Renal Allograft Function and the Tacrolimus C/D Ratio: Insights from a Prospective Study on MeltDose Tacrolimus.

: The tacrolimus concentration-to-dose (C/D) ratio is valuable for optimizing nephrotoxicity-related renal outcomes. Prospective data on the C/D ratio in kidney transplant recipients newly treated with MeltDose tacrolimus are limited. We analyzed the C/D ratio pattern of MeltDose tacrolimus and its effect on posttransplant renal function, comparing it with the literature data on immediate-release tacrolimus (IR-Tac).

Effects of Diet and Supplements on Parameters of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Antioxidant Mechanisms in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure Undergoing Hemodialysis.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide increases as the population ages. The progression of the disease increases the risk of complications and death and leads to end-stage renal failure, requiring renal replacement therapy. Despite the positive effect of hemodialysis (HD), patients are at risk of developing malnutrition, inflammation, oxidative stress, or cardiovascular disease, which worsens quality of life and can lead to organ dysfunction.

Osteoprotegerin and Inflammation in Incident Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family involved in processes in many inflammatory states. OPG concentration is enhanced in the majority of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and those undergoing renal replacement therapy. The aim of the study was to assess the relation of OPG and chronic inflammation in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and to evaluate whether OPG concentrations in plasma and dialysate were related to plasma and dialysate levels of proinflammatory mediators (interleukin 6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin 33 (IL-33) and interleukin 1 receptor-like 1IL-1RL1 (IL-1RL1, sST2)).

Impact of Effectiveness of Physical Activity in a Virtual Environment on the Regulation of Sclerostin and Interleukin 6 Levels in Haemodialysis Patients.

Chronic kidney disease is a significant public health issue associated with reduced physical activity. This can lead to mineral and bone disorders and increased levels of inflammatory markers. One innovative solution that can significantly contribute to increasing patient motivation is the combination of physical training with virtual reality technology during haemodialysis sessions.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy (kwestionariusz "Badź Aktywna w Ciąży") to support physical activity among pregnant women in Poland.

Introduction: Physical activity during pregnancy is established to derive clinically meaningful improvements in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum health outcomes. Evidence-based pre-screening tools have been developed to support the implementation of physical activity programmes, and enhance communication between health care providers, exercise professionals and pregnant women. The Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy (GAQ-P) and the Health Care Provider Consultation Form for Prenatal Physical Activity (HCPCF) empower pregnant women to identify whether they require additional counselling from their obstetric health care provider in terms of physical activity.

Cardiovascular Involvement in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Review.

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common hereditary kidney disease with a prevalence of 1:400 to 1:1,000 in Caucasians. It is caused by mutations in the PKD1 gene located on chromosome 16p13.3 (in about 85% cases) as well as in the PKD2 gene on chromosome 4q13-23.

Does Exercising with the Use of Virtual Reality during Haemodialysis Have an Impact on Plasma Levels of Interleukin 1β, Interleukin 6, and Interleukin 8?

Cytokines are a group of fine proteins which play a key role in the regulation of various biological processes, including inflammatory reactions. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 8 (IL-8), are produced in response to various stimuli, including infections, tissue damage, and oxidative stress. Virtual reality (VR) use during intradialytic exercises improves physical activity.

Impact of virtual reality exercises on anxiety and depression in hemodialysis.

Renal replacement therapy is associated with reduced physical activity. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between regular physical activity performed with the use of virtual reality and the occurrence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in hemodialysis patients. The study involved 85 patients from the dialysis station at the Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine PUM.

Effect of Diet and Supplementation on Serum Vitamin C Concentration and Antioxidant Activity in Dialysis Patients.

Loss of vitamin C, especially in conjunction with an inadequate supply, can lead to decreased plasma concentrations of vitamin C. This in turn can lead to overt or subclinical deficiency. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of diet and supplementation on vitamin C concentrations and serum antioxidant activity (FRAP) in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Malnutrition and Erythropoietin Resistance among Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease: Where Is the Perpetrator of Disaster?

Background: Hemodialyzed patients with poor erythropoietin response tend to have low volume of visceral adipose tissue and score high on malnutrition-inflammation score. This study investigates in-depth the role of leptin and chosen cytokines in the development of malnutrition-inflammation syndrome (MIS) and erythropoietin resistance.

Methods: Eighty-one hemodialyzed patients with erythropoietin-treated anemia were enrolled in the study.

Proteomic study on the lymphocytes from pregnant Wistar rat females treated with immunosuppressive regimen.

Kidney transplantation remains the therapeutic option for patients with end-stage kidney disease. Current immunosuppressive regimens are efficient in combating acute kidney rejection. However, insights into chronic kidney allograft injury remains limited.

Intrapatient Variability (IPV) and the Blood Concentration Normalized by the Dose (C/D Ratio) of Tacrolimus-Their Correlations and Effects on Long-Term Renal Allograft Function.

Tacrolimus, in combination with mycophenolate mofetil and glucocorticoids, is the basis of immunosuppressive therapy after renal transplantation. Tacrolimus intrapatient variability (IPV) and the blood concentration normalized by the dose (concentration/dose ratio, C/D ratio) both have an effect on the function of the transplanted kidney. In this study, we examined whether the metabolism rate affected IPV, whether the C/D ratio value was stable in the long-term follow-up, and whether it could be used for IPV measurements.

What's hot and what's not in lay psychology: Wikipedia's most-viewed articles.

Unlabelled: We studied views of articles about psychology on 10 language editions of Wikipedia from July 1, 2015, to January 6, 2021. We were most interested in what psychology topics Wikipedia users wanted to read, and how the frequency of views changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. Our results show that the topics of interest to people seeking psychological knowledge changed during the pandemic.

The Effect of Chronic Immunosuppressive Regimens Treatment on Aortal Media Morphology and the Balance between Matrix Metalloproteinases (mmp-2 and mmp-9) and Their Inhibitors in the Abdominal Aorta of Rats.

Immunosuppressive drugs are widely and chronically used to avoid graft rejection in transplant recipients. However, they are also known to have organotoxic effects and can exert numerous side effects. The aim of this study was to assess whether the chronic treatment of rats with the most commonly used clinical immunosuppressive regimens in organ recipients had an effect on the morphology and function of the aorta.

The role of uropathogenic Escherichia coli adhesive molecules in inflammatory response- comparative study on immunocompetent hosts and kidney recipients.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) represent one of the most common contagious diseases in humans. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains are recognized as the most frequent causative agent, and these express a range of virulence factors including the adhesins. Immune response to UPEC under immunosuppression has not been fully understood yet.

How Is Body Composition and Nutrition Status Associated with Erythropoietin Response in Hemodialyzed Patients? A Single-Center Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Anemia is the most common finding in patients with end-stage kidney disease undergoing renal replacement therapy. A certain percentage of patients does not respond adequately to erythropoietin (EPO) treatment, not being able to reach desirable hemoglobin levels even when treated with large-dose EPO and intravenous/oral iron. In our study, we wanted to further investigate how nutritional status is associated with erythropoietin responsiveness.

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine-Induced Cellular and Humoral Immunity in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background/aims: Chronic kidney disease CKD patients on intermittent hemodialysis IHD are exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection and carry a risk of developing severe symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the humoral and cellular immunity induced by two doses of mRNA vaccines, the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) COVID-19 Vaccine and the Moderna (mRNA-1273) COVID-19 vaccine.

Patients And Methods: The study included 281 patients from five dialysis centers in northern Poland.

Rapid Access in Donation After Circulatory Death (DCD): The Single-Center Experience With a Classic Pathway in Uncontrolled DCD Algorithm.

Background: In Poland, 95% of organs for transplantation come from donation after brain death (DBD). In 2010, Poland officially joined the European countries in which donation after circulatory death is accepted by law. Currently, the Pomeranian Medical University Transplant Center is the only active location for uncontrolled donation after circulatory death (uDCD) in Poland.

The Effects of EMMPRIN/CD147 on Late Function and Histopathological Lesions of the Renal Graft.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with renal fibrosis, and develops with the participation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts from epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In cancer research, the key role of the glycoprotein CD147/EMMPRIN (extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer) in EMT has been proven. In this study, we evaluate how serum CD147/EMMPRIN affects long-term renal graft function and renal biopsy specimen lesions.

Urinary Tract Virome as an Urgent Target for Metagenomics.

Virome-a part of a microbiome-is a term used to describe all viruses found in the specific organism or system. Recently, as new technologies emerged, it has been confirmed that kidneys and the lower urinary tract are colonized not only by the previously described viruses, but also completely novel species. Viruses can be both pathogenic and protective, as they often carry important virulence factors, while at the same time represent anti-inflammatory functions.

The Effects of Sex and Body Weight on Renal Graft Function-The Role of CCL2.

There are reports on the effects of excessive recipient body weight on renal graft function. Increased CCL2 (chemokine CC-mortif ligand 2) production is observed in patients with excessive body weight. CCL2 also exacerbates the inflammatory process in the renal graft.