Article
Urology & Nephrology
Si-Jia Zhou, Xiao-Xiao Wang, Wen Tang, Qing-Feng Han, Lian He, Ai-Hua Zhang
Summary: This study evaluated serum irisin levels of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and their relationship with vascular calcification, finding a significant association between serum irisin levels and abdominal aortic calcification in PD patients. Lower irisin levels, diabetic mellitus, higher serum ultrasensitive C reactive protein, and older age could be potential predictive factors for vascular calcification in PD patients.
Article
Surgery
Johannes Klopf, Lukas Fuchs, Rudiger Schernthaner, Christoph M. Domenig, Bernd Gollackner, Christine Brostjan, Christoph Neumayer, Wolf Eilenberg
Summary: This study evaluated the predictive value of calcification for AAA progression. The results showed that increased calcification can stabilize the aortic aneurysmal wall and slow down the expansion of AAA. This finding may have important implications for rupture risk, mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs.
JOURNAL OF VASCULAR SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Sijia Zhou, Xiaoxiao Wang, Junbao Shi, Qingfeng Han, Lian He, Wen Tang, Aihua Zhang
Summary: The study found that serum FABP4 levels in PD patients are positively associated with abdominal aortic calcification score and serve as an independent marker for AAC in PD patients.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Seishi Aihara, Shunsuke Yamada, Shumei Matsueda, Akinori Nagashima, Kumiko Torisu, Takanari Kitazono, Toshiaki Nakano
Summary: Peritoneal calcification is a prominent characteristic of the later stage of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis in patients on long-term peritoneal dialysis. This study found that calcifying medium accelerates peritoneal cell calcification, which can be prevented by magnesium supplementation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Shizhu Zhao, Jingyuan Cao, Jianzhong Li, Xiaochun Yang, Peiyang Cao, Jingjing Lan, Guoyuan Lu
Summary: This study found a positive correlation between serum EDPs levels in PD patients and the risk of AAC, with a combination of EDPs improving diagnostic accuracy for AAC and severe AAC.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marcela Avila, Ma del Carmen Prado, Renata Romero, Ricardo Cordova, Ma del Carmen Rigo, Miguel Trejo, Carmen Mora, Ramon Paniagua
Summary: The purpose of this study was to compare the value of vascular calcification (VC), serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels, and other biochemical markers as predictors of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). The study found that OPG was a significant predictor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, performing better than VC. In addition, albumin and calcium levels were associated with the risk of mortality.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wisarut Wanchaitanawong, Rungsrit Kanjanavanit, Tanop Srisuwan, Wanwarang Wongcharoen, Arintaya Phrommintikul
Summary: This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of aortic valve calcium (AVC) score in different etiologies of aortic stenosis (AS). The results showed that AVC score performed well in degenerative and bicuspid AS, but poorly in rheumatic AS.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ezequiel Guzzetti, Jin Kyung Oh, Mylene Shen, Marc R. Dweck, Kian Keong Poh, Amr E. Abbas, Ramy Mando, Gregg S. Pressman, Daniel Brito, Lionel Tastet, Tania Pawade, Mariano Luis Falconi, Diego Perez de Arenaza, William Kong, Edgar Tay, Philippe Pibarot, Jae-Kwan Song, Marie-Annick Clavel
Summary: This study aimed to validate the accuracy of sex-specific thresholds of aortic valve calcification (AVC) in Asians. The results showed that the AVC thresholds defining severe aortic stenosis (AS) were comparable between Asian and Caucasian populations, and similar to those proposed in the guidelines. However, the accuracy of AVC to identify severe AS, especially in Asian women, was sub-optimal. Therefore, the use of AVC-density is preferable in Asians.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jack Dalla Via, Marc Sim, John T. Schousboe, Douglas P. Kiel, Kun Zhu, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Abadi K. Gebre, Robin M. Daly, Richard L. Prince, Joshua R. Lewis
Summary: This study found no significant association between abdominal aortic calcification assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and peripheral bone density and structure in older women.
CALCIFIED TISSUE INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jakub Toczek, Parnaz Boodagh, Nowshin Sanzida, Mean Ghim, Mani Salarian, Kiran Gona, Gunjan Kukreja, Saranya Rajendran, Linyan Wei, Jinah Han, Jiasheng Zhang, Jae-Joon Jung, Morven Graham, Xinran Liu, Mehran M. Sadeghi
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of using nanoparticle-enhanced CT imaging to predict AAA outcomes by evaluating phagocytic activity. The uptake of nanoparticles can predict AAA outcomes and is related to vascular wall inflammatory responses.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Soojung Park, Yongwon Cho, Yu-Whan Oh, Minseok Ko, Do-Sun Lim, Cheol Woong Yu, Seong-Mi Park, Mi-Na Kim, Sung Ho Hwang
Summary: The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between spectral computed tomography (CT) measured iodine concentration and strength of aortic valvular calcification (AVC) in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AVS). The study found that iodine concentration was independently associated with the reduction percentage of AVC. Additionally, when an optimal iodine concentration cutoff point was set at 4 mg/mL, it could accurately assess fragile AVC with a reduction percentage greater than 18.5%.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Yan Wang, Fei Xiong, Joseph Leach, Evan Kao, Bing Tian, Chengcheng Zhu, Yue Zhang, Michael Hope, David Saloner, Dimitrios Mitsouras
Summary: This study aimed to determine if three-dimensional radiomic features of contrast-enhanced CT images can improve the prediction of rapid abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) growth. By measuring the radiomic features of different regions of the AAA, multiple machine learning models were developed to predict rapid growth. The results showed that the radiomic model focused on the intraluminal thrombus (ILT) and wall had the highest predictive accuracy.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Masoud Hejazi, Sally H. Choi, A. Srikantha Phani, York N. Hsiang
Summary: This study compares the degree of aortic tortuosity between ruptured and unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, suggesting that greater aortic tortuosity may confer a reduced risk of rupture.
JOURNAL OF VASCULAR SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Layal Abdelganne, Fiona Song, Joseph Oliver, Michael Galea, Xiao Chen, Jeannette McGill, Tim Spelman, Ruth P. Lim, Numan Kutaiba
Summary: Slice thickness and display field of view can impact abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) score measurement. The study compared AAC scores using different reconstruction protocols and found that the parameters have a significant impact on the quantitative assessment. Overall, the study shows the importance of reconstruction parameters in standardized AAC scoring.
JOURNAL OF COMPUTER ASSISTED TOMOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ya-Ting Jan, Pei-Shan Tsai, Chris T. Longenecker, Dao-Chen Lin, Chun-Ho Yun, Kuo-Tzu Sung, Chuan-Chuan Liu, Jen-Yuan Kuo, Chung-Lieh Hung, Tung-Hsin Wu, Jiun-Lu Lin, Charles Jia-Yin Hou, Cheng-Ting Tsai, Chen-Yen Chien, Aaron So
Summary: The 2017 ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines have a lower blood pressure threshold and aim for earlier prevention of hypertension-related cardiovascular diseases. Thoracic aortic calcification (TAC) as a surrogate marker of aging and aortic degeneration shows a graded increase with elevated blood pressure and hypertension stages, independently associated with factors like age and comorbidities.
Article
Cell Biology
Chia-Ter Chao, You-Tien Tsai, Wen-Ting Lee, Hsiang-Yuan Yeh, Chih-Kang Chiang
Summary: This study used a deep learning-based strategy to screen and identify plant compounds that could potentially be used for treating vascular calcification (VC). By integrating information from multiple databases and using a graph neural network architecture for prediction and validation, we successfully identified several potentially effective compounds.
OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jia-Huang Chen, Chih-Kang Chiang
Summary: Uremic toxins are harmful metabolites that accumulate in the body of patients with declining renal function, particularly in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Clearing uremic toxins has become a conventional treatment in the clinic, but the clearance of uremic toxins in the early stage of acute kidney injury (AKI) is rarely emphasized, despite increasing evidence showing its correlation with injury severity or mortality.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chong-Sun Khoi, Cai-Qin Xiao, Kuan-Yu Hung, Tzu-Yu Lin, Chih-Kang Chiang
Summary: This study investigated the mechanism of vascular dysfunction induced by palmitic acid, and revealed the crucial roles of XBP1s and OSGIN1 in maintaining endothelial cell migration and regulating autophagy.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Po -Ting Chen, Tinghui Wu, Pochuan Wang, Dawei Chang, Kao-Lang Liu, Ming-Shiang Wu, Holger R. Roth, Po-Chang Lee, Wei-Chih Liao, Weichung Wang
Summary: A deep learning-based tool was developed to accurately detect pancreatic cancer on CT scans, with high sensitivity for tumors smaller than 2 cm.
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Vin-Cent Wu, Chieh-Kai Chan, Wan-Chen Wu, Kang-Yung Peng, Yuan-Shian Chang, Fang-Yu Yeh, Jiun-Yang Chiang, Yuan-Ju Lee, Kao-Lang Liu, Shuo-Meng Wang, Yen-Hung Lin, Jeff S. Chueh, TAIPAI Grp
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of cortisol levels on incident new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with primary aldosteronism. The results showed that a cortisol level ≥2.65μg/dL after 1-mg DST was a risk factor for developing new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus. This risk was more pronounced in patients with other factors such as a higher BMI, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, longer hypertension duration, and higher waist-to-hip ratio.
HYPERTENSION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tsung-Ying Lee, Hung-Hsun Lu, Hui-Teng Cheng, Hsi-Chien Huang, Yun-Jen Tsai, I-Hsiang Chang, Chao-Peng Tu, Chieh-Wei Chung, Tsai-Te Lu, Chi-How Peng, Yunching Chen
Summary: A stimuli-responsive drug carrier was developed to deliver nitric oxide (NO) for the treatment of kidney fibrosis. The nanoparticles effectively inhibited the activation of myofibroblasts and collagen I synthesis, resulting in a significant reduction in fibrotic area in a mouse model. This strategy holds therapeutic potential for the treatment of renal fibrosis and requires further investigation.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yu-Cheng Lu, Kao-Lang Liu, Vin-Cent Wu, Shuo-Meng Wang, Yen -Hung Lin, Shih-Chieh Jeff Chueh, Kwan-Dun Wu, Yann-Rong Su, Kuo-How Huang
Summary: This study compared the outcomes of unilateral adrenalectomy in patients with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH) and aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). It found that patients with BAH had a higher failure rate, while patients with APA showed better biochemical success. However, significant improvements in aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR) and hypokalemia were observed in patients with BAH after surgery. Therefore, unilateral adrenalectomy could be considered as a treatment option in selected patients.
JOURNAL OF THE FORMOSAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Urology & Nephrology
Wei Wang, Chi-Ting Su, Wei -Chou Lin, Chun-kai Huang, Kao-Lang Liu
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chen-Yu Lin, Te- Weng, Jui-Zhi Loh, Ding-Cheng Chan, Chih-Kang Chiang, Kuan-Yu Hung, Shing-Hwa Liu
Summary: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a therapeutic ultrasound that can aid in bone fracture repair and soft tissue healing. This study aimed to investigate the protective potential of LIPUS on CKD-associated muscle wasting. The results showed that LIPUS treatment effectively improved muscle strength, prevented muscle mass loss, and reduced muscle atrophy-related protein expression in CKD mice.
ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Chun-Fu Lai, Yen-Hung Lin, Kuo-How Huang, Jeff S. Chueh, Vin-Cent Wu
Summary: Individuals with primary aldosteronism may have glomerular hyperfiltration, which may hide kidney damage. A cohort study found that baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was independently associated with composite cardiovascular events, highlighting the importance of early detection of kidney impairment in hypertensive patients with PA.
HYPERTENSION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Ching- Cheng, Woan-Jean Lin, Hui-Ting Liu, Yi-Ting Chen, Chih-Kang Chiang, Kung-Yu Hung
Summary: The study aimed to improve the self-care ability of peritoneal dialysis patients using LINE Chatbot with artificial intelligence. The results showed that Chatbot could deliver remote information, increase patient satisfaction, and have a similar effect as face-to-face education in preventing infection and reducing peritonitis rate.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Li-Ting Tsai, Te- Weng, Ting-Yu Chang, Kuo-Cheng Lan, Chih-Kang Chiang, Shing-Hwa Liu
Summary: The accumulation of the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a key pathological feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Exposure to IS can induce ferroptosis, characterized by iron accumulation, impaired antioxidant system, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and lipid peroxidation. IS triggers intracellular iron accumulation and ROS generation, leading to the induction of ferroptosis, senescence, ER stress, and injury/fibrosis in CKD kidneys.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Yu-Cheng Lu, Yu-Chieh Tsai, Po-Ming Chow, Wen-Ching Weng, Wei-Yi Huang, Shih-Chieh Jeff Chueh, Kao-Lang Liu, Kuo-How Huang
Summary: This study investigated the risk of subsequent malignancies in RCC patients in Taiwan and found that this risk was significantly higher than in the general population. Liver, colon, lung, bladder, and prostate cancer were the most common subsequent malignancies.
UROLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jia-Huang Chen, Chia-Hsien Wu, Jia-Rong Jheng, Chia-Ter Chao, Jenq-Wen Huang, Kuan-Yu Hung, Shing-Hwa Liu, Chih-Kang Chiang
Summary: This study investigated the role of XBP1, a key regulator of the unfolded protein response (UPR), in the transition from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The findings demonstrated that XBP1 expression was attenuated after AKI and inversely correlated with the severity of renal fibrosis. XBP1 deficiency in mice resulted in exacerbated renal fibrosis. Silencing XBP1 in human proximal tubular epithelial cells led to cell cycle arrest and increased TGF-beta 1 secretion. The study also identified TNF receptor associated protein 1 (Trap1) as a potential downstream target of XBP1, and showed that Trap1 overexpression alleviated the profibrotic effects of XBP1 deficiency.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
