Home-Based Intelligent Exercise System for Seniors' Healthcare: The Example of Golf Croquet.

In 2020, the world experienced the threat of the COVID-19 epidemic, and seniors and chronic disease patients generally reduced their exercise and social activities to avoid increasing the risk of infection, which could lead to increased loneliness and even many diseases. Combining golf croquet games with a mobile application (App) and AIoT companion robots, this research constructs a home-based intelligent exercise system, uses the technology acceptance model (TAM), deduces users' intention to use this system based on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, and adds the needs of love and belonging, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, and self-actualization in Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory (HNT) to conduct an analysis of system needs. This study collected empirical data, totaling 320 participants including seniors and their caregivers, from elderly care centers in northern Taiwan using a cross-sectional survey and purposive sampling. Based on regression and variance analysis, the results show that participants have a high level of acceptance of this system, believing that it is easy to learn and operate and can increase interaction with others, improve self-confirmation, satisfy the thirst for knowledge, increase the feeling of happiness, and fulfill self-actualization needs. In the future, by collecting and recording the process of seniors using the App, so as to find out their health problems as soon as possible, expand their daily life through this exercise, and achieve the goal of happy living and better healthcare.

Water reduces iron toxicity.

An 86-year-old man presented to the emergency room with vomiting and melena. The patient was hemodynamically stable and remained alert and orientated. According to his family, ingestion of a pack of disposable hand warmers, which he mistook for black sesame powder, occurred 17 h prior to admission. Before ingestion, he mixed the powder with warm water. Physical examination revealed no thermal injury of the oral mucosa with no abdominal pain or tenderness. An abdominal plain film showed multiple scattered radiopaque material with zonal distribution over the right abdomen. An intravenous 500-mg deferoxamine challenge test showed no vin rosé urine discoloration. Serial serum iron levels remained within the normal range. The patient remained clinically stable with no medical complications. He was discharged 3 days after admission. The hand warmers consisted of iron powder (50% w/w), sodium chloride, activated charcoal, and nontoxic vermiculite: a potential risk for intestinal thermal injury. In this case, the water added beforehand rapidly terminated the iron oxidation reaction. This explained the lack of thermal injury. Ferric oxide is poorly absorbed by the digestive tract and explained the absence of iron intoxication. Therefore, clinicians should clarify the method of ingestion. If a hand warmer has been premixed with water, less mucosa injury can be expected with a lower risk of iron intoxication. This report also provided evidence that abdominal plain films can be used to confirm the ingestion of iron and monitor its elimination.

Weight-Based Assessment of Access Flow Threshold to Predict Arteriovenous Fistula Functional Patency.

Introduction: The 2019 Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) guideline recommended evaluating arteriovenous fistula (AVF) malfunction risks primarily based on clinical monitoring, which can be assisted with the value of vascular access flow (Qa). Nevertheless, Qa thresholds recommended by different guidelines vary, ranging from 300 to 500 ml/min. This study investigated the optimal Qa threshold to predict future functional patency in AVFs with Qa <500 ml/min. Methods: Both the clinical indicators of access dysfunction and the Qa value were monitored in patients receiving hemodialysis by the radiocephalic AVF. Routine access flow surveillance was performed by the ultrasound dilution method (HD03, Transonic Inc.). The development of clinically significant indicators of access dysfunction, which necessitated percutaneous transluminal angiography (PTA) to maintain functional patency, was analyzed in this cohort. Results: Among the enrolled 302 patients, Qa of 52 patients was under 500 ml/min. These 52 patients received 2 Qa measurements during the follow-up period. Of these 52 patients, serial Qa of 17 patients varied trivially and their AVF remained functional. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that a low Qa per ideal body weight (IBW) is an independent predictor of AVF functional loss. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of Qa/IBW in predicting future AVF functional loss revealed that the best cutoff value of Qa is 7.1 times the IBW. Conclusion: For radiocephalic AVFs with Qa <500 ml/min, the minimally required Qa to maintain access function is associated with individual IBW. The IBW-based Qa threshold assessment would allow more flexibility in the treatment of patients and reduce unnecessary invasive measures.

Mortality rate of end-stage kidney disease patients in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is a global burden that reflects each country's unique condition. We used the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan to decipher changes in the mortality and international survival rates and to determine the effectiveness of the pre-end-stage renal disease care program (pre-ESRD care program) to guide future health policies for ESKD. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of the NHIRD data along with records from the catastrophic illness certificate program of ESKD patients from 2010 to 2018. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2018, the annual dialysis-related mortality rate in Taiwan increased from 10.6 to 11.8 deaths per hundred patient-years. The mortality rate for patients below 40 years appears to be decreasing, reflecting the improved quality of care for ESKD patients. Patients above 75 years showed increasing mortality, indicating the prolonged survival and aging of the ESKD population. Patients undergoing dialysis who participated in the pre-ESRD care program had a higher post-dialysis initiation life expectancy than those who did not participate. Among the program enrollees, the post-dialysis initiation life expectancy was higher in patients who had participated for more than one year. Taiwan has one of the highest ESKD patient survival rates globally. CONCLUSION: From 2010 to 2018, the reduced mortality in young patients and aging of the ESKD population might indicate that the quality of care in Taiwan for ESKD has improved. Furthermore, a better survival rate after dialysis initiation was observed in the pre-ESRD care program participants.

Molecular Mechanisms of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) causes a lot of harm to human health but is treated by only supportive therapy in most cases. Recent evidence shows that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) benefit kidney regeneration through releasing paracrine factors and extracellular vesicles (EVs) to the recipient kidney cells and are considered to be promising cellular therapy for AKI. To develop more efficient, precise therapies for AKI, we review the therapeutic mechanism of MSCs and MSC-derived EVs in AKI and look for a better understanding of molecular signaling and cellular communication between donor MSCs and recipient kidney cells. We also review recent clinical trials of MSC-EVs in AKI. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of MSCs' therapeutic effects on kidney regeneration, expecting to comprehensively facilitate future clinical application for treating AKI.

Mechanical and chemical cues synergistically promote human venous smooth muscle cell osteogenesis through integrin ß1-ERK1/2 signaling: A cell model of hemodialysis fistula calcification.

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the vascular access of choice for renal replacement therapy. However, AVF is susceptible to calcification with a high prevalence of 40%-65% in chronic hemodialysis patients. Repeated needle puncture for hemodialysis cannulation results in intimal denudation of AVF. We hypothesized that exposure to blood shear stress in the medial layer promotes venous smooth muscle cell (SMC) osteogenesis. While previous studies of shear stress focused on arterial-type SMCs, SMCs isolated from the vein had not been investigated. This study established a venous cell model of AVF using the fluid shear device, combined with a high phosphate medium to mimic the uremic milieu. Osteogenic gene expression of venous SMCs upon mechanical and chemical cues was analyzed in addition to the activated cell signaling pathways. Our findings indicated that upon shear stress and high phosphate environment, mechanical stimulation (shear stress) had an additive effect in up-regulation of an early osteogenic marker, Runx2. We further identified that the integrin ß1-ERK1/2 signaling pathway was responsible for the molecular basis of venous SMC osteogenesis upon shear stress exposure. Mitochondrial biogenesis also took part in the early stage of this venopathy pathogenesis, evident by the up-regulated mitochondrial transcription factor A and mitochondrial DNA polymerase γ in venous SMCs. In conclusion, synergistic effects of fluid shear stress and high phosphate induce venous SMC osteogenesis via the ERK1/2 pathway through activating the mechanosensing integrin ß1 signaling. The present study identified a promising druggable target for reducing AVF calcification, which deserves further in vivo investigations.

BK Polyomavirus Nephropathy in Kidney Transplantation: Balancing Rejection and Infection.

BK polyomavirus nephropathy (BKVN) and allograft rejection are two closely-associated diseases on opposite ends of the immune scale in kidney transplant recipients. The principle of balancing the immune system remains the mainstay of therapeutic strategy. While patient outcomes can be improved through screening, risk factors identification, and rapid reduction of immunosuppressants, a lack of standard curative therapy is the primary concern during clinical practice. Additionally, difficulty in pathological differential diagnosis and clinicopathology's dissociation pose problems for a definite diagnosis. This article discusses the delicate evaluation needed to optimize immunosuppression and reviews recent advances in molecular diagnosis and immunological therapy for BKVN patients. New biomarkers for BKVN diagnosis are under development. For example, measurement of virus-specific T cell level may play a role in steering immunosuppressants. The development of cellular therapy may provide prevention, even a cure, for BKVN, a complex post-transplant complication.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells attenuate dialysis-induced peritoneal fibrosis by modulating macrophage polarization via interleukin-6.

BACKGROUND: Life-long peritoneal dialysis (PD) as a renal replacement therapy is limited by peritoneal fibrosis. Previous studies showed immunomodulatory and antifibrotic effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) on peritoneal fibrosis. However, the role of the peritoneal macrophage in this process remains uninvestigated. METHODS: We examined the therapeutic effects of ADSC and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) in the rat model of dialysis-induced peritoneal fibrosis using methylglyoxal. In addition, treatment of macrophages with the conditioned medium of ADSC and BM-MSC was performed individually to identify the beneficial component of the stem cell secretome. RESULTS: In the in vivo experiments, we found dialysis-induced rat peritoneal fibrosis was attenuated by both ADSC and BM-MSC. Interestingly, ADSC possessed a more prominent therapeutic effect than BM-MSC in ameliorating peritoneal membrane thickening while also upregulating epithelial cell markers in rat peritoneal tissues. The therapeutic effects of ADSC were positively associated with M2 macrophage polarization. In the in vitro experiments, we confirmed that interleukin-6 (IL-6) secreted by MSCs upon transforming growth factor-ß1 stimulation promotes M2 macrophage polarization. CONCLUSIONS: In dialysis-induced peritoneal fibrosis, MSCs are situated in an inflammatory environment of TGF-ß1 and secrete IL-6 to polarize macrophages into the M2 phenotype. Our findings reveal a previously unidentified role of tissue macrophage in this antifibrotic process. ADSC has the advantage of abundance and accessibility, making the application values extremely promising. In dialysis-induced peritoneal fibrosis, peritoneal mesothelial cells secrete transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) when exposed to methylglyoxal (MGO)-containing peritoneal dialysate. When situated in TGF-ß1, the inflammatory environment induces mesenchymal stem cells to secrete interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-6 polarizes macrophages into the M2 phenotype. The dominant peritoneal tissue M2 macrophages, marked by upregulated Arg-1 expression, account for the attenuation of MGO-induced dedifferentiation of peritoneal mesothelial cells to maintain epithelial integrity.

IgM mesangial deposition as a risk factor for relapses of adult-onset minimal change disease.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin M (IgM) mesangial deposition in pediatric minimal change disease (MCD) has been reported to be associated with steroid dependence and poor renal outcomes. However, the evidence linking the impacts of IgM mesangial deposition to the treatment prognosis in adult-onset MCD is still elusive. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 37 adult patients with MCD received kidney biopsies from January 2010 to May 2020. Immunofluorescence microscopy was performed and the patients dichotomized according to IgM mesangial deposition (12 patients with positive IgM deposition; 25 patients with negative IgM deposition). We analyzed the clinical features, the dosage of immunosuppressive agents, and the response to treatment for 2 years between the two groups. RESULTS: Analysis of the clinical symptoms, the dosage of immunosuppressive treatment, and the time to remission revealed no statistical difference between the groups. However, compared to the negative IgM group, the frequency of relapses was significantly higher in the positive IgM group during the two-year follow-up period (the negative IgM group 0.25 episodes/year; the positive IgM group 0.75 episodes/year, p = 0.029). Furthermore, multivariate linear regression revealed that the positivity of IgM mesangial deposition is independently associated with the frequency of relapses (regression coefficient B 0.450, 95% CI 0.116-0.784, p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that adult-onset MCD patients with IgM mesangial deposition have a high risk of relapses. Therefore, intensive monitoring of disease activity should be considered in MCD adults with IgM mesangial deposition.

Recent Advances in Photodynamic Therapy for Deep-Seated Tumors with the Aid of Nanomedicine.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) works through photoactivation of a specific photosensitizer (PS) in a tumor in the presence of oxygen. PDT is widely applied in oncology to treat various cancers as it has a minimally invasive procedure and high selectivity, does not interfere with other treatments, and can be repeated as needed. A large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and singlet oxygen is generated in a cancer cell during PDT, which destroys the tumor effectively. However, the efficacy of PDT in treating a deep-seated tumor is limited due to three main reasons: Limited light penetration depth, low oxygen concentration in the hypoxic core, and poor PS accumulation inside a tumor. Thus, PDT treatments are only approved for superficial and thin tumors. With the advancement of nanotechnology, PDT to treat deep-seated or thick tumors is becoming a reachable goal. In this review, we provide an update on the strategies for improving PDT with nanomedicine using different sophisticated-design nanoparticles, including two-photon excitation, X-ray activation, targeting tumor cells with surface modification, alteration of tumor cell metabolism pathways, release of therapeutic gases, improvement of tumor hypoxia, and stimulation of host immunity. We focus on the difficult-to-treat pancreatic cancer as a model to demonstrate the influence of advanced nanomedicine in PDT. A bright future of PDT application in the treatment of deep-seated tumors is expected.

Accuracy of Heparin-Binding Protein in Diagnosing Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Existing studies evaluating the accuracy of heparin-binding protein for the diagnosis of sepsis have been inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the totality of current evidence regarding the utility of heparin-binding protein to diagnose sepsis in patients with presumed systemic infection. DATA SOURCE: PubMed, Embase, the China National Knowledge infrastructure, and WangFang electronic database were searched from inception to December of 2019. STUDY SELECTION: Two independent reviewers identified eligible studies. Cohort and case-control studies, which measured serum levels of heparin-binding protein among adult patients with suspected sepsis, were eligible for inclusion. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers independently extracted data elements from the selected studies. A bivariate random-effects meta-analysis model was used to synthesize the prognostic accuracy measures. Risk of bias of studies was assessed with Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. DATA SYNTHESIS: We identified 26 studies with 3,868 patients in the meta-analysis. Heparin-binding protein had a pooled sensitivity of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.79-0.90) and a pooled specificity of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.82-0.96) for the diagnosis of sepsis. There was low heterogeneity between the studies (I2 = 12%), and no evidence of publication bias was detected. Heparin-binding protein had a higher sensitivity and specificity when compared with procalcitonin (0.75 [95% CI, 0.62-0.85] and 0.85 [95% CI, 0.73-0.92]) as well as C-reactive protein (0.75 [95% CI, 0.65-0.84] and 0.71 [95% CI, 0.63-0.77]). Serial measurements of heparin-binding protein also showed that heparin-binding protein levels rose significantly at least 24 hours before a diagnosis of sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic ability of heparin-binding protein is favorable, demonstrating both high sensitivity and specificity in predicting progression to sepsis in critically ill patients. Future studies could assess the incremental value that heparin-binding protein may add to a multimodal sepsis identification and prognostication algorithm for critically ill patients.

Correction to: A Nautilus kidney.

In the original publication of the article, the second sentence under the heading, Case presentation appears incorrectly as A computed tomographic (CT) scan demonstrated left-sided hydronephrosis (Fig. 1).

A Nautilus kidney.

We report a 71-year-old woman who presented with unilateral flank pain and sepsis. A computed tomographic (CT) scan demonstrated left-sided hydronephrosis. Subsequent percutaneous nephrotomy drainage showed pus-like material, confirming the diagnosis of pyonephrosis. The ureteral stricture was caused by previous radiation injury for cervical cancer in this ESRD patient who was on chronic dialysis for years. In our case, the grade IVB hydronephrosis is a result of an extremely atrophic kidney, pyonephrosis, and ureteral stricture. The CT section of pyonephrosis in an extremely atrophic kidney resembles a sagittal section of a Nautilus shell, as the shell corresponds to the diffusely thinned renal cortex.