Predicting asymptomatic coronary artery stenosis by aortic arch plaque in acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease: beyond the cervicocephalic atherosclerosis? / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Asymptomatic coronary artery stenosis (ACAS) ≥50% is common in patients with acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease (AICVD), which portends a poor cardiovascular and cerebrovascular prognosis. Identifying ACAS ≥50% early may optimize the clinical management and improve the outcomes of these high-risk AICVD patients. This study aimed to investigate whether aortic arch plaque (AAP), an early atherosclerotic manifestation of brain blood-supplying arteries, could be a predictor for ACAS ≥50% in AICVD.@*METHODS@#In this cross-sectional study, atherosclerosis of the coronary and brain blood-supplying arteries was simultaneously evaluated using one-step computed tomography angiography (CTA) in AICVD patients without coronary artery disease history. The patients were divided into ACAS ≥50% and non-ACAS ≥50% groups according to whether CTA showed stenosis ≥50% in at least one coronary arterial segment. The AAP characteristics of CTA were depicted from aspects of thickness, extent, and complexity.@*RESULTS@#Among 118 analyzed patients with AICVD, 29/118 (24.6%) patients had ACAS ≥50%, while AAPs were observed in 86/118 (72.9%) patients. Increased AAP thickness per millimeter (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-2.05), severe-extent AAP (adjusted OR: 13.66, 95% CI: 2.33-80.15), and presence of complex AAP (adjusted OR: 7.27, 95% CI: 2.30-23.03) were associated with ACAS ≥50% among patients with AICVD, independently of clinical demographics and cervicocephalic atherosclerotic stenosis. The combination of AAP thickness, extent, and complexity predicted ACAS ≥50% with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.70-0.85, P < 0.001). All three AAP characteristics provided additional predictive power beyond cervical and intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis for ACAS ≥50% in AICVD (all P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Thicker, severe-extent, and complex AAP were significant markers of the concomitant ACAS ≥50% in AICVD, possibly superior to the indicative value of cervical and intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis. As an integral part of atherosclerosis of brain blood-supplying arteries, AAP should not be overlooked in predicting ACAS ≥50% for patients with AICVD.

An observation and analysis of the features of depressive disorder in the incidence and progression of breast cancer / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between depressive disorder and breast cancer, and to study the features of depressive disorder in patients before and after suffering breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Whether 40 breast cancer patients had depressive disorder and their degrees were assessed by filling in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) at Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. The correlation between depressive disorder and the occurrence and progression of breast cancer, as well as its features were studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The occurrence of general depressive disorder in breast cancer patients before they suffered from breast cancer was 72.5% (29/40 cases). The occurrence of confirmed depression was 2.5% (1/40 cases). The total depressive disorder rate was 75.0% (30/40 cases).They were 60. 0% (24/40 cases), 7.5% (3/40 cases), and 67. 5% (27/40 cases) in breast cancer patients after they suffered from breast cancer.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Breast cancer patients have depressive disorder to various levels before and after suffering from breast cancer, which should raise clinical attention and corresponding intervention.</p>