血清尿酸水平对急性脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的影响

目的:探讨血清尿酸(UA)水平对急性脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的影响。方法:回顾性分析2011年6月至2016年1月我院收治的251例急性脑梗死患者的临床资料,根据有无颈动脉粥样硬化斑块分为伴颈动脉粥样硬化斑块组(观察组)176例和无颈动脉粥样硬化斑块组(对照组)75例,观察组根据颈动脉粥样硬化程度分为斑块形成组(113例)、内中膜增厚组(63例),根据颈动脉斑块稳定程度分为不稳定组(106例)、稳定组(70例),比较各组血清UA水平,根据UA水平不同分为高UA组(134例)和正常UA组(117例),进行颈动脉斑块发生情况比较。结果:观察组的血清UA水平显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。(1)斑块形成组和内中膜增厚组血清UA水平显著高于对照组(P0.05),而斑块形成组和内中膜增厚组血清UA水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);(2)不稳定组血清UA水平显著高于对照组和稳定组(P0.05),而稳定组和对照组血清UA水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);(3)正常UA组和高UA组颈动脉斑块的发生情况比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:血清UA水平可以作为表征急性脑梗死患者伴随出现颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的生物学指标之一,此外,血清UA的水平在颈动脉粥样硬化斑块形成者和不稳定者表达更高,但血清UA水平与颈动脉斑块形成无明显联系。     

脑梗死患者内脂素和基质金属蛋白酶-9 与颈动脉粥样硬化 斑块易损性的关系

目的：探讨血清内脂素（Visfatin）及基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）水平与脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块稳定性的关系和血 清visfatin 和MMP-9 的相关性。方法：选择脑梗死患者70 例,根据颈动脉粥样硬化斑块性质分为易损性斑块组(n=43)和非易损 性斑块组(n=27),选取健康体检者30 例作为对照组。测定血清Visfatin 和MMP-9 水平,并对二者间关系进行相关分析。结果：脑 梗死伴颈动脉硬化组血清Visfatin、MMP-9 水平高于正常对照组(P＜0.01);易损性斑块组血清Visfatin 和MMP-9 水平高于非易 损性斑块组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.017）。外周血中的Visfatin水平与MMP-9 呈正相关关系（r=0.643,P=0.000）。结论：在脑梗 死患者中,血清Visfatin和MMP-9 参与了颈动脉粥样硬化的病理生理过程,Visfatin 和MMP-9升高可能与颈动脉粥样硬化斑块 不稳定性的形成相关,Visfatin 可通过调控MMP-9 的分泌和活性从而改变斑块的易损性。     

脑梗死患者内脂素和基质金属蛋白酶-9与颈动脉粥样硬化斑块易损性的关系

目的：探讨血清内脂素（Visfatin）72．基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）水平与脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样硬化王囊￡块稳定性的关系和血清visfatin和MMP-9的相关性。方法：选择脑梗死患者70例,根据颈动脉粥样硬化斑块性质分为易损性斑块组（n=43）和非易损性斑块组（n=27）,选取健康体检者30例作为对照组。测定血清Visfatin和MMP-9水平,并对二者间关系进行相关分析。结果：脑梗死伴颈动脉硬化组血清Visfatin、MMP-9水平高于正常对照组（P〈0．01）;易损性斑块组血清Visfatin和MMP．9水平高于非易损性斑块组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．017）。外周血中的Visfatin水平与MMP-9呈正相关关系（r=0．643,P=0．000）。结论：在脑梗死患者中,血清Visfatin和MMP-9参与了颈动脉粥样硬化的病理生理过程,Visfatin和MMP-9升高可能与颈动脉粥样硬化斑块不稳定性的形成相关,Visfatin可通过调控MMP一9的分泌和活性从而改变斑块的易损性。     

急性脑出血患者颈动脉斑块与血清hs CRP 及HbAlc的相关性研究

目的:探究急性脑出血患者颈动脉斑块与血清超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)及糖化血红蛋白(Hb Alc)的相关性。方法:随机选取我院2013年5月至2015年1月脑科收治的急性脑出血患者84例,根据颈动脉粥样硬化标准将所有患者分为单纯脑出血组(n=25)、轻度粥样硬化组(n=34)和重度粥样硬化组(n=25)三组,另选取同期我院健康体检者50人(对照组)。对比分析四组颈总动脉膜厚度(IMT)空腹血糖(FPG)、三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL)、hs-CRP与Hb Alc水平,分析急性脑出血患者颈动脉斑块的危险因素。结果:四组的IMT、TC、TG、HDL、LDL、hs-CRP和Hb Alc水平差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05),其中hs-CRP和Hb Alc水平在单纯脑出血组轻度粥样硬化组重度粥样硬化组(P0.05);IMT与hs-CRP和Hb Alc均呈现正相关(r=0.388、0.420,P0.05);IMT、hs-CRP和Hb Alc均为颈动脉粥样硬化的危险因素(OR=3.065、1.978、1.647,P0.05)。结论:急性脑出血患者体内hs-CRP及Hb Alc水平是颈动脉斑块形成的危险因素。     

血清同型半胱氨酸及超敏C反应蛋白水平与老年原发性高血压患者颈动脉粥样硬化程度的关系研究

目的:探讨血清同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)及超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)水平与老年原发性高血压患者颈动脉粥样硬化程度的关系。方法:选择我院于2015年5月至2017年10月收治的141例老年原发性高血压患者作为研究对象。检测所有患者颈动脉内膜-中层厚度(IMT),并根据IMT将其分为正常组(IMT≤1.0 mm,n=28)、增厚组(1.0 mmIMT1.5 mm,n=53)和斑块组(IMT≥1.5 mm,n=60)。比较三组患者血清Hcy、hs-CRP、总胆固醇(TC)及低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平,采用Pearson相关分析四项指标与IMT的相关性,采用多元线性逐步回归分析IMT增厚的影响因素。结果:增厚组与斑块组血清Hcy、hs-CRP、TC、LDL-C水平均明显高于正常组,且斑块组血清Hcy、hs-CRP、TC、LDL-C水平明显高于增厚组,差异具有统计学意义(均P0.05)。Pearson相关分析结果表明,血清Hcy、hs-CRP、TC、LDL-C水平均与IMT呈正相关关系(r=0.775、0.836、0.492、0.415,均P0.05)。多元线性逐步回归分析结果显示,血清Hcy、hs-CRP均为IMT增厚的独立危险因素(OR=5.689、7.381,均P0.05)。结论:老年原发性高血压患者颈动脉粥样硬化程度与血清Hcy、hs-CRP关系密切,临床上检测其Hcy、hs-CRP水平可在一定程度上评估颈动脉粥样硬化程度。     

2型糖尿病患者颈动脉粥样硬化与血尿酸水平的相关性研究

目的：探讨2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者颈动脉粥样硬化与血尿酸水平的相关性。方法：测定214例T2DM患者血清尿酸、血脂、糖化血红蛋白水平及颈动脉中层内膜厚度（IMT）,按颈动脉IMT分为4组：A组：无动脉粥样硬化组;B组：动脉粥样硬化组,C组：斑块形成组,D组：管腔狭窄组。比较各组生化指标,并分析颈动脉粥样硬化与血清尿酸水平的相关性。结果：各组性别、年龄、TC、HDL、LDL无显著差异;C组血清TG水平较A组低（P=0.02）,D组血清HbA1c水平较A组（P=0.038）及B组（P=0.015）显著降低。D组血清尿酸水平与A组相比显著升高（P=0.001）,但D组与B、C组及A组与B、C组间差异均无统计学意义;相关分析显示颈动脉粥样硬化程度与血清尿酸水平呈显著正相关（P=0.002）,相关系数为0.201。结论：高血清尿酸水平可能是导致T2DM患者颈动脉粥样硬化的危险因素之一,需慎重处理T2DM患者高尿酸血症问题。     

H 型高血压患者血清Hcy、Cyst-C及UA水平变化及其在颈动脉粥样硬 化中的预测价值

目的:探讨H型高血压患者血清同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)、尿酸(UA)及胱抑素C(Cyst-C)水平对颈动脉粥样硬化发生的预测价值。方法:本研究于2014年5月~2015年5月期间,选择我院收治确诊为H型高血压患者163例为研究对象,根据其颈动脉内膜中层厚度(c IMT)的不同分为c IMT正常组(51例)、c IMT增厚组(54例)和颈动脉斑块组(58例)。检测并比较三组间性别、年龄、血清Hcy、Cyst-C、UA、血糖(GLU)、血脂、血尿素氮(Bun)、血肌酐(Scr)水平,分析其与颈动脉c IMT的关系,并采用logistic回归分析颈动脉粥样硬化的影响因素。结果:三组间HDL-C、Hcy、Cyst-C、UA水平比较,差异均存在统计学意义(均P0.05);c IMT与Hcy、Cyst-C、UA均呈现正相关关系(r=0.23,0.32,0.30;P0.05),与HDL-C水平呈现负相关关系(r=-0.410,P0.05);Logistic回归分析显示Hcy、Cyst-C、UA水平是颈动脉粥样硬化危险因素(OR=1.203,6.395,1.023;均P0.05)。结论:H型高血压患者血清Hcy、Cyst-C及UA水平均与c IMT正相关,是导致颈动脉粥样硬化的独立危险因素,可用于临床早期预测动脉粥样硬化发生与发展。     

颈动脉粥样硬化及主动脉瓣钙化与动脉粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄的关系

目的:探讨颈动脉粥样硬化、主动脉瓣膜钙化(aortic valve calcification,AVC)与动脉粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄(atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis,ARAS)的关系。方法:对我院162例行选择性冠脉造影合并肾动脉造影的患者进行颈动脉超声和超声心动图检查,测量颈动脉内中膜厚度(carotid artery intima-media thickness,CIMT)和主动脉瓣钙化的情况,根据患者是否患有ARAS进行分组,比较两组的性别、年龄、吸烟、病史、血脂水平、CIMT、颈动脉粥样硬化发生率和AVC发生率,计算颈动脉粥样硬化和AVC对ARAS的预测价值。结果:ARAS组高血压病史患者的构成比、胆固醇水平、CIMT、颈动脉粥样硬化发生率、AVC发生率均显著高于对照组,有明显的统计学差异(P0.05)。颈动脉粥样硬化预测ARAS的灵敏度较高,特异度偏低;AVC的灵敏度低,而特异度高;二者联合特异度明显增高。结论:颈动脉粥样硬化、AVC对ARAS的诊断有一定的参考价值,可用于排除诊断。     

合贝爽联用辛伐他汀治疗颈动脉粥样硬化的疗效分析

目的:探讨合贝爽联合辛伐他汀治疗颈动脉粥样硬化患者的C-反应蛋白(CRP)及斑块(AP)的临床疗效.方法:回顾性分析我院2008年1月至2009年9月因短暂性脑缺血发作且确诊为颈动脉粥样硬化的患者132例,随机分为4组:常规治疗组、合贝爽治疗组、辛伐他汀治疗组与合贝爽联用辛伐他汀治疗组,每组患者33例,持续用药治疗15周,分析比较4组患者治疗前后颈动脉内中膜厚度(IMT)和AP面积,血脂和CRP水平,观察治疗期间各组患者脑血管事件的发生情况.结果:持续用药治疗15周后,所有患者的CRP、LDL-C、TC与TG的水平明显降低,HDL-C的水平显著升高,差异均有统计学意义,P＜0.05.与其它3组的治疗效果相比,合贝爽联合辛伐他汀治疗组的疗效最佳,该组患者血脂各指标的变化除TC外,其它4个指标与其它三组的差异均有统计学意义,P＜0.05;该组的颈动脉内中膜厚度变得更薄,颈动脉粥样硬化斑块面积变得更小,P＜0.01.结论:舍贝爽联合辛伐他汀可使颈动脉粥样硬化患者的颈动脉内膜厚度变薄、斑块面积缩小,改善血液微环境.     

脑梗死患者的脑白质病变危险因素分析

目的：探索脑梗死患者中脑白质病变的危险因素。方法：以2012 年1 月至2014 年12 月我院神经内科收治的837 例脑梗死 患者为研究对象,采用Fazekas量表评价核磁共振T2WI脑室旁白质和皮质下白质病变严重程度。分别比较不同程度脑室旁白质 病变、皮质下白质病变患者间各个危险因素的差异,采用Logistic 回归分析脑白质病变的危险因素。结果：年龄、高血压是脑室旁 白质（OR 年龄=1.090,95%CI:0.073-0.099,P＜0.05;OR 高血压=1.699,95%CI:0.242-0.818,P＜0.05）和皮质下白质病变（OR 年龄 =1.074,95%CI:0.059-0.083,P＜0.05;OR高血压=1.353,95%CI:0.017-0.588,P＜0.05）共同的危险因素。收缩压（OR=1.008,95%CI: 0.001-0.015,P＜0.05）是皮质下白质病变的危险因素。结论：在脑梗死患者中,年龄、高血压是脑室旁白质病变、皮质下白质病变共 同的危险因素,收缩压是皮质下白质病变的危险因素。     

Ultrasound settings significantly alter arterial lumen and wall thickness measurements

Background

Arterial diameter and intima-media thickness (IMT) enlargement may each be related to the atherosclerotic process. Their separate or combined enlargement may indicate different arterial phenotypes with different atherosclerosis risk.

Methods

We investigated cross-sectional (baseline 1987–89: n = 7956) and prospective (median follow-up = 5.9 years: n = 4845) associations between baseline right common carotid artery (RCCA) external diameter and IMT with existing and incident carotid atherosclerotic lesions detected by B-mode ultrasound in any right or left carotid segments. Logistic regression models (unadjusted, adjusted for IMT, or adjusted for IMT and risk factors) were used to relate baseline diameter to existing carotid lesions while comparably adjusted parametric survival models assessed baseline diameter associations with carotid atherosclerosis progression (incident carotid lesions). Four baseline arterial phenotypes were categorized as having 1) neither IMT nor diameter enlarged (reference), 2) isolated IMT thickening, 3) isolated diameter enlargement, and 4) enlargement of both IMT and diameter. The association between these phenotypes and progression to definitive carotid atherosclerotic lesions was assessed over the follow-up period.

Results

Each standard deviation increment of baseline RCCA diameter was associated with increasing carotid lesion prevalence (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.47–1.62) and with progression of carotid atherosclerosis (unadjusted hazards ratio (HR) = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.28–1.46); and the associations remained significant even after adjustment for IMT and risk factors (prevalence OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.04–1.18; progression HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.03–1.19). Controlling for gender, age and race, persons with both RCCA IMT and diameter in the upper 50^th percentiles had the greatest risk of progressing to clearly defined carotid atherosclerotic lesions (all HR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.47–2.0; men HR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.48–2.39; women HR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.31–1.95) while RCCA IMT or diameter alone in the upper 50^th percentile produced significantly lower estimated risks.

Conclusion

RCCA IMT and external diameter provide partially overlapping information relating to carotid atherosclerotic lesions. More importantly, the RCCA phenotype of coexistent wall thickening with external diameter enlargement indicates higher atherosclerotic risk than isolated wall thickening or diameter enlargement.     

1461名老年患者血压波动与颈动脉斑块形成关系的研究

目的：除了血压水平的高低以外,血压波动也是造成人体靶器官损伤的独立危险因素。本研究以老年男性人群为研究对象,观察血压波动（BPV）与颈动脉斑块形成的关联性。方法：本研究选用1461名患有动脉硬化的老年男性患者为研究对象,将入选对象分为：非颈动脉斑块组和颈动脉斑块组,根据24小时动态血压测定（ABPM）中收缩压（SBP）、舒张N（DBP）的数据,用”个体血压波动法”测定每个患者的血压波动,分析探讨血压波动与颈动脉斑块形成之间的关联性。结果：①颈动脉斑块的形成与24小时收缩期血压波动（SBPV）密切相关（8-3±2．1mmHgVS7．9士2．0mmHg;P〈0．001）,其中与白昼（6：00．22：00）SBPV有关（8．1±2．1mmHgVS7．7土2．1mmHg：P〈0．001）,而与夜间（22：00-6：00）SBPV关系不明显（8,9±3．8mmHgVS8,6±3．7mmHg;P〉0．05）。②与24小时舒张期血压波动（DBPV）有关（5．6±1．4mmHgVS5．4±1．4mmHg;P〈0．05）,其中与白昼（6：00．22：00）舒张期血压波动有关（5．4±1．4mmHgVS5．2士1．4mmHg;P〈0．05）,而与夜间舒张期血压波动无关（6．2±2．7mmHgVS5．9±2．5mmHg;P〉0．05）。结论：在老年男性人群中,颈动脉斑块的形成与收缩期和舒张期血压波动均有关系,主要表现在白昼血压波动。     

Atherosclerotic plaques occur in absence of intima-media thickening in both systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus: a duplexsonography study of carotid and femoral arteries and follow-up for cardiovascular events

Introduction

The objective of this cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study was (1) to determine the usefulness of intima-media thickness (IMT) in contrast to plaque assessment, (2) to examine the value of additive femoral artery sonography and (3) to identify potential risk factors for atherosclerosis and incident cardiovascular events in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods

In this study, 90 SSc and 100 SLE patients were examined by duplexsonography. IMT was measured in common carotid and common femoral arteries, plaques were assessed in common, internal and external carotid and common, proximal superficial and deep femoral arteries. Different definitions of pathological IMT (pIMT) were compared with the presence of plaque. Results were evaluated in relation to traditional and non-traditional risk factors for baseline atherosclerosis (logistic regression) and their predictive value for cardiovascular events during follow-up (cox regression).

Results

Definite atherosclerosis occurred frequently without signs of subclinical atherosclerosis in both diseases: pIMT >0.9 mm was present in only 17/59 (28.9%) SSc and 13/49 (26.5%) SLE patients with already present atherosclerotic plaques. Using age-adjusted pIMT definitions, this rate was even lower (5.1-10.3% in SSc, 14.3-26.5% in SLE). Plaques were located only at the carotid or only at the femoral arteries in 26 (13.7%) and 24 (12.6%) patients, respectively. Age and nicotine pack-years were independently associated with atherosclerotic plaques in SLE and SSc patients, as well as the cumulative prednisolone dose in SSc subgroup, and ssDNA positive SLE patients had a lower risk for atherosclerotic plaque. During follow-up (available for 129/190 (67.9%) patients, 650 person-years), cardiovascular events occurred more often in patients with coronary heart disease (adjusted-hazards ratio (HR) 10.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.04 to 34.17, P <0.001), male patients (adjusted-HR 8.78, 95% CI 2.73 to 28.19, P <0.001) and in patients with coexistent carotid and femoral plaques (adjusted-HR 5.92, 95% CI 1.55 to 22.67, P = 0.009). Patients with solely carotid or femoral plaque were not at higher risk.

Conclusion

Atherosclerotic plaque lesions can be found frequently in absence of intima-media thickening in both SSc and SLE patients. As well as routine sonography of carotid arteries, the sonography of femoral arteries is recommended to identify additional atherosclerotic lesions and to detect patients at a high risk for cardiovascular events.     

Interaction of workplace demands and cardiovascular reactivity in progression of carotid atherosclerosis: population based study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the combined influence of workplace demands and changes in blood pressure induced by stress on the progression of carotid atherosclerosis. DESIGN: Population based follow up study of unestablished as well as traditional risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis, ischaemic heart disease, and other outcomes. SETTING: Eastern Finland. SUBJECTS: 591 men aged 42-60 who were fully employed at baseline and had complete data on the measures of carotid atherosclerosis, job demands, blood pressure reactivity, and covariates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in ultrasonographically assessed intima-media thickness of the right and left common carotid arteries from baseline to 4 year follow up. RESULTS: Significant interactions between workplace demands and stress induced reactivity were observed for all measures of progression (P < 0.04). Men with large changes in systolic blood pressure (20 mm Hg or greater) in anticipation of a maximal exercise test and with high job demands had 10-40% greater progression of mean (0.138 v 0.123 mm) and maximum (0.320 v 0.261 mm) intima-media thickness and plaque height (0.347 v 0.264) than men who were less reactive and had fewer job demands. Similar results were obtained after excluding men with prevalent ischaemic heart disease at baseline. Findings were strongest among men with at least 20% stenosis or non-stenotic plaque at baseline. In this subgroup reactive men with high job demands had more than 46% greater atherosclerotic progression than the others. Adjustment for atherosclerotic risk factors did not alter the results. CONCLUSIONS: Men who showed stress induced blood pressure reactivity and who reported high job demands experienced the greatest atherosclerotic progression, showing the association between dispositional risk characteristics and contextual determinants of disease and suggesting that behaviourally evoked cardiovascular reactivity may have a role in atherogenesis.     

Pericardial fat amount is an independent risk factor of coronary artery stenosis assessed by multidetector-row computed tomography: the Korean Atherosclerosis Study 2

Pericardial fat surrounding the heart and coronary arteries might aggravate vessel wall inflammation and stimulate the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. However, there has been little comprehensive evaluation of the effects of pericardial fat on coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the relationship between pericardial fat volume and the severity of coronary artery stenosis assessed by computed tomography and angiography among patients with suspected CAD. Participants from the cohort of the Korean Atherosclerosis Study 2 (n = 402, mean age of 54 years, 57.0% men) underwent 64-slice multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) to assess pericardial fat amount, coronary artery calcium score (CACS), severity of coronary artery stenosis, and plaque characteristics. Patients with atherosclerotic lesion had significantly larger volume of pericardial fat than patients without atherosclerosis (308 ± 96 cm(3) vs. 251 ± 93 cm(3); P < 0.01). In a multivariate regression analysis adjusting for age, gender and BMI, subjects with more pericardial fat had a higher risk for significant (>50%) stenosed coronary vessels (odds ratio (OR) = 1.012; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.001-1.030; P = 0.017). This association remained after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, and lipid profiles (OR = 1.007; 95% CI 1.001-1.014; P = 0.042). In conclusion, an increased pericardial fat volume was an independent risk factor for stenotic CAD and could be helpful in assessing subclinical CADs.     

老年男性原发性高血压患者脉压与颈动脉狭窄的相关分析

目的：探讨老年男性原发性高血压（EH）患者脉压（PP）与动脉粥样硬化性颈动脉狭窄（CS）的关系。方法：对入选的157例伴有颈动脉粥样硬化的老年男性EH患者行颈动脉超声检查,并收集行颈动脉超声检查前1年内的多次血压水平及临床资料,根据颈动脉狭窄程度分为：CS〈50％组（n=66）及CS≥50％组（n=91）,并进一步将颈动脉狭窄程度分级（I—V级）,分析颈动脉狭窄的危险因素及与脉压的相关性。结果：①CS≥50％组收缩压（SBP）及PP显著高于CS〈50％组,而舒张压（DBP）显著低于CS〈50％组（P〈0．05）,CS≥50％组的独立危险因素是外周动脉疾病（OR：4．543,95％CI：1．415．14．590）及脉压（OR：1．096,95％CI：1．038．1．157）;②CS分级与PP（r=0．402,P〈0．01）及血浆纤维蛋白原（FIB）（r=0．200,P〈0．05）呈正相关,经校正年龄、体重指数（BMI）、SBP、DBP、总胆固醇（TO）、甘油三酯（TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-c）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-c）、D-二聚体（D-dimer）、血尿酸（UA）、空腹血糖（FBG）、氨基酸末端脑利钠肽前体（NT-proBNP）、总胆红素（TBIL）及直接胆红素（DBIL）等危险因素后,CS分级仍与PP及FIB有关。结论：老年男性原发性高血压患者脉压与颈动脉狭窄有关,治疗高血压的同时应当尽量减小脉压。     

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Associated with Liver Damage and Atherosclerosis in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background/Aims

We assessed whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and nocturnal hypoxemia are associated with severity of liver fibrosis and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and low prevalence of morbid obesity. Secondary aim was to explore the association of OSA and hypoxemia with NASH and severity of liver pathological changes.

Methods

Consecutive patients (n = 126) with chronically elevated ALT and NAFLD underwent STOP-BANG questionnaire to estimate OSA risk and ultrasonographic carotid assessment. In patients accepting to perform cardiorespiratory polygraphy (PG, n = 50), OSA was defined as an apnea/hypopnea index ≥5. A carotid atherosclerotic plaque was defined as a focal thickening >1.3 mm.

Results

Prevalence of high OSA risk was similar in patients refusing or accepting PG (76% vs 68%, p = 0.17). Among those accepting PG, overall OSA prevalence was significantly higher in patients with F2-F4 fibrosis compared to those without (72% vs 44%; p = 0.04). Significant fibrosis was independently associated with mean nocturnal oxygen saturation (SaO₂)<95% (OR 3.21, 95%C.I. 1.02–7.34; p = 0.04). Prevalence of OSA tended to be higher in patients with, than in those without, carotid plaques (64% vs 40%; p = 0.08). Carotid plaques were independently associated with %time at SaO2<90% >1 (OR 6.30, 95%C.I. 1.02–12.3; p = 0.01).

Conclusions

In NAFLD patients with chronically elevated ALT at low prevalence of morbid obesity, OSA was highly prevalent and indexes of SaO₂ resulted independently associated with severity of liver fibrosis and carotid atherosclerosis. These data suggest to consider sleep disordered breathing as a potential additional therapeutic target in severe NAFLD patients.     

HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy have higher rates of carotid atherosclerosis: the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1

Individuals with HIV-1 infection are at increased risk for cardiovascular events, and lipodystrophy is generally associated with pro-atherogenic metabolic disturbances. We conducted a case-control study to assess the presence of sub-clinical atherosclerosis in HIV-1-infected patients with or without lipodystrophy (LD) and to evaluate the influence of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) on the development of both carotid atherosclerosis and LD. The study population consisted of 43 patients with LD and 86 patients without LD. We determined carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), MCP-1 concentrations in plasma, and MCP-1 genotype (presence or absence of the -2518G allele). HIV-1-infected patients with LD showed increased risk (OR=3.71, 95% CI=1.10-12.47, p=0.03) for sub-clinical atherosclerosis, and MCP-1 plasma concentration was significantly correlated with IMT in these patients (Pearson=0.31, p=0.03). Furthermore, presence of LD was a determinant for MCP-1 plasma concentration (beta=0.18, p=0.05). In summary, HIV-1-infected patients with clinically manifest LD are at higher risk for atherosclerosis and our observations support the relationship between inflammation and atherosclerotic disease.     

Obesity and carotid atherosclerosis in African black and Caucasian women with established rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study

Introduction

Reported findings on the relationship between adiposity and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are contradictory and originate in developed populations. Approximately 80% of ACVD now occurs in developing countries. We aimed to ascertain the associations of clinical obesity measures with metabolic cardiovascular risk and atherosclerosis in African women with RA from a developing black and developed Caucasian population.

Methods

The associations of body mass index (BMI) as an indicator of overall adiposity and waist circumference and waist-to-height and waist-to-hip ratios as abdominal obesity indices with metabolic risk factors and high resolution B-mode ultrasound-determined carotid artery atherosclerosis were assessed in multivariate regression models in 203 African women with established RA; 108 were black and 95 Caucasian.

Results

BMI and waist-to-height ratio were higher in African black compared to Caucasian women (29.9 (6.6) versus 25.3 (4.9) kg/m², P = 0.002 and 0.59 (0.09) versus 0.53 (0.08), P = 0.01, respectively). Interactions between population origin and anthropometric measures were not related to metabolic risk factors but were associated with atherosclerosis, independent of confounders and individual terms. In all patients, BMI was related to systolic and diastolic blood pressure but not with serum lipid concentrations whereas abdominal obesity indices were associated with serum lipid concentrations but not with blood pressure values; obesity measures that were associated with plasma glucose concentrations comprised BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio (P < 0.05 in multiple confounder adjusted analysis). In African Caucasian women, BMI was associated with common carotid artery intima-media thickness (standardized β (95% confidence interval (CI)) = 0.21 (0.03 to 0.38)) and waist-to-hip ratio with plaque (odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) = 1.83 (1.03 to 3.25) for one standard deviation (SD) increase). These relationships were independent of multiple non-metabolic risk factors and explained by metabolic risk factors. In African black women with RA, none of the obesity measures was related to atherosclerosis.

Conclusions

Obesity in women with RA from developing groups of black African descent does not as yet translate into atheroma. In Caucasian women with RA that belong to developed populations, BMI and waist-to-hip ratio should be considered in ACVD risk assessment.     

比较两种测量方法获得的血压波动对老年颈动脉斑块的影响

目的:比较两种不同血压波动测定方法测定的血压波动与颈动脉斑块发生的关系。方法:以1456名患有动脉硬化老年男性患者为研究对象,监测患者24 h动态血压,根据有无颈动脉斑块将入选患者分为2组:颈动脉斑块组(n=1012)和无颈动脉斑块组(n=444),分别采用经典的标准差方法(SD法)和个体血压波动测定方法(个体法)分别测定每位患者的血压波动,回顾性分析这两种方法测定的血压波动与颈动脉斑块形成的关联性。结果:SD法测定颈动脉斑块组24 h收缩期血压波动(SBPV)、白天SBPV、夜间SBPV以及24 h舒张期血压波动(DBPV)水平均明显高于无颈动脉斑块组(P0.05);而白天和夜间DBPV差异无统计学意义。个体法测定颈动脉斑块组24 h SBPV、白天SBPV、24 h DBPV以及白天DBPV水平较无颈动脉斑块组均明显升高(P0.05);夜间SBPV和夜间DBPV差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。比较颈动脉斑块组SBPV值出现次数,SD法测定SBPV最多的是10-15 mmHg(n=541),其次是大于15 mmHg(n=399);个体法测定颈动脉斑块组SBPV值出现次数最多的是0-8 mmHg(n=490),其次是8-10 mmHg(n=350)。结论:在老年男性动脉硬化相关疾病患者中,血压波动与颈动脉斑块的形成有着密切的关系,两种方法均可测定血压波动,但以个体血压波动测定方法更加敏感。