Outcomes after medical treatment for primary aldosteronism: an international consensus and analysis of treatment response in an international cohort.

Background: Primary aldosteronism can be treated medically but there is no standardised method to evaluate treatment outcomes. We aimed to develop criteria for assessing the outcomes of targeted medical treatment of primary aldosteronism, analyse outcomes across an international cohort, and identify factors associated with a complete treatment response.

Methods: An international panel of 31 primary aldosteronism experts used the Delphi method to reach consensus on the definition of complete, partial, or absent biochemical and clinical outcomes of medical treatment of primary aldosteronism.

Validating Machine Learning Models Against the Saline Test Gold Standard for Primary Aldosteronism Diagnosis.

Background: In this study, we developed and validated machine learning models to predict primary aldosteronism (PA) in hypertensive East-Asian patients, comparing their performance against the traditional saline infusion test. The motivation for this development arises from the need to provide a more efficient and standardized diagnostic approach, because the saline infusion test, although considered a gold standard, is often cumbersome, is time-consuming, and lacks uniform protocols. By offering an alternative diagnostic method, this study seeks to enhance patient care through quicker and potentially more reliable PA detection.

An updated network meta-analysis of non-pharmacological interventions for primary hypertension in adults: insights from recent studies.

Background: Primary hypertension significantly impacts global cardiovascular health, contributing to increased mortality rates and posing a substantial public health challenge. Recognizing the growing evidence supporting non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) for controlling primary hypertension, our study employs Network Meta-Analysis (NMA) to comprehensively assess their efficacy.

Methods: This review updates a prior systematic review by searching for original literature on NPIs for primary hypertension from 2013 to 2024.

Balanced diets are associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes than plant-based diets.

Background & Aims: Plant-based diets benefit human health, while the deficient in some nutrients limits its application. We aimed to examine whether balanced diets could be better in reducing diabetes risk than plant-based diets.

Methods: In cross-sectional analysis of Environment-Inflammation-Metabolic-Diseases Study (EIMDS), we used a questionnaire to investigate the habit of balanced and plant-based diets.

The Value of LC-MS/MS in Apparent Bilateral Aldosterone Suppression in Adrenal Venous Sampling for Primary Aldosteronism.

Context: Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is recommended for subtyping primary aldosteronism (PA), however, it is unreliable when apparent bilateral aldosterone suppression (ABAS) occurs, defined as aldosterone/cortisol ratio in the adrenal vein being bilaterally lower than that in the inferior vena cava. The value of Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in PA subtyping when ABAS occurs is unclear.

Objective: To determine whether LC-MS/MS can reduce the occurrence of ABAS and misdiagnosis of PA subtyping.

Renin-independent aldosteronism and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and cirrhosis: A genetic association study.

Background & Aims: Renin-independent aldosteronism (RIA) refers to a spectrum of autonomous aldosterone hypersecretion. We aimed to explore the genetical relationship between RIA and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and cirrhosis.

Methods: We included 125357 participants from the cohort of United Kingdom Biobank.

Combining fire needle plus cupping with famciclovir and gabapentin in the treatment of acute herpes zoster: a revised intervention approach.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of fire needle plus cupping (FC) combined with oral famciclovir and gabapentin for the treatment of acute-phase herpes zoster (AHZ). This study was conducted as a superiority, randomized controlled trial in which 84 patients with AHZ who met the diagnostic criteria were selected and randomly assigned to three groups on a 1:1 basis. Group A: received oral famciclovir with gabapentin treatment (FG); Group B: received fire needle plus cupping (FC) with FG.

Effect of Acupoint Catgut Embedding on Subjective Appetite in Overweight and Obese Adults with Strong and Moderate Appetite: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Appetite plays a crucial role in obesity and weight loss outcomes. while conventional therapies reduce appetite, They often have limitations. Acupoint Catgut Embedding (ACE) is widely used for weight loss, but its impact on subjective appetite, especially across different appetite status, remains underexplored.

Comparison of Different Diagnostic Criteria of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for the Classification of Primary Aldosteronism.

Context: 68Ga-Pentixafor positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is an emerging method for the classification diagnosis primary aldosteronism (PA). However, the diagnosis criteria are still controversial.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of different criteria of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT in the classification diagnosis of PA.

Comparison of a chemiluminescence immunoassay with LC-MS/MS in the determination of the plasma aldosterone concentration in patients with impaired renal function.

Purpose: Compared with chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA), the quantification of the plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) yields lower values. The extent to which this difference is exacerbated by a reduced glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is unclear. Therefore, this study aims to assess the impact of renal insufficiency on PAC as measured by CLIA using LC-MS/MS as the reference method.

Perirenal fat and chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes: The mediation role of afferent arteriolar resistance.

Aim: Perirenal fat (PRF) is an independent predictor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Previous studies speculated that PRF may promote renal dysfunction through affecting renal hemodynamics. To verify this hypothesis, we studied the relationship between PRF and renal hemodynamics in T2DM.

Retinal microcirculation changes in prediabetic patients with short-term increased blood glucose using optical coherence tomography angiography.

Background: Retinal microcirculation alterations are early indicators of diabetic microvascular complications. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a noninvasive method to assess these changes. This study analyzes changes in retinal microcirculation in prediabetic patients during short-term increases in blood glucose using OCTA.

Abdominal obesity and CKD: A potential mediating role of serum metabolites in the UK Biobank population.

Background: It is generally known that although a connection between abdominal obesity and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is well-established, there is a lack of systematic research investigating the specific roles of serum metabolites, including lipid metabolites, amino acid metabolites, carbohydrate metabolites and inflammatory substances in explaining this associations.

Methods: We included 118,020 general patients with data of serum metabolites from UK Biobank. We defined abdominal obesity and CKD based on waist circumference and ICD-10 criteria.

Immediate efficacy of acupuncture combined with active exercise as 10 min rapid therapy for pain and movement disorders in patients suffering from acute stiff neck: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Stiff neck is a condition mainly characterised by persistent pain and limited neck movement, which can substantially impact patients' daily lives during acute episodes. Accordingly, rapid pain relief and restoration of normal activities are the main needs of patients during doctor visits. This study aims to assess the immediate efficacy of acupuncture combined with active exercises in rapidly relieving pain and improving movement disorders within 10 min in patients with acute stiff neck (ASN).

Preparation and Performance Evaluation of a New Type of Polyethylene-vinyl Acetate/Polystyrene Microsphere Composite Pour Point Depressant for Waxy Crude Oil.

Polymer/inorganic nanocomposite pour point depressant (PPD) is a research hotspot in the field of waxy crude oil pipelining. However, the inorganic nanoparticles need to be organically modified to improve their organic compatibility, and the inorganic nanoparticles are harmful to crude oil refining. In this work, organic PSMS with an average size of 1.

Anti‑epileptic mechanism of isopimaric acid from based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and biological validation.

(PC) is derived from the dry twigs and leaves of (L.) Franco and exerts anti-epileptic effects. However, its mechanism of action remains unknown.