ABSTRACT
Objective:To assess the nutritional status of elderly patients with dementia in a memory clinic and to identify patients with malnutrition and patients at risk for malnutrition.Methods:A total of 510 elderly dementia patients were recruited from a memory clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.All subjects were assessed with the mini-nutritional assessment short-form(MNA-SF), mini-mental state examination(MMSE), activities of daily living scale(ADL)and neuropsychiatric inventory(NPI). Logistic regression was used to explore potential risk factors and to establish a prediction model.Results:13.33%(68/510)of participants were classified as being malnourished, 52.94%(270/510)as being at risk for malnutrition and 33.73%(172/510)as well nourished.A Logistic regression model for predicting malnutrition identified dysphagia, irritability, physical self-maintenance scale(PSMS), appetite and eating disorders as important influencing factors( OR=4.334, 1.096, 1.121, 1.213, all P<0.05), and MMSE score, family history of dementia and age were important influencing factors for predicting malnutrition/at risk for malnutrition( OR=0.923, 0.517, 1.045, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of malnutrition and the risk of malnutrition in elderly patients with dementia in the memory clinic are high, and there are many related influencing factors.Early detection and intervention can delay or avoid malnutrition.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the ultrasonic performance of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and the correlation between microvessel density in plaque .Methods 87 cases of patients undergoing carotid artery plaque dissection were selected .113 plaques were found .All patients were taken carotid color Doppler sonography test and analysis of the plaque .The maximum thickness of plaques was taken HE stained ,and the vessel density in the plaque was counted .The correlation with sonographic performance of plaques was analyzed .Results The maximum plaque thicknesses in hard plaque ,soft plaque and mixed plaque were (0.49 ±0.05)mm,(0.36 ±0.08)mm and (0.39 ± 0.10)mm,respectively,and cross-sectional area stenosis rates were (88.32 ±6.51)%,(68.92 ±12.05)% and (71.95 ±13.04)%,respectively,the differences were statistically significant (F=16.329,23.723,all Pmixed plaques>hard plaque,the differences were statistically significant (t=6.579 and 9.392,all P<0.05).Pearson cor-relation analysis showed that the maximum plaque thickness and cross -sectional area stenosis rate in soft plaque were positive correlation between microvascular density values (r=0.372,P=0.011;r=0.438,P=0.000).Conclusion Color Doppler ultrasound examination might indirectly reflect microvessel densities in carotid artery plaque .It could be used preliminary assessment of vulnerability of carotid artery plaque .
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the value of contrast -enhanced ultrasound combined with serum homocysteine in determining the stability of atherosclerotic plaques.Methods 96 cases with cerebrovascular disease accompanied by carotid atherosclerotic plaques were selected.All patients were taken ultrasonography and contrast -enhanced ultrasound.Semi -quantitative grading was used for plaque according to the reinforced.The serum homocys-teine levels were detected.Results A total of 146 plaques of 96 cases were found out.Hard plaques were 13(8.9%),soft plaques were 71(48.6%)and mixed plaques were 62(42.5%).All cases were divided into three groups according to the plaque ultrasound contrast semiquantitative grading.24 cases were in Ⅰ grade group,46 cases were in Ⅱ grade group,26 cases were in Ⅲ grade group.The differences of serum homocysteine levels among the three groups were statistically significant(F =59.942,P <0.05),pairwise compared,the differences were statistically significant(t =16.837,20.682 and 15.416,all P <0.05).Pearson linear correlation analysis showed that contrast -enhanced ultrasound plaque classifications were positively correlated with serum homocysteine levels(r =0.709,P =0.000).Conclusion Contrast -enhanced ultrasound could accurately assess the neovascularization in the plaque. Semi -quantitative grading of ultrasound contrast are positively correlated with serum homocysteine levels.Combined the two could provides scientific basis for early and accurate prediction the stability of plaque.