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Matrix Biol 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany. Electronic address:

Soluble biglycan, a small leucine-rich proteoglycan, plays a significant role in several pathologies as it has emerged as an extracellular matrix-derived danger-associated molecular pattern. Biglycan is released from the extracellular matrix in response to tissue injury and, as a canonical danger signal, interacts with innate immune receptor, Toll-like receptors 2 and 4, thereby triggering a sustained inflammatory response. Recent evidence indicates that biglycan acts as a molecular switch between inflammation and autophagy by a specific interaction with the Toll-like co-receptor CD14 and CD44, respectively. Read More

J Cell Mol Med 2021 Jun 11. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Division of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renal Failure Research, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Peritoneal membrane dysfunction and the resulting ultrafiltration failure are the major disadvantages of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). It becomes increasingly clear that mesothelial cells play a vital role in the pathophysiological changes of the peritoneal membrane. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) function in the extracellular environment of cells and mediate extracellular matrix turnover during peritoneal membrane homeostasis. Read More

Aging Clin Exp Res 2021 Jun 11. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Sklodowska-Curie Str. 24A, 15-276, Bialystok, Poland.

Background: Significant changes in the coronary vessels are not confirmed in a large proportion of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Aims: The present study aimed to determine correlates and independent predictors of nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in older adults referred for elective coronary angiography.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 2,214 patients referred to two medical centers (in Poland and Russia) between 2014 and 2016 for elective coronary angiography due to exacerbated angina, despite undergoing optimal therapy for CAD. Read More

Eur J Hosp Pharm 2021 Jun 11. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, IRSET (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France.

Cyclosporine is a widely used immunosuppressive agent to prevent rejection of solid organ transplant. Here, we describe the case of a 71-year-old man who received the prescribed dose of cyclosporine 10 times 6 days after a kidney transplantation because of a concentration miscalculation involving two galenic forms. The patient presented gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Read More

Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2021 Jun 11;16(6):916-925. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Background And Objectives: Patients with kidney failure have a high risk of cardiovascular disease due to cardiac remodeling, left ventricular fibrosis, and hyperaldosteronism, all of which can be potentially mitigated by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. However, because of the fear of hyperkalemia, the use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in patients with kidney failure is limited in current clinical practice, and few studies have investigated the efficacy and safety. Thus, we aimed to determine the benefits and side effects of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in patients with kidney failure treated with dialysis. Read More

Coron Artery Dis 2021 Jun 10. Epub 2021 Jun 10.

Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R.China.

Background: Several studies have reported that prophylactic dialysis can reduce the mortality of non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients after cardiac surgery. However, the results of complications in these randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were not consistent. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the effect of prophylactic dialysis in these non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients. Read More

Crit Care Med 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Quality and Patient Safety, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Office of the General Counsel, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Family Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Disease, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has overwhelmed healthcare resources even in wealthy nations, necessitating rationing of limited resources without previously established crisis standards of care protocols. In Massachusetts, triage guidelines were designed based on acute illness and chronic life-limiting conditions. In this study, we sought to retrospectively validate this protocol to cohorts of critically ill patients from our hospital. Read More

Updates Surg 2021 Jun 11. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Epidemiological Department (SER), Azienda Zero, Via Jacopo Avanzo 35, Veneto Region, 35132, Padua, Italy.

There has been an increase in surgical interventions in frailer elderly with concomitant chronic diseases. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the impact of aging and comorbidities on outcomes in patients who underwent surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Veneto Region (Northeastern Italy). This is a retrospective cohort study in patients ≥ 40 years who underwent elective or urgent CRC surgical resection between January 2013 and December 2015. Read More

Pediatr Nephrol 2021 Jun 11. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Background: Recombinant growth hormone (rGH) is an efficacious therapy for growth failure in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We described rGH use and estimated its relationship with growth and kidney function in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) cohort.

Methods: Participants included those with growth failure, prevalent rGH users, and rGH initiators who did not meet growth failure criteria. Read More

Expert Opin Pharmacother 2021 Jun 11:1-8. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Japan.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are proven to ameliorate kidney and heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), in addition to improving glycemic controls. Canagliflozin is a SGLT2i and has proved beneficial for kidney and heart diseases in addition to decreasing the incidence of the composite outcomes of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.This paper reviews the development of canagliflozin and its effects on renal dysfunction, heart failure, and vascular diseases. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2021 25;8:640814. Epub 2021 May 25.

Nephrology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Institute of Health Research (INCLIVA), Valencia, Spain.

There is a growing interest in the potential role of adipose tissues in cardiac and renal pathophysiology, and determining the mechanisms by which fat compartments around the heart and kidneys influence cardiovascular disease is of clinical importance in both general and high-risk populations. Epicardial fat and perirenal fat have been associated with adverse outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Epicardial fat is a rich source of free fatty acids and is capable of secreting inflammatory and pro-atherogenic cytokines that promote atherosclerosis through a local paracrine effect. Read More

Clinicoecon Outcomes Res 2021 4;13:475-486. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Managed Care Health Outcomes, Vifor Pharma, Inc., Redwood City, CA, USA.

Background: To create an appropriate chronic kidney disease (CKD) management program, we developed a predictive model to identify patients in a large administrative claims database with CKD stages 3 or 4 who were at high risk for progression to kidney failure.

Methods: The predictive model was developed and validated utilizing a subset of patients with CKD stages 3 or 4 derived from a large Aetna claims database. The study spanned 36 months, comprised of a 12-month (2015) baseline period and a 24-month (2016-2017) prediction period. Read More

Rev Port Cardiol 2021 Jun 7. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Cardiology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal.

Introduction: Since 2011, the European guidelines have included a specific low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target, <70 mg/dl, for very high cardiovascular risk (CVR) patients. However, registries have shown unsatisfactory results in obtaining this level of adequate lipid control.

Objectives: To assess temporal trends in the use of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) and attainment of adequate control in very high CVR patients since 2011. Read More

Adv Food Nutr Res 2021 24;96:89-121. Epub 2021 May 24.

Department of Preventive & Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Potassium is an essential nutrient that performs a vital role in cellular functions including maintaining fluid balance and osmolality of cells. Potassium balance is maintained by the kidney and the majority of ingested potassium is excreted in the urine. There is strong evidence of a negative association between dietary potassium and blood pressure, and some evidence (much of it indirect) of negative associations between dietary potassium and cardiovascular disease (particularly stroke and coronary heart disease) and kidney disease (chronic renal failure, and kidney stones). Read More

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue 2021 May;33(5):582-586

Department of Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Province Hospital), Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China.

Objective: To investigate the correlation of monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) with the prognosis and adverse event in critically ill patients.

Methods: Basic information of patients were extracted from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III (MIMIC-III), including demographics, blood routine, biochemical indexes, systemic inflammatory response syndrome score (SIRS), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, and outcome, etc. MLR on the first day of intensive care unit (ICU) admission was calculated. Read More

Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2021 Jun 10. Epub 2021 Jun 10.

Department of Medicine, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Introduction: The role of serum uric acid as a connector in cardiorenal interactions has been long debated and studied extensively in the past decade. Epidemiological, and clinical data suggest that hyperuricemia may be an independent risk factor as well as a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and renal diseases. New data suggesting that urate lowering therapies may improve outcomes in cardiovascular diseases have generated interest. Read More

J Vasc Access 2021 Jun 11:11297298211011864. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Adıyaman University, Adıyaman, Turkey.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of Plasma atherogenic index (AIP) and plasma osmolality (PO) values on arteriovenous fistula (AVF) patency in patients with chronic renal failure.

Methods: The patients with primary AVF between December 2012 and March 2020 with the diagnosis of end-stage renal disease in our clinic were included in the study. The patient data were collected retrospectively in digital medium. Read More

PLoS One 2021 10;16(6):e0253048. Epub 2021 Jun 10.

Central and Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Background: Little is known about the prevalence and best management of needle fear in adults with chronic disease, who may experience frequent and long-term exposure to needles for lifesaving therapies such as renal dialysis and cancer treatment. Identifying interventions that assist in management of needle fear and associated distress is essential to support these patients with repeated needle and cannula exposure.

Method: We followed the PRISMA methodology for scoping reviews and systematically searched PsychINFO, PubMed (MEDLINE), ProQuest, Embase and grey literature and reference lists between 1989 and October 2020 for articles related to needle discomfort, distress, anxiety, fear or phobia. Read More

Orthop Surg 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Objective: To examine the incidence and risk factors of in-hospital prosthesis-related complications (PRCs) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using a large-scale national database.

Methods: A retrospective database analysis was performed based on Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2005-2014. Patients who underwent TKA were included. Read More

BMJ Open 2021 Jun 9;11(6):e044356. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Introduction: Patients with end-stage renal disease may require arteriovenous (AV) access in the form of arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs) or arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) for haemodialysis. AV access dysfunction requires intervention such as plain balloon angioplasty or covered stents to regain patency.

Aim: To systematically review and meta-analyse the patency outcomes of covered stents in failing haemodialysis AV access, compared with balloon angioplasty. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2021 Jun 10:e020910. Epub 2021 Jun 10.

Department of Internal Medicine University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas TX.

Background Emerging evidence links acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with COVID-19 with higher mortality and respiratory morbidity, but the relationship of AKI with cardiovascular disease outcomes has not been reported in this population. We sought to evaluate associations between chronic kidney disease (CKD), AKI, and mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods and Results In a large multicenter registry including 8574 patients with COVID-19 from 88 US hospitals, data were collected on baseline characteristics and serial laboratory data during index hospitalization. Read More

Gerontology 2021 Jun 9:1-9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Introduction: An increase in age has been observed among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Age is a well-known risk factor for ICU readmission and mortality. However, clinical characteristics and risk factors of ICU readmission of elderly patients (≥65 years) have not been studied. Read More

Ideggyogy Sz 2021 May;74(5-6):211-215

Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Klinikai Központ, Idegsebészeti Klinika, Pécs.

A case of a 61-year-old male patient suffered chronic renal failure and dialysed for 23 years with destructive cervical spondylarthropathy is presented. The patient presented with sudden onset of cervical pain radiating into his shoulders without neurological deficits. CT and MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine revealed severe destructive changes and compressive fractures of C6 and C7 vertebrae which caused the narrowing of the nerve root canals at these levels. Read More

Diabetes Ther 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.

Introduction: Diabetes treatment has incurred financial burden. We examined the cost-utility of adding dapagliflozin to the standard treatment for treating type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with cardiovascular risk in a Thai context.

Methods: A two-part model, decision tree and Markov models, was developed to capture the benefits in terms of heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease. Read More

Herz 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Klinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, IMED, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg, Deutschland.

Patients with chronic kidney diseases show an increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Last year a number of important studies on heart-kidney interaction were published, which are summarized and discussed in this article. In the DAPA-CKD study and the SCORED study two different sodium-glucose linked transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors (dapagliflozin and sotagliflozin) were found to improve the prognosis of patients with chronic kidney diseases with and without diabetes. Read More

Internist (Berl) 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Klinik für Nephrologie, Klinikum Lüdenscheid, Lüdenscheid, Deutschland.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has also resulted in substantial challenges for nephrology worldwide. Patients with chronic kidney diseases are a particularly vulnerable patient group in this context and in severe courses of COVID-19 the kidneys are most frequently affected by organ failure after the lungs.

Material And Methods: In order to reliably evaluate the prevalence and mortality of dialysis patients in Germany with respect to COVID-19, during the first wave in spring 2020 the German Society of Nephrology implemented a registry for dialysis patients. Read More

Cad Saude Publica 2021 4;37(6):e00043620. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brasil.

This study evaluated the prevalence and factors associated with lack of enrollment for kidney transplant among patients in chronic dialysis in Greater Metropolitan Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The sample excluded patients with insufficient clinical status and those already in pre-kidney transplant evaluation. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied, including options for the question, "What is the main reason why you are not enrolled for kidney transplant?" Prevalence of patients considered fit but not enrolled or in pre- kidney transplant evaluation was 50. Read More

Dis Model Mech 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Child Health Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Over 80% of all children living with HIV reside in Africa and are at risk of developing HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). Once HIVAN is established in children, it is difficult to revert its progression to chronic kidney failure even using antiretroviral drugs. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are needed. Read More

Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2021 29;12:20420188211020664. Epub 2021 May 29.

Department of Nephrology, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK.

Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide and continues to increase in prevalence. This in turn has significant implications for healthcare provision and the economy. In recent years there have been multiple advances in the glucose-lowering agents available for the treatment of diabetes, which not only modify the disease itself but also have important benefits in terms of the associated cardiovascular outcomes. Read More

Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2021 25;13:1759720X211016661. Epub 2021 May 25.

Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine and the Department of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Faculty Office Tower 805B, 510 20th Street S., Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, USA.

Background: Contradictory evidence exists for association of hyperuricemia and kidney function. To investigate the association of hyperuricemia and kidney function decline (hyperuricemia question) and effect of urate-lowering therapies (ULTs) on kidney function (ULT question), we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: , , , and were searched from inception to July 2020. Read More