Plasma Cell-Free DNA and Caspase-3 Levels in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Cell-free plasma DNA (cfDNA) is circulating extracellular DNA arising from cell death mechanisms (apoptosis, necrosis, etc.). It is commonly existent in healthy individuals, but its ranks increase in diverse clinical circumstances, such as kidney disease, sepsis, myocardial infarction, trauma and cancer.

Eryptosis in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Possible Relationship with Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Markers.

Background. Eryptosis is the programmed death of red blood cells; it may contribute to worsening anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this clinical condition, different factors induce eryptosis, such as oxidative stress, energy depletion and uremic toxins.

Eryptosis in Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis: The Potential Role of Inflammation in Mediating the Increase in Eryptosis in PD.

Background: Peritonitis and exit site infections are the main complications of patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). Erythrocytes (red blood cells—RBCs) are very sensitive cells, and they are characterized by eryptosis (programmed cell death). The purpose of this research was to assess eryptosis in PD patients with PD-related peritonitis and its connection to inflammatory markers in vivo and in vitro.

In Vitro Induction of Eryptosis by Uremic Toxins and Inflammation Mediators in Healthy Red Blood Cells.

Eryptosis is the stress-induced RBC (red blood cell) death mechanism. It is known that eryptosis is largely influenced by plasma and blood composition, and that it is accelerated in patients affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study is to evaluate the eryptosis rate in healthy RBCs treated with different concentration of IL-6, IL-1β, urea and p-cresol, comparable to plasmatic level of CKD patients, at different time points.

[Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on kidney transplantation: focus on the Sicilian experience].

The COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has rapidly changed hospital structures in our country, radically modifying clinical activity. Nephrology, and kidney transplant in particular, has been heavily influenced by it, with a reduced number of organ donations and, consequently, transplantations. Here we report the data on kidney transplants in our region, Sicily, for the period 2019-July 2021, and we analyze the effects of the pandemic.

The Role of Cell-Free Plasma DNA in Patients with Cardiorenal Syndrome Type 1.

Background: Recent research highlighted the potential role of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), resulted by apoptosis or cell necrosis, as a prognostic marker in the setting of different clinical conditions. Cardiorenal syndrome type 1 (CRS type 1) is characterized by a rapid worsening of cardiac function leading to acute kidney injury (AKI). Apoptosis of renal epithelial cells is proposed as a mechanism involved in CRS type 1.

[Phosphorus binders: trigger for intestinal diverticula formation in an ADPKD patient].

Hyperphosphoremia is common in patients with chronic kidney disease and is an important risk factor in this patient population. Phosphate binding drugs are a key therapeutic strategy to reduce phosphoremia levels, although they have significant side effects especially in the gastrointestinal tract, such as gastritis, diarrhoea and constipation. We report the case of a haemodialysis-dependent patient suffering from chronic kidney disease stage V KDIGO secondary to polycystic autosomal dominant disease; treated with phosphate binders, the case was complicated by the appearance of diverticulosis, evolved into acute diverticulitis.

[Therapeutic options to reduce arterial stiffness in chronic kidney disease].

Chronic kidney disease is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Several uremic toxins are also vascular toxins and may contribute to the increase of the cardiovascular risk through the development of aortic stiffening. In this process, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction play an important role.

Feasibility of routine ultrasound-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of native arteriovenous fistula dysfunction.

Background: Stenosis is the main cause of arteriovenous fistula failure and is due to neointimal hyperplasia. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is the gold standard for patients with vascular access stenosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of native arteriovenous fistula venous stenosis.

Holistic vision of the patient with chronic kidney disease in a universalistic healthcare system.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing public health problem. Aging is one of the leading causes, particularly in Western countries, but several comorbidities, such as hypertension and diabetes are involved in its pathogenesis. Thus, the treatment of CKD patient is very complex and requires an integrated strategy.

Eryptosis Is Altered in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Background: Red blood cells (RBCs) undergo programmed cell death known as eryptosis. Triggers of eryptosis include increased cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration, oxidative stress, osmotic shock, energy depletion and several uremic toxins. Little is known about the pathogenesis of eryptosis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients; furthermore, its relevance in worsening clinical conditions in these patients is still not completely defined.

Neurohormonal, Endocrine, and Immune Dysregulation and Inflammation in Cardiorenal Syndrome.

"Organ crosstalk" is the complex physiological communication between different body systems, and it is necessary for the optimal equilibrium and functioning of the organism. In particular, heart and kidney function is tightly connected, and interplay between these two organs occurs through a vast array of dynamic and bidirectional mechanisms. The term cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) indicates an interaction between the heart and kidneys in acute and chronic disease settings.

[The new frontier in endovascular treatment of arteriovenous fistula stenosis: the role of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty].

Native arteriovenous fistula is the preferred vascular access because of it does not usually cause infections and seems to be closely related with prolonged patient survival, compared to prosthetic grafts and central venous catheters; it also is cost effective. Venous stenosis is one of the main causes of AVF failure. It is caused by a number of upstream and downstream events.

Multi-Omics Approach: New Potential Key Mechanisms Implicated in Cardiorenal Syndromes.

Cardiorenal syndromes (CRS) include a scenario of clinical interactions characterized by the heart and kidney dysfunction. The crosstalk between cardiac and renal systems is clearly evidenced but not completely understood. Multi-factorial mechanisms leading to CRS do not involve only hemodynamic parameters.

[Methodology for determining workforce in health nephrologic unit in ITALY. Update of lows].

Nephrology continues to be in transition. While rates of kidney diseases and injury continue to rise, changes in the general health care system and the delivery of kidney care make it unclear how increases in need will be translated into demand for nephrologists. The changes in the delivery system also raise questions as to the future roles and career paths for nephrologists.

Presepsin and Procalcitonin Levels as Markers of Adverse Postoperative Complications and Mortality in Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Unlabelled: Backgound: This study was aimed at evaluating the presepsin and procalcitonin levels to predict adverse postoperative complications and mortality in cardiac surgery patients.

Methods: A total of 122 cardiac surgery patients were enrolled for the study. Presepsin and procalcitonin levels were measured 48 h after the procedure.

Discovery of new risk loci for IgA nephropathy implicates genes involved in immunity against intestinal pathogens.

We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the most common form of glomerulonephritis, with discovery and follow-up in 20,612 individuals of European and East Asian ancestry. We identified six new genome-wide significant associations, four in ITGAM-ITGAX, VAV3 and CARD9 and two new independent signals at HLA-DQB1 and DEFA. We replicated the nine previously reported signals, including known SNPs in the HLA-DQB1 and DEFA loci.

Systemic AA amyloidosis as a unique manifestation of a combined mutation of TNFRSF1A and MEFV genes.

We report the case of a 22-year-old Caucasian woman presenting with a new-onset nephrotic syndrome with normal renal function during the 35th week of pregnancy. AA (secondary) amyloidosis was further diagnosed at the renal biopsy. Extensive genetic testing revealed that the patient was heterozygous for both TNFRSF1A p.

Pulmonary congestion and physical functioning in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Purpose: Decline in physical function is commonly observed in patients with kidney failure on dialysis. Whether lung congestion, a predictable consequence of cardiomyopathy and fluid overload, may contribute to the low physical functioning of these patients has not been investigated.

Methods: In 51 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, we investigated the cross-sectional association between the physical functioning scale of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF: Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA) and an ultrasonographic measure of lung water recently validated in dialysis patients.

Chest ultrasound and hidden lung congestion in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Chest ultrasound (US) is a non-invasive well-validated technique for estimating extravascular lung water (LW) in patients with heart diseases and in end-stage renal disease. We systematically applied this technique to the whole peritoneal dialysis (PD) population of five dialysis units.

Methods: We studied the cross-sectional association between LW, echocardiographic parameters, clinical [pedal oedema, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class] and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) markers of volume status in 88 PD patients.

[Treatment of membranous glomerulonephritis: analysis of data from the Italian Renal Biopsy Registry].

To evaluate the actual use of different treatments for idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis in Italy, we selected all patients who were registered with a diagnosis of this disease at the Italian Renal Biopsy Registry between 2001 and 2005. It was surprising that single-steroid treatment without immunosuppressive drugs was preferred in 34.4% of patients to steroids associated with immunosuppressive drugs (the Ponticelli regimen), used only in 26.