Our study shows that oral hydration is not inferior to intravenous hydration for the prevention of CI-AKI in patients with normal or mild-to-moderate renal dysfunction undergoing coronary angiography or intervention.

Background: To investigate the protective effects and mechanism of baicalein (BAI), a naturally occurring flavonoid, against hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) injury in renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2). Methods: Cultured human renal proximal tubular cell line HK-2 was exposed to 24 h of hypoxia (5% CO2, 1% O2, and 94% N2), followed by 12 h of reoxygenation (5% CO2, 21% O2, and 74% N2). HK-2 cells were divided into three groups: control, HR, and HR-BAI (0.3 µg/ml). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured and cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and morphology. ELISAs were performed to determine the levels of IL-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). IL-1β, ICAM-1, and MCP-1 mRNA levels were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. Results: HK-2 cells that underwent HR exhibited increases in IL-1β expression by 0.94%, ROS by 0.59%, ICAM-1 expression by 0.8%, and MCP-1 expression by 1.2%. Moreover, HK-2 cell apoptosis was increased after HR (p < .05). Compared with the HR group, BAI treatment reduced the elevation of oxidative stress (ROS) by 0.76%, as well as HR-mediated induction of IL-1β and apoptosis of HK2 cells. Protein and mRNA levels of ICAM-1 and MCP-1 were also reduced. Conclusions: BAI protects renal tubular epithelial cells from HR injury by reducing inflammatory cytokine expression and oxidative stress.

Background Most electrocardiogram (ECG) studies still take advantage of traditional statistical functions, and the results are mostly presented in tables, histograms, and curves. Few papers display ECG data by visual means. The aim of this study was to analyze and show data for electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) with ST-segment elevation (STE) by a heat map in order to explore the feasibility and clinical value of heat mapping for ECG data visualization. Methods We sequentially collected the electrocardiograms of inpatients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College from July 2015 to December 2015 in order to screen cases of LVH with STE. HemI 1.0 software was used to draw heat maps to display the STE of each lead of each collected ECG. Cluster analysis was carried out based on the heat map and the results were drawn as tree maps (pedigree maps) in the heat map. Results In total, 60 cases of electrocardiographic LVH with STE were screened and analyzed. STE leads were mainly in the V1, V2 and V3 leads. The ST-segment shifts of each lead of each collected ECG could be conveniently visualized in the heat map. According to cluster analysis in the heat map, STE leads were clustered into two categories, comprising of the right precordial leads (V1, V2, V3) and others (V4, V5, V6, I, II, III, aVF, aVL, aVR). Moreover, the STE amplitude in 40% (24 out of 60) of cases reached the threshold specified in the STEMI guideline. These cases also could be fully displayed and visualized in the heat map. Cluster analysis in the heat map showed that the III, aVF and aVR leads could be clustered together, the V1, V2, V3 and V4 leads could be clustered together, and the V5, V6, I and aVL leads could be clustered together. Conclusion Heat maps and cluster analysis can be used to fully display every lead of each electrocardiogram and provide relatively comprehensive information.