Objective:To investigate the correlation between heart rate variability (HRV) and cognitive impairment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).Methods:Patients received polysomnography in Weihai Municipal Hospital from June 2019 to November 2020 were enrolled as the subjects of cross-sectional analysis. According to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, the patients with OSA were divided into a cognitive impairment group and a non-cognitive impairment group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether HRV parameters were the independent influencing factors of cognitive impairment in patients with OSA. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the independent correlation between HRV parameters and overall cognition as well as each cognitive domain in patients with OSA. Results:A total of 115 patients with OSA were included, including 80 males (69.6%), aged 58.25±9.88 years. Among them, there were 61 in the cognitive impairment group (53.0%) and 54 in the non-cognitive impairment group (47.0%). The standard deviation of the R-R interval in normal sinus beats (SDNN), the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of the difference between adjacent NN intervals (RMSSD), the percentage of the number of pairs of adjacent R-R intervals differing by more than 50 ms (pNN50) and the power in high-frequency range (HF; 0.15-0.40 Hz) in the cognitive impairment group were significantly lower than those in non-cognitive impairment group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that SDNN (odds ratio [ OR] 0.551, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.380-0.798; P=0.002), RMSSD ( OR 0.516, 95% CI 0.342-0.779; P=0.002), pNN50 ( OR 0.900, 95% CI 0.834-0.971; P=0.006), LF ( OR 0.821, 95% CI 0.687-0.982; P=0.030) and HF ( OR 0.687, 95% CI 0.525-0.899; P=0.006) were the independent protective factors of cognitive impairment in patients with OSA. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that SDNN ( β=0.208, P=0.023), RMSSD ( β=0.228, P=0.011), pNN50 ( β=0.186, P=0.040), HF ( β=0.235, P=0.010) is independently correlated with overall cognitive function in patients with OSA. Conclusion:The decline of HRV parameters SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50 and HF is independently correlated with cognitive impairment in patients with OSA, suggesting that the decline of vagus nerve function may be involved in the mechanism of cognitive impairment in patients with OSA.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between heart rate variability (HRV) and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).Methods:Patients with OSA received polysomnography and brain MRI examination in Weihai Municipal Hospital from July 2019 to July 2020 were consecutively collected for cross-sectional analysis. The 5 min HRV before sleep (awake state) was analyzed. The patients were divided into CSVD group and non-CSVD group according to the overall burden of CSVD. The demographic data, clinical data, polysomnography parameters and HRV time domain and frequency domain parameters were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between the HRV parameters and CSVD in patients with OSA. Results:A total of 100 patients with OSA were enrolled, including 79 males (79.0%), aged 52.36±8.66 years, apnea hypopnea index (AHI) 38.70±24.65/h. There were 46 patients (46.0%) in the CSVD group and 54 (54.0%) in the non-CSVD group. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in age, AHI, oxygen desaturation index (ODI), percentage of blood oxygen saturation <90% in total sleep time (T90), square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of the difference between adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD), power in high frequency range (HF), power in low frequency range (LF) to HF ratio (LF/HF) between the CSVD group and the non-CSVD group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, AHI, ODI, and T90, RMSSD (odds ratio 0.625, 95% confidence interval 0.389-0.981; P=0.041) and LF/HF ratio (odds ratio 1.429, 95% confidence interval 1.011-2.020; P=0.043) were the independent influencing factors of CSVD in patients with OSA. Conclusion:Increased LF/HF and decreased RMSSD in OSA patients with CSVD suggest that the increased sympathetic excitability and decreased vagus function, which may be one of the pathophysiological mechanisms of occurring CSVD in patients with OSA.

Objective To discuss the influence of different antitumor treatments on the survival time of patients with obstructive jaundice caused by cholangiocarcinoma located at middle-low segment of common bile duct after receiving PTCD. Methods During the period from Jan. 2012 to March 2013, a total of 60 patients with pathologically-proved cholangiocarcinoma located at the middle-low segment of common bile duct were admitted to authors’ hospital. According to tumor TNM staging, stage Ⅱ was seen in 9 cases, stage Ⅲ in 39 cases and stage Ⅳ in 12 cases. Based on the degree of cell differentiation, highly differentiated cancer was observed in 9 cases, moderately differentiated cancer in 37 cases, and poorly differentiated cancer in 14 cases. The 60 patients were enrolled in this study. Drainage tube placement and stent implantation were performed in all patients so as to relieve the symptoms of jaundice. According to the antitumor treatment used, the 60 patients were randomly and equally divided into three groups with 20 patients in each group. Draining procedure with subsequent regular arterial infusion chemotherapy was employed in the patients of group A; draining procedure with subsequent particle chain placement in biliary tract was performed in the patients of group B; and draining procedure with subsequent regular arterial infusion chemotherapy together with particle chain placement in biliary tract was carried out in the patients of group C. The results were analyzed using SPSS17.0 statistical software. The death factors of patients were statistically evaluated by using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis method, P<0.05 was considered that the difference had statistical significance. Results The median survival periods of group A, B and C were (186.0±36.4) days, (183.0±26.5) days and (252.0±43.6) days respectively. The death factors of cancer patients were analyzed by using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis method, which indicated that tumor stage was a risk factor for death (HR=8.434, 95%CI 3.41-20.090);the treatment mode was a protection factor of death (HR=0.616, 95%CI 0.429-0.884); while the degree of tumor differentiation was unrelated to death(score test,字2=0.197, P=0.657>0.05). The risk of death in group B was not significantly different from that in group A (HR=1.012, 95%CI 0.558-2.179); while the treatment mode of group C was a protection factor of death (HR=0.334, 95%CI 0.148-0.075). Conclusion The TNM stage and treatment mode can influence the survival time of patients with cholangiocarcinoma located at the middle-low segment of common bile duct. Therefore, for the treatment of obstructive jaundice caused by cholangiocarcinoma, combination use of regular arterial infusion chemotherapy and particle chain placement in biliary tract should be employed immediately after draining procedure as this therapeutic mode can effectively prolong patient’s survival time.

Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) refers to a clinical syndrome that occurs after a stroke and meets the diagnostic criteria for cognitive impairment, lasting for more than 6 months, and seriously affecting the daily life of patients. The complement system has been confirmed to be associated with PSCI. This article reviews the correlation between complement system and PSCI, as well as the possibility of complement system as an intervention target for PSCI.

Objective:To investigate the effect of the possibility of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) as assessed by the four-variable score on the platelet function and the risk of stroke recurrence in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:Patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology, Weihai Municipal Hospital from January 2020 to January 2021 were enrolled prospectively. Main inclusion criteria: admission within 24 h of onset; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤3; Receiving aspirin + clopidogrel dual antiplatelet therapy. All patients were divided into a high possibility group and a low possibility group of SDB according to the four-variable score. 7±2 d after dual antiplatelet therapy, PL-12 multi-parameter platelet function analyzer was used to detect the maximum aggregation rate (MAR). The patients were followed up for 6 months after discharge and the recurrence of ischemic stroke was observed. The mediating effect model was established with the high possibility of SDB as the independent variable, MAR as the intermediary variable and stroke recurrence as the dependent variable. Firstly, MAR as the dependent variable and high probability of SDB as the independent variable were analyzed by linear regression; then, a binary logistic regression analysis was performed with ischemic stroke recurrence as the dependent variable and the high probability of SDB and MAR as independent variables. Results:A total of 213 patients were enrolled in the study. The average age of the patients was 62.70 ± 10.04 years old. There were 146 male (68.5%) and 121 patients (56.8%) were in the high possibility group (56.8%). During the follow-up period, 24 patients (11.3%) had stroke recurrence. Univariate analysis showed that arachidonic acid (AA) induced MAR (MAR-AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) induced the MAR (MAR-ADP) in the high possibility group of SDB were significantly higher than those in the low possibility group (all P<0.05); MAR-AA and MAR-ADP in the recurrent group were significantly higher than those in the non-recurrent group (all P<0.05), and the proportion of high possibility of SDB in the recurrent group was significantly higher ( P=0.008). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that homocysteine (odds ratio 1.132, 95% confidence interval 1.048-1.223; P=0.002) and having high possibility of SDB (odds ratio 6.351, 95% confidence interval 1.134-35.566; P=0.035) were the independent risk factors for stroke recurrence in patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy. Intermediary effect analysis showed that MAR had a significant intermediary effect on the risk of stroke recurrence in patients with high probability of SDB. Conclusion:The MAR and stroke recurrence rates in the high possibility group of SDB were significantly higher than those in the low possibility group, and its stroke risk was probably mediated by platelet hyperreactivity.

OBJECTIVETo assess the feasibility of chromosomal microarray analysis(CMA) for studying the correlation between birth defects and chromosomal aberrations.

METHODSA total of 2000 patients with birth defects were recruited for the CMA testing.

RESULTSFive hundred twenty two patients (26.1%) were found to have chromosomal abnormalities. These included 24 cases with numerical abnormalities, 11 with mosaicisms, and 11 with uniparental disomies. The remaining 476 cases were of well-known microdeletion or microduplication syndromes. The advantage of CMA over conventional karyotyping was demonstrated in many cases.

CONCLUSIONAs a powerful tool for patients with birth defects, CMA can produce a higher diagnostic yield compared with conventional karyotyping.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Disorders ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Dosage ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

Objective: To investigate the impact of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) on platelet function in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: Patients with ischemic stroke treated in the Department of Neurology, Weihai Municipal Hospital from January 2017 to November 2017 were collected prospectively. The presence or absence of OSAHS was determined by polysomnography. After oral administration of aspirin enteric coated tablets for 7±1 d, the maximum aggregation ratio (MAR) induced by arachidonic acid (AA) was determined by PL-12 Platelet Function Analyzer. MAR-AA ≥50% was defined as platelet hyperresponsiveness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors for platelet hyperresponsiveness in patients with ischemic stroke, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between sleep parameters reflecting the severity of sleep apnea and MAR-AA. Results: Among the 124 patients with ischemic stroke, 58 (46.77%) complicated with OSAHS, 66 (53.23%) without complicated with OSAHS; 84 (67.74%) had platelet hyperresponsiveness, and 40 (32.26%) had not platelet hyperresponsiveness. MAR-AA in the complicated OSAHS group was significantly higher than that in the non-complicated OSAHS group (48.98%±20.61% vs. 26.45%±15.15%; t=-6.858, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that OSAHS was an independent risk factor for platelet hyperresponsiveness in patients with ischemic stroke (odds ratio 9.551, 95% confidence interval 3.051-29.905; P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that there was a significant linear relationship between apnea hypopnea index and MAR-AA (β=0.499, P<0.001). Conclusions OSAHS is an independent risk factor for platelet hyperresponsiveness in patients with ischemic stroke. Apnea hypopnea index is significantly correlated with MAR-AA.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between heart rate variability (HRV) and early neurological deterioration (END) and poor outcomes in patients with branch atheromatous disease (BAD).Methods:Patients with BAD admitted to the Department of Neurology, Weihai Municipal Hospital from September 2020 to September 2022 were enrolled prospectively. END was defined as an increase of ≥2 points in the total score of the National Institutes of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS) or an increase of ≥1 in motor item score within 72 h of admission compared with the baseline. Poor outcome was defined as the score of the modified Rankin Scale >2 at 6 months after the onset. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether HRV parameters were the independent influencing factors of END and poor outcomes in patients with BAD. Results:A total of 117 patients with BAD were enrolled, including 76 males (65.0%), aged 64.27±6.95 years. Thirty-eight patients (32.4%) had END, and 21 (17.9%) had poor outcomes. Percentage of the number of pairs of adjacent R-R intervals differentiating by more than 50 ms (pNN50), number of adjacent R-R intervals differentiating by more than 50 ms (NN50), power in low frequency range (LF) and power in high frequency range (HF) in the END group were significantly lower than those in the non-END group, and the LF/HF ratio was significantly higher than the non-END group (all P<0.05). The standard deviation of the R-R interval (SDNN), standard deviation of the average of R-R intervals in all 5-min segments (SDANN), and HF in the poor outcome group were significantly lower than those in the good outcome group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HF (odds ratio [ OR] 0.994, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.991-0.998; P<0.001) was an independent protective factor of END in patients with BAD, and LF/HF ratio ( OR 1.455, 95% CI 1.056-2.005; P=0.022) was an independent risk factor for END in patients with BAD; SDANN ( OR 0.997, 95% CI 0.993-0.999; P=0.023) was an independent protective factor of good outcomes in patients with BAD. Conclusion:HF and LF/HF ratios are the independent influencing factors of END in patients with BAD, and SDANN is an independent influencing factor of the poor outcomes in patients with BAD, suggesting that autonomic dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of END and poor outcomes in patients with BAD.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by recurrent upper respiratory tract obstruction, sleep fragmentation, and hypoxia during sleep. This disease often leads to cognitive, emotional, and memory related neurological damage, and its mechanism is closely associated with the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This article mainly discusses the relationship between BBB damage caused by OSA and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), as well as the role of early prevention, intervention, and repairing BBB on reducing VCI.

Objective:To investigate whether the combination of conventional axial and thin-layer sagittal diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can improve the detection ability of acute brainstem infarction (ABI).Methods:Patients with ABI diagnosed clinically and admitted to Weihai Municipal Hospital, Shandong University from January 2019 to July 2020 were enrolled retrospectively. All patients underwent conventional axial and thin-layer sagittal DWI examination after admission. Those who could not make a definite diagnosis were confirmed by DWI reexamination before discharge. The numbers of positive and negative cases of brainstem infarction at different sites detected by conventional axial and conventional axial+ thin-layer sagittal DWI were recorded.Results:A total of 65 patients with ABI were included. Conventional axial DWI was positive in 51 patients (78.5%) and was negative in 14 (21.5%); conventional axial+ thin-layer sagittal DWI were positive in 60 patients (92.3%) and was negative in 5 (7.7%). In 8 patients with medullary infarction, only 4 (50.0%) were positive on conventional axial DWI, and 6 (75.0%) were positive on conventional axial+ thin-layer sagittal DWI; in 50 patients with pontine infarction, only 44 (88.0%) were positive on conventional axial DWI, and 48 (96.0%) were positive on conventional axial+ thin-layer sagittal DWI; in 4 patients with midbrain infarction, only 1 (25.0%) was positive on conventional axial DWI, and 3 (75.0%) were positive on conventional axial+ thin-layer sagittal DWI; in 3 patients with pontine+ midbrain infarction, only 2 (66.7%) were positive on conventional axial DWI, and 3 (100.0%) were positive on conventional axial DWI+ thin-layer sagittal DWI. The detection rate of ABI on conventional axial+ thin-layer sagittal DWI was significantly higher than that on conventional axial DWI, and difference was statistically significant (92.3% vs. 78.5%; χ2=4.993, P=0.026). Conclusion:The combination of conventional axial and thin-layer sagittal DWI improved the detection rate of ABI. For ABI patients whose axial DWI did not find lesions or whose diagnosis was not clear, thin-layer sagittal DWI should be added.