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The global burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is rapidly increasing with a projection of becoming the 5th most common cause of years of life lost globally by 2040. Aggravatingly, CKD is a major cause of catastrophic health expenditure. The costs of dialysis and transplantation consume up to 3% of the annual healthcare budget in high-income countries. Crucially, however, the onset and progression of CKD are often preventable. In 2020, the World Kidney Day campaign highlights the importance of preventive interventions-be it primary, secondary, or tertiary. This complementing article focuses on outlining and analyzing measures that can be implemented in every country to promote and advance CKD prevention. Primary prevention of kidney disease should focus on the modification of risk factors and addressing structural abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tracts, as well as exposure to environmental risk factors and nephrotoxins. In persons with pre-existing kidney disease, secondary prevention, including blood pressure optimization and glycemic control, should be the main goal of education and clinical interventions. In patients with advanced CKD, the management of comorbidities such as uremia and cardiovascular disease is a highly recommended preventative intervention to avoid or delay dialysis or kidney transplantation. Political efforts are needed to proliferate the preventive approach. While national policies and strategies for non-communicable diseases might be present in a country, specific policies directed toward education and awareness about CKD screening, management, and treatment are often lacking. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase awareness of the importance of preventive measures throughout populations, professionals, and policy makers., Author(s): Philip Kam-Tao Li [sup.1] , Guillermo Garcia-Garcia [sup.2] , Siu-Fai Lui [sup.3] , Sharon Andreoli [sup.4] , Winston Wing-Shing Fung [sup.1] , Anne Hradsky [sup.5] , Latha Kumaraswami [sup.6] [...]

Background Limited data exist on the association between gut permeability, circulating bacterial fragment and volume overload in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We measured circulating bacterial fragments, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), calprotectin and zonulin levels, and evaluate their association with the clinical outcomes in PD patients. Methods This was a single-center prospective study on 108 consecutive incident PD patients. Plasma endotoxin and bacterial DNA, and serum NT-proBNP, calprotectin and zonulin levels were measured. Primary outcomes were technique and patient survival, secondary outcomes were hospitalization data. Results There was no significant correlation between plasma endotoxin and bacterial DNA, and serum NT-proBNP, calprotectin and zonulin levels. The Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA)-2β index, which represents insulin resistance, positively correlated with plasma bacterial DNA (r = 0.421, P  < .001) and calprotectin levels (r = 0.362, P  = .003), while serum NT-proBNP level correlated with the severity of volume overload and residual renal function. Serum NT-proBNP level was associated with technique survival even after adjusting for confounding factors [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.030, 95% confidence interval 1.009–1.051]. NT-proBNP level was also associated with patient survival by univariate analysis, but the association became insignificant after adjusting for confounding factors (aHR 1.010, P  = .073). Similarly, NT-proBNP correlated with the number of hospitalizations and duration of hospitalization by univariate analysis, but the association became insignificant after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusion There was no correlation between markers of gut permeability, circulating bacterial fragments and measures of congestion in PD patients. Bacterial fragments levels and gut permeability are both associated with insulin resistance. Serum NT-proBNP level is associated with the severity of volume overload and technique survival. Further studies are required to delineate the mechanism of high circulating bacterial fragment levels in PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays important roles in the regulation of gene expression. We determine the role of using urinary lncRNA as a non-invasive biomarker for lupus nephritis. Method: We studied three cohorts of lupus nephritis patients (31, 78, and 12 patients, respectively) and controls (6, 7, and 24 subjects, respectively). The urinary sediment levels of specific lncRNA targets were studied using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions. Results: The severity of proteinuria inversely correlated with urinary maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) (r = −0.423, p = 0.018) and ANRIL levels (r = −0.483, p = 0.008). Urinary MEG3 level also inversely correlated with the SLEDAI score (r = −0.383, p = 0.034). Urinary cancer susceptibility candidate 2 (CASC2) levels were significantly different between histological classes of nephritis (p = 0.026) and patients with pure class V nephritis probably had the highest levels, while urinary metastasis-associated lung carcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) level significantly correlated with the histological activity index (r = −0.321, p = 0.004). Urinary taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) level was significantly lower in pure class V lupus nephritis than primary membranous nephropathy (p = 0.003) and minimal change nephropathy (p = 0.04), and urinary TUG1 level correlated with eGFR in class V lupus nephritis (r = 0.706, p = 0.01). Conclusions: We identified certain urinary lncRNA targets that may help the identification of lupus nephritis and predict the histological class of nephritis. Our findings indicate that urinary lncRNA levels may be developed as biomarkers for lupus nephritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Two decades ago, the common co‐existence of malnutrition and systemic inflammation PD patients with atherosclerosis and CVD led to the proposed terminology of 'malnutrition‐inflammation‐atherosclerosis (MIA) syndrome'. Although the importance of malnutrition is well accepted, frailty represents a more comprehensive assessment of the physical and functional capability of the patient and encompasses the contributions of sarcopenia (a key component of malnutrition), obesity, cardiopulmonary as well as neuropsychiatric impairment. In recent years, it is also increasingly recognized that fluid overload is not only the consequence but also play an important role in the pathogenesis of CVD. Moreover, fluid overload is closely linked with the systemic inflammatory status, presumably by gut oedema, gastrointestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction and leakage of bacterial fragments to the systemic circulation. There are now a wealth of published evidence to show intricate relations between frailty, inflammation, fluid overload and atherosclerotic disease in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and those on PD, a phenomenon that we propose the term 'FIFA complex'. In this system, frailty and atherosclerotic disease may be regarded as two patient‐oriented outcomes, while inflammation and fluid overload are two inter‐connected pathogenic processes. However, there remain limited data on how the treatment of one component affect the others. It is also important to define how treatment of fluid overload affect the systemic inflammatory status and to develop effective anti‐inflammatory strategies that could alleviate atherosclerotic disease and frailty. Summary at a Glance: There are intricate relations between frailty, inflammation, fluid overload and atherosclerotic disease in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and those on peritoneal dialysis (PD).We propose the term 'FIFA complex', with frailty and atherosclerotic disease as two patient‐oriented outcomes, while inflammation and fluid overload as two inter‐connected pathogenic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Renal glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β) overactivity has been associated with a diverse range of kidney diseases. GSK3β activity in urinary exfoliated cells was reported to predict the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). We compared the prognostic value of urinary and intrarenal GSK3β levels in DKD and nondiabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We recruited 118 consecutive biopsy-proved DKD patients and 115 nondiabetic CKD patients. Their urinary and intrarenal GSK3β levels were measured. They were then followed for dialysis-free survival and rate of renal function decline. Results: DKD group had higher intrarenal and urinary GSK3β levels than nondiabetic CKD (p < 0.0001 for both), but their urinary GSK3β mRNA levels were similar. Urinary p-GSK3β level is statistically significantly correlated with the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), but urinary GSK3β level by ELISA, its mRNA level, the p-GSK3β level, or the p-GSK3β/GSK3β ratio had no association with dialysis-free survival or the slope of eGFR decline. In contrast, the intrarenal pY216-GSK3β/total GSK3β ratio significantly correlated with the slope of eGFR decline (r = −0.335, p = 0.006) and remained an independent predictor after adjusting for other clinical factors. Conclusion: Intrarenal and urinary GSK3β levels were increased in DKD. The intrarenal pY216-GSK3β/total GSK3β ratio was associated with the rate of progression of DKD. The pathophysiological roles of GSK3β in kidney diseases deserve further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a home-based renal replacement therapy. Since hospital staff are not often familiar with PD and its complications, PD patients may have an excess risk of developing PD-related peritonitis during hospital admission for unrelated reasons, and the outcome may be affected. Methods We reviewed 371 episodes of hospital-acquired PD peritonitis in our center from 2000 to 2019. Their clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared with 825 episodes that required hospital admission and 1964 episodes that were treated as outpatient. Results Hospitalized PD patients had a significantly higher risk of developing peritonitis than outpatients [incident rate ratio 4.41 (95% confidence interval 3.95–4.91]. Hospital-acquired peritonitis episodes were more commonly culture negative. Bacterial isolates from the hospital-acquired episodes were more likely resistant to ceftazidime (P < .0001) than the other groups. The primary response rate, complete cure rate and overall mortality of the hospital-acquired episodes were 66.6%, 62.0%, and 23.2%, respectively, all worse than episodes that developed outside the hospital (P < .0001 for all). Conclusion PD patients admitted to the hospital had a 4-fold increase in the risk of developing peritonitis. Hospital-acquired peritonitis episodes were more likely culture negative and resistant to antibiotics. They also had a lower primary response rate, a lower complete cure rate and higher mortality than episodes that developed outside the hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The global prevalence of both obesity and end-stage kidney diseases (ESKDs) has increased in recent decades. Given the complicated interaction between obesity and ESKD, we examined the change in the prevalence of obesity in incident Chinese peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients over the past 25 years. Methods We reviewed the anthropometric measures of incident PD patients in a single Hong Kong center from 1995 to 2019. The results are reported in five 5-year periods. Patients with and without diabetes were analyzed separately, and the incidence of new-onset diabetes after PD was explored. Results We reviewed 1681 patients. Their mean age was 58.4 ± 12.5 years; 931 patients (55.4%) had pre-existing diabetes. From 1995–99 to 2015–19, the prevalence of obesity or overweight at the initiation of PD increased progressively for every 5-year period (from 21.9% to 26.2, 37.9, 42.7 and 47.3%, P < 0.001 for linearity). The increase in the prevalence of obesity or overweight was more pronounced in diabetic patients (from 33.7% to 59.6%) than non-diabetic ones (from 13.2% to 32.3%). Among nondiabetics patients, the incidence of new-onset diabetes after started on PD showed an insignificant rising trend during that period (from 18.0, 19.7, 17.8 and 22.4% to 23.3%, P = 0.106). The incidence of new-onset impaired fasting glucose or diabetes was significantly higher in obese or overweight patients than the others (56.9% versus 51.4%, P < 0.001). Conclusions The prevalence of obesity has increased substantially in both diabetic and nondiabetic new PD patients in Hong Kong over the past 25 years. The incidence of new-onset diabetes was significantly higher in new PD patients with pre-existing obesity or overweight than those without obesity. The prognostic implication and impacts on the healthcare system deserve further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Relapsing and recurrent peritonitis episodes are major causes of technique failure in peritoneal dialysis (PD). We examined the efficacy of extended antibiotic therapy for the prevention of relapsing and recurrent peritonitis. Methods From February 2016 to November 2018 we recruited 254 PD patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PD peritonitis. They were randomized to a standard group, with the duration of intraperitoneal (IP) antibiotic treatment following the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) guideline according to the causative microorganisms, and an extended group, with 1 extra week of IP antibiotics. The primary endpoint was relapsing, recurrent or repeat peritonitis episodes within 6 months. Results The primary endpoint developed in 36 and 29 patients of the extended and standard groups, respectively (28.3% versus 22.8%; P = 0.34). The rate of complete cure, without relapsing, recurrent or repeat peritonitis within 6 months, was 63.8 and 69.3% for the extended and standard groups, respectively (P = 0.35). Repeat peritonitis episodes were more common in the extended than the standard group (15.0% versus 5.5%; P = 0.013). Conclusions In patients with PD-related peritonitis, extending the antibiotic therapy for 1 extra week beyond the ISPD protocol should not be recommended. Extending the treatment does not reduce the risk of relapsing or recurrent peritonitis episodes but rather is associated with a higher risk of repeat peritonitis episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is rapidly increasing with a projection of becoming the 5th most common cause of years of life lost globally by 2040. Aggravatingly, CKD is a major cause of catastrophic health expenditure. The costs of dialysis and transplantation consume up to 3% of the annual healthcare budget in high-income countries. Crucially, however, the onset and progression of CKD is often preventable. In 2020, the World Kidney Day campaign highlights the importance of preventive interventions – be it primary, secondary or tertiary. This complementing article focuses on outlining and analyzing measures that can be implemented in every country to promote and advance CKD prevention. Primary prevention of kidney disease should focus on the modification of risk factors and addressing structural abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tracts, as well as exposure to environmental risk factors and nephrotoxins. In persons with pre-existing kidney disease, secondary prevention, including blood pressure optimization and glycemic control, should be the main goal of education and clinical interventions. In patients with advanced CKD, management of co-morbidities such as uremia and cardiovascular disease is a highly recommended preventative intervention to avoid or delay dialysis or kidney transplantation. Political efforts are needed to proliferate the preventive approach. While national policies and strategies for non-communicable diseases might be present in a country, specific policies directed toward education and awareness about CKD screening, management and treatment are often lacking. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase the awareness of the importance of preventive measures throughout populations, professionals and policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is rapidly increasing with a projection of becoming the 5th most common cause of years of life lost globally by 2040. Aggravatingly, CKD is a major cause of catastrophic health expenditure. The costs of dialysis and transplantation consume up to 3% of the annual healthcare budget in high-income countries. Crucially, however, the onset and progression of CKD is often preventable. In 2020, the World Kidney Day campaign highlights the importance of preventive interventions - be it primary, secondary or tertiary. This complementing article focuses on outlining and analyzing measures that can be implemented in every country to promote and advance CKD prevention. Primary prevention of kidney disease should focus on the modification of risk factors and addressing structural abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tracts, as well as exposure to environmental risk factors and nephrotoxins. In persons with pre-existing kidney disease, secondary prevention, including blood pressure optimization and glycemic control, should be the main goal of education and clinical interventions. In patients with advanced CKD, management of co-morbidities such as uremia and cardiovascular disease is a highly recommended preventative intervention to avoid or delay dialysis or kidney transplantation. Political efforts are needed to proliferate the preventive approach. While national policies and strategies for non-communicable diseases might be present in a country, specific policies directed toward education and awareness about CKD screening, management and treatment are often lacking. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase the awareness of the importance of preventive measures throughout populations, professionals and policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: The global burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing with a projection of becoming the fifth leading cause of years of life lost globally by 2040. CKD is a major cause of catastrophic health expenditure. The costs of dialysis and transplantation consume up to 3% of the entire annual healthcare budget in high‐income countries. Crucially, however, both the onset and progression of CKD is potentially preventable. In 2020, the World Kidney Day campaign highlights the importance of preventive interventions—be it primary, i.e. to prevent de novo CKD, or secondary or tertiary, i.e. prevention of worsening early CKD or progression of more advanced CKD to end‐stage kidney disease, respectively. Primary prevention should focus on the modification of CKD risk factors and address the structural abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tracts, and exposure to environmental risk factors and nephrotoxins. In persons with pre‐existing kidney disease, secondary prevention, including blood pressure optimization, glycemic control and avoiding high‐protein high‐sodium diet should be the main goal of education and clinical interventions. In patients with moderate to advanced CKD, the management of comorbidities such as uremia and cardiovascular disease along with low‐protein diet are among the recommended preventative interventions to avoid or delay dialysis or kidney transplantation. Whereas national policies and strategies for noncommunicable diseases may exist in a country, specific policies directed toward education and awareness about CKD screening, prevention and treatment are often lacking. There is an urgent need to increase awareness for preventive measures throughout populations, professionals and policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endocan is associated with endothelial dysfunction. In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, cardiovascular disease is a common cause of mortality. We examined the relationship between serum endocan level and clinical outcome of PD patients. Methods: We recruited 193 new PD patients (118 males, mean age 58.8 ± 11.6 years). Serum endocan levels were determined and stratified into tertile 1 (lowest) to 3 (highest). Nutritional status, arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured. The patients were followed for at least 4 years for clinical outcomes. Results: For the whole cohort, patients with higher serum endocan levels had lower serum albumin and subjective global assessment score, higher carotid-femoral PWV, and higher serum CRP. For patients with suboptimal blood pressure (BP) control, cardiovascular event-free survival was 95.0, 95.5, and 78.5% for tertiles 1, 2, and 3 at 60 months respectively (p = 0.019). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that serum endocan level was an independent predictor of cardiovascular event-free survival. No association with cardiovascular event-free survival was found for patients with adequate BP control (95.0, 92.3, and 100% for tertile 1, 2, and 3 at 60 months, respectively, p = 0.6). Conclusions: Higher serum endocan level is associated with unfavourable nutritional, arterial and inflammatory conditions in PD patients. In patients with suboptimal BP control, higher serum endocan is also associated with worse cardiovascular outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]