Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of carotid artery ultrasonography,CT angiography (CTA)and digital subtraction angiography (DSA)for carotid artery dissection. Methods The image data of carotid artery ultrasonography,CTA,and DSA of 24 patients with carotid artery dissection were analyzed retrospectively. Results Twenty-four,16,and 21 patients were examined with DSA,CTA,and carotid artery ultrasonography respectively. The detection rates of carotid artery dissection with DSA,CTA, and carotid artery ultrasonography were 95. 8%,75.0%,and 71. 4% respectively. The DSA mostly showed the line-like sign (n=12,50 %). CTA and carotid artery ultrasonography mostly showed the double lumen sign;they were 37. 5%(n=6)and 52. 4%(n=11)respectively. Compared with DSA,the concordance rates of carotid artery ultrasonography and CTA were 66. 7% and 81. 3% respectively. There was no significant difference (Kappa=0. 39,P=0. 08 and Kappa=0. 43,P =0. 22 respectively). The concordance rate of ultrasonography in combination with CTA and DSA reached 87. 5%(n=15,Kappa=0. 67,P =0.047). There was significant difference. Conclusion DSA is a gold standard for the diagnosis of carotid artery dissection,and it is irreplaceable. Carotid artery ultrasonography in combination with CTA can improve the diagnostic rate. Carotid artery ultrasonography can be used as a screening method for carotid artery dissection.

Vascular cerebral dysfunction refers to a brain dysfunction syndrome caused by cerebrovascular etiologies and diseases that lead to disorders of sensorimotor function,cognitive function and neuro-psychiatry. In the past decades,with the maturity of diagnostic concepts and advances of brain imaging technology,the detection of vascular burden in brain dysfunction has progressed remarkably. However,in daily practice,the definitive diagnosis of vascular brain dysfunction is still challenging. Because of the interindividual heterogeneity, very few general therapeutic principles which are applicable to all patients exist. Individualized therapeutic decision must be made from existing methods, including symptomatic treatment, supportive care and vascular risk factors management. It is hoped that there will be targeted etiological treatment in the future.

Objective: To analyze clinical characteristics and risk factors in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated with cardiac rupture (CR) and to explore the prevention and treatment strategy in clinical practice. Methods: A case control study was conducted in 2 groups: CR group, the patients with coronary angiography conifrmed AMI with CR,n=44 and Control group, the patients with simultaneous STEAMI and by 1:3 pair-matched ratio,n=132. Clinical information was compared between 2 groups and the relevant risk factors for predicting CR were studied by Logistic regression analysis. Results: Compared with Control group, CR group had the lower ratio of β-receptor blocker application (22.7% vs 81.4%),P<0.05. Univariate regression analysis indicated that lower body mass index, incipient MI, anterior MI, no-reperfusion therapy, delayed reperfusion therapy, lower blood pressure at admission, post-infarction angina, ventricular aneurysm, higher Gensini score, high blood levels of cretinine and BNP, low ejection fraction were the risk factors for CR occurrence in STEAMI patients, allP<0.05. Multivariate regression analysis presented that incipient MI (P<0.049, OR=7.462), post-infarction angina (P<0.000, OR=8.591), ventricular aneurysm (P<0.005, OR=4.617) and higher Gensini score (P<0.001, OR=2.788) were risk factors for CR occurrence in STEAMI patients. Conclusion: Incipient MI, post-infarction angina, ventricular aneurysm and higher Gensini score are the risk factors for CR occurrence in STEAMI patients.

Objective To investigate the relationship between regular exercise habit and coronary collaterals of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods TWo hundred and thirty-night patients diagnosed ACS and operated coronary angiography (CAG) showing severe coronary stenosis were enrolled hospitalized from May 2012 to October 2012.They were divided into regular exercise group (n =102) and irregular exercise group(n =137) according to the exercise frequency.The information of the general data,the information of CAG and other relevant index were collected.The coronary artery score was recorded according to the Censini and the coronary collateral class was made according to the Rentrop.Other characters in clinical and laboratory were recorded.Multi-factor regression analysis was used to analysis the influence factors of coronary collateral.Results The proportion of coronary collaterals (41.2％ (42/102)) in the regular exercise group was higher than that in the irregular exercise group (24.1％ (33/137)),and the difference was statistically significant(x2 =7.929,P =0.005).Lg(Gensini score) was (1.89 ± 0.18) the and (1.94 ± 0.19) in the regular exercise group,The left ventricular ejection fraction was 57.0％ (52.0％,60.0％) in the regular exercise group and 50.0％ (45.0％,57.0％) in the irregular exercise group,and the difference was statistically significant (Z =-5.152,P =0.000).Multi-factor regression analysis showed that regular exercise (OR =3.423,95％ CI:1.790-4.578),diabetes mellitus (OR =0.451,95％ CI:0.212-0.962),B-type natriuretic peptide (OR =2.412,95 ％ CI:1.271-4.578),non-ST-segment elevation ACS (OR =2.383,95％ CI:1.185-4.791),chest pain history (OR =2.207,95％ CI:1.175-4.145),Gensini score (OR =1.538,95％ CI:1.141-2.073) were independent influence factors of coronary collateral(P ＜ 0.05).After adjusting other factors,the patients with regular exercise had better coronary collaterals than that with irregular exercise (OR=3.423,95％CI:1.790-6.548,P ＜0.001).Conclusion The regular exercise can promote coronary collateral emergence for the patients with ACS.

Objective To evaluate the improvement effect of levosimendan by vein injection on short term cardiac function of patients with decompensated heart failure.Methods One hundred and sixty patients admitted due to heart failure were randomly divided into levosimendan group and control group (80 subjects for each group).Patients in control group were given a regular therapy including diuretics,vasodilators (including the recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide),angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor(ACEI) or angiotensin Ⅱ receptorantagonists(ARB),β blockers,spironolactone and stain.Patients in levosimendan were administered levosimendan for 24 hours plus regular therapy.The improvements of dyspnoea in 9 days and cardiac function classification in 30 days after therapy were assessed.Mortality of 1 month and 3 month in two group were calculated and compared during follow-up.Results The dyspnoea improvement rate was superior than that of control group during 9 days (OR =1.956,95％ CI:1.156-3.310,P =0.013).The improvements in the levosimendan group were better than in the control group at 1 st day (OR =2.261,95 ％ CI:1.280-3.999,P =0.005),at 3rd (OR =2.002,95 ％ CI:1.111-3.607,P =0.021) and 5th day (OR =1.846,95 ％ CI:1.009 -3.377,P =0.047).However,there was no significant difference in term of improving dyspnoea between the levosimendan group and the control group at 9th day (P =0.126).Similarly,the improvement of cardiac function classification in the levosimendan group was superior than the control group during 30 days (OR =1.933,95％ CI:1.229-3.040,P =0.004).Although no significant difference was seen regarding of improving cardiac function classification between the two groups at 30th day after treatment (P =0.115),the improvements in the levosimendan group were better than in the control group at 3rd (OR =1.986,95％ CI:1.195-3.300,P =0.008),5th (OR =2.268,95 ％ CI:1.329-3.873,P =0.003),9th (OR =2.627,95 ％ CI:1.419-4.860,P =0.002) and 14th day(OR =2.212,95％ CI:1.189-4.112,P =0.012).Moreover,there was a nonsignificant reduction in terms of mortality in levosimendan group during 1-month and 3-month follow-up compared with control group (P ＞ 0.05).Condusion Levosimendan can effectively improve the short-term cardiac function in patients with decompensated heart failure.

Objective To explore the difference of gene expression profiling between normal basilar arteries and basilar arteries of cerebral vasospasm (CVS) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rabbits. Methods cDNA chip of normal basilar arteries and basilar arteries of CVS after SAH in rabbits were downloaded from GEO database. The chip was analyzed and screened by Bioconductor software, and function enrichment and pathway analysis of the differentially expressed genes were analyzed by Cytoscape software. Then 6 adult male Japanese rabbits were used, and randomly divided into normal control group (n=3) and SAH model group (n=3). Rabbit SAH models were established by cisterna secondary-blood-injection method. RNA data of normal basilar artery specimens on the 0 day and basilar artery specimens after SAH on the 5-day were used to validate the parts of differentially expressed genes by qRT-PCR. Results A total of 4356 differentially expressed genes were found in normal basilar arteries and basilar arteries of CVS after SAH in rabbits. Among them, 920 genes were considered to be significant with P-value<0.05, such as GRIK1, MYH13, ZNF45, SAA3, RLN1, MSR1 and others. Function enrichment analysis indicated that the differentially expressed genes were involved in regulation of Ca2+transmembrane transporter activity, negative regulation of ion transmembrane transport, regulation of potassium ion transport, positive regulation of JAK-STAT signaling cascades and other biological processes. Pathway analysis showed that calcium signaling pathway, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and other signaling pathways maybe related with the differentially expressed genes. qRT-PCR verification showed that the expression of MSR1 in SAH model group was consistent with that of the chip result. Conclusion The gene expressions of basilar arteries of CVS after SAH in rabbits are significantly different, and MSR1 gene can be used as a potential target for studying the pathological mechanism of CVS.

Objective To evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of administration of levosimendan or milrinone added to conventional therapy in patients with decompensated heart failure.Methods A total of 180 patients admitted due to heart failure [NYHA (New York Heart Association) class Ⅲ or Ⅳ] were randomly (random number) divided into control group,milrinone group and levosimendan group (n =60,each group).A continuous infusion of milrinone added to conventional therapy was administered for 72 hours in milrinone group,while administration of levosimendan for 24 hours in levosimendan group.The changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricle end-diastolic diameter (LVDD) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) plasma level were compared between before and after treatment,respectively,and comparisons of improvement in cardiac function (NYHA class) and hospital mortality were carried out among three groups.Patients were further followed up at 3 months after treatment.Results The LVEF in levosimendan group after treatment had significantly more increased than that in control group [(32.0±6.3)％ vs.(30.6 ±5.5)％,P =0.007].Compared BNP before treatment,the sums of BNP deducted were 444.0 (-74.0,1068.0) pg/mL,469.0 (141.5,1151.5) pg/mL and 936.5 (437.8,1566.8) pg/mL in control group,milrinone group and levosimendan group,respectively after treatment (all P ＜ 0.01).Moreover,the deduction in BNP was more dramatic in levosimendan group compared with control or milrinone group (t =3.256 or 2.665,P =0.004 or 0.026).After treatment for 5 days,the probability at least of achieving more effectively better improvement in NYHA class (cardiac function) in levosimendan group was 2.036 times that of control group (95％ CI:1.030-4.028,P =0.041).The incidence of combined end point events (death or readmission) in levosimendan group was significantly lower than that in milrinone group (50％ vs.70％,HR =0.573,95％ CI:0.358-0.917,P=0.020),while in hospital mortality,readmission or 3-month mortality incidence was similar among 3 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The short-term clinical efficacy of levosimendan is superior to that of milrinone or conventional therapy in patients with decompensated heart failure.

Objective To discuss the value of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) in the etiological diagnosis of patients with head and neck artery occlusion.Methods From December 2015 to February 2017,25 consecutive patients with acute head and neck artery occlusion in Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University were enrolled prospectively.The 32-channel head-neck combined coils were used to conduct head-neck integrated HR-MRI.The characteristics of proximal vascular wall of the occluded vascular segments and the signal features of thrombi in the middle and distal segments of occlusion were analyzed.The evaluation of the occlusive etiology was performed by two neurologists according to the clinical history,laboratory examinations,and imaging examinations of the patients,and the accuracy of conventional lumen imaging and conventional lumen imaging combined with HR-MRI in etiological classification were compared.Results Twenty-five patients with acute head and neck artery occlusion completed HR-MRI examinations.A total of 31 segments of the occluded vessels were diagnosed,and 21 of these were diagnosed with the conventional luminal imaging,30 were diagnosed with the conventional luminal imaging+HR-MRI,including 24 segments of atherosclerotic occlusion (n=19),4 segments of arterial dissecting occlusion (n=4),and 3 segments of arteritis occlusion (n=2).(2) In patients with atherosclerotic occlusion,the eccentric thickening was observed in the proximal wall of occlusive segment;the typical double-lumen or crescent-shaped hyperintense hematoma were observed in occlusive arterial dissection;long-segment annular thickening and enhancement were observed in the segment of arteritis occlusion.(3) The accuracy of the cause classification diagnosis of conventional luminal imaging and conventional luminal imaging+HR-MRI were 67.7% (21/31) and 96.8% (30/31) respectively (P<0.01).Conclusions Compared with the luminal imaging,the head and neck combined HR-MRI can reveal the arterial wall characteristics of the initial segment of occlusion.It has certain advantages in the interpretation of the causes,such as atherosclerosis,arterial dissection and arteritis.

Objective To observe the incidence and the influencing factors of kidney insufficiency in acute cerebral infarction patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Methods From January 2013 to January 2015,266 consecutive acute cerebral infarction patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation admitted to the Department of Neurology,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University were enrolled retrospectively. Renal function was assessed by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR),eGFR <60ml/(min·1.73 m2 ) was defined as renal insufficiency,and were divided into a renal insufficiency group (n = 36)and a non-renal insufficiency group (n = 230). The incidence of kidney insufficiency and its influencing factors in acute cerebral infarction patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation were observed. Results (1)In 266 acute cerebral infarction patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation,the prevalence of renal insufficiency was 13. 5% (n = 36). The proportion of age (≥65 years)of the renal insufficiency group was higher than that of the non-renal insufficiency group. There was significant difference (94. 4%[34 / 36]vs. 70. 0%[161 / 230];P = 0. 002). There were no significantly differences in general information of others (all P >0. 05). (2)Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that the age (≥65 years)was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of renal insufficiency in acute cerebral infarction patients with atrial fibrillation (OR,1. 147,95% CI 1. 087 -1. 209;P < 0. 01),and the histories of hypertension (OR,0. 870,95% CI 0. 362-2. 089;P = 0. 755),diabetes mellitus (OR,1. 078,95% CI 0. 403 -2. 883;P = 0. 882 ), and hyperlipidemia (OR,1. 666,95% CI 0. 645 - 4. 302;P = 0. 292 )were not associated with renal insufficiency in cerebral infarction patients with atrial fibrillation. Conclusions The incidence of renal insufficiency in cerebral infarction patients with atrial fibrillation is higher. Age (≥65 years)is an independent risk factor for renal insufficiency in this type of patients.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide in acute anterior myocardial infarction complicated with heart failure.Methods Two hundred patients suffered from acute anterior myocardial infarction complicated with heart failure were randomly divided into two groups:rhBNP group ( n =100) and control group ( n =100 ).All patients were given conventional treatment,patients in rhBNP group were given rhBNP on the basis of conventional therapy.The clinical effectiveness including the improvement of cardiac function,cardiac ultrasound data,the incidence of hospital adverse cardiac events,and six month follow-up were compared between the two groups.Results The degree of decompensation and Killip class in rhBNP group were better than those of control group after treatment ( improved dyspnea:significantly improved:36 vs 27 ; improved:49 vs 46; no improvement:11 vs 20 ; deterioration:4 vs 7 ; Ridit value:0.4618 vs 0.5382,P =0.043) ( Killip class:significantly improved:26 vs 20; improved:56 vs 45; no improvement:14 vs 25 ; deterioration:4 vs 10; Ridit value:0.4553 vs 0.5447,P =0.017 ).After treatment for one week,The LVEF improvement in rhBNP group was more remarkable than that of control group ( [ 53.0 ± 5.2 ] ％vs.[ 50.0 ±:6.2 ] ％,P =0.014).The occurrence rate of angina ( 13.0％ vs.27.0％,P =0.013 ),heart failure ( 18.0％ vs.32.0％,P =0.022) and major adverse cardiac events(MACE) ( 17.0％ vs.30.0％,P =0.030) inrhBNP group was lower than that in control group.During 6 months follow-up period,event-free survival in rhBNP group was higher than that in control group ( 69.0％ vs.55.0％,P =0.041 ).Conclusion Transvenous injection of rhBNP combined with other routine treatment can improve cardiac function in patients with myocardial infarction in acute anterior myocardial infarction.It can also decrease adverse cardiac events during hospitalization and increase event-free survival in 6 months follow-up period.