Vascular Calcification as an Underrecognized Risk Factor for Frailty in 1783 Community-Dwelling Elderly Individuals.

Background Vascular calcification (VC) is associated with high morbidity and mortality among older adults, a population that exhibits a higher tendency for developing frailty at the same time. Whether VC serves as a risk factor for the development of frailty in this population remains unclear. Methods and Results We analyzed a prospectively assembled cohort of community-dwelling older adults between 2014 and 2017 (n=1783).

Cerebral Blood Flow-Guided Manipulation of Arterial Blood Pressure Attenuates Hippocampal Apoptosis After Asphyxia-Induced Cardiac Arrest in Rats.

Background In most post-cardiac arrest patients, the autoregulation mechanism of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is dysregulated. We examined whether recovery of CBF by adjusting mean arterial pressure mitigates post-cardiac arrest neuronal damage. Methods and Results Wistar rats that underwent 8-minute asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest and resuscitation were computer-randomized to norepinephrine or control groups.

Synergistic Effects of Moderate Therapeutic Hypothermia and Levosimendan on Cardiac Function and Survival After Asphyxia-Induced Cardiac Arrest in Rats.

Background This study investigated whether levosimendan, an inotropic calcium sensitizer, when combined with moderate therapeutic hypothermia, may exert synergistic benefits on post-cardiac arrest myocardial dysfunction and improve outcomes. Methods and Results After 9.5-minute asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest and resuscitation, 48 rats were randomized equally into 4 groups following return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), including normothermia, hypothermia, normothermia-levosimendan, and hypothermia-levosimendan groups.

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.

Primary resistance to osimertinib despite acquired .

Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines suggest plasma-based testing (liquid biopsy) for in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) with acquired resistance to first-/second-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Positivity for resistant mutation on liquid biopsy may obviate the need for invasive tissue biopsy. We report a rare case of primary resistance to osimertinib, although liquid biopsy revealed positivity.

Effects of specific nutrients on immune modulation in patients with gastrectomy.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent and lethal malignant neoplasms worldwide. The main treatment for GC is gastrectomy, which generally causes considerable metabolic stress to patients. To modulate cell function, maintain homeostasis of the immune response, reduce postoperative complications, and obtain favorable outcomes, physicians prescribe specific nutrients with immunomodulatory properties as supplementation to enteral or parenteral formulas, indicating immunonutrition.

Heart Rhythm Complexity Predicts Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. Heart rhythm complexity analysis has been shown to be useful in predicting outcomes in various diseases; however, data on patients with end-stage renal disease are limited. In this study, we analyzed the association between heart rhythm complexity and long-term cardiovascular outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving peritoneal dialysis.

Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients With Primary Aldosteronism: A Propensity Score-Matching Follow-Up Study With Tissue Doppler Imaging.

Background Primary aldosteronism is the most common cause of secondary hypertension and is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy. However, whether aldosterone excess is responsible for left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is unknown. Methods and Results We prospectively enrolled 129 patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma and 120 patients with essential hypertension, and analyzed their clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic data, including tissue Doppler images.

Metformin Use Is Associated With a Lower Risk of Hospitalization for Heart Failure in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Background A beneficial effect of metformin on heart failure requires confirmation. Methods and Results Patients with new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus during 1999 to 2005 were enrolled from Taiwan's National Health Insurance database and followed up from January 1, 2006, until December 31, 2011. Main analyses were conducted in an unmatched cohort (172 542 metformin ever users and 43 744 never users) and a propensity score matched-pair cohort (matched cohort I, 41 714 ever users and 41 714 never users).

Relationship Between Body Mass Index, Antidiabetic Agents, and Midterm Mortality in Patients With Both Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background The aim of this study was to determine the influence of various antidiabetic therapies on the relationship between body mass index and all-cause mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus and acute coronary syndrome. Methods and Results This was a prospective, observational study comprising 1193 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and acute coronary syndrome. The patients were stratified into 4 body mass index categories, and their mortality rates were compared using time-dependent Cox regression analysis using normal weight (body mass index, 18.

Increased proliferation in atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia of the endometrium with concurrent inactivation of ARID1A and PTEN tumour suppressors.

Uterine endometrioid carcinoma is the most common neoplastic disease in the female genital tract and develops from a common precursor lesion, atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia (AH/EIN). Although the genomic landscape of endometrioid carcinoma has been recently revealed, the molecular alterations that contribute to tumour progression from AH/EIN to carcinoma remain to be elucidated. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to determine if loss of expression of two of the most commonly mutated tumour suppressors in endometrioid carcinoma, PTEN and ARID1A, was associated with increased proliferation in AH/EIN.