Objective. To investigate the association of carotid arterial intima media thickness (IMT) with principal cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly. Methods. Carotid arterial IMT was measured by high resolution B mode ultrasound in 94 elderly subjects (old aged group), and compared with subjects aged < 60 (middle-aged group). Results. In comparison with the middle-aged group, the prevalence of coronary heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus was significantly higher, and serum cholesterol and systolic blood pressure were also significantly higher in old aged group. Although there was no obvious difference in IMT between the two groups, carotid plaque and carotid wall thickening were more frequently found in old aged group. Age, systolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol were shown as the independent determinants for carotid IMT in the total participants, whereas no such independent relation was found in old-aged group. Conclusion. Age is the major risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly. In other words, the occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis is the result of advancing age combined with the effect of multiple cardiovascular risk factors.

激素性兔股骨头坏死模型的建立

背景:激素的应用已经成为激素性股骨头缺血坏死发病的首要原因.目的:拟应用马血清与皮质醇激素联合制备兔股骨头缺血性坏死早期模型,探讨激素性股骨头坏死的发病机制.方法:新西兰大白兔随机分成3 组.激素联合马血清组静脉注射马血清10 mL/kg,3 周后再次注射马血清6 mL/kg,再2 周后注射甲强龙45 mg/kg,1 次/d,连续5 d.激素组注射甲强龙45 mg/kg,1 次/d,连续5 d.正常对照组不做任何处理.于激素给予前及激素注射后1,3,7 和14 d 检测定血胆固醇、三酰甘油水平;于激素注射后第2、4、8 周行股骨头MRI 和组织病理学检测.结果与结论:与对照组比较,激素联合马血清组和激素组大白兔血清三酰甘油和总胆固醇分别于激素注射后1 d 和3 d 明显高于对照组(P < 0.01).MRI 检测结果显示,激素联合马血清组大白兔股骨头于激素注射后第4 周出现坏死信号;激素组第8 周出现坏死信号.组织学检测结果显示,激素联合马血清组大白兔于激素注射第4 周时股骨头出现骨小梁部分变细、断裂,空骨陷窝增加;第8 周骨小梁稀疏、破碎,脂肪细胞增大,空骨陷窝明显增大.激素组病理坏死程度各时段均较激素联合马血清组轻.结果表明,激素联合马血清方法可成功制备股骨头坏死早期模型.