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 investigate the possible causes of the different diagnostic sensitivity of voluntary single fiber electromyography (SFEMG) and repetitive nerve stimulation(RNS) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods The voluntary SFEMG and RNS at low rates were recorded successively from the same extensor digitorum communis (EDC) muscle on the same day in 67 patients with MG. Results The diagnostic sensitivity of SFEMG and RNS was 92.5% and 50.7%, respectively, with the former statistically significantly higher than the later. The percentage of decrement of RNS was positively correlated with 3 SFEMG parameters, i.e. the mean jitter, percentage of abnormal pairs of potential and percentage of impulse blocking. Among the 34 cases with significant decrement on RNS, 2 had no impulse blocking and the maximum decrement reached 62%, while 33 cases with normal RNS had up to 58% of impulse blocking. Conclusion The voluntary SFEMG was more sensitive than RNS in diagnosing MG even in the same muscle. The blocking phenomenon observed in voluntary SFEMG was not completely corresponding to the decrement in RNS.The possible explanations were partly because that RNS recorded the total muscle fibers response in surface of the muscle and SFEMG examined the increasing or blocking at individual motor end-plates, and partly because that the voluntary SFEMG and RNS might explored endplates belonging to different motor units.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of deanxit in the treatment of post-stroke depression and anxiety.Method:65 stroke patients with depressive and anxious disorder were randomly divided into two groups which were treated with deanxit(as deanxit group) and without deanxit(as controlled group) respectively.SDS and SAS scales were used to evaluate the changes of clinical symptoms.Result:The scores of SDS and SAS scales in the deanxit group after 2 weeks'treatment were 36.37?7.07 and 32.91?5.28,which were significantly lower than those of the controlled group (P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mutations of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene in 20 phenylketonuria (PKU) patients from Yunnan.

METHODSThe 13 exons and the splicing regions of 12 introns of the PAH gene were sequenced to detect mutations in 20 unrelated PKU patients.

RESULTSPAH gene sequencing has revealed 15 types of mutations, in which the most frequently mutation was p.R243Q (30.0%), followed by p.Y356X(10.0%), p.R111X (7.5%), IVS4+2T>A (7.5%) and p.V399V (7.5%). Exons 7, 11, 3 and introns 4, 11 were most frequently involved. Six novel mutations, including c.59A>C, c.60G>C, c.690_691insG, c.1119_1120insT, c.441+2T>A, c.842+4A>T and c.1200+1T>G were detected.

CONCLUSIONPAH gene mutations identified in Yunnan are more similar to those of northern China, with R243R being the most common, though there are still certain characteristics for the type and frequency of mutations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase ; genetics ; Phenylketonurias ; enzymology ; genetics ; Young Adult

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.

Objective:To investigate the incidence, neuroimaging features, and related factors for asymptomatic cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD)in the elderly population.Methods:A total of 201 elderly people with no neurological disease history who had undergone brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)examination from October 2019 to August 2020 were enrolled.We calculated the total CSVD score for each participant based on lacunar infarcts(LIs), white matter hyperintensities(WMH), enlarged perivascular spaces(EPVS), and cerebral microbleeds(CMBs)(0-4 points).CSVD neuroimaging features and the correlation between CSVD markers and clinical variables were analyzed.Results:In this study, 133 cases(66.2%)showed MRI features consistent with CSVD.Of whom, LIs were present in 44(21.9%), high-grade PVWMH in 88(43.8%), high-grade DWMH in 30(14.9%), basal ganglia EPVS in 61(30.3%), and CMBs in 92(45.8%).Total CSVD burden score( OR=1.876, 95% CI: 1.045-3.364, χ2=4.441, P=0.035), PVWMH( OR=2.821, 95% CI: 1.517-5.244, χ2=10.752, P=0.001), DWMH( OR=2.130, 95% CI: 1.108-4.092, χ2=5.145, P=0.023), and EPVS( OR=3.258, 95% CI: 1.675-6.334, χ2=12.129, P=0.000)were associated with hypertension.Total CSVD burden score, PVWMH, DWMH, EPVS, and CMB were correlated with increasing age( P<0.05).LIs was positively correlated with PVWMH( b=0.231, P=0.001), DWMH( b=0.247, P=0.000)and EPVS( b=0.215, P=0.001).There was a positive relationship between PVWMH and DWMH( b=0.546, P=0.000)as well as EPVS( b=0.388, P=0.000).DWMH was also positively correlated with EPVS( b=0.357, P=0.000)and CMB( b=0.177, P=0.009). Conclusions:The incidence of asymptomatic CSVD is high in the elderly population.The total CSVD score is a useful measure to evaluate asymptomatic cerebral small vessel disease in the elderly population.Neuroimaging features of asymptomatic CSVD are mainly correlated with age and hypertension.

Objective:To investigate the long-term follow-up results and the risk factors of bleeding among very elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).Methods:A total of 177 patients with NVAF admitted in Beijing Hospital from January 2016 to July 2016 were enrolled in the study, including 107 very elderly patients (aged≥80 years) and 70 elderly patients (aged 65-80 years). The demographic information, comorbid diseases, lifestyles, antithrombotic therapy, thromboembolism risks, bleeding risks, and medical history were documented. Patients were followed up for 5 years and the events of death, thromboembolism, bleeding and major bleeding were recorded.Results:There was no significant difference in the incidence of thromboembolic events between the two groups (15.9%(17/107) vs. 14.3%(10/70), P>0.05). The proportions of bleeding events and severe bleeding events in the very elderly group were higher than those in the elderly group (45.8%(49/107) vs.10.0%(7/70), 14.0%(15/107) vs. 1.4%(1/70), both P<0.05). According to the bleeding events during follow-up, very elderly patients were divided into bleeding group ( n=49) and non-bleeding group ( n=58). Compared with the non-bleeding group, patients in the bleeding group had an older age, a higher proportion of chronic cardiac insufficiency, chronic kidney disease, malignant tumor, bleeding history and higher bleeding risk score (HAS-BLED score) (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that age, HAS-BLED score, history of bleeding, and complicated malignant tumor were independent risk factors for bleeding events in very elderly patients with NVAF (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Very elderly patients with NVAF have a similar risk of thromboembolism compared with the younger elderly, but have significantly higher risk of the bleeding and major bleeding. Age, HAS-BLED score, bleeding history, and malignant tumor are independent risk factors for bleeding events in very elderly NVAF patients.

Brain Mapping ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Schizophrenia/therapy* ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation