The persistence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies after COVID-19: A one-year observation. Is a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination booster dose necessary?

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) one year after contracting COVID-19.

Material And Methods: The study included 38 patients - 34 men and 4 women - suffering from COVID-19 between March 15 and May 26, 2020. The median age in the group was 31 years, ranging from 22 to 67 years.

Recovery of dialysis patients with COVID-19: health outcomes 3 months after diagnosis in ERACODA.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related short-term mortality is high in dialysis patients, but longer-term outcomes are largely unknown. We therefore assessed patient recovery in a large cohort of dialysis patients 3 months after their COVID-19 diagnosis.

Methods: We analyzed data on dialysis patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from 1 February 2020 to 31 March 2021 from the European Renal Association COVID-19 Database (ERACODA).

Underdiagnosis of Major Depressive Episodes in Hemodialysis Patients: The Need for Screening and Patient Education.

This article aims to identify the reasons why patients with major depressive episode (MDE) do not seek treatment for their mental disorder. 89 out of 208 persons screened were diagnosed with major depressive episode using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. 85 individuals with untreated depression filled out the following questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory, List of Explanations of Well-Being (LEWB), Brief Measure to Assess Perception of Self-Influence on the Course of the Disease, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, Brief Method of Evaluating Coping with Disease, and Metacognitions Questionnaire.

Comparison of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Clinical Features in Patients Depending on Involvement or Absence of Kidney Involvement.

Background: GPA is necrotizing inflammation of the small vessels with granulomas. Kidney involvement deteriorated its prognosis.

Objective: Comparison of GPA patients with Kidney (KI) and without Kidney Involvement (nKI).

Convalescent plasma treatment is associated with lower mortality and better outcomes in high-risk COVID-19 patients - propensity-score matched case-control study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma (CP) transfusion in a group of high-risk COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This prospective study included 204 patients from a single tertiary-care hospital, hospitalized with COVID-19, of whom 102 were treated with CP administration and standard care (PG) and 102 others who received standard care only (CG). The CG was selected from 336 hospitalized patients using the propensity-score matching (PSM) technique using age, MEWS score, and comorbidities.

ANCA-associated vasculitis patients treated in Polish intensive care units - retrospective characteristics based on the POLVAS registry.

Introduction: ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) is a group of rare disorders where inflammation and damage of the small blood vessels lead to dysfunction of the supplied organs. In severe flares of the disease patients may require intensive care unit (ICU) admission and treatment. The study aims to characterize Polish patients with AAV who were admitted to the ICU and compare them to the others.

FRAX prognostic and intervention thresholds in the management of major bone fractures in hemodialysis patients: A two-year prospective multicenter cohort study.

Purpose: The usefulness of FRAX in predicting major bone fractures in patients with end-stage kidney disease on maintenance hemodialysis treatment has been confirmed in previous studies. For meaningful clinical use, the prognostic and intervention FRAX thresholds need to be established.

Methods: The primary aim of our study was to calculate the optimal cut-off point of FRAX for the best prediction of an increased bone fracture risk in dialysis patients and additionally, to propose its intervention threshold, indicating the need for antifracture pharmacological treatment.

Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) - Progress in prediction of AP severity.

Background: Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a glycoprotein secreted during inflammation and infections. Moreover, increased levels of suPAR are observed after hypoxia and ischaemia. The aim of the study was to assess whether suPAR could represent a useful marker of acute pancreatitis (AP) severity.

[Brief measure to assess patient perception of self-influence on the disease course-version for hemodialysis].

Introduction: Self-influence on the disease course has a significant impact on coping with disease and adherence to medical recommendations.

Aim: Elaboration of a brief scale for screening of patient perception of self-influence on the course of disease among hemodialysis, which could be used during usual medical practice.

Methods: In the first stage of the study, based on a group focus interview with 6 hemodialysis (mean age 65.

Fluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis: Normal saline or lactated Ringer's solution?

Aim: To investigate whether administration of Ringer's solution (RL) could have an impact on the outcome of acute pancreatitis (AP).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 103 patients [68 men and 35 women, mean age 51.2 years (range, 19-92 years)] hospitalized between 2011 and 2012.

Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as an early predictor of disease severity and mortality in acute pancreatitis.

Objectives: In reference to our earlier publication, laboratory tests that reflect severe intravascular volume depletion can be used for predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of the study was to assess whether urinary level of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) could represent a useful marker of AP severity.

Methods: We observed a cohort of 104 prospectively enrolled patients.

Phosphate nephropathy after administration of bowel purgative containing sodium phosphate - a case report.

A 65-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with an elevated serum creatinine concentration associated with leukocyturia and erythrocyturia. Past medical history analysis revealed that four months before current hospitalization she had been subjected to colonoscopy preceded by the administration of oral sodium phosphate solution (OSP) as preparation for this procedure. Kidney biopsy revealed mild chronic tubulo-interstitial inflammation and scarring with prominent cortical tubular calcium phosphate deposits.

In vivo endomicroscopy of donor duodenum improves early detection of pancreas rejection in a recipient of simultaneous duodenum-drained pancreas-kidney transplantation: a case report.

Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is a new technique, which allows subsurface histological diagnosis at a cellular and subcellular level in vivo and could provide histological diagnosis during endoscopic examination. Up to now histological examination of the tissue sample is the only definitive way of diagnosis and monitoring organ rejection after transplantation. In case of pancreas transplantation percutaneous pancreas biopsy under imaging control is still the method of choice for obtaining tissue samples.

Factors associated with irritable bowel syndrome symptoms in hemodialysis patients.

Aim: To investigate clinical characteristics associated with the presence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire based on the Bowel Disease Questionnaire that records gastrointestinal symptoms was given to 294 patients in 4 dialysis centers.

Lack of effect of the CD14 promoter gene C-159T polymorphism on nutritional status parameters in hemodialysis patients.

Background: CD14 is a membrane glycoprotein that acts as a co-receptor for the detection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Mutual interaction between CD14 and LPS plays an important role in the innate immune system. Increased serum soluble CD14 levels have been described in hemodialysis (HD) patients, and linked to increased mortality risk, inflammation and protein-energy wasting.

Comparable Renal Function at 6 Months with Tacrolimus Combined with Fixed-Dose Sirolimus or MMF: Results of a Randomized Multicenter Trial in Renal Transplantation.

In a multicenter trial, renal transplant recipients were randomized to tacrolimus with fixed-dose sirolimus (Tac/SRL, N = 318) or tacrolimus with MMF (Tac/MMF, N = 316). Targeted tacrolimus trough levels were lower in the Tac/SRL group after day 14. The primary endpoint was renal function at 6 months using creatinine clearance (Cockcroft-Gault) and was comparable at 66.