BackgroundVitamin D deficiency has become an important public health problem, however few studies have been conducted in subtropical countries, and the predictors of vitamin D deficiency in people with healthy renal function are unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in northern Taiwan.MethodsThe cross-sectional study was performed between August 2013 and August 2017, and included 3954 participants without chronic kidney disease (CKD) aged ≥30 years in northern Taiwan. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)-D] levels, biochemistry, sociodemographic variables (age, sex, education, occupation) and lifestyle habits (tea, coffee consumption and physical activities) were recorded. Associations between vitamin D status and these variables were examined using a regression model. The definition of deficiency was defined as a serum 25(OH)-D level < 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L).ResultsThe mean 25(OH)-D concentration was 28.9 ng/mL, and 22.4% of the study population had vitamin D deficiency. There was a significantly higher vitamin D deficiency ratio in the women compared to the men (22.9% vs 9.9%, p < 0.001). Vitamin D deficiency was most prevalent (38.4%) in those aged 30–39 years. Those with a graduate degree had the highest rate of vitamin D deficiency (31.5%). The predictors of vitamin D deficiency included female sex, young age, high education level, living in an urban area and physical inactivity. Tea consumption was negatively associated with vitamin D deficiency.ConclusionsVitamin D deficiency is prevalent in subtropical areas such as northern Taiwan in healthy individuals without CKD.

Introduction: This observational study investigated the course and outcome of dialysis pericarditis in diabetic dialysis patients, as previous reports found that in contrast to uremic pericarditis, which responds in most cases to intensive hemodialysis, dialysis pericarditis resolves with intensification of hemodialysis in fewer cases. Methods: From 2002 through 2006, 88 maintenance hemodialysis patients (47 diabetic and 41 non-diabetic) were referred for management of dialysis pericarditis. Results: Dialysis pericarditis in 85.1% of diabetic and 82.9% of non-diabetic patients improved following institution of intensive hemodialysis. For the few unresponsive and critical cases, 8.5% of diabetic and 7.3% of non-diabetic patients received pericardiocentesis, whereas 6.4% of diabetic and 9.8% of non-diabetic patients received surgical drainage. In terms of outcome, 85.1, 4.3 and 10.6% of diabetic patients were alive without recurrence, alive with recurrence and deceased, respectively. There was no significant difference with their non-diabetic counterparts, for which the percentages were 87.8, 4.9 and 7.3%, respectively (p > 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis did not find any significant difference in survival as well (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Whether used in diabetics or not, intensive hemodialysis remains the primary and most effective dialysis pericarditis treatment, whereas pericardiocentesis or surgical drainage should be reserved for the few unresponsive and critical cases.

Background: The urinary sodium potassium (NaK) ratio is associated with dietary sodium and potassium intake and blood pressure, and it also reflects the activity of aldosterone. Herein we evaluated the value of the urinary NaK ratio in predicting the surgical outcomes of patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism (uPA). Methods: This non-concurrent prospective cohort study was conducted from 2011 to 2017 and included 241 uPA patients who had undergone adrenalectomy. Predictors of successful clinical outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: Among the 241 uPA patients, 197 (81.7%) achieved clinical complete or partial success. A urinary sodium potassium ratio <3 (odds ratio (OR): 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2–5.4; p = 0.015), body mass index <25 kg/m2 (OR: 2.82; 95% CI: 1.31–6.06; p = 0.008), renin <1 ng/mL/h (OR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.01–6.21; p = 0.047) and mean preoperative blood pressure >115 mmHg (OR: 5.02; 95% CI: 2.10–11.97; p < 0.001) could predict clinical success after adrenalectomy. Furthermore, higher pre-treatment plasma aldosterone (OR: 1.014; 95% CI 1.005–1.024; p = 0.002) or lower serum potassium (OR: 0.523; 95% CI: 0.328–0.836; p = 0.007) were correlated with lower urinary NaK ratio (<3), and log urinary NaK ratio was positively correlated with serum C-reactive protein ( β value 2.326; 95% CI 0.029–4.623; p = 0.047). Conclusions: uPA patients with a lower urinary NaK ratio, due to high plasma aldosterone and low serum potassium concentrations, were more likely to have clinical success after adrenalectomy. uPA patients with a higher urinary NaK ratio were associated with more severe inflammatory status, and possibly more resistant hypertension post-operatively.

These data are important because the spectrum of septic pericarditis was clearly different between Taiwan and other developed countries. Furthermore, it is the only report in which patients were diagnosed as either definite or probable septic pericarditis, therefore improving the sensitivity of diagnosis as in the case of tuberculous pericarditis.