Validation of prognostic indices for short term mortality in an incident dialysis population of older adults >75.

Rational And Objective: Prognosis provides critical knowledge for shared decision making between patients and clinicians. While several prognostic indices for mortality in dialysis patients have been developed, their performance among elderly patients initiating dialysis is unknown, despite great need for reliable prognostication in that context. To assess the performance of 6 previously validated prognostic indices to predict 3 and/or 6 months mortality in a cohort of elderly incident dialysis patients.

Improving Blood Pressure Management in Primary Care Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: a Systematic Review of Interventions and Implementation Strategies.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is widely prevalent, associated with morbidity and mortality, but may be lessened with timely implementation of evidence-based strategies including blood pressure (BP) control. Nonetheless, an evidence-practice gap persists. We synthesize the evidence for clinician-facing interventions to improve hypertension management in CKD patients in primary care.

Implementation strategies for interventions to improve the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) by primary care clinicians: protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: There is a considerable implementation gap in managing early stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) in primary care despite the high prevalence and risk for increased morbidity and mortality associated with CKD. This systematic review aims to synthesise the evidence of efficacy of implementation interventions aimed at primary care practitioners (PCPs) to improve CKD identification and management. We further aim to describe the interventions' behavioural change components.

Prediction of Risk of Death for Patients Starting Dialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Objectives: Dialysis is a preference-sensitive decision where prognosis may play an important role. Although patients desire risk prediction, nephrologists are wary of sharing this information. We reviewed the performance of prognostic indices for patients starting dialysis to facilitate bedside translation.

Absence of a positive correlation between CRP and leptin in rheumatoid arthritis.

Aims: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a model of chronic inflammatory disease. In this study we evaluated the correlation of leptin and CRP in patients with RA and normal controls.

Main Methods: A total of 75 patients with RA and 40 healthy adults were recruited in this case-control study.

Nonlinear relation between pulse pressure and coronary heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes or hypertension.

Objectives: Wide pulse pressure (PP) is an independent predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the linearity of the relation between PP and CHD was not examined before. We aimed to examine this relation in patients with type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension.

Contribution of vitamin D deficiency to the risk of coronary heart disease in subjects with essential hypertension.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is proposed as a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). An inverse relation was observed between serum 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin-D level and incidence of hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of serum 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin-D in improvement of CHD risk-stratification in patients with hypertension.

Assessment of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D improves coronary heart disease risk stratification in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: A growing body of evidence suggests an association between lower serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)VitD) levels and adverse cardiovascular events. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at increased risk for developing coronary heart disease (CHD). 25-Hydroxy vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent, especially among patients with T2DM.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry diagnostic discordance between Z-scores and T-scores in a young Iranian population.

Background: Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) is considered the gold standard for non-invasive measurement of bone mass. T-scores and Z-scores are used to present the results of bone mass. The present study was designed to evaluate the discordance between T-scores and Z-scores calculated at a same level and its relation with age, gender and body mass index (BMI) in a representative sample of normal population.