Objective To investigate the correlation between the morphological characteristics of vertebrobasilar artery on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and isolated vertigo. Methods The patients with isolated vertigo were enrolled retrospectively as a case group. Other patients without vertigo were selected over the same period as a control group. The clinical data and MRA data were collected. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify the independent risk factors for isolated vertigo. Results A total of 118 patients with isolated vertigo and 179 controls were enrolled. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in left vertebral artery bending degree, basilar artery stenosis rate, previous stroke, dolichoec tatic basilar artery, and left and right vertebral artery hypoplasia between the two groups (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that previous vertigo (odds ratio [OR] 6.177, 95%confidence interval [CI] 1.945-19.620; P = 0.002), more serious left vertebral artery bending (OR 1.860, 95% CI 1.127-3.069; P =0.015), and left vertebral artery hypoplasia (OR 4.543,95% CI 1.761-11.721; P = 0.002) were the independent risk factors for isolated vertigo, and previous stroke ( OR 0.377, 95% CI 0.162-0.877; P = 0.024), basal artery hypoplasia ( OR 0.401, 95% CI 0.193-0.830; P = 0.014) were its protective factors. Conclusions Previous vertigo, more serious left vertebral artery bending, and left vertebral artery hypoplasia are the independent risk factors for isolated vertigo, and previous stroke and basal artery hypoplasia may be its protective factors.

Objective To study the role of Th17 cells proportions and the cytokines levels in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods Patients with AP (n =82) treated in our hospital between August 2017 and August 2018 were divided into the mild AP group (MAP,n =36),the moderately severe AP group (MSAP,n =26) and the severe AP group (SAP,n =20).Twenty-five healthy subjects were chosen as the control group.The proportions of Th17 cells and the levels of cytokines including IL-17,IL-21,IL-22 and IL-23 in peripheral blood from the four groups were analyzed.The APACHE Ⅱ and Ranson scores were used to evaluate the illness severity.Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to detect the correlation between the Th17 cells,cytokines,and inflammatory factor,APACHE Ⅱ and Ranson scores.Results Compared with the control group,the proportion of Th17 cells and the levels of IL-17,IL-21,IL-22 and IL-23 in the peripheral blood of MAP,MSAP and SAP groups were significantly increased (SAP ＞ MSAP ＞ MAP,P ＜ 0.05).The levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α,and the scores of APACHE Ⅱ and Ranson in the SAP group were significantly higher than those in the MSAP group and MAP group (P ＜ 0.05).The proportion of Th17 cells and their cytokine levels were positively correlated with IL-6,IL-8,TNF-o,APACHE Ⅱ and Ranson scores.The levels of Th17 cytokines returned to normal in AP patients after treatment.Conclusion Th17 cells and the cytokines have certain clinical significance in evaluating early inflammatory response,severity of illness,and therapeutic effect in AP patients.

Objective:To investigate the correlations between level of serum heparin binding protein (HBP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods:A total of 86 patients with AP admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital, University of Science and Technology of China from December 2017 to May 2019 were included and divided into mild AP group (MAP) with 36 cases, moderate AP group (MSAP) with 26 cases, and severe AP group (SAP) with 24 cases. There were 25 healthy subjects were chosen as the control group. Serum HBP, PCT, and IL-18 levels were dynamically monitored in all patients at 1, 3 and 7 days after admission. The Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to detect the correlation between the three indicators and inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and APACHEII and Ranson score, and analyzed the early diagnostic value of HBP, PCT, and IL-18 in SAP patients.Results:In 86 AP patients, 53 were males and 33 were females, aged (48.3±8.0) years. In 25 healthy subjects, 15 were males and 10 were females, aged (40.5±5.9) years. Serum levels of HBP, PCT and IL-18 in AP patients were significantly higher than those of healthy control group at 1, 3 and 7 days after admission ( P<0.05), and the most significant increase was observed on the 1st day. At the meanwhile, HBP, PCT, and IL-18 were positively correlated with level of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, APACHEII and Ranson scores ( P<0.05). The AUC area of SAP diagnosis by using HBP, PCT or IL-18 alone was respectively 0.825, 0.896, 0.799, the Yoden index was respectively 0.605, 0.628, 0.583, the sensitivity and specificity were 75.3%, 76.2%, 74.8% and 85.2%, 86.6%, 83.5%. The AUC area, Yoden index, sensitivity and specificity of joint detection were 0.923, 0.787, 85.5%, 93.2%, and the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were also increased. Conclusion:Monitoring of serum HBP, PCT and IL-18 can predict the severity of AP patients, and it may serve as an early diagnostic marker for AP.