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Objective To compare the image quality produced by MR high resolution vessel wall imaging (HR?VWI) and ultrasound (US) in evaluating carotid plaque load. Methods This prospective study enrolled 21 patients with carotid plaques undergoing HR?VWI and subsequent 2D US between August 2016 to January 2017 in Hebei General Hospitial. The plaque thickness (PT), lumen area (LA), wall area (WA) and total vessel area (TVA) of the plaques were measured and normalized wall index (NWI) was calculated on both HR?VWI images and US for those plaques with image quality score≥3 and matching between the two methods. The plaque load index was compared by using the independent sample t test or the non?parametric Wilcoxon test, and the correlation between the indexes was based on the Pearson test. Results Forty?five carotid plaques were matched with HR?VWI and US. There was no significant difference in PT, LA, WA, TVA and NWI detected by HR?VWI and ultrasound (P>0.05). The parameters measured by two methods were correlated (r values were 0.83, 0.85, 0.32, 0.83 and 0.59, P<0.05). Conclusion There is a good consistency between HR?VWI and conventional ultrasound in the measurement of carotid plaque load.
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Objective To investigate dynamic changes of serum Tau proteins and their correlation with cognitive dysfunction in patients with acute traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods A total of 95 patients with acute TBI were retrospectively studied by case-control study.There were 61 males and 34 females,with age of 16-65 years [(40.7 ± 13.6)years].The Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was 3-8 points in 9 patients,9-12 points in 11,and 13-15 points in 75.A total of 30 healthy physical examinees were recruited as control group.The levels of Tau proteins were measured at days 1,3,5,7 and 14 after TBI.The cognitive dysfunction was evaluated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score at 6 months after injury.The correlation between Tau protein levels at different time points and MoCA was determined.Results The serum Tau proteins of TBI group was significantly higher than that of control group at all time points (P ＜ 0.05).In TBI group,39 (41％) out of 95 patients developed cognitive dysfunction assessed by MoCA scale.The main manifestations of cognitive dysfunction were the defects in visual spatial and acting function,delayed memory,language,abstract,attention and calculation,with statistical significance compared with control group (allP ＜ 0.05).The serum Tau proteins of patients with cognitive dysfunction were significantly higher than those without cognitive dysfunction at all time points after TBI (P ＜ 0.05).Tau proteins at days 1,3,5 after TBI was significantly correlated with cognitive dysfunction at 6 months after TBI (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The levels of serum Tau proteins show a significant increase after TBI,the early changes of which are statistically related to cognitive dysfunction.The early changes of serum Tau protein after TBI can be used as a reliable biomarker for early prediction of cognitive function prognosis.
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Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) as well as their correlations with the initial severity of TBI and prognosis.Methods A total of 229 patients with acute TBI admitted from September 2014 to June 2016 were retrospectively studied.Patients were further classified as mild TBI group (GCS 13-15 points),moderate TBI group (GCS 9-12 points) and severe TBI group (GCS 3-8 points) according to Glasgow coma score (GCS).The control group consisted of 30 healthy subjects.The prognosis was evaluated by using Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) at 6 months after TBI.The IGF-1 levels were further tested at days 1,3,5,7 and 14 and their correlations with the initial GCS and GOS at 6 months after injury were evaluated.Results (1) The serum IGF-1 levels of mild,moderate and severe TBI group at all time points were significantly lower than those of the control group (P ＜ 0.05);the serum IGF-1 levels of severe and moderate TBI groups at all time points after injury were significantly lower than those of the mild TBI group (P ＜0.05);the serum IGF-1 levels of the severe group at days 1,3,5 and 7 d after injury were lower than those of the moderate TBI group (P＜0.05).(2) IGF-1 levels were significantly different between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05) at different time points during the follow-up of 6 months.(3)IGF-1 levels were positively correlated with both GCS and GOS at the acute stage of TBI and sub-acute stage following TBI (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The dynamic changes of serum IGF-1 levels in patients with acute TBI are related to both initial severity of TBI and the neurological outcomes and can be used as a reliable biomarker for early severity assessment and prognostic prediction of TBI.