A comparison of efficacy of endovascular versus surgical repair for the treatment of arteriovenous fistula stenosis in Taiwan.

Background: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and fistula reconstruction surgery are therapeutic options for vascular access occlusion in hemodialysis patients. However, owing to its convenience, PTA has gradually become the preferred therapeutic option for fistula stenosis or occlusion. This study investigated the effects of the two therapeutic methods on the vascular access maintenance duration (number of days) and maintenance costs of fistula in dialysis patients from different dialysis units.

Circulating growth arrest-specific protein 6 levels are associated with erythropoietin resistance in hemodialysis patients.

Growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) works synergistically with erythropoietin (EPO) to increase the proliferation and maturation of erythroblasts. However, the role of Gas 6 levels on EPO resistance in hemodialysis (HD) patients remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was the first to examine the correlation between plasma Gas6 levels and EPO resistance in HD patients.

Diagnosis of albuminuria by tryptic digestion and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Background: Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry has been successfully used to detect trace albumin in urine for the diagnosis of albuminuria. However, only the monomeric form of albumin was detected with this approach.

Methods: Trypsin was used to digest urinary albumin and its related compounds in urine to produce characteristic peptides.

ENPP1 K121Q polymorphism is not related to type 2 diabetes mellitus, features of metabolic syndrome, and diabetic cardiovascular complications in a Chinese population.

Background: Ectoenzyme nucleotide pyrophosphate phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) is known to influence insulin sensitivity by inhibiting insulin receptor signaling. A DNA polymorphism in the ENPP1 gene at exon 4 (K121Q) was demonstrated to be associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and a risk of early myocardial infarction, albeit with controversy. Our aim was to investigate any association of ENPP1 K121Q alleles with T2DM, features of the metabolic syndrome, and diabetic cardiovascular complications in a Chinese population of Han origin.

Association of peripheral total and differential leukocyte counts with metabolic syndrome and risk of ischemic cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: There is increasing evidence that leukocytes play a central role in obesity, glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular diseases, but the role of differential leukocytes in metabolic syndrome (MetS) and atherosclerosis is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the component features of MetS and peripheral leukocyte counts and to explore whether leukocyte counts are associated with clustering of MetS and macrovascular diseases in patients with T2DM.

Methods: 1872 subjects with T2DM who enrolled in a diabetes disease management program were studied.

Elevated plasma level of visfatin/pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Context: Visfatin (also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor or PBEF) is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat and whose blood levels correlate with obesity. Originally isolated as a secreted factor that promotes the growth of B cell precursors and recently found to act as an insulin analog on the insulin receptor, its pathophysiological role in humans remains largely unknown.

Objectives: In this study we investigated whether plasma visfatin level is altered in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Hypoadiponectinemia is associated with ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

Objective: Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived peptide with antiinflammatory and antiatherogenic effects, is known to protect against the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigate whether hypoadiponectinemia is present in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD).

Methods And Results: In this case-control study, plasma adiponectin concentration was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic subjects with or without ischemic CVD.