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Background: It is well known that both pressure and volume overloads contribute to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and left ventricular dilatation in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Few studies have evaluated the association between increased pulse wave velocity (PWV) and LVH in CKD patients not yet receiving dialysis. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between arterial stiffness and cardiac remodelling in patients with CKD, and to determine the independent factors associated with increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and left ventricular volume index (LVVI). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 96 patients with CKD. Echocardiography and measurement of arterial stiffness by PWV were performed. Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were compared and analysed. Results: Associated with the increase of PWV, there were significant trends for progressive increase in LVMI, LVH, LVVI, left ventricular dilatation and left atrium in CKD patients. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that decreased PWV, in addition to increased haemoglobin and the use of β-blocker, was an independent determinant associated with decrease in LVMI and LVVI. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the progressive structural remodelling of left ventricle and left atrium in CKD patients associated with increased severity of arterial stiffness. PWV was an important determinant of LVMI and LVVI in CKD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the pathogenic role of host and Escherichia coli virulence factors in the development of E. coli bacteremia in patients with acute cholangitis (AC) or upper urinary tract infection (UTI). Isolates recovered from 75 adult patients consecutively admitted to the hospital with E. coli bacteremia caused by AC (n = 24) or upper UTI (n = 51) were evaluated, as were 30 fecal strains isolated from healthy control individuals. Virulence genes of E. coli were detected by polymerase chain reaction analysis, including papG genes (classes I-III), sfa/foc, fimH, afa, hlyA, cnf1, and iutA. Our results show that biliary tract obstruction and urinary tract obstruction are important host factors for the development of E. coli bacteremia in patients with AC and upper UTI, respectively. With regard to E. coli virulence factors, the papG class II gene might play a more important role in the development of E. coli bacteremia in patients with upper UTI than in those with AC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the formulation of mercury porphyrin complexes. Use of X-ray structural data for the analysis; Reaction of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin with mercury(II) acetate; Proposal of homodinuculear structure for the bischloromercury(II) complex.

Background. Glomerular hyperfiltration is closely related to diabetes and may lead to subsequent nephropathy, but the association between glomerular hyperfiltration and prediabetic state is unclear. We examined the relationship of different glycemic statuses, including normal glucose tolerance (NGT), isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and newly diagnosed diabetes (NDD), with glomerular hyperfiltration. Methods. This study included 12 833 subjects ≥20 years of age without a history of renal disease, cancer, moderate/severe anemia or diabetes and taking medications for hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia or cardiovascular disease from National Cheng Kung University Hospital between January 2000 and August 2009. Hyperfiltration was defined as an estimated GFR (eGFR) above the age- and gender-specific 95th percentile for apparently healthy subjects, while hypofiltration was defined as an eGFR below the 5th percentile. eGFR was assessed using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Results. After further excluding hypofiltration and adjusting for available confounders, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postload glucose (2hPG), 2hPG-FPG (fluctuating blood glucose), HbA1c (average blood glucose), NDD and IGT but not isolated IFG were significantly associated with increased eGFR and a higher risk of hyperfiltration {NDD: odds ratio [OR] 1.97 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.48-2.64], P < 0.001; IGT: OR 1.34 (95% CI 1.07-1.66), P = 0.009}. Conclusions. High glucose states increase hyperfiltration risk. In addition to newly diagnosed diabetes, excessively high GFR also deserves attention in subjects with IGT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE--Because of the increasing incidence and prevalence of diabetes as a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the aging population, we estimated the expected life-years (LYs) saved from successful prevention of ESRD in elderly patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--We conducted a population-based cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database. We identified all incidences of ESRD in the individuals >65 years of age who were receiving maintenance hemodialysis (N = 24,243) from the registry files of catastrophic illnesses in Taiwan from 1 July 1997 to 31 December 2005. We then retrospectively searched the database to determine whether there had been a diagnosis of diabetes in these cases. After the exclusion of individuals with malignancy (n = 3,423), we extrapolated the survival rates through the end of 2006 using the Monte Carlo method. Using the data of preventable ESRD cases due to diabetes and expected years of life lost (EYLL) in each age stratum, we further estimated the expected LYs saved from successful prevention of ESRD in elderly patients with diabetes. RESULTS--The estimated average EYLL was 10.6-5.8 and 12.3-7.3 years for diabetic males and females, respectively, aged 65-79 years. In total, 5,430.1 LYs and 10,177 LYs could be saved by the successful prevention of ESRD in male and female elderly patients with diabetes, respectively, in a single year. CONCLUSIONS--The LYs saved by successful prevention of ESRD in elderly patients with diabetes in a single year are substantial and deserve special attention, especially in elderly females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]