Fibroblast growth factor 23, endothelium biomarkers and acute kidney injury in critically-ill patients.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and endothelium-related biomarkers have been related to AKI in critically-ill patients. Also, FGF23 is associated with endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we investigated if elevated FGF23 association with severe AKI is mediated by several endothelial/glycocalyx-related biomarkers.

Angiopoietin-2 as a predictor of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients and association with ARDS.

Background And Objective: Angiopoietin-2 (AGPT2) has been proposed as a key mediator of organ dysfunction, mainly in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It has also been associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). We aimed to investigate the role of AGPT2 in patients with and without ARDS.

Urinary Syndecan-1 and acute kidney injury after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common occurrence after pediatric cardiac surgery. Plasma syndecan-1 is a biomarker of endothelial glycocalyx damage and it is associated with AKI. Syndecan-1 is also expressed in renal tubular cells but there is no study evaluating urinary syndecan-1 in predicting AKI.

Renal Evaluation in Common Variable Immunodeficiency.

Introduction: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by impaired antibody production. Kidney involvement in CVID is described in isolated and sporadic case reports. The objective of this study was to study the renal function pattern in CVID patients through glomerular and tubular function tests.

Quantitative Renal Echogenicity as a Tool for Diagnosis of Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Glomerulopathies and no Liver Disease.

Background/aims: Glomerulopathy patients are prone to developing transitory reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which can be difficult to differentiate from irreversible chronic kidney disease (CKD). Renal ultrasound can be useful, but differently from renal length, quantitative renal echogenicity has not been formerly evaluated regarding its capacity to identify irreversible advanced CKD.

Methods: A prospective study was performed, where quantitative renal echogenicity was performed during renal biopsy in patients with suspected glomerular disease (n=197).

Syndecan-1 improves severe acute kidney injury prediction after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Objective: Acute kidney injury is a common occurrence after pediatric cardiac surgery and is associated with adverse patient outcomes. Syndecan-1 is a biomarker of endothelial glycocalyx damage, and its early increment after surgery can be associated with acute kidney injury.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study with 289 patients aged less than 18 years who underwent cardiac surgery at 1 reference institution.

Glycocalyx injury in adults with nephrotic syndrome: Association with endothelial function.

Background: Glomerulopathy is a group of diseases that affect mainly young adults. Endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and increased cardiac mortality can complicate the evolution of such patients. However, there is no study evaluating endothelial glycocalyx in this pathology.

The leptospiral antigen Lp49 is a two-domain protein with putative protein binding function.

Pathogenic Leptospira is the etiological agent of leptospirosis, a life-threatening disease that affects populations worldwide. Currently available vaccines have limited effectiveness and therapeutic interventions are complicated by the difficulty in making an early diagnosis of leptospirosis. The genome of Leptospira interrogans was recently sequenced and comparative genomic analysis contributed to the identification of surface antigens, potential candidates for development of new vaccines and serodiagnosis.