Monitoring of the Healthy Neonatal Transition Period with Serial Lung Ultrasound.

Ultrasound has been used to observe lung aeration and fluid clearance during the neonatal transition period, but there is no consensus regarding the optimal timing of lung ultrasound. We aimed to monitor the trend of the serial lung ultrasound score (LUS) and extended LUS (eLUS) throughout the neonatal transition period (≤1, 2, 4, 8, 24, and 48 h after birth), assess any correlation to the clinical presentation (using the Silverman Andersen Respiratory Severity Score (RSS)), and determine the optimal time of the ultrasound. We found both LUS and eLUS decreased significantly after 2 h of life and had similar statistical differences among the serial time points.

Markers of Kidney Tubular Function Deteriorate While Those of Kidney Tubule Health Improve in Primary Aldosteronism After Targeted Treatments.

Background Targeted treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) or adrenalectomy in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) causes a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate; however, the associated simultaneous changes in biomarkers of kidney tubule health still remain unclear. Methods and Results We matched 104 patients with newly diagnosed unilateral PA who underwent adrenalectomy with 104 patients with unilateral PA who were treated with MRAs, 104 patients with bilateral PA treated with MRAs, and 104 patients with essential hypertension who served as controls. Functional biomarkers were measured before the targeted treatment and 1 year after treatment, including serum markers of kidney function (cystatin C, creatinine), urinary markers of proximal renal tubular damage (L-FABP [liver-type fatty-acid binding protein], KIM-1 [kidney injury molecule-1]), serum markers of kidney tubular reserve and mineral metabolism (intact parathyroid hormone), and proteinuria.

Cortisol-producing adenoma-related somatic mutations in unilateral primary aldosteronism with concurrent autonomous cortisol secretion: their prevalence and clinical characteristics.

Objective: Concurrent autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) is being reported more frequently. Several somatic mutations including PRKACA, GNAS, and CTNNB1 were identified in cortisol-producing adenomas (CPAs). The presence of these mutations in unilateral PA (uPA) patients concurrent with ACS (uPA/ACS) is not well known.

Synergistic Effects of Inflammation and Atherogenic Dyslipidemia on Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis Assessed by Ultrasound in Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Their Family Members.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) ratio are both common risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs). However, whether high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) has synergistic or attenuated effects on atherogenic dyslipidemia remains unclear. We investigated subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and their family members.

Transtubular potassium gradient predicts kidney function impairment after adrenalectomy in primary aldosteronism.

Background: In primary aldosteronism (PA), kidney function impairment could be concealed by relative hyperfiltration and emerge after adrenalectomy. We hypothesized transtubular gradient potassium gradient (TTKG), a kidney aldosterone bioactivity indicator, could correlate to end organ damage and forecast kidney function impairment after adrenalectomy.

Methods: In the present prospective study, we enrolled lateralized PA patients who underwent adrenalectomy and were followed up 12 months after operation in the Taiwan Primary Aldosteronism Investigation (TAIPAI) registry from 2010 to 2018.

Influence of Different Treatment Strategies on New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Among Patients With Primary Aldosteronism: A Nationwide Longitudinal Cohort-Based Study.

Background Primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with higher atrial fibrillation prevalence and other cardiovascular complications. However, the effect of target treatment to prevent new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) remains unclear. This study investigated incidence of NOAF under different treatment strategies in patients with PA.

Incidental Congestive Heart Failure in Patients With Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas.

Background Previous studies show that patients with primary aldosteronism are associated with higher risk of congestive heart failure (CHF). However, the effect of target treatment to the incidental CHF has not been elucidated. We aimed to investigate the risk of new-onset CHF in patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) and explore the effect of adrenalectomy on new onset of CHF.

Surgery decreases the long-term incident stroke risk in patients with primary aldosteronism.

Background: Hypertension with hyperaldosteronism could be associated with stroke attributable to endothelial injury. Whether the detrimental effect of aldosterone on stroke among primary aldosteronism patients could be mitigated by administration of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist or by reduction of aldosterone level via adrenalectomy is still inconclusive.

Methods: Primary aldosteronism and essential hypertensive patients were enrolled in the Taiwan National Health Insurance from 1997 to 2009.

Plasma Aldosterone After Seated Saline Infusion Test Outperforms Captopril Test at Predicting Clinical Outcomes After Adrenalectomy for Primary Aldosteronism.

Objective: The saline infusion test (SIT) and the captopril test (CT) are widely used as confirmatory tests for primary aldosteronism (PA). We hypothesized that post-SIT and post-CT plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC) indicate the severity of aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and might predict clinical outcome.

Methods: We recruited 216 patients with APA in the Taiwan Primary Aldosteronism Investigation (TAIPAI) registry who received both seated SIT and CT as confirmatory tests.

Adrenalectomy Improves the Long-Term Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease and Mortality of Primary Aldosteronism.

Objective: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common cause of secondary hypertension, and the long-term effect of excess aldosterone on kidney function is unknown.

Patients And Methods: We used a longitudinal population database from the Taiwan National Health Insurance system and applied a validated algorithm to identify patients with PA diagnosed between 1997 and 2009.

Results: There were 2699 patients with PA recruited, of whom 761 patients with an aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) were identified.

Reconstruction of reference error in high overlapping density subaperture stitching interferometry.

The vibration modulated stitching interferometry acquires many subaperture phases timely forming the high overlapping density subapertures for asphere phase stitching. The large number of overlapping subapertures had been proven effective in suppressing the reference error. In this research, we propose a pixel-by-pixel reference calibration method by using the averaged difference between the stitched phase and compensated phase within the overlapping subapertures.

Identification of a novel LDLR disease-causing variant using capture-based next-generation sequencing screening of familial hypercholesterolemia patients in Taiwan.

Background And Aims: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder with paramount health impacts. However, less than 1% FH patients in Taiwan were formally diagnosed, partly due to the lack of reliable cost-effective genetic testing. We aimed at using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform as the clinical genetic testing method for FH.

Risk of Fracture in Primary Aldosteronism: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with increased urinary calcium excretion and osteoporosis prevalence. We studied the long-term effect of hyperaldosterone on fracture risk and possible risk mitigation via treatments, by comparing PA patients and their essential hypertension (EH) counterparts extracted by propensity score match. We used a longitudinal population database from the Taiwan National Health Insurance, and used a validated algorithm to identify PA patients diagnosed in 1997-2010.

Clinical and Imaging Outcomes up to 1 Year Following Balloon Angioplasty for Isolated Penile Artery Stenoses in Patients With Erectile Dysfunction: The PERFECT-2 Study.

Purpose: To assess the angiographic and clinical outcomes in patients with erectile dysfunction and isolated penile artery stenoses treated by balloon angioplasty.

Methods: In this prospective study, 22 patients (mean age 61.0±7.

The Emerging Roles of Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography: Acute Chest Pain Evaluation and Screening for Asymptomatic Individuals.

Unlabelled: Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) has been widely available since 2004. After that, the diagnostic accuracy of CCTA has been extensively validated with invasive coronary angiography for detection of coronary arterial stenosis. In this paper, we reviewed the updated evidence of the role of CCTA in both scenarios including acute chest pain and screening in asymptomatic adults.

Interferometer reference error suppression by the high-overlapping-density phase-stitching algorithm.

The subaperture stitching interferometer is a flexible testing device that measures either high-numerical-aperture or large aperture optics without the requirement of additional auxiliary optics. In the measurement, the interferometer reference optics error can contaminate the stitched phase of the complete tested optics and reduce measurement accuracy. We propose high-overlapping-density subaperture stitching interferometry (HOD-SSI) to reduce the impact of reference optics errors on the stitched phase.

Measurement improvement by high overlapping density subaperture stitching interferometry.

The vibration-modulated subaperture stitching interferometer acquires the interferogram on the fly dynamically. With its highly improved measurement throughput, we applied the device for high overlapping density subaperture stitching interferometry to acquire hundreds of overlapping subapertures in a single phase stitching measurement. The averaging effect of the high overlapping density stitching interferometer is discussed.

Safety and six-month durability of angioplasty for isolated penile artery stenoses in patients with erectile dysfunction: a first-in-man study.

Aims: Obstructive pelvic arterial lesions are highly prevalent in patients with erectile dysfunction and commonly located in penile artery segments. In this first-in-man study, we intended to assess the safety and feasibility of balloon angioplasty for isolated penile artery stenoses in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Methods And Results: Twenty-five patients with erectile dysfunction and isolated penile artery stenoses (unilateral stenosis ≥70% or bilateral stenoses ≥50%) identified by pelvic computed tomographic angiography were enrolled.

Vibration modulated subaperture stitching interferometry.

A novel subaperture stitching interferometry is developed to measure the surface deformation of the lens by utilizing the mechanical vibration induced from a motorized stage. The interferograms of different subapertures are acquired on the fly while the tested optics is rotating against its symmetrical axis. The measurement throughput and the subaperture positioning accuracy are improved simultaneously by adopting both the synchronous rotational scanning mechanism and the non-uniform phase shifting algorithm.

Iterative phase-shifting algorithm immune to random phase shifts and tilts.

An iterative phase-shifting algorithm based on the least-squares principle is developed to overcome the random piston and tilt wavefront errors generated from the phase shifter. The algorithm iteratively calculates the phase distribution and the phase-shifting map to minimize the sum of squared errors in the interferograms. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated via computer simulations and validated by the Fizeau interferometer measurements.