Sphingolipid Metabolism Is Associated with Cardiac Dyssynchrony in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Aim: Sphingolipids are a class of complex and bioactive lipids that are involved in the pathological processes of cardiovascular disease. Fabry disease is an X-linked storage disorder that results in the pathological accumulation of glycosphingolipids in body fluids and the heart. Cardiac dyssynchrony is observed in patients with Fabry disease and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy.

Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: A Randomized-Controlled Trial at Hospital-Based Hemodialysis Center.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is frequent in patients with hemodialysis (HD) and occurs predominantly in its most severe forms. The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for RLS in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at hospital-based HD center. This single-blind, randomized controlled trial was performed on patients with HD and RLS who were randomly assigned to the experimental group and control group.

Traumatic brain injury and risk of heart failure and coronary heart disease: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: This study examined the long-term risks of heart failure (HF) and coronary heart disease (CHD) following traumatic brain injury (TBI), focusing on gender differences.

Methods: Data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database included 29,570 TBI patients and 118,280 matched controls based on propensity scores.

Results: The TBI cohort had higher incidences of CHD and HF (9.

Effects of insomnia and non-vasomotor menopausal symptoms on coronary heart disease risk: a mendelian randomization study.

Background: Previous studies suggested that vasomotor symptoms were associated with an increasing risk of coronary heart diseases (CHD) but not clear with menopausal symptoms other than vasomotor symptoms. Given the heterogeneity and interrelationship among menopausal symptoms, it is not easy to make causal inferences based on observational studies. We performed a Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the association of individual non-vasomotor menopausal symptoms and the risk of CHDs.

The MicroRNA Prediction Models as Ancillary Diagnosis Biomarkers for Urothelial Carcinoma in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

Urothelial carcinoma is a common urological cancer in chronic kidney disease patients. Cystoscopy and urine cytology are the clinical diagnostic tools for UC. However, cystoscopy is an invasive procedure, while urine cytology showed low sensitivity for low-grade urothelial tumors.

Machine Learning Analysis of Time-Dependent Features for Predicting Adverse Events During Hemodialysis Therapy: Model Development and Validation Study.

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) therapy is an indispensable tool used in critical care management. Patients undergoing HD are at risk for intradialytic adverse events, ranging from muscle cramps to cardiac arrest. So far, there is no effective HD device-integrated algorithm to assist medical staff in response to these adverse events a step earlier during HD.

Menopausal symptoms and risk of heart failure: a retrospective analysis from Taiwan National Health Insurance Database.

Aims: Women with menopausal symptoms show evidence of accelerated epigenetic ageing, vascular aging and low-grade systemic inflammation status. However, data are limited regarding menopausal symptoms and risk of heart failure (HF). We aimed to explore the impact of menopausal symptoms on risk of HF.

Discovery of Novel Protein Biomarkers in Urine for Diagnosis of Urothelial Cancer Using iTRAQ Proteomics.

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the ninth most prevalent malignancy worldwide. Noninvasive and efficient biomarkers with high accuracy are imperative for the surveillance and diagnosis of UC. CKD patients were enrolled as a control group in this study for the discovery of highly specific urinary protein markers of UC.

The tongue features associated with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis plays an important role in differentiation of symptoms because the tongue reflects the physiological and pathological condition of the body. The automatic tongue diagnosis system (ATDS), which noninvasively captures tongue images, can provide objective and reliable diagnostic information. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) currently is an important global public health problem and contributor to morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases.

Effect of electroacupuncture on restless legs syndrome (RLS) in hemodialysis patients: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is frequent in dialysis patients and occurs predominantly in its most severe forms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) in hemodialysis patients with RLS by heart rate variability (HRV) monitor.

Methods: One hundred twelve subjects who were hemodialysis patients with RLS will be divided into 2 groups: experimental and control.

Urine phthalate metabolites are associated with urothelial cancer in chronic kidney disease patients.

Background: Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is one of the most widely used phthalates and is associated with breast cancer. Ths association between DEHP and other types of cancer is not clear. DEHP may increase matrix metalloproteinase-9 that is critical for the development of urothelial cancer (UC).

Tubular transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif protects against ischemic acute kidney injury.

Transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) is a key downstream effector of the Hippo tumor-suppressor pathway. The functions of TAZ in the kidney, especially in tubular epithelial cells, are not well-known. To elucidate the adaptive expression, protective effects on kidney injury, and signaling pathways of TAZ in response to acute kidney injury (AKI), we used in vitro (hypoxia-treated human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells [RPTECs]) and in vivo (mouse ischemia-reperfusion injury [IRI]) models of ischemic AKI.

Risk of venous thromboembolism in elderly patients with vertebral compression fracture: A population-based case-control study.

Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are common in elderly and are treated with immobilization. Moreover, immobilization and old age may increase venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. However, the incidence of VCFs-related VTE is unknown in elderly.

Symptomatic menopausal transition and risk of subsequent stroke.

Objective: To examine the long-term risk of stroke in women who have experienced symptomatic menopausal transition.

Methods: In this nationwide, population-based cohort study conducted from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2013, we identified 22,058 women with no prior history of stroke, who experienced symptomatic menopausal transition at ≥45 years of age. Moreover, 22,058 women without symptomatic menopause were matched by propensity scores and enrolled as a comparison group.

Urinary cell-free mitochondrial and nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid correlates with the prognosis of chronic kidney diseases.

Introduction: Cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid DNA (cf-DNA) in urine is promising due to the advantage of urine as an easily obtained and non-invasive sample source over tissue and blood. In clinical practice, it is important to identify non-invasive biomarkers of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in monitoring and surveillance of disease progression. Information is limited, however, regarding the relationship between urine and plasma cf-DNA and the renal outcome in CKD patients.

Development and validation of a nomogram for urothelial cancer in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Urothelial cancer (UC) is a common kidney cancer in Taiwan and patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more at risk for UC than the general population. The diagnostic value of urine analysis and urine cytology is limited, especially in CKD patients. The aim of the study is to develop a nomogram to predict the risk of UC in CKD patients.

Renal chymase-dependent pathway for angiotensin II formation mediated acute kidney injury in a mouse model of aristolochic acid I-induced acute nephropathy.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is the primary enzyme that converts angiotensin I (Ang I) to angiotensin II (Ang II) in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). However, chymase hydrates Ang I to Ang II independently of ACE in some kidney diseases, and it may play an important role. The present study investigated whether chymase played a crucial role in aristolochic acid I (AAI)-induced nephropathy.

Cyclophilin A and CD147 associate with progression of diabetic nephropathy.

To find the associations of circulating cyclophilin A (CyP A) and CD147/EMMPRIN with renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients and possible pathogenesis involved. Total 131 patients were recruited since 2004. Glycated hemoglobin, blood glucose and urine albumin-creatinine ratio levels at baseline and every 3 months were measured.

Residual heart rate variability measures can better differentiate patients with acute myocardial infarction from patients with patent coronary artery.

Purpose: It has been shown that the power spectral density (PSD) of heart rate variability (HRV) can be decomposed into a power-law function and a residual PSD (rPSD) with a more prominent high-frequency component than that in traditional PSD. This study investigated whether the residual HRV (rHRV) measures can better discriminate patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from patients with patent coronary artery (PCA) than traditional HRV measures.

Materials And Methods: The rHRV and HRV measures of 48 patients with AMI and 69 patients with PCA were compared.

Menopausal symptoms and risk of coronary heart disease in middle-aged women: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Objective: To assess the relationship between coronary heart disease (CHD) and menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women in Taiwan.

Patients And Methods: The present study identified 14,340 symptomatic menopausal women without a history of CHD from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2013. A total of 14,340 age- and Charlson-comorbidity-index-score-matched asymptomatic women were used as controls.

Favourable renal outcomes after intravenous thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke: Clinical implication of kidney-brain axis.

Aim: Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) administration is the most prevalent treatment for acute ischemic within golden time. However, the effects of rt-PA on the kidney function in such patients remain unknown. This study determined long-term renal outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving systemic rt-PA.

Impact of age at appendectomy on development of type 2 diabetes: A population-based cohort study.

Aim: Diabetes is a complex metabolic disease characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation in which genetic and environmental factors are involved. Growing evidence implicates that alterations of the gut microbiota potentially contribute to the emergence of metabolic diseases. The human appendix has more recently been recognized as a microbial reservoir for repopulating the gastrointestinal tract and an important part of the immune system.

Association of Statin Use With Mortality After Dialysis-Requiring Acute Kidney Injury: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Objective: To investigate the association between statin use and mortality in patients with dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury (AKI-D).

Patients And Methods: This nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study included 6091 hospitalized patients with AKI-D (1271 statin users and 4820 statin nonusers) retrieved from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2012. All the patients were followed up until December 31, 2013.

Hydroxychloroquine and risk of development of cancers: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), one of the disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, may lead to an inhibition of autophagy. Autophagy, an intracellular self-defense mechanism for the lysosomal degradation of cytoplasmic components such as damaged organelles, plays a role in protecting against neoplasm growth but is also vital for cancer cells due to an increased intracellular metabolic waste.

Methods: Taiwan National Health Insurance Database was subjected to analysis to investigate the effect of HCQ exposure on cancer risk in patients with autoimmune diseases.