each 150 ml vacuum compression package is 1 bag.

[0025] Dosage: 1 bag twice a day, on an empty stomach in the morning and evening.

[0026] 2. The specific preparation method of the decoction is as follows: the raw materials are weighed according to the above-mentioned proportions (500g of raw astragalus, 125g of siler, 125g of earthworm, and 500g of angelica), and are put into a disposable non-woven medicine bag. An appropriate amount of water is added to soak the raw materials to allow them to fully absorb and swell. Later, water is added to a height of about 10 cm, and soak for 12 hours. The soaked medicinal materials are put into a decoction pot, and water 15 cm higher than the plane of the medicinal materials is added. First, boil them over high heat, then boil them over low heat for 1 hour, and then turn to low heat to boil. The first medicinal juice can be filtered out with gauze, and then clean water is added to soak the original medicinal residue and then it can be decocted on fire. The decocting method is the same as before. This is the second decoction. When it comes to the third decoction, the medicinal residue will be discarded after filtering out the medicinal juice. Mix the juices obtained from the first three decoctions together, let it stand, then precipitate and filter. The less residue, the better. Pour the obtained juice into a pot for concentration. First, boil it over high heat to accelerate the evaporation of water, and skim off the foam at any time to let the juice slowly become thick. Then use low heat to further concentrate it. Stir constantly during the period until the juice drips on paper without dispersing. Stop boiling to obtain a thick paste, and set it aside for later use. Then pour 3.5 kg of refined honey into the reserved thick paste and continue to boil it over low heat. Keep stirring and remove the foam on the liquid surface until it can be pulled into flags or drip into beads, then you can get a paste (diabetics or patients with high blood sugar can skip this step). Then quickly pour the paste into a glass bottle (200 ml per bottle) that has been cleaned and disinfected in advance while it is hot, and let it cool.

[0027] Dosage: 1 teaspoon (about 10 ml) twice a day, on an empty stomach in the morning and evening.

[0028] 3. The specific preparation method of pills is as follows: the raw materials are weighed according to the above-mentioned proportions (raw astragalus 150g, siler 50g, earthworm 45g, angelica 200g), put into a disposable non-woven medicine bag and put into a medicine soaking bucket, add appropriate amount of water to soak the raw materials, allow them to fully absorb and swell, and then add water to a height of 10 cm, and soak for 12 hours; put the soaked medicinal materials into a decoction pot, add water 15 cm higher than the plane of the medicinal materials, first boil with high heat, then cook with low heat for about 1 hour, turn to low heat and boil, and filter out the first medicinal juice with gauze, then add clean water to soak the original medicinal residue and then boil it on fire, the decoction method is the same as before, this is the second decoction, when it comes to the third decoction, filter out the medicinal juice and discard the medicinal residue. Mix the juices obtained from the first three decoctions together, let it stand, then precipitate and filter. The less residue, the better. Pour the obtained juice into a pot for concentration. First, boil it over high heat to accelerate the evaporation of water, and skim off the foam at any time to let the juice slowly become thick. Then, switch to low heat for further concentration. Stir constantly during the period until the juice drips onto paper without dispersing. Stop boiling to obtain a thick paste, which is set aside for later use. Then, spray-dry the thick paste, add 4 kg of refined honey and mix well, make pills out of pill blocks, and then send them to an automatic Chinese medicine pill making machine to make pills, 3.0 g per pill.

[0029] Dosage: 3 times a day, 60 pills each time, take half an hour after morning, noon and evening.

[0030] 4. The specific preparation method of the granules is as follows: the raw materials are weighed according to the above-mentioned proportions (raw astragalus 100g, siler 25g, earthworm 25g, angelica 100g), put into a disposable non-woven medicine bag and put into a medicine soaking bucket, add an appropriate amount of water to soak the raw materials, allow them to fully absorb and swell, and then add water to a height of 10 cm, and soak for 12 hours; put the soaked medicinal materials into a decoction vessel, add water 15 cm higher than the plane of the medicinal materials, first boil over high heat, then boil over low heat for 1 hour, turn to low heat and boil, and filter out the first medicinal juice with gauze, then add clean water to soak the original medicinal residue and then boil it on fire, the decoction method is the same as before, this is the second decoction, and when it comes to the third decoction, the medicinal residue will be discarded after filtering out the medicinal juice. Mix the juices obtained from the first three decoctions together, let it stand, then precipitate and filter. The less residue the better; pour the obtained juice into a pot for concentration, first boil it over high heat to accelerate the evaporation of water, and skim off the foam at any time to let the juice slowly become thick, then switch to low heat for further concentration, stirring constantly during the period until the juice drips onto paper without dispersing, pause boiling to obtain a thick paste, and set aside for later use; then boil and dry the thick paste, then add 15 kg of dextrin, mix thoroughly, and then use wet granulation, drying, granulation, and bagging to make granules, 6 g per bag.

[0031] Dosage: 3 times a day, 1 bag each time, half an hour after breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[0032] 5. The specific preparation method of tablets is as follows: the raw materials are weighed according to the above-mentioned proportions (raw astragalus 200g, siler 50g, earthworm 50g, angelica 200g), put into a disposable non-woven medicine bag and put into a medicine soaking bucket, add an appropriate amount of water to soak the raw materials, allow them to fully absorb and swell, and then add water to a height of 10 cm, and soak for 12 hours; put the soaked medicinal materials into a decoction vessel, add water 15 cm higher than the plane of the medicinal materials, first boil over high heat, then boil over low heat for 1 hour, turn to low heat and boil, filter out the first medicinal juice with gauze, add clean water to soak the original medicinal residue and then boil it on fire, the decoction method is the same as before, this is the second decoction, when it comes to the third decoction, filter out the medicinal juice and discard the medicinal residue. Mix the juices obtained from the first three decoctions, let them stand, then precipitate and filter. The less the residue, the better. Pour the obtained juice into a pot for concentration. First, boil it over high heat to accelerate the evaporation of water, and skim off the foam at any time to let the juice slowly become thick. Then, switch to low heat for further concentration. Stir constantly during the period until the juice drips onto paper without dispersing. Stop boiling to obtain a thick paste, which is set aside for later use. Spray dry the thick paste, then add 500 g of sodium carboxymethyl starch and 100 g of magnesium stearate, mix well, and then use wet granulation, drying, granulation, tableting, and coating to make tablets, each weighing 0.5 g.

[0033] Dosage: 3 tablets 3 times a day, half an hour after breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[0034] 6. The specific preparation method of the capsule is as follows: the raw materials are weighed according to the above-mentioned proportions (raw astragalus 500g, siler 125g, earthworm 125g, and angelica 500g), put into a disposable non-woven medicine bag and put into a medicine soaking bucket, add an appropriate amount of water to soak the raw materials, allow them to fully absorb and swell, and then add water to a height of 10 cm and soak for 12 hours; put the soaked medicinal materials into a decoction pot, add water 15 cm higher than the plane of the medicinal materials, first boil over high heat, then cook over low heat for about 1 hour, turn to low heat and boil, filter out the first medicinal juice with gauze, add clean water to soak the original medicinal residue and then boil it on fire, the decoction method is the same as before, this is the second decoction, when it comes to the third decoction, filter out the medicinal juice and discard the medicinal residue. Mix the juices obtained from the first three decoctions together, let it stand, then precipitate and filter. The less residue the better; pour the obtained juice into a pot for concentration, first boil it over high heat to accelerate the evaporation of water, and skim off the foam at any time to let the juice slowly become thick, then switch to low heat for further concentration, stirring constantly during the period, until the juice drips onto paper without dispersing, stop boiling to obtain a thick paste, and set aside for later use; then spray-dry the thick paste, grind it into fine powder, put it into capsules to make capsules, 0.5g each.

[0035] Dosage: 3 times a day, 3 capsules each time, half an hour after breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[0036] 7. The specific preparation method of the oral solution is as follows: the raw materials are weighed according to the above-mentioned proportions (raw astragalus 600g, siler 150g, earthworm 150g, and angelica 600g), put into a disposable non-woven medicine bag and put into a medicine soaking bucket, add an appropriate amount of water to soak the raw materials, allow them to fully absorb and swell, and then add water to a height of 10 cm and soak for 12 hours; put the soaked medicinal materials into a decoction pot, add water 15 cm higher than the plane of the medicinal materials, first boil over high heat, then cook over low heat for 1 hour, turn to low heat and boil, filter out the first medicinal juice with gauze, add clean water to soak the original medicinal residue and then boil it on fire, the decoction method is the same as before, this is the second decoction, and when it comes to the third decoction, the medicinal residue will be discarded after filtering out the medicinal juice. Mix the juices obtained from the first three decoctions together, let it stand, then precipitate and filter. The less residue, the better. Pour the obtained juice into a pot for concentration. First, boil it over high heat to accelerate the evaporation of water, and skim off the foam at any time to let the juice slowly become thick. Then use low heat to further concentrate it. Stir constantly during the process until the juice drips onto paper without dispersing. Stop boiling to obtain a thick paste, which is set aside for later use. Then add 1 kg of monosaccharide syrup to the thick paste, mix well, cool, add distilled water to 6000 ml, let it stand, filter, and fill to obtain the oral solution, 20 ml per bottle.

[0037] Dosage: 20 ml three times a day, half an hour after breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[0038] The invention uses drugs accurately, has strict compatibility, and has significant curative effect. It is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation for treating atherosclerosis, and has certain curative effect in improving clinical symptoms of patients, preventing stroke, improving quality of life, etc. In order to further illustrate and verify the significant effect of the invention, relevant experimental research is carried out.

[0039] The following is a clinical observation experiment on the treatment of atherosclerotic plaques by a capsule prepared by the compound recipe of the present invention (raw astragalus, siler, earthworm and angelica are taken in a ratio of 4:1:1:4. During the preparation, the above four Chinese medicinal materials are crushed into fine powder, and a proper amount of ethanol is added to make a soft material, which is granulated through a 16-mesh sieve, dried, granulated, and filled into No. 0 capsules to obtain a finished medicine, specification: 0.5g / grain) to further illustrate the effect of the drug of the present invention.

[0040] 1. General information: All patients with atherosclerotic plaques in this group were from outpatient clinics, including 19 males and 21 females, aged 45-81 years, with an average age of 72.25±6.91 years and an average disease course of 26.36±12.48 months.

[0041] 2. Inclusion criteria: age 45-85 years old; carotid atherosclerotic plaques found by carotid artery ultrasound examination; patients with non-allergic constitution.

[0042] 3. Treatment method: Take orally twice a day, 1 bag each time. Take it for one month as a course of treatment, and take 3 courses in total.

[0043] 4. Efficacy evaluation criteria: Before treatment and 3 months after treatment, all patients underwent carotid vascular ultrasound examination to compare the changes in carotid plaque thickness and carotid intima-media thickness before and after treatment.

[0044] 5. Experimental results: After 3 courses of treatment, the statistical efficacy is as follows: 12 cases were markedly effective, 16 cases improved, 10 cases did not deteriorate, 2 cases were ineffective, and the total effective rate was 70.0%. At present, the clinical application of Chinese herbal compound to treat atherosclerosis has achieved positive efficacy and achieved the purpose of relieving symptoms and clinical treatment.

[0045] Typical cases:

[0046] Case 1

[0047] Liu, female, 64 years old, from Tianjin, sought medical treatment in the summer of 2023 due to left limb mobility difficulties after cerebral infarction for 2 years. Carotid artery color Doppler ultrasound showed: right carotid artery atherosclerosis with plaque formation (18.2x2.5mm). After taking the capsule of the present invention for 3 months, the thickness of the carotid artery plaque improved, and the re-examination of the carotid artery color Doppler ultrasound showed: right carotid artery atherosclerosis with plaque formation (15.9x2.1mm). Limb activity was better than before, and the quality of life was improved than before.

[0048] Case 2

[0049] Mr. Zhao, male, 65 years old, from Tianjin, sought medical treatment in 2022 due to difficulty in right limb movement for 5 months after cerebral infarction. Carotid artery color Doppler ultrasound showed: left carotid artery atherosclerosis with plaque formation (15.0x3.8mm). He had tried many treatments but to no avail. After taking this capsule, the patient’s carotid artery color Doppler ultrasound after 6 months of treatment showed: left carotid artery atherosclerosis with plaque formation (13.6x2.9mm), limb movement was better than before, and the quality of life was improved.

[0050] The embodiments described above are only used to illustrate the technical ideas and features of the present invention, and their purpose is to enable those skilled in the art to understand the contents of the present invention and implement them accordingly. The patent scope of the present invention cannot be limited only by this embodiment, that is, any equivalent changes or modifications made to the spirit disclosed by the present invention still fall within the patent scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A Chinese medicine preparation for treating atherosclerotic plaque, characterized in that: The drug is prepared from the following raw materials in parts by weight: 4-6 parts of raw astragalus, 1-3 parts of siler, 1-3 parts of earthworm and 4-6 parts of angelica.

2. The Chinese medicine preparation for treating atherosclerotic plaque according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drug is prepared from the following raw materials in parts by weight: 4 parts of raw astragalus, 1 part of siler, 1 part of earthworm, and 4 parts of angelica.

3. The Chinese medicine preparation for treating atherosclerotic plaque according to claim 1, characterized in that: The preparation comprises pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary materials and is made into decoction, decoction paste, pill, granule, tablet, capsule or oral liquid.

4. The Chinese medicine preparation for treating atherosclerotic plaque according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The arteriosclerosis refers to calcification of the middle layer of the artery, thickening and hardening of the arterial wall, or stenosis of the lumen.