Scatter plot showing the relationship between serum ANGPTL2 levels and other clinical parameters.

<p>ANGPTL2 levels were positively correlated with hsCRP, TNF-α, A-FABP, NT-proBNP, and negatively correlated with eGFR and LVEF. (The Spearman correlation coefficients rho are presented).</p

Multiple stepwise regression analysis showing the variables independently associated with the serum level of ANGPTL2.

<p>Variables included in the original model are age, gender, fasting glucose, HbA1c, triglyceride, HDL-C, creatinine, hsCRP, TNF-α, A-FABP, and NT-proBNP</p><p>* ANGPTL2, triglyceride, hsCRP, A-FABP, TNF-α, and NT-proBNP are logarithmically transformed before analysis.</p><p>Multiple stepwise regression analysis showing the variables independently associated with the serum level of ANGPTL2.</p

Spearman correlation of ANGPTL2 levels with cardiovascular risk factors.

<p>Spearman correlation of ANGPTL2 levels with cardiovascular risk factors.</p

Characteristics of patients with heart failure and controls.

<p>ANGPTL2, angiopoietin-like protein 2; A-FABP, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein; ACEi/ARB, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers; CAD, coronary artery disease; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c; hsCRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LAd, left atrial dimension; LVEDd, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension; LVESd, left ventricular end-systolic dimension; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha.</p><p>* Presented with median (25^th to 75^th percentile) and analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test</p><p># Hyperlipidemia is defined as total cholesterol ≥ 240mg/dl, triglyceride ≥ 200mg/dl, or current use of lipid-lowering medication</p><p>Characteristics of patients with heart failure and controls.</p

The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of serum ANGPTL2 levels for the identification of patients with heart failure.

<p>The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of serum ANGPTL2 levels for the identification of patients with heart failure.</p

Multivariate logistic regression analyses showing the odds ratios (OR) for the presence of heart failure in different levels of circulating ANGPTL2.

<p>Lowest tertile: ANGPTL2 level ≤3.4 ng/mL; middle tertile: 3.4 ng/mL< ANGPTL2 level ≤ 4.8 ng/mL; highest tertile: ANGPTL2 level >4.8 ng/mL</p><p>Model 1 adjusted for age and gender</p><p>Model 2 adjusted for age, gender, body-mass index, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fasting glucose, creatinine, hsCRP, TNF-α, adiponectin, NT-proBNP, and diagnosis of CAD</p><p>Multivariate logistic regression analyses showing the odds ratios (OR) for the presence of heart failure in different levels of circulating ANGPTL2.</p

The changes of care-related pain with severity ≥ 4 and duration ≥ 4 h.

The changes of care-related pain with severity ≥ 4 and duration ≥ 4 h.</p

Demographic data of the patients from 2018 to 2020.

Demographic data of the patients from 2018 to 2020.</p

Conference for review of pain management system.

Pain-free hospital group meetings are held regularly every two weeks to set up cross-team member participation, establish communication channels, and invite team members to discuss care implementation strategies. Monthly case discussions and ward team meetings were conducted for outpatient cases with special or refractory pain. The management committee discussed the business promotion, the work report of each group, the development of the annual policy, and the progress review on a quarterly basis, and reported the implementation progress to the hospital every six months. (PDF)</p

The Impact of Endothelial Progenitor Cells on Restenosis after Percutaneous Angioplasty of Hemodialysis Vascular Access

<div><p>Objective</p><p>We prospectively investigate the relation between baseline circulating endothelial progenitor cells and the subsequent development of restenosis after angioplasty of hemodialysis vascular access.</p><p>Background</p><p>Effect of angioplasty for hemodialysis vascular access is greatly attenuated by early and frequent restenosis. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a key role in vascular repair but are deficient in hemodialysis patients.</p><p>Method</p><p>After excluding 14 patients due to arterial stenosis, central vein stenosis, and failed angioplasty, 130 patients undergoing angioplasty for dysfunctional vascular access were prospectively enrolled. Flow cytometry with quantification of EPC markers (defined as CD34⁺, CD34⁺KDR⁺, CD34⁺KDR⁺CD133⁺) in peripheral blood immediately before angioplasty procedures was used to assess circulating EPC numbers. Patients were followed clinically for up to one year after angioplasty.</p><p>Results</p><p>During the one-year follow-up, 95 patients (73%) received interventions for recurrent access dysfunction. Patients in the lower tertile of CD34⁺KDR⁺ cell count had the highest restenosis rates (46%) at three month (early restenosis), compared with patients in the medium and upper tertiles of CD34⁺KDR⁺ cell count (27% and 12% respectively, p = 0.002). Patients in the lower tertile of CD34⁺KDR⁺ cell count received more re-interventions during one year. Patients with early restenosis had impaired EPC adhesive function and increased senescence and apoptosis. In multivariate analysis, the CD34⁺KDR⁺ and CD34⁺KDR⁺CD133⁺ cell counts were independent predictors of target-lesion early restenosis.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Our results suggest that the deficiency of circulating EPCs is associated with early and frequent restenosis after angioplasty of hemodialysis vascular access.</p></div