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Am J Nephrol 2022 May 16:1-15. Epub 2022 May 16.

Department of Nephrology, Hangzhou Hospital of Chinese Medicine (Guangxing Hospital), Affiliated to Zhejiang University of Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China.

Introduction: Renal interstitial inflammation often presents in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), but its predictive role in kidney disease progression remains controversial.

Methods: This retrospective two-center cohort study included 1,420 adult IgAN patients between January 2003 and May 2018 followed for a median of approximately 7 years at two Chinese hospitals. The predictor was renal interstitial inflammation within the total cortical interstitium (none/mild [0-25%], moderate [26-50%], or severe [>50%]). Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 May 12:1-9. Epub 2022 May 12.

Renal Division, OPKO Health, Inc., Miami, Florida, USA.

Introduction: Obesity increases the risk of vitamin D insufficiency, which exacerbates secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease. Recent studies suggest that serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels of ≥50 ng/mL are necessary to produce significant reductions in elevated parathyroid hormone levels in nondialysis patients. Data from real-world and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving these patients were examined for (1) relationships between vitamin D treatments and the achieved levels of serum 25OHD and between serum 25OHD and body weight (BW)/body mass index (BMI); and (2) the impact of BW/BMI on achieving serum 25OHD levels ≥50 ng/mL with extended-release calcifediol (ERC) treatment or vitamin D supplementation (cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol). Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 May 11:1-7. Epub 2022 May 11.

Department of Faculty Therapy #2, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation.

Introduction: Accumulation of fat tissue around the kidneys is considered to be a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The objective of the study was to investigate the association of pararenal fat tissue (PRFT) and renal dysfunction in patients without clinically significant cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Methods: The study included 320 patients without CVDs (mean age 63. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 May 10:1-16. Epub 2022 May 10.

Department of Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.

Background: The epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a globular protein that is generated in the kidney, especially in the loop of Henle and the distal convoluted tubule. While EGF is nonexistent or hardly detectable in plasma, it is present in normal people's urine. Until now, risk stratification and chronic kidney disease (CKD) diagnosis have relied on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin/creatinine ratio (uACR), both of which reflect glomerular function or impairment. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 Apr 28:1-11. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Introduction: The associations of kidney-metabolic biomarkers with cognitive impairment (CI) beyond the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, in mL/min/1.73 m2) and albuminuria levels are not well understood. In exploratory analysis, our objective was to determine the extent that three kidney-metabolic factors, previously proposed as mechanisms of CI and commonly abnormal in chronic kidney disease (CKD), were associated with prevalent CI in CKD participants, adjusted for kidney function measures. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 Apr 22:1-10. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

Introduction: This study examines factors associated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) hyporesponsiveness, the duration of ESA hyporesponsiveness, the frequency of new episodes, and variation across countries.

Methods: We used international Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study data from 2015 to 2018 (N = 26,656) to investigate changes in ESA Resistance Index (ERI), calculated as epoetin dose divided by [hemoglobin × body weight] in patients on hemodialysis. We illustrated the proportion of patients who moved to other ERI quintiles over 12 months, and we studied the incidence and duration of ESA resistance. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 Apr 22:1-9. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Clinical R & D, Zydus Therapeutics Inc., Pennington, New Jersey, USA.

Background: Desidustat, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, is being developed to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) without dialysis dependency.

Methods: In total, 588 patients with a clinical diagnosis of anemia due to CKD without dialysis need and with baseline hemoglobin of 7.0-10. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 Apr 22:1-9. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Zydus Research Center, Cadila Healthcare Limited, Ahmedabad, India.

Background: A phase 3 study to assess the efficacy and safety of the desidustat, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, against the epoetin alfa for the treatment of anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with dialysis dependency.

Methods: DREAM-D was a phase 3, multicenter, open-label, randomized, active-controlled clinical study conducted across 38 centers in India. A total of 392 patients with clinical diagnosis of anemia due to CKD with dialysis need (Erythrocyte Stimulating Agent [ESA] naïve or prior ESA users) and with baseline hemoglobin levels of 8. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 Apr 22:1-10. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.

Introduction: Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease is a rare but the most aggressive form of glomerulonephritis. To dissect the prognostic factors, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of a large cohort and compared the clinical features and prognosis during decades.

Methods: Data on clinical manifestation, treatment, and prognosis were collected. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 Apr 22:1-5. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Renal Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Am J Nephrol 2022 Apr 22:1-6. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Division of Nephrology, IU Health University Hospital, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

Am J Nephrol 2022 Apr 20:1-9. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Introduction: The patient-to-nurse ratio is highly variable among dialysis facilities. However, there is little known about the association between nurse caseload and hemodialysis (HD) patient outcomes. We evaluated the association between patient-to-nurse ratio and mortality in the Korean patients undergoing HD. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 Apr 12:1-9. Epub 2022 Apr 12.

Department of Cell Biology, Kidney Research Center, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.

Introduction: Thy1.1 glomerulonephritis (Thy1.1 GN) in rats is widely used as an experimental model of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (GN). Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 4;53(4):282-289. Epub 2022 Apr 4.

The Rockefeller University Center for Clinical and Translational Science, New York, New York, USA.

Introduction: Obesity is more prevalent among African American individuals, increasing the risk for cardiorenal morbidity. We explored interactions between race, BMI, and the risk of hyperfiltration associated with obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG).

Methods: We created a cohort of female adolescents from electronic health records. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 30;53(4):325-330. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

University Center of Excellence on Nephrologic, Rheumatologic and Rare Diseases (ERK-net, ERN-Reconnect and RITA-ERN Member) including the Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Center of Immuno-Rheumatology and Rare Diseases (CMID), Coordinating Center of the Interregional Network for Rare Diseases of Piedmont and Aosta Valley (North-West Italy), Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, San Giovanni Bosco Hub Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

Introduction: To date, almost 7 billion doses of the different types of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 have been administered worldwide. Although the severity of new cases of SARS-CoV-2 has progressively decreased, and the pressure on national health systems has declined, the development of de novo glomerular injuries has been suggested.

Methods: This study aimed to examine the patients who were hospitalized in our Unit between April and November 2021 and underwent renal biopsy for new-onset urinary abnormalities (UA) and/or renal impairment within 3 months of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 28;53(4):331-332. Epub 2022 Mar 28.

Division of Nephrology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Am J Nephrol 2022 28;53(4):253-263. Epub 2022 Mar 28.

Research Service, Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

Background: The combination of neuromuscular impairments plus psychosocial aspects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) may predispose these patients to greater risk for experiencing increased levels of fatigability. There has been extensive clinical and scientific interest in the problem of fatigue in CKD and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients, whereas less attention has been directed to understanding fatigability. Accordingly, the primary purposes of this review are to (1) discuss fatigue and fatigability and their potential interactions in patients with CKD and ESKD, (2) provide evidence for increased fatigability in CKD and ESKD patients, (3) examine how commonly experienced neuromuscular impairments in CKD and ESKD patients may contribute to the severity of performance fatigability, and (4) highlight preliminary evidence on the effects of exercise as a potential clinical treatment for targeting fatigability in this population. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 25;53(4):290-296. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, USA.

Am J Nephrol 2022 24;53(4):249-252. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

Departments of Medicine, Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Montreal and Nephrology Service, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.

Am J Nephrol 2022 24;53(4):297-306. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

Natera, Inc., San Carlos, California, USA.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health issue in the USA. Identification of monogenic causes of CKD, which are present in ∼10% of adult cases, can impact prognosis and patient management. Broad gene panels can provide unbiased testing approaches, which are advantageous in phenotypically heterogeneous diseases. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 21;53(4):316-324. Epub 2022 Mar 21.

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Introduction: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is caused mainly by pathogenic variants in PKD1 or PKD2 encoding the polycystin-1 and -2 proteins. Polycystins have shown to have an essential role in cardiac development and function in animal models. In the current study, we describe the clinical association between ADPKD and congenital heart disease (CHD). Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 16;53(4):273-281. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Introduction: Survivors of acute kidney injury (AKI) are at high risk of progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD), for which drugs may be a modifiable risk factor.

Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study of Olmsted County, MN residents who developed AKI while hospitalized between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2014, using Rochester Epidemiology Project data. Adults with a hospitalization complicated by AKI who survived at least 90 days after AKI development were included. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 14;53(2-3):87-95. Epub 2022 Mar 14.

International Federation of Kidney Foundations - World Kidney Alliance, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

The high burden of kidney disease, global disparities in kidney care, and poor outcomes of kidney failure bring a concomitant growing burden to persons affected, their families, and carers, and the community at large. Health literacy is the degree to which persons and organizations have or equitably enable individuals to have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to make informed health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. Rather than viewing health literacy as a patient deficit, improving health literacy largely rests with health care providers communicating and educating effectively in codesigned partnership with those with kidney disease. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 10;53(2-3):129-138. Epub 2022 Mar 10.

Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China.

Introduction: Anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody (PLA2R-Ab) is highly specific for primary membranous nephropathy (PMN). Here, we compare the diagnostic value of different circulating PLA2R-Ab cutoff titers in multicenter cohorts, with particular focus on determining the optimal cutoff value for Chinese patients.

Methods: In total, 288 patients with PMN and 301 with other nephropathies were recruited retrospectively from five hospitals in China between September 2011 and October 2018. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 9;53(4):307-315. Epub 2022 Mar 9.

The Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Introduction: Although diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of proteinuria, the relationship between prediabetes and proteinuria remains not fully understood. Further, whether the change in glucose is associated with the risk for proteinuria is unknown.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that included 1,849,074 participants (median age, 45 years; 59. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 9;53(4):264-272. Epub 2022 Mar 9.

Deparment of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA.

Introduction: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a commonly inherited disorder characterized by renal cyst formation. A major pathological feature of ADPKD is the development of interstitial inflammation. The endocannabinoid (EC) system is present in the kidney and has recently emerged as an important player in inflammation and the pathogenesis of progressive kidney disease. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 8;53(2-3):169-175. Epub 2022 Mar 8.

Department of Nephrology, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.

Background: The CHA2DS2-VASc score has been widely used to predict stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, it was reported that the CHA2DS2-VASc score helps predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) or all-cause mortality in patients with or without AF. However, few reports have examined the association between this score and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 8;53(2-3):96-107. Epub 2022 Mar 8.

Department of Medicine, Physiology and Pharmacology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA.

Background: Mitochondrial, lysosomal, and peroxisomal dysfunction; defective autophagy; mitophagy; and pexophagy, as well as the loss of glycocalyx integrity are known contributors to initiation and progression of diverse kidney diseases. Those cellular organelles are tightly interactive in health, and during development of a disease, damage in one may propagate to others. By extension, it follows that restoring an individual defect may culminate in a broader restorative spectrum and improvement of cell and organ functions. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 8;53(2-3):240-248. Epub 2022 Mar 8.

The Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Introduction: Evidence is lacking regarding the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics and the risk for proteinuria.

Methods: We performed this observational cohort study including 865,087 participants (median age, 46 years, 60.7% men) with negative proteinuria at the initial health check-up, who underwent repeated health check-ups within 4 years. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2022 28;53(2-3):226-239. Epub 2022 Feb 28.

Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Introduction: Recent studies have suggested a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the USA than in Japan. Hyperphosphatemia, a possible risk for CVD, may explain this difference; however, international differences in phosphate parameters in CKD have not been well elaborated.

Methods: By using the baseline data from the USA and the Japanese nation-wide, multicenter, CKD cohort studies; the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study (CRIC, N = 3,870) and the Chronic Kidney Disease-Japan Cohort Study (CKD-JAC, N = 2,632), we harmonized the measures and compared clinical parameters regarding phosphate metabolism or serum phosphate, fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23), and parathyroid hormone (PTH), in the cross-sectional model. Read More