1.The relationship between surgical outcomes and KCNJ5 mutations and pathological classification in patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism
Yu MA ; Jianzhong XU ; Mona HONG ; Pingjin GAO ; Jiguang WANG ; Limin ZHU
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2025;53(9):1017-1024
Objective:To investigate the correlations of KCNJ5 gene mutations and pathological subtypes based on 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1)/aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) immunohistochemistry with clinical characteristics and postoperative outcomes in patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism undergoing adrenalectomy.Methods:This retrospective study enrolled 155 patients with primary aldosteronism who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy at the Department of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, between May 2023 and May 2024. KCNJ5 mutations were detected by Sanger sequencing, and patients were stratified into KCNJ5-mutant and wild-type groups based on genetic results. The KCNJ5-mutant cohort was further subclassified into complete remission and partial remission groups according to surgical outcomes. For KCNJ5-mutant cases, postoperative tissues underwent immunohistochemical subtyping for CYP11B1/CYP11B2 expression, and were divided into the CYP11B2 mono-positive group (CYP11B1 -/CYP11B2 +) and the CYP11B1/CYP11B2 co-expression group (CYP11B1 +/CYP11B2 +). Correlations of KCNJ5 mutations and pathological subtypes with baseline characteristics, biochemical profiles, and postoperative outcomes in unilateral primary aldosteronism patients were analyzed. Results:A total of 100 patients were included in the final analysis, aged (51.1±11.0) years, including 35 females (35%). The somatic KCNJ5 mutation rate was 69% (69/100), with 69 KCNJ5-mutant and 31 wild-type cases. Compared to wild-type patients, KCNJ5-mutant patients were younger ((48.4±10.8) years vs. (56.9±9.3) years, P=0.000 2), had a higher female proportion (45% vs. 13%, P=0.004 0), exhibited lower preoperative renin levels (3.4 (1.1, 39.5) ng/L vs. 9.7 (2.7, 19.6) ng/L, P=0.009 1) and had a higher rate of complete clinical remission (55% vs. 16%, P=0.000 3). Among KCNJ5-mutant patients, 38 achieved complete remission and 31 achieved partial remission. The complete remission group demonstrated younger age ((45.6±10.2) years vs. (52.0±10.5) years, P=0.012 6), shorter hypertension duration ((6.2±6.1) years vs. (10.7±10.1) years, P=0.020 4), higher preoperative plasma (951.5 (652.2, 1 690.8) pmol/L vs. 749.8 (518.5, 955.4) pmol/L, P=0.027 7) and urinary ((86 271.4±51 873.8) pmol/24 h vs. (61 860.2±24 411.2) pmol/24 h, P=0.019 2) aldosterone levels, greater lateralization index (22.6 (10.1, 42.5) vs. 11.1 (5.1, 19.8), P=0.022 7), fewer baseline antihypertensive defined daily dose (2.6±1.3 vs. 4.0±1.3, P<0.000 1), and larger tumor diameter (1.5 (1.2, 1.8) cm vs. 1.1 (1.0, 1.5) cm, P=0.000 7). Immunohistochemical subtyping revealed CYP11B2 mono-positivity in 24 mutant cases and CYP11B1/CYP11B2 co-expression in 45. The CYP11B2 mono-positive group showed more pronounced postoperative reduction in antihypertensive defined daily dose (2.9±1.3 vs. 2.2±1.2, P=0.018 3), though no significant difference in complete remission rates (46% vs. 60%, P=0.259 8) was observed. Conclusion:In patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism, those carrying KCNJ5 somatic mutations exhibit characteristics such as younger age and a higher proportion of females compared to wild-type patients, along with significantly better surgical outcomes. Moreover, among patients with KCNJ5 mutations, those whose pathological subtype shows pure CYP11B2 expression demonstrate a more pronounced reduction in postoperative antihypertensive defined daily dose than those with co-expression of CYP11B1/CYP11B2.
2.The relationship between surgical outcomes and KCNJ5 mutations and pathological classification in patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism
Yu MA ; Jianzhong XU ; Mona HONG ; Pingjin GAO ; Jiguang WANG ; Limin ZHU
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2025;53(9):1017-1024
Objective:To investigate the correlations of KCNJ5 gene mutations and pathological subtypes based on 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1)/aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) immunohistochemistry with clinical characteristics and postoperative outcomes in patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism undergoing adrenalectomy.Methods:This retrospective study enrolled 155 patients with primary aldosteronism who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy at the Department of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, between May 2023 and May 2024. KCNJ5 mutations were detected by Sanger sequencing, and patients were stratified into KCNJ5-mutant and wild-type groups based on genetic results. The KCNJ5-mutant cohort was further subclassified into complete remission and partial remission groups according to surgical outcomes. For KCNJ5-mutant cases, postoperative tissues underwent immunohistochemical subtyping for CYP11B1/CYP11B2 expression, and were divided into the CYP11B2 mono-positive group (CYP11B1 -/CYP11B2 +) and the CYP11B1/CYP11B2 co-expression group (CYP11B1 +/CYP11B2 +). Correlations of KCNJ5 mutations and pathological subtypes with baseline characteristics, biochemical profiles, and postoperative outcomes in unilateral primary aldosteronism patients were analyzed. Results:A total of 100 patients were included in the final analysis, aged (51.1±11.0) years, including 35 females (35%). The somatic KCNJ5 mutation rate was 69% (69/100), with 69 KCNJ5-mutant and 31 wild-type cases. Compared to wild-type patients, KCNJ5-mutant patients were younger ((48.4±10.8) years vs. (56.9±9.3) years, P=0.000 2), had a higher female proportion (45% vs. 13%, P=0.004 0), exhibited lower preoperative renin levels (3.4 (1.1, 39.5) ng/L vs. 9.7 (2.7, 19.6) ng/L, P=0.009 1) and had a higher rate of complete clinical remission (55% vs. 16%, P=0.000 3). Among KCNJ5-mutant patients, 38 achieved complete remission and 31 achieved partial remission. The complete remission group demonstrated younger age ((45.6±10.2) years vs. (52.0±10.5) years, P=0.012 6), shorter hypertension duration ((6.2±6.1) years vs. (10.7±10.1) years, P=0.020 4), higher preoperative plasma (951.5 (652.2, 1 690.8) pmol/L vs. 749.8 (518.5, 955.4) pmol/L, P=0.027 7) and urinary ((86 271.4±51 873.8) pmol/24 h vs. (61 860.2±24 411.2) pmol/24 h, P=0.019 2) aldosterone levels, greater lateralization index (22.6 (10.1, 42.5) vs. 11.1 (5.1, 19.8), P=0.022 7), fewer baseline antihypertensive defined daily dose (2.6±1.3 vs. 4.0±1.3, P<0.000 1), and larger tumor diameter (1.5 (1.2, 1.8) cm vs. 1.1 (1.0, 1.5) cm, P=0.000 7). Immunohistochemical subtyping revealed CYP11B2 mono-positivity in 24 mutant cases and CYP11B1/CYP11B2 co-expression in 45. The CYP11B2 mono-positive group showed more pronounced postoperative reduction in antihypertensive defined daily dose (2.9±1.3 vs. 2.2±1.2, P=0.018 3), though no significant difference in complete remission rates (46% vs. 60%, P=0.259 8) was observed. Conclusion:In patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism, those carrying KCNJ5 somatic mutations exhibit characteristics such as younger age and a higher proportion of females compared to wild-type patients, along with significantly better surgical outcomes. Moreover, among patients with KCNJ5 mutations, those whose pathological subtype shows pure CYP11B2 expression demonstrate a more pronounced reduction in postoperative antihypertensive defined daily dose than those with co-expression of CYP11B1/CYP11B2.
3.Psychometric Evaluation of the Korean Version of PROMIS SelfEfficacy for Managing Symptoms Item Bank: Item Response Theory
Mona CHOI ; Chang Gi PARK ; Soomin HONG
Asian Nursing Research 2022;16(4):187-196
Purpose:
To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) self-efficacy for managing symptoms of the version 1.0 item bank in Korea.
Methods:
This study consisted of two phases: first, developing the Korean version of the item bank following the translation guidelines; and second, performing a cross-sectional study to evaluate its psychometric properties using the item response theory. This study enrolled 323 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus between July and August 2020. Cronbach's α was used to assess the reliability of this item bank. Confirmatory factor analysis, using diagonally weighted least squares, was used to identify the assumptions of item response theory. Item parameter estimates including discrimination and thresholds were derived using the graded response model of the item response theory to reflect patient-reported outcomes as individualized responses.
Results:
The Korean version of the item bank demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's α = .98) and its discrimination ranged from 1.82 to 4.93. The thresholds resulted in the establishment of a category response curve for each item. However, no overlap was observed among the category curves. Moreover, the differential item functioning was not significant for age, gender, and income variables.
Conclusion
The graded response model and differential item functioning provided qualitative evidence that demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties of symptom management self-efficacy among patients. This item bank is expected to provide adequate assessments of self-efficacy of symptom management for patients with a chronic disease, which can contribute to nursing research and intervention.
4.Simulation Education Incorporating Academic Electronic Medical Records for Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Pilot Study
Soomin HONG ; Insook CHO ; Myonghwa PARK ; Joo Yun LEE ; Jisan LEE ; Mona CHOI
Healthcare Informatics Research 2022;28(4):376-386
Objectives:
Academic electronic medical records (AEMRs) can be utilized for a variety of educational programs that can enhance nursing students’ nursing informatics and clinical reasoning competencies. This study aimed to identify the applicability and effectiveness of simulation education incorporating AEMRs.
Methods:
We developed simulation education scenarios incorporating AEMRs and evaluated them with 76 third- and fourth-year nursing students from five nursing schools using a mixed-methods design. We incorporated three simulation case scenarios involving preeclampsia, diabetes mellitus, and myocardial infarction into the AEMRs. After the simulation education, participants’ feedback on the usability of the AEMR system and their self-efficacy for AEMR utilization were collected via self-reported surveys. Subsequently, the simulation education incorporating AEMRs was evaluated through a focus group interview. The survey data were examined using descriptive statistics, and thematic analysis was done for the focus group interview data.
Results:
The average mean scores for the AEMR system’s usability and participants’ self-efficacy for AEMR utilization were 5.36 of 7 and 3.96 of 5, respectively. According to the focus group interviews, the participants were satisfied with the simulation education incorporating AEMRs and recognized their confidence in AEMR utilization. In addition, participants addressed challenges to simulation education incorporating AEMRs, including the need for pre-education and AEMR utilization difficulties.
Conclusions
Nursing students weresatisfied with and recognized the value of simulation education incorporating AEMRs. Although the actual application ofsimulation education incorporating AEMRs remains challenging, further research can help develop and implement this approachfor nursing students.

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