Discovering Novel Loci of Chronic Kidney Disease via Principal Component Analysis-Based Multiple-Trait Genome-Wide Association Study.

Introduction: Chronic kidney diseases (CKD) encompass a spectrum of complex pathophysiological processes. While numerous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have focused on individual traits such as albuminuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and eGFR change, there remains a paucity of genetic studies integrating these traits collectively for comprehensive evaluation.

Methods: In this study, we performed individual GWASs for albuminuria, baseline eGFR, and eGFR slope utilizing data from non-diabetic individuals enrolled from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB).

Urinary Fetuin-A Fragments Predict Progressive Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Decline in Two Independent Type 2 Diabetes Cohorts of Different Ethnicities.

Introduction: There is a great clinical need for novel markers to predict kidney function decline in patients with type 2 diabetes. We explored the potential of posttranslationally modified fetuin-A fragments in urine (uPTM-FetA) as such a marker.

Methods: We included patients with type 2 diabetes from two independent, nonoverlapping prospective cohort studies.

Roux-en-Y and One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass Surgery Are Superior to Sleeve Gastrectomy in Lowering Glucose and Cholesterol Levels Independent of Weight Loss: a Propensity-Score Weighting Analysis.

Background: The superior effects of gastric bypass surgery in preventing cardiovascular diseases compared with sleeve gastrectomy are well-established. However, whether these effects are independent of weight loss is not known.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we compared the change in cardiometabolic risks of 1073 diabetic patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) (n = 265), one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) (n = 619), and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (n = 189) with equivalent weight loss from the Min-Shen General Hospital.

ER ribosomal-binding protein 1 regulates blood pressure and potassium homeostasis by modulating intracellular renin trafficking.

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have linked RRBP1 (ribosomal-binding protein 1) genetic variants to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and serum lipoprotein levels. However, how RRBP1 regulates blood pressure is unknown.

Methods: To identify genetic variants associated with blood pressure, we performed a genome-wide linkage analysis with regional fine mapping in the Stanford Asia-Pacific Program for Hypertension and Insulin Resistance (SAPPHIRe) cohort.

A genome-wide association study for melatonin secretion.

Melatonin exerts a wide range of effects among various tissues and organs. However, there is currently no study to investigate the genetic determinants of melatonin secretion. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for melatonin secretion using morning urine 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate-to-creatinine ratio (UMCR).

Serum Creatinine Reference Limits in Pediatric Population-A Single Center Electronic Health Record-Based Database in Taiwan.

To assess age- and sex-specific serum creatinine levels in a pediatric population using a hospital-based database in Taiwan. Data on serum creatinine levels were obtained from the National Taiwan University Hospital-integrated Medical Database (NTUH-iMD). Due to the possibility of having acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease, individuals with multiple serum creatinine measurements were excluded, and outliers in each age- and sex-specific group were also subsequently removed.

Rapid Trio Exome Sequencing for Autosomal Recessive Renal Tubular Dysgenesis in Recurrent Oligohydramnios.

Oligohydramnios is not a rare prenatal finding. However, recurrent oligohydramnios is uncommon, and genetic etiology should be taken into consideration. We present two families with recurrent fetal oligohydramnios that did not respond to amnioinfusion.

A large retrospective review of persistent proteinuria in children.

Background: Proteinuria is a common finding in children. It may be due to a benign cause, but it can also represent early renal injury. Of children with persistent proteinuria noted in mass urine screening programs, 35% have a urine protein level greater than 100 mg/dl and many of them are associated with many underlying renal diseases.

Acute kidney injury in patients with Kawasaki disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease was well known for coronary artery abnormalities with few reports of incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI). Our aim was to identify the rate of AKI in patients with Kawasaki disease and its associated factors.

Methods: All patients with Kawasaki disease admitted to a medical center from February 2004 to August 2014 were evaluated.

Transfusion-dependent thalassaemic patients with renal Fanconi syndrome due to deferasirox use.

Aim: Deferasirox is a new oral iron chelating agent with several cases reporting renal adverse events in recent years. Our aim was to identify the incidence of deferasirox-related Fanconi syndrome (FS) and its risk factors.

Methods: All transfusion-dependent thalassaemic patients who received deferasirox at the outpatient department of the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) from January 2006 to February 2014 were evaluated.