A novel nomogram for predicting risk of hypertension in US adults with periodontitis: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2014.

The goal of our study was to create a nomogram to predict the risk of developing hypertension in patients with periodontitis. Our study used data from a total of 3196 subjects from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009 to 2014 who had ever been diagnosed with periodontitis. The data set was randomly divided into a training set and a validation set according to a 7:3 ratio.

Application of machine learning algorithms to construct and validate a prediction model for coronary heart disease risk in patients with periodontitis: a population-based study.

Background: The association between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease is increasingly recognized. In this research, a prediction model utilizing machine learning (ML) was created and verified to evaluate the likelihood of coronary heart disease in individuals affected by periodontitis.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of data obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database, encompassing the period between 2009 and 2014.

Extracorporeal Life Support and Temporary CentriMag Ventricular Assist Device to Salvage Cardiogenic-Shock Patients Suffering from Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

: The extracorporeal life support (ECLS) and temporary bilateral ventricular assist device (t-BiVAD) are commonly applied in patients with cardiogenic shock. Prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has poor prognosis. Herein, we report our findings on a combined ECLS and t-BiVAD approach to salvage cardiogenic-shock patients with CPR for more than one hour.

Association between long-term usage of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and lung cancer in the elderly: a nationwide cohort study.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the association between acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) usage and the risk of lung cancer. Data from 116,106 new users of AChEI and 348,318, at a ratio of 1:3, matched by age, sex, and index-year, between 2000 and 2015 controls were obtained from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database in this cohort study. The Cox regression model was used to compare the risk of lung cancer.

Urinary Extracellular Vesicles for Renal Tubular Transporters Expression in Patients With Gitelman Syndrome.

The utility of urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) to faithfully represent the changes of renal tubular protein expression remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate renal tubular sodium (Na) or potassium (K) associated transporters expression from uEVs and kidney tissues in patients with Gitelman syndrome (GS) caused by inactivating mutations in . uEVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation from 10 genetically-confirmed GS patients.

Stimulants associated with reduced risk of hospitalization for motor vehicle accident injury in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The risk of injury directly related to hospitalization for motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) in the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients has not been thoroughly understood. Our study aimed to examine the association between the OSA and the hospitalization for an MVA injury.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) between 2000 and 2015.

Transplant Recipients Using Tacrolimus Had Higher Utilization of Healthcare Services Than Those Receiving Cyclosporine in Taiwan.

To date, population-based studies on the healthcare service utilization among stable heart, kidney, and liver transplant recipients with different calcineurin inhibitors are still scarce. Therefore, we used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to conduct a nationwide cross-sectional study to estimate the healthcare utilization of stable transplant recipients with tacrolimus or cyclosporine (n = 3,482). The sampled patients in this study comprised 377 heart, 1,693 kidney, and 1,412 liver transplant recipients between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011.

The effect of uric acid on sleep quality after acute ischemic stroke.

Sleep disturbance is a common psychiatric complication after stroke. Oxidative stress has been an important pathophysiological mechanism of sleep disturbance. However, no study has explored the relationship between uric acid (UA) and post-stroke sleep quality.

The implication of seniority of supervising attending surgeon on the reexploration rate following elective coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background And Aims: During coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, the residual hemostasis procedures, from weaning cardiopulmonary bypass to closing sternotomy, are always completed by residents and supervised by attending surgeons. We want to evaluate the teaching effectiveness for residents under the supervision of attending surgeons with different levels of seniority.

Materials And Methods: Between January 1st 2001 and December 31st 2010, 2279 consecutive CABG surgeries were performed in our medical center.

Instillation of particulate matter 2.5 induced acute lung injury and attenuated the injury recovery in ACE2 knockout mice.

Inhaled particulate matter 2.5 (PM) can cause lung injury by inducing serious inflammation in lung tissue. Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory lung diseases and regulates inflammatory response.

Levitronix bilateral ventricular assist device, a bridge to recovery in a patient with acute fulminant myocarditis and concomitant cerebellar infarction.

We report on the case of a 27-year-old male who presented to our emergency room with chest tightness, dyspnoea and cold sweats. The 12-lead electrocardiogram showed diffuse ventricular tachycardia with wide QRS complexes. Troponin-I level was elevated to 100 ng/ml.

Blood Mixing Upregulates Platelet Membrane-Bound CD40 Ligand Expression In Vitro Independent of Abo Compatibility.

Platelets play a central role in the inflammation response via CD40 ligand (CD40L) expression, which may lead to transfusion reactions. The precise role of platelet CD40L-mediated inflammation in transfusion reactions is unclear. Therefore, we assessed the effects of in vitro blood mixing on platelet CD40L expression.

Imbalanced plasma ACE and ACE2 level in the uremic patients with cardiovascular diseases and its change during a single hemodialysis session.

Background: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has significant influences on heart and renal disease progression. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2) are major peptidases of RAS components and play counteracting functions through angiotensin II (Ang II)/ATIR and angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7))/Mas axis, respectively.

Methods: There were 360 uremic patients on regular hemodialysis (HD) treatment (inclusive of 119 HD patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and 241 HD patients without CVD and 50 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.

A Rare Experience of Infective Residual Sheath in the Wall of the Innominate Vein after Extraction of Implantable-Defibrillators.

Background: Cardiac device-related infective endocarditis is an uncommon but potentially fatal complication. Therefore, cardiac devices should be removed as soon as a device-related infection is suspected.

Case Report: A 56-year-old male with a history of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) 7 years earlier and re-implantation of ICDs due to dysfunction 18 months ago presented with erosion of the ICD pocket with Pseudomonas bacteremia.

A Thrombomodulin Gene Polymorphism (C1418T) Is Associated with Early Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery with a Conventional Cardiopulmonary Bypass during Hospitalization.

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a type of cell membrane-bound anticoagulant protein cofactor in the thrombin-mediated activation of protein C. Previous evidence has shown an association between TM polymorphisms and systemic inflammation. Conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), beating-heart CPB, and off-pump techniques have been widely used in cardiac surgery.

Impact of Blood Mixing and ABO Compatibility on Platelet-Leukocyte Aggregations and Platelet P-Selectin Expression: An in Vitro Study.

Effects of blood transfusions on platelet- and leukocyte-related inflammation are unclear. We simulated transfusion using in vitro blood mixing to evaluate platelet-leukocyte aggregations (PLA) and platelet P-selectin expression, and the mechanism of PLA. Donor packed red blood cells (pRBCs) were obtained from a blood bank.

Subclavian artery cannulation provides better myocardial protection in conventional repair of acute type A aortic dissection: experience from a single medical centre in Taiwan.

Background: Although many reports have detailed the advantages and disadvantages between femoral and subclavian arterial cannulations for acute aortic dissection type A (AADA), the confounding factors caused by disease severity and surgical procedures could not be completely eliminated. We compared femoral and subclavian artery cannulation and report the results for reconstruction of only the ascending aorta.

Methods: From January 2003 to December 2010, 51 AADA cases involving reconstruction of only the ascending aorta were retrospectively reviewed and categorised on the basis of femoral (n = 26, 51%) or subclavian (n = 25, 49%) artery cannulation.

A penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer rupture in the ascending aorta with hemopericardium: a case report.

Background: Acute aortic syndrome, including classic aortic dissection, intramural aortic hematoma, and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU), is a term used to describe a group of conditions with similar clinical symptoms, but with different pathophysiological mechanisms. PAU is a lesion that penetrates the internal elastic lamina through the media. It is usually located in the descending aorta and rarely observed in the ascending aorta.

Cancer Incidence among Heart, Kidney, and Liver Transplant Recipients in Taiwan.

Population-based evidence of the relative risk of cancer among heart, kidney, and liver transplant recipients from Asia is lacking. The Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database was used to conduct a population-based cohort study of transplant recipients (n = 5396), comprising 801 heart, 2847 kidney, and 1748 liver transplant recipients between 2001 and 2012. Standardized incidence ratios and Cox regression models were used.

Assessment of the Risk Factors and Outcomes for Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Patients Undergoing Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most common complication of cardiac surgery and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Recognizing patients at high risk for developing postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) may help identify those who could benefit from strategies to prevent POAF. This study was conducted to delineate outcomes and to assess risk factors for POAF among Taiwanese patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Prolonged Use of Levitronix Left Ventricular Assist Device as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation.

Unlabelled: A 61-year-old male presented to our emergency room with chest tightness, dyspnea, and cold sweat. He underwent a 12-lead EKG which showed ST-elevation from leads V1-V4 and T wave inversion in leads II, III, and aVF. His troponin-I level was elevated to 70.