Objective　To study the relationship between atherosclerotic plaques in carotid artery and ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. Methods　The extracranial carotid arteries (ECA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) of 54 patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or cerebral infarction (CI) were examined with doppler ultrasound. The distribution of atherosclerotic plaque, degree of stenosis and ultrasounic classification of ECA and the mean velocity of blood flow in MCA were examined. Results　①Stenosis over middle-grade on asymptomatic side in extracranial internal carotid artery (EICA) in group of patients with TIA was significantly higher than symptomatic side(P<0.01). Stenosis over high-grade on asymptomatic side in ELCA in group of patients with CI was significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01). ②Flat and soft plaque are most common in group of patients with TIA or CI, then are hard and ulcerative plaques. Incidence of soft plaques on asymptomatic side in group of patients with TIA or CI are significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01); ③Among the group of patients with CI, mean velocity of MCA decreased on asymptomatic side in 31 cases (68.9%), and significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01). Conclusion　Atheroclerotic plaques in carotid artery and intracranial hemodynamic characteristics are the important risk factors for ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. These findings have important values in predicting subsequent TIA or CI in asymptomatic subjects.

0.05). Low shear stress and high shear stress of BRV in GC control group were (20.32?5.42)mPa?s and(7.96?3.16)mPa?s, respectively;those in GC LMWH group were (11.42?5.03)mPa?s and (3.96?3.07)mPa?s,respectively after operatin. Low shear stress and high shear stress of BRV were (21.82?6.17)mPa?s and ( 8.62 ?3.48) mPa?s,respectively in PC control group;those in PC LMWH group were (13.11?5.17)mPa?s and (4.96?3.61)mPa?s. After operation,there were no hemorrhagic complications in GC and PC LMWH groups. Conclusions Low shear stress and high shear stress of BRV rise generally seeing in GC and PC patients after operation,and in PC patients are higer than those in GC patients. The use of Low molecular weight heparin could reduce the occurrence of thrmbosis.

Objective To investigate clinicopathological features、diagnosis and surgical treatment of duodenal stromal tumors. Methods A retrospective clinical analysis was made in 23 cases of duodenal stromal tumors admitted from 1995 to 2004. Results Melena and abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom. Complete resection was achieved in all cases, including pancreatoduodenectomy in 13 cases, by pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy in 3 cases, and tumor enucleation in 7 cases. The mean size of the tumor was 6. 6 cm (2 - 21 cm) , among them 10 cm in 6. Pathologically tumors less than 5 cm were all of potential malignancy, whereas those larger than 5 cm were malignant. Follow-up of 2 months to 9 years found all cases alive and healthy except for one who died of liver metastasis one year postoperatively. Conclusion Duodenal stromal tumors were low malignancy tumors. Aggressive surgery is the choice of treatment. Favorable prognosis is expected after complete surgical excision.

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of deferasirox in aplastic anemia (AA)patients with iron overload.

METHODSA single arm, multi- center, prospective, open- label study was conducted to evaluate absolute change in serum ferritin (SF)from baseline to 12 months of deferasirox administration, initially at a dose of 20 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), and the safety in 64 AA patients with iron overload.

RESULTSAll patients started their deferasirox treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg · kg(-1) ·d(-1). The mean actual dose was (18.6±3.60) mg · kg(-1)·d(-1). The median SF decreased from 4 924 (2 718- 6 765)μg/L at baseline (n=64) to 3 036 (1 474- 5 551)μg/L at 12 months (n=23) with the percentage change from baseline as 38%. A median SF decrease of 651 (126-2 125)μg/L was observed at the end of study in 23 patients who completed 12 months' treatment, the median SF level decreased by 1 167(580-4 806)μg/L [5 271(3 420-8 278)μg/L at baseline; 3 036(1 474-5 551)μg/L after 12 months' treatment; the percentage change from baseline as 42% ] after 12 months of deferasirox treatment. The most common adverse events (AEs) were increased serum creatinine levels (40.98%), gastrointestinal discomfort (40.98%), elevated liver transaminase (ALT: 21.31%; AST: 13.11%)and proteinuria (24.59%). The increased serum creatinine levels were reversible and non-progressive. Of 38 patients with concomitant cyclosporine use, 12(31.8%)patients had two consecutive values >ULN, 10(26.3%)patients had two consecutive values >1.33 baseline values, but only 1(2.6%)patient's serum creatinine increased more than 1.33 baseline values and exceeded ULN. For both AST and ALT, no patients experienced two post- baseline values >5 ×ULN or >10 × ULN during the whole study. In AA patients with low baseline PLT count (less than 50 × 10(9)/L), there was no decrease for median PLT level during 12 months' treatment period.

CONCLUSIONSAA patients with iron overload could achieve satisfactory efficacy of iron chelation by deferasirox treatment. The drug was well tolerated with a clinically manageable safety profile and no major adverse events.

Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; Benzoates ; therapeutic use ; Blood Transfusion ; China ; Ferritins ; blood ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Iron Chelating Agents ; therapeutic use ; Iron Overload ; drug therapy ; Liver ; Prospective Studies ; Triazoles ; therapeutic use

Activation of inflammatory responses regulates the transmission of pain pathways through an integrated network in the peripheral and central nervous systems. The immunopotentiator thymosin alpha-1 (Tα1) has recently been reported to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective functions in rodents. However, how Tα1 affects inflammatory pain remains unclear. In the present study, intraperitoneal injection of Tα1 attenuated complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced pain hypersensitivity, and decreased the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in inflamed skin and the spinal cord. We found that CFA-induced peripheral inflammation evoked strong microglial activation, but the effect was reversed by Tα1. Notably, Tα1 reversed the CFA-induced up-regulation of vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) and down-regulated the vesicular γ-aminobutyric acid transporter (VGAT) in the spinal cord. Taken together, these results suggest that Tα1 plays a therapeutic role in inflammatory pain and in the modulation of microglia-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in addition to mediation of VGLUT and VGAT expression in the spinal cord.