Prevalence of unruptured cerebral aneurysms in Chinese adults aged 35 to 75 years: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The reported prevalence of unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) varies widely. OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of UCAs by using 3-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography in adults aged 35 to 75 years. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study done between June 2007 and June 2011. SETTING: Two communities chosen at random from 2 districts (1 urban and 1 suburban) in Shanghai, China. PARTICIPANTS: 4813 adults aged 35 to 75 years. MEASUREMENTS: Three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography, interpreted by 3 observers blinded to the participants' information, was used to identify the location and size of UCAs and to estimate the overall, age-specific, and sex-specific prevalence. RESULTS: 369 UCAs were found in 336 participants (130 men and 206 women); 4477 participants had no evidence of UCAs. The prevalence was 7.0% overall (95% CI, 6.3% to 7.7%), with 5.5% for men (CI, 4.6% to 6.4%) and 8.4% for women (CI, 7.3% to 9.5%). The overall prevalence of UCAs was higher in women than in men (P < 0.001) and peaked at ages 55 to 64 years in men and women. The UCAs were mostly located in the internal carotid artery (81%), and 90.2% had a maximum diameter less than 5 mm. Mean diameter was larger in women than in men (3.7 mm vs. 3.2 mm; P < 0.009). LIMITATION: Participants were from 2 communities selected from 2 districts in Shanghai, and adults older than 75 years were not studied. CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of UCAs was 7.0% in Chinese adults aged 35 to 75 years, and most lesions had a diameter less than 5 mm. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Natural Science Foundation of China.

In vivo biodistribution, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects of liver targeting dexamethasone acetate loaded nanostructured lipid carrier system.

We aimed to evaluate whether the enhancement of the liver accumulation and anti-inflammatory activity of dexamethasone acetate (DXMA) could be achieved by incorporating it into nanostructured lipid carrier (NLCs). DXMA-NLCs were prepared using a film dispersion-ultrasonication method and characterized in terms of particle size, PDI, zeta potential, differential scanning calorimetry, drug loading capacity, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release. The biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of DXMA-NLCs in mice were significantly different from those of the DXMA solution (DXMA-sol). The peak concentration of DXMA-NLCs was obtained half an hour after intravenous administration. More than 55.62% of the total administrated dose was present in the liver. An increase of 2.57 fold in the area under the curve was achieved when compared with that of DXMA-sol. DXMA-NLCs exhibited a significant anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effect on carrageenan-induced rats and carbon tetrachloride-induced mice compared with DXMA-sol. However, the effect was not in proportion to the dosage. The intermediate and low dosages presented better effects than DXMA-sol. All results indicate that NLCs, as a novel carrier for DXMA, has potential for the treatment of liver diseases, increasing the cure efficiency and decreasing the side effects on other tissues.