Effect of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Stimulation During Simultaneous Bilateral Adrenal Vein Sampling in Primary Aldosteronism

The aim of the study was to investigate the significance and influence of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation in primary aldosteronism (PA) patients with simultaneous bilateral adrenal vein sampling (AVS). All patients diagnosed with PA underwent simultaneous bilateral AVS with ACTH. In 95 patients, the post-ACTH SI significantly increased (p<0.001), and it gradually decreased from t10–t30 after ACTH stimulation (p<0.001). The unsuccessful catheterization decreased after ACTH stimulation. Time points within 20 min after ACTH stimulation were better for sampling, and the selectivity did not increase over longer periods. According to lateralization before and after ACTH stimulation, the patients could be divided into 3 groups (U, unilateral; B, bilateral): U/U , U/B or B/U, and B/B. Compared with the U/U group, in the U/B or B/U and B/B groups, the lateralization index (LI) was lower both at baseline and after ACTH stimulation (p<0.0001), the contralateral index (CLI) was higher after ACTH stimulation (p<0.003), the serum potassium level was higher (p<0.001), and the carbon dioxide combining power (CO2CP) and base excess (BE) levels were lower. In conclusion, in simultaneous bilateral AVS, ACTH stimulation had significant effects on increasing the catheterization selectivity. Lateralization change was observed after stimulation. After ACTH stimulation, fewer patients could be diagnosed with lateralized PA. Patients with consistent lateralized PA showed a more serious phenotype.

CO2 combining power and outcomes in patients with acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack

Background and purposeThe clinical significance of carbon dioxide combining power (CO2CP) in ischaemic cerebrovascular disease is not well established, and the role of CO2CP in the prognosis of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) has not been reported. The objective of the study was to investigate the associations between CO2CP and clinical outcomes in patients with AIS or TIA.MethodsData were derived from the China National Stroke Registry III. Patients were classified into five groups by quintiles of CO2CP levels and three groups according to the normal range of CO2CP (23–29 mmol/L). Multivariable Cox and logistic regressions were adopted to explore the associations of CO2CP levels with all-cause death and poor functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 3–6/2–6) at 3 months and 1 year.ResultsAmong 9531 patients included in the study, the median (IQR) CO2CP was 24.9 (23.0–27.0) mmol/L. After adjustment for potential confounders, patients in the first CO2CP quintile (21.1–23.3 mmol/L) had higher risk of all-cause death and poor functional outcomes (mRS score of 3–6/2–6) (HR or OR with 95% CI 2.37 (1.32 to 4.25), 1.49 (1.20 to 1.83) and 1.21 (1.03 to 1.42), respectively) compared with those in the fourth quintile. Similar results were found for outcomes at 1 year. Furthermore, all associations were also significant when CO2CP was <23 mmol/L compared with CO2CP of 23–29 mmol/L.ConclusionsDecreased CO2CP was associated with high risk of all-cause death and poor functional outcomes in patients with AIS or TIA.

Preliminary analysis of serum electrolytes and body mass index in patients with and without urolithiasis

Objectives To compare body mass index (BMI); serum parameters; and urine parameters between patients with and without urolithiasis. Methods Data from 1164 patients admitted to our Department of Urology from January 2011 to July 2013 were retrospectively reviewed; 714 patients (age, 5–87 years; male:female ratio, 1.8:1) exhibited urolithiasis, and 450 patients (age, 12–94 years; male:female ratio, 3.8:1) did not. Blood and urine were collected from patients the morning after hospital admission. Serum and urine parameters were checked by an automatic biochemistry analyzer. Statistical analysis included the Mann–Whitney U test and binary logistic regression. Results Serum sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, and carbon dioxide combining power significantly differed between groups. In male patients, serum sodium, calcium, and phosphorus levels were higher in the urolithiasis group, whereas serum potassium and urine pH levels were lower. In female patients, serum sodium was higher in the urolithiasis group. BMI was higher in the urolithiasis group in all patients, male and female. Respective β-values of serum sodium and BMI in male patients were 0.077 and 0.084; in female patients, these values were 0.119 and 0.102. Conclusions Changes in serum sodium and BMI may be involved in the pathogenesis and treatment of urolithiasis.

An Equilibrating Device for Use in Conjunction with the Automatic Determination of Carbon Dioxide-Combining Power

The CO2 equilibrating device described has been found to yield results which are clinically satisfactory and, in addition, to render the automatic procedure for CO2-combining power simpler, more convenient, and less time-consuming. The method developed by Skeggs for the determination of carbon dioxide with the use of an automated system of analysis has been found to be practical, accurate, and reliable.