Carotid intima-media thickness in Parkinson's disease.

There have been a few studies and inconsistent results regarding the coincidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) and atherosclerotic diseases, such as cerebrovascular disease. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a known marker for subclinical atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the carotid IMT between PD patients and controls. We studied 43 patients with PD and 86 matched controls. The carotid IMT in PD patients was significantly smaller than in controls (0.796 +/- 0.179 mm vs. 0.913 +/- 0.237 mm, P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, the carotid IMT was inversely associated with the duration of levodopa medication and the severity of PD. These results suggest that PD patients have a lower risk of atherosclerosis.     

Paired kidney analysis of tacrolimus and cyclosporine microemulsion-based therapy in Chinese cadaveric renal transplant recipients

Few studies used paired kidneys for comparison between tacrolimus and cyclosporine in renal transplantation. Most of the published data used whole blood trough levels for drug monitoring. However, the use of limited sampling strategy and abbreviated formula to estimate the 12-h area under concentration-time curve (AUC(0-12)) allowed better prediction of drug exposure. Sixty-six first cadaveric renal transplant recipients receiving paired kidneys were randomized to receive either tacrolimus-based (n = 33) or cyclosporine microemulsion (Neoral)-based therapies (n = 33). Abbreviated AUC(0-12) was used for drug monitoring and dose titration. Mean follow-up duration was 2.8 +/- 2 years. The patient and graft survival were comparable. Fewer incidence of acute rejection was observed in tacrolimus group (15% vs. 27.3%) though the difference was not significant (P = 0.23). The absolute value and the rate of decline of creatinine clearance were both significantly better in tacrolimus-treated patients. Prevalence of hypertension, post-transplant diabetes mellitus, infection, and malignancy were similar in both groups. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (11/33 vs. 4/33) and gum hypertrophy (6/33 vs. 1/33) was more common in cyclosporine-treated patients (P = 0.04 in both parameters). This was the first prospective, randomized study with paired kidney analysis showing the renal function was significantly better in tacrolimus-treated patients than in cyclosporine-treated patients.     

Factors Affecting Cardiac Catheterization Rates in Elders with Acute Coronary Syndromes

Background: Elder patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are less likely to receive cardiac catheterization. The reasons for this are unclear.
Objectives: To assess whether elder patients who had a documented history of dementia, lived in extended care facilities, or had do not intubate–do not resuscitate (DNR-DNI) advance directives were less likely to receive cardiac catheterization, despite having ACS with high-risk features.
Methods: This was a medical record review conducted at an urban teaching hospital. DNR-DNI status before hospitalization, extended care facility (nursing home or assisted living) residence, and a previous diagnosis of dementia were obtained from the medical record. Patients 65 years and older who presented to the emergency department with acute myocardial infarction or with unstable angina with ST segment deviation were included. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed, and odds ratios (ORs) were reported with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: Of the 201 eligible patients, 66 (32.8%) patients did not undergo cardiac catheterization. In the univariate analysis, patients who had dementia, resided in extended care facilities, or were DNR-DNI were less likely to receive cardiac catheterization. Only extended care facility residence (OR, 0.18; 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.83) and DNR-DNI status (OR, 0.19; 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.92) remained significantly associated with decreased cardiac catheterization in the multivariate analysis.
Conclusions: Elder patients with ACS residing in extended care facilities or who are DNR-DNI are less likely to receive cardiac catheterization. Future studies concerning the quality of ACS care for elders should take these variables into account.     

Iotrol versus metrizamide in lumbar myelography: a double-blind study

In a prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 49 patients underwent lumbar myelography using iotrol (24 patients) or metrizamide (25 patients). The diagnostic imaging adequacy of iotrol was comparable with that of metrizamide. After iotrol myelography, adverse reactions were fewer, less severe, and of shorter duration than were those following metrizamide myelography. Thirteen of 24 patients (54%) receiving iotrol reported some adverse reactions compared with 24 of 25 patients (96%) receiving metrizamide. Five moderate and one severe adverse reaction occurred in the group receiving iotrol. Fourteen moderate and eight severe adverse reactions occurred in the group receiving metrizamide. Thirty-eight patients underwent electroencephalography both before and after myelography (19 iotrol and 19 metrizamide). None of the EEGs obtained after iotrol myelography changed from baseline, while seven of the EEGs obtained after metrizamide myelography showed changes from baseline. Iotrol was judged superior to metrizamide as a contrast medium in this patient population.     

特素联合卡铂治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌28例临床研究

目的 评价特素（紫杉醇注射液）联合卡铂（伯尔定）方案治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）的疗效和不良反应.方法 收集我院2004年3月～2006年12月收治的Ⅲb～Ⅳ期的NSCLC患者28例,进行特素（紫杉醇注射液）联合卡铂（伯尔定）化疗.全部患者均有可测量的指标.给药方法：特素135～175mg/m2d1＋卡铂5mg·ml^-1·min^-1d2,静脉注射,28天为一周期.结果 全组总有效率50.0%,Ⅲb期有效率62.5%,Ⅳ期有效率45.0%.化疗副反应主要是骨髓抑制及消化道反应,其中Ⅲ～Ⅳ度分别为24.0%、10.7%.结论 特素联合卡铂治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌治疗有效,耐受性良好.     

武汉市3～5岁儿童牙齿酸蚀症的研究

目的：调查武汉市3～5岁儿童的酸蚀症流行状况；评价儿童饮用饮料和饮食习惯、口腔卫生习惯与酸蚀症的关系。方法：随机抽样武汉市4所幼儿园3～5岁儿童共500人。对所有儿童进行酸蚀症和龋齿发病情况的临床检查以及问卷调查，问卷内容包括：儿童每天消耗饮料或食物的频率，以及口腔健康行为。收集酸蚀症儿童和无酸蚀症儿童各20人，对其唾液pH值、流速和缓冲能力进行测定和比较。结果：武汉市3—5岁儿童酸蚀症的患病率为9．3％。儿童睡觉时含奶瓶、喝饮料的习惯与酸蚀症的发生呈正相关。酸蚀症儿童和对照组儿童唾液分析结果无显著性差异。结论：预防酸蚀症应该减少酸性食物及饮料的消费量及频率。     

青年维持性血液透析患者心血管疾病调查及危险因素分析

目的调查青年维持性血液透析（MHD）患者心血管疾病的发病情况和病变特点，并探讨其危险因素。方法采用横断面研究。MHD患者98例，以45岁为界分为青年组（47例）和中老年组（51例）。收集患者临床资料和生化指标。心脏超声检查测量心脏腔径及心功能参数。分析青年组患者心脏结构和功能异常的患病率、病变特点及其影响因素。结果（1）47例青年患者中有30例（63．8％）存在心脏结构异常，主要表现为左心室肥厚、左心房增大和瓣膜反流，患病率分别为61．7％、38．3％和34．0％。（2）青年组患者向心性肥厚的患病率为86．2％，离心性肥厚的患病率为13．8％，与中老年组相比，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。（3）与无心脏病变青年MHD患者相比，伴心脏病变者的超滤量、收缩压、血磷和甲状旁腺激素明显增高，而Kt／V、血红蛋白和血清白蛋白明显降低，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。Logistic回归分析结果显示，超滤量、收缩压、血红蛋白和血甲状旁腺激素是青年MHD患者并发心脏病变的独立危险因素。结论青年MHD患者心血管疾病的患病率较高，主要表现为左心室肥厚、左房增大和瓣膜反流。超滤量、收缩压、血红蛋白和血甲状旁腺激素水平可能是影响青年MHD患者并发心脏病变的独立危险因素。     

Related factors of cognitive impairment after stroke

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment after stroke associates with various factors, such as age, educational years, etc. Besides concerning about the recovery of limb function after stroke, we should also focus on the rehabilitation of cognition. Moreover, we'd better pay attention to the control of all the risk factors of stroke, and improve the quality of life in stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors that affect cognitive impairment after stroke. DESIGN: A related factors analysis. SETTINGS: Department of Neurology of Dalian Port Hospital and Dalian Second People's Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Totally 148 stroke inpatients were selected from Department of Neurology, Dalian Port Hospital and Dalian Second People's Hospital from April 2004 to December 2005, including 100 males and 48 females, aging 45-75 years with an average age of (67±8) years; Their educational years ranged 2-10 years with an average of (6.1±3.7) years; The disease course ranged 15-30 days; All were right-handed. Inclusive criteria: All were accorded with the diagnostic standard set by the Fourth National Academic Meeting for Cerebrovascular Disease; Confirmed by CT or MRI; Informed consents were obtained from all the subjects. METHODS: After the disease conditions were stable, the patients were assessed with Wechsler memory scale (WMS) and Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST). WMS included forward and backward recitation of numbers and short-term memory (verbal memory, visual recognition). The number of times for correct and wrong classifications in WCST and the time to complete the trail making tests A and B were recorded. The focal volume, area and layer were recorded at 24 hours after admission. The general data of the patients were recorded, including name, sex, age, educational years, history of hypertension, history of diabetes mellitus. Electroencepalograph (EEG) was examined to record the wave shape, blood lipids were detected, and the cognition related indexes were analyzed with the Pearson correlation analysis. The correlation between cognitive indexes after stroke and the influencing factors were analyzed with multiple linear regression analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Correlation between cognitive indexes and imaging indexes; ② Influencing factors for cognitive indexes after stroke. RESULTS: All the 148 stroke patients were involved in the analysis of results. ① Correlation between cognitive indexes and CT indexes: There were obvious negative correlations between numerical symbol and focal layer (r =-0.234, P < 0.05), as well as between verbal memory and the focal area and volume (r =-0.363, -0.279, P < 0.05); Trail making test A had obvious positive correlation with focal area and volume (r =0.256, 0.256, P < 0.05). Results of multiple linear regression analysis: Correct classification was correlated with triglyceride (partial wave and θ wave (partial regression coefficient=0.231-0.908, P < 0.05); Verbal memory was correlated with EEG α wave, focal volume, sex, educational years and diabetes mellitus (partial regression coefficient=0.219-1.017, P < 0.05-0.01). Visual recognition had correlation with educational years and hypertension (partial regression coefficient=0.326, -1.163, P < 0.01). Trail making tests A and B were correlated with focal volume (partial regression coefficient=4.680, -18.561, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The factors that affect the cognitive function after stroke include sex, age, educational years, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, triglyceride, EEG wave shape, and the focal area, volume and layer