Association of polyunsaturated fatty acids with improved heart rate variability and cardiovascular events in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving maintenance dialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: Apart from dietary restriction and medical therapy, the benefits of cardiovascular protection offered by polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplements in patients with ESRD receiving maintenance dialysis remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of PUFAs on blood pressure, heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prognosis. METHODS: We identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from Embase, PubMed (including MEDLINE), and Web of Science. We included seven RCTs that involved 724 patients with ESRD receiving dialysis and PUFA supplements. RESULTS: The data indicated that compared with the control group, the PUFA group demonstrated decreased cardiovascular events (Peto odds ratio = 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.32 to 0.85, P = 0.009) and HRV (changes in the mean HR [mean difference = -2.59, 95% CI = -4.91 to -0.26, P = 0.03, I2 = 0%]; mean RR interval [MD = 29.03, 95% CI = 5.43 to 52.63, P = 0.02, I2 = 0%]; mean of the standard deviation of all normal RR intervals for all 5 min segments [MD = 2.73, 95% CI = 0.48 to 4.99, P = 0.02, I2 = 0%], and square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent intervals [MD = 2.03, 95% CI = 0.04 to 4.03, P = 0.05, I2 = 0%]). CONCLUSION: PUFA supplements appeared to improve CVD prognosis in patients receiving dialysis. Additional RCTs with longer follow-up periods need to clarify the benefits of PUFA supplements in this patient population.

Systematic Review of Nutrition Supplements in Chronic Kidney Diseases: A GRADE Approach.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is cumulative worldwide and an increasing public health issue. Aside from the widely known protein restriction and medical therapy, less evident is the renal protection of nutrition supplements in CKD patients. This systematic review (SR), using a Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, aims to summarize and quantify evidence about the prevention effects of vitamin D and analogues, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3 PUFA), dietary fiber, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and biotics on CKD progression. This study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement to examine SRs and/or meta-analysis of clinical controlled trials identified from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Finally, seventeen SRs were included in the qualitative analysis. The beneficial effects of these nutrition supplements in CKD patients mostly seem to be at low to very low evidence on proteinuria, kidney function, and inflammations and did not appear to improve CKD prognosis. The recommendation of nutrition supplements in CKD patients needs to discuss with physicians and consider the benefits over the adverse effects. Longer follow-up of larger randomized trials is necessary to clarify the benefits of nutrition supplements in CKD patients.

Long-Term Effects of Ketoanalogues on Mortality and Renal Outcomes in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Receiving a Low-Protein Diet.

The effects of ketoanalogues (KA) supplementation on mortality and progression to dialysis in patients with pre-dialysis stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving a low-protein diet (LPD) remain ambiguous. From Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database during 1996-2011, 165 patients with pre-dialysis CKD on an LPD (0.6 g/kg/day) with KA supplementation were matched with 165 patients with pre-dialysis CKD on an LPD without KA supplementation. Of the 165 patients with advanced CKD receiving KA supplementation, 34 (20.6%) died, and 124 (75.2%) underwent long-term dialysis during the study period. There was no significant difference in mortality between the KA-user group and the KA-nonuser group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68-2.93; p = 0.355). KA supplementation significantly increased long-term dialysis risk (adjusted HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.04-1.90; p = 0.025) and combined outcome risk (defined as long-term dialysis and death; adjusted HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.02-1.83; p = 0.034). KA supplementation also increased long-term dialysis risk (adjusted HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.00-2.20; p = 0.048) in the subgroup of pre-dialysis patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), but not in those patients without DM. In conclusion, KA supplementation might increase long-term dialysis risk in patients with advanced CKD receiving an LPD, but it did not increase mortality.

Effect of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pills () on the Immediate Blood Flow of Patients with Coronary Slow Flow.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the immediate effect and safety of Shexiang Tongxin dropping pills (, STDP) on patients with coronary slow flow (CSF), and furthermore, to explore new evidence for the use of Chinese medicine in treating ischemic chest pain. METHODS: Coronary angiography (CAG) with corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) was applied (collected at 30 frames/s). The treatment group included 22 CSF patients, while the control group included 22 individuals with normal coronary flow. CSF patients were given 4 STDP through sublingual administration, and CAG was performed 5 min after the medication. The immediate blood flow frame count, blood pressure, and heart rate of patients before and after the use of STDP were compared. The liver and kidney functions of patients were examined before and after treatments. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in CTFC between groups (P<0.05). The average CTFC values of the vessels with slow blood flow in CSF patients were, respectively, 49.98 ± 10.01 and 40.42 ± 11.33 before and after the treatment with STDP, a 19.13% improvement. The CTFC values (frame/s) measured before and after treatment at the left anterior descending coronary artery, left circumflex artery, and right coronary artery were, respectively, 48.00 ± 13.32 and 41.80 ± 15.38, 59.00 ± 4.69 and 50.00 ± 9.04, and 51.90 ± 8.40 and 40.09 ± 10.46, giving 12.92%, 15.25%, and 22.76% improvements, respectively. The CTFC values of vessels with slow flow before treatment were significantly decreased after treatment (P<0.05). There were no apparent changes in the heart rate, blood pressure, or liver or kidney function of CSF patients after treatment with STDP (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The immediate effect of STDP in treating CSF patients was apparent. This medication could significantly improve coronary flow without affecting blood pressure or heart rate. Our findings support the potential of Chinese medicine to treat ischemic chest pain.

Risk of Mortality and of Atherosclerotic Events Among Patients Who Underwent Hemodialysis and Subsequently Developed Retinal Vascular Occlusion: A Taiwanese Retrospective Cohort Study.

IMPORTANCE: Retinal vascular occlusion is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in the general population. However, the long-term outcomes of patients who undergo incident hemodialysis and subsequently develop retinal vascular occlusion have not been examined. OBJECTIVE: To determine the mortality rate and subsequent prevalence of systemic vascular diseases associated with retinal vascular occlusion among patients undergoing hemodialysis in Taiwan. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data from the Taiwan National Health Institutes research database were used, and we identified 105,956 patients undergoing hemodialysis during the period from January 1997 to December 2008. In total, 113 patients with retinal artery occlusion and 463 patients with retinal vein occlusion were enrolled and matched for age, sex, and the duration of hemodialysis (at a 1:5 ratio) with patients without ocular disorders. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Mortality and atherosclerotic events. A multivariate Cox regression model for mortality and a competing risk regression model for atherosclerotic events were used for this population-based retrospective cohort study. RESULTS: Of 113 patients with retinal artery occlusion and 463 patients with retinal vein occlusion, 66 (58.4%) and 245 (52.9%) were females, respectively (ranging in age from ≤40 to 80 years). Our study showed there was a significant risk of mortality among patients undergoing hemodialysis who subsequently developed retinal artery occlusion or retinal vein occlusion compared with patients undergoing hemodialysis without ocular disorders. Patients with retinal artery occlusion had higher risks of ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 3.35 [95% CI, 2.00-5.59]; P < .001), coronary artery disease (adjusted HR, 1.70 [95% CI, 1.23-2.36]; P = .001), acute coronary syndrome (adjusted HR, 2.03 [95% CI, 1.24-3.33]; P = .002), and peripheral arterial occlusive disease (adjusted HR, 2.15 [95% CI, 1.26-3.66]; P = .002) than did patients without ocular disorders. Patients with retinal vein occlusion had higher risks of hemorrhagic stroke (adjusted HR, 2.54 [95% CI, 1.50-4.30]; P = .001), coronary artery disease (adjusted HR, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.31-1.83]; P < .001), and acute coronary syndrome (adjusted HR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.14-2.06]; P = .002) than did patients without ocular disorders. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Our data demonstrate that the risks of mortality and atherosclerotic events were increased among patients undergoing incident hemodialysis who subsequently developed retinal vascular occlusion.

[Chinese Herbs Prevented and Treated Radiographic Contrast Nephropathy after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: an Analysis of Mechanism].

Now percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an important treatment way for diag- nosing and treating coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (abbreviated as coronary heart disease). But use of contrast medium during intervention will result in acute renal failure. Hydration is a main measure to prevent radiographic contrast nephropathy at present. Chinese herbs play certain roles in preventing and treating radiographic contrast nephropathy. Theories of Chinese medicine hold blood stasis and toxin factor are main pathogeneses in radiographic contrast nephropathy. Therefore, blood promoting, stasis removing, and detoxification therapy is a main treatment method for preventing and treating radiographic contrast nephropathy.

Beneficial effects of calcitriol on hypertension, glucose intolerance, impairment of endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation, and visceral adiposity in fructose-fed hypertensive rats.

Besides regulating calcium homeostasis, the effects of vitamin D on vascular tone and metabolic disturbances remain scarce in the literature despite an increase intake with high-fructose corn syrup worldwide. We investigated the effects of calcitriol, an active form of vitamin D, on vascular relaxation, glucose tolerance, and visceral fat pads in fructose-fed rats. Male Wistar-Kyoto rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 6 per group). Group Con: standard chow diet for 8 weeks; Group Fru: high-fructose diet (60% fructose) for 8 weeks; Group Fru-HVD: high-fructose diet as Group Fru, high-dose calcitriol treatment (20 ng / 100 g body weight per day) 4 weeks after the beginning of fructose feeding; and Group Fru-LVD: high-fructose diet as Group Fru, low-dose calcitriol treatment (10 ng / 100 g body weight per day) 4 weeks after the beginning of fructose feeding. Systolic blood pressure was measured twice a week by the tail-cuff method. Blood was examined for serum ionized calcium, phosphate, creatinine, glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. Intra-peritoneal glucose intolerance test, aortic vascular reactivity, the weight of visceral fat pads, adipose size, and adipose angiotensin II levels were analyzed at the end of the study. The results showed that the fructose-fed rats significantly developed hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, heavier weight and larger adipose size of visceral fat pads, and raised adipose angiotensin II expressions compared with the control rats. High- and low-dose calcitriol reduced modestly systolic blood pressure, increased endothelium-dependent aortic relaxation, ameliorated glucose intolerance, reduced the weight and adipose size of visceral fat pads, and lowered adipose angiotensin II expressions in the fructose-fed rats. However, high-dose calcitriol treatment mildly increased serum ionized calcium levels (1.44 ± 0.05 mmol/L). These results suggest a protective role of calcitriol treatment on endothelial function, glucose tolerance, and visceral adiposity in fructose-fed rats.

Adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine therapy improves survival in patients with advanced breast cancer: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the most common complementary and alternative medicines used in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. However, the clinical effect of TCM on survival, which is a major concern in these individuals, lacks evidence from large-scale clinical studies. METHODS: The authors used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to conduct a retrospective population-based cohort study of patients with advanced breast cancer between 2001 and 2010. The patients were separated into TCM users and nonusers, and Cox regression models were applied to determine the association between the use of TCM and patient survival. RESULTS: A total of 729 patients with advanced breast cancer receiving taxanes were included in the current study. Of this cohort, the mean age was 52.0 years; 115 patients were TCM users (15.8%) and 614 patients were TCM nonusers. The mean follow-up was 2.8 years, with 277 deaths reported to occur during the 10-year period. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that, compared with nonusers, the use of TCM was associated with a significantly decreased risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [HR], 0.55 [95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.90] for TCM use of 30-180 days; adjusted HR, 0.46 [95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.78] for TCM use of >180 days). Among the frequently used TCMs, those found to be most effective (lowest HRs) in reducing mortality were Bai Hua She She Cao, Ban Zhi Lian, and Huang Qi. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current observational study suggest that adjunctive TCM therapy may lower the risk of death in patients with advanced breast cancer. Future randomized controlled trials are required to validate these findings.

[Effect of tongguan capsule on the number of endothelial progenitor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with coronary artery disease after PCI].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Tongguan Capsule (TC) on the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the peripheral blood of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Recruited were 60 CAD patients undergoing PCI who were admitted and treated at ICU and the Heart Center of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March to October 2010. They were assigned to the treatment group (treated by TC) and the control group (treated by placebos) according to the random digit table, 30 cases in each group. They took TC or placebos from the day of PCI, three pills each time, three times a day, for three consecutive months. The numbers of peripheral blood CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) positive cells were detected before PCI and 3 months after PCI respectively. The echocardiography was performed before PCI and 3 months after PCI respectively to determinate the left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The wall motion score index (WMSI) was assessed in the two groups. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the number of EPCs, LVEF,WMSI, or SV in the two groups before PCI (P > 0.05). The number of EPCs increased in both the two groups after 1 month of PCI (P < 0.05). It was obviously higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The LVEF both increased in the two groups 3 months after PCI (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The WMSI decreased and SV increased in the treatment group (P < 0.05). The improvement of LVEF and WMSI was better in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TC could up-regulate the number of EPCs in the peripheral blood of CAD patients after PCI, and improve their cardiac functions.

Effect of tongguan capsule on the number of endothelial progenitor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with coronary artery disease after PCI / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Tongguan Capsule (TC) on the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the peripheral blood of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recruited were 60 CAD patients undergoing PCI who were admitted and treated at ICU and the Heart Center of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March to October 2010. They were assigned to the treatment group (treated by TC) and the control group (treated by placebos) according to the random digit table, 30 cases in each group. They took TC or placebos from the day of PCI, three pills each time, three times a day, for three consecutive months. The numbers of peripheral blood CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) positive cells were detected before PCI and 3 months after PCI respectively. The echocardiography was performed before PCI and 3 months after PCI respectively to determinate the left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The wall motion score index (WMSI) was assessed in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no statistical difference in the number of EPCs, LVEF,WMSI, or SV in the two groups before PCI (P > 0.05). The number of EPCs increased in both the two groups after 1 month of PCI (P < 0.05). It was obviously higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The LVEF both increased in the two groups 3 months after PCI (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The WMSI decreased and SV increased in the treatment group (P < 0.05). The improvement of LVEF and WMSI was better in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TC could up-regulate the number of EPCs in the peripheral blood of CAD patients after PCI, and improve their cardiac functions.</p>

Effects of environmental lead exposure on T-helper cell-specific cytokines in children.

Lead (Pb) may alter T-lymphocyte reactivity in situ by preferentially enhancing the development of T-helper 2 (T(H)2)- and inhibiting T(H)1-lymphocyte development. These effects could result in dysregulation of the presence/availability of T(H)1- and T(H)2-associated cytokines. The aim of this study was two-fold, that is, to assess whole blood Pb levels in schoolchildren from Taiwanese communities that varied in degree of potential for Pb exposure and then ascertain if there were relationships between Pb exposure and changes in levels of key T(H)1 and T(H)2 cytokines. Grades 5 and 6 students were selected from four different community schools, i.e., one from: urban area with new homes; urban area with old homes; rural site with old homes; and area located near an oil refinery. Students at each site were further divided into healthy and respiratory allergy subgroups. Blood was collected and whole blood Pb levels and serum interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-12, -4, and -5 levels were determined. The results indicate no differences in whole blood Pb levels (<4 µg/dl) among students from urban and rural sites; these values were similar in the healthy and allergic subjects. Serum T(H)1 and T(H)2 cytokine levels also did not differ among/within the groups. In contrast, refinery children had significantly increased Pb levels (5.2-8.8 µg/dl) relative to any of the other sets' levels. Of these, children with allergies had serum T(H)2 cytokine levels significantly higher and T(H)1 cytokine levels significantly lower than their healthy counterparts. Oddly, though having elevated Pb levels, healthy refinery students did not display altered T(H)1 or T(H)2 cytokine levels relative to control student values. From this, we conclude that substantively increased whole blood Pb levels may promote T(H) cell dysregulation and alter the availability of key T(H)1 and T(H)2 cytokines, effects that could ultimately contribute to development of pulmonary allergic diseases.

RC-RNase-induced cell death in estrogen receptor positive breast tumors through down-regulation of Bcl-2 and estrogen receptor.

RC-RNase exerts anti-cancer effects on many tumors. However, the mechanisms by which RC-RNase induces cytotoxicity in different tumor cells are unclear. Currently, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and negative breast tumors are treated with RC-RNase. Our data demonstrate that RC-RNase induces cell death on ER-positive but not on ER-negative breast tumors. This study also shows that down-regulation of ER and Bcl-2 is found on RC-RNase-treated ER-positive breast tumors. Additionally, Bcl-2 overxpression can prevent ER-positive breast tumors from cell death treated with RC-RNase. In summary, this study demonstrates that RC-RNase-induced cell death of ER-positive breast tumors is through regulation of ER and Bcl-2.

Acquired bartter-like syndrome associated with gentamicin administration.

Although acute nonoliguric renal failure is a well-known nephrotoxic effect of aminoglycoside antibiotics, less recognized is acquired Bartter-like syndrome. Herein, we describe four female patients who presented with marked paresthesia, muscle weakness, and tetany following gentamicin therapy with total dose ranging from 1.2 g to 2.6 g. All were normotensive. Biochemical abnormalities included hypokalemia (K+ 1.8-2.3 mmol/L), metabolic alkalosis (HCO(3-) 31.9-34.2 mmol/L), hypomagnesemia (Mg2+ 0.9-1.2 mg/dL), hypermagnesiuria (fractional excretion of Mg 3-6%), hypocalcemia (free Ca2+ 2.0-4.1 mg/dL), and hypercalciuria (molar ratio of Ca2+/creatinine 0.23-0.53), all consistent with Bartter-like syndrome. Serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentration was low despite the hypocalcemia. The Bartter-like syndrome lasted for 2 to 6 weeks after cessation of gentamicin, coupled with supplementation of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+. These biochemical abnormalities resembled those seen in patients with gain-of-function mutations in the calcium-sensing receptor. We hypothesize that gentamicin, a polyvalent cationic molecule, induces the action of calcium-sensing receptor on the thick ascending loop of Henle and distal convoluted tubule to cause renal wasting of Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca2+, and Mg2+.