Comparison of Vertebral Artery Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Angiography and Digital Subtraction Angiography in the Diagnosis of Vertebral Artery Stenosis in Patients with Posterior Circulation Ischemia

SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical value of vertebral artery ultrasound (VAU), Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) and Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) on vertebral artery stenosis in patients with posterior circulation ischemia. Seventy-three patients with posterior circulation ischemia underwent vertebral artery ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography as well as digital subtraction angiography, and the diagnosis of vertebral artery stenosis (VAS) and the degree of stenosis (normal, mild stenosis, moderate stenosis, severe stenosis, and occlusion) were recorded and compared between digital subtraction angiogram and vertebral artery ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography. The vertebral artery stenosis rates on digital subtraction angiography and vertebral artery ultrasound were 87.30 % (55/63) and 49.20 % (31/63), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. The rates of vertebral artery stenosis on digital subtraction angiography and, magnetic resonance angiography was 90.38 % (47/52) and 88.46 % (46/ 52), respectively, and the differences was not statistically significant. The sensitivity, accuracy, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of vertebral artery ultrasound in diagnosing vertebral artery stenosis were 51.35 %, 54.76 %, 18.18 %, and 95.00 %, respectively, lower than those of magnetic resonance angiography, which were 91.89 %, 90.48 %, 57.14 %, and 97.14 %, respectively. Of the noninvasive imaging techniques, vertebral artery ultrasound does not accurately characterize vertebral artery stenosis and its degree of stenosis. Magnetic resonance angiography effectively screens for vertebral artery stenosis and its degree of stenosis, and can be used as a reliable tool for vertebral artery stenosis in posterior circulation cerebral infarction, and can be used in conjunction with digital subtraction angiogram in order to improve diagnostic convenience and accuracy.

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el valor clínico de la ecografía de la arteria vertebral (VAU), la angiografía por resonancia magnética (ARM) y la angiografía por sustracción digital (DSA) en la estenosis de la arteria vertebral en pacientes con isquemia de la circulación posterior. A 73 pacientes con isquemia de la circulación posterior se les realizó una ecografía de la arteria vertebral y una angiografía por resonancia magnética, así como una angiografía por sustracción digital, y se les diagnosticó estenosis de la arteria vertebral (EVA) y el grado de estenosis (normal, estenosis leve, estenosis moderada, estenosis grave, y oclusión) se registraron y compararon la angiografía por sustracción digital y la ecografía de la arteria vertebral y la angiografía por resonancia magnética. Las tasas de estenosis de la arteria vertebral en la angiografía por sustracción digital y la ecografía de la arteria vertebral fueron del 87,30 % (55/63) y del 49,20 % (31/63), respectivamente, y la diferencia fue estadísticamente significativa. Las tasas de estenosis de la arteria vertebral en la angiografía por sustracción digital y la angiografía por resonancia magnética fueron del 90,38 % (47/52) y del 88,46 % (46/52), respectivamente, y las diferencias no fueron estadísticamente significativas. La sensibilidad, precisión, valor predictivo negativo y valor predictivo positivo de la ecografía de la arteria vertebral en el diagnóstico de estenosis de la arteria vertebral fueron 51,35 %, 54,76 %, 18,18 % y 95,00 %, respectivamente, inferiores a los de la angiografía por resonancia magnética, que fueron 91,89 %, 90,48 %, 57,14 % y 97,14 %, respectivamente. De las técnicas de imagen no invasivas, la ecografía de la arteria vertebral no caracteriza con precisión la estenosis de la arteria vertebral y su grado de estenosis. La angiografía por resonancia magnética detecta eficazmente la estenosis de la arteria vertebral y su grado de estenosis, y puede usarse como una herramienta confiable para la estenosis de la arteria vertebral en el infarto cerebral de circulación posterior, y puede ser utilizada junto con la angiografía por sustracción digital para mejorar el diagnóstico y la exactitud.

Effectiveness of health education for intracranial artery stenosis patients undergoing interventional diagnosis and treatment based on 3D modeling of cerebral blood vessels / 陆军军医大学学报

Objective To explore the effect of health education based on interactive 3D-modeling of intracranial artery on interventional diagnosis and treatment for patients with intracranial artery stenosis.Methods A total of 70 patients requiring interventional diagnosis and treatment due to intracranial artery stenosis admitted to our department in 2022 were enrolled,and randomly divided into observation group and control group,with 35 cases in each group.Their stenotic sites of intracranial arteries included the vertebral and middle cerebral arteries.The observation group received the preoperative conventional education mode combined with interactive 3D-modeling to carry out health education,while the control group got the unified education sheet and slides to carry out routine preoperative health education.A self-made publicity and education effectiveness rating scale was used to score before and after the publicity and education,and their scores of awareness of intracranial artery stenosis,awareness of treatment plans,and satisfaction with medical treatment were compared between the 2 groups.Results Before the health education,there was no statistical differences in their awareness scores concerning intracranial vessels(normal intracranial arteries,intracranial arterial occlusion,and vascular stenosis treatment)between the 2 groups patients.After the implementation of education,the awareness scores of intracranial vessels were elevated in both groups,but the awareness scores of the normal intracranial artery,intracranial artery occlusion,vascular stenosis treatment,and treatment satisfaction were significantly higher in the observation group than the control group(P＜0.05).Moreover,the patients with middle cerebral artery and vertebral artery stenosis from the observation group obtained obviously higher propaganda score than those from the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The health education model combined with 3D-modeling can improve the patient's awareness of the diagnosis and treatment of intracranial artery stenosis,promote their satisfaction of medical treatment,and thus increase their compliance and the rate of interventional diagnosis and treatment,and then finally,prevent strokes caused by intracranial artery stenosis.

Recent progress in hybrid surgery for tandem carotid artery stenosis / 介入放射学杂志

Clinically,tandem carotid artery stenosis(TCAS)is a relatively rare atherosclerotic disease,and with the development of interventional techniques,its treatment has become more and more minimally invasive,and the technical feasibility of hybrid surgery(HS)has been already confirmed for long time.In recent years,with the increasing of the number of patients and the deepening of research both at home and abroad,it has been found that the safety and effectiveness of HS for TCAS are still questionable,and it is particularly important to choose the appropriate treatment for such patients.This article aims to make a comprehensive review about the HS for TCAS,focusing on its surgical process,comparison of its surgical methods,and the current controversies over the treatment of TCAS,with the hope that clinicians can get a more comprehensive understanding about this surgical method.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,32:95-99)

Hemodynamic simulation study of tandem carotid artery stenosis / 介入放射学杂志

Objective By using the computational fluid mechanic(CFD)method the tandem carotid artery stenosis(TCAS)was simulated on the model,and to compare the postoperative hemodynamic changes of different surgical procedures.Methods One patient with tandem stenosis of internal carotid artery(ICA)and common carotid artery(CCA)was selected.CFD technique was used to establish four three-dimensional(3-D)models of the carotid bifurcations,including one model of a real patient and three models of presumptive surgery.The hemodynamic analysis was performed with these models so as to explore the development mechanism of TCAS and to discuss the selection of suitable surgical plan.Results In tandem stenosis,the stenosis was preferentially formed in CCA and subsequently led to ICA stenosis.The local hemodynamic situation in TCAS was more complex and more risky than in single carotid artery stenosis.In tandem stenosis,the treatment of one stenosis site would affect the blood flow at the next stenosis site and cause restenosis or plaque rupture.Conclusion In treating patients with TCAS,CFD simulation examination should be performed when the surgical plan is formulated,which can help clinicians to predict the postoperative changes in blood flow and to choose the appropriate surgical plan.

Clinical efficacy of rapamycin-eluting vertebral artery stents in the treatment of severe ostial vertebral artery stenosis / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of rapamycin-eluting vertebral artery stent in the treatment of severe ostial vertebral artery stenosis(OV AS),and to analyze the incidence of postoperative in-stent restenosis(ISR).Methods A total of 96 patients with severe OVAS,who received stenting angioplasty at authors'hospital between November 2020 and May 2022,were retrospectively collected.The patients were divided into the observation group(n=48)and the control group(n=48).For the patients of the observation group implantation of rapamycin-eluting vertebral artery stent was carried out,while for the patients of the control group implantation of peripheral balloon dilatation bare metal stent(BMS)was performed.The perioperative basic data,the incidence of complications during follow-up period,and the postoperative incidence of ISR were compared between the two groups.Results Successful stent implantation was achieved in all patients of both groups.During perioperative period no complications such as transient ischemia attack(TIA),dropping-off or fracture of the stent,vertebral artery or stent-related stroke occurred.No statistically significant differences in the length and the diameter of the implanted stents,in the preoperative vertebral artery stenosis ratio,and in the postoperative residual stenosis ratio existed between the two groups(all P＞0.05).In both groups,the postoperative residual stenosis ratio was＜20％.The patients were followed up for a mean period of(12.33±5.82)months(range of 6-18 months),the incidence of postoperative vertebral artery or stent-related stroke in the observation group and the control group was 0％and 4.17％respectively,the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The improvement of clinical symptoms such as dizziness,vertigo,etc.was observed in 47 patients of the observation group and in 45 patients of the control group,and no recurrent posterior circulation TIA or stent-related thrombotic event occurred.The incidence of postoperative restenosis in the observation group was 10.42％,which was significantly lower than 29.17％in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Rapamycin-eluting vertebral artery stent can safely and effectively treat severe OVAS and reduce the incidence of postoperative ISR.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:275-279)

Application of quantitative electroencephalogram trends in the assessment of the state of brain function in patients with severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery and its predictive value for the risk of acute occlusion in the short term(report of one case) / 临床神经病学杂志

Objective To explore the application of quantitative EEG(QEEG)trends in the assessment of the state of brain function in patients with severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery and its predictive value for the risk of acute occlusion in the short term.Methods The clinical and imaging data of a case of severe left internal carotid stenosis were retrospectively analyzed,and QEEG trends were used for evaluating the state of brain function.Results It showed that rhythmicity spectrogram,amplitude-integrated EEG,fast Fourier transformation spectrogram and fast Fourier transform power spectrum in QEEG trends could quickly and visually display theta activity and amplitude at the side of severe internal carotid artery stenosis continued to increase compared with the healthy side hemisphere.Acute occlusion of the left internal carotid artery and large artery atherosclerotic cerebral infarction occurred in the patient after 3 days.Conclusion As a supplement to neuroimaging examination,QEEG trends may be helpful for rapidly diagnosing brain function damage in the early stage of patients with severe internal carotid artery stenosis who are under the ischemic attack state,and even have potential predictive values for patients with acute occlusion in the short term.

Budget impact analysis for adjusting the price of carotid endarterectomy over the next five years / 复旦学报（医学版）

Objective To analyze the budget impact of a price increase for carotid endarterectomy(CEA)on the total expenditure of health insurance expenditure in China.Methods We set 2021 as the base year,and 2022-2026 as the study years.A budget impact analysis model was developed to calculate the expenditure of health insurance funds over the next 5 years following a 30%price increase for carotid endarterectomy.Data on the target population,treatment costs,and market share changes both nationwide and in four sample cities were used.The data was collected in May to Jul 2022.Results The price increase for carotid endarterectomy will reduce total health insurance fund expenditures nationwide by 143.176 2 million yuan over five years.Total health insurance fund expenditures in the sample cities will also decrease to varying degrees.The higher the price increase for the surgical procedure,the greater the decrease in total expenditure of the health insurance fund.The market share of the surgical procedure has the greatest impact on the total expenditure of the health insurance fund.Conclusion Increasing the price of carotid endarterectomy may lead to increase in its market share and decline in the health insurance fund expenditures in future five years.

Superior vena cava syndrome and pulmonary artery stenosis in a patient with lung metastases of bladder cancer / 复旦学报（医学版）

Superior vena cava syndrome(SVCS)is a group of clinical syndromes caused by obstruction of the superior vena cava and its major branches from various causes.Pulmonary artery stenosis(PS)is a complication of lung cancer or mediastinal tumours.SVCS combined with PS due to pulmonary metastases from bladder cancer is extremely rare and has not been reported in the literature.Here we reported an old male patient with pulmonary metastases from bladder cancer presenting with swelling of the head,neck and both upper limbs.SVCS combined with PS was clarified by pulmonary artery computed tomography angiography(CTA)and digital subtraction angiography(DSA).Endovascular stenting was used to treat SVCS.Angiography also showed that PS had not caused pulmonary hypertension and did not need to be treated.The swelling of the patient's head,neck and upper limbs was gradually reduced after the procedure.

Correlation study between epicardial fat and coronary artery lumen stenosis in young adults / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To explore the correlation between epicardial fat volume(EFV),epicardial fat volume indexed(EFVi)and coronary artery lumen stenosis in young adults.Methods The data of 80 young patients who underwent both coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)and coronary angiography(CAG)within 2 weeks were analyzed retrospectively.The correlation between EFV,EFVi and coronary artery lumen stenosis in young adults was evaluated.Results A total of 80 patients were enrolled,taking CAG exomination results as the gold standard,58 cases were enrolled into the lesion group and the other 22 cases were enrolled into the control group.The incidence of coronary artery lumen stenosis was higher in young males than that in young females(t=4.309,P=0.038).EFV and EFVi in the lesion group were higher than those in the control group(t=3.023,P=0.001;t=2.785,P=0.001).The EFV in males was higher than that in females(t=2.558,P=0.012).There was no significant difference in EFVi between male and female groups.The differences between EFV and EFVi of males in lesion group and control group were statistically significant(t=4.083,P<0.01;t=4.429,P<0.01).The differences between EFV and EFVi of females in lesion group and control group showed no sta-tistical significance.EFV and EFVi were moderately positively correlated with coronary artery lumen stenosis(rs=0.437,P<0.01;rs=0.463,P<0.01).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis of EFV and EFVi showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of EFV was 0.784,the cut-off value was 107.24 cm3,the sensitivity was 0.776,and the specificity was 0.682.The AUC,cut-off value,sensitivity and specificity of EFVi was 0.793,53.68 cm3/m2,0.81,0.682,respectively.Conclusion EFV and EFVi are moderately positively correlated with coronary artery lumen stenosis in young adults,which is helpful to the diagnosis of coronary heart disease.However,the differences between EFV and EFVi of young females in lesion group and control group show no statistical significance.

Value of automated functional imaging in predicting coronary artery stenosis in patients without ventricular wall motion abnormalities / 新乡医学院学报

Objective To explore the value of automated functional imaging(AFI)in predicting coronary artery stenosis in patients without ventricular wall motion abnormalities.Methods A total of 40 patients without ventricular wall motion abnormalities under two-dimensional echocardiography and confirmed coronary artery heart diseases(CHD)(coronary stenosis≥70％)by coronary angiography(CAG)at the Xinxiang Central Hospital from July 2018 to September 2019 were selected as the research subjects.The detection rates of coronary artery stenosis ≥70％by AFI and CAG were compared.With reference to CAG as the gold standard,the predictive value of AFI for coronary artery stenosis ≥70％was evaluated.Results There was no significant difference in the detection rates of coronary artery stenosis ≥70％by AFI and CAG(x2=1.667,P＞0.05).The predictive efficacy of AFI for coronary artery stenosis ≥70％was as follows:a sensitivity of 100％,a specificity of 63.6％,the positive predictive value of 69.2％,the negative predictive value of 100％,and an accuracy of 80％for predicting stenosis ≥70％in the left anterior descending artery;a sensitivity of 56.2％,a specificity of 91.6％,the positive predictive value of 81.8％,the negative predictive value of 75.8％,and an accuracy of 77.5％for predicting stenosis ≥70％in the left circumflex artery;a sensitivity of 95.6％,a specificity of 47.0％,the positive predictive value of 70.9％,the negative predictive value of 88.0％,and an accuracy of 75.0％for predicting stenosis ≥70％in the right coronary artery;the overall sensitivity of 85.9％,the overall specificity of 69.8％,the overall positive predictive value of 72.0％,the overall negative predictive value of 84.6％,and the overall accuracy of 77.5％.Conclusion AFI can provide a sensitive,objective,non-invasive,and inexpensive examination method for the early clinical forecast of coronary artery stenosis.

Study on the HR-MRI in assessing plaque enhancement of patients with ICAS and relationship of that and stroke / 中国医学装备

Objective:To assess the enhancement characteristics of responsibility plaque of patients with intracranial artery stenosis(ICAS)and explore the correlation between that and stroke by using three dimensional high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging(3D-HR-MRI).Methods:A total of 72 ICAS patients who admitted to Beijing Huairou Hospital from April 2019 to April 2022 were retrospectively selected as the study objects,with a total of 96 atherosclerotic stenosis plaques.The plaques were divided into mild to moderate stenosis group(33 cases)and severe stenosis group(63 cases)according to the results of whole brain digital subtraction angiography.They were also were divided into sub-acute/acute plaque group(within 1 month)(47 cases)and non-acute plaque group(including chronic and non-responsible plaques)(49 cases)according to the time of occurring plaque.The imaging characteristics of the 3D-HR-MRI results were assessed by two radiologists.The degrees of plaque enhancement referred to the degrees of pituitary enhancement,and the degrees of plaque enhancement were divided into significant enhancement group(52 cases)and non-significant enhancement group that included moderate enhancement group and non-enhancement group(44 cases).The relationships between ICAS,degree of plaque enhancement and stroke were analyzed.Results:A total of 96 atherosclerotic stenosis plaques were confirmed in 72 patients.The statistical analysis of Kruskal-Wallis H test of multiple samples showed that there was a significant correlation between the time of occurring plaque and the degree of plaque enhancement(H=3.294,P＜0.05).Univariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that the difference between the acute plaque group and the non-acute plaque group was respectively significant correlations with ICAS degree[P＜0.05,OR(95%CI)=1.0(0.3-2.6)]and degree of plaque enhancement[P＜0.05,OR(95%CI)=1.0(0.4-2.0)].The multivariate Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that both severe arterial stenosis[P＜0.05,OR(95%CI)=1.0(0.3-1.9)]and significant enhancement of plaque[P＜0.05,OR(95%CI)=1.0(0.4-2.1)]were independent risk factors of stroke.Conclusion:Severe ICAS and significant plaque enhancement are the independent risk factors of stroke,which can provide effective basis for clinical prevention,diagnosis and treatment of stroke.

Evaluation of 256 slice spiral CTA of coronary and serum indicators on the severity of coronary artery stenosis of patients with coronary heart disease / 中国医学装备

Objective:To explore the evaluation of 256 slice spiral computed tomography angiography(CTA)of coronary,serum lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2)and angiopoietin like protein 3(ANGPTL3)on the severity of coronary artery stenosis of patients with coronary heart disease.Methods:A total of 102 patients with coronary heart disease who were diagnosed and treated at Hebei Chest Hospital from July 2022 to March 2023 were selected as the study subjects.According to the Gensini score about the severity of coronary artery stenosis,they were divided into mild stenosis group(0 score≤Gensini score≤20 scores),moderate stenosis group(20 scores<Gensini score≤60 scores)and severe stenosis group(Gensini score>60 scores),with 34 cases in each group.The minimum lumen diameter(MLD),percentage of area of stenosis(%AS),percentage of diameter of stenosis(%DS),minimum lumen area(MLA),Lp-PLA2 and ANGPTL3 among three groups were compared.The diagnostic efficiency of the severity of coronary artery stenosis was predicted according to receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results:The MLA and MLD values in severe stenosis group were significantly lower than those in moderate and mild stenosis groups,while%AS and%DS were significantly higher than those in moderate and mild stenosis groups(t=6.905,4.083,5.871,6.976,3.387,2.198,2.668,3.505,P<0.05),respectively.The Lp-PLA2 and ANGPTL3 values in severe stenosis group were significantly higher than those in moderate and mild stenosis groups(t=4.164,8.220,2.575,3.050,P<0.05),respectively.ROC curve analysis showed that the area under curve(AUC)values of MLA,MLD,%AS,%DS,CCTA comprehensive parameter,LpPLA2 and ANGPTL3 were respectively were 0.838,0.690,0.742,0.801,0.904,0.808 and 0.807 in predicting the severity of coronary artery stenosis.The sensitivities of them were respectively 91.20%,91.20%,64.70%,94.10%,97.10%,70.60%and 88.20%.The specificities of them were respectively 76.50%,57.40%,75.00%,50.00%,70.60%,97.10%and 70.60%.The AUC value of CCTA comprehensive parameter was respectively higher than that of LpPLA2 and ANGPTL3,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion:256 slice spiral CCTA,serum Lp-PLA2 and ANGPTL3 have a certain efficiency in assessing the severity of coronary artery stenosis of coronary heart disease,and 256 slice spiral CCTA has higher predictive efficiency.

Meta analysis of retinal and choroidal structural changes in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To systematically evaluate the changes in retinal and choroidal thickness in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis by using optical coherence tomography(OCT)through Meta-analysis.METHODS: Literatures on the measurement of retinal and choroidal structure in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis by using OCT from CNKI, VIP, WF, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, SinoMed, and Embase databases were searched for relevant studies. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the databases to January 2024. In addition, quality of the included literatures was assessed by the Newtle-Ottawa scale(NOS), and RevMan 5.4.1 and Stata 16.0 were used for statistical analysis.RESULTS: A total of 17 articles(including 18 studies)were included, and the Meta-analysis results showed that, patients with internal carotid artery stenosis had significantly thinner peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer(pRNFL), ganglion cell complex(GCC), center macular thickness(CMT), and subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT)than the healthy control group(age matched normal population). The pRNFL and SFCT of the ipsilateral eye in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis become thinner compared with the contralateral eye.CONCLUSION:To a certain extent, the morphological structure of the retina and choroid can be altered by stenosis of the internal carotid artery. OCT can non-invasively detect the microstructural changes of the retina and choroid in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis, and can be used for the evaluation of internal carotid artery stenosis.

Association of Estimated Glucose Disposal Rate With the Stenosis Severity of Coronary Artery Disease： A Cross-sectional Study / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between estimated glucose disposal rate （eGDR） and the severity of coronary heart disease. MethodsWe conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study that included 1258 patients （mean age： 62（53-68） years） who underwent coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease （53.9% were male）. Insulin resistance level （IR） was calculated according to eGDR formula： eGDR = 21.158 - （0.09 × WC） - （3.407 × hypertension） - （0.551 × HbA1c） ［hypertension （yes = 1 / no = 0）， HbA1c = HbA1c （%）］. Subjects were grouped according to the eGDR quantile. CAD severity was determined by the number of narrowed vessels： no-obstructive CAD group （all coronary stenosis were<50%， n=704）， Single-vessel CAD group （only one involved major coronary artery stenosis≥50%， n=205）， Multi-vessel CAD group （two or more involved major coronary arteries stenosis≥50%， n=349）； Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between eGDR and CAD severity. The linear relationship between eGDR and CAD in the whole range of eGDR was analyzed using restricted cubic spline. Subgroup analyses were used to assess the association between eGDR and CAD severity in different diabetic states. Receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve analysis were used to evaluate the value of eGDR in improving CAD recognition. ResultsA decrease in the eGDR index was significantly associated with an increased risk of CAD severity （OR： 2.79； 95%CI： 1.72~4.55； P<0.001）. In multivariate logistic regression models， individuals with the lowest quantile of eGDR （T1） were 2.79 times more likely to develop multi-vessel CAD than those with the highest quantile of eGDR （T3） （OR： 2.79； 95%CI： 1.72~4.55； P<0.001）. Multivariate restricted cubic spline analysis showed that eGDR was negatively associated with CAD and multi-vessel CAD （P-nonlinear>0.05）. In non-diabetic patients， compared with the reference group （T3）， the T1 group had a significantly increased risk of CAD （OR： 1.42； 95% CI： 1.00~2.01； P<0.05） and multi-vessel CAD （OR： 1.86； 95%CI： 1.21~2.86； P<0.05）. No statistical association was found between eGDR and CAD in diabetic patients. In ROC curve analysis， when eGDR was added to traditional model for CAD， significant improvements were observed in the model's recognition of CAD and multi-vessel CAD. ConclusionOur study shows eGDR levels are inversely associated with CAD and CAD severity. eGDR， as a non-insulin measure to assess IR， could be a valuable indicator of CAD severity for population.

Clinical Effect of Surgical Reconstruction of Extracranial Vertebral Artery / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To evaluate the effect of surgical reconstruction of extracranial vertebral artery and to summarize the experience. Methods The clinical data of 15 patients undergoing surgical reconstruction of extracranial vertebral artery from September 2018 to June 2022 were collected.The operation methods,operation duration,intraoperative blood loss,operation complications,and relief of symptoms were retrospectively analyzed. Results Eleven patients underwent vertebral artery (V1 segment) to common carotid artery transposition,two patients underwent endarterectomy of V1 segment,two patients underwent V3 segment to external carotid artery bypass or transposition.The operation duration,intraoperative blood loss,and blocking time of common carotid artery varied within 120-340 min,50-300 ml,and 12-25 min,with the medians of 240 min,100 ml,and 16 min,respectively.There was no cardiac accident,cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome,cerebral hemorrhage or lymphatic leakage during the perioperative period.One patient suffered from cerebral infarction and three patients suffered from incomplete Horner's syndrome after the operation.During the follow-up (4-45 months,median of 26 months),there was no anastomotic stenosis,new cerebral infarction or cerebral ischemia. Conclusion Surgical reconstruction of extracranial vertebral artery is safe and effective,and individualized reconstruction strategy should be adopted according to different conditions.

Coronary angiography review in 21 children with Kawasaki disease complicated with coronary artery disease / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective·To analyze the progression of children with severe coronary artery lesions due to Kawasaki disease by coronary artery angiography,and evaluate the diagnostic value of echocardiography in these children.Methods·A retrospective analysis was performed to enroll children with Kawasaki disease whose coronary artery lesions were graded Ⅳ or above from Shanghai Children's Medical Center,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,from January 2013 to January 2023.The subjects were required to have received at least 2 times of coronary angiogram,and their clinical and imaging data were collected to analyze the progression of the lesions.Echocardiography results were compared with the results of the coronary angiogram.Results·A total of 21 children were included,including 15 males and 6 females,with a median age at onset of 3 years and 6 months,a median age at initial coronary angiography of 7 years and 11 months,a median interval of 4 years and 5 months between the time of onset and initial angiography,a median age at angiographic review of 9 years and 2 months,and a median interval of 1 year and 3 months between the time of initial angiography and review.Coronary stenosis or occlusion was detected in 13 children in the initial angiography,of whom 6 underwent coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG)and had their angiography reviews 1 year later.The review results showed that the bridging vessels were unobstructed and no obvious stenosis was observed.Fifteen children had progression of the lesions detected by echocardiography in the subsequent follow-up and had their angiogram reviews,of whom 8 had significant progression of the coronary lesions.Intracoronary balloon dilatation was performed in 1 case,and CABG was performed in another case.Sixteen lesions of coronary stenosis or occlusion were detected in the initial angiography in 21 children,while only 1 lesion of coronary stenosis was detected by echocardiography during the same period of time.Twenty-eight medium-to large-sized coronary aneurysms were detected in the initial angiography in the 21 children,and the diameters of the 28 aneurysms measured by echocardiography and coronary angiogram were subjected to the Bland-Altman analysis.The Bland-Altman analysis showed that the difference in maximum diameter between 2 methods was(1.63±2.33)mm,with 95％CI of-2.95-6.21 mm.Conclusion·Coronary artery lesions due to Kawasaki disease may be progressive;in the children with severe lesions,coronary artery stenosis or occlusion may be missed or misdiagnosed and some errors may exist in the measurement of diameters of aneurysms by echocardiography.Regular review of coronary angiography is needed.

Advances in research on artery stenosis induced by radiation therapy / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Radiation therapy (RT), as a crucial part of current cancer treatment, has caused great concern since it brings therapeutic efficacy along with the risk of chronic complications. With an increase in age, patients treated with RT are subjected to a high incidence of vascular diseases in the neck and peripheral heart primarily due to the artery stenosis induced by radiation-caused vascular injury. To gain a deeper understanding of artery stenosis, its hazards, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, preventive recommendations, and treatment method was reviewed.

Diagnostic efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for renal artery stenosis in elderly patients and imaging features / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)for renal artery stenosis in elderly patients and the imaging features.Methods:Clinical and imaging data of 1 074 patients aged 60 years or older receiving renal artery CEUS in our hospital between September 2017 and October 2022 were retrospectively and consecutively collected, and the results of renal artery CEUS were summarized and comparatively analyzed.Results:Among the 1 074 elderly patients, 588(54.7%)patients showed normal renal artery imaging on CEUS, while 486(45.3%)patients exhibited renal artery stenosis.Of the 486 patients diagnosed with renal artery stenosis by CEUS, 94 elderly patients with complete clinical data then underwent DSA.Comparison of CEUS and DSA results from the 94 patients revealed that CEUS was in good agreement with DSA in evaluating different degrees of renal artery stenosis( Kappa value: 0.739, P<0.001). Of the 486 patients with renal artery stenosis diagnosed by CEUS, a total of 684 renal arteries had varying degrees of stenosis(including 288 with unilateral stenosis and 198 with bilateral stenosis), of which 55(8.0%)had diffuse stenosis of the main renal artery, and 629(92.0%)had confined stenosis of renal arteries(609 stenosis sites were located in the proximal segment/entry point, 12 in the middle segment, and 8 in the hilar or segmental renal arteries). Ultrasonography of confined renal artery stenosis showed narrowing of the contrast agent sound beam at the stenosis site, with or without enhancement of contrast intensity; ultrasonography of diffuse renal artery stenosis showed a thin contrast sound beam throughout the length of the renal artery, with either continuous linear changes or intermittently punctuated changes. Conclusions:There is a high detection rate of renal artery stenosis in the elderly, and ultrasonography can not only determine the degree of renal artery stenosis, but also show the location of stenosis and the extent of involvement, with fairly clear imaging characteristics.

Study on the TyG index in combination with monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio and the severity of coronary artery stenosis / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective:To explore the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose(TyG) index, the monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio(MHR) and the severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary artery heart disease(CHD).Methods:A total of 178 CHD patients who underwent coronary angiography at Hengshui People′s Hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were retrospectively included. All patients were divided into four groups based on the Gensini score: no stenosis group(44 cases, Gensini score=0), mild stenosis group(48 cases, 1≤Gensini score≤20), moderate stenosis group(46 cases, 21≤Gensini score≤40), and severe stenosis group(40 cases, Gensini score>40). Logistic stepwise regression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis were used to assess the correlation and diagnostic value among TyG index, MHR, and the degree of coronary artery stenosis in CHD patients. Results:At baseline, except for heart failure, arrhythmia, hypertension, diabetes, and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) ( P>0.05), the other indicators showed statistically significant differences among the four groups( P<0.05). Logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that smoking, increased TyG index, and MHR were independent risk factors for coronary artery stenosis. In addition, Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between TyG index( r=0.548, P=0.002) or MHR( r=0.595, P<0.001) and the degree of coronary artery stenosis. ROC curve analysis revealed that the area under the ROC curve, based on the combined coefficients of TyG index and MHR, was 0.851(95% CI 0.791-0.911), indicating the highest diagnostic efficacy for assessing the degree of coronary artery stenosis. Conclusion:TyG index and MHR are correlated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis, and the combination of TyG index and MHR has potential value as a biomarker for reflecting coronary artery stenosis.

Application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in evaluating the degree of transplant renal artery stenosis / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective:To explore the feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in assessing the degree of transplant renal artery stenosis(TRAS)and evaluate its diagnostic efficacy of severe TRAS.Methods:From February 2013 to February 2022, clinical and follow-up data are retrospectively reviewed for 23 TRAS recipients.A definite diagnosis is made by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA, 2 cases)or digital subtraction angiography(DSA, 21 cases). They are assigned into two groups of mild-moderate stenosis(5 cases)and severe stenosis(18 cases)according to the diameter reduction rate of transplanted renal artery detected by DSA/MRA.Another 32 recipients of stable renal function are selected as controls.All contrast-enhanced ultrasonic images are quantitatively processed with SonoLiver.The following quantitative parameters are obtained, including rising time of interlobular artery(RTi), rising time of cortex(RTc), rising time of medulla(RTm), time to peak of interlobular artery(TTPi), time to peak of cortex(TTPc)and time to peak of medulla(TTPm). The differences of contrast-enhanced ultrasonic quantitative parameters are compared among three groups.And their diagnostic efficacies are calculated in the diagnosis of severe TRAS.Results:As compared with those in normal group, RTi, RTc, TTPi and TTPc are significantly longer in mild-moderate stenosis group(all P<0.05); Meanwhile, RTi, RTc, RTm, TTPi, TTPc and TTPm are significantly longer in severe stenosis group than those in normal group(all P<0.05); Comparing mild-moderate stenosis and severe stenosis groups, only RTm is significantly different between two groups( P<0.05). Among all the above parameters, RTc has the highest diagnostic efficacy in the diagnosis of severe TRAS(AUC=0.848)with a sensitivity of 72.22%, a specificity of 86.49% and an accuracy of 81.82%. Conclusions:The quantitative parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound offer aid in assessing the degree of TRAS.And RTc is the most valuable in the diagnosis of severe TRAS.