Correlation between of small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with acute cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerotic plaque stability.

BACKGROUND: Acute cerebral infarction (ACI) is seriously harmful to human health worldwide. However, at present, the risk of disease onset is still not accurately predicted for some people. METHODS: Five hundred and nineteen patients with ACI and 300 healthy controls were included in this study. We divided the patients into three groups according to the results of cervical artery contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Ninety-five patients were in the CAS without plaque group, 108 patients were in the stable plaque group, and 316 patients were in the unstable plaque group. TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, and sdLDL-C were measured in all subjects. RESULTS: The level of small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) in the ACI group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that sdLDL-C was an independent risk factor for ACI (OR = 1.067, 95% CI: 1.041-1.093, P < 0.001); serum sdLDL-C was significantly higher in the unstable plaque group than in the stable plaque group and plaque-free group (P < 0.05, P < 0.001); serum sdLDL-C was also higher in the stable plaque group than the plaque-free group (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that sdLDL-C was an independent risk factor for unstable carotid plaques (OR = 1.053, 95% CI: 1.038-1.068, P < 0.001); Spearman correlation analysis showed that sdLDL-C test results were positively correlated with carotid plaque stability (r = 0.363, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is an independent risk factor for the onset of ACI and may be an early serum marker for this disease.

Hyperspectral characteristic analysis for leaf nitrogen content in different growth stages of winter wheat.

The spectral characteristics in the range of visible light and near-infrared shortwave (400-1000 nm) are analyzed using the ground measured hyperspectral data and leaf nitrogen content (LNC) data of different growth stages of winter wheat, which were acquired in 2013 and 2015. First, the quantitative models for monitoring the LNC at different growth stages of winter wheat were established using the main vegetation nitrogen spectral indices. By analyzing the simulation coefficient of the models, it is demonstrated that vegetation nitrogen spectral indices, which are calculated using these data in this study, should not be an effective quantitative estimate for winter wheat LNC. Second, a method for finding representation wavebands of hyperspectral data sensitive to the LNC of winter wheat is proposed based on the spectral correlation. Using the hyperspectral data, which were acquired in 2015 and the proposed method, the representation wavebands sensitive to the LNC of winter wheat are found. The finding results show that the representative wavebands are mainly located in the purple, red and near-infrared wavelength range, but the representative wavebands are different in different stages. The red edge effects of representative wavebands are obvious. Finally, based on the acquired representation wavebands corresponding to different growth stages of winter wheat, the quantitative models for monitoring the LNC at different growth stages of winter wheat were established using data acquired in 2015 and 2013. The modeling results show that the combination of representation wavebands found to correspond to different growth stages of winter wheat are effective and credible for monitoring the LNC. So, these research results lay the foundation for accurate quantitative monitoring of winter wheat LNC.

Sagittal sequence and clinical efficacy of cervical disc replacement and hybrid surgery in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a retrospective study.

Background: Hybrid surgery (HS) combines anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with cervical disc replacement (CDR) is gradually being more frequently implemented, but there are few studies reporting the safety and effectiveness of hybrid surgery in three levels cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Methods: The clinical and radiographic data of patients with three-segment cervical spondylosis, who underwent CDR, ACDF and HS in our hospital from February 2007 to February 2013 were analyzed. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy post surgery. Cervical spine x-rays were conducted to assess ROM, CL, T1S and relevant outcomes. Results: A total of 94 patients were included in the study: 26 in the CDR group, 13 in the HS1 group, 31 in the HS2 group, and 24 in the ACDF group. Most patients in the CDR group were younger. There was no difference in the follow-up duration, blood loss volume or surgery time (P > 0.05). Four groups reported improvements in JOA and NDI scores compared to baseline. There was no significant difference in the final JOA, final NDI or recovery rate among the 4 groups. The final ROM was smaller in the ACDF group than in the other 3 groups. There was no difference among the four groups in the final UROM, final LROM or their changes. There was no difference in the final T1S, final SVA or their change among the four groups. All groups showed similar changes in CL and T1S-CL. Conclusions: There was no difference in the clinical outcomes of ACDF, CDR, or hybrid surgery. CDR can better preserve the mobility of the cervical spine. Neither CDR nor hybrid surgery was significantly advantageous over ACDF in restoring the sagittal sequence in patients with three-level CSM.