PurposeTo investigate the relationship between the serum oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) level and carotid vulnerable plaque in patients with acute cerebral ischemic stroke, and to evaluate the ability of serum ox-LDL in identifying vulnerable carotid plaques.Materials and Methods 181 patients with history of acute cerebral ischemic stroke were recruited. According to the results of carotid ultrasound patients were divided into non plaque group (n=48), stable plaque group (n=38) and vulnerable plaque group (n=95). The serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose and ox-LDL were measured. Carotid intima-medial thickness (CIMT), total carotid plaque area (TPA) and the characters of plaque were examined with color Doppler ultrasound.Results The serum ox-LDL and the number of patients with hypertension in plaque group were significantly higher than that in the non-plaque group (P<0.05). The serum ox-LDL and TPA in the vulnerable plaque group were significantly higher than that in the stable plaque group (P<0.05). Serum ox-LDL in patients with acute cerebral infarction was positively correlated with CIMT, serum total cholesterol and LDL-C (r1=0.154,P<0.05;r2=0.338, P<0.05;r3=0.385,P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that serum ox-LDL was an independent risk factor for carotid vulnerable plaque (OR=1.038, 95%CI 1.008-1.069, P<0.01).Conclusion The serum ox-LDL is independently associated with the formation of vulnerable plaque in patients with acute cerebral infarction. This study suggests that ox-LDL can be used as a biomarker in screening for vulnerable carotid plaque in clinical practice. Carotid ultrasound combined with serology can early identify carotid artery vulnerable plaque that may lead to cerebral ischemic events.

Objective To compare the curative effect and safety of high-frequency and low-frequency repetitive tran-scranial magnetic stimulation(r-TMS) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease complicated with depressive disorder. Methods All 92 patients with Parkinson's disease complicated with depressive disorder were randomly allocated to three groups. High frequency group received antiparkinsonian drugs combined with high frequency r-TMS (5 Hz);Low frequency group received antiparkinsonian drugs combined with low frequency r-TMS (0.5 Hz);Sham group re-ceived antiparkinsonian drugs combined with sham r-TMS (s-rTMS). Each group received r-TMS twice a week for four weeks. UPDRS and HAMD-17 were assessed every two weeks , adverse events were recorded , and clinical global im-pression was carried out four weeks after the treatment. Results Upon enrollment, scores of HAMD and UPDRS among the three groups were not significantly different (P>0.05). During the second week of the intervention, the HAMD score in high frequency group improved significantly , and the differences between three groups were statistically signif-icant according to one-way ANOVA (P=0.0144). The differences changed larger in the fourth week, with greatly sig-nificant differences between the two groups (P=0.0000);During the second week of the intervention, the differences of UPDRSⅡscores in high frequency, low frequency and sham group were not statistically significant according to one-way ANOVA (P=0.1981). The differences appeared in the fourth week, but the differences between groups were not statistically significant according to one-way ANOVA (P=0.0219). During the second week and the fourth week of the intervention, UPDRS Ⅲ scores in the three groups were not significantly different (P=0.6105, 0.4248 respectively). Adverse events in the three groups were rare, and the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion High-frequency stimulation on dorsal-lateral left prefrontal cortex is effective in alleviating depression for patients with Parkinson's disease, and is also effective in improving capabilities in daily life, which shows exact clinical effect and rare adverse events.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between cerebral small vessel disease and thyroid hormones in the elderly.Methods:A total of 314 subjects aged ≥60 years with records of head magnetic resonance image(MRI), serum thyroid function tests and physical examinations collected in the Department of Health Care Neurology of Beijing Hospital from May 2019 to November 2020 were consecutively included for this cross-sectional study.Participants were assigned into the cerebral small vessel disease group if their head MRI presentations met the following standards: the Fazekas score ≥3 points; the Fazekas score ≥2 points, with 1 cavity; new subcortical infarcts; or cerebral microhemorrhage.Differences in thyroid function were compared between the cerebrovascular disease group(n=129)and the group without cerebrovascular disease(control group, n=185).Results:A total of 314 subjects were enrolled, of whom 129 met the head MRI standards for cerebrovascular disease, and 185 who did not meet the standards entered the control group.Comparison of thyroid function found a statistically significant difference in FT3( t=3.270, P=0.001)between the two groups.As for the association of a specific type of cerebral small vessel disease with thyroid function, there was a statistically significant difference in the FT3 level between the lacunar infarction group and the non-lacunar infarction group( t=3.106, P=0.002)and between the cerebral microhemorrhage group and the non-cerebral microhemorrhage group( t=2.125, P=0.034). Groups with different Fazekas scores in white matter hyperintensity showed statistically significant differences in rT3( F=3.092, P=0.027), FT3( F=5.427, P=0.001)and FT4( F=2.646, P=0.049). After correction for hyperlipidemia, rT3 and FT4, it was found that age( OR=1.044, 95% CI: 1.022-1.067, P=0.000), hypertension( OR=0.533, 95% CI: 0.294-0.963, P=0.037)and FT3( OR=0.276, 95% CI: 0.159-0.478, P=0.000)were related to cerebral small vessel disease. Conclusions:FT3 levels at the lower end of the normal range are associated with cerebral small vessel disease in the elderly.