Increased Glomerular Filtration Rate in Early Stage of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy.

: A previous study indicated that Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) patients in the early stage of the disease had significantly higher creatinine clearance (Ccr) than healthy persons. The aim of the study was to assess whether tubular creatinine secretion affects Ccr in early stages of BEN and to check the applicability of serum creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equations in these patients. : The study involved 21 BEN patients with estimated GFR (eGFR) above 60 mL/min/1.

Consensus statement on screening, diagnosis, classification and treatment of endemic (Balkan) nephropathy.

Currently used diagnostic criteria in different endemic (Balkan) nephropathy (EN) centers involve different combinations of parameters, various cut-off values and many of them are not in agreement with proposed international guidelines. Leaders of EN centers began to address these problems at scientific meetings, and this paper is the outgrowth of those discussions. The main aim is to provide recommendations for clinical work on current knowledge and expertise.

Urinary protein patterns in patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Purpose: Urinary excretion of beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), albumin, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and protein was examined in patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), glomerulonephritis (GN) and healthy controls.

Methods: The proteins were measured in morning urine samples from 74 patients with BEN, 50 healthy persons and 22 patients with GN.

Results: In BEN patients, median values for albumin, beta2-MG and protein were above upper normal limits, but median IgG was inside normal range.

Trends in incidence and prevalence of Balkan endemic nephropathy in the three most affected villages in Serbia over a 36-year period.

The study was undertaken with the aim to evaluate trends in incidence and prevalence of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) in the villages Šopić, Petka, and Vreoci, Lazarevac municipality, Serbia. Data concerning BEN notifications in the population-based registry of the Special Hospital for Endemic Nephropathy, Lazarevac were used to evaluate BEN incidence rates in the three villages over the period 1973-2008. Population estimates were based on national census data.

Screening of elderly for chronic kidney disease.

Background And Aims: The frequency of chronic kidney disease (CKD) markers was assessed in two groups of patients over 60 years--one without and the other with hypertension.

Methods: The cross-sectional study involved 585 asymptomatic elderly patients (227 males), 93 without and 492 with hypertension. Data on patients were obtained by interview, analysis of medical records and physical examinations.

Early detection of chronic kidney disease: collaboration of Belgrade nephrologists and primary care physicians.

Background: Belgrade screening study was undertaken in order to detect persons with CKD markers in at risk populations and to educate primary care physicians how to carry out CKD screening.

Methods: The study was performed by primary care physicians from thirteen Belgrade health centers in collaboration with nephrologists from clinical centers. Subjects without previously known kidney disease were enrolled: 1316 patients with hypertension without diabetes, 208 patients with type 2 diabetes and 93 subjects older than 60 years without hypertension or diabetes.

Priority issues in occupational cancer research: Ontario stakeholder perspectives.

Introduction: Workers are potentially exposed to known and suspected carcinogens in the workplace, many of which have not been fully evaluated. Despite persistent need, research on occupational cancer appears to have declined in recent decades. The formation of the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) is an effort to counter this downward trend in Ontario.

Screening of a population at risk of chronic kidney disease: analysis of factors associated with low eGFR and microalbuminuria.

Background And Objective: Numerous screenings of chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been performed all over the world. This screening study was undertaken with the aim of estimating the prevalence of low glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and microalbuminuria (MAU) and/or proteinuria in a population at risk for CKD and to detect factors associated with these CKD markers.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1617 patients without previously known kidney disease who came for regular check-ups to their general practitioners in 13 Belgrade health centers over a 3-month period.

Time trends in Balkan endemic nephropathy incidence in the most affected region in Serbia, 1977-2009: the disease has not yet disappeared.

Background: Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is a familial chronic kidney disease, which occurs only in some regions of the Balkan Peninsula. The aim of this study was to determine the main epidemiological features of BEN in the Kolubara region, the most affected region in Serbia, and to try to elucidate the controversial issue of whether or not BEN is tapering off.

Methods: To evaluate the BEN incidence rates in the municipality of Lazarevac over a 33-year period (1977-2009), we used data of BEN notifications from the BEN Registry located in the Special Hospital for Endemic Nephropathy, Lazarevac.

Beta2-microglobulin and alpha1-microglobulin as markers of Balkan endemic nephropathy, a worldwide disease.

Background:  Urine beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG) was mainly used as a tubular marker of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) but recently alpha1-microglobulin (alpha1-MG) was proposed for the diagnosis of BEN. In this study, the potential of urine beta2-MG, alpha1-MG, albumin, and total protein in the differentiation of BEN from healthy persons and patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) and nephrosclerosis (NS) was examined.

Methods:  This study involved 47 patients with BEN, 36 with GN, 11 with NS, 30 healthy subjects from BEN families, and 46 healthy subjects from non-BEN families.

Controlling anoxic tolerance in adult Drosophila via the cGMP-PKG pathway.

In this study we identify a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) cascade as a biochemical pathway critical for controlling low-oxygen tolerance in the adult fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Even though adult Drosophila can survive in 0% oxygen (anoxia) environments for hours, air with less than 2% oxygen rapidly induces locomotory failure resulting in an anoxic coma. We use natural genetic variation and an induced mutation in the foraging (for) gene, which encodes a Drosophila PKG, to demonstrate that the onset of anoxic coma is correlated with PKG activity.

[Investigation of Balkan endemic nephropathy in Serbia: how to proceed?].

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) presents an unsolved puzzle despite fifty years of its investigation. Academy of Medical Sciences of the Serbian Medical Society organized a round table discussion on current unsolved problems related to BEN. The present paper summarizes presentations, discussion and conclusions of this meeting.

Today Balkan endemic nephropathy is a disease of the elderly with a good prognosis.

Background: The outcome for Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) patients diagnosed in 1992 was analyzed in 2006 with the aim of detecting factors associated with disease progression and patient outcome.

Methods: In 1992 BEN was detected in 119 patients (53 males, 56.9 +/- 13.

[One-year follow-up of renal function in endemic nephropathy families].

Introduction: Endemic nephropathy is familial, chronic tubulointerstitial disease with an insidious onset and asymptomatic, slow progressive course.

Objective: The present study was undertaken with the aim to find out whether new persons with renal disorders can be detected among members of endemic families in the village of Sopić (Kolubara River region, Serbia).

Methods: The study involved 44 members of five endemic families without history of renal disorders.

Efficacy of hyperphosphatemia control in the progression of chronic renal failure and the prevalence of cardiovascular calcification.

Background And Aims: Chronic kidney disease mineral- and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) has been studied more often in dialysis than in predialysis CKD patients. The association between efficacy of hyperphosphatemia control and chronic renal failure (CRF) progression, prevalence of bone disease and cardiovascular calcification was the objective of the present investigation.

Material And Methods: 42 patients with CKD in Stage 5, regularly monitored for 5 years, were divided into Group 1 of 20 patients with normal serum phosphate (sPO4) levels and Group 2 of 22 patients with hyperphosphatemia registered at the majority of checks.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 in Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to compare plasma and urine transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) levels in patients with different stages of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) with those in patients with primary glomerulonephritis (GN) and healthy controls.

Methods: The study involved 47 patients with BEN (30 with manifest BEN and 17 in the early stage of BEN), 12 patients with GN and 10 healthy controls. Plasma and urine TGF-beta1 was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Comparison of kidney size between patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy and other kidney diseases.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between kidney dimensions and creatinine clearance (Ccr) in patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), nephrosclerosis (NSc), glomerulonephritis (GN), diabetic nephropathy (DN) and in healthy persons. The main objective was to find out at which stage of BEN the kidneys start to shrink.

Methods: The study involved 84 patients with BEN, 39 with NSc, 56 with GN, 55 with DN, and 52 healthy subjects, allocated to group 1 (n = 28) sex- and age-matched with BEN/NSc patients, or group 2 (n = 24) sex- and age-matched with GN/DN patients.

Contribution to the definition of diagnostic criteria for Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Background: Diagnostic criteria for Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) have not been precisely established. In the present study the predictive value of variables previously proposed as diagnostic criteria for BEN was examined.

Methods: The study involved 182 patients: 98 patients with BEN, 57 patients with other kidney diseases (20 with glomerulonephritis, 17 with tubulointerstitial diseases and 20 with hypertensive nephrosclerosis) and 27 healthy subjects.

Diagnostic criteria for Balkan endemic nephropathy: proposal by an international panel.

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is a familial chronic tubulointerstitial disease with insidious onset and slow progression to terminal renal failure. Diagnostic criteria for BEN have been described more than 40 years ago. Research groups on BEN use one of at least three described lists of criteria.

SCE frequency measurement could be useful in the prenatal diagnosis of Roberts syndrome.

In a previously published article (Resta et al., 2006) on Robert's syndrome in prenatal diagnosis, a case of a 36-year-old woman and her 36-year-old, nonconsanguineous husband were presented. Our findings suggest the existence of nonsense mediated decay (NMD) variability which could account for the varying severity reported in carriers of identical mutations.

Evaluation of criteria for the diagnosis of Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Background: The diagnosis of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is often made using Danilovic's criteria. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of Danilovic's criteria and several additional indices.

Methods: The study included 19 BEN patients, 23 BEN-suspected patients, 34 patients with other kidney diseases, and 23 healthy controls.

Prevalence of Balkan endemic nephropathy has not changed since 1971 in the Kolubara region in Serbia.

Background/aims: Thirty-one years after the first cross-sectional study, the population of Vreoci, a Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) village, was reinvestigated in order to determine the current prevalence of BEN and the clinical and laboratory characteristics of BEN family members with detected signs of kidney disease.

Methods: A total of 2,009 inhabitants (82% of the adult population) of the village were examined. Danilovic's criteria were used for diagnosis and classification of BEN.

Balkan endemic nephropathy is still present in the Kolubara region, Serbia.

Background: Almost 50 years ago Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN) was first described in Serbia in the village of Sopić where the first field examination was carried out in 1971. Our aim was to find out whether BEN is still present in this region.

Methods: Prevalence data on BEN from a field examination run in 1971 were compared with the results of a cross-sectional study conducted in the same village in 1992.

Detection of renal dysfunctions in family members of patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Background/aim: Recent studies have questioned whether new cases of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) are occurring. The aim of the present study was to find out whether new members with renal dysfunctions can be identified among family members of BEN patients from the Kolubara region.

Methods: The study included 47 family members of 5 BEN patients on hemodialysis (HD) and 17 members of 3 non-BEN patients on HD.

Creatinine clearance and kidney size in Balkan endemic nephropathy patients.

Background/aims: Symmetrically shrunken kidneys have been considered as one of the characteristics of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), but there is no agreement when the shrinking does occur in the course of the disease. In the present study, the relation between creatinine clearance (Ccr) and kidney length was compared between the patients in the early phase of BEN and other renal diseases.

Methods: The study included 84 patients with BEN (39 males, aged 54 +/- 12 years), 31 patients with other renal diseases (15 males, aged 54 +/- 14 years) and 15 healthy subjects as controls.