Objective To investigate the correlation between vertebral artery tortuosity and posterior circulation ischemia (PCI). Methods The patients with PCI aged ≥50 years old and the controls without PCI at the same time were enrolled. CT angiography was performed in all patients. The cervical vertebral artery tortuosity was observed and rated, and the related risk factors for influencing PCI were analyzed. Results A total of 112 patients with PCI and 90 controls were enrolled. Univariate analysis showed that the proportions of patients with hypertension (80. 36% vs. 54. 44% ; χ2 = 15. 613, P < 0. 001), smoking (35. 71% vs. 18. 89% ; χ2 = 6. 974, P = 0. 008), alcohol consumption (25. 89% vs. 10. 00% ; χ2 = 8. 253, P = 0. 004), posterior circulation vascular stenosis (54. 46% vs. 24. 44% ; χ2 = 18. 578, P < 0. 001), and vertebral artery tortuosity (71. 43% vs. 48. 89% ; χ2 = 10. 695, P = 0. 001), as well as the levels of the total cholesterol (4. 96 ± 1. 26 mmol/L vs. 4. 61 ± 1. 04 mmol/L; t = - 2. 110, P = 0. 036 ), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3. 02 ± 0. 90 mmol/L vs. 2. 69 ± 0. 78 mmol/L; t = - 2. 671, P = 0. 008 ), and fibrinogen (3. 67 ± 1. 69 mg/L vs. 3. 25 ± 0. 97 mg/L; t = - 2. 002, P = 0. 047) in the PCI group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The proportion of bilateral vertebral artery tortuosity in the PCI group was significantly higher that in the control group (30. 36% vs. 12. 22% ; χ2 = 9. 478, P =0. 002). The proportion of grade 3 vertebral artery tortuosity in the PCI group was significantly higher than that in the control group (43. 75% vs. 26. 67% ; χ2 = 6. 310, P = 0. 012). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that smoking (odds ratio [OR] 2. 339, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1. 037-5. 278; P =0. 041), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 1. 580,95% CI 1. 050-2. 377; P = 0. 028), hypertension (OR 2. 631, 95% CI 1. 237-5. 596; P = 0. 012), posterior circulation vascular stenosis (OR 3. 419, 95% CI 1. 638-7. 134; P = 0. 001), and vertebral artery tortuosity (OR 2. 413, 95% CI 1. 212-4. 803; P = 0. 012) were the independent risk factors for PCI. Conclusion The vertebral artery tortuosity is an independent risk factor for PCI in the middle-aged and elderly people.

Objective To explore the levels of serum alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) as well as its impact on the cognitive impairment in patients with subcortical ischemic vascular disease ( SIVD).Methods One hundred and fifty-eight SIVD patients were divided into two subgroups which included 86 patients with mild cognitive impairment ( SVMCI ) and 72 patients with vascular dementia ( SVaD ) according to the severity of cognitive impairment.Sixty-seven old people with normal cognitive function were selected as control qruop.Multiple lacunar infarction ( LI) or leukoaraiosis ( LA) was detected according to their MRI scan appearances and graded LA according to the severity.Serum ALP was measured by an enzymatic method as well as the Mini-Mental State Examination ( MMSE) and the Cambridge Cognitive Examination-Chinese Version (CAMCOG-C) were used in assessments.Serum ALP was divided into 3 groups and the occurrence rate of LI , LA and cognitive impairment were compared with each other.The levels of ALP were compared in different cognitive impairment and Logistic regression was used to explore the relation between ALP and cognitive impairment.Results Both SVaD and SVMCI groups (17.00 (13.00, 20.00), 59.50 (49.00, 68.75);25.00 (25.00, 26.00), 82.50 (76.75, 89.00)) showed significantly lower scores in MMSE and CAMCOG-C than control group (28.00 (28.00, 29.00), 93.00 (89.00, 96.00); Z=187.337, P=0.000; Z=150.480, P=0.000).A positive relationship between the elevated ALP level and the severity of cognitive impairment was found after adjusting for sex , age and other confunding factors ((68.60 ±15.52), (78.76 ±13.39), (86.75 ±18.85) U/L, F=22.587, P=0.000).The occurrence rate of LI, LA and SVaD among the three groups were significantly different (χ2 =8.008, P=0.018;χ2 =17.998, P=0.000;χ2 =12.255, P=0.002).The ALP level was negatively correlated with MMSE and CAMCOG-C scores ( r=-0.350, P=0.000; r=-0.286, P=0.000 ).Logistic regression analysis revealed the relation between ALP and cognitive impairment was positive when we controlled all the vascular risk factors.However , the relation had gone when futher adjusting for the grade of LA.Conclusions The level of ALP is significantly higher in SIVD patients and positively relates with cognitive impairment especially in those whose grade of LA is severe.

Objective:To investigate the impact of altering brain gray matter volume (GMV) on cognition and gait disorder in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).Methods:Thirty-six patients with aMCI, who admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from July 2018 to August 2020, were collected, and 33 normal controls (NC) matched with age, sex and education level were included in the same period. The neuropsychological assessment was done in all the subjects using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale (MoCA), Cambridge Cognitive Examination-Chinese version (CAMCOG-C), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Activities of Daily Living scale (ADL). The timed up and go test (TUG), dual task of timed up and go test (D-TUG) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used in the subjects for assessment. The parameters such as stride length, gait speed, gait frequency were collected by intelligent device for energy expenditure and activity. All the subjects received 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging scan to obtain high-resolution T 1 structural images. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to compare the difference of GMV between aMCI patients and NC. Partial correlation analysis was performed among altering GMV in the regions of interest (ROI), cognitive score and gait parameters, respectively. Linear regression analysis was used between whole brain GMV and gait parameters. Results:The scores of MMSE, MoCA, CAMCOG-C and the subitems of CAMCOG-C in aMCI group were significantly lower than those in NC group ( P<0.05). In aMCI patients, both the test time of TUG and D-TUG increased, gait speed slowed down, stride length shortened, and stride frequency and BBS score decreased ( P<0.05).VBM analysis showed that the whole brain GMV in aMCI patients was obviously lower than that of NC. In the aMCI group, GMV in ROI1 (right hippocampus, right parahippocampal gyrus, right amygdala and right fusiform gyrus), ROI2 (right middle temporal gyrus), ROI3 (right angular gyrus), ROI4 (right occipital lobe), ROI5 (bilateral orbital frontal lobe), ROI6 (left middle frontal gyrus and rectus gyrus), ROI7 (left fusiform gyrus and left parahippocampal gyrus) was significantly decreased compared with the NC group [Gaussian random field (GRF) correction, two-tailed test, voxel level P<0.001, cluster level P<0.05). In the aMCI group, GMV in ROI1 was positively correlated with orientation ( r=0.437, P=0.012), memory ( r=0.360, P=0.043), execution ( r=0.414, P=0.019), and negatively correlated with ADL score ( r=-0.529, P=0.002). GMV in ROI2 was negatively correlated with ADL score ( r=-0.400, P=0.023). GMV in ROI4 and in ROI5 was positively correlated with the calculation ( r=0.370, P=0.037) and execution ( r=0.360, P=0.043), respectively. GMV in ROI6 was positively correlated with MMSE score ( r=0.357, P=0.045), CAMCOG-C total score ( r=0.503, P=0.003) and calculation ( r=0.395, P=0.025), and negatively correlated with ADL score ( r=-0.387, P=0.028). GMV in ROI5 was positively correlated with gait speed ( r=0.391, P=0.027). In the aMCI group, CAMCOG-C total score was negatively correlated with D-TUG results ( r=-0.387, P=0.035), executive function was negatively correlated with TUG results ( r=-0.450, P=0.013) and D-TUG results ( r=-0.553, P=0.002), and positively correlated with gait speed ( r=0.379, P=0.039). Attention was positively correlated with gait speed ( r=0.590, P=0.001), and computing was positively correlated with gait speed ( r=0.371, P=0.044). The linear regression of whole brain GMV and gait parameters showed negative correlation between the GMV of left occipital lobe and TUG results in the aMCI group. The GMV of bilateral prefrontal cortex, right occipital lobe and surrounding cortex was positively correlated with gait speed (GRF correction, two-tailed test, voxel level P<0.001, cluster level P<0.05). Conclusions:Patients with aMCI presented with gray matter atrophy, cognition impairment, and gait disorders. The cognition impairment was closely related to the atrophy of medial temporal lobe. Gait disorders were not only associated with cognition impairment but also with gray matter volume in the prefrontal lobe, occipital lobe and its surrounding cortex, and anterior central gyrus.

Objective:To explore the interaction effects on brain activity between the smoking addiction and weight status by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.Methods:Retrospective analysis of clinical data and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed from 99 recruited subjects from January 2019 to December 2021. All participants were divided into four groups: overweight smokers ( n=24), normal-weight smokers ( n=28), overweight non-smokers ( n=19), and normal weight non-smokers ( n=28). Calculate regional homogeneity (ReHo) to reflect the internal brain activity of the subjects. Two-way ANOVA was used to detect the interaction effects between smoking addiction and overweight on ReHo by SPM12 software, correcting for age, years of education and head motion. Results:The interaction effect between smoking addiction and overweight on ReHo was significant in right superior frontal gyrus(x, y, z=15, 9, 60)(GRF corrected, Pvoxel<0.005, Pcluster<0.05). The ReHo value in the right superior frontal gyrus of overweight smokers was significantly higher than that of normal weight smokers ( t=3.768, P<0.001, Bonferroni corrected). The ReHo values in the right superior frontal gyrus of overweight non-smokers were significantly lower than those of normal weight non-smokers ( t=-3.242, P=0.002, Bonferroni corrected). The ReHo values in the right superior frontal gyurs of normal-weight smokers were significantly lower than those of normal weight non-smokers( t=-3.540, P=0.001, Bonferroni corrected). The ReHo values in the right superior frontal gyrus of overweight smokers were significantly higher than those of overweight non-smokers ( t=3.392, P=0.002, Bonferroni corrected). Correlation analyses showed that the strengthen ReHo value in right superior frontal gyrus was positively associated with pack-year in smoking addicts( r=0.387, P=0.007, Bonferroni corrected). Conclusion:Smoking addiction and overweight have an antagonistic effect on brain activity in the right superior frontal gyrus, which may provide potential therapeutic targets for individuals with comorbidity of smoking addiction and overweight.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of surgical template guides to assist mandibular osteotomies in craniofacial microsomia.Methods:Ten children diagnosed with craniofacial microsomia (Pruzansky Ⅱ) from May 2018 to November 2018, at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, were selected for this study. First, pre-operative CT scans were prescribed, osteotomy plans were designed by Mimics 19.0, and individualized template guides were manufactured before surgery. Under the guidance of the surgical template, distraction osteotomy of craniofacial microsomia and distractor implantation surgeries were performed until the proposed length was reached. Then, another CT scan was performed. Based on the registration of pre- and post-surgery mandible statistics harvested by Geomagic Control, six points were randomly chosen on the osteotomy surface to estimate deviations, the mean value of which was calculated as distance deviation between the osteotomy surfaces. Meanwhile, the angle between the osteotomy surfaces was considered as angular deviation. Considering the deviation of 2 mm in distance and 5 degrees in angles as references, a single-sample t-test was conducted in SPSS 25.0 and it was considered as statistically significant when P<0.05. Results:A total of 10 children, six males and four females, diagnosed with craniofacial microsomia, with an average age of 4.9 years, were included in this study. The left-to-right ratio of the afflicted mandibles was 3∶7. The implantation surgeries were successfully conducted on all the patients and no complications were observed. All patients underwent follow-up visits for one year. The results were consistent with the pre-surgery designs, including satisfactory effects of distraction osteogenesis, obvious improvements of facial asymmetries, and corrections of occlusal surface inclinations. The deviation distribution before and after the surgeries could be distinctly visualized, in which the deviation of two matching groups of mandibles was (0.94±0.92) mm, the distance deviation between the osteotomy surfaces was (2.05±0.40) mm, and the angular deviation was (4.76±1.95)°. Compared with references, all the deviations were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Metal surgical template guides are applicable to assist mandibular osteotomies of craniofacial microsomia with relatively high accuracy, which is beneficial to the intraoperative application of preoperative design so that satisfying effects could be achieved after surgeries.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of surgical template guides to assist mandibular osteotomies in craniofacial microsomia.Methods:Ten children diagnosed with craniofacial microsomia (Pruzansky Ⅱ) from May 2018 to November 2018, at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, were selected for this study. First, pre-operative CT scans were prescribed, osteotomy plans were designed by Mimics 19.0, and individualized template guides were manufactured before surgery. Under the guidance of the surgical template, distraction osteotomy of craniofacial microsomia and distractor implantation surgeries were performed until the proposed length was reached. Then, another CT scan was performed. Based on the registration of pre- and post-surgery mandible statistics harvested by Geomagic Control, six points were randomly chosen on the osteotomy surface to estimate deviations, the mean value of which was calculated as distance deviation between the osteotomy surfaces. Meanwhile, the angle between the osteotomy surfaces was considered as angular deviation. Considering the deviation of 2 mm in distance and 5 degrees in angles as references, a single-sample t-test was conducted in SPSS 25.0 and it was considered as statistically significant when P<0.05. Results:A total of 10 children, six males and four females, diagnosed with craniofacial microsomia, with an average age of 4.9 years, were included in this study. The left-to-right ratio of the afflicted mandibles was 3∶7. The implantation surgeries were successfully conducted on all the patients and no complications were observed. All patients underwent follow-up visits for one year. The results were consistent with the pre-surgery designs, including satisfactory effects of distraction osteogenesis, obvious improvements of facial asymmetries, and corrections of occlusal surface inclinations. The deviation distribution before and after the surgeries could be distinctly visualized, in which the deviation of two matching groups of mandibles was (0.94±0.92) mm, the distance deviation between the osteotomy surfaces was (2.05±0.40) mm, and the angular deviation was (4.76±1.95)°. Compared with references, all the deviations were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Metal surgical template guides are applicable to assist mandibular osteotomies of craniofacial microsomia with relatively high accuracy, which is beneficial to the intraoperative application of preoperative design so that satisfying effects could be achieved after surgeries.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase(MTHFR)C677T polymorphism and disease in the course of Alzheimer's disease(AD),as well as whether whether it is af-fected by APOE gene.Methods A total of 74 AD patients,85 aMCI patients and 81 healthy controls(HC)were included.The levels of serum homocysteine(Hcy),folate,and vitamin B12,as well as the genotypes of MTHFR C677T and APOE,were determined.Logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and the risk of AD and aMCI,as well as in different APOE ε4 subgroups.Results Compared with HC group,the serum Hcy levels in AD group and aMCI group were significantly higher(P＜0.001,P＜0.001),while serum folate levels in aMCI group was significantly lower(P=0.017).The serum fo-late level was significantly lower(P=0.038)in individuals with the MTHFR TT genotype compared to those with CC and CT genotypes,while the serum Hcy level was significantly higher(P=0.002).Regression analysis showed that the MTHFR TT genotype might increase the risk of aMCI in the subgroup of APOE e4 non-carriers(OR=3.670,95％CI=1.077-12.509,P=0.038),but not in APOE e4 carriers.Conclusion MTHFR C677T polymorphism plays an important role in Hcy metabolism,which leads to increased serum Hcy levels and decreased folate levels.In APOE ε4 non-carriers,the MTHFR TT genotype may increase the risk of aMCI.