Predictive Value of Carotid Plaque Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Score and Homocysteine in Senile Metabolic Syndrome Complicated by Cerebral Infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of the carotid plaque contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) score and blood homocysteine (HCY) in senile metabolic syndrome (MetS) complicated by cerebral infarction. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Ultrasound Imaging, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, China, from July 2020 to December 2021. METHODOLOGY: A total of 118 senile MetS patients complicated by cerebral infarction were selected as Group A, and 103 senile MetS patients without cerebral infarction were selected as Group B. Both groups were compared in terms of cardiovascular risk factors and ultrasonic examination of carotid plaques. The independent risk factors for cerebral infarction among senile MetS patients were analysed using logistic regression. An ROC curve was used to assess the predictive value of statistically significant risk factors in senile MetS complicated by cerebral infarction. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in smoking, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, HCY, fasting blood glucose, high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerol, carotid plaque thickness, CEUS score, lumen stenosis, and ulcer plaque between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that the plaque CEUS score and HCY were independent risk factors for senile MetS complicated by cerebral infarction. The areas under the ROC curve for the CEUS score and HCY were 0.795 and 0.812, respectively, and was 0.858 for the combined diagnosis of both. When the CEUS score was ≥2 and HCY was ≥16.45 mmol/l, the sensitivity and specificity of predicted senile MetS complicated by cerebral infarction were 83.1% and 74.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The carotid plaque CEUS score and blood HCY exhibit a substantial predictive capacity for cerebral infarction in elderly MetS patients. The combined diagnostic efficacy of the two is superior. KEY WORDS: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, Homocysteine, Elderly, Metabolic syndrome, Cerebral infarction, Carotid plaque.

LncRNA-MYL2-2 and miR-124-3p Are Associated with Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders in Patients after Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) resulting from cardiac surgery is a complication with high morbidity and mortality. However, the pathogenesis is unknown. METHODS: For the sake of investigating the risk factors and mechanism of PND, we collected the characteristics and neurological scores of patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University and Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from Jan 1, 2016 to Dec 11, 2018. RESULTS: We found that age and left atrial thrombus are independent risk factors for PND after cardiac surgery. Furthermore, the serum of 29 patients was collected on the 7th day after cardiac surgery for detecting the expression of lncRNA-MYL2-2 and miR-124-3p. Increased lncRNA-MYL2-2 and decreased miR-124-3p in serum were associated with the decline of patients' cognition. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA-MYL2-2 and miRNA-124-3p may jointly participate in the occurrence and development of PND after cardiac surgery. These important findings are advantaged to further understand the pathogenesis of PND and prevent it, provide new biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of PND.

[Therapeutic effect of capsule xinganbao on schistosomal hepatocirrhosis].

A total of 118 patients with schistosomal hepatocirrhosis were divided into an experiment group (62 cases) and a control group (56 cases), and the former received capsule Xinganbao and the latter received conventional medicine for 6 months. The reductions of serum HA, LN and PCIII were more notable in the experiment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The clinical symptoms, physical signs, and liver function improved in both groups, and there were no significant differences between two groups. In conclusions, capsule Xinganbao has a good effect on hepatic fibrosis.