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Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with several adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including coronary heart disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias. The severity of arterial calcifications predicts the risk of coronary heart disease and increases the risk of premature cardiovascular death. In experimental models, vitamin K1 supplementation appears to reduce coronary artery calcifications., Methods: In this single-center clinical trial (NCT04247087 on 07/09/2019), we randomized 60 Mexican patients on chronic hemodialysis and a coronary calcification score > 10 Agatston units to receive 10 mg intravenous vitamin K1 or placebo at the end of the hemodialysis session thrice weekly for 12 months. The primary outcome was the progression of coronary artery calcifications as assessed by the absolute change in Agatston and coronary calcium volume scores., Results: The baseline coronary calcium score was 112.50 (14-2027) Agatston units in the vitamin K1 group and  177 (10-2843); Agatston units in the placebo group (p = 0.71), and after 12 months, the coronary calcium score in the vitamin K1 group was 78.50 (10-1915)  Agatston units in the vitamin K1 group versus  344 (10-3323); Agatston units (p = 0.05) in the placebo group. Progression of coronary calcification was 20.8% in the vitamin K1 group versus 44% in the placebo group, with a relative risk (RR) of 0.45 (CI 95% 0.18-1.15)., Conclusions: In the Mexican hemodialysis cohort enrolled in this study intravenous vitamin K1 supplementation reduced the progression of coronary artery calcifications by 55% compared with placebo over a 12-month follow-up period., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest. Ethical approval: The study was approved by the Local Health Research Committee 501 of the Hospital de Especialidades No.1, Bajío, with institutional registration number R-2017–501-16. Informed consent to participate: It was conducted with the informed consent signed by the patients and under the General Health Law on Health Research (see Supplementary Information)., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Italian Society of Nephrology.)

Background: The tympanoplasty for high-risk tympanic membrane perforation is a challenge. It is necessary to compare the most useful and feasible surgical technics in our environment for these patients. The objective was to compare the cartilage island tympanoplasty for the treatment of high-risk tympanic membrane perforations versus the use of temporalis fascia., Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial in 69 patients of ten years or older, diagnosed with high-risk tympanic membrane perforation in a third level hospital. The MERI index was determined and an initial audiometry was obtained. 7, 30 and 60 days after the tympanoplasty the tympanic graft integrity was evaluated. The audiometry was only repeated at 60 days., Results: 69 patients were included, 33 received cartilage island (group 1) and 36 temporalis fascia (group 2). 93.9% was the success rate for group 1 at 30 and 60 days and 83.3% for group 2 (p = 0.17). Hearing improvement was neither different between groups (33.1 vs. 33.6 dB; p = 0.88), for group 1 and 2, respectively., Conclusion: No difference in morphological and audiological outcomes using cartilage island tympanoplasty or temporalis fascia for the treatment of high-risk tympanic membrane perforation was found.

Aim: To assess the relationship of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with cognitive impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes., Methods: The study included 40 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2), 37 patients with chronic kidney disease in hem dialysis hemodialysis therapy (HD) and 40 healthy subjects. BDNF in serum was quantified by ELISA. The Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination was used to evaluate cognitive impairment., Results: The patients with DM2 and the patients in HD were categorized into two groups, with cognitive impairment and without cognitive impairment. The levels of BDNF showed significant differences between patients with DM2 (43.78 ± 9.05 vs 31.55 ± 10.24, P = 0.005). There were no differences between patients in HD (11.39 ± 8.87 vs 11.11 ± 10.64 P = 0.77); interestingly, ferritin levels were higher in patients with cognitive impairment (1564 ± 1335 vs 664 ± 484 P = 0.001). The comparison of BDNF values, using a Kruskal Wallis test, between patients with DM2, in HD and healthy controls showed statistical differences ( P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Low levels of BDNF are associated with cognitive impairment in patients with DM2. The decrease of BDNF occurs early and progressively in patients in HD., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this manuscript.

HIV-seropositive patients show high incidence of coronary heart disease and oxidative stress has been described as relevant key in atherosclerosis development. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of omega 3 fatty acids on different markers of oxidative stress in HIV-seropositive patients. We performed a randomized parallel controlled clinical trial in The Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, a public health hospital. 70 HIV-seropositive patients aged 20 to 55 on clinical score A1, A2, B1 or B2 receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were studied. They were randomly assigned to receive omega 3 fatty acids 2.4 g (Zonelabs, Marblehead MA) or placebo for 6 months. At baseline and at the end of the study, anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, glucose and stress oxidative levels [nitric oxide catabolites, lipoperoxides (malondialdehyde plus 4-hydroxialkenals), and glutathione] were evaluated. Principal HAART therapy was EFV/TDF/FTC (55%) and AZT/3TC/EFV (15%) without difference between groups. Treatment with omega 3 fatty acids as compared with placebo decreased triglycerides (-0.32 vs. 0.54 mmol/L; p = 0.04), but oxidative stress markers were not different between groups.