Urinary sodium potassium ratio is associated with clinical success after adrenalectomy in patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism.

Background: The urinary sodium potassium (NaK) ratio is associated with dietary sodium and potassium intake and blood pressure, and it also reflects the activity of aldosterone. Herein we evaluated the value of the urinary NaK ratio in predicting the surgical outcomes of patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism (uPA).

Methods: This non-concurrent prospective cohort study was conducted from 2011 to 2017 and included 241 uPA patients who had undergone adrenalectomy.

Vitamin D deficiency in northern Taiwan: a community-based cohort study.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has become an important public health problem, however few studies have been conducted in subtropical countries, and the predictors of vitamin D deficiency in people with healthy renal function are unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in northern Taiwan.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was performed between August 2013 and August 2017, and included 3954 participants without chronic kidney disease (CKD) aged ≥30 years in northern Taiwan.

Definite and probable septic pericarditis in hemodialysis.

Introduction: Although the incidence of septic pericarditis in hemodialysis populations is less frequent in the modern antibiotic era, it is still a cause of death partly because diagnosis is sometimes difficult and uncertain.

Methods: From 2002 to 2006, 12 out of a total of 12,213 maintenance hemodialysis patients were referred for management of septic pericarditis. Patients were diagnosed as either definite or probable septic pericarditis.

Course and outcome of dialysis pericarditis in diabetic patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis.

Introduction: This observational study investigated the course and outcome of dialysis pericarditis in diabetic dialysis patients, as previous reports found that in contrast to uremic pericarditis, which responds in most cases to intensive hemodialysis, dialysis pericarditis resolves with intensification of hemodialysis in fewer cases.

Methods: From 2002 through 2006, 88 maintenance hemodialysis patients (47 diabetic and 41 non-diabetic) were referred for management of dialysis pericarditis.

Results: Dialysis pericarditis in 85.