Asymmetric dimethylarginine and angiopoietin-like protein-2 are independent predictors of cardiovascular risk in pre-dialysis non-diabetic chronic kidney disease patients.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased cardiovascular (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Hence, this study was carried out to assess the biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation as predictors of CVD risk in Indian patients with CKD.

Methods: In this case control study, we recruited 43 patients with CKD and 43 healthy control volunteers.

Assessment of bone turnover markers to predict mineral and bone disorder in men with pre-dialysis non-diabetic chronic kidney disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly associated with disturbances in mineral metabolism and bone disease. Bone biopsy is the gold standard in diagnosing mineral bone disorder. Hence the search for non-invasive assessment of bone health gains importance.

Correlation of antimuscarinic acetylcholine receptor antibody titers and antidesmoglein antibody titers with the severity of disease in patients with pemphigus.

Background: Acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody levels significantly correlate with disease severity at initial pemphigus diagnosis and during follow-up. However, it is not clear if they are just an epiphenomenon or a potential trigger of the known pathogenic process in pemphigus vulgaris.

Objective: We sought to assess the changes in anti-muscarinic (M3) AchR and anti-desmoglein (Dsg) antibody titers with therapy.