OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes on carotid artery of patients with acute ischemic stroke by dual source computed tomographic angiography (DS-CTA) .

METHODSFrom March 2009 to August 2010, 71 patients with acute ischemic stroke (IS group) underwent magnetic resonance imaging, which showed high signals on diffusion-weighted images. The location of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid artery, the nature of plaques, and the grade of stenosis were analyzed by DS-CTA, and the results were further compared with 45 patients with non-ischemic stroke (control group) .

RESULTSIn the IS group, 196 atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery were detected in 51 patients; the commonest locations included carotid artery bifurcation (52.0%) and trunk (20.4%) . Most plaques were combined plaques [52.0% (102/196) ] and soft plaques [27.0% (53/196) ] . Moderate and severe stenosis accounted for 86.3% in these 54 patients. The positive rate, nature, and location of plaques and the stenosis degree of artery were significantly different between IS group and control group (allP<0.05) .

CONCLUSIONThe commonest plaques in the carotid artery of patients with acute ischemic stroke are combined plaques and soft plaques, which often cause moderate and severe stenosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography ; methods ; Brain Ischemia ; diagnostic imaging ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; diagnostic imaging ; Stroke ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the alternation of biological characteristics of residual ear chondrocytes when proliferating in vitro, and study the effects of CDMP-1 on proliferation and differentiation of residual ear chondrocytes.

METHODSResidual ear chondrocytes were cultured in vitro. Then we observed the effect of CDMP-1 on differentiation by immunohistochemistry of collagen type II and dyeing with toluidine blue, investigated proliferation effects of CDMP-1 by method of MIT, and analysis cell cycle changes by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe quantity of GAG gradually decreased along with the increase of the doubling time of chondrocytes in vitro. The quantity of chondrocytes with positive expression of collagen type II were significantly more in the experimental group used with CDMP-1 than the contrast. And the most efficient concentration of CDMP-1 was 100 ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONSCDMP-1 had a good effect on proliferating and could maintain morphology of the residual ear chondrocytes of microtia cultured in vitro.

Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Ear Deformities, Acquired ; Female ; Growth Differentiation Factor 5 ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male

BACKGROUNDThe role of gastro-protecting agents on symptomatic chronic gastritis is unclear. This multicenter, open, randomized trial was designed to compare the comprehensive effects of gefarnate with sucralfate on erosive gastritis with dyspeptic symptoms.

METHODSTotally 253 dyspepsia patients confirmed with erosive gastritis were enrolled from six centers in China. They randomly received either daily 300 mg gefarnate or 3 g sucralfate for six weeks. The primary endpoint was the effective rate of both treatments on endoscopic erosion at week six.

RESULTSGefarnate showed an effective rate of 72% and 67% on endoscopic score and dyspeptic symptom release, which is statistically higher than sucralfate (40.1% and 39.3%, P < 0.001, intension-to-treat). For histological improvement, gefarnate showed both effective in decreasing mucosal chronic inflammation (57.7% vs. 24.8%, P < 0.001, intension-to-treat) and active inflammation (36.4% vs. 23.1%, P < 0.05, intension-to-treat) than the control. A significant increase of prostaglandins and decrease of myeloperoxidase in mucosa were observed in gefarnate group. Severity of erosion is non-relevant to symptoms but Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) status does affect the outcome of therapy.

CONCLUSIONSGefarnate demonstrates an effective outcome on the mucosal inflammation in patients with chronic erosive gastritis. Endoscopic and inflammation score should be the major indexes used in gastritis-related trials.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; Female ; Gastritis ; drug therapy ; Gefarnate ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sucralfate ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult