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Background/Objectives To investigate the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and mortality among peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Subjects/Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 269 PD patients in our center from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2018. Subjects were divided into groups according to serum 25(OH)D level based on a cut-off of 20 ng/ml. The general linear regression model was employed to explore the correlation between 25(OH)D and baPWV. The correlation between 25(OH)D and mortality was examined in Cox proportional hazards models. Results The mean ([plus or minus]SD) concentration of serum 25(OH)D was 17 ([plus or minus]7.2) ng/ml. Using linear regression analysis, and after adjusting for possible confounders, serum 25(OH)D concentration was found to be negatively associated with baPWV([beta] = -0.35, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that lower 25(OH)D level was significantly associated with higher total mortality in PD patients(< 20 ng/ml vs. [greater than or equal to] 20 ng/ml; HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.04-4.93; P = 0.04)(as a continuous variable; HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.90-0.98; P = 0.01). Conclusions Serum 25(OH)D concentration was a significant factor associated with baPWV and mortality among patients with PD. Further studies with larger sample sizes will be needed to confirm this correlation., Author(s): Lailiang Wang [sup.1] , Qun Luo [sup.1] , Fangfang Zhou [sup.1] , Beixia Zhu [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Nephrology, HwaMei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; [...]

[Objective] The paper was to normalize the application of fenaminosulf in single cropping Zizania latifolia. [Method] Effects of spraying periods, different concentrations and spraying times of fenaminosulf on yield and output value of single cropping Z. latifolia were studied. [Result] In some regions where single cropping Z. latifolia could be harvested twice per year, fenaminosulf significantly promoted formation of swollen gall, and advanced the harvest period for about 50 d. Application of 0.5 g/L (a. i.) fenaminosulf at 150, 160 and 175 d post transplanting promoted swollen gall formation and enhanced the yield of Z. latifolia. In normal single cropping Z. latifolia growing regions, once application of fenaminosulf obviously advanced harvest period and improved yield and benefit of Z. latifolia, but with the increasing frequency of use, yield and benefit of Z. latifolia decreased significantly. [Conclusion] It is recommended that 1.0 g/L (a.i.) fenaminosulf can be applied for just once at 40-60 d post transplanting of Z. latifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been identified as one of the most sensitive and specific biomarkers for predicting cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI); however, variable performance characteristics have been reported. We therefore performed a diagnostic meta-analysis to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of NGAL in early (within 12 h postoperatively) diagnosis of CSA-AKI using established guidelines. The search was carried out electronically with Medline (through PubMed interface), Embase, Cochrane library, ISI Web of Science, Scopus and ClinicalTrials.gov (up to 5 September 2014), and hand-searching was also done. Two reviewers conducted study inclusion, data extractions and quality assessment of the studies independently. The diagnostic capacity of NGAL for CSA-AKI was assessed using pooled sensitivity and specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Meta-Disc 1.4 and STATA 12.0 were used to investigate the source of heterogeneity and to perform the meta-analysis. Twenty-four studies (33 data sets of 4066 patients) were considered, which were all of good methodological quality. The overall pooled sensitivity of NGAL for the diagnosis of AKI was 0.68 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.65-0.70], and specificity was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.77-0.80). The overall pooled positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 3.98 (95% CI, 3.05-5.20) and 0.33 (95% CI, 0.24-0.45), respectively, with a DOR of 13.05 (95% CI, 7.85-21.70). The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an AUC [standard error (SE)] of 0.86 (0.02) and with a Q*-value (SE) of 0.79 (0.02). Subgroup analysis showed that NGAL had better predictive ability in neonates/children compared with adults (DOR, 19.37; AUC, 0.89 vs DOR, 8.98; AUC, 0.83), and adults without pre-existing renal insufficiency (PRI) had higher diagnostic value than adults without PRI to predict CSA-AKI (DOR, 15.43; AUC, 0.87 vs DOR, 6.56; AUC, 0.81). Both plasma/serum and urine NGAL had the highly predictive nature for early diagnosis of CSA-AKI (DOR, 13.09; AUC, 0.85 vs DOR, 13.20; AUC, 0.88), while lower DOR and AUC values were shown (DOR, 8.31; AUC, 0.81) when measured using standardized clinical platforms, compared with research-based assays (DOR, 19.22; AUC, 0.89). I(2)-values showed substantial heterogeneity, which mainly stems from characteristics of patient population (P = 0.037). NGAL diagnostic accuracy in early detection of CSA-AKI is high, especially in neonates/children or adults with normal baseline renal function., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)