Objective To explore the relationship of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and carotid plaques in patients with coronary heart disease and analyze the related factors of carotid plaques.Methods This study enrolled 209 patients.13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT) was used to assess Hp infection.Based on the results of 13C-UBT,patients were divided into infection-positive group (101 patients) and infection-negative group (108 patients).The incidence of carotid plaques was detected by color Doppler,and plasma homocysteine (Hcy),total cholesterol (TC),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),fibrinogen (Fbg),high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured and compared.Results The incidence of carotid plaques in infection-positive group(69.31％,70/101) was higher than that in infection-negative group (55.56％,60/108),and there was significant difference (P =0.040).There was significant difference in hs-CRP between infection-positive group and infection-negative group [(3.91 ± 1.91) mg/L vs.(2.65 ± 1.15)mg/L] (P =0.041).There were no significant difference in Hcy,TC,LDL-C,Fbg between infection-positive group and infection-negative group (P ＞ 0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that Hp infection was correlated with carotid plaques in patients with coronary heart disease.The severity of Hp infection had no significant effect on the incidence of carotid plaques.Conclusions Hp infection-positive patients with coronary heart disease may have a higher incidence of carotid plaque,regardless of Hcy,LDL-C,Fbg and TC level.This study shows that Hp is correlated with carotid plaque.The severity of Hp infection has no significant effect on the incidence of carotid plaque.

Objective: To investigate the effects of taurine on blood glucose, number of platelets in plasma, pletelet aggregation and metabolism of oxygen free radicals in diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single injection (ip) of streptozotocin (STZ,70 mg/kg body weight). The rats were maintained on drinking water with or without taurine (1.5 g/kg body weight per day). The concentration of blood glucose, maximal aggregation rate of platelets induced by adenosine 5 diphosphate(ADP) or thrombin(Thr) and the number of platelets in plasma were measured. Metabolism of oxygen free radicals in platelets was assessed as superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity and content of malondialdehyde(MDA) in platelets. [WT5FZ]Results: [WT5BZ]The concentration of blood glucose and maximal aggregation rate of platelets induced by ADP or Thr were significantly higher in diabetic rats than in non diabetic rats. The diabetic rats showed decreased platelet number and SOD activity with higher MDA level. In taurine treated diabetic rats concentration of blood glucose was obviously decreased, but no significant change was found in platelet number, SOD activity, MDA content and aggregation of platelets induced by ADP or Thr. [WT5FZ] Conclusion: [WT5BZ]There is a correlation between the increase in platelet aggregability and the abnormal metabolism of oxygen free radicals in platelets and taurine can decrease the blood glucose level but has no significant effect on platelet aggregability and metabolism of oxygen free radicals in diabetic rats.