Sex modifies association between dietary sodium intake and cardiovascular disease mortality among US adult with hypertension: a national population-based cohort.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between dietary sodium intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in hypertensive American adults.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted to examine the association between dietary sodium intake, as estimated by a single 24-h dietary recall from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2012), and mortality data obtained from the National Death Index.

Results: This study included 12,236 adults with hypertension, with 837 CVD-related deaths identified over a median follow-up period of 10.

Sex modifies the predictive value of computed tomography combined with serum potassium for primary aldosteronism subtype diagnosis.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the predictive value of the CT findings combined with serum potassium levels for primary aldosteronism (PA) subtype diagnosis, with a particular interest in sex differences.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we eventually included 482 PA patients who underwent successful adrenal venous sampling (AVS) and had available data. We diagnosed the subjects as having either unilateral (n = 289) or bilateral PA (n = 193) based on AVS.

Significance of computed tomography combined with postural stimulation test in predicting laterality of primary aldosteronism.

Backgrounds: Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) represents the gold standard for classifying primary aldosteronism (PA). However, AVS is a technically demanding, expensive and invasive procedure. Computed tomography (CT) scans is recommended as the initial study of classification diagnosis by the current guidelines.

Associations among vitamin D, tobacco smoke, and hypertension: A cross-sectional study of the NHANES 2001-2016.

The interrelationships among vitamin D, tobacco smoking, and hypertension are currently unknown. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between vitamin D levels and hypertension and the effect of tobacco smoke exposure levels on this relationship among US adults. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of adult participants from the 2001-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

A retrospective comparison of albumin versus mannitol priming fluid with relation to postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication following cardiac surgery which can result in increased mortality and increased healthcare costs. During Hurricane Maria (2017), a nationwide shortage of mannitol occurred, and our institution switched to the utilization of albumin as a priming fluid solution. We observed decreased rates of POAF during that time and began alternating albumin and mannitol priming fluid solutions.

Early Cardiac Rehabilitation to Reduce Heart Failure Readmissions.

Purpose: This research was conducted to determine whether early participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces readmissions following heart failure (HF) hospitalization.

Methods: A retrospective quasiexperimental comparison group design was used. Electronic medical records were abstracted for HF patients discharged between March 2013 and December 2017.

Analysis of Cross-Reactivity and Allergic Symptoms of 19 Allergens: Results from NHANES 2005-2006.

Introduction: We explored the cross-reactivity among 19 common allergen sources and evaluated the influence of serum IgE concentrations and the number of sensitized allergens on the incidence of allergic symptoms.

Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006 which is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the USA. After excluding participants with missing data from the allergen IgE test, allergy questionnaire, and respiratory health questionnaire, a total of 7,224 participants aged 6 years and older were included, as children younger than 6 years old did not complete all 19 allergen-specific IgE tests.

Lycorine ameliorates isoproterenol-induced cardiac dysfunction mainly via inhibiting inflammation, fibrosis, oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Alleviating cardiac dysfunction improves the prognosis of heart failure patients. Lycorine is an alkaloid with several beneficial biological properties. Here, we used mice to evaluate the effect of lycorine on cardiac dysfunction elicited by isoproterenol.

Patterns of Clinical Care Subsequent to Nonindicated Vitamin D Testing in Primary Care.

Background: Exponential increases in nonindicated, low-value vitamin D testing have been reported over the past 15 years. Downstream effects of such testing have not been well quantified.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to describe patterns of vitamin D testing within primary care of a large regional health system and to explore downstream health service utilization subsequent to nonindicated testing.

Diagnostic Modality of Clostridioides difficile Infection Predicts Treatment Response and Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at increased risk of developing Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Common methods to diagnose CDI involve a combination of tests including the toxin A/B enzyme immunoassay (Toxin) and toxin gene polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR). Disease outcomes in Toxin+ versus Toxin-PCR+ IBD patients remain unclear.

Comparing No-Show Rates of Neurology Outpatients with and without Parkinson's Disease: A Real-World Assessment of the Parkinsonian Personality Profile.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) has been hypothesized to be associated with certain personality traits, including conscientiousness and punctuality. However, research aimed at quantifying these traits is largely derived from questionnaire-based personality inventories rather than real-world observations.

Objective: To explore the presence of a parkinsonian personality profile by assessing the no-show rate of patients with PD versus other neurological disorders.

Medial Rectus Anastomosis Under Endoscopic Endonasal Orbital Approach With Image-Guided Navigation: A New Way of Repairing a Ruptured Medial Rectus.

Background: With the extensive development of endoscopic sinus surgery, iatrogenic medial rectus muscle injury should be treated with caution. Traditional methods to repair a ruptured medial rectus need an anterior orbitotomy approach, with more injury and difficulty in finding the posterior end of the ruptured medial rectus.

Objective: To explore a new method to repair a ruptured medial rectus.

Role of IFT88 in icariin‑regulated maintenance of the chondrocyte phenotype.

Maintenance of the chondrocyte phenotype is crucial for cartilage repair during tissue engineering. Intraflagellar transport protein 88 (IFT88) is an essential component of primary cilia, shuttling signals along the axoneme. The hypothesis of the present study was that IFT88 could exert an important role in icariin‑regulated maintenance of the chondrocyte phenotype.

Corrigendum: Meclizine Prevents Ovariectomy-Induced Bone Loss and Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis Partially by Upregulating PXR.

[This corrects the article on p. 693 in vol. 8, PMID: 29046637.

Knowledge Gaps in the Management of Postoperative Crohn's Disease: A US National Survey.

Background: Postoperative recurrence (POR) of Crohn's disease (CD) is common. Guidelines on POR management have recently been issued, but clinical practice may vary.

Aims: To examine the current clinical practice of POR management in the USA METHODS: A web-based survey was sent to all members of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American College of Gastroenterology.

Meclizine Prevents Ovariectomy-Induced Bone Loss and Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis Partially by Upregulating PXR.

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) which belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily plays vital roles in several biological functions, especially in the inflammatory procedure. Besides that, PXR is revealed by recent studies to have essential effects on bone tissue. As an agonist of PXR, meclizine is a piperazine-derived histamine H1 antagonist, and has been frequently used for prevention and treatment of vomiting and nausea.

Iguratimod prevents ovariectomy‑induced bone loss and suppresses osteoclastogenesis via inhibition of peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor‑γ.

Iguratimod is known for its anti‑inflammatory activities and therapeutic effects in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It has previously been demonstrated that iguratimod attenuates bone destruction and osteoclast formation in the Walker 256 rat mammary gland carcinoma cell‑induced bone cancer pain model. Therefore, it was hypothesized that iguratimod may additionally exhibit therapeutic effects on benign osteoclast‑associated diseases including postmenopausal osteoporosis.

CD146+ skeletal stem cells from growth plate exhibit specific chondrogenic differentiation capacity in vitro.

Skeletal stem cells (SSCs) are a population of progenitor cells which give rise to postnatal skeletal tissues including bone, cartilage and bone marrow stroma, however not to adipose, haematopoietic or muscle tissue. Growth plate chondrocytes exhibit the ability of continuous proliferation and differentiation, which contributes to the continuous physiological growth. The growth plate has been hypothesized to contain SSCs which exhibit a desirable differentiation capacity to generate bone and cartilage.

Anti-rheumatic drug iguratimod protects against cancer-induced bone pain and bone destruction in a rat model.

The bone is one of the most common sites of metastasis in patients with cancer. Current treatments for bone metastases include bisphosphonates, denosumab, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics, but each of them has certain limitations. Cytokines and mediators released from various cells in the bone microenvironment may drive a vicious cycle of osteolytic bone metastases.

Icariin promotes proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat adipose-derived stem cells by activating the RhoA-TAZ signaling pathway.

Icariin, the main active flavonoid glucoside isolated from Herba epimedii, has been demonstrated to be a potential alternative therapy to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis. Icariin has also been shown to regulate the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells (rBMSCs). However, the detailed molecular mechanism of icariin has remained largely unknown.

Anti-rheumatic drug iguratimod (T-614) alleviates cancer-induced bone destruction via down-regulating interleukin-6 production in a nuclear factor-κB-dependent manner.

Cytokines are believed to be involved in a "vicious circle" of progressive interactions in bone metastasis. Iguratimod is a novel anti-rheumatic drug which is reported to have the capability of anti-cytokines. In this study, a rat model was constructed to investigate the effect of iguratimod on bone metastasis and it was found that iguratimod alleviated cancer-induced bone destruction.

Loss of ARID1A expression predicts poor survival prognosis in gastric cancer: a systematic meta-analysis from 14 studies.

The chromatin remodeling gene, AT-rich interactive domain 1A gene (ARID1A), frequently mutates inactively in gastric cancer (GC). However, its prognostic value remains controversial. To address this issue, a comprehensive meta-analysis was performed.

YAP and ERK mediated mechanical strain-induced cell cycle progression through RhoA and cytoskeletal dynamics in rat growth plate chondrocytes.

Yes-associated protein (YAP) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) have been considered as key regulators in tissue homeostasis, organ development, and tumor formation. However, the roles of YAP and ERK in the mediating strain mechanosensing in the growth plate cartilage have not been determined. In this study, chondrocytes obtained from the growth plate cartilage of 2-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to the mechanical strain with different magnitudes and durations at a frequency of 0.