ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the significance of ultrasonography in the examination of rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods The wrist joints of activated RA and wrist, metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal joints of remission of RA were determined, and the imaging features were analyzed. Results Patients with activated RA were divided into two groups. The bone erosion and sheath lesions were lower in the group of duration less than 1 year than those in the group of duration over 1 year (P < 0.01). The positive rate of ultrasound was higher than that of X-ray in bone erosion (P < 0.05). To patients with the remission of RA, the positive rate of ultrasound was higher than that of the physical examination in synovitis ( P < 0 . 05 ) . Conclusions For bone erosion, ultrasound is better than X-ray for patients with early RA. For synovitis, the sensitivity of ultrasonography is higher than the physical examination in remission for RA patients.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the correlation between 1-hour postload plasma glucose and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in elderly male patients with hypertension.Methods One hundred and twenty six elderly male patients with hypertension were enrolled and divided into four groups: normal glucose tolerance with normal 1 h plasma glucose (1 hPG) group (low-NGT, n=42); normal glucose tolerance with high lh plasma glucose group (high-NGT, n=23);impaired glucose tolerance group (IGT, n=27) and diabetic group (n=84). The differences of blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipid and intimia-media thickness among groups were analyzed.Results OGTT 1 hPG in high-NGT group was similar with IGT group[(12.0±1.1)mmol/L vs. (11.1±1.8)mrnol/L, P>0. 053 ,but significantly higher than that in Iow-NGT group ((12.0±1.1)mmol/L vs. (9. 1±1.4) mmol/L, P<0.01]. The value of IMT was gradually increased in four groups (P<0.05) and it was (1.02±0. 12) mm in high-NGT group. OGTT 1 hPG was the independent risk factor for IMT(P< 0.01).Conclusions OC-TT 1h plasma glucose is associated with atherosclerosis in elderly male hypertensive people.