Accuracy of transcranial Doppler sonography for predicting cerebral infarction in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography using different criteria for predicting cerebral infarction due to symptomatic vasospasm. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and radiologic data of consecutive patients admitted with acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the anterior cerebral circulation between January 2001 and June 2002. TCD sonographic examinations were performed on alternate days up to 20 days after admission. Cerebral infarction was defined on CT as a new hypodensity in the vascular distribution with corresponding clinical symptoms. Vasospasm was diagnosed as mild or severe when TCD sonography revealed a mean blood flow velocity (MBFV) greater than 120 and 180 cm/s in the middle or anterior cerebral artery and in the intracranial part of the internal carotid artery, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 93 patients with aneurysmal SAH in the anterior cerebral circulation were included. Vasospasm was demonstrated by TCD sonography in 60 patients (64.5%) and was shown via multivariable logistic regression analysis to be predictive of cerebral infarction (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.46-6.59), with an 82.6% and 69.6% sensitivity, a 41.4% and 77.1% specificity, a 31.7% and 50.0% positive predictive value, and an 87.9% and 88.5% negative predictive value when the MBFV was greater than 120 and 180 cm/s, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Vasospasm on TCD was found to be predictive of symptomatic cerebral infarction on CT, but its positive predictive value remained low despite the adoption of restrictive TCD criteria for vasospasm.     

Predictors of macrovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the importance of classic and nonclassic risk factors in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) or cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this community-based, prospective cohort study, quantitative measurements for cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), glucose, and lipoprotein(a) detected as a sinking pre-beta-lipoprotein band on electrophoresis were obtained from 1968 through 1982 from 449 patients who were free of CAD and CVD but had type 2 DM. Demographic data and covariables obtained were age, body mass index, duration of diabetes, sex, smoking, and hypertension. The relationship of individual continuous factors to the development of CAD and CVD as well as multivariate models were evaluated with use of the Cox proportional hazards model. The primary outcome was to determine which risk factors are associated with development of CAD or CVD in patients with type 2 DM. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 13 years, 216 CAD and 115 CVD events had developed. The hazard ratio estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CAD after multivariate analysis were significant for age, 1.45 (95% CI, 1.27-1.67); fasting glucose levels at enrollment, 1.63 (95% CI, 1.17-2.25); smoking, 1.45 (95% CI, 1.10-1.91); and TGs, 1.49 (95% CI, 1.15-1.92). The hazard ratio estimates for CVD were significant for age, 1.95 (95% CI, 1.59-2.38); hypertension, 1.89 (95% CI, 1.30-2.74); fasting glucose levels at enrollment, 1.69 (95% CI, 1.06-2.70); and smoking, 1.57 (95% CI, 1.07-2.30). CONCLUSION: In diabetic patients, age, fasting glucose levels, smoking, and TG levels are independent risk factors for development of CAD events. Age, hypertension, glucose, and smoking predicted development of CVD events.     

Carotid intima-media thickness in Japanese type 2 diabetic subjects: predictors of progression and relationship with incident coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVE: To examine carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), predictors of its progression, and its relationship with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) in type 2 diabetic Japanese patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Carotid IMT of 287 subjects with type 2 diabetes (mean age 61.6 years) without CHD or cerebrovascular disease was examined at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 3.1 years. RESULTS: The annual progression of IMT (means +/- SEM) was 0.04+/-0.004 mm/year. Stepwise multivariate analysis demonstrated that independent risk factors for progress of IMT were the initial IMT (P<0.001), the average HbA1c level (P<0.001), and age (P = 0.001). Both the initial IMT (odds ratio [OR] 4.9, 95% CI 1.7-14.1) and a low average HDL cholesterol (OR 0.2, 0.1-0.8) were identified as predictors of incident nonfatal CHD (angina pectoris or nonfatal myocardial infarction; 3-year incidence 10.1%) after adjusting for age, sex, average HbA1c, and other risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The predictors of the progression of carotid IMT in Japanese type 2 diabetic subjects were its baseline thickness and the average HbA1c during the follow-up. Baseline carotid IMT and low HDL cholesterol predicted the incidence of nonfatal CHD.     

Blood flow velocity and pulsatility index differences in patients with unilateral migraine

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate blood flow velocity and pulsatility in unilateral migraine without aura during the headache-free period using transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography. METHODS: Patients with unilateral headache were recruited during the headache-free period. Maximum mean flow velocity (MFV) and pulsatility index (PI) were measured in the middle cerebral (MCA) and basilar arteries. Controls were headache-free individuals without cerebrovascular disease. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients with right-sided migraine, 25 patients with left-sided migraine, and 19 controls were studied. The MCA PI was higher on the right headache side versus the left headache side (0.97 +/- 0.2 versus 0.86 +/- 0.1 cm/s, P =.02) and versus controls (0.9 +/- 0.2 cm/s, NS). The basilar artery MFV was higher in patients with right-sided headache versus left-sided headache (39.5 +/- 5.6 versus 34.7 +/- 8.2 cm/s, P =.02) and versus controls (38.2 +/- 8 cm/s, NS). No decrease in MFV with age was observed in patients with migraine. CONCLUSIONS: Middle cerebral artery flow pulsatility and basilar artery velocity are higher in patients with right-sided migraine compared with left-sided migraineurs, during the headache-free period. Although these parameters were similar to controls, the differences found during the headache-free period in migraineurs may indicate vascular involvement predisposing to the unilateral headache recurrence.     

TCD联合血清D-D检测对急性脑梗死患者颅内动脉狭窄的诊断价值

探讨经颅多普勒超声(TCD)联合血清D二聚体(D-D)对急性脑梗死颅内动脉狭窄的诊断价值。【方法】选取2018年7月至2020年7月在本院诊治的急性脑梗死患者112例为研究对象。所有患者均接受CT血管造影(CTA)和TCD检查,且均采集静脉血检测其血清D-D水平。比较TCD与CTA检测颅内动脉狭窄的结果,以CTA检测结果为金标准,分析TCD对颅内血管狭窄的诊断价值,用受试者工作曲线(ROC)分析血清D-D诊断颅内血管狭窄的诊断价值,记录曲线下面积(ALTC)。【结果】CTA检查结果显示:112例患者中检出颅内血管狭窄者81例,总检出狭窄血管202条,无狭窄者31例。TCD检测出狭窄血管191条,TCD对狭窄血管的诊断一致性较好,Kappa值=0.762,其中TCD对双侧大脑中动脉(MCA)血管狭窄的诊断价值最高,灵敏度为91.76%,阳性预测值为93.98%,一致性最好,Kappa值=0.852。ROC曲线分析结果显示:血清D-D诊断颅内血管狭窄的AUrC值为0.714,以>0.85 mg/L为分界点时诊断价值最高,灵敏度为48.15%,特异度为87.10%;TCD联合血清D-D诊断颅内血管狭窄的灵敏度为93.83%,准确性为95.54%,明显高于血清D-D单一检测(P<0.05),与TCD单一检测比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。【结论】TCD联合血清D-D检测对急性脑梗死颅内动脉狭窄的诊断价值较高,尤其对MCA血管狭窄诊断准确性较高。     

Increased intracranial arterial resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The majority of the studies investigating risk factors for stroke have focused on the atherosclerosis of extracranial carotid arteries. Risk factors for the involvement of intracranial arteries in patients with stroke have not been widely investigated so far. The pulsatility index reflects the vascular resistance of intracranial arteries and could therefore be used as an estimate of the severity of vascular damage. MAIN PURPOSE: The present study aimed to examine the influence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and some other atherosclerosis risk factors on intracranial vascular resistance in patients with a previous stroke or transient ischemic attack. METHODS: Transcranial doppler investigations were performed in 103 patients with previous stroke (31 with diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, 72 without diabetes), at least 3 months after stroke occurred. Blood flow velocities of anterior cerebral arteries, middle cerebral arteries, the intracranial part of vertebral arteries and the basilar artery, as well as of the extracranial part of the internal carotid artery were measured, and Gosling's pulsatility index was calculated. The maximal pulsatility index of intracranial arteries was defined to express the most pronounced damage. RESULTS: Diabetic patients had a significantly higher pulsatility index than non-diabetic patients in all examined intracranial arteries. The maximal pulsatility index was also significantly higher in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic patients (1.24 +/- 0.25 vs. 1.00 +/- 0.23; p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the pulsatility index between men and women and between groups of patients with or without hypertension. In the multivariate analysis, the presence of diabetes (p < 0.0001) and the age of patients (p < 0.0001) were the only factors significantly predicting maximal pulsatility index, and this relationship was independent on the presence of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients with previous stroke have a higher pulsatility index than non-diabetic patients with previous strokes, which indicates a higher increase in intracranial arterial resistance and more severe damage to cerebral blood flow in diabetes mellitus.     

HOMA-estimated insulin resistance is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic subjects: prospective data from the Verona Diabetes Complications Study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Conventional CVD risk factors (sex, age, smoking, plasma lipids, blood pressure, and metabolic control) and insulin resistance (estimated by HOMA) were evaluated at baseline in 1,326 patients with type 2 diabetes examined within the Verona Diabetes Complications Study. At baseline and after a mean follow-up of 4.5 years, CVD was assessed by medical history, physical examination, electrocardiography, and echo-Doppler of carotid and lower limb arteries. Death certificates and medical records of subjects who died during the follow-up were carefully scrutinized to identify cardiovascular deaths. In statistical analyses, CVD was an aggregate end point including both fatal and nonfatal coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular disease as well as ischemic electrocardiographic abnormalities and vascular lesions identified by echo-Doppler. RESULTS: At baseline, 441 subjects were coded positive for CVD (prevalent cases). Incident cases numbered 126. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that, along with sex, age, smoking, HDL/total cholesterol ratio, and hypertension, HOMA-IR was an independent predictor of both prevalent and incident CVD. A 1-unit increase in (log)HOMA-IR value was associated with an odds ratio for prevalent CVD at baseline of 1.31 (95% CI 1.10-1.56, P = 0.002) and for incident CVD during follow-up of 1.56 (95% CI 1.14-2.12, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HOMA-IR is an independent predictor of CVD in type 2 diabetes. The improvement of insulin resistance might have beneficial effects not only on glucose control but also on CVD in patients with type 2 diabetes.     

Role of hyperlipidemia in atherosclerotic plaque formation in the internal carotid artery

PURPOSE: The role of hyperlipidemia in atherosclerotic changes of the carotid artery is controversial. The aims of this retrospective study were to assess (1) the relationship between total serum cholesterol and triglyceride and the grade of internal carotid artery stenosis and (2) whether total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels are independent risk factors for internal carotid artery atherosclerosis. METHODS: The files of 1,934 acute ischemic stroke patients were investigated retrospectively. The atherosclerotic involvement of the internal carotid artery was assessed via duplex sonography as percent of stenosis and was graded as follows: group 1, no plaque; group 2, <30% stenosis; group 3, 30-99% stenosis; and group 4, occlusion. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 66.9 +/- 12.8 years. Patients without any plaque had significantly lower cholesterol levels compared with those with any degree of internal carotid artery stenosis. Univariate analysis revealed that age (p < 0.001), sex (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.05), cholesterol (p < 0.01), triglycerides(p < 0.05), and smoking (p < 0.001) were significant contributors to atherosclerosis. In the ordinal logistic regression model, age (p < 0.001), sex (p < 0.001), smoking(p < 0.001), and cholesterol (p < 0.05) remained independent predictors of internal carotid artery atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Total serum cholesterol level seems to be an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis in the carotid artery.     

老年糖尿病患者脑血管病变的经颅多普勒超声分析

目的探讨经颅多普勒超声(TCD)在诊断和预测老年糖尿病患者脑血管病变中的临床应用价值.方法对32例糖尿病无脑梗死患者,31例糖尿病并脑梗死患者及31例健康者的995条脑血管,进行TCD检测,就收缩期峰血流速度(Vs)、舒张末期血流速度(Vd)、平均血流速度(Vm)、脉动指数(PI)、阻力指数(RI)值等检测;各参数的结果作比较分析.结果 3组颅内血流参数比较,两疾病组血流速度异常以Vs增快为多见,尤以颈内动脉终末端(ICA)、基底动脉(BA)异常为突出特点;两疾病组血管涡流检出率和血管条数均高于对照组;糖尿病组TCD异常率52.3%,而糖尿病合并脑梗死组57.8%,均明显高于对照组.结论 TCD检测对预测和预防糖尿病患者脑血管病发生,判断预后,指导早期治疗,预防脑梗死发生具有重要价值.     

Association of Early versus Late Initiation of Dialysis with Mortality: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background/Aims: The association of the timing of dialysis initiation with mortality is controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the relationship between the risk of death and early initiation of dialysis, when the patient has a greater estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Methods: Prospective and retrospective cohort studies that independently measured the effect of early vs. late initiation of dialysis on risk of death were identified by review of several databases. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated by comparison of the highest and lowest quartiles and combined by a random-effects model. Results: 15 studies (1,285,747 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Summary estimates indicated that early start of dialysis was associated with increased risk of mortality (OR = 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-1.49, p < 0.00001). Subgroup analysis indicated that early starters were 6.61 years older (p < 0.00001) and more likely to have diabetes (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.83-2.71, p < 0.00001) than late starters. Analysis of pooled results of early and late starters indicated that older age (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.05-1.33, p = 0.006), diabetes (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.38-1.87, p < 0.00001), and high comorbidity index score (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.75-3.25, p < 0.00001) were strongly associated with increased risk of death. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicates that early initiation of dialysis (at higher eGFR) was associated with an increased risk of death. Older age, greater likelihood of diabetes, and the presence of severe comorbid disease(s) partly explain this effect.     

Hypoadiponectinemia is associated with symptomatic atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease.

There is growing evidence that adiponectin, an adipocytokine with anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic properties, is involved in the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to examine whether serum levels of adiponectin were associated with symptomatic atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Serum concentrations of adiponectin were measured in 433 patients with symptomatic PAD and 433 controls from the Linz Peripheral Arterial Disease (LIPAD) study. Cases and controls were matched for age, sex and diabetes mellitus. The median serum level of adiponectin was significantly lower in PAD patients than in control subjects (9.5 vs. 10.8 mg/L; p=0.014). After adjustment for several possible confounding variables using multivariable logistic regression, odds ratios for symptomatic PAD were 0.95 (95% CI, 0.64-1.42; p=0.080) and 0.59 (95% CI, 0.36-0.97; p=0.037) in the second and third tertiles for adiponectin serum concentrations, respectively, compared with the first tertile. Low serum levels of adiponectin were associated with the presence of symptomatic atherosclerotic PAD, independent of traditional and non-traditional risk factors, suggesting that hypoadiponectinemia may be a marker for systemic atherosclerotic disease.     

Glycemic status and development of kidney disease: the Framingham Heart Study

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes is a major risk factor for the development of kidney disease and is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the U.S. Whether pre-diabetes is associated with the development of kidney disease is unclear. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Subjects free of chronic kidney disease (CKD) were drawn from the Framingham Heart Study offspring cohort (1991-1995), given an oral glucose tolerance test, and followed for an average of 7 years for development of CKD (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] of <59 ml/min per 1.73 m2 in women and <64 ml/min per 1.73 m2 in men). Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for cardiovascular disease risk factors including age, sex, hypertension, smoking, BMI, total and HDL cholesterol levels, and prevalent myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure, were used to estimate the odds of patients developing kidney disease among glycemic categories. RESULTS: Of 2,398 subjects (53% women; mean age 54 years), 63% were normoglycemic, 29% had impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 3.4% were newly diabetic, and 4.6% had known diabetes. By glycemic category, mean GFR at follow-up was 87, 85, 82, and 78 ml/min per 1.73 m2, respectively. The fully adjusted odds of developing CKD were 0.98 (95% CI 0.67-1.45), 1.71 (95% CI 0.83-3.55), and 1.93 (95% CI 1.06-3.49) among those with IFG or IGT, newly diagnosed diabetes, or known diabetes, respectively, compared with those who were normoglycemic at baseline. Among participants without diabetes, metabolic syndrome was not associated with kidney disease at follow-up (odds ratio 1.46, P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular disease risk factors explain much of the relationship between prediabetes and the development of chronic kidney disease. Clinical trials are warranted to determine whether vascular risk factor modification can slow the decline of kidney function among those with pre-diabetes.     

Should diabetes be considered a coronary heart disease risk equivalent?: results from 25 years of follow-up in the Renfrew and Paisley survey

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to confirm or refute the view that diabetes be regarded as a coronary heart disease (CHD) risk equivalent and to test for sex differences in mortality. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 7,052 men and 8,354 women aged 45-64 years from Renfrew and Paisley, Scotland, who were first screened in 1972-1976 and followed for 25 years. All-cause mortality was calculated as death per 1,000 person-years. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to adjust survival for age, smoking habit, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, BMI, and social class. RESULTS: There were 192 deaths in 228 subjects with diabetes and 2,016 deaths in 3,076 subjects with CHD. The highest mortality was in the group with both diabetes and CHD (100.2 deaths/1,000 person-years in men, 93.6 in women) and the lowest in the group with neither (29.2 deaths/1,000 person-years in men, 19.4 in women). Men and women with diabetes only and CHD only formed an intermediate risk group. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for CHD mortality in men with diabetes only compared with men with CHD only was 1.17 (95% CI 0.78-1.74; P = 0.56). Corresponding HR for women was 1.97 (1.27-3.08; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes without previous CHD carries a lifetime risk of vascular death as high as that for CHD alone. Women may be at particular risk. Our data support the view that cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes should be treated as aggressively as in people with CHD.     

Normotensive women with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria are at high risk for macrovascular disease

OBJECTIVE: The excess risk of macrovascular disease and death associated with diabetes seems higher in women than in men. The pathogenesis for this risk difference has not been fully elucidated. We investigated whether female sex was associated with macrovascular disease and death, independently of known risk factors related to type 2 diabetes, nephropathy, or retinopathy in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, prolonged follow-up study of a subgroup of 67 diabetic patients (46 men and 21 women) without established cardiovascular disease who participated in a larger clinical trial. Data were collected on current and past health, medication use, blood pressure, renal function, and HbA(1c) during the follow-up period of 4.7 +/- 0.8 (means +/- SE) years. The end point was a composite of death, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular events, and peripheral artery disease. RESULTS: Of the women, eight (38.1%) met the end point compared with six (13.4%) of the men (P = 0.02 for difference in event-free survival). The hazard ratio of women relative to men was 3.19 (95% CI 1.11-9.21), which further increased after adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, BMI, smoking, total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio, urinary albumin excretion, and retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: In our study population of normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria, female sex was associated with increased risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular disease, independent of the classical cardiovascular risk factors, the severity of nephropathy or presence of retinopathy, or health care utilization.     

Asymmetrical dimethylarginine independently predicts total and cardiovascular mortality in individuals with angiographic coronary artery disease (the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health study)

BACKGROUND: Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is increased in conditions associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis. We investigated the use of ADMA to predict total and cardiovascular mortality in patients scheduled for coronary angiography. METHODS: In 2543 persons with and 695 without coronary artery disease (CAD) identified by angiography we measured ADMA and recorded total and cardiovascular mortality during a median follow-up of 5.45 years. RESULTS: ADMA was correlated positively to age, female sex, diabetes mellitus, former and current smoking, and C-reactive protein and inversely to HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. ADMA was not associated with body mass index, hypertension, LDL cholesterol, or the presence or absence of angiographic CAD. Glomerular filtration rate and homocysteine were the strongest predictors of ADMA. At the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartile of ADMA, hazard ratios for all-cause mortality adjusted for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors were 1.12 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83-1.52], 1.35 (95% CI 1.01-1.81), and 1.87 (95% CI 1.43-2.44), respectively, compared with the 1st quartile. Hazard ratios for cardiovascular death were 1.13 (95% CI 0.78-1.63), 1.42 (95% CI 1.00-2.02), and 1.81 (95% CI 1.31-2.51). ADMA in the highest quartile remained predictive of mortality after accounting for medication at baseline. The predictive value of ADMA was similar to that in the entire cohort in persons with CAD, stable or unstable, but was not statistically significant in persons without angiographic CAD. CONCLUSIONS: ADMA concentration predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in individuals with CAD independently of established and emerging cardiovascular risk factors.     

Low incidence of vascular complications in patients with diabetes mellitus associated with liver cirrhosis as compared with type 2 diabetes mellitus

We compared clinical features and vascular complications of patients with diabetes mellitus associated with liver cirrhosis versus patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subjects were 19 patients (LC-DM group) in whom diabetes was diagnosed after development of liver cirrhosis. Control consisted of 38 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM group) matched for sex, age, duration of diabetes, body mass index, treatment, and degree of glycemic control, which was determined by glycoalbumin. The LC-DM group had significantly more smokers, higher serum insulin levels, more insulin resistance calculated by homeostasis model assessment, lower blood counts (white and red blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelets), and lower serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and lipoprotein (Lp)(a) than the T2DM group. The incidence of diabetic retinopathy and cerebrovascular disease was significantly lower in the LC-DM group compared to the T2DM group. Logistic regression analysis indicated that Lp(a) and the diabetes duration were significant predictors for the retinopathy, while Lp(a) was a significant predictor for the cerebrovascular complication. In diabetes associated with liver cirrhosis, the incidence of diabetic retinopathy and cerebrovascular disease is lower than in type 2 diabetes mellitus in this study, probably because of lower levels of serum Lp(a).     

心血管疾病危险人群中微量白蛋白尿与踝臂脉搏波传导速度的相关性研究

目的 评价存在心血管疾病危险因素但无明确心脑血管疾病的患者中,微量白蛋白尿(MA)与踝臂脉搏波传导速度(baPWV)的关系.方法 采用横断面研究,入选276例有心血管疾病危险因素但无明确心脑血管疾病的住院患者,根据其尿白蛋白/肌酐(UACR)水平分为两组:微量白蛋白尿组(MA组:30 mg/g≤UACR≤300 mg/g)及不伴微量白蛋白尿组(NMA组:0~30 mg/g),测量baPWV,并将其分为三组,分别为低值组(1145～1659 cm/s)、中值组(1663～1980 cm/s)和高值组(1981～5297 cm/s),收集临床一般资料,检查心血管疾病危险因素.结果 入选患者中,MA的检出率为9.42%,与NMA组患者相比,MA组患者的baPWV更快,收缩压、空腹血糖及糖化血红蛋白水平更高(P<0.01或0.05).与baPWV低值组相比较,baPWV中值组及高值组的UACR水平及MA检出率增加(P<0.01或O.05).Logistic回归分析显示,校正性别、年龄、高血压、糖尿病、吸烟、腰围和血脂等传统心血管危险因素后,baPWV中值组及高值组出现MA的风险增加,其危险比(95%置信区间)[OR(95%c1)]分别为9.888(1.855,52.703)和12.118(1.960,74.291)(P<0.01).Spearman相关分析显示UACR水平与年龄、baPWV、收缩压、空腹血糖及糖化血红蛋白呈正相关(P<0.01或0.05).结论 心血管疾病危险患者中,MA与baPWV密切相关,并与年龄、收缩压、空腹血糖及糖化血红蛋白相关.     

探讨经颅多普勒对脑血管疾病的诊断价值

目的探讨经颅多普勒（TCD）对脑血管疾病的诊断价值。方法对700例体检对象脑血管的TCD血流频谱和血流参数进行分析。结果临床有高血压、糖尿病、高血脂等高危因素存在时,TCD血流频谱和参数明显不同。结论TCD对脑血管疾病的早期发现和预防有重要价值。     

Abdominal obesity and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes in a Swedish community. Skaraborg hypertension and diabetes project

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between abdominal obesity and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Primary care in Skara, Sweden. SUBJECTS: A total of 198 men and 186 women with type 2 diabetes who consecutively completed an annual check-up in 1992-1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Abdominal obesity was defined according to criteria for the metabolic syndrome using the waist circumference (WC): > 102 cm for men and > 88 cm for women. Insulin resistance was estimated using the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA), and was dichotomized by the 75th percentile (IR). RESULTS: Abdominal obesity was found in 66 men (33%), and in 106 women (57%). Pearson's correlation coefficients between components of the metabolic syndrome and IR were statistically significant for WC, waist-hip ratio, serum triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol, and were higher for WC (0.40) than for waist-hip ratio (0.23) in both genders (p < 0.001). The association between WC and IR was challenged by successively entering other components of the metabolic syndrome into the model in a logistic regression. In the final model, adjusting for differences in age, systolic blood pressure, HbA1c, serum triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and microalbuminuria, the association remained statistically significant both in men (OR 8.6, 95% CI 3.0-25.2, p < 0.001), and in women (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.7-18.1, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: WC provides a feasible measure for insulin resistance in the vast majority of subjects with type 2 diabetes. It is convenient and less expensive than direct means and could be used as a proxy for insulin resistance in population studies.     

Higher levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a decreased likelihood of albuminuria in patients with long-standing type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether high levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a lower prevalence of albuminuria RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed the lipid profiles of patients with type 1 diabetes of > or = 20 years duration in 42 patients with albuminuria (28 microalbuminuria and 14 macroalbuminuria) and 65 patients without increased albumin excretion before any interventions with either statins or ACE inhibitors. RESULTS: Several characteristics were similar in the two groups: sex, age, duration of diabetes, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. By univariate analysis, significant differences (P < 0.01) were found in HDL cholesterol (albuminuria 1.42 mg/dl, no albuminuria 1.71 mg/dl, P < 0.01), HbA1c (A1C) (albuminuria 8.5%, no albuminuria 7.5%), and proportions with no, background, and proliferative retinopathy (albuminuria 2.4, 16.7, and 81%; no albuminuria 24.6, 52.3, and 23.1%, respectively). When adjusted for age and sex, a 0.26-mmol/l (10-mg/dl) increase in HDL cholesterol is associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.70 (95% CI 0.54-0.90) for having albuminuria. In a multivariate model that adjusted for age, sex, diabetes duration, and A1C, for every 0.54-mmol/l (21-mg/dl) increase in HDL cholesterol, patients are approximately half (OR 0.51 [95% CI 0.30-0.86]) as likely to have albuminuria, even after controlling for A1C. CONCLUSIONS: Higher HDL cholesterol levels may be protective against the development of albuminuria in patients with type 1 diabetes. Whether this is due to the HDL cholesterol levels or whether they serve as a marker for some other mechanism remains to be determined.