Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the risk factors for the two different atherosclerosis processes, namely the early atherosclerosis and advanced atherosclerosis. Methods: Using magnetic resonance angiography and high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography, 92 patients with advanced atherosclerosis (atherosclerotic cerebral infarction/transient ischemic attack) and 120 patients with early atherosclerosis (no cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and carotid stenosis <40% on B-mode ultrasonography) were included. The difference and similarity of the risk factors for early atherosclerosis and advanced atherosclerosis were compared respectively using the binary logistic regression. Results: In the binary logistic model of carotid plaque formation, the traditional risk factors, such as age (years) (OR, 1.101, 95% CI: 1.046-1.159, P < 0.001), high TC (OR, 2.236, 95% CI: 0.821-6.089, P = 0.0115), hypertension (OR, 2.623, 95% CI: 0.989-6.957, P = 0.053), and smoking (%) (OR, 7.975, 95% CI: 2.274-27.9651, P =0.001) were the statistically significant independent variables. In the binary logistic model of advanced atherosclerosis, male (OR, 2.064, 95% CI: 1.137-0.748, P = 0.017), high Lp (a) (OR, 2.818, 95% CI: 1.499-5.298, P=0.001), low HDL (OR, 2.451, 95%CI: 1.234-4.868, P=0.010), and diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.414, 95% CI: 1.232-4.731, P=0.010) were the statistically significant independent variables. Conclusion: The risk factors for advanced atherosclerosis and early atherosclerosis are different, diabetes mellitus and lipoprotein (a) may play an important role in the advanced atherosclerosis.

Age Factors ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Orthopedic Fixation Devices

Objective To figure out changes of serum excitatory amino acids (EAAs) levels in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods The levels of serum EAAs was assessed in 34 cognitively normal control subjects,30 patients with aMCI,and 32 patients with AD using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results ①Higher serum concentrations of glutamate((39.6?22.1) ?mol/L),alanine((282.5?71.3) ?mol/L) were found in the aMCI patients (P=0.044,P=0.007),and higher serum concentrations of glutamate ((42.2?21.8) ?mol/L),glycine ((464.2?142.6) ?moL/L) were found in the AD patients than in the control subjects (P=0.010,P=0.010).②No statistically significant difference of EAAs level between the aMCI and AD groups was found.③A close and positive correlation between the serum concentrations of glutamate, aspartate and the mini-mental status examination scores were found in AD patients:the 2 amino acid levels were higher in patients with mild dementia((42.1?21.3),(55.0?29.0) ?mol/L) than those with moderate or severe dementia ((25.4?9.2) ?mol/L,P=0.023;(34.6?11.1) ?mol/L,P=0.036). Conclusion EAAs,correlating with the severity of the condition,play a significant role in AD,while aMCI patients also have disturbance of metabolism of EAAs,indicating that it has similar pathogenesis to AD.

Objective To explore the efficacy of postoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and portal vein chemotherapy (PVC) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients complicated with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). Methods One hundred and eleven HCC patients with PVTT were randomly divided into three groups receiving respectively tumor resection only ( group A) , resection plus TACE ( group B) , and resection plus TACE and PVC ( group C). Results (1) Group B had significantly lower recurrence rates at 0. 5- and 1-year, and higher survival rates at 0. 5-year compared with group A (P

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tennis Elbow ; therapy ; Young Adult

Air Pollution ; analysis ; Barium ; analysis ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods ; Workplace

Objective To evaluate the relationship between carotid artery plagues and the clinical risk factors in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 by observing the ultrasonic characteristics of carotid atherosclerosis plagues.Methods The ultrasound results of carotid arteries in 665 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 from January 2009 to December 2011 in Beijing Amery General Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.The location and quantity of carotid atherosclerotic plaques were observed .The relationship between the occurrence and risk factors of diabetes such as hypertension ,family history of diabetes and age were analyzed.Single factor and multi-factor analysis were applied for the related risk factors .Results The ultrasonography showed 405 cases of carotid artery plaques.Most carotid artery plaques were located in the posterior wall of carotid sinus and were hyperechoic ,hypoechoic or isoechoic.The single factor analysis showed hypertension,family history of diabetes and age are risk factors of carotid atherosclerosis (χ2 =42.322,9.682 and 140.658,all P<0.01).Multi-factor logistic regression analysis showed age was an independent risk factor of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.The risk factors scores of patients who were less than 45 years,45-65 years and over 65 years of age were (3.50 ±1.16)scores,(3.46 ±0. 92)scores and (3.21 ±0.88)scores,and the difference was statistically significant (F=5.781,P<0.001). There were significant differences between risk factors scores of different age groups ( t =2.084,2.002, 3.786,3.474,2.877 and 2.504,all P<0.05).In patients more than 65 years of age,the risk of atherosclerosis plaques is 28.732 times higher than that of patients less than 45 years of age.After controlling the age factor,the possibility of atherosclerosis plaque increased 1.201 times for each additional one point of score. Conclusions Most carotid artery plaques in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 are located in the posterior wall of carotid sinus and are hyperechoic ,hypoechoic or isoechoic.Age is an independent risk factor for the formation of carotid plaque.Patients more than 45 years of age should undergo early intervention to avoid the occurrence of major vascular complications .

Objective To investigate the changes of plasma adrenodullin(ADM) and C-type natriuretic peptide(CNP) level in children with chronic heart failure(CHF) and its clinical implications.Methods Forty-two children with CHF were collected.The patients suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy,congenital heart defects,and other heart diseases.According to a modified scoring system described by Ross and Reithman,16 patients were classified as class Ⅱ,14 as class Ⅲ,and 12 as class Ⅳ.Plasma levels of ADM and CNP were measured by radioimmunoassay assay in these patients and 11 healthy children.Echocardiography was performed to measure left ventricular function and the ratio of E/A.Results Plasma ADM and CNP levels of CHF patients were significantly elevated as compared with those of the control subjects [(218.27?106.53) ng/L vs(74.39?53.99) ng/L,P=0;(190.27?108.38) ng/L vs(92.59?(59.46) ng/L),P0.05).ADM levels were elevated with the advancing severity of CHF determined by a modified scoring system described by Ross.However,the plasma CNP levels in the normal state wasn′t significantly different from those observed in class Ⅱ.Likewise,the plasma CNP level in the class Ⅲ was not significantly different from that observed in class Ⅱ.Conclusions ADM and CNP might play a compensatory and defensive roles in the pathophysiology of the pediatric CHF.ADM may be a biochemical marker for evaluation the severity of the chronic heart failure in children,but also a new prognostic indicator of this syndrome.

Objective To analyze genetic and clinical features of 14 children with ?-thalassemia intermedia in Guangxi area.Methods ?-thalassemia genes,?-thalassemia genes,single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) at position-158 of()~G?-globin gene,AT repeats polymorphisms of DNase I-hypersensitive site 2 of the ?-globin gene cluster locus control region(?-LCR-HS2) were detected by PCR techniques.Clinical data were analyzed.Results Genotype:1.Seven cases were homozygous or compound heterozygous for nt-28(A→G).Among them,2 cases′ genotypes were nt-28/nt-28,1 case was ?~E/ nt-28,2 cases were ?~0/nt-28,1 case(?~0/nt-28) co-inherited()~G?158(T) and 1 case(?~0/nt-28) co-inherited simultaneously()~G?-158(T) and——SEA ?-thalassemia-1 genes.2.Three cases with ?~0/?~0 presented()~G?-158(T),and other 3 cases co-inherited——SEA ?-thalassemia-1 genes.3.One patient with ?~0/?~0 co-inherited()~G?-158(T) and——SEA ?-thalassemia-1 genes.4.Six cases carrying()~G?-158(T) had(AT)_9 N_(12)(AT)_(10) sequences in ?-LCR-HS2.Phenotype:The values of Hb,MCV,HbF of 14 patients were(75.9?9.7) g/L,(68.9?5.9) fL,66.9%?16.3%,respectively.Except for 2 cases with genotypes of nt-28/nt-28 and 1 case with ?~E/nt-28 who had never been transfused,the others had more severe symptoms and required irregularly transfusion.Conclusions In the 14 children with ?-thalassemia intermedia from Guangxi area,nt-28(A→G),()~G?-158(T) and——SEA ?-thalassemia-1 gene are main alleviating gene factors.Incidence of(AT)_9 N_(12)(AT)_(10) sequence in ?-LCR-HS2 in these patients is high.Patients who are homozygous for nt-28 or compound heterozygous for ?~E have milder phenotypes.

Objective To evaluate the applied value superparamagnetic Ferric Oxide oral contrast agent in the dignosis of MR forstomach.Methods Ferric Oxide Suspension was administered before MR scanning of stomach in 36 cases,ranged in age form 21 to 60 years old.MR findings were analysed.Results The fullness of stomach was 100% after administration of Ferric Oxide Suspension.Stomach canal appeared as negative contrast in all MR sequences,the relation between lesions in stomach and around tissue were clearly showed.During MRCP,it could restrict the high signal in stomach canal.Conclusion Oral Ferric Oxide Suspension as contrast agent during MR examination of stomach is easily accepted by patients,it is a safe and steady negative contrast agent for gastrointestinal MR examination.