Efficacy and safety of ketoanalogue supplementation combined with protein-restricted diets in advanced chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The benefits and harms of protein-restricted diets supplemented with ketoanalogues in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the effects of ketoanalogues supplemented to protein-restricted diets in patients with advanced CKD.

Methods: We conducted systematic literature searches of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library up to June 3, 2024.

Association between alcohol consumption and chronic kidney disease: a population-based survey.

Background: Alcohol consumption is associated with both beneficial and harmful effects, and the role of alcohol consumption in chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and CKD or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Methods: This study enrolled adults from the second Taiwanese Survey on Prevalences of Hypertension, Hyperglycemia, and Hyperlipidemia, conducted in 2007.

Ultraviolet B phototherapy does not increase the risk of skin cancer among patients with atopic dermatitis: A population-based retrospective cohort study.

Background: UV-B phototherapy is a common treatment modality for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), but its long-term safety in terms of cutaneous carcinogenic risk has not been studied.

Objective: To investigate the risk of skin cancer among patients with AD receiving UV-B phototherapy.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study from 2001 to 2018 to estimate the risk of UV-B phototherapy for skin cancer, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and cutaneous melanoma in patients with AD.

Comparative efficacy of treatments for molluscum contagiosum: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background And Objectives: Various interventions have been applied to treat molluscum contagiosum, but benefits and efficacy remain unclear. To assess the comparative efficacy and safety of interventions for molluscum contagiosum, a network meta-analysis was performed.

Patients And Methods: Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched for articles published between January 1, 1990, and November 31, 2020.

Evaluation of feeding difficulties using videofluoroscopic swallow study and swallowing therapy in infants and children.

Background: Infants and children with feeding difficulties have swallowing dysfunction and high risk of aspiration, which could be silent without choking, resulting in recurrent pneumonia and long-term respiratory morbidity. Videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) is a useful tool for real-time visualization of the swallowing process and airway aspiration. This study reported a single-institutional 10-year experience of VFSS in pediatric patients with feeding difficulties and the efficacy of swallowing therapy.

Microbiota analysis in the hemodialysis population - Focusing on Enterobacteriaceae.

Background: Infection is a recognized risk factor for mortality among hemodialysis (HD) population, including infection caused by Enterobacteriaceae. We aimed to investigate Enterobacteriaceae in gut microbiota among HD patients and to analyze associations between microbiota and clinical parameters.

Methods: This prospective study of microbiota analysis in HD patients was conducted in April-May 2019.

Cardiovascular and renal efficacy and safety of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in patients without diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials.

Objectives: To assess the cardiovascular and renal efficacy and safety of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in patients without diabetes.

Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library for publications up to 17 August 2022. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

Uremic pruritus: pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatments.

Uremic pruritus is one of the most common and bothersome symptoms in patients with end-stage renal disease. Most patients with uremic pruritus experience a prolonged and relapsing course and significant impairments of quality of life. The pathophysiology of uremic pruritus is not completely understood.

Altered Monocytic Phenotypes are Associated with Uraemic Pruritus in Patients Receiving Haemodialysis.

Uraemic pruritus is one of the most bothersome symptoms in patients receiving haemodialysis. A total of 175 patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis, with 74 patients experiencing uraemic pruritus, were prospectively recruited to assess the influence of the phenotype of blood monocytes and various cytokines on uraemic pruritus. The phenotype of blood monocytes was determined by flow cytometry as classical (CD14++CD16-) monocytes, non-classical (CD14+CD16++) monocytes, and intermediate (CD14++CD16+) monocytes.

Risk of Skin Cancer among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Treated with Ultraviolet B Phototherapy for Uraemic Pruritus: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

The safety of ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy with respect to cutaneous carcinogenesis has not been established for patients with chronic kidney disease. To investigate this issue, a nationwide cohort study of 10,805 patients with advanced chronic kidney disease was conducted using data from the National Health Insurance of Taiwan, the Taiwan Cancer Registry, and the national death registry. After a median follow-up of 75 months, 16 of 2,161 patients in the UVB group and 63 of 8,644 patients in the non-UVB group developed skin cancers.

Prognostic importance and determinants of uremic pruritus in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Uremic pruritus is a common and frustrating symptom among patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study aimed to examine the prognostic importance of uremic pruritus and to identify the determinants for higher pruritus intensity in PD patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients receiving maintenance PD.

Effects of lower versus higher phosphate diets on fibroblast growth factor-23 levels in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Elevated fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) levels increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to compare the effects of different dietary interventions, lower versus higher phosphate levels, on FGF23 in patients with CKD.

Methods: We conducted electronic literature searches of Medline, PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library for publications up to 29 October 2016 for randomized clinical trials that compared lower versus higher phosphate dietary interventions in adults with CKD.

Association of Intensive Blood Pressure Control and Kidney Disease Progression in Nondiabetic Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: The optimal blood pressure (BP) target remains debated in nondiabetic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective: To compare intensive BP control (<130/80 mm Hg) with standard BP control (<140/90 mm Hg) on major renal outcomes in patients with CKD without diabetes.

Data Sources: Searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library for publications up to March 24, 2016.

Risk Factors for Development and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Exploratory Meta-Analysis.

The risk factors influencing the natural course of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are complex and heterogeneous, and few systematic reviews to date have focused on this issue. The aim of the study is to identify the risk factors for disease development and progression in each stage of CKD. We conducted electronic literature searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library up to October 15, 2012, for observational studies evaluating the risk factors on the development or progression of CKD.

A Comparison of Uremic Pruritus in Patients Receiving Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis.

Uremic pruritus is common and bothersome in patients receiving either peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD). To date, the preferred dialysis modality regarding the alleviation of uremic pruritus remains controversial. We conducted this cross-sectional study to compare the prevalence, intensity, and characteristics of uremic pruritus between PD and HD patients.

Design of wireless multi-parameter monitoring system for oral feeding of premature infants.

Premature infants often cannot successfully and coordinately complete their oral feeding. Mature sucking, swallowing, and respiration activities are crucial indicators for the survival of newborn infants. Due to the vulnerability and unobvious muscle activities of premature infants, current clinical care givers mainly depend on the subjective behavioral observation of infants during oral feeding.

Wireless Monitoring System for Oral-Feeding Evaluation of Preterm Infants.

The oral feeding disorder is one of the important indicators for the high risk group of neurodevelopment delay. The procedure of oral feeding requires the coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing activities, and it is the most complex sensorimotor process for newborn infants. Premature infants often uneasily complete the procedure of oral feeding.

The Multisystemic and Multilevel Investigation of the Expanded Therapeutic Alliance-Psychological Functioning Relationship in Individual Therapy.

The expanded therapeutic alliance, consisting of multiple interpersonal alliance relationships, is a common factor inherent to the practice of all systemic therapies. The following study has three specific aims: (a) Bring an expanded, multisystemic emphasis to the study of the therapeutic alliance in individual therapy; (b) Understand better the session-by-session relationship between alliance and psychological functioning, including distinguishing within-person from between-person variability by using multilevel modeling techniques; and (c) Explore the role of early attachment relationships and family-of-origin experiences in moderating the alliance-psychological functioning relationship. Instead of taking only one or two alliance measurements throughout treatment like in the majority of previous research, we measured both alliance and psychological functioning continuously at each session for 296 subjects.

Interleukin-31 is associated with uremic pruritus in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-31 induces severe pruritus and dermatitis in transgenic mice, and is associated with many itching skin diseases.

Objective: We sought to investigate the association of serum IL-31 levels with uremic pruritus in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods: Patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis in a referral medical center were recruited.

Development of a wireless oral-feeding monitoring system for preterm infants.

Oral-feeding disorder is common in preterm infants. It not only shows the adverse effect for growth and neurodevelopment in clinical but also becomes one of the important indicators of high-risk group for neurodevelopment delay in preterm infants. Preterm infants must coordinate the motor patterns of sucking, swallowing, and respiration skillfully to avoid choking, aspiration, oxygen desaturation, bradycardia, or apnea episodes.

Differentiation and healthy family functioning of Koreans in South Korea, South Koreans in the United States, and White Americans.

Inconsistent results have been found in prior research on the Bowen Family Systems Theory concept of differentiation of self and its application to individuals, couples, and families of different cultural backgrounds. In this regard, this study examined the impact of differentiation of self on healthy family functioning, family communication, and family satisfaction with 277 participants including South Koreans living in South Korea, South Korean-born citizens living in the United States, and White Americans living in the United States. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis identified the measurement invariance of a differentiation scale (DSI-R) used for the three study groups.

Postprandial blood glucose is associated with generalized pruritus in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Although pruritus is a common complaint in patients with diabetes, little is known about its relation with glycemic control.

Objectives: We investigated whether generalized pruritus is associated with glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: A total of 385 patients with type 2 diabetes who attended the diabetes care system underwent cutaneous examination by a dermatologist at a teaching hospital in Taiwan.

Uremic pruritus, dialysis adequacy, and metabolic profiles in hemodialysis patients: a prospective 5-year cohort study.

Background: Uremic pruritus is a common and intractable symptom in patients on chronic hemodialysis, but factors associated with the severity of pruritus remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the associations of metabolic factors and dialysis adequacy with the aggravation of pruritus.

Methods: We conducted a 5-year prospective cohort study on patients with maintenance hemodialysis.