Summary Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) has become a worldwide public health problem, but little information is available about the disease burden in China. We aimed to evaluate the burden of ...AKI and assess the availability of diagnosis and treatment in China. Methods We launched a nationwide, cross-sectional survey of adult patients who were admitted to hospital in 2013 in academic or local hospitals from 22 provinces in mainland China. Patients with suspected AKI were screened out on the basis of changes in serum creatinine by the Laboratory Information System, and we reviewed medical records for 2 months (January and July) to confirm diagnoses. We assessed rates of AKI according to two identification criteria: the 2012 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) AKI definition and an increase or decrease in serum creatinine by 50% during hospital stay (expanded criteria). We estimated national rates with data from the 2013 report by the Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission and National Bureau of Statistics. Findings Of 2 223 230 patients admitted to the 44 hospitals screened in 2013, 154 950 (7·0%) were suspected of having AKI by electronic screening, of whom 26 086 patients (from 374 286 total admissions) were reviewed with medical records to confirm the diagnosis of AKI. The detection rate of AKI was 0·99% (3687 of 374 286) by KDIGO criteria and 2·03% (7604 of 374 286) by expanded criteria, from which we estimate that 1·4–2·9 million people with AKI were admitted to hospital in China in 2013. The non-recognition rate of AKI was 74·2% (5608 of 7555 with available data). Renal referral was done in 21·4% (1625 of 7604) of the AKI cases, and renal replacement therapy was done in 59·3% (531 of 896) of those who had the indications. Delayed AKI recognition was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality, and renal referral was an independent protective factor for AKI under-recognition and mortality Interpretation AKI has become a huge medical burden in China, with substantial underdiagnosis and undertreatment. Nephrologists should take the responsibility for leading the battle against AKI. Funding National 985 Project of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing Training Program for Talents, International Society of Nephrology Research Committee, and Bethune Fund Management Committee.
Abstract Background Large cohort studies provide conflicting evidence regarding the potential for oral macrolide antibiotics to increase the risk of serious cardiac events. Objectives This study ...performed a meta-analysis to examine the link between macrolides and risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) or ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA), cardiovascular death, and death from any cause. Methods We performed a search of published reports by using MEDLINE (January 1, 1966, to April 30, 2015) and EMBASE (January 1, 1980, to April 30, 2015) with no restrictions. Studies that reported relative risk (RR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of interest were included. Results Thirty-three studies involving 20,779,963 participants were identified. Patients taking macrolides, compared with those who took no macrolides, experienced an increased risk of developing SCD or VTA (RR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.61 to 3.63), SCD (RR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.91 to 3.31), and cardiovascular death (RR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.62). No association was found between macrolides use and all-cause death or any cardiovascular events. The RRs associated with SCD or VTA were 3.40 for azithromycin, 2.16 for clarithromycin, and 3.61 for erythromycin, respectively. RRs for cardiovascular death were 1.54 for azithromycin and 1.48 for clarithromycin. No association was noted between roxithromycin and adverse cardiac outcomes. Treatment with macrolides is associated with an absolute risk increase of 118.1 additional SCDs or VTA, and 38.2 additional cardiovascular deaths per 1 million treatment courses. Conclusions Administration of macrolide antibiotics is associated with increased risk for SCD or VTA and cardiovascular death but not increased all-cause mortality.
Early repolarization pattern (ERP) has been proved to increase risk of arrhythmia death in the general population, but its prognostic significance in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) is ...controversial.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of studies assessing the association between ERP and risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VTAs) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with SHD.
We performed a literature search using MEDLINE (January 1, 1966, to September 25, 2016) and EMBASE (January 1, 1980, to September 25, 2016) with no restrictions. Studies that reported odds ratio (OR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of interest were included.
The search yielded 19 observational studies, involving 7268 patients that reported 1127 cases of VTAs or SCD. In the selected studies, the point estimates of the ORs were consistently greater than 1. Compared with those without ERP, patients with ERP experienced a significantly increased risk of developing VTAs or SCD (OR 4.76; 95% CI 3.62-6.26), ventricular fibrillation (OR 7.14; 95% CI 4.31-11.82), and SCD (OR 4.07; 95% CI 1.58-10.51). The results were consistent and statistically significant in all subgroups. ERP with J-point elevation in inferior leads, notching configuration, and horizontal or descending ST segment connote higher risk.
ERP is associated with a significant increased risk of VTAs or SCD in patients with SHD. Future research should attempt to understand the exact mechanisms for the arrhythmia risk and to introduce ERP in the risk stratification in this patient group.
Objective The aim of this study was to assess the levels of serum lipid and awareness, treatment, and control of dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients from top-ranked endocrinology ...clinics in large cities of China. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study in a representative sample of 4807 Chinese adults 40 to 75 years of age was conducted during 2010 to 2011 at 20 endocrinology clinics in top-ranked hospitals covering most of the major cities of China. Serum lipid levels were measured, and treatment of dyslipidemia was recorded and assessed. Results In the present study, the prevalence of dyslipidemia was 67.1% in T2DM subjects. Among those with dyslipidemia, the proportion of awareness and treatment was 68.7% and 55.9%. Among participants with lipid-lowering therapy, 686 subjects achieved the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) control less than 2.60 mmol/L, with the rate being 39.4%. In those patients with previous cardiovascular disease, the percentage of participants who achieved LDL-C goal (1.80 mmol/L) was 15.3%. Conclusion The prevalence of dyslipidemia is high, and the awareness, treatment, and control of dyslipidemia are relatively low in Chinese T2DM patients. This calls for the awareness and intervention of dyslipidemia in these patients.
Screening for atrial fibrillation before onset of symptoms and the subsequent initiation of oral anticoagulants could prevent stroke and death. The most cost-effective strategy to screen for atrial ...fibrillation in a population at high risk aged 65 years and older is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether more frequent electrocardiography (ECG) recordings would significantly improve the detection of atrial fibrillation compared with annual ECG screenings.
We did a randomised controlled trial that compared different screening frequencies of 30 s single-lead ECG (AliveCor Heart Monitor) in the detection of atrial fibrillation in Chinese residents (≥65 years) in five community health centres in Shanghai, China. Only participants without history of atrial fibrillation and without atrial fibrillation rhythm at baseline were eligible for inclusion in the trial. Random assignment was done with the use of a random number table and stratified for study site. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to annual or quarterly screening groups. The quarterly screening group was further randomly assigned in a 3:1 ratio to subgroups of quarterly screening and quarterly screening plus (which involved ECG screening once per week for the first month of follow-up, then quarterly for the remainder of follow-up). The primary outcome was the detection rate of atrial fibrillation. The intention-to-treat analysis was done for all randomly assigned patients who had at least one ECG recording during follow-up. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02990741, and terminated on Oct 31, 2020.
Between April 17, 2017, and June 26, 2018, 8240 participants were randomly assigned to annual screening (n=4120), quarterly screening (n=3090), and quarterly screening plus (n=1030), with a mean number of ECG recordings of 1·6 (SD 0·5) for annual screening, 3·5 (1·5) for quarterly screening, and 5·2 (2·9) for quarterly screening plus during a median of 2·1 years follow-up (13 284 person-years). 73 incident cases of atrial fibrillation occurred: 26 in the annual screening group (4·1 per 1000 person-years) and 47 in the quarterly screening group (6·7 per 1000 person-years. Quarterly screening was associated with a significant increase in the detection rate of atrial fibrillation, compared with annual screening (hazard ratio HR 1·71; 95% CI 1·06–2·76; p=0·029). 40 incident cases were detected in quarterly screening (7·2 per 1000 person-years; HR compared to annual screening, 1·83; 95% CI 1·12–3·00; p=0·017) and seven in the quarterly screening plus group (4·8 per 1000 person-years; HR compared with annual screening, 1·24; 0·54–2·86; p=0·61). No significant difference was noted between quarterly screening and the quarterly screening plus group (HR of quarterly screening plus compared with quarterly screening, 0·68; 0·30–1·52; p=0·35).
Quarterly 30 s single-lead ECG screening was associated with a significantly higher detection rate of incident atrial fibrillation compared with annual screening, but additional once per week screenings in the first month did not yield an added predictive value. Quarterly screening might be considered in a general population at a high risk of atrial fibrillation, such as those aged 65 years and older.
Bayer Healthcare Company.
Abstract Objectives Circulating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells appear not to be overly utilizing aerobic glycolysis. However, recurrent contact with CLL cells in a stromal microenvironment ...leads to increased aerobic glycolysis and the cells’ overall glycolytic capacity, which promotes cell survival and proliferation. TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator(TIGAR) has been directly implicated in cellular metabolism in the control of glycolysis. TIGAR inhibits glycolysis and protects cells from intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS)-associated apoptosis. Methods TIGAR mRNA expression was investigated by quantitative PCR in 102 newly diagnosed CLL patients. Furthermore, the relationship between the expression of TIGAR and its clinical characteristics and prognosis were investigated. Moreover, we also investigated the correlation between TIGAR expression and apoptosis in primary CLL cells. Results Our data revealed that TIGAR overexpression was correlated with the protection from spontaneous apoptosis in CLL cells, and is strongly associated with advanced Binet stage, unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region ( IGHV ) status, CD38 positivity, β2-microglobulin and p53 aberrations. Higher expression of TIGAR was associated with shorter treatment-free survival (median: three months vs . 51 months, P = 0.0108), worse overall survival (median: 74 months vs . not reached, P = 0.0242), and the diverse responses to fludarabine-based chemotherapy. TIGAR expression in patients resistant to chemotherapy was significantly higher than in patients sensitive to chemotherapy (mean: 0.3859 ± 0.1710 vs. 0.0974 ± 0.0291, P = 0.0290). Conclusion Taken together, our findings revealed that high TIGAR expression is closely correlated with worse clinical outcome in CLL patients, and depicted how bioenergetic characteristics could be therapeutically exploited in CLL.
Limiting the extent of sympathectomy in palmar hyperhidrosis was recently recognized as an effective method to minimize the incidence and severity of troublesome compensatory sweating. However, the ...levels at which transection should be performed remain controversial. In this study, we proposed that the level of ablation varies and should be adjusted for each individual patient. Guided by palmar skin temperature and laser Doppler blood flow, we try to find the correct target level in each case.
Fifty patients with severe primary palmar hyperhidrosis received bilateral endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. Different levels of transection from T4 to T2 were performed step by step until the successful extirpation was implied by the intraoperative monitoring. The results of the operations were studied. All patients were followed up and evaluated for symptom resolution, postoperative complication, levels of satisfaction, and severity of compensatory sweating.
Of a total of 100 lateral procedures, 76 laterals (76%) ended the procedure at the T4 level, 23 laterals (23%) ended the procedure at the T3 level, and 1 lateral (1%) ended the procedure at the T2 level. The postoperative complication was minor, and no Horner's syndrome was detected. The rate of symptom resolution was 100% and no recurrence was found. The satisfaction rate was 92%, and the incidence of mild, moderate, and severe compensatory sweating were 12%, 8%, and 6%, respectively.
Concerning the sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis, there is a possibility that the level of the transection varies and should be adjusted for each individual patient. Intraoperative monitoring of temperature and blood flow may be a useful tool in establishing a kind of standardized reference for finding the correct target level.
For the application of photocatalysis, the development of noble metal-free cocatalysts is crucial. Here, a simple molecular fusion method was employed to create high crystallinity GQDs with the ...–NHNH2 modification, which were then used as an effective metal-free cocatalyst in the photocatalytic H2 evolution reaction. The modified –NHNH2 Lewis base active sites, the quick charge separation channels, and the improved electric conductivity allowed the optimized NHNH2-GQDs/PUCN sample to exhibit an H2 evolution rate of 204.2 μmol g−1 h−1, which is an 80-fold greater activity than that of pure PUCN. This work will provide insights into the design of metal-free cocatalysts for photocatalytic H2 evolution applications.
•High crystallinity GQDs with –NHNH2 sites were synthesized through a facile molecular fusion strategy.•NH2NH-modified high crystallinity Graphene quantum dots/Carbon Nitride was prepared for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.•The –NHNH2 Lewis base active sites boost the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity.
Manganese cadmium sulfur nanorods solid solution was synthesized by a one-step solvothermal method, and the interaction between Mn and Cd metal sites and the formation of electron channels between Mn ...atoms and S atoms accelerated the electron transfer, which is more favorable to improve the hydrogen production activity.
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•Both cadmium sulfide (CdS) and manganese cadmium sulfide solid solution (MCSX) with good crystallinity and uniform nanorod-like morphology were prepared by a one-step solvothermal method.•Using dual-metal-site design, which allows the interaction between Mn and Cd metal sites, MCSX has excellent charge separation/transfer efficiency.•DFT calculations show that Mn forms a high-speed and effective electron transfer channel with the active site S, which further accelerates the electron transfer and is more favorable for the photocatalytic hydrogen production reaction.
CdS has emerged as a possible candidate for photocatalytic hydrogen generation. However, further improvement in the performance of the Cd metal site is challenging due to limited optimization space. To solve this limitation, in this work, the Mn-Cd dual-metal photocatalyst was synthesized by a one-step solvothermal method, and the effects of different proportions of bimetals on hydrogen production activity were systematically studied. The ingenious design of the bimetallic sites enhances the carrier separation efficiency and the built-in electric field intensity, which leads to significant improvement in the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of MCS0.19. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that the introduction of the Mn element can drive electrons through the Fermi level, resulting in enhanced conductivity of the catalyst. Meanwhile, electron channels are built between Mn and S, which speeds up the rate of electron transfer and is conducive to improving hydrogen production activity. This work provides a technical-methodological entrance to improve the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of dual-metal S solid solutions and also promises to open a novel approach to creating high-efficiency solid solution photocatalysts.