Objective To investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) progression in patients with high risk of stroke,and to provide clinical evidence for the primary prevention of stroke.Methods Three hundred and thirty-two patients with high risk of stroke were screened from 2 800 people who were consecutively selected and had health examination from June to December 2014 in the Department of Medical Center,General Hospital of Wanbei Coal and Electricity Group.Their clinical information was collected.A total of 267 patients whose carotid ultrasound examinations showed plaques and stenosis were selected for the study.Two hundred and three of the 267 patients who met the screening conditions and completed the follow-up were selected as study subjects.The Hp infection status was detected by the 14C urea breath test and the dynamic progression of CAS was observed.The risk factors of CAS progression were also analyzed.Results Hp infection was found in 170 of 332 patients with high risk of stroke.Among the 267 patients who prompted plaques and stenosis in carotid ultrasound in 2014,203 patients were followed up for 1 year,and 133 patients (65.5％,133/203) were found infected by Hp.Forty-six patients had suggestive carotid stenosis and stenosis aggravating in 2015,31 (67.4％,31/46) of which were found infected by Hp.Logistic regression analysis showed that smoking (OR =1.632,95％ CI 1.275-1.940,P =0.011),systolic blood pressure (OR =1.343,95％ CI 1.105-1.632,P =0.019),low density lipoprotein (OR =1.590,95％ CI 1.188-2.005,P =0.005),oxidative low density lipoprotein (OR =1.732,95％ CI 1.325-2.170,P =0.000) and Hp infection (OR =1.672,95％ CI 1.180-2.154,P =0.016) were independent risk factors for carotid atheroslerosis progression.Conclusions Hp infection was found closely related to CAS progression in patients at high risk of stroke.Positive and effective prevention of Hp infection,advocating smoking cessation and controlling blood pressure and blood fat can effectively reduce the incidence of stroke.

Objectives To observe the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)for the treatment of patients with acute cerebral infarction combined with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)and to investigate the influence of CPAP therapy on the recovery of neurological function in patients. Methods From April 2014 to September 2015,68 consecutive patients with acute cerebral infarction combined with OSAS admitted to the Department of Neurology,General Hospital of Wanbei Coal and Electricity Group were enrolled retrospectively. According to whether received the CPAP therapy,they were divided into an observation group (n = 31)and a control group (n = 37). The control group was treated with conventional therapy,and on the basis of the treatment plan of the control group,the observation group was also treated with CPAP therapy. They were all the patients with cerebral infarction who were treated for 14 d. The oxygen desaturation index (ODI),lowest oxygen saturation (LS a O2 ),oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL),and superoxide dismutase (SOD)concentration,National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)scores and Barthel index (BI)scores,and the modified Rankin scale (mRS)scores after 3 months before and after the therapy in the patients of both groups were documented. The total effective rate was assessed. Results (1)The ODI and LS a O2 in the observation group and the control group after treatment were better than those before treatment. There were significant differences between the 2 groups (ODI:16 ± 6% vs. 35 ± 21%,26 ± 15% vs. 36 ± 21 %;LS a O2:88 ± 6% vs. 75 ± 11%,80 ± 8% vs. 75 ± 11%;all P < 0. 05). (2)After treatment,ox-LDL of the observation group was lower than that of the control group. There was significant differences between the 2 groups (ox-LDL:487 ± 90 μg/ L vs. 548 ± 77 μg/ L,SOD:111 ± 10 kU/ L vs. 94 ± 15 kU/ L,all P < 0. 01). (3)After treatment,the NIHSS and BI scores of the observation group and the control group were better than those before treatment. There were significant differences (the NHISS scores:5. 2 ± 2. 2 vs. 12. 9 ± 3. 9;7. 6 ± 3. 1 vs. 12. 5 ± 4. 2;the BI scores:88 ± 10 vs. 52 ± 30;81 ± 4 vs. 58 ± 30;all P < 0. 01). The NIHSS and BI scores of observation group were better than those of the control group. There were significant differences (all P < 0. 01). They were followed up for 3 months,the mRS score (1. 3 ± 0. 4)of the observation group was lower than that of the control group (2. 0 ± 1. 1). There was significant difference between the 2 groups (t = 3. 362,P <0. 01). (4)The total effective rate of the observation group and control group was 74. 2% (23 / 31)and 48. 6% (18 / 37)respectively. There was significant difference between the 2 groups (χ2 = 4. 598,P <0. 05). Conclusion The CPAP therapy can alleviate the oxidative stress levels in patients with acute cerebral infarction combined with OSAS in short term and improve the neurological function of patients.

Cryptogenic stroke refers to ischemic stroke that is not clear to the cause of the disease through routine examinations. With the development of medical technology, studies have found that most cryptogenic stroke is caused by embolism.Therefore,the concept of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is proposed. The main causes of ESUS include subclinical atrial fibrillation, patent foramen ovale, aortic arch atherosclerotic plaque, non-stenotic complex carotid atherosclerotic plaques, and tumor-related embolism, etc. This article reviews the etiology and secondary prevention of ESUS.

Objective:To examine the effect of surgical treatment in children with pulmonary artery sling and the surgical treatment strategy.Methods:Relevant data of 110 children with pulmonary artery sling admitted to the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from February 2017 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 55 males and 55 females, aging ( M(IQR)) 9.0 (10.6) months (range: 1 to 96 months). The weight was 7.8 (3.5) kg (range: 2.5 to 25.0 kg). Of the 110 patients, 108 had different degrees of tracheal stenosis and 2 had normal trachea. Left pulmonary artery transplantation and tracheoplasty were performed in 78 patients. Left pulmonary artery transplantation was performed in 30 patients (11 in our hospital and 19 in other hospitals) due to the lack of an early tracheoplasty technique, in which 24 patients needed stage Ⅱ tracheoplasty due to obvious respiratory symptoms and limited activity endurance, and 6 cases did not intervene. Two children with normal trachea only underwent left pulmonary artery transplantation. Results:Among the 78 children who underwent surgery in the same period, 70 cases recovered smoothly after surgery, of whom respiratory symptoms were significantly reduced or disappeared during the 1 to 65 months follow-up, with similar activity endurance to normal children of the same age. Eight cases died, including 4 cases of postoperative multi-drug resistant bacteria infection, died from tracheal anastomotic opening or septic shock, 1 cases with severe congenital heart disease died from postoperative low cardiac output syndrome difficult to correct, 1 case died from blood pressure could not be maintained due to the compressed left pulmonary artery after transplantation, 2 cases of postoperative digestive system diseases (adhesive intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, etc.). The 24 patients in the staging group were followed for 1 to 84 months. All patients needed stage Ⅱ tracheoplasty due to respiratory symptoms and decreased endurance to activity. Eight cases of the non-intervention tracheal group were successfully separated from the ventilator, cured and discharged in a short period of time.Conclusions:Most children with pulmonary artery sling have tracheal stenosis. Children with low degree of tracheal stenosis and inconspicuous respiratory symptoms can only undergo left pulmonary artery transplantation by lateral thoracotomy. For patients combined with severe tracheal stenosis or obvious respiratory symptoms, a simultaneous left pulmonary artery transplantat and tracheoplasty is recommended.

Objective:To examine the treatment strategy of congenital tracheal stenosis associated with non-vascular ring cardiac malformations.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. Clinic data from 24 children with tracheal stenosis who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from February 2017 to March 2023 were retrospectively collected. There were 16 males and 8 females, aged ( M(IQR)) 6.5 (19.6) months (range: 2.2 to 66.3 months) and weighted 5.95 (4.76) kg (range: 3.2 to 20.0 kg). All patients had obvious respiratory symptoms. Eighteen patients underwent cardiac malformation correction and tracheoplasty at the same time (simultaneous group). Six patients in the staged operation group were treated with cardiac malformation correction in the first stage operation and tracheoplasty in the second stage operation due to missed diagnosis or delayed diagnosis of tracheal stenosis or no condition for tracheoplasty. Slide tracheoplasty was used to correct tracheal stenosis in both groups. The recovery of the children was followed. Wilcoxon sign rank test was used for comparison between the two groups. Results:There was no death during the perioperative period and hospitalization. In the simultaneous group, 1 case with delayed chest closure underwent bedside chest closure after 52 hours, 2 cases were intubated again after operation, and 1 case was implanted with an endotracheal stent. The duration of mechanical ventilation was 40.5 (39.6) hours (range: 19.0 to 438.8 hours). In the staged group, there was 1 case of re-intubation after operation, combined with left vocal cord paralysis and respiratory multidrug-resistant bacterial infection ( Acinetobacter baumanii). One patient underwent 3 times of bronchoscopic balloon dilatation of the right middle bronchus, and heart rate returned to normal range. The duration of mechanical ventilation was 19.0 (21.4) hours (range: 17.1 to 96.7 hours). During follow-up, a patient in the simultaneous group was prone to respiratory infection and had good exercise tolerance, 1 case in the staged group still had sputum stridor in the throat 3 months after the operation, and symptoms improved significantly 6 months after the operation. The other children didn′t have obvious respiratory symptoms. Conclusions:The diagnosis of tracheal stenosis may be delayed or missed when tracheal stenosis is complicated by non-vascular ring cardiac malformations. One-stage correction of tracheal stenosis and cardiac malformation can achieve a good outcome.

Objective:To examine the effect of surgical treatment in children with pulmonary artery sling and the surgical treatment strategy.Methods:Relevant data of 110 children with pulmonary artery sling admitted to the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from February 2017 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 55 males and 55 females, aging ( M(IQR)) 9.0 (10.6) months (range: 1 to 96 months). The weight was 7.8 (3.5) kg (range: 2.5 to 25.0 kg). Of the 110 patients, 108 had different degrees of tracheal stenosis and 2 had normal trachea. Left pulmonary artery transplantation and tracheoplasty were performed in 78 patients. Left pulmonary artery transplantation was performed in 30 patients (11 in our hospital and 19 in other hospitals) due to the lack of an early tracheoplasty technique, in which 24 patients needed stage Ⅱ tracheoplasty due to obvious respiratory symptoms and limited activity endurance, and 6 cases did not intervene. Two children with normal trachea only underwent left pulmonary artery transplantation. Results:Among the 78 children who underwent surgery in the same period, 70 cases recovered smoothly after surgery, of whom respiratory symptoms were significantly reduced or disappeared during the 1 to 65 months follow-up, with similar activity endurance to normal children of the same age. Eight cases died, including 4 cases of postoperative multi-drug resistant bacteria infection, died from tracheal anastomotic opening or septic shock, 1 cases with severe congenital heart disease died from postoperative low cardiac output syndrome difficult to correct, 1 case died from blood pressure could not be maintained due to the compressed left pulmonary artery after transplantation, 2 cases of postoperative digestive system diseases (adhesive intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, etc.). The 24 patients in the staging group were followed for 1 to 84 months. All patients needed stage Ⅱ tracheoplasty due to respiratory symptoms and decreased endurance to activity. Eight cases of the non-intervention tracheal group were successfully separated from the ventilator, cured and discharged in a short period of time.Conclusions:Most children with pulmonary artery sling have tracheal stenosis. Children with low degree of tracheal stenosis and inconspicuous respiratory symptoms can only undergo left pulmonary artery transplantation by lateral thoracotomy. For patients combined with severe tracheal stenosis or obvious respiratory symptoms, a simultaneous left pulmonary artery transplantat and tracheoplasty is recommended.

Objective:To examine the treatment strategy of congenital tracheal stenosis associated with non-vascular ring cardiac malformations.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. Clinic data from 24 children with tracheal stenosis who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from February 2017 to March 2023 were retrospectively collected. There were 16 males and 8 females, aged ( M(IQR)) 6.5 (19.6) months (range: 2.2 to 66.3 months) and weighted 5.95 (4.76) kg (range: 3.2 to 20.0 kg). All patients had obvious respiratory symptoms. Eighteen patients underwent cardiac malformation correction and tracheoplasty at the same time (simultaneous group). Six patients in the staged operation group were treated with cardiac malformation correction in the first stage operation and tracheoplasty in the second stage operation due to missed diagnosis or delayed diagnosis of tracheal stenosis or no condition for tracheoplasty. Slide tracheoplasty was used to correct tracheal stenosis in both groups. The recovery of the children was followed. Wilcoxon sign rank test was used for comparison between the two groups. Results:There was no death during the perioperative period and hospitalization. In the simultaneous group, 1 case with delayed chest closure underwent bedside chest closure after 52 hours, 2 cases were intubated again after operation, and 1 case was implanted with an endotracheal stent. The duration of mechanical ventilation was 40.5 (39.6) hours (range: 19.0 to 438.8 hours). In the staged group, there was 1 case of re-intubation after operation, combined with left vocal cord paralysis and respiratory multidrug-resistant bacterial infection ( Acinetobacter baumanii). One patient underwent 3 times of bronchoscopic balloon dilatation of the right middle bronchus, and heart rate returned to normal range. The duration of mechanical ventilation was 19.0 (21.4) hours (range: 17.1 to 96.7 hours). During follow-up, a patient in the simultaneous group was prone to respiratory infection and had good exercise tolerance, 1 case in the staged group still had sputum stridor in the throat 3 months after the operation, and symptoms improved significantly 6 months after the operation. The other children didn′t have obvious respiratory symptoms. Conclusions:The diagnosis of tracheal stenosis may be delayed or missed when tracheal stenosis is complicated by non-vascular ring cardiac malformations. One-stage correction of tracheal stenosis and cardiac malformation can achieve a good outcome.