ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the level of homocysteine (HCY) and the overall burden of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) in patients with ischemic stroke.MethodsA total of 322 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke admitted to the People’s Hospital of Deyang City between January 2016 and December 2017 were enrolled. The patients’ demographic information, clinical information, and serum HCY concentration were collected after admission. The presence or absence of a CSVD was assessed by MRI and the overall burden score for the CSVD was determined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess whether serum HCY level was associated with the overall burden of CSVD.ResultsThe median level of HCY was 13.2 μmol/L (inter-quartile range: 4.3 to 22.6 μmol/L). Univariate analysis showed that the difference of HCY levels among patients with different total CSVD scores was statistically significant (F=6.874, P=0.001); Spearman correlation analyses showed that the HCY level grouped by quartiles was correlated to the number of lacunar infarctions (rs=0.267, P=0.001), Fazekas score of white matter lesions (rs=0.122, P=0.042), and enlarged perivascular space (EPV) score (rs=0.319, P=0.001), but was not correlated to cerebral microhemorrhage (rs=−0.010, P=0.869). After multivariate regression analysis to adjust the effects of other factors, compared with the patients with HCY levels in the lowest quartile group, the patients with HCY levels in the highest quartile group were more likely to develop lacunar infarction [odds ratio (OR)=1.892, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.012, 2.987)], white matter lesions [OR=1.548, 95%CI (1.018, 1.654)], severe EPV [OR=6.347, 95%CI (3.592, 13.978)], and the increase in the CSVD score [OR=2.981, 95%CI (1.974, 5.398)].ConclusionIn patients with ischemic stroke, elevated HCY levels may be associated with the overall burden of the CSVD.
Objective To explore the value of lower abdominal aorta compression in emergent hysterectomy during cesarean section because of pernicious placenta previa. Method We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of four patients who underwent hysterectomy for pernicious placenta previa with the assistance of lower abdominal aorta compression between January 2016 and March 2017 in Sichuan Provincial Hospital for Women and Children. Result The four patients were cured successfully, and the mothers and babies were all well with no pelvic organ damage or complications related to lower abdominal aorta compression. Conclusions Lower abdominal aorta compression in hysterectomy for pernicious placenta previa during cesarean section is a feasible procedure; it can effectively reduce the amount of bleeding, less affect maternal blood circulation, make surgery area clear, and give the operators the chance to do hysterectomy calmly. Lower abdominal aorta compression presents more and more advantages to treat pernicious placenta previa and may be an effective emergency measure to reduce hemorrhage during perioperative period especially under the circumstances of no chance to carry out vascular intervention treatment.