The hidden aspect of carotid lesions in traffic accidents: A little-known phenomenon

Vascular injuries that occur during traffic accidents are a commonly neglected aspect that can add more detail to the framework of a case. In this study, we analysed a case series of 150 traffic accidents, 39 of which were marked by microscopically identifiable vascular lesions. The purpose was to identify the presence of carotid injuries in individuals who died due to traffic accidents and had nonpenetrating trauma of the neck. We focused on the discrepancies regarding the macroscopical aspect and the histology and demonstrated how histological analysis of the carotids in cases of trauma can reveal injuries that are attributable to the trauma itself. We conducted a histological analysis of the lesions to describe their distribution and type and investigate potential correlations. The study offers insight on how to examine road accidents that involve traumatic injury of the carotid arteries. Indeed the main task of the forensic pathologist in the case of death is to establish the existence of a causal relationship between the micro- or macroscopic alterations observed in the autopsy and the traumatic event that led to the death of the subject. Thus, further morphological elements were provided to the forensic practitioners that may reveal injuries attributable to the trauma itself and should be evaluated in cases of trauma in traffic accidents.     

血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减联合西药治疗高血压颈动脉硬化的临床观察

目的:观察血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减联合西药治疗高血压颈动脉硬化的效果。方法:选取2017年6月至2018年6月聊城市中医院收治的高血压颈动脉硬化患者92例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法随机分为对照组与观察组,每组46例。对照组患者给予左旋氨氯地平+阿托伐他汀口服,观察组在对照组基础上加用血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减口服。观察患者血压、血脂控制情况,测定颈动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT)、斑块面积、血管皮内皮功能、血清蛋白酶分子水平。结果:与对照组比较,观察组治疗后的血压SBP、DBP及血脂TG、TC、LDL-C等指标更低(P<0.05);颈动脉粥样硬化斑块IMT厚度、斑块面积明显缩小(P<0.05),血管内皮功能指标ET-1、AngⅡ、TXB2水平明显降低,NO水平明显升高(P<0.05);血清CatK、MMP-9水平明显降低(P<0.05);观察组不良反应发生率8.70%明显低于对照组不良反应发生率21.74%(P<0.05)。结论:血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减联合西药更利于控制高血压颈动脉硬化患者的血压,调节脂质代谢,改善血管内皮功能,降低血清蛋白酶分子的含量,用药安全。     

Impact of Spinal Manipulation on Lower Extremity Motor Control in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Patients: A Small-Scale Assessor-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of a single lumbar spinal manipulation (SM) intervention on the leg movement performance of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients in a small-scale registered randomized clinical trial.MethodsParticipants with LSS (n = 14) were tested at baseline for pain, lumbar range of motion, and behavioral or kinematic motor performance (using an established Fitts’ Law foot-pointing task), then underwent covariate adaptive randomization to receive SM or no intervention. Postintervention all dependent measures were repeated. Experimenters were blinded to patient group allocation. University ethics board approval was attained.ResultsFor the primary outcome movement time, there was no significant difference between groups. As predicted by Fitts’ Law, all participants had longer movement times as task difficulty increased. Secondary kinematic outcomes yielded no significant between-group differences. Consistent with Fitts’ Law, kinematic measures changed significantly with task difficulty. Pairwise comparisons revealed the kinematic variables were more adversely affected by greater movement amplitudes than target size changes. No exploratory differences in pain or lumbar range of motion were observed.ConclusionChanges in motor performance were not observed in this chronic pain population after a single SM intervention compared with a control group. Given the sample size, the study may have been underpowered to detect meaningful differences. Fitts’ Law was observed for the lower extremity–pointing task for an LSS population and may provide an objective measure of motor performance.     

Delayed pseudoaneurysm formation of the carotid artery following the oral cavity injury in a child: A case report

BACKGROUNDAn impalement injury of the oral cavity is a common traumatic injury in children. In most cases, it is not accompanied by sequelae, but if foreign body residues are not found due to a minor injury, they may result in inflammatory responses and delayed vascular injuries in the surrounding tissues. Without early diagnosis and appropriate initial management, residual foreign bodies can cause serious complications and even mortality in some cases. CASE SUMMARYA 9-year-old boy suffered an intra-oral injury by a wooden chopstick, and the patient was discharged from the hospital after receiving conservative treatment for the injury. However, the patient was readmitted to the hospital due to intra-oral bleeding, and since neck hematoma and right internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm formation were detected on computed tomography, emergency surgery was performed. A remnant fragment of a wooden chopstick was found during the operation, and a delayed rupture of the internal carotid artery caused by the foreign body was also found.CONCLUSIONThe failure of early detection and diagnosis of a residual foreign body may result in delayed vascular rupture.     

The association of metabolic health obesity with incidence of carotid artery plaque in Chinese adults

Background and aimsWe aimed to evaluate the association between different obese phenotypes with carotid artery plaque (CAP) event.Method and resultsThe current retrospective cohort study was performed in 32,778 Chinese adults (19,221 men and 13,557 women, aged 41.9 ± 11.0 years). Obese phenotypes were assessed based on baseline body mass index (<24.0 vs. ≥24.0 kg/m²) and metabolic characteristics (health vs. unhealth). All the participants were further classified into four groups: metabolic health and normal weight (MHNW), metabolic unhealth and normal weight (MUHNW), metabolic health and overweight (MHO), and metabolic unhealth and overweight (MUHO). Ultrasound B-mode imaging was annually performed to evaluate CAP throughout the study. We have identified 2142 CAP cases during 5-year follow-up. Comparing with the MHNW group, the hazard ratios for the risk of incident CAP was 2.44 (95% CI:1.92 and 3.09) for the MUHNW group, 1.52 (95% CI:1.06 and 2.18) for the MHO group, and 1.8 (95% CI:1.4 and 2.33) for the MUHO group. The association was more pronounced in young adults (<65 y) than that in aged adults (≥65 y). Sensitivity analysis generated similar results with the main analysis.ConclusionMUHNW, MHO, and MUHO were associated with the risk of CAP.     

Risk prediction of cerebrovascular events with carotid plaque magnetic resonance analysis: A meta-analysis

Background and purpose

It is not conclusive that magnetic resonance (MR)-based carotid atherosclerotic plaque assessment identifies high-risk features associated with cerebrovascular events. We aimed to systematically summarize the association of MR imaging (MRI)-determined intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC), and thinning/rupture of the fibrous cap (TRFC) with subsequent ischemic events.

DSA引导下血管腔内成形术治疗下肢动脉硬化闭塞症的临床研究

目的:探讨DSA引导下血管腔内成形术(TA)治疗下肢动脉硬化闭塞症(ASO-LE)的临床效果。方法:2017年3月至2019年4月,手术治疗的ASO-LE患者93例,依据治疗方式的不同分为A组(行TA,n=49)和B组[行下肢动脉旁路移植术(LEABG),n=44],两组患者均在数字减影血管造影(DSA)引导下进行。对比两组患者手术成功率;两组患者术前即刻(T1)、术后1 d(T2)、术后3 d(T3)及术后1周(T4)时刻视觉模拟疼痛评分(VAS);对比术前(T1')、术后1个月(T2')及术后3个月(T3')时刻两组患者下肢缺血程度[患者踝肱指数(ABI)、趾肱指数(TBI)];对比T1'、T2'及T3'时刻两组患者足背动脉血流动力学[足背动脉内径(D)、血流峰速(PV)、血流量(BF)];对比T1'、T2'及T3'时刻两组患者下肢感觉神经传导速度(SNCV)和运动神经传导速度(MNCV);术后6个月,对比两组患者并发症发生率。结果:两组患者手术成功率无显著差异(P>0.05);患者VAS评分组间、时间、交互对比差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),与T1相比,T2、T3及T4时两组患者VAS评分均降低(P<0.05),与T2相比较,T3及T4时两组患者VAS评分均降低(P<0.05),与T3相比较,T4时两组患者VAS评分均降低(P<0.05),A组T2、T3及T4时刻VAS评分均低于B组(P<0.05);ABI、TBI、D、PV、BF、SNCV和MNCV组间、时间、交互对比差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);与T1'相比,T2'及T3'时两组患者ABI、TBI、D、PV、BF、SNCV和MNCV均升高(P<0.05);与T2'相比较,T3'时2组患者ABI、TBI、下肢SNCV和MNCV均升高(P<0.05),A组T2'及T3'时刻ABI、TBI、D、PV、BF、SNCV和MNCV均高于B组(P<0.05);A组患者并发症发生率显著低于B组(P<0.05)。结论:相比LEABG,DSA引导下对ASO-LE患者进行TA治疗能够减轻疼痛,改善下肢缺血及足背动脉血流动力学,提高下肢SNCV和MNCV,降低并发症的发生率。