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Age is a predominant risk factor for acute kidney injury (AKI), yet the biological mechanisms underlying this risk are largely unknown and to date no genetic mechanisms for AKI have been established. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a recently recognized biological mechanism conferring risk of several chronic aging diseases including cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease and liver disease. In CHIP, blood stem cells acquire mutations in myeloid cancer driver genes such asDNMT3A, TET2, ASXL1andJAK2and the myeloid progeny of these mutated cells contribute to end-organ damage through inflammatory dysregulation. We sought to establish whether CHIP causes acute kidney injury (AKI). To address this question, we first evaluated associations with incident AKI events in three population-based epidemiology cohorts (N = 442,153). We found that CHIP was associated with a greater risk of AKI (adjusted HR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.19–1.34, pDNMT3A(HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.37–1.61, pDNMT3ACHIP was more common among those with a non-resolving pattern of injury (HR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.14–4.64, p = 0.03). To gain mechanistic insight, we evaluated the role ofTet2-CHIP to AKI in ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse models. In both models, we observed more severe AKI and greater post-AKI kidney fibrosis inTet2-CHIP mice. Kidney macrophage infiltration was markedly increased inTet2-CHIP mice andTet2-CHIP mutant renal macrophages displayed greater pro-inflammatory responses. In summary, this work establishes CHIP as a genetic mechanism conferring risk of AKI and impaired kidney function recovery following AKI via an aberrant inflammatory response in CHIP derived renal macrophages.

BACKGROUND Most HIV-exposed infants access early infant diagnosis (EID) through the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) service points. However, there are limited data on HIV positivity in non-PMTCT health care settings (pediatric wards, emergency departments, outpatient departments, tuberculosis clinics, etc.). The introduction of point-of-care testing provided an opportunity to describe HIV positivity at alternative health service points and associated risk factors. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional subanalysis with data from 58 health facilities in Cameroon. The risk of a child being HIV positive at a health service point was considered as a dependent variable, and exploratory variables were assessed using multivariate models with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS Overall, 2254 HIV-exposed infants identified by clinical or biological screening were tested by polymerase chain reaction using point-of-care EID. Approximately 74.3% of the infants were tested at a PMTCT entry point, whereas 25.7% were tested at non-PMTCT service points. The positivity yield was 5.7% (95 of the 1674) at the PMTCT service point and 17.6% (102 of the 580) at non-PMTCT service points. Non-PMTCT service points [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.95; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36 to 2.80] and vaginal delivery (aOR: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.25 to 5.25) were independently associated with HIV positivity. In a separate analysis (infants aged 0-6 months), mixed feeding mode (aOR: 3.68; 95% CI: 2.00 to 6.77) was also associated with HIV positivity. CONCLUSIONS More than half of children newly identified as HIV-positive were tested at non-PMTCT service points. The highest EID positivity yields were found in non-PMTCT service points. Strengthening HIV testing in non-PMTCT service points may help to identify additional infected children and improve timely initiation of treatment and care.

Elevated fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) has been consistently associated with heart failure, particularly heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, among patients with CKD and in the general population. FGF23 may directly induce cardiac remodeling and heart failure. However, biases affecting observational studies impede robust causal inferences. Mendelian randomization leverages genetic determinants of a risk factor to examine causality. We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization to assess causal associations between FGF23 and heart failure.Genetic instruments were genome-wide significant genetic variants associated with FGF23, including variants nearGenetically determined FGF23 was not associated with overall heart failure in the Heart Failure Molecular Epidemiology for Therapeutic Targets consortium (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 0.89 to 1.42 per unit higher genetically predicted log FGF23) and the full BioVU sample (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.95 to 1.84). In stratified analyses in BioVU, higher FGF23 was associated with overall heart failure (odds ratio, 3.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.38 to 6.91) among individuals with low eGFR-polygenic risk score (1 SD below the mean), but not those with high eGFR-polygenic risk score (We found no association between genetically predicted FGF23 and heart failure in the Heart Failure Molecular Epidemiology for Therapeutic Targets consortium. In BioVU, genetically elevated FGF23 was associated with higher heart failure risk, specifically heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, particularly among individuals with low genetically predicted eGFR.This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2022_07_28_CJN00960122.mp3.

Introduction: anaemia and malnutrition are common health problems in developing countries with children being the most vulnerable. They have negative impacts on human performance, growth and development, in children, both as cause and consequences of disease. Although annual mass deworming and nutrition supplement strategies have been implemented in the Tiko Health District (THD), no study has been carried out to determine the prevalence of anaemia and malnutrition. The aim of this study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence of anaemia and malnutrition among primary school children aged 5-15 years in the Tiko Health District. Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out in 10 randomly selected schools in the THD and a total of 400 school children were enrolled in the study. Body weight and height were measured using an electronic weighing scale and stadiometer respectively. Anthropometric indices: Height-for-Age Z scores (HAZ), Weight-for-Age Z scores (WAZ) and Body Mass Index-for-Age Z scores (BMIAZ) were analyzed and compared with WHO Growth Reference Standards using WHO Anthroplus software. Hemoglobin levels were determined using Urit-12 Haemoglobinometer and anaemia defined as Hemoglobin (Hb) < 11g/dl. Data analysis was done using the SPSS software. Results: the overall prevalence of malnutrition was 9.25%, prevalence of stunting 7.5% with 0.8% being severely stunted. The prevalence of wasting was 1% and underweight 0.7%. The overall prevalence of anaemia was 5%. Parents occupation and the absence of toilet were statistically associated with anaemia (P = 0.04 and P = 0.003). Age, floor type, absence of toilet and BMI were significantly associated with malnutrition (P = 0.00, P = 0.01, P = 0.02 and P = 0.003). Conclusion: this study revealed a low prevalence of malnutrition and anaemia which could be attributed to the deworming and nutrition supplement strategies which have been implemented.

INTRODUCTION: Accidental exposure to blood and body fluid presents a serious public health concern, especially among healthcare workers (HCW) and constitutes a risk of transmission of blood borne viruses. Infections acquired through occupational exposure are largely preventable through strict control measures such as the use of safe devices, proper waste disposal, immunization and prompt management of exposures including the use of Post Exposure Prophylaxis. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare workers on post exposure prophylaxis and also determine the factors influencing reporting of occupational exposures among HCW in Fako Division, Cameroon. METHODS: this was a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted from February 2016 to July 2016 involving the administration of questionnaires to 216 health care workers in Fako division. Data collected was analyzed with SPSS version 22 and results presented as percentages and tables. Pearson chi-square test was used to determine statistically significant relationship between different factors with reporting of occupational exposures among health care workers in Fako division. RESULTS: a high proportion of participants 125(58%) had poor knowledge on Post Exposure Prophylaxis and 131(60.6%) of participants proved to have a positive attitude towards post exposure prophylaxis. 50.9% (110/216) of all participants had at least one occupational exposure with a low uptake 19.1(21/110) of Post Exposure Prophylaxis recorded among participants who were exposed. There was a statistically significant relationship between years of experience (p-value = 0.006, CI= 0.151-0.745) and category of health care worker (p-value= 0.022, CI=0.314-14.215) with reporting of occupational exposure (p-value< 0.05). CONCLUSION: this study recorded among participants a poor knowledge on post exposure prophylaxis and poor practice though a majority of study participants had possitive attitude towards PEP. Therefore, a formal training for all health care workers on post exposure prophylaxis to blood borne viruses, strict monitoring and evaluation of health care worker's adherence to standard precautions, adequate reporting of exposures and uptake of post exposure prophylaxis is recommended.