Assessment of high sensitivity C-reactive protein and coronary plaque characteristics by computed tomography in patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the coronary plaque characteristics of coronary arteries using computed tomography angiography (CTA) in order to assess the risk of coronary artery disease and the relevance of high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM). METHODS: The clinical data of 400 DM patients and 400 non-DM patients from January 2017 to December 2019 were collected, including the results of coronaryCTA. The plasma hs-CRP level of the two groups were divided into three groups: CRP ≤ 1, 1 < CRP ≤ 2, CRP > 2. The correlation of the degree of stenosis, the number of plaques, the nature of plaques and hs-CRP value between the two groups was evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with non-DM patients, the incidence of coronary artery plaques and lumen stenosis in DM patients was more higher than that in non-DM patients. DM patients were more likely to have more diseased vessels, especially diffuse vascular disease (12.00% vs 1.75%; P < 0.001). Subjects with high hs-CRP levels were more likely to have any plaque compared with individuals showing normal hs-CRP levels (p<0.01). There was no statistical significance in non calcified plaque with high level of hs-CRP, but the occurrence of plaque types in DM group was statistically significant compared with other hs-CRP levels in non DM group. Subjects with high hs-CRP were observed to be at increased risk for the presence of calcified plaque and severe narrowing in the unadjusted values. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary CTA combined with hs-CRP can accurately detect the characteristics of coronary artery stenosis and plaque in DM patients, which has an important clinical value in the risk assessment of coronary heart disease in DM patients.

[Grading standard of processed Curcumae Radix].

As one of the three pillars of Chinese medicine industry, traditional Chinese medicines prepared in ready-to-use forms are important raw materials for clinical medication and production of Chinese patent drugs. By considering the literature of Curcumae Radix, a multi-source Chinese herb and the situation of market investigation, the modern evaluation method based on traditional grading was introduced for comprehensive evaluation of the processed Curcumae Radix. The correlation between traditional grading method and modern evaluation index was explored to establish the grading standard of Curcumae Radix. According to the comprehensive evaluation, Curcumae Radix was divided into four grades: superior, first, second and third grades under the guidance of the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. This study provides a new idea for the grading of multi-source processed Chinese medicine, achieving high quality and good price, which is helpful to improve the clinical efficacy.

CT pulmonary angiogram for assessing the treatment outcome of acute pulmonary embolism.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the value of CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) for assessing the treatment outcome of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT pulmonary angiogram data and other clinical data were collected for 28 cases diagnosed as APE and analyzed retrospectively. The number and positions of emboli in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary artery obstruction index, right ventricular/left ventricular diameter ratio, main pulmonary artery/ascending aorta diameter ratio and blood oxygen saturation, and pulmonary arterial pressure were compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: Of 28 cases, emboli in the pulmonary artery completely or partially disappeared in 16 and 12 cases, respectively. CPTA indicated that the pulmonary arterial pressure decreased dramatically and the blood oxygen saturation increased after treatment in 26 cases. There were significant differences in the number and positions of pulmonary emboli and in pulmonary artery obstruction index before and after treatment in 28 cases (P < .05). However, no significant differences were found in the right ventricular/left ventricular diameter ratio or main pulmonary artery/ascending aorta diameter ratio (P > .05). CONCLUSION: CT pulmonary angiogram proved reliable for assessing the treatment efficacy of APE, providing more clinical information on the patients' status.

Multislice spiral CT angiography for evaluation of acute aortic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the diagnostic value of multislice CT angiography (MSCTA) in acute aortic syndrome (AAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical and imaging data of 36 cases diagnosed as AAS by MSCTA were collected. The manifestations of the MSCTA images were reviewed retrospectively, and the average x-ray dose was calculated. RESULTS: Among 36 AAS cases, 16 cases had aortic dissection (AD), 8 cases had penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU), 7 cases had intramural hematoma (IMH), and 5 cases had unstable thoracic aneurysm (UTA). Of 16 cases with AD, type A and type B accounted for 43.7% (7/16) and 56.3% (9/16), respectively. Of 7 cases with IMH, type A and type B accounted for 42.9% (3/7) and 57.1% (4/7), respectively. CONCLUSION: In spite of the x-ray radiation, MSCTA proves to be a rapid and noninvasive imaging technique for the diagnosis of AAS.

ECG-gated pulmonary artery CTA for evaluation of right ventricular function in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate right ventricular function in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) using electrocardiogram-gated CTA and to discuss the clinical value of pulmonary artery CTA PATIENTS AND METHODS: Based on death risk evaluation, 86 APE patients were divided into high-risk group (n=46) and non-high-risk group (n=40). The CT pulmonary embolism (PE) index and parameters of right ventricular function were analyzed from the CTPA images and compared between the two groups. Potential correlation between the two was also discussed. RESULT: CT PE index (median 24.69%) of the high-risk group was obviously higher than that of the non-high-risk group (median 8.58%) (P<.05). Except the diameter of superior vena cava, all other parameters of right ventricular function were significantly different between the two groups (P<.05). CT PE index was correlated with the parameters of right ventricular function. CONCLUSION: ECG-gated pulmonary artery CTA is suitable for assessing the severity of APE and right ventricular function.

Evaluation of image quality in carotid and cerebrovascular disease: a comparative study between subtraction and routine computed tomography angiography.

OBJECTIVE: Few data exist comparing the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of subtraction computed tomography (CT) angiography (SCTA) in carotid and cerebrovascular arteries with routine CT angiography (RCTA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 56 patients underwent 128-row CT angiography of these vessels with review by two radiologists using routine, nonsubtracted, and SCTA protocols. Comparisons were made using a 4-point subjective rating scale in all patients. Eighteen patients were examined with both SCTA and invasive digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The accuracy of SCTA and routine CTA reformations was assessed and compared by both patient-based and vessel-based analyses of intracranial aneurysms and intracranial and extracranial arterial stenotic lesions using DSA results as the reference standard. RESULTS: Diagnostic accuracy in the adjacent skull base portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and reading time for cerebral aneurysms and vessel stenoses were obviously improved with SCTA protocol, but the accuracy in vertebro-basilar arteries was no different. The diagnostic accuracy in general was slightly increased compared with routine CTA. CONCLUSION: Review of SCTA images is an effective means to remove bone close to vessels as seen on routine CTA and has good image quality and diagnostic accuracy. SCTA is superior to routine CTA in the visualization and diagnostic accuracy of adjacent skull base part of the ICA and decreases reading time for carotid and cerebrovascular arterial imaging.

[Mizolastine improves the quality of life in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis: a randomized, double blind, controlled study].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of Mizolastine on quality of life (QOL) in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out with Mizolastine in sixty patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. QOL was measured by using the Medical Outcome Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire (Chinese version). Mizolastine (10 mg once daily, 26 patients), Cetirizine (10 mg once daily, 22 patients) or placebo (12 patients) was given for 3 weeks. The SF-36 questionnaire was administered at the start of treatment and after 1 and 3 weeks of treatment. Symptom-medication scores were measured daily during the study. RESULTS: After the run-in period (baseline), there were no significant differences among the Mezolastine, Cetirizine and placebo groups in terms of symptoms or QOL scores. After 1 and 3 weeks of treatment, symptoms scores were significantly decreased and QOL scores significantly improved in the Mezolastine group and Cetirizine group in comparison with the placebo group ( both P < 0.001, chi2 test). All of the eight QOL dimensions were significantly improved (from P = 0.001 to P < 0.0001, F test) after 1 and 3 weeks of Mizolastine treatment compared with placebo. There was no improvement in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Mizolastine can not only decrease symptoms scores but also improve the QOL in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Placebo can relieve the symptoms but can not improve the QOL.