Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the change of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and its correlation with inflammatory markers in patients with different degrees of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods One hundred hospitalized patients were selected and were divided into the normal control group (21 cases), the mild-moderate group (39 cases) and the severe group (40 cases) according to their apnea hypopnea index (AHI). Carotid IMT of all registered patients was studied with ultrasound, and serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), Lipoprotein-associated phospholipaseA2 (Lp-PLA2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used to analyze the correlation between carotid IMT and inflammatory factors. Results Patients with mild, moderate and severe OSA Carotid IMT had significantly higher levels of serum hs-CRP, Lp-PLA2 and TNF-α compared with the normal control group ( P < 0.001). The levels of carotid IMT, serum protein hs-CRP, Lp-PLA2 and TNF-α in the severe OSA group were significantly higher than those of the mild-moderate OSA group, with P values being less than 0.001. Carotid artery IMT was positively correlated with serum hs-CRP (r = 0.83, P < 0.001), Lp-PLA2 (r =0.58, P < 0.001), and TNF-α (r =0.69, P < 0.001). hs-CRP, TNF-α and AHI were independent factors affecting carotid artery IMT. In addition, AHI was an independent indicator of carotid atherosclerosis ( P = 0.0012). Conclusion Increased inflammatory factors in OSA patients might cause the progression of atherosclerosis, which might increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in OSA patients.

The objective of this research is to study the effect of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome on cognitive function of stroke. Based on linear regression equation and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale, the degree of cognitive impairment in OSAHS patients was evaluated and the influencing factors of OSAHS-induced cognitive impairment and the correlation between the degree of OSAHS and cognitive impairment were explored. The results are as follows: about 68% of OSAHS patients have cognitive dysfunction, and the incidence of cognitive dysfunction is positively correlated with OSAHS; cognitive impairment of OSAHS patients was associated with age, obesity, years of schooling, and intermittent nocturnal hypoxia or hypoventilation; the severity of cognitive dysfunction of OSAHS patients was positively correlated with age and obesity but negatively correlated with education level; Logistic regression analysis results showed that there were three factors that were finally entered into the regression equation, namely, LSaO2, BMI, and AHI, and the Logistic regression equation obtained was as follows: Logist P = − 0.109 X 1 + 0.785 X 2 + 1.228 X 3 . This study helps clinical workers to detect and intervene the impaired cognitive ability of patients with OSAHS early, so as to reduce the incidence and mortality of related complications and improve the quality of life of patients.

Objective: To study the MRI and CT characteristics of different periods of acute ischemic stroke and evaluate its diagnostic value by using semi-automatic mention segmentation method. Methods: CT, conventional MRI and DWI were performed in 64 patients with acute ischemic stroke. The average ADC value and average relative ADC (rADC) value of infarct lesions were measured and statistically analyzed. Results: There were no significant differences in CT, conventional MRI, and DWI signal characteristics between 1 and 7 days after the onset of acute ischemic stroke. The average ADC value and the average rADC value decreased, but the average rADC in the infarct area increased with time. The rADC value was statistically significant with the onset of 1d, 2d, 3d, and 4d (P < 0.05), but not statistically significant with the onset of 5d and 6d (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In the image processing method of semi-automatic segmentation method, the characteristics of CT, conventional MRI, and DWI signals combined with the evolution of rADC values over time can help to judge the pathophysiological changes of acute ischemic stroke, which is ischemic. Stroke staging and treatment guidance are provided.