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Background: Patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Identifying factors associated with disease severity and viral clearance times can inform better clinical management for this high-risk group. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and hematological data from 85 COVID-19 positive MHD patients. Disease severity was classified as non-severe (mild/moderate) or severe (severe/critical). Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with disease severity. The time to viral clearance was assessed and correlated with clinical variables. Results: Cardiovascular disease (OR=11.19, 95% CI 2.35–53.38), neutrophilia (OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.01–1.53), and elevated inflammatory markers (procalcitonin and white blood cell count) were independent predictors of severe COVID-19. A prognostic model incorporating these factors showed good discrimination for severity risk (AUC=0.835). The median time to viral clearance was 19 days. Delayed clearance was associated with higher levels of C-reactive protein, troponin, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. Conclusions: We identified key prognostic factors for COVID-19 severity and characterized the time to viral clearance in MHD patients. These findings can aid in risk stratification and optimize management for this vulnerable population. Further research through multicenter collaborative studies is warranted to validate these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infective endocarditis (IE) poses a significant clinical challenge, especially among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing dialysis, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. This review provides a contemporary discussion of the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnostic challenges, and management strategies for IE among ESRD patients, including a literature review of recent studies focused on this vulnerable population. The review highlights the multifactorial nature of IE risk in ESRD patients, emphasizing the roles of vascular access type, dialysis modality, and comorbid conditions. It also explores the diagnostic utility of different imaging modalities and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing IE, including both medical and surgical interventions. The insights from this review aim to contribute to the improvement of patient outcomes through early recognition, appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and timely surgical intervention when necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) can lead to stroke, heart failure, and mortality and has a greater prevalence in dialysis patients than in the general population. Several studies have suggested that uremic toxins may contribute to the development of AF. However, the association between dialysis adequacy and incident AF has not been well established. METHODS: In this retrospective nationwide cohort study, we analyzed data from the Korean National Periodic Hemodialysis Quality Assessment from 2013 to 2015 of patients who received outpatient maintenance hemodialysis 3× a week. The main exposure was single pooled Kt/V (spKt/V), which is the dialysis adequacy index, and the primary outcome was the development of AF. For the primary analysis, patients were categorized into quartiles according to baseline spKt/V. The lowest quartile, representing the lowest adequacy, was used as the reference group. Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard models were used, treating all-cause mortality as a competing risk. RESULTS: Of 25 173 patients, the mean age was 60 (51-69) years, and 14 772 (58.7%) were men. During a median follow-up of 5.7 years, incident AF occurred in a total of 3883 (15.4%) patients. Participants with a higher spKt/V tended to have lower AF incidence. In survival analysis, a graded association was observed between the risk of incident AF and spKt/V quartiles: subdistribution hazard ratios and 95% CIs for the second, third, and the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile were 0.90 (95% CI, 0.82-0.98), 0.84 (95% CI, 0.77-0.93), and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.72-0.88), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide cohort study showed that a higher spKt/V is associated with a reduced risk of incident AF. These findings suggests that reducing uremic toxin burden through enhanced dialysis clearance may be associated with a lower risk of AF development in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intestinal necrosis in uremic patients has been reported but is rare. Case presentation: A 56-year-old male patient who underwent long-term regular haemodialysis was admitted to the hospital due to involuntary shaking of the limbs and nonsense speech. The patient's symptoms improved after continuous blood purification under heparin anticoagulation, rehydration, sedation, and correction of electrolyte disturbances. However, the patient experienced a sudden onset of abdominal pain and a rapid decrease in blood pressure; high-dose norepinephrine were required to maintain his blood pressure. A plain abdominal radiograph performed at bedside showed intestinal dilation. Colonoscopy revealed inflammation and oedema of the entire colon, with purulent secretions and multiple areas of patchy necrosis. The cause of intestinal ischaemia was not clear. Conclusions: Although rare, previous causes of uremic colitis have been reported. As the patient developed abdominal pain before the onset of shock and the necrosis was seen on colonoscopy, we suspect that this is a case of fulminant uremic colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is essential in diagnosing neurological conditions, offering detailed insights into brain pathology. Uremic encephalopathy (UE) is a severe neurological disorder resulting from renal failure, characterized by cognitive impairments and brain abnormalities due to the accumulation of uremic toxins (UTs). Despite extensive research on UTs, there is a significant gap in the detailed characterization of MRI findings in UE patients. This study aims to bridge this gap by conducting a comprehensive literature review of cerebral MRI findings in UE. We hypothesize that specific MRI patterns correlate with the severity and clinical manifestations of UE, thereby enhancing diagnostic accuracy and improving patient outcomes. Methods: A literature review was performed using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. The search terms included "uremic encephalopathy MRI", "uremia and kidney failure MRI", and "toxic and metabolic or acquired encephalopathies MRI". The inclusion criteria were original articles on UE and MRI findings published in English. Results: Common MRI sequences include T1-weighted, T2-weighted, FLAIR, and DWI. Frequent MRI findings in UE are cytotoxic and vasogenic brain edema in regions such as the basal ganglia and periventricular white matter. Patterns like the "lentiform fork sign" and basal ganglia involvement are key indicators of UE. Conclusions: MRI plays a crucial role in diagnosing UE by identifying characteristic brain edema and specific patterns. A comprehensive diagnostic approach, incorporating clinical, laboratory, and imaging data, is essential for accurate diagnosis and management. The study calls for larger well-designed cohorts with long-term follow-up to improve the understanding and treatment of UE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In males with end stage renal disease biochemical hypogonadism is a frequent finding. Testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) have been associated with insulin resistance, a well-known condition in uremia. The aim of the present study was to investigate in males on chronic hemodialysis the relationship of testosterone and SHBG serum levels with insulin resistance. Methods: In a cross-sectional study we enrolled men treated with chronic hemodialysis who did not suffer from an acute illness or other endocrinopathy, as well as primary hypogonadism, and were not hospitalised. Diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy or previous transplantation were not exclusion criteria. As controls we used a community-based group of healthy males matched for age and Body Mass Index (BMI). We assessed the BMI (kg/m2) from body weight and height, the body fat content (%) by bioelectrical impedance and serum testosterone (ng/ml), SHBG (nmol/L) and estradiol (pg/ml) by standard methods. Testosterone < 3.25 ng/ml defined biochemical hypogonadism. In non-diabetic males, we calculated the homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA-R), an estimate of insulin resistance, from serum fasting insulin and glucose. Results: 27 men (age 54.4 ± 19 years) on chronic hemodialysis (treatment duration 29.1 ± 14.4 months) and 51 healthy men (age 47.1 ± 9.6 years) were included. In men on hemodialysis vs. healthy men there were increased serum levels of SHBG (40.9 ± 26.9 vs. 27.6 ± 11.9 nmol/L; p = 0.031) and a significantly enhanced frequency of biochemical hypogonadism (22.2 vs. 3.9%; p = 0.011). In cases without diabetes (n = 22) a significant correlation was observed between the HOMA-R (r = -0.586, p = 0.004) and the fasting insulin levels (r = -0.650, p = 0.001) on the one hand and the serum SHBG levels on the other. Conclusions: Our findings confirm enhanced prevalence of biochemical hypogonadism in males on chronic hemodialysis. In non-diabetic cases the serum levels of SHBG correlated with serum insulin and insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 14‐year‐old male tiger developed anorexia with elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. The patient had a palpable abdominal mass and demonstrated neutrophilic leukocytosis and anaemia. Leukocytes, yeast and bacteria were present in the urine. The animal was non‐responsive to therapy and was subsequently euthanised. Extensive acute renal papillary necrosis (RPN) with pyelonephritis, chronic nephritis and polycystic renal disease were evident during gross and microscopic pathology examinations. The histologic occurrence of fungal spores and pseudohyphae morphologically consistent with Candida species were observed within the necrotic papillary regions of the kidney and within multiple foci of mild parakeratotic hyperkeratosis present in the gingiva and tongue. Candida albicans along with a slight growth of Escherichia coli were recovered from kidney cultures. Possible contributory factors for the renal candidiasis and associated RPN include predisposing oral candidiasis, polycystic renal disease, ischaemic nephrosclerosis, age‐associated or other forms of immunodeficiency and therapy with meloxicam, a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug. The absence of apparent lower urinary tract involvement coupled with the presence of intravascular renal 'Candida emboli' suggest that chronic oral candidiasis was the probable source of the kidney infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrafiltration (UF) combined with haemodialysis (HD) sequential therapy in patients with intradialytic hypotension (IDH) and water retention. Methods: A total of 53 uraemia patients with IDH who could not tolerate dehydration and significant water and sodium retention (net weight gain of more than 4 kg) were randomly divided into control group (28 cases) and treatment group (25 cases). After adjusting dialysis parameters (blood pump speed and excessive filtration), HD was tried again in the control group, and UF combined with HD was given sequential treatment in the treatment group. Outcome measures included efficacy measures (duration of treatment, total water removal, weight loss, dyspnoea score and left ventricular ejection fraction) and safety measures (heart rate, blood pressure, IDH incidence, bleeding and thromboembolic events). Results: In terms of efficacy indicators, In the sequential treatment group, the duration of treatment (740 ± 168 min vs. 380 ± 94 min, p < 0.05), total water removal (5280 ± 968 mL vs. 2980 ± 765 mL, p < 0.05) and the weight loss (2756 ± 537 g vs. 1421 ± 362 g, p < 0.05) was significantly higher than that of control group. Postoperative dyspnoea score (1.92 ± 0.400 vs. 3.32 ± 0.476, p < 0.05), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; 49.25 ± 3.76 vs. 56.46 ± 4.42, p < 0.05) was significantly improved compared with that before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant. In control group, dyspnoea score (1.89 ± 0.416 vs. 1.82 ± 0.390, p > 0.05) and left ventricular ejection fraction (49.04 ± 6.72 vs. 48.61 ± 7.12, p > 0.05) were slightly improved after treatment, but there was no statistical significance. In terms of safety indicators, patients in the control group were prone to significant blood pressure fluctuation during treatment, and the incidence of IDH was significantly higher than that in the treatment group (75% vs. 0%, p < 0.01), the difference was statistically significant, while the other safety indicators (heart rate change, bleeding and thromboembolic events) showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions: Compared with conventional HD, UF combined with HD can safely and effectively reduce water retention in patients with uraemia while avoiding IDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the serum levels of gasdermin D (GSDMD) in uremic (end-stage kidney disease, ESKD) patients and their correlation with vascular calcification (VC) and clinical results. This prospective observational cohort study enrolled 213 ESKD patients who were undergoing regular maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) for > 3 months in our hospital from August 2019 to July 2022. The abdominal aortic calcification score (AACS) was used to assess the VC condition of patients with ESKD. Serum GSDMD, caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-18 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic and clinical data were obtained. All patients were followed up for 1 year, and patients with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were defined as having a poor prognosis. All data used SPSS 26.0 to statistical analyses. The serum total cholesterol (TC) levels of patients in the AACS > 4 group were significantly elevated compared with those in the AACS ≤ 4 group. In addition, ESKD patients with an AACS > 4 had significantly higher serum levels of GSDMD, caspase-1, IL-6, IL-18 and IL-1β. Moreover, Pearson's analysis supported a positive correlation between GSDMD and caspase-1, IL-6, and IL-1β. In addition, we found that GSDMD levels were positively correlated with the clinical data (AACS scores and serum TC levels) of patients with ERSD. Additionally, ROC curves showed that the serum levels of GSDMD could be a potential predictive biomarker of moderate/severe VC and prognosis in patients with ESKD. Finally, the results of logistic regression indicated that GSDMD and AACS scores were risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with ESKD. Serum GSDMD levels were remarkably elevated in patients with ESKD with moderate/severe calcification. In addition, serum levels of GSDMD could be a potential predictive biomarker of moderate/severe VC and prognosis in patients with ESKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Gastrointestinal dysfunction is a very common complication in peritoneal dialysis patients, which not only seriously affects the appetite and mood of patients, but also induces malnutrition, dehydration, electrolyte disorders, or systemic inflammatory reactions, and even leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of peritoneal dialysis, thus increasing the difficulty of medical treatment and lowering the patients' standard of living. Objective To analyse the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated gastrointestinal dysfunction, and provide reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of peritoneal dialysis-associated gastrointestinal dysfunction. Methods A retrospective study was conducted to select 304 uremic patients who underwent continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in the Department of Nephrology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 2019-09-01 to 2021-09-01. The patients were divided into the gastrointestinal dysfunction group and non-gastrointestinal dysfunction according to the combination of gastrointestinal dysfunction. General data, comorbidities, laboratory test indexes, and dialysis adequacy-related indexes of the two groups of patients were collected and compared. SPSS 23.0 software was used to statistically analyze the clinical data, the clinical characteristics of peritoneal dialysis-associated gastrointestinal dysfunction, and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing the occurrence of peritoneal dialysis-associated gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with uremia. Results A total of 304 peritoneal dialysis patients were included, of which 189 (62.2%) were in the gastrointestinal dysfunction group, with the median age of 62 (52, 67) years. The differences in age, proportions of primary diabetic nephropathy and combined hypertension and coronary artery disease between the two groups were statistically significant (P

A dog with bilateral renal dioctophymosis presented with stage 5 acute kidney injury, weight loss, vomiting, apathy, and hematuria. Laboratory tests showed creatinine of 17.2mg/dL and Dioctophyme renale eggs in the urine. It underwent a 30-min session of hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning at a pressure of 2 ATA. Subsequently, bilateral nephroscopy was performed, without warm ischemia, using Amplatz-type renal dilators. Five parasites were removed, three females from the right kidney, one female from the left kidney, and one male from the abdominal cavity. After surgery, the patient continued doing daily hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) sessions and clinical therapy. Postoperative care consisted of analgesics, antimicrobials, antioxidants, gastric protector and fluid therapy. Ultrasound monitoring showed a reduction in the area of renal dilation and the hematological and biochemical tests showed rapid recovery from acute kidney injury. There was no bacterial growth in the urine sample collected directly from the kidneys. The patient had an excellent clinical progression and was discharged from hospital 7 days postoperatively, with creatinine values of 2.9 mg/dL. This is the first report of the use of nephroscopy in the treatment of dioctophymosis and indicates excellent chances of cure even in severe cases of bilateral parasitosis. HBOT was shown to be an ally in the clinical therapy of patients with D. renale by helping with stabilization and postoperative recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case of osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) associated with uremia and elevated serum osmolality. The patient presented with a swollen and proptotic eye, and imaging revealed gas in the neck, skull base, and orbits. The patient developed acute tubular necrosis and hypernatremia, which contributed to the development of ODS. The article emphasizes the importance of monitoring both serum sodium and blood urea nitrogen levels to prevent neurological complications. [Extracted from the article]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) frequently occurs in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly those undergoing dialysis. The mechanisms behind this may be related to traditional risk factors and CKD-specific factors that accelerate atherosclerosis and vascular calcification in CKD patients. The accumulation of uremic toxins is a significant factor in CKD-related systemic disorders. Basic research suggests that indoxyl sulfate (IS), a small protein-bound uremic toxin, is associated with macrophage dysfunctions, including increased oxidative stress, exacerbation of chronic inflammation, and abnormalities in lipid metabolism. Strategies to mitigate the toxicity of IS include optimizing gut microbiota, intervening against the abnormality of intracellular signal transduction, and using blood purification therapy with higher efficiency. Further research is needed to examine whether lowering protein-bound uremic toxins through intervention leads to a reduction in CVD in patients with CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Unusual clinical course. Background: Simultaneous bilateral basal ganglia hemorrhage is an infrequent occurrence in medical literature. The etiology of bilateral basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage remains elusive, in contrast to that of unilateral basal ganglia hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage, resulting in lack of consensus among scholars. Importantly, patients with uremia and cerebral hemorrhage, especially patients with large hematoma volumes, exhibit a markedly elevated mortality rate. Patients can benefit from implementation of positive and efficacious therapeutic approaches. Case Report: We present a clinical case involving a 42-year-old male patient who was admitted to the hospital in a comatose state. The initial head computed tomography scan revealed the presence of simultaneous basal ganglia hemorrhage; this phenomenon could potentially be attributed to the occurrence of cerebral hemorrhage induced by severe renal hypertension in individuals with uremia. The patient underwent emergency surgical intervention to evacuate the hematoma, followed by continuous blood purification treatment. Ultimately, these interventions have the potential to improve patient outcomes. Conclusions: Incidence of bilateral basal ganglia hemorrhage is exceptionally rare and associated with an unfavorable prognosis, often resulting in mortality among individuals with severe underlying conditions or complications. The hematoma was successfully eliminated through the use of skull resection and neuroendoscopy techniques, resulting in favorable outcomes. The implementation of bedside continuous hemodialysis in patients with uremic cerebral hemorrhage can enhance therapeutic efficacy, thus warranting its recommendation for similar cases. Based on our observations, it is plausible that severe hypertension plays a contributory role in the development of simultaneous bilateral basal ganglia bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uremia, also known as uremic syndrome, refers to the clinical symptoms in the final stage of renal failure. The definition of the term has changed over time due to an improved comprehension of the kidney's function and the advancement of dialysis technology. Here, we aim to present an overview of the various concepts that have developed regarding uremia throughout the years. We provide a comprehensive review of the historical progression starting from the early days of Kolff and his predecessors, continuing with the initial research conducted by Niwa et al., and culminating in the remote sensing hypothesis of Nigam. Additionally, we explore the subsequent investigation into the function of these toxins as signaling molecules in various somatic cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (rCDI) is a rising problem in children with chronic diseases. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a recent alternative for rCDI patients who do not respond to conventional treatment. FMT could have an additional positive effect on the intestinal dysbiosis and accumulation of uremic retention molecules (URM) associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our aim was to investigate the clinical efficacy of FMT for rCDI in children with CKD together with the effect on dysbiosis and URM levels. Methods: We analyzed stool and blood samples before and until 3 months after FMT in 3 children between 4 and 8 years old with CKD and rCDI. The microbiome was analyzed by 16 s rRNA sequencing. URM were analyzed with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. CRP and fecal calprotectin were analyzed as parameters for systemic and gut inflammation, respectively. Results: CDI resolved after FMT in all three without adverse events; one patient needed a second FMT. No significant effect on CRP and calprotectin was observed. Stool samples demonstrated a reduced richness and bacterial diversity which did not improve after FMT. We did observe a trend in the decrease of specific URM up to 3 months after FMT. Conclusion: FMT is an effective treatment for rCDI in patients with CKD. Analysis of the microbiome showed an important intestinal dysbiosis that, besides a significant reduction in Clostridium difficile, did not significantly change after FMT. A trend for reduction was seen in some of the measured URM after FMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS) is a rare but significant concern in adult and pediatric patients undergoing dialysis initiation with advanced uremia or if done after an interval. It is imperative to gain insights into the epidemiological patterns, pathophysiological mechanisms, and preventive strategies aimed at averting the onset of this ailment. Design: Prospective observational quality improvement initiative cohort study. Setting and Participants: A prospective single‐center study involving 50 pediatric patients under 18 years recently diagnosed with chronic kidney disease stage V with blood urea ≥200 mg/dL, admitted to our tertiary care center for dialysis initiation from January 2017 to October 2023. Quality Improvement Plan: A standardized protocol was developed and followed for hemodialysis in pediatric patients with advanced uremia. This protocol included measures such as lower urea reduction ratios (targeted at 20%–30%) with shorter dialysis sessions and linear dialysate sodium profiling. Prophylactic administration of mannitol and 25% dextrose was also done to prevent the incidence of dialysis disequilibrium syndrome. Measures: Incidence of dialysis disequilibrium syndrome and severe dialysis disequilibrium syndrome, mortality, urea reduction ratios (URRs), neurological outcome at discharge, and development of complications such as infection and hypotension. Long‐term outcomes were assessed at the 1‐year follow‐up including adherence to dialysis, renal transplantation, death, and loss to follow‐up. Results: The median serum creatinine and urea levels at presentation were 7.93 and 224 mg/dL, respectively. A total of 20% of patients had neurological symptoms attributable to advanced uremia at the time of presentation. The incidence of dialysis disequilibrium syndrome was 4% (n = 2) with severe dialysis disequilibrium syndrome only 2% (n = 1). Overall mortality was 8% (n = 4) but none of the deaths were attributed to dialysis disequilibrium syndrome. The mean urea reduction ratios for the first, second, and third dialysis sessions were 23.45%, 34.56%, and 33.50%, respectively. The patients with dialysis disequilibrium syndrome were discharged with normal neurological status. Long‐term outcomes showed 88% adherence to dialysis and 38% renal transplantation. Limitations: This study is characterized by a single‐center design, nonrandomized approach, and limited sample size. Conclusions: Our structured protocol served as a framework for standardizing procedures contributing to low incidence rates of dialysis disequilibrium syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial immune cells that initiate a tolerable immune response. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) is a key cytokine produced by Tregs and plays a significant role in stimulating tissue fibrosis. Systemic sclerosis, an autoimmune disease characterized by organ fibrosis, is associated with an overrepresentation of regulatory T cells. This review aims to identify Treg-dominant tolerable host immune reactions and discuss their association with scleroderma and end-stage organ failure. End-stage organ failures, including heart failure, liver cirrhosis, uremia, and pulmonary fibrosis, are frequently linked to tissue fibrosis. This suggests that TGFβ-producing Tregs are involved in the pathogenesis of these conditions. However, the exact significance of TGFβ and the mechanisms through which it induces tolerable immune reactions during end-stage organ failure remain unclear. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms could lead to improved preventive and therapeutic strategies for these severe diseases.

Abstract A 14‐year‐old male tiger developed anorexia with elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. The patient had a palpable abdominal mass and demonstrated neutrophilic leukocytosis and anaemia. Leukocytes, yeast and bacteria were present in the urine. The animal was non‐responsive to therapy and was subsequently euthanised. Extensive acute renal papillary necrosis (RPN) with pyelonephritis, chronic nephritis and polycystic renal disease were evident during gross and microscopic pathology examinations. The histologic occurrence of fungal spores and pseudohyphae morphologically consistent with Candida species were observed within the necrotic papillary regions of the kidney and within multiple foci of mild parakeratotic hyperkeratosis present in the gingiva and tongue. Candida albicans along with a slight growth of Escherichia coli were recovered from kidney cultures. Possible contributory factors for the renal candidiasis and associated RPN include predisposing oral candidiasis, polycystic renal disease, ischaemic nephrosclerosis, age‐associated or other forms of immunodeficiency and therapy with meloxicam, a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug. The absence of apparent lower urinary tract involvement coupled with the presence of intravascular renal ‘Candida emboli’ suggest that chronic oral candidiasis was the probable source of the kidney infection.

Objective To investigate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation in uremic patients receiving hemodialysis. Methods Totally100 uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis were randomly divided into the control group and observation group according to the random number table, with 50 cases in each group. All patients received hemodialysis and routine nursing management, and patients in the observation group received intravenous drip of L-carnitine after hemodialysis treatment. The clinical effect of the hemodialysis treatment was evaluated, and changes of renal function indexes, nutrition indexes, serum inflammatory factors and complications were compared between two groups. Results The overall effective rate was 98. 00%(49/50)in the observation group and 86. 00%(43/50)in the control group, with no significant difference (P＞0. 05). Compared with patients in the controlgroup, patients in the observation group had a higher Ccr and lower level of Scr and BUN after treatment(P＜0. 05). The levels of PA, TRF, ALB and Hb in the observation group were higher than those in the control group after treatment(P＜0. 05). The levels of IL-6, CRP and TNF-α in the observation group were lower than those in the control group after treatment(P＜0. 05). There was no significant difference in incidence of complication between two groups(P＞0. 05). Conclusion The application of L-carnitine in hemodialysis treatment for uremic patients can improve the renal function and nutritional status, reduce the inflammatory reaction and complications, and helps to ensure the efficacy of hemodialysis treatment (目的 探讨左卡尼汀对尿毒症血液透析患者营养指标及炎症状态的影响。方法 选取2019年1月—2021年6月医院收治的尿毒症患者100例, 采用随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组, 各50例。两组均实施常规血液透析治疗和护理, 观察组于每次静脉透析治疗后静脉滴注左卡尼汀。评价两组治疗效果, 对比两组肾功能指标、营养指标、血清炎性因子指标、并发症发生情况。结果 观察组总有效率为98. 00%(49/50), 高于对照组的86. 00%(43/50), 差异无统计学意义(P＞0. 05)。治疗后, 观察组内生肌酐清除率(Ccr)高于对照组, 血肌酐(Scr)和尿素氮(BUN)水平低于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。治疗后, 观察组前清蛋白(PA)、转铁蛋白(TRF)、白蛋白(ALB)、血红蛋白 (Hb)水平高于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。治疗后, 观察组白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、C反应蛋白(CRP)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平低于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。两组并发生发生率差异无统计学意义(P＞0. 05)。结论 尿毒症患者血液透析治疗中应用左卡尼汀, 能改善患者营养状况, 减轻炎症反应, 降低并发症风险, 确保透析治疗效果。)

In recent years, both morbidity and mortality of chronic kidney disease （CKD） have been rising rapidly and cardiovascular disease （CVD） is one of major causes. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors cannot fully explain this phenomenon. Therefore such CKD-specific risk factors as uremic toxins （UTs） have emerged as crucial players. This review focused upon typical protein-binding toxin of indoxyl sulfate （IS）. It described the mechanisms of effects in the occurrence and development of CKD and depicted an association with IS and CKD-related CVD by four aspects of atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, congestive heart failure and arrhythmias. Also effective therapeutic measures of reducing serum level of IS were introduced, including restriction of protein intake, modulation of intestinal flora, using oral intestinal adsorbents and innovative dialysis approaches of enhancing IS clearance. And albumin-binding competitors appear to be an effective removal of protein-binding UTs. In the future, more modes of IS clearance shall be discovered and verified whether or not they can slow the progression of CKD and lower the incidence of CKD-related cardiovascular disease in CKD.

Purpose: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an emerging global health challenge characterized by progressive irreversible damage to the kidneys. The aim is to determine the prevalence and types of retinal pathologies noted in patients diagnosed with CKD presenting to a tertiary eye clinic in South India. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional observational study, electronic medical records of patients with a documented history of CKD between 2019 and 2022 were selected with the help of pre-determined keywords. Basic demographic parameters and the presence of retinal pathologies were documented and analyzed. Results: During the study period, 263 patients with CKD presented to us for ophthalmic examination. Among them, 156 patients were found to have retinal pathologies (59.3%). Thirty patients (19.2%) had unilateral involvement, and 126 (80.8%) had bilateral involvement. The most common retinal pathology was proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (both treatment naïve and status post-pan-retinal photocoagulation) in 110 of 312 eyes (35.2%), followed by non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) in 83 of 312 eyes (26.6%). Other pathologies noted were hypertensive retinopathy (7.05%) and retinal vein occlusions (4.1%). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of retinal pathologies in CKD patients, of which diabetic retinopathy is the most common, followed by hypertensive retinopathy. A thorough ocular examination of these patients is essential for timely diagnosis and intervention.

Objective This study aimed to explore the serum levels of gasdermin D (GSDMD) in uremic (end-stage kidney disease, ESKD) patients and their correlation with vascular calcification (VC) and clinical results.Methods This prospective observational cohort study enrolled 213 ESKD patients who were undergoing regular maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) for > 3 months in our hospital from August 2019 to July 2022. The abdominal aortic calcification score (AACS) was used to assess the VC condition of patients with ESKD. Serum GSDMD, caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-18 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic and clinical data were obtained. All patients were followed up for 1 year, and patients with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were defined as having a poor prognosis. All data used SPSS 26.0 to statistical analyses.Results The serum total cholesterol (TC) levels of patients in the AACS > 4 group were significantly elevated compared with those in the AACS ≤ 4 group. In addition, ESKD patients with an AACS > 4 had significantly higher serum levels of GSDMD, caspase-1, IL-6, IL-18 and IL-1β. Moreover, Pearson’s analysis supported a positive correlation between GSDMD and caspase-1, IL-6, and IL-1β. In addition, we found that GSDMD levels were positively correlated with the clinical data (AACS scores and serum TC levels) of patients with ERSD. Additionally, ROC curves showed that the serum levels of GSDMD could be a potential predictive biomarker of moderate/severe VC and prognosis in patients with ESKD. Finally, the results of logistic regression indicated that GSDMD and AACS scores were risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with ESKD.Conclusion Serum GSDMD levels were remarkably elevated in patients with ESKD with moderate/severe calcification. In addition, serum levels of GSDMD could be a potential predictive biomarker of moderate/severe VC and prognosis in patients with ESKD.

Objective: To discuss the effect of sodium tanshinone ⅡA sulfonate (STS) on the function of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (hUVECs) after treated with uremic toxin, and to clarify its mechanism. Methods: The hUVECs were passaged and divided into blank control group, uremic toxinstimulation group, uremic toxin + STS group, and uremic toxin + STS + extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor group. The concentration of STS used in the last two groups was 10 mg.L-1. The shear stress stimulation at 12 dyn.cm-2 was applied to the cells in various groups. The proliferation activities of the cells in various groups were detected by CCK-8 assay; the expression levels of ERK, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and type Ⅰ collagen proteins in the cells in various groups were detected by Western blotting method; the expression levels of ERK, NF- κB, and type Ⅰ collagen mRNA in the cells in various groups were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) method; the apoptotic rates the cells in various groups were detected by TUNEL method. Results: The CCK-8 assay results showed that after treated with shear stress, the probiferation activitres of the cells in uremic toxin-stimulation group and uremic toxin + STS + ERK inhibitor group were lower than that in uremic toxin + STS group (P<0. 01). The Western blotting results showed that compared with uremic toxin group, the expression levels of ERK, NF-κB, and type Ⅰ collagen proteins in the cells in uremic toxin + STS group were increased (P<0. 01). After inhibiting the ERK pathway, compared with blank control group, uremic toxin group, and uremic toxin + STS group, the expression levels of ERK, NF- κB, and type Ⅰ collagen proteins in the cells in uremic toxin + STS + ERK inhibitor group were significantly decreased (P<0. 01). The RT-qPCR results showed that compared with uremic toxin group, the expression levels of ERK, NF-κB, and type Ⅰ collagen mRNA in the cells in uremic toxin + STS group were increased (P<0. 01). After inhibiting the ERK signaling pathway, compared with blank control group, uremic toxin group, and uremic toxin + STS group, the expression levels of ERK, NF- κB, and type Ⅰ collagen mRNA in the cells in uremic toxin + STS + ERK inhibitor group were significantly decreased (P<0. 01). The TUNEL method detection results showed that the apoptotic rate in the cells in uremic toxin + STS group was lower than those in uremic toxin-stimulation group and uremic toxin + STS + ERK inhibitor group (P<0. 05). Conclusion: A certain concentration of STS can improve the proliferation of the endothelial cells and reduce the apoptosis of the cells after treated with uremic toxins by modulating the expressions of NF- κB and type Ⅰ collagen mRNA and proteins through the ERK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the recurrent nature of uraemic pruritus among patients receiving haemodialysis, self‐care can offer patients a means to ameliorate this symptom. Qualitative data on self‐care of uraemic pruritus are limited. Objective: To explore how patients on haemodialysis perceive uraemic pruritus, implement self‐care practice, and appraise the outcome of self‐caring uraemic pruritus. Design: The Common Sense Model of Self‐Regulation guided the study design. Participants and approaches: Data were collected through face‐to‐face interviews with 30 patients receiving haemodialysis who were aged from 50 to 89 years and had had uraemic pruritus for more than 6 weeks. Interviews were audio recorded, and verbatim transcriptions of interviews were analysed. Findings: Our participants generally used life‐related analogies to describe uraemic pruritus, which they reviewed as a momentarily controllable symptom with an endless timeline. Most participants reported limited knowledge of the aetiology and multifaceted impacts of uraemic pruritus on their daily life and emotional status. The impacts on daily life included decreased zest for activities and sleep disturbances. Physical management of uraemic pruritus involved daily substance use and interventions employed during pruritic episodes. Psychological managements involved preferences for indoor activities and a fatalistic outlook. Unsatisfactory outcomes and psychological burdens from self‐care practice were reported. Conclusions: Life experiences shape symptom presentation and self‐care practice in patients on haemodialysis. The modalities for self‐caring for uraemic pruritus are diverse but not remarkably effective. Performing self‐care tasks places a substantial burden on patients. Individualised educational programs should be developed to improve the outcome of self‐care practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and poor maturation of autologous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in uremic hemodialysis patients. Methods: 170 uremia patients who were received hemodialysis in the Nephrology Department of 908 Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force from February 2021 to December 2022 were selected, patients were divided into 57 cases of poor maturity group and 113 cases of maturity group according to the maturity of AVF. Serum Lp-PLA2 and FGF-23 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The influencing factors of poor AVF maturation in uremic hemodialysis patients were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression. The predictive efficacy of serum Lp-PLA2 and FGF-23 levels on poor AVF maturation in uremic hemodialysis patients were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC)curve. Results: The levels of serum Lp-PLA2 and FGF-23 in poor maturity group were higher than those in maturity group (P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that, increased serum phosphorus, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), Lp-PLA2 and FGF-23 were independent risk factors for poor AVF maturation in uremic hemodialysis patients (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that, the area under the curve(AUC) of serum Lp-PLA2 and FGF-23 levels alone and in combination to predict poor AVF maturation in uremic hemodialysis patients was 0.725, 0.763 and 0.822 respectively, and the AUC of serum Lp-PLA2 and FGF-23 levels combined prediction was the largest. Conclusion: The increase of serum Lp-PLA2 and FGF-23 levels in uremic hemodialysis patients were independently relate to the poor maturation of AVF, the combination of serum Lp-PLA2 and FGF-23 levels had a good predictive effect on the poor maturation of AVF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs network pharmacology to uncover the pharmacological mechanisms underlying Shen-qi-dihuang decoction’s efficacy in treating uremia. We identified a total of 927 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through differential expression analysis and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and analysis platform, of which 607 were downregulated and 320 were upregulated. We also obtained the effective biological components and related target gene information of Chinese herbal medicines such as Renshen, Huangqi, shudihuang, Shanyao, Fuling, Mudanpi, and Shanzhuyu in Shen-qi-di-huang decoction and constructed a regulatory relationship network between molecular components and target genes in Shenqi- di-huang decoction. We then constructed a proteinprotein interaction (PPI) network of 15 targeted genes (RXRA, ND6, CYP1B1, SLPI, CDKN1A, RB1, HIF1A, MYC, HSPB1, IFNGR1, NQO1, IRF1, RASA1, PSMG1 and MAP2K4) using the STRING database and visualized the PPI network using the software Cytoscape. In addition, we revealed the key molecular functions of uremia through Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, mainly including neuron apoptotic process, cellular response to oxidative stress, regulation of neuron apoptotic process, neuron projection cytoplasm, RNA polymerase II transcription regulator complex, plasma membrane bounded cell projection cytoplasm, NADH and NADPH dehydrogenase (quinone) activity, protein kinase inhibitor and ubiquitin protein ligase binding, etc. Finally, we identified important biological pathways in uremia through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, which mainly concentrated in Kaposi sarcoma−associated, small cell lung cancer, Gastric cancer, Hepatitis B and C, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Thyroid cancer, Bladder cancer, MAPK signaling pathway, ErbB signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation, HIF−1 signaling pathway, Thyroid hormone signaling pathway and Cell cycle, etc. Using integrated bioinformatical analysis, we elucidated key pharmacological mechanisms based on targeted genes, which was enable early identification of patients with uremia and would contribute to early clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) share several mediators of cardiac pathological remodelling. Akin to heart failure, this remodelling sets in motion a vicious cycle of progressive pathological hypertrophy and myocardial dysfunction in CKD. Several decades of heart failure research have shown that beta blockade is a powerful tool in preventing cardiac remodelling and breaking this vicious cycle. This phenomenon remains hitherto untested in CKD. Therefore, we set out to test the hypothesis that beta blockade prevents cardiac pathological remodelling in experimental uremia. Wistar rats had subtotal nephrectomy or sham surgery and were followed up for 10 weeks. The animals were randomly allocated to the beta blocker metoprolol (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle. In vivo and in vitro cardiac assessments were performed. Cardiac tissue was extracted, and protein expression was quantified using immunoblotting. Histological analyses were performed to quantify myocardial fibrosis. Beta blockade attenuated cardiac pathological remodelling in nephrectomised animals. The echocardiographic left ventricular mass and the heart weight to tibial length ratio were significantly lower in nephrectomised animals treated with metoprolol. Furthermore, beta blockade attenuated myocardial fibrosis associated with subtotal nephrectomy. In addition, the Ca++- calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CAMKII) pathway was shown to be activated in uremia and attenuated by beta blockade, offering a potential mechanism of action. In conclusion, beta blockade attenuated hypertrophic signalling pathways and ameliorated cardiac pathological remodelling in experimental uremia. The study provides a strong scientific rationale for repurposing beta blockers, a tried and tested treatment in heart failure, for the benefit of patients with CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author explores whether dietary protein should be or should not be restricted in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Topics discussed include historical background and physiological rationale of protein restriction in CKD patients, the protein restriction recommendation in the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nutrition, and the risk of malnutrition and its impact on patient survival.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a strong risk factor for peripheral artery disease (PAD) that is associated with worsened clinical outcomes. CKD leads to the accumulation of tryptophan metabolites that are associated with adverse limb events in PAD and are ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), which may regulate ischemic angiogenesis. To test if endothelial cell-specific deletion of the AHR (AHRecKO) alters ischemic angiogenesis and limb function in mice with CKD subjected to femoral artery ligation. Male AHRecKO mice with CKD displayed better limb perfusion recovery and enhanced ischemic angiogenesis compared with wild-type mice with CKD. However, the improved limb perfusion did not result in better muscle performance. In contrast to male mice, deletion of the AHR in female mice with CKD had no impact on perfusion recovery or angiogenesis. With the use of primary endothelial cells from male and female mice, treatment with indoxyl sulfate uncovered sex-dependent differences in AHR activating potential and RNA sequencing revealed wide-ranging sex differences in angiogenic signaling pathways. Endothelium-specific deletion of the AHR improved ischemic angiogenesis in male, but not female, mice with CKD. There are sex-dependent differences in Ahr activating potential within endothelial cells that are independent of sex hormones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin K is a lipophilic vitamin, whose absorption, transportation, and distribution are influenced by lipids. The plasma vitamin K level after supplementation is predominantly a lipid-driven effect and independent of existing vitamin K status. However, previous studies examining the efficacy of vitamin K supplementation often overlooked the influence of lipid levels on vitamin K absorption, resulting in inconsistent outcomes. Recent research discovered that impaired transportation of vitamin K2 within uremic high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in individuals with uremia might elucidate the lack of beneficial effects in preventing calcification observed in multiple trials involving menaquinone-7 (MK-7) supplementation among patients with chronic kidney disease. Clinical findings have shown that drugs used to regulate hyperlipidemia interact with the vitamin K antagonist warfarin, because cholesterol and vitamin K share common transport receptors, such as Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) and ATP-binding cassette protein G5/G8 (ABCG5/ABCG8), in enterocytes and hepatocytes. Additionally, cholesterol and vitamin K share a common biosynthetic intermediate called geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). It is important to note that statins, which hinder cholesterol synthesis, can also impede vitamin K conversion, ultimately impacting the functionality of vitamin K-dependent proteins. Furthermore, certain studies have indicated that vitamin K supplementation holds potential in managing hyperlipidemia, potentially opening a novel avenue for controlling hyperlipidemia using dietary vitamin K supplements. Therefore, attaining a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between vitamin K and lipids will yield valuable insights concerning the utilization of vitamin K and lipid regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. To analyze the clinical efficacy and long-term prognosis of high flux hemodialysis (HFHD) combined with different frequency hemodiafiltration (HDF) in uremic patients. Methods. 86 middle-aged and elderly patients with uremia were divided into the HF group (HFHD combined with high-frequency HDF) and the LF group (HFHD combined with low-frequency HDF). The changes between the two groups in various indicators after 12 months of dialysis and the survival rate at 5 years of follow-up were compared. We used SPSS 25.0 software for data analysis. Results. The differences of the levels of serum albumin, hemoglobin and transferrin in HF Group was significantly higher than LF Group before and after treatment (P < .05). The differences of the levels and clearance rate of calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, ß2-microglobulin and cysteine protease inhibitor C in the patients' blood after dialysis were significantly higher in HF Group than in LF Group (P < .05). The all-cause mortality rate, new cardiovascular event rate, new cerebrovascular event rate, and new infection event rate of HF Group were significantly lower than those of LFHD group, respectively (P < .05). The LF Group had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality events, new cardiovascular cerebrovascular and infectious events than the HF Group (P < .05). Conclusion. 1 week/time HDF combined with HFHD can more effectively eliminate the vascular related toxins in middle-aged and elderly patients with uremia, improve their nutritional status, treatment effect, and long-term prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: End stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (HD) face an elevated bleeding risk. There are the factors such as body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, and medications such as antiplatelet, anticoagulants, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that increase the bleeding risk. The validity of bleeding risk assessment tools in the ESKD population needs to be studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, observational study in a HD unit at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Ajman. Sixty adult patients on regular maintenance HD sessions were included in the study. Severity of bleeding was categorized based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Each patient’s risk of bleeding was assessed monthly using 9 different bleeding risk assessment tools (HASBLED, ATRIA, HEMORR2HAGES, ORBIT, IMPROVE, OBRI, S2TOP-BLEED, intracranial-B2 LEED3S, and Glasgow Blatchford Score for gastrointestinal bleeding) for 6 months’ period. Patients were categorized into low- and high-risk groups according to their risk scores. The predictive power of risk assessment tools was assessed by calculating its sensitivity and specificity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, and the area under the curve was estimated for each risk assessment tool. Logistic regression model was also done using the SPSS software version 29. RESULTS: The mean age of the study group was 56 years, and the average BMI was 27 kg/m² . A total of 20 bleeding events were reported among ten patients (16.7%). The WHO category 1 and WHO category 2 bleeding were observed in 15 and 5 bleeding events, respectively. None had category 3 or 4 bleeding. Bleeding risk was found to be associated with ethnicity and obesity but not to other patient demographic factors or medication use. Based on sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and the area under the ROC curve, HEMORR2HAGES score showed better prediction of bleeding risk compared to the other tools used. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, most of the risk assessment tools showed poor predictive value in the maintenance HD population. Existing bleeding risk tools may not be helpful in dialysis patients. A more valid bleeding risk tool needs to be developed for the ESKD patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case study of a 35-year-old man with a history of uraemia who presented with increased tumor marker levels. The patient underwent both [18F]F-FDG PET/CT and [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 total-body PET/CT scans. The [18F]F-FDG PET/CT showed increased FDG uptake in osteogenic destructive bones and extensive calcification, while the [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT revealed FAPI uptake in the same lesions as well as additional abnormal foci. The study suggests that FAPI PET/CT may be superior to FDG PET/CT in diagnosing and assessing kidney fibrosis and related calcium phosphorus metabolism disorders in chronic kidney disease. [Extracted from the article]

Objective To establish an animal model of autologous arteriovenous fistula in mice and evaluate its effect.Methods The left external jugular vein and common carotid artery of 10 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were separated by end-to-side anastomosis of external jugular vein and common carotid artery after anesthesia, and the right jugular vein was exposed without suture as a control, so as to establish an animal model of internal arteriovenous fistula. Doppler ultrasound, HE and Masson staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the hemodynamics, intimal hyperplasia and protein expression of smooth muscle cell proliferation in the outflow vein of the internal arteriovenous fistula and the contralateral control vein, and to evaluate the effect of model construction.Results A total of 10 mice were selected for this study, and 9 mice were successfully modeled, with a success rate of 90%. Ultrasound examinations were performed on the day of surgery, 7 and 14 days after surgery, respectively. The results showed that the flow velocity near the anastomosis was linearly correlated with the diameter of the tube. The higher the flow velocity, the larger the diameter of the tube. There was a positive correlation between peak velocity and lumen diameter (P=0.000 6, R2=0.831 7). After surgery 14 days, HE staining results showed that after autologous arteriovenous fistula molding, the average lumen area of outflow segment vein was significantly decreased (P < 0.000 1), the intima area was significantly increased (P < 0.000 1), the intimal area was significantly increased (P < 0.000 1). On the surgical side of arteriovenous fistula, collagen deposition was significantly increased, and the proportion of Masson-positive regions was significantly increased (P < 0.000 1). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the proportion of collagen 1 positive areas on the surgical side of arteriovenous fistula was significantly upregulated (P < 0.000 1), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) , proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cells increased significantly (P < 0.000 1), indicating an increase in local cell proliferation level.Conclusion The established mouse autologous arteriovenous fistula model has the advantages of high success rate, good stability and low cost. The model provides a good carrier for exploring the biological mechanism of intimal hyperplasia in arteriovenous fistulas.

Background/Objectives: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is essential in diagnosing neurological conditions, offering detailed insights into brain pathology. Uremic encephalopathy (UE) is a severe neurological disorder resulting from renal failure, characterized by cognitive impairments and brain abnormalities due to the accumulation of uremic toxins (UTs). Despite extensive research on UTs, there is a significant gap in the detailed characterization of MRI findings in UE patients. This study aims to bridge this gap by conducting a comprehensive literature review of cerebral MRI findings in UE. We hypothesize that specific MRI patterns correlate with the severity and clinical manifestations of UE, thereby enhancing diagnostic accuracy and improving patient outcomes. Methods: A literature review was performed using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. The search terms included “uremic encephalopathy MRI”, “uremia and kidney failure MRI”, and “toxic and metabolic or acquired encephalopathies MRI”. The inclusion criteria were original articles on UE and MRI findings published in English. Results: Common MRI sequences include T1-weighted, T2-weighted, FLAIR, and DWI. Frequent MRI findings in UE are cytotoxic and vasogenic brain edema in regions such as the basal ganglia and periventricular white matter. Patterns like the “lentiform fork sign” and basal ganglia involvement are key indicators of UE. Conclusions: MRI plays a crucial role in diagnosing UE by identifying characteristic brain edema and specific patterns. A comprehensive diagnostic approach, incorporating clinical, laboratory, and imaging data, is essential for accurate diagnosis and management. The study calls for larger well-designed cohorts with long-term follow-up to improve the understanding and treatment of UE.

BackgroundDialysis patients experience a high symptom burden, which may adversely impact their quality of life. Whereas other specialties emphasize routine symptom assessment, symptom burden is not well-characterized in dialysis patients. We sought to examine the prevalence and severity of unpleasant symptoms in a prospective hemodialysis cohort.MethodsAmong 122 hemodialysis patients from the prospective Malnutrition, Diet, and Racial Disparities in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) study, CKD-associated symptoms were ascertained by the Dialysis Symptom Index, a validated survey assessing symptom burden/severity (with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity), over 6/2020-10/2020. We examined the presence of (1) individual symptoms and symptom severity scores, and (2) symptom clusters (defined as ≥ 2 related concurrent symptoms), as well as correlations with clinical characteristics.ResultsSymptom severity scores were higher among non-Hispanic White and Hispanic patients, whereas scores were lower in Black and Asian/Pacific Islander patients. In the overall cohort, the most common individual symptoms included feeling tired/lack of energy (71.3%), dry skin (61.5%), trouble falling asleep (44.3%), muscle cramps (42.6%), and itching (42.6%), with similar patterns observed across racial/ethnic groups. The most prevalent symptom clusters included feeling tired/lack of energy + trouble falling asleep (37.7%); trouble falling asleep + trouble staying asleep (34.4%); and feeling tired/lack of energy + trouble staying asleep (32.0%). Lower hemoglobin, iron stores, and dialysis adequacy correlated with higher individual and overall symptom severity scores.ConclusionWe observed a high prevalence of unpleasant symptoms and symptom clusters in a diverse hemodialysis cohort. Further studies are needed to identify targeted therapies that ameliorate symptom burden in CKD.

Acute kidney damage (AKI) is a complicated disorder with bad prognosis and can be brought on by several illnesses. In India, the morbidity of AKI has grown during the previous few decades from 3/1000 to 17.3/1000. AKI is thought to occur in 5% of all hospitalizations, with related healthcare costs exceeding $10 billion annually, while exact figures are unknown. Rapid loss of renal performance is the hallmark of acute kidney injury (AKI), which might result in multitude of problems such as fluid imbalance, metabolic acidosis, and uremia. One in five patients who are admitted in hospital for an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) experience an acute kidney damage (AKI). Slight increases in blood creatinine levels are linked to higher rates of death both immediately and later on, longer lengths of stay(LOS), and higher costs. 2 Patients with AMI who also developed AKI had a death rate that was 20-40 times higher than those who did not develop AKI. However, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the morbidity, risk factors, and effects of AKI in individuals with AMI. The current criteria for AKI include the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for AKI developed in 2012, the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria developed in 2007, and the Risk Injury Failure Loss End-Stage Renal Disease definition developed in 2004 by the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative group. 3 KDIGO definition of AKI, which stipulates a rise in serum creatinine as a prerequisite, was used in our investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Uremic pruritus (UP) is a common and taxing symptom in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). We have previously shown that blood lead levels (BLLs) and blood aluminum levels (BALs) were separately positively associated with UP in MHD patients. We also found that blood cadmium levels (BCLs) were positively associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related mortality in MHD patients. We wondered whether there is any correlation between BCLs and UP after adjusting for BLLs and BALs. (2) Methods: Patients enrolled in this study were all from three hemodialysis (HD) centers at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Lin-Kou Medical Center, including both the Taipei and Taoyuan branches. Correlations between UP and BLLs, BALs, BCLs, and other clinical data were analyzed. (3) Results: Eight hundred and fifty-three patients were recruited. Univariate logistic regressions showed that diabetes mellitus, hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus infection, HD duration, hemodiafiltration, dialysis clearance of urea, normalized protein catabolic rate, non-anuria, serum albumin levels, log (intact-parathyroid hormone levels), total serum cholesterol levels, serum low-density lipoprotein levels, log (blood aluminum levels), and log (blood lead levels) were associated with UP. Although log BCLs were not significantly associated with UP (p = 0.136) in univariate analysis, we still included log BCLs in multivariate logistic regression to verify their effect on UP given that our aim in this study was to verify associations between serum heavy metals and UP. Multivariate logistic regressions showed that log BLLs (OR: 27.556, 95% CI: 10.912–69.587, p < 0.001) and log BALs (OR: 5.485, 95% CI: 2.985–10.079, p < 0.001) were positively associated with UP. The other logistic regression, which stratified BLLs and BALs into high and low BLLs and BALs, respectively, showed that high BLLs or high BALs (low BLLs and low BALs as reference) (OR: 3.760, 95% CI: 2.554–5.535, p < 0.001) and high BLLs and high BALs combined (low BLLs and low BALs as reference) (OR: 10.838, 95% CI: 5.381–21.828, p < 0.001) were positively correlated with UP. (4) Conclusions: BLLs and BALs were positively correlated with UP. BCLs were not correlated with UP. Clinicians should pay more attention to the environmental sources of lead and aluminum to prevent UP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular calcification (VC) is prevalent in uremia patients, lacking effective molecular biomarkers. This study was conducted to explore the role of serum cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) in the diagnosis of uremic VC incidence and progression. We enrolled 104 uremia patients and selected arcus aortae calcification (AAC) as the outcome phenotype. Levels of CDC42, 1,25- dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH) 2-D), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), and other laboratory parameters in the blood were measured. The receiver operator characteristic curve, the Pearson test, and the multivariate Logistic regression were used for the analysis of CDC42 diagnostic values, correlation analysis, and screening of VC risk factors, respectively. CDC42 was higher in the serum of uremia patients with VC and elevated with the increase in AAC level. Serum CDC42 level>1.025 was predictive of VC incidence with 83.58% sensitivity and 56.76% specificity, and CDC42 level>1.280 was predictive of VC progression with 73.33% sensitivity and 68.18% specificity. Serum CDC42 was positively correlated with 1,25(OH) 2-D and FGF-23. Uremia patients with higher serum CDC42 had a higher probability of VC incidence and progression. Generally, serum CDC42 helped the diagnosis of uremic VC incidence and progression and was an independent risk factor for uremic VC progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As dysbiosis of gut microbiota is recognized as a major risk factor for malnutrition in hemodialysis (HD) patients, we aimed to assess the effects of fortified synbiotic dessert on malnutrition, oxidative stress, inflammation, and quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis. A total of 50 hemodialysis patients were randomized into two groups of intervention and control to consume either 50 g of synbiotic dessert fortified with vitamin D (1000 IU) and calcium (500 mg) (FSD) or 50 g of control dessert (CD) for 8 weeks, respectively. Changes in nutritional status [Subjective Global Assessment (SGA)], anthropometric measures, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), ferritin, biochemistry [serum albumin, vitamin D, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), complete blood count (CBC), and electrolytes], and quality of life were assessed before and at the end of the trial. The SGA scores and serum ferritin levels decreased significantly in the FSD group compared to the control group (p =.01 and p =.03, respectively). Regarding other markers, no statistically significant changes were found comparing the two groups. This novel fortified synbiotic dessert as a functional food may be effective in reducing the severity of malnutrition by improving SGA score in short term in hemodialysis patients. Thus, it is suggested to do further studies to elucidate the possible mechanisms related to the effects of this dessert on microbiota, skeletal muscle mass, and inflammation in HD in long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To establish an animal model of autologous arteriovenous fistula in mice and evaluate its effect. Methods The left external jugular vein and common carotid artery of 10 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were separated by end-to-side anastomosis of external jugular vein and common carotid artery after anesthesia, and the right jugular vein was exposed without suture as a control, so as to establish an animal model of internal arteriovenous fistula. Doppler ultrasound, HE and Masson staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the hemodynamics, intimal hyperplasia and protein expression of smooth muscle cell proliferation in the outflow vein of the internal arteriovenous fistula and the contralateral control vein, and to evaluate the effect of model construction. Results A total of 10 mice were selected for this study, and 9 mice were successfully modeled, with a success rate of 90%. Ultrasound examinations were performed on the day of surgery, 7 and 14 days after surgery, respectively. The results showed that the flow velocity near the anastomosis was linearly correlated with the diameter of the tube. The higher the flow velocity, the larger the diameter of the tube. There was a positive correlation between peak velocity and lumen diameter (P=0.000 6, R2 =0.831 7). After surgery 14 days, HE staining results showed that after autologous arteriovenous fistula molding, the average lumen area of outflow segment vein was significantly decreased (P < 0.000 1), the intima area was significantly increased (P < 0.000 1), the intimal area was significantly increased (P < 0.000 1). On the surgical side of arteriovenous fistula, collagen deposition was significantly increased, and the proportion of Masson-positive regions was significantly increased (P < 0.000 1). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the proportion of collagen 1 positive areas on the surgical side of arteriovenous fistula was significantly upregulated (P < 0.000 1), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cells increased significantly (P < 0.000 1), indicating an increase in local cell proliferation level. Conclusion The established mouse autologous arteriovenous fistula model has the advantages of high success rate, good stability and low cost. The model provides a good carrier for exploring the biological mechanism of intimal hyperplasia in arteriovenous fistulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]