Rituximab in Steroid-Dependent Podocytopathies.

Introduction: Rituximab (RTX) has been reported as an effective treatment alternative in primary forms of minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) associated with steroid dependence and frequent relapses. However, the optimal RTX regimen and the outcomes of further doses of RTX remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the use of induction and maintenance RTX therapy for adults with primary podocytopathies.

Planning vascular access creation: The promising role of the kidney failure risk equation.

Background: Planning for vascular access (VA) creation is essential in pre-dialysis patients although optimal timing for VA referral and placement is debatable. Guidelines suggest referral when eGFR is 15-20 mL/min/1.73 m.

A nationwide collapse of a priority grassland bird related to livestock conversion and intensification.

Grassland birds are among the most threatened and fastest declining terrestrial vertebrate species in Europe, principally due to agricultural intensification and transformation. The little bustard is a priority grassland bird under the European Directive (2009/147/CE) that led to the classification of a network of Special Protected Areas (SPAs) in Portugal. A third national survey carried out in 2022 reveals a worsening of an ongoing population collapse at a national scale.

Preoperative assessment for vascular access: Vascular mapping and handgrip strength.

Background: Reliable vascular access (VA) is required for patients receiving chronic hemodialysis (HD) treatment. Vascular mapping using duplex doppler ultrasonography (DUS) can aid in planning VA construction. Greater handgrip strength (HGS) was found to be associated with more developed distal vessels both in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and healthy individuals, and patients with lower HGS had worse morphologic vessel characteristics and were, therefore, less likely to construct distal VA.

Production of IgY against iron permease Ftr1 from Candida albicans and evaluation of its antifungal activity using Galleria mellonella as a model of systemic infection.

Candida albicans is one of the leading pathological agents of mucosal and deep tissue infections. Considering that the variety of antifungals is restricted and that toxicity limits their use, immunotherapies against pathogenic fungi have been viewed as alternatives with reduced adverse effects. In this context, C.

C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio and six-month mortality in incident hemodialysis patients.

Background: The first few months of hemodialysis (HD) are associated with a higher risk of mortality. Protein-energy malnutrition is a demonstrated major risk factor for mortality in this population. The C-Reactive Protein to Albumin ratio (CAR) has also been associated with increased mortality risk.

One-Year Mortality after Hemodialysis Initiation: The Prognostic Role of the CHADS-VASc Score.

Background: CKD is a significant cause of morbidity, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. CHA2DS2-VASc is a score used in patients with atrial fibrillation to predict thromboembolic risk; it also appears to be useful to predict mortality risk. The aim of the study was to evaluate CHA2DS2-VASc scores as a tool for predicting one-year mortality after hemodialysis is started and for identifying factors associated with higher mortality.

Asymptomatic pulmonary thromboembolism due to hemodialisys catheter thrombosis: case series and literature review.

Right atrial thrombus is commonly associated to catheters. Catheter-related right atrial thrombus (CRAT) in hemodialysis patients frequently presents as pulmonary embolism. Although CRAT is sometimes asymptomatic, even in these cases it is associated with worse prognosis.

Validation of the kidney failure risk equation in a Portuguese cohort.

Introduction: In chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, the risk of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is highly variable. In 2011, Tangri et al. developed the kidney failure risk equations (KFRE) to predict the 2 and 5-year probability of requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT).

Chemosensory Dysfunction 3-Months After COVID-19, Medications and Factors Associated with Complete Recovery.

Objectives: To examine the longitudinal prevalence and recovery of olfactory, gustatory, and oral chemesthetic deficits in a sizable cohort of SARS-CoV-2 infected persons using quantitative testing. To determine whether demographic and clinical factors, mainly the medications used after the COVID-19 diagnosis, influence the test measures.

Methods: Prospective cohort in a hospital with primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care.

Kaurenoic acid nanocarriers regulates cytokine production and inhibit breast cancer cell migration.

Breast cancer is the type of cancer with the highest incidence in women around the world. Noteworthy, the triple-negative subtype affects 20% of the patients while presenting the highest death rate among subtypes. This is due to its aggressive phenotype and the capability of invading other tissues.

Impact of Early Proteinuria Reduction in Glomerular Disease and Decline of Kidney Function: A Retrospective Cohort.

Background: In glomerular disease, the degree of proteinuria is closely related to the progression of chronic kidney disease, and its reduction is associated with a slower decline in the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and consequent improvement in the renal prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of proteinuria reduction on the decline of the eGFR in patients with glomerular disease, during the first year after the diagnosis. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients with primary glomerular disease, followed at the Nephrology Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, during 2019.

Acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A Portuguese cohort.

Introduction: The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients ranges from 0.5% to 35% and has been associated with worse prognosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, severity, duration, risk factors and prognosis of AKI in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

The impact of early versus late initiation of renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury on mortality and clinical outcomes: a meta-analysis.

Background: Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is essential in the presence of life-threatening complications associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). In the absence of urgent indications, the optimal timing for RRT initiation is still under debate. This meta-analysis aims to compare the benefits between early and late RRT initiation strategies in critically ill patients with AKI.

Photobiomodulation effects in metalloproteinases expression in zymosan-induced arthritis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a crucial role in the degenerative course of rheumatic disorders. They are responsible for cartilage and other joint-associated tissues breakdown. Amid arthritis treatments, photobiostimulation (PBM), a non-thermal and non-invasive low-power laser application, appears to be an outstanding therapy alternative once it has succeeded in MMPs modulation.

Hemodialysis vascular access in elderly patients: A comprehensive review.

The number of elderly patients initiating hemodialysis (HD) increased considerably over the past decade. Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are the preferred vascular access (VA) type in most HD patients. Choice of VA for older hemodialysis patients presents a challenge.

Endovascular treatment of the stuck hemodialysis catheter: A report of two cases and literature review.

A considerable number of patients present with stuck CVC after long-use of CVC, which is thought to result from the adhesion of the fibrous sheath, formed over the CVC, to the vessel or atrial wall. The removal of these catheters is a difficult and risky procedure. Hong reported a minimally invasive technique through endoluminal balloon dilation, which successfully breaks the adhesions and expands the vein, thus allowing for an easy removal of the CVC.

The impact of transient and persistent acute kidney injury in hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been described in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and is considered a marker of disease severity and a negative prognostic factor for survival. In this study, the authors aimed to study the impact of transient and persistent acute kidney injury (pAKI) on in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Department of Medicine of the Centro Hospitalar Universitario Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal, between March 2020 and August 2020.

Rituximab in glomerular diseases: a case series and narrative review.

Introduction: The use of Rituximab (RTX) in glomerular diseases (GD) has increased in the past years, although it is still only used in a small fraction of patients.

Methods: A single center retrospective study of adult patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), lupus nephritis (LN), and vasculitis treated with RTX as first or second-line therapy was conducted at our center from 2010 to 2020.

Results: We identified 19 patients; 36.