The role of carotid stenosis ultrasound scale in the prediction of ischemic stroke.

INTRODUCTION: To improve the accuracy of ultrasound techniques for the assessment of carotid stenosis, we designed a novel carotid artery stenosis ultrasound scale (CASUS), and evaluated its accuracy, reliability, and its value in predicting the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in a prospective study. METHODS: A total of 750 patients with first-time ischemic stroke and hospitalized within 24 h were enrolled in the study. Using color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS), the degree of stenosis and blood flow (BF) in bilateral internal carotid arteries (ICA) and the V1-V3 segment of vertebral arteries (VA) was assessed. Cubic simulation curves for BF and global blood flow (GBF) over the stenosis score (SS), total stenosis score (TSS), and radiological imaging- total stenosis score (RI-TSS) were fitted and compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves using TSS, RI-TSS, or GBF to predict various ischemic stroke endpoints were also analyzed and compared. RESULTS: There was a linear relationship between SS and BF both ICA and VA (R2 were 0.734 and 0.783, respectively, both P < 0.05). Both TSS and RI-TSS with GBF showed an inverse "S" curve relationship (R2 was 0.839 and 0.843, all P < 0.05). The AUC values of TSS-based and RI-TSS-based predictions of each endpoint were all greater than 0.7 (all P < 0.05), but the differences of the AUC values between TSS, RI-TSS, and GBF were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The novel CASUS can better reflect the level of cerebral reperfusion in patients with ischemic stroke and can better predict the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

[Relationship between Circadian Rhythm Disorder of Blood Pressure and Ischemic Stroke].

Hypertension plays an important role in the pathogenesis of stroke,which,however,is only known at the blood pressure level.The relationship between circadian rhythm of blood pressure(especially the circadian rhythm disorder of blood pressure)and stroke has been a hot research topic.This article reviews the concept of circadian rhythm of blood pressure,classification of circadian rhythm disorder of blood pressure,and the relationship of circadian rhythm disorder of blood pressure with ischemic stroke.

Extraordinarily wide-view and wide spectral bandwidth transflective liquid-crystal displays.

This work presents a simple compensation method for widening the viewing angle of transflective liquid-crystal displays (TR-LCDs). For an off-axis light, the slow axis of a biaxial film shifts linearly as the Nz factor is varied. By using this optical characteristic of a biaxial film, the broadband condition of broadband circular polarizers exactly holds over a full 80 degrees viewing cone, thus eliminating the off-axis light leakage to widen the viewing angle of TR-LCDs. Based on the proposed compensation method, the TR-LCDs theoretically have a wide spectral bandwidth and a viewing angle of 80 degrees for contrast-ratio (CR) >100:1 and >30:1 in transmissive and reflective modes, respectively. Experiments also show that the proposed TR-LCD has a viewing angle of over the entire 80 degrees and 65 degrees viewing cone in T-mode and R-mode, respectively, for CR>10:1. The proposed TR-LCD is highly promising for mobile display applications.

Risk factors of venous thromboembolism and evaluation of existing risk assessment models for predicting venous thromboembolism in medical oncology inpatients / 中国实用内科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors of venous thrombosis(VTE) and to evaluate the predictive ability of the existing risk assessment models(RAM) in medical oncology inpatients. METHODS: In this study, 252 medical oncology inpatients were divided into study group(63) and control group(189) according to VTE. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors of VTE and to evaluate the predictive ability of KRS and PPS. RESULTS: This study showed that previous VTE, staying in bed≥3 d,platelet count≥350×10~9/L, D-dimer>0.55 mg/L and stage IV cancer were associated with VTE risks(OR=12.149, 3.672, 3.144, 5.263,1.439, 1.382, P0.55 mg/L, and stage IV cancer are independent risk factors of VTE. Compared with the limited predictive ability of PPS,KRS can predict VTE very well for low-and intermediate-risk patients.

Research advances of clinical applications in repairing surgery for orbital fracture / 眼科新进展

As one of the common type of ocular injuries,orbital fracture can result in enophthalmos,diplopia and infraorbital nerve injury,which affects the physiological function of eyeball.Repairing surgery for orbital fracture should be treated for reconstructing the orbital anatomical structure in case of severe enophthalmos and diplopia,or infraorbital nerve injury.Meanwhile,it's crucial to identify the suitable surgery approach and implants because of the specificity and complexity of the orbit.What a clinician expected most is the ideal prognosis obtained easily with minimal operation complication.Transconjunctival approach should be applied as one of the standard approaches for repairing surgery of orbital fracture,offering good operative field with less complications.Titanium mesh and resorbable materials are the ideal implants at present,for their high level of stable quality and plasticity.More and more applications of 3D-printed rapid prototyping technique can guide the new directions of individualization and precision of repairing surgery for orbital fracture.

Treatment of depression using sleep electroencephalogram modulated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.

BACKGROUND: As a treatment of depression, the efficacy of conventional repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is limited, and symptoms recurrence is easy to occur after the treatment. This study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of sleep electroencephalogram modulated repetitive rTMS (SEM-rTMS) in the treatment of depression. METHODS: After 7 days without psychoactive medication, 164 patients with clinically defined depression were randomly divided into 3 groups: SEM-rTMS group (n = 57), conventional rTMS (C-rTMS, n = 55) group and sham-rTMS group (n = 52). Every patient was treated with the corresponding method for 30 minutes everyday for 10 days. Before and after scores on the 24-item Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD-24) and the clinical outcome on the 10th day of therapy for all subjects were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-two cases in the SEM-rTMS group obtained improved mood as compared to 6 in the C-rTMS group and 2 in the sham-rTMS group (χ(2) = 15.89, P = 0.0004). After completion of the rTMS phase of the protocol, a (51 ± 5)% reduction of HAMD-24 scores from the baseline in the SEM-rTMS group was found compared with a (34 ± 4)% in the C-rTMS group (q = 26.09, P = 0.001) and a (14 ± 3)% in sham-rTMS group (q = 57.53, P = 0.000). The 88% total effective rate in the SEM-rTMS group was significantly higher than 68% in the C-rTMS group and 20% in the sham-rTMS group (χ(2) = 12.01, P = 0.0025). No significant side effects were noted. CONCLUSION: SEM-rTMS is an effective and safe way for treating depression with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (ChiCTR-TRC-00000438).

Clinical use of AO three-dimensionally preformed titanium mesh plates for orbital fractures / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Abstract?AlM:To evaluate the accuracy and practicability of three - dimensionally preformed Arbeitsgemeinschaft Osteosynthese AO titanium mesh plates for orbital fractures.?METHODS:Forty-seven patients with isolated blow-out orbital fractures were included in this study. Fracture locations were as follows: floor/medial wall ( n = 26, 55%), medial wall ( n = 12, 26%), and floor ( n = 9, 19%) . The floor fractures were exposed by a standard transconjunctival approach, whereas a combined transcaruncular transconjunctival approach was used in patients with medial wall fractures with temporary dissection of inferior oblique muscle. A three -dimensionally preformed AO titanium mesh plate was selected according to the size of the defect previously measured on the preoperative computed tomographic scan examination and fixed at the inferior orbital rim with 2 screws. The accuracy of plate positioning of the reconstructed orbit was assessed on the postoperative computed tomography ( CT) scan. The practicability of clinical use of AO three - dimensionally preformed titanium mesh plates was assessed on the preoperative and postoperative clinical data.?RESULTS: Postoperative orbital CT scan showed an anatomic three- dimensional placement of the orbital mesh plates in all of the patients. All patients had a successful treatment outcome without clinical complications. 40 patients ( 87%) had a successful enophthalmos correction. 25 patients ( 86%) had a successful recovery from diplopia.?CONCLUSlON: Three- dimensionally preformed AO titanium mesh plates for orbital fracture reconstruction results in an accurate anatomic restoration of the bony orbital contour with a high rate of success to correctenophthalmos and diplopia.