Background and objectives Elevated total serum alkaline phosphatase levels have been associated with higher mortality in the general population, CKD patients, and hemodialysis patients. However, in peritoneal dialysis patients, this association has received little attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between alkaline phosphatase and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients.Design, setting, participants, & measurements In this single center retrospective cohort study, 1021 incident peritoneal dialysis patients from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2010 with baseline serum alkaline phosphatase values were enrolled. Collected baseline data included demographic characteristics and clinical and laboratory measurements. All patients were followed until December 31, 2012. The associations of total serum alkaline phosphatase levels with allcause and cardiovascular mortality were assessed using multivariable-adjusted Cox models.Results Of 1021 patients, mean age was 47.5 (615.5) years, 59.1% of patients were men, and 22.8% of patients were diabetic. The median serum alkaline phosphatase level was 64 U/L (interquartile range=52-82 U/L). During a median 31-month (interquartile range=19-45 months) follow-up period, 203 patients died, of which 109 deaths were caused by cardiovascular disease. After adjusting for demographics, comorbid conditions, liver function, and bone metabolism parameters, the highest alkaline phosphatase quartile was significantly associated with a hazard ratio for all-cause mortality of 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 2.74, P=0.03) and a hazard ratio for cardiovascular mortality of 1.94 (95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 3.72, P=0.04). Each 10 U/L higher baseline alkaline phosphatase level was associated with 4% (95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.08, P=0.04) and 7% (95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.11, P=0.003) higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively. ConclusionHigher total serum alkaline phosphatase levels at the commencement of peritoneal dialysis were independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background Many countries have recorded the trends of food allergy (FA) prevalence. Little is known about epidemiologic trends of childhood FA in China. Methods In three cross‐sectional surveys conducted in 1999, 2009, and 2019, the prevalence of and characteristic changes in FA in children aged ≤ 2 years were assessed and the outcomes were compared. All the children were recruited during well‐baby check‐ups at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. All participants had a detailed medical history taken and underwent skin prick tests using ten commercial food extracts. Open food challenges were used for confirmation of FA. Results The three studies included 1228 children (314 in 1999, 401 in 2009, and 513 in 2019; response rate > 95%). The prevalence of FA in 2009 (7.7%) and 2019 (11.1%) was significantly higher than that in 1999 (3.5%). However, there was no statistically significant difference in prevalence between 2009 and 2019 (P = .086). There was evidence of increased prevalence in CMPA between 1999 and 2019 (1.6% versus 5.7%; P = .004). However, no statistic difference was found in egg allergy (2.9% versus 5.5%; P = .21). The incidence of skin symptoms did not differ significantly over the study period, while the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms increased significantly (18.2% in 1999, 12.9% in 2009, and 43.9% in 2019; P < .05). Conclusions The prevalence of FA in children rapidly increased after the 1990s and gradually stabilized after 2010. Cow's milk has become the most common food allergen among children in Chongqing. The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms as a manifestation of FA has increased significantly since 2010.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy, which are mainly due to endothelial dysfunction. Electro-acupuncture has shown beneficial effects on cardiovascular homeostasis, but little evidence has been obtained on pulmonary effects. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether electro-acupuncture on bladder-13 and -15 points can protect against chronic hypoxia-induced PH by regulating endothelium-derived endothelin (ET)-1 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Male Wistar rats were exposed to hypoxia to induce PH. Hemodynamic analysis revealed that mean PAP was similar under normoxic conditions. Chronic hypoxia increased mean PAP to 37 +/- 3 mmHg, and electro-acupuncture attenuated it to 29 +/- 3 mmHg. Absolute right ventricular weight was ameliorated by electro-acupuncture from 0.288 +/- 0.048 g to 0.228 +/- 0.029 g under hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia-induced right ventricular hypertrophy index decreased from 0.477 +/- 0.069 to 0.378 +/- 0.053 with electro-acupuncture treatment. Histological examination revealed that hypoxic rats showed increased medial pulmonary artery wall thickness as well as muscularization. However, these alternations by chronic hypoxia were attenuated by electro-acupuncture. There was no difference in eNOS or ET-1 between groups under normoxic conditions. Electro-acupuncture treatment significantly improved the circulating eNOS concentration (365.36 +/- 31.51 pg/mL) compared with only hypoxia exposure (247.60 +/- 30.64 pg/mL). In lung homogenate, levels of eNOS under hypoxia increased from 684.96 +/- 117.90 to 869.86 +/- 197.61 pg/mg by electro-acupuncture treatment. Levels of ET-1 changed oppositely to eNOS in response to electro-acupuncture (ET-1 in plasma, 29.44 +/- 2.09 versus 20.70 +/- 2.37 pg/mL; ET-1 in lung homogenate, 120.51 +/- 3.03 versus 110.60 +/- 4.04 pg/mg). In conclusion, these results indicated that treatment with electro-acupuncture can protect against hypoxia-induced PH, possibly by regulating the balance of endothelium-derived vasoconstrictors and vasodilators.

BackgroundSyndesmotic diastasis is a common injury. Syndesmotic bolt and tightrope are two of the commonly used methods for the fixation of syndesmotic diastasis. Syndesmotic bolt can be used to reduce and maintain the syndesmosis. However, it cannot permit the normal range of motion of distal tibiofibular joint, especially the rotation of the fibula. Tightrope technique can be used to provide flexible fixation of the syndesmosis. However, it lacks the ability of reducing the syndesmotic diastasis. To combine the advantages of both syndemostic bolt and tightrope techniques and simultaneously avoid the potential disadvantages of both techniques, we designed the assembled bolt-tightrope system (ABTS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the primary effectiveness of ABTS in treating syndesmotic diastasis.MethodsFrom October 2010 to June 2011, patients with syndesmotic diastasis met the inclusion criteria were enrolled into this study and treated with ABTS. Patients were followed up at 2, 6 weeks and 6, 12 months after operation. The functional outcomes were assessed according to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores at 12 months follow-up. Patients’ satisfaction was evaluated based upon short form-12 (SF-12) health survey questionnaire. The anteroposterior radiographs of the injured ankles were taken, and the medial clear space (MCS), tibiofibular overlap (TFOL), and tibiofibular clear space (TFCS) were measured. All hardwares were routinely removed at 12-month postoperatively. Follow-ups continued. The functional and radiographic assessments were done again at the latest follow-up.ResultsTwelve patients were enrolled into this study, including 8 males and 4 females with a mean age of 39.5 years (range, 26 to 56 years). All patients also sustained ankle fractures. At 12 months follow-up, the mean AOFAS score was 95.4 (range, 85 to 100), and all patients were satisfied with the functional recoveries. The radiographic MCS, TFOL, and TFCS were within the normal range in all patients. After hardware removal, follow-up continued. At the latest follow-up (28 months on average, (range, 25 to 33 months) from internal fixation), the mean AOFAS score was 96.3 (range, 85 to 100), without significant difference with those assessed at 12 months after fixation operations. No syndesmotic diastasis reoccurred based upon the latest radiographic assessment.ConclusionsABTS can be used to reduce the syndesmotic diastasis and provide flexible fixation in a minimally invasive fashion. It seems to be an effective alternative technique to treat syndesmotic diastasis.