Sex-discrete role of depressive symptomatology on 10-year first and recurrent cardiovascular disease incidence: results from ATTICA and GREECS prospective studies

ObjectiveThe sex-specific effect of depressive symptomatology on 10-year first and recurrent cardiovascular disease (CVD) events was evaluated.MethodsThe Greek samples from ATTICA (2002-2012, n = 845 free-of-CVD subjects) and GREECS (2004-2014, n = 2,172 subjects with acute coronary syndrome (ACS)) prospective epidemiological studies with baseline psychological assessments were used for the first and the recurrent event, respectively. Depressive symptomatology was assessed at baseline, through Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale in the ATTICA study, and through the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale in the GREECS study.ResultsACS as well as free-of-CVD women scored significantly higher for depressive symptomatology. Men scored higher than women against first (19.7% vs. 11.7%) and subsequent CVD events (38.8% vs. 32.9%). In participants with depressive symptoms man-to-woman first and recurrent CVD event rate ratio was below 1, confirming that depressive women were more likely to have a CVD event than depressive men. Multiadjusted analysis revealed that depressive symptomatology had an independent aggravating effect on the first (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.72, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.50, 9.12) and recurrent (HR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.01, 1.69) CVD events only in women. Mediation analysis in women revealed that 35% (23%, 44%) of excess first-CVD-event risk of depressive symptoms was attributed to conventional risk factors. The respective number for recurrent CVD events was 46% (23%, 53%); different patterns of ranking regarding the mediating effect corresponding to each adjustment factor were observed.ConclusionsThe present work augments prior evidence that psychological stressors possess important drivers of CVD onset and progression mainly in women, while it gives rise to research toward unidentified paths behind this claim.     

年龄相关性白内障合并2型糖尿病患者超声乳化术后黄斑区脉络膜毛细血管血流密度变化及相关性研究

目的　探讨合并2型糖尿病的年龄相关性白内障患者超声乳化术后黄斑区脉络膜毛细血管血流密度（choriocapillary flow density，CFD）的改变及其与黄斑区视网膜厚度的相关性。方法　前瞻性研究。纳入行白内障超声乳化术的2型糖尿病及非糖尿病年龄相关性白内障患者各21例21眼，分为糖尿病组及非糖尿病组。检测糖尿病组患者糖化血红蛋白水平及是否存在糖尿病视网膜病变。分别在术后1 d、10 d、30 d、90 d使用光学相干断层扫描血管成像术（OCTA）对两组进行黄斑部3 mm×3 mm的扫描，测量两组患者的黄斑区脉络膜CFD及视网膜厚度。结果　糖尿病组术后1 d、10 d、30 d、90 d的黄斑区脉络膜CFD分别为（62.89±4.83）%、（61.95±3.96）%、（60.96±4.29）%、（60.78±4.67）%，随时间的延长呈下降趋势（F=9.203，P<0.001）；术后1-90 d的黄斑区脉络膜CFD变化值为（-2.11±1.42）%，与非糖尿病组黄斑区脉络膜CFD变化值（-1.15±1.31）% 相比，差异有统计学意义（P=0.038）。糖尿病组中，术后1-90 d的黄斑区脉络膜CFD降低幅度与黄斑区视网膜厚度变化呈显著负相关（中心凹区域:r=-0.48，P=0.028；旁中心凹区域:r=-0.54，P=0.012）。糖尿病组术后1-30 d的黄斑区脉络膜CFD降低幅度与糖化血红蛋白水平呈显著负相关（r=-0.45，P=0.040），术后1-90 d的黄斑区脉络膜CFD降低幅度与基线存在糖尿病视网膜病变呈显著负相关（r=-0.46，P=0.036）。结论　超声乳化手术可引起2型糖尿病患者黄斑区脉络膜CFD下降，其降低幅度与黄斑区视网膜厚度变化呈显著负相关，并且与糖化血红蛋白水平、基线是否存在糖尿病视网膜病变有密切的关系。     

应用计算机流体力学技术评估症状性颅内动脉狭窄患者卒中复发风险的研究

目的 评估基于计算机流体力学（computational fluid dynamics，CFD）技术的无创血流动力学参数与缺血性卒中复发之间的关系。      

超声心动图对妊娠中晚期下腔静脉压迫综合征的诊断价值

目的应用超声心动图探讨妊娠中晚期下腔静脉压迫综合征的临床特征。 方法选取2016年1月至2018年11月在北京百子湾和美妇儿医院做产检的孕妇42例，依据妊娠中晚期是否有明确下腔静脉压迫症状，将孕妇分为无症状的孕组1（22例）和有症状的孕组2（20例），并纳入年龄相匹配的未妊娠健康女性14名作为对照组。采用超声心动图测量左心室舒张末期径（LVEDD）和收缩末期径（LVESD）、左心室射血分数（LVEF）、右心室基底内径、肺动脉瓣血流速度。分别在平卧位、侧卧位和直立位等不同体位下测量下腔静脉血流峰值速度，计算不同体位峰值速度比值。对以上3组间数据进行单因素方差分析，有统计学意义的采用相应组间两两比较的Bonferroni检验。采用受试者操作特征（ROC）曲线分析下腔静脉血流速度及不同体位下下腔静脉血流速度比值预测下腔静脉受压迫的价值。 结果与对照组相比，孕妇组左侧卧位和平卧位时下腔静脉血流速度明显增快，差异有统计学意义（F=16.921、21.845，P均<0.05），且有症状孕组2血流速度增快更明显。直立位时下腔静脉血流速度在3组间比较，差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。ROC曲线分析下腔静脉血流速度增快超过157.5 cm/s，敏感度69%，特异度23%。卧位与立位下腔静脉血流速度比值大于1.96时，诊断下腔静脉压迫征的敏感度、特异度分别为61%和83%。 结论中晚期妊娠超声心动图检测下腔静脉血流速度，以及卧位与立位下腔静脉血流速度比值诊断孕中晚期下腔静脉压迫征有重要价值。     

Current intensity‐ and polarity‐specific online and aftereffects of transcranial direct current stimulation: An fMRI study

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) induces polarity‐ and dose‐dependent neuroplastic aftereffects on cortical excitability and cortical activity, as demonstrated by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional imaging (fMRI) studies. However, lacking systematic comparative studies between stimulation‐induced changes in cortical excitability obtained from TMS, and cortical neurovascular activity obtained from fMRI, prevent the extrapolation of respective physiological and mechanistic bases. We investigated polarity‐ and intensity‐dependent effects of tDCS on cerebral blood flow (CBF) using resting‐state arterial spin labeling (ASL‐MRI), and compared the respective changes to TMS‐induced cortical excitability (amplitudes of motor evoked potentials, MEP) in separate sessions within the same subjects (n = 29). Fifteen minutes of sham, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0‐mA anodal or cathodal tDCS was applied over the left primary motor cortex (M1) in a randomized repeated‐measure design. Time‐course changes were measured before, during and intermittently up to 120‐min after stimulation. ROI analyses indicated linear intensity‐ and polarity‐dependent tDCS after‐effects: all anodal‐M1 intensities increased CBF under the M1 electrode, with 2.0‐mA increasing CBF the greatest (15.3%) compared to sham, while all cathodal‐M1 intensities decreased left M1 CBF from baseline, with 2.0‐mA decreasing the greatest (?9.3%) from sham after 120‐min. The spatial distribution of perfusion changes correlated with the predicted electric field, as simulated with finite element modeling. Moreover, tDCS‐induced excitability changes correlated more strongly with perfusion changes in the left sensorimotor region compared to the targeted hand‐knob region. Our findings reveal lasting tDCS‐induced alterations in cerebral perfusion, which are dose‐dependent with tDCS parameters, but only partially account for excitability changes.     

Caliber-persistent labial artery: report of 3 cases

The caliber-persistent labial artery is a vascular anomaly in which a primary arterial branch penetrates into the submucosal tissue without reduction in diameter. Most lesions are benign and do not require treatment, except for complications and/or on patient demands. In this way, noninvasive diagnostic tools are preferred such as high-resolution and color Doppler ultrasonography which allow direct observation of the lesion, assessing its exact location and diameter at every axis, as well as the blood flow velocity. An excisional biopsy of these lesions or even their surgical extirpation could have a fatal outcome with profuse bleeding.     

Use of 70- to 150-μm Radiopaque Spherical Embolics for Prostatic Artery Embolization

This retrospective report describes treatment of 21 patients who underwent prostatic artery embolization using 70- to 150-μm radiopaque microspheres for lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Seventeen patients (81%) received successful bilateral prostatic artery embolization. At a mean follow-up of 42 days (range, 25–59 days), patients showed improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score (n = 11; mean = 10.6; P = .001), quality of life score (n = 17; mean = 2.0; P = .02), and International Index of Erectile Function (n = 17; mean = 9.3; P = .01). The mean prostate volume reduction was 28 mL (16.2%; P = .003). Nontarget embolization occurred twice, resulting in 1 minor adverse event of hematospermia.     

非阻塞性冠状动脉粥样硬化患者血管内皮功能与左室舒张功能的关系

目的 探讨非阻塞性冠状动脉粥样硬化患者血管内皮功能与左室舒张功能的关系。方法 选取2013.6～2015.6宣武医院心脏内科收治的因胸痛疑诊冠心病、经冠脉造影检查证实为非阻塞性冠状动脉粥样硬化症（冠状动脉狭窄＜50%）患者119例，其中男性55例，女性64例，年龄31～85岁，平均年龄60岁。专业培训人员采用标准化问卷调查记录患者临床资料，行超声心动图和肱动脉血流介导内皮依赖性血管舒张功能（FMD）检测，分为FMD正常组（FMD＞10%）和减低组（FMD≤10%）。结果 两组人群基本临床资料无显著性差异（P值均＞0.05）。左室结构指标室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度、左室舒张末内径、左室质量指数两组间比较无显著性差异（P值均＞0.05）。左室收缩功能指标每搏输出量、心输出量、左室短轴缩短率及射血分数组间比较也无显著性差异（P值均＞0.05）。FMD降低组较FMD正常组E/A比值显著减低（P＜0.001）、E/e’比值显著升高（P=0.006），控制年龄等影响因素，偏相关分析显示FMD与E/A比值存在显著正相关（r=0.261，P=0.005），FMD与E/e’呈显著负相关（r=-0.203，P=0.033）。结论 在非阻塞性冠状动脉粥样硬化人群中，内皮功能与左室舒张功能密切相关，内皮功能不全患者左室舒张功能明显减退。     

Robust arterial transit time and cerebral blood flow estimation using combined acquisition of Hadamard‐encoded multi‐delay and long‐labeled long‐delay pseudo‐continuous arterial spin labeling: a simulation and in vivo study

Arterial transit time (ATT) prolongation causes an error of cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement during arterial spin labeling (ASL). To improve the accuracy of ATT and CBF in patients with prolonged ATT, we propose a robust ATT and CBF estimation method for clinical practice. The proposed method consists of a three‐delay Hadamard‐encoded pseudo‐continuous ASL (H‐pCASL) with an additional‐encoding and single‐delay with long‐labeled long‐delay (1dLLLD) acquisition. The additional‐encoding allows for the reconstruction of a single‐delay image with long‐labeled short‐delay (1dLLSD) in addition to the normal Hadamard sub‐bolus images. Five different images (normal Hadamard 3 delay, 1dLLSD, 1dLLLD) were reconstructed to calculate ATT and CBF. A Monte Carlo simulation and an in vivo study were performed to access the accuracy of the proposed method in comparison to normal 7‐delay (7d) H‐pCASL with equally divided sub‐bolus labeling duration (LD). The simulation showed that the accuracy of CBF is strongly affected by ATT. It was also demonstrated that underestimation of ATT and CBF by 7d H‐pCASL was higher with longer ATT than with the proposed method. Consistent with the simulation, the 7d H‐pCASL significantly underestimated the ATT compared to that of the proposed method. This underestimation was evident in the distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA; P = 0.0394) and the distal posterior cerebral artery (PCA; 2 P = 0.0255). Similar to the ATT, the CBF was underestimated with 7d H‐pCASL in the distal ACA (P = 0.0099), distal middle cerebral artery (P = 0.0109), and distal PCA (P = 0.0319) compared to the proposed method. Improving the SNR of each delay image (even though the number of delays is small) is crucial for ATT estimation. This is opposed to acquiring many delays with short LD. The proposed method confers accurate ATT and CBF estimation within a practical acquisition time in a clinical setting.