Factors to predict recurrence after epidural blood patch in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify predictors for the recurrence of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) after epidural blood patch (EBP). BACKGROUND: Epidural blood patch is the main treatment option for SIH; however, the characteristics of patients who experience relapse after successful EBP treatment for SIH remain understudied. METHODS: In this exploratory, retrospective, case-control study, we included 19 patients with SIH recurrence after EBP and 36 age- and sex-matched patients without recurrence from a single tertiary medical institution. We analyzed clinical characteristics, neuroimaging findings, and volume changes in intracranial structures after EBP treatment. Machine learning methods were utilized to predict the recurrence of SIH after EBP treatment. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in clinical features between the recurrence and no-recurrence groups. Among brain magnetic resonance imaging signs, diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement and cerebral venous dilatation were more prominent in the recurrence group than no-recurrence group after EBP (14/19 [73%] vs. eight of 36 [22%] patients, p = 0.001; 11/19 [57%] vs. seven of 36 [19%] patients, p = 0.010, respectively). The midbrain-pons angle decreased in the recurrence group compared to the no-recurrence group after EBP, at a mean (standard deviation [SD]) of -12.0 [16.7] vs. +1.8[18.3]° (p = 0.048). In volumetric analysis, volume changes after EBP were smaller in the recurrence group than in the no-recurrence group in intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (mean [SD] -11.6 [15.3] vs. +4.8 [17.1] mL, p = 0.001) and ventricles (mean [SD] +1.0 [2.0] vs. +2.0 [2.5] mL, p = 0.003). Notably, the random forest classifier indicated that the model constructed with brain volumetry was more accurate in discriminating SIH recurrence (area under the curve = 0.80 vs. 0.52). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that volumetric analysis of intracranial structures may aid in predicting recurrence after EBP treatment in patients with SIH.

Effects of Banhabaekchulcheonma-Tang on Brain Injury and Cognitive Function Impairment Caused by Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Stenosis in a Mouse Model.

Vascular dementia (VD) is the second most prevalent dementia type, with no drugs approved for its treatment. Here, the effects of Banhabaekchulcheonma-Tang (BBCT) on ischemic brain injury and cognitive function impairment were investigated in a bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) mouse model. Mice were divided into sham-operated, BCAS control, L-BBCT (40 ml/kg), and H-BBCT (80 ml/kg) groups. BBCT's effects were characterized using the Y-maze test, novel object recognition test (NORT), immunofluorescence staining, RNA sequencing, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses. The NORT revealed cognitive function improvement in the H-BBCT group, while the Y-maze test revealed no significant difference among the four groups. The CD68+ microglia and GFAP+ astrocyte numbers were reduced in the H-BBCT group. Furthermore, H-BBCT treatment restored the dysregulation of gene expression caused by BCAS. The major BBCT targets were predicted to be cell division cycle protein 20 (CDC20), Epidermal growth factor (EGF), and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1 (TRAF1). BBCT regulates the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and neuropeptide signaling pathways, as predicted by KEGG and GO analyses, respectively. BBCT significantly improved cognitive impairment in a BCAS mouse model by inhibiting microglial and astrocyte activation and regulating the expression of CDC20, EGF, TRAF1, and key proteins in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and neuropeptide signaling pathways.

Functional roles of all five putative hydrophobin genes in growth, development, and secondary metabolism in Fusarium graminearum.

Fusarium graminearum is the causal agent of Fusarium head blight in cereal crops. As in other filamentous ascomycetes, F. graminearum contains genes encoding putative hydrophobins, which are small secreted amphiphilic proteins with eight conserved cysteine residues. Here, we investigated the roles of all five hydrophobin genes (designated FgHyd1, FgHyd2, FgHyd3, FgHyd4, and FgHyd5) in various mycological traits of F. graminearum. Gene expression analyses revealed that the five FgHyd genes, all of which were under the control of G protein signaling or velvet complex proteins, were differentially expressed under various developmental conditions. Three genes (FgHyd1, FgHyd2, and FgHyd3) were constitutively expressed in all aerial structures examined (hyphae, conidia, and perithecia), and two genes (FgHyd1 and FgHyd2) were also expressed in submerged hyphae. FgHyd3 was exclusively expressed in aerial hyphae on solid surfaces, including rice grains. These genes showed markedly reduced expression in F. asiaticum, which was a closely related to F. graminearum but exhibited different mycological traits from F. graminearum. Phenotypic analyses of various gene deletion strains, including the quintuple deletion (ΔFgHyd12345) strain, confirmed that in addition to their typical functions, all five FgHyd genes were involved in other traits, such as conidiation, pathogenicity, and secondary metabolism in F. graminearum. Both RNA-seq and chemical analyses confirmed that ΔFgHyd led to overproduction of specific terpenoid compounds (e.g., trichothecenes), which has not been reported previously. Nevertheless, the lack of complete phenotypic loss of any of the traits examined, even in the ΔFgHyd12345 strain, and little cumulative action of all five FgHyd genes strongly suggest that all five hydrophobins are redundant in function and are not absolutely essential for these fungal traits in F. graminearum.

Maintenance of the critical care system during the pandemic in non-COVID-19 patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy: a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, maintenance of essential healthcare systems became very challenging. We describe the triage system of our institute, and assess the quality of care provided to critically ill non-COVID-19 patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) during the pandemic. METHODS: We introduced an emergency triage pathway early in the pandemic. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who received CRRT in our hospital from January 2016 to March 2021. We excluded end-stage kidney disease patients on maintenance dialysis. Patients were stratified as medical and surgical patients. The time from hospital arrival to intensive care unit (ICU) admission, the time from hospital arrival to intervention/operation, and the in-hospital mortality rate were compared before (January 2016 to December 2019) and during (January 2021 to March 2021) the pandemic. RESULTS: The mean number of critically ill patients who received CRRT annually in the surgical department significantly decreased during the pandemic in (2016-2019: 76.5 ± 3.1; 2020: 56; p < 0.010). Age, sex, and the severity of disease at admission did not change, whereas the proportions of medical patients with diabetes (before: 44.4%; after: 56.5; p < 0.005) and cancer (before: 19.4%; after: 32.3%; p < 0.001) increased during the pandemic. The time from hospital arrival to ICU admission and the time from hospital arrival to intervention/operation did not change. During the pandemic, 59.6% of surgical patients received interventions/operations within 6 hours of hospital arrival. In Cox's proportional hazard modeling, the hazard ratio associated with the pandemic was 1.002 (0.778-1.292) for medical patients and 1.178 (0.783-1.772) for surgical patients. CONCLUSION: Our triage system maintained the care required by critically ill non-COVID-19 patients undergoing CRRT at our institution.

FgPKS7 is an essential player in mating-type-mediated regulatory pathway required for completing sexual cycle in Fusarium graminearum.

Secondary metabolism is intimately linked to developmental processes in filamentous fungi. In a previous study, we revealed that several polyketide synthase (PKS) genes, including FgPKS7, are specifically induced during formation of the sexual fruiting body (perithecium) in the cereal pathogen Fusarium graminearum. The function of PKS7, which is essential for perithecial development and hyphal growth, is interchangeable between two phylogenetically related species, F. graminearum and F. asiaticum, but not conserved in the more distantly related species F. fujikuroi and F. neocosmosporiellum. FgPKS7 is under the control of global or upstream regulators including the mating-type (MAT) locus and regulates numerous downstream genes that are transcriptionally specific to and functionally essential for sexual development, several other PKS genes, and ABC transporter genes for azole resistance in F. graminearum. FgPKS7 is an essential element for proper sexual development and participates in a regulatory network controlled by the MAT locus. Although the chemical identity of FgPKS7 remains unclear, FgPKS7 is likely involved in chemical reaction(s) for synthesis of metabolite(s) that control or promote perithecial maturation in F. graminearum. This study provides in-depth insights into the direct role of secondary metabolites in sexual development of filamentous fungi.

Comparative genomics of geographically distant Fusarium fujikuroi isolates revealed two distinct pathotypes correlating with secondary metabolite profiles.

Fusarium fujikuroi causes bakanae ("foolish seedling") disease of rice which is characterized by hyper-elongation of seedlings resulting from production of gibberellic acids (GAs) by the fungus. This plant pathogen is also known for production of harmful mycotoxins, such as fusarins, fusaric acid, apicidin F and beauvericin. Recently, we generated the first de novo genome sequence of F. fujikuroi strain IMI 58289 combined with extensive transcriptional, epigenetic, proteomic and chemical product analyses. GA production was shown to provide a selective advantage during infection of the preferred host plant rice. Here, we provide genome sequences of eight additional F. fujikuroi isolates from distant geographic regions. The isolates differ in the size of chromosomes, most likely due to variability of subtelomeric regions, the type of asexual spores (microconidia and/or macroconidia), and the number and expression of secondary metabolite gene clusters. Whilst most of the isolates caused the typical bakanae symptoms, one isolate, B14, caused stunting and early withering of infected seedlings. In contrast to the other isolates, B14 produced no GAs but high amounts of fumonisins during infection on rice. Furthermore, it differed from the other isolates by the presence of three additional polyketide synthase (PKS) genes (PKS40, PKS43, PKS51) and the absence of the F. fujikuroi-specific apicidin F (NRPS31) gene cluster. Analysis of additional field isolates confirmed the strong correlation between the pathotype (bakanae or stunting/withering), and the ability to produce either GAs or fumonisins. Deletion of the fumonisin and fusaric acid-specific PKS genes in B14 reduced the stunting/withering symptoms, whereas deletion of the PKS51 gene resulted in elevated symptom development. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two subclades of F. fujikuroi strains according to their pathotype and secondary metabolite profiles.

A Large-Scale Functional Analysis of Putative Target Genes of Mating-Type Loci Provides Insight into the Regulation of Sexual Development of the Cereal Pathogen Fusarium graminearum.

Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight in cereal crops, produces sexual progeny (ascospore) as an important overwintering and dissemination strategy for completing the disease cycle. This homothallic ascomycetous species does not require a partner for sexual mating; instead, it carries two opposite mating-type (MAT) loci in a single nucleus to control sexual development. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of sexual development in F. graminearum, we used in-depth and high-throughput analyses to examine the target genes controlled transcriptionally by two-linked MAT loci (MAT1-1, MAT1-2). We hybridized a genome-wide microarray with total RNAs from F. graminearum mutants that lacked each MAT locus individually or together, and overexpressed MAT1-2-1, as well as their wild-type progenitor, at an early stage of sexual development. A comparison of the gene expression levels revealed a total of 1,245 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among all of the mutants examined. Among these, genes involved in metabolism, cell wall organization, cellular response to stimuli, cell adhesion, fertilization, development, chromatin silencing, and signal transduction, were significantly enriched. Protein binding microarray analysis revealed the presence of putative core DNA binding sequences (ATTAAT or ATTGTT) for the HMG (high mobility group)-box motif in the MAT1-2-1 protein. Targeted deletion of 106 DEGs revealed 25 genes that were specifically required for sexual development, most of which were regulated transcriptionally by both the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 loci. Taken together with the expression patterns of key target genes, we propose a regulatory pathway for MAT-mediated sexual development, in which both MAT loci may be activated by several environmental cues via chromatin remodeling and/or signaling pathways, and then control the expression of at least 1,245 target genes during sexual development via regulatory cascades and/or networks involving several downstream transcription factors and a putative RNA interference pathway.

Functional Analysis of Genes Specifically Expressed during Aerial Hyphae Collapse as a Potential Signal for Perithecium Formation Induction in Fusarium graminearum.

Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereal crops, employs the production of sexual fruiting bodies (perithecia) on plant debris as a strategy for overwintering and dissemination. In an artificial condition (e.g., carrot agar medium), the F. graminearum Z3643 strain was capable of producing perithecia predominantly in the central region of the fungal culture where aerial hyphae naturally collapsed. To unravel the intricate relationship between natural aerial hyphae collapse and sexual development in this fungus, we focused on 699 genes differentially expressed during aerial hyphae collapse, with 26 selected for further analysis. Targeted gene deletion and quantitative real-time PCR analyses elucidated the functions of specific genes during natural aerial hyphae collapse and perithecium formation. Furthermore, comparative gene expression analyses between natural collapse and artificial removal conditions reveal distinct temporal profiles, with the latter inducing a more rapid and pronounced response, particularly in MAT gene expression. Notably, FGSG_09210 and FGSG_09896 play crucial roles in sexual development and aerial hyphae growth, respectively. Taken together, it is plausible that if aerial hyphae collapse occurs on plant debris, it may serve as a physical cue for inducing perithecium formation in crop fields, representing a survival strategy for F. graminearum during winter. Insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying aerial hyphae collapse provides offer potential strategies for disease control against FHB caused by F. graminearum.

Differences in the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of patients with acute kidney injury in the medical and surgical intensive care units.

Background: Though acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent complication in critically ill patients, knowledge on the epidemiological differences and clinical characteristics of patients with AKI admitted to medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs) remains limited. Methods: Electronic medical records of patients in ICUs in Pusan National University Hospital and Pusan National University Hospital Yangsan, from January 2011 to December 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. Different characteristics of AKI between patients were analyzed. The contribution of AKI to the in-hospital mortality rate was assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: A total of 7,150 patients were included in this study. AKI was more frequent in medical (48.7%) than in surgical patients (28.1%), with the severity of AKI higher in medical patients. In surgical patients, hospital-acquired AKI was more frequent (51% vs. 49%), whereas community-acquired AKI was more common in medical patients (58.5% vs. 41.5%). 16.9% and 5.9% of medical and surgical patients died in the hospital, respectively. AKI affected patient groups to different degrees. In surgical patients, AKI patients had 4.778 (3.577, 6.382, p < 0.001) folds higher risk of mortality than non-AKI patients whereas in medical AKI patients, it was 1.239 (1.051, 1.461, p = 0.011). Conclusion: While the prevalence of AKI itself is higher in medical patients, the impact of AKI on mortality was stronger in surgical patients compared to medical patients. This suggests that more attention is needed for perioperative patients to prevent and manage AKI.

The role of nafamostat mesylate anticoagulation in continuous kidney replacement therapy for critically ill patients with bleeding tendencies: a retrospective study on patient outcomes and safety.

Background: Continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) is crucial in the management of acute kidney injury in intensive care units (ICUs). Nonetheless, the optimal anticoagulation strategy for patients with bleeding tendencies remains debated. This study aimed to evaluate patient outcomes and safety of nafamostat mesylate (NM) compared with no anticoagulation (NA) in critically ill patients with bleeding tendencies who were undergoing CKRT. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 2,313 patients who underwent CKRT between March 2013 and December 2022 at the third affiliated hospital in South Korea. After applying the exclusion criteria, 490 patients were included in the final analysis, with 245 patients in the NM and NA groups each, following 1:1 propensity score matching. Subsequently, in-hospital mortality, incidence of bleeding complications, agranulocytosis, hyperkalemia, and length of hospital stay were assessed. Results: No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding the lengths of hospital and ICU stays or the incidence of agranulocytosis and hyperkalemia. The NM group showed a smaller decrease in hemoglobin levels during CKRT (-1.90 g/dL vs. -2.39 g/dL) and less need for blood product transfusions than the NA group. Furthermore, the NM group exhibited a survival benefit in patients who required transfusion of all three blood products. Conclusion: NM is an effective and safe anticoagulant for CKRT in critically ill patients, especially those requiring transfusion of all three blood products. Although these findings are promising, further multicenter studies are needed to validate them and explore the mechanisms underlying the observed benefits.

Sarcopenia in chronic kidney disease: from bench to bedside.

Sarcopenia is a condition characterized by a loss of muscle mass and function. In chronic kidney disease (CKD), where a chronic catabolic state exists, sarcopenia commonly occurs through various mechanisms, resulting in muscle wasting and decreased muscle endurance. Sarcopenic patients with CKD have high morbidity and mortality rates. Indeed, the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia are mandatory. An imbalance between protein synthesis and degradation in muscle and increased oxidative stress and inflammation persist in CKD and induce muscle wasting. In addition, uremic toxins negatively affect muscle maintenance. A variety of potential therapeutic drugs targeting these muscle-wasting mechanisms in CKD have been investigated, but most of the trials focused on aged patients without CKD, and none of these drugs have been approved for the treatment of sarcopenia so far. Further studies on the molecular mechanisms of sarcopenia in CKD and targets for potential therapeutics are needed to improve the outcomes of sarcopenic patients with CKD.

Efficacy and safety of Banxia-Houpo-Tang (Banha-Hubak-Tang) for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: and purpose: Banxia-Houpo-Tang (Banha-Hubak-Tang, BHT) is an East Asian traditional herbal medicine used for treating depression. Hence, this review aimed to provide reliable evidence on the efficacy and safety of BHT for depression. METHODS: Overall, 15 electronic databases were searched until July 31, 2022, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of BHT for depression were reviewed. The cochrane risk of bias tool version 2.0 was used for quality assessment. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BHT for depression. RESULTS: Fifteen RCTs (1,714 participants) were included. The pooled results suggested that the efficacy of BHT alone (standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.79 to 0.00; P = 0.05) was similar to that of antidepressants alone in terms of the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) scores. Their combination led to a more significant improvement in HAMD scores (SMD, -0.91; 95% CI, -1.21 to 0.60; P < 0.00001). Moreover, compared with antidepressants alone, BHT alone had a lower risk of causing adverse events, but the combination therapy exhibited a similar risk. No severe adverse events were reported. The overall risk of bias was high. The quality of evidence was very low to moderate. CONCLUSION: The study results indicate that BHT may be beneficial for treating depression. However, due to the clinical heterogeneity and low methodological quality of the included studies, the obtained findings should be interpreted with caution. Hence, further studies on this topic are warranted.

Effect of acupuncture on patients with major psychiatric disorder and related symptoms caused by earthquake exposure: Protocol for a scoping review of clinical studies.

Earthquakes have the greatest destructive effect among all natural disasters. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and anxiety disorder (AD) are major psychiatric disorders (MPD) that can be triggered by exposure to earthquakes. Conventional treatments such as pharmacological treatments have several limitations. Acupuncture therapy as a complementary integrative medicine may be an effective alternative treatment for these limitations. This study aimed to identify the status of the clinical evidence regarding acupuncture therapy for earthquake survivors with MPD. We will follow the scoping review process as previously described. The study question is as follows: "Which types of clinical research designs, study types, study durations, adverse events, and clinical outcomes have been reported regarding acupuncture therapy for MPD in earthquake survivors?" Medline, Excerpta Medica dataBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Scopus, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycArticles databases, and Chinese, Korean, and Japanese databases will be comprehensively searched electronically from their inception to November 2022. Data from the included studies will be collected and descriptively analyzed in relation to our research question. We will collate, synthesize, and summarize the extracted data according to the analytical framework of a scoping review. The protocol will conform with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extensions of Scoping Reviews to ensure the clarity and completeness of our reporting in the whole phase of the scoping review (Protocol registration: https://osf.io/wfru7/). The findings of this scoping review will provide fundamental data that will help researchers identify appropriate research questions and design further studies on the use of acupuncture for MPD management in earthquake survivors. These results will be helpful for developing disaster site-specific research protocols for future clinical trials on this topic.

Incomplete distal renal tubular acidosis uncovered during pregnancy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a renal cause of non-anion-gap metabolic acidosis characterized by low urinary ammonia excretion. This condition has a low prevalence, and various congenital and acquired etiologies. To date, only a few cases of idiopathic RTA uncovered during pregnancy have been reported. CASE SUMMARY: A previously healthy 32-year-old Korean woman at 30 wk of gestation was admitted to Pusan National University Hospital with preterm labor. At admission, the patient presented with hypokalemia, non-anion-gap metabolic acidosis, and nephrocalcinosis. Distal RTA was diagnosed based on laboratory blood and urine findings and imaging examinations. Various tests, including next-generation gene sequencing panels for nephropathy, were performed to determine the etiology of the disease, which indicated that it was idiopathic. The patient received sodium bicarbonate and potassium chloride supplementation. After 3 wk, she delivered a baby who was subsequently diagnosed with corpus callosum agenesis and colpocephaly. During regular follow-ups for 6 mo postpartum, her hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis were gradually resolved, and medications eventually discontinued. CONCLUSION: Herein we describe a case of idiopathic distal RTA discovered during pregnancy. Hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis resolved spontaneously after delivery.

Serum and urine metabolomic biomarkers for predicting prognosis in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most prevalent form of glomerulonephritis worldwide. Prediction of disease progression in IgAN can help to provide individualized treatment based on accurate risk stratification. METHODS: We performed proton nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics analyses of serum and urine samples from healthy controls, non-progressor (NP), and progressor (P) groups to identify metabolic profiles of IgAN disease progression. Metabolites that were significantly different between the NP and P groups were selected for pathway analysis. Subsequently, we analyzed multivariate area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to evaluate the predictive power of metabolites associated with IgAN progression. RESULTS: We observed several distinct metabolic fingerprints of the P group involving the following metabolic pathways: glycolipid metabolism; valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis; aminoacyl-transfer RNA biosynthesis; glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism. In multivariate ROC analyses, the combinations of serum glycerol, threonine, and proteinuria (area under the curve [AUC], 0.923; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.667-1.000) and of urinary leucine, valine, and proteinuria (AUC, 0.912; 95% CI, 0.667-1.000) showed the highest discriminatory ability to predict IgAN disease progression. CONCLUSION: This study identified serum and urine metabolites profiles that can aid in the identification of progressive IgAN and proposed perturbed metabolic pathways associated with the identified metabolites.

Effects of acupuncture on earthquake survivors with major psychiatric disorders and related symptoms: A scoping review of clinical studies.

BACKGROUND: This scoping review aimed to determine the current research status of acupuncture for major psychiatric disorder (MPD) in earthquake survivors. METHOD: We followed the scoping review process described previously. A literature search on 14 electronic databases was conducted from inception to November 29, 2022. Data from the included studies were collected and descriptively analyzed to address our research question. Extracted data were collated, synthesized, and summarized the according to the analytical framework of a scoping review. RESULT: This scoping review included nine clinical studies: four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and five before-after studies. The most frequent MPD type among the included acupuncture studies was posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 6/9, 66.67%). The most frequent acupuncture type was scalp electro-acupuncture (4/9, 44.44%), followed by manual acupuncture and ear acupressure/ear acupuncture (3/9, 33.33%). Studies using scalp electro-acupuncture all used common acupoints, including GB20, GV20, GV24, and EX-HN1. In general, the treatment period lasted between 4 and 12 weeks. Validated assessment tools for PTSD severity and accompanying symptoms were used for patients with PTSD, while the corresponding evaluation tools were used for patients with other diagnoses or clinical symptoms. Acupuncture-related adverse events were generally mild and temporary, such as mild bleeding and hematoma, and syncope was a rare but potentially serious adverse event (1/48 patients and 1/864 sessions over a treatment period of 4 weeks). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture studies for MPD after an earthquake mainly focused on PTSD. RCTs accounted for around half of the included studies. Scalp electro-acupuncture was the most common acupuncture type, and EX-HN1 and GV24 were the most important acupoints in the acupuncture procedures for MPD. The included studies mostly used validated symptom assessment tools, though some did not. Clinical studies in this field need to be further expanded regardless of the study type. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: https://osf.io/wfru7/.

Rapid decline in kidney function is associated with rapid deterioration of health-related quality of life in chronic kidney disease.

This study aimed to evaluate changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) according to decline in kidney function. HRQOL was assessed using the Short Form-36 questionnaire composed of a physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS). Rapid decline in kidney function was defined as a decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of > 3 mL/min/1.73 m2/year. Rapid deterioration of HRQOL was defined a change in the HRQOL value greater than the median. Among 970 patients, 360 (37.1%) were in the rapid kidney function decline group. In 720 patients who were 1:1 propensity score-matched, the baseline eGFR was not significantly different between the non-rapid and rapid kidney function decline groups. Compared with the baseline PCS score, the 5-year PCS score decreased in the non-rapid and rapid kidney function decline groups. The 5-year MCS score significantly decreased in the rapid kidney function decline group alone. Rapid decline in kidney function was significantly associated with rapid deterioration of the PCS (odds ratio [OR]: 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-2.05; P = 0.018) and MCS (OR: 1.89; 95% CI 1.36-2.62; P < 0.001) scores. Rapid decline in kidney function was associated with rapid deterioration of HRQOL in patients with CKD.

Efficacy and safety of Buyang-Huanwu-Tang (Boyang-Hwano-Tang) in patients with vascular dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Buyang-Huanwu-Tang (Boyang-Hwano-Tang, BHT) is a widely used traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treating ischemic stroke in South Korea and China. Its efficacy in vascular dementia has been reported. There has been no comprehensive systematic review of BHT for vascular dementia. METHODS: We searched 15 electronic databases from inception to November 25, 2021. We included only randomised controlled clinical trials. Studies that used BHT alone or with Western medicine were included. Two independent reviewers conducted the screening, data extraction, and the Cochrane risk of bias and quality of evidence assessment. A meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 18 eligible trials with 1254 participants were included. Of these, 15 were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results suggested that BHT alone (mean difference [MD] 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.94 to 5.56; P = 0.55) was similar to Western medicine alone in terms of the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE). Additive BHT therapy showed a significant improvement in the MMSE (MD 1.42; 95% CI 0.28 to 2.56; P = 0.01), Hasegawa Dementia Scale score (MD 3.91; 95% CI 2.87 to 4.94; P < 0.001) and total effective rate (risk ratio 1.35; 95% CI 1.20 to 1.52; P < 0.001). The overall risk of bias was unclear or high. The quality of evidence was very low to moderate. Only four studies reported minor or no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the clinical use of BHT for the improvement of cognitive function in patients with vascular dementia. The methodological quality of the included studies was relatively poor. Therefore, further rigorously designed trials are required.

Hospital mortality and prognostic factors in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury and cancer undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy.

BACKGROUND: Whether continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) should be applied to critically ill patients with both acute kidney injury (AKI) and cancer remains controversial because of poor expected outcomes. The present study determined prognostic factors for all-cause in-hospital mortality in patients with AKI and cancer undergoing CRRT. METHODS: We included 471 patients with AKI and cancer who underwent CRRT at the intensive care unit of a Korean tertiary hospital from 2013 to 2020, and classified them by malignancy type. The primary outcomes were 28-day all-cause mortality rate and prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcome was renal replacement therapy (RRT) dependency at hospital discharge. RESULTS: The 28-day mortality rates were 58.8% and 82% in the solid and hematologic malignancy groups, respectively. Body mass index (BMI), presence of oliguria, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and albumin level were common predictors of 28-day mortality in the solid and hematologic malignancy groups. A high heart rate and the presence of severe acidosis were prognostic factors only in the solid malignancy group. Among the survivors, the proportion with RRT dependency was 25.0% and 33.3% in the solid and hematologic malignancy groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: The 28-day mortality rate of cancer patients with AKI undergoing CRRT was high in both the solid and hematologic malignancy groups. BMI, presence of oliguria, SOFA score, and albumin level were common predictors of 28-day mortality in the solid and hematologic malignancy groups, but a high heart rate and severe acidosis were prognostic factors only in the solid malignancy group.

Worsening or improving hypoalbuminemia during continuous renal replacement therapy is predictive of patient outcome: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Hypoalbuminemia at the initiation of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a risk factor for poor patient outcomes. However, it is unknown whether the patterns of changes in serum albumin levels during CRRT can be used to predict patient outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed data that had been consecutively collected from January 2016 to December 2020 at the Third Affiliated Hospital. We included patients with acute kidney injury who received CRRT for ≥ 72 h. We divided the patients into four groups based on their serum albumin levels (albumin ≥ 3.0 g/dL or < 3.0 g/dL) at the initiation and termination of CRRT. RESULTS: The 793 patients in this study were categorized into the following albumin groups: persistently low, 299 patients (37.7%); increasing, 85 patients (10.4%); decreasing, 195 patients (24.6%); and persistently high, 214 patients (27.1%). In-hospital mortality rates were highest in the persistently low and decreasing groups, followed by the increasing and persistently high groups. The hazard ratio for in-hospital mortality was 0.481 (0.340-0.680) in the increasing group compared to the persistently low group; it was 1.911 (1.394-2.620) in the decreasing group compared to the persistently high group. The length of ICU stay was 3.55 days longer in the persistently low group than in the persistently high group. CONCLUSIONS: Serum albumin levels changed during CRRT, and monitoring of patterns of change in serum albumin levels is useful for predicting in-hospital mortality and the length of ICU stay.