Association of Serum Osteoprotegerin With Vascular Calcification, and Cardiovascular and Graft Outcomes in Kidney Transplant Patients: Results From the KNOW-KT.

Background: Vascular calcification and stiffness contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity in patients with chronic kidney disease. This study investigated associations between serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels and vascular calcification or stiffness to assess cardiovascular and graft outcomes in kidney transplant patients.

Methods: The KoreaN cohort study for Outcome in patients With Kidney Transplantation was a prospective multicenter cohort study.

High pretransplant FGF23 level is associated with persistent vitamin D insufficiency and poor graft survival in kidney transplant patients.

Vitamin D (25[OH]D) insufficiency and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) elevation are usually attenuated after kidney transplantation (KT). However, elevated FGF23 may be associated with poor graft outcomes and vitamin D insufficiency after KT. This study investigated the effect of pretransplant FGF23 levels on post-KT 25(OH)D status and graft outcomes.

Direct oral anti-Xa anticoagulants versus warfarin in newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation and CKD: the Korean National Health Insurance Data.

Introduction: Despite the benefits of direct oral anti-Xa anticoagulants (DOACs), the risk-benefit profile of DOAC therapy compared to warfarin therapy in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), including end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using the Korea National Health Insurance Database from 2013 to 2018. We evaluated patients with incident non-valvular AF and CKD.

Fibroblast growth factor-23 and cardiovascular disease among prevalent hemodialysis patients focusing on residual kidney function.

Background: In patients undergoing incident hemodialysis, increased fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) levels are associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the influence of residual kidney function (RFK) on this association is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between FGF-23 levels, RKF, and CVD in patients undergoing prevalent hemodialysis.

Methods: This cross-sectional and longitudinal observational study included 296 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis for at least three months who were followed up for a median of 44 months.

Vitamin D and narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy for chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus.

Background: In addition to improving the serum vitamin D balance, narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy can effectively treat chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP). We investigated the degree of CKD-aP amelioration according to changes in the serum vitamin D level after NB-UVB phototherapy.

Methods: This was a before-after clinical study in patients with refractory CKD-aP on hemodialysis.

The Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY): an overview and summary of the kidney-transplant cohort.

Background: As the need for a nationwide organ-transplant registry emerged, a prospective registry, the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY), was initiated in 2014. Here, we present baseline characteristics and outcomes of the kidney-transplant cohort for 2014 through 2019.

Methods: The KOTRY consists of five organ-transplant cohorts (kidney, liver, lung, heart, and pancreas).

Urinary Retinol-Binding Protein 4 is Associated With Renal Function and Rapid Renal Function Decline in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Background: Urinary retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has been known as a biomarker of chronic kidney disease. In this study, we evaluated the association of urinary RBP4 with renal function and progression of renal function in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).

Methods: A total 50 KTRs were included in this study.

Hypochromic red cells as predictors of anemia in patients undergoing hemodialysis: an observational retrospective study.

The percentage of hypochromic red blood cells (%HRC) estimates the availability of iron by evaluating the degree of hemoglobinization. We investigated whether %HRC was a predictor of anemia in patients undergoing hemodialysis. We recruited 142 patients undergoing routine hemodialysis between 2017 and 2019.

Dyschloremia is associated with failure to restore renal function in survivors with acute kidney injury: an observation retrospective study.

Dyschloremia is common in critically ill patients. However, little is known about the effects of dyschloremia on renal function in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). A total of 483 patients who received CRRT for AKI were selected and divided into three groups according to their serum chloride concentrations at the time of CRRT initiation.

Post-traumatic stress symptoms in hemodialysis patients with MERS-CoV exposure.

Background: Post-traumatic stress symptoms can occur in patients with medical illness. During the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in South Korea in 2015, some dialysis patients in three centers who were incidentally exposed to patients or medical staff with confirmed MERS-CoV infection were isolated to interrupt the spread of the infection. We aimed to investigate post-traumatic stress symptoms and risk factors among these patients.

Effect of isolation practice on the transmission of middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus among hemodialysis patients: A 2-year prospective cohort study.

Hemodialysis (HD) patients had a high rate of infection transmission and mortality during the middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in Saudi Arabia. A standardized guideline on isolation technique for exposed HD patients is not available. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different isolation strategies on the prevention of secondary viral transmission and clinical outcomes among exposed HD patients.

Static intra-access pressure ratio and cardiovascular events in patients undergoing haemodialysis.

Static intra-access pressure ratio (SIAPR) measurement, using haemodialysis machine transducers, is the vascular access surveillance method in patients undergoing haemodialysis. However, little is known about the relationship between the SIAPR and arterial stiffness, and the clinical usefulness of the SIAPR in predicting cardiovascular events. A total of 209 patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis were evaluated.

Temporary Renal Artery Clamping With Hemostatic Materials in Diffuse Type of Spontaneous Renal Allograft Rupture: A Case Report.

Background: Several surgical strategies have been introduced for spontaneous kidney rupture. Herein, we report on a case in which temporary artery clamping with hemostatic materials was performed.

Case Presentation: A 52-year-old man underwent renal transplant from a living donor (his 20-year-old son).

Peripheral blood transcriptome analysis and development of classification model for diagnosing antibody-mediated rejection vs accommodation in ABO-incompatible kidney transplant.

The major obstacle to successful ABO blood group-incompatible kidney transplantation (ABOi KT) is antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). This study aimed to investigate transcriptional profiles through RNA sequencing and develop a minimally invasive diagnostic tool for discrimination between accommodation and early acute AMR in ABOi KT. Twenty-eight ABOi KT patients were selected: 18 with accommodation and 10 with acute AMR at the 10th day posttransplant protocol biopsy.

Urate-lowering agents for asymptomatic hyperuricemia in stage 3 - 4 chronic kidney disease: Controversial role of kidney function.

Because the serum uric acid level increases as the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreases, hyperuricemia is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although hyperuricemia is a risk factor for CKD progression, the causal role of uric acid remains controversial in patients with CKD and asymptomatic hyperuricemia. This study included 588 patients with stage 3-4 CKD and asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

Kidney Stones and Risk of Osteoporotic Fracture in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Osteoporotic fracture associated with calcium dysregulation is more common in patients with kidney stones. However, little is known about the association of kidney stones and bone health status in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This retrospective medical record-based study included 2282 patients with stable stage 3-4 CKD between 2007 and 2017.

Safety and efficacy of Rapamune® (Sirolimus) in kidney transplant recipients: results of a prospective post-marketing surveillance study in Korea.

Background: Few post-marketing surveillance studies have examined the safety and efficacy of Rapamune® (Sirolimus) in Asian countries. This study aimed to better understand safety and efficacy of Rapamune for kidney transplant recipients in the routine clinical practice setting in Korea.

Methods: This was an open-label, non-comparative, observational, prospective, multi-center, post-marketing surveillance study conducted at 15 Korean transplant centers between 31 August 2009 and 24 September 2015.

Identification of Human B-1 Helper T Cells With a Th1-Like Memory Phenotype and High Integrin CD49d Expression.

Human B-1 cells have been proposed to be CD20CD27CD43CD1c B cells found in the umbilical cord and adult peripheral blood, but their regulatory mechanisms have not been well elucidated. Previously, we reported that mouse CD49d CD4 T cells could enhance the secretion of natural antibodies by B-1 cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence and helper functions of the human equivalents of murine CD49d CD4 T cells.

Postoperative delirium in elderly patients with critical limb ischemia undergoing major leg amputation: a retrospective study.

Background: Critical limb ischemia has been identified as a risk factor for the incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients. Limb amputation is the last option in critical limb ischemia treatments. We investigated the incidence and predisposing factors of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing major leg amputation.

Korean clinical practice guidelines for preventing the transmission of infections in hemodialysis facilities.

Patients receiving hemodialysis are vulnerable to infectious diseases due to their impaired immunity and high risk of exposure to pathogens. To protect patients, staff, and visitors from potential infections, each hemodialysis unit should establish and follow standard infection control and prevention measures. Therefore, clinical practice guidelines were developed by a working group of nephrologists and infection control specialists to provide evidence-based guidance for dialysis physicians and nurses, with the aim of preventing infection transmission and controlling infection sources in hemodialysis facilities.

VDJ gene usage among B-cell receptors in ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation determined by RNA-seq Transcriptomic analysis.

Background: Studies on B-cell subtypes and V(D)J gene usage of B-cell receptors in kidney transplants are scarce. This study aimed to investigate V(D)J gene segment usage in ABO-incompatible (ABOi) kidney transplant (KT) patients compared to that in ABO-compatible (ABOc) KT patients.

Methods: We selected 16 ABOi KT patients with accommodation (ABOiA), 6 ABOc stable KT patients (ABOcS), and 6 ABOi KT patients with biopsy-proven acute antibody-mediated rejection (ABOiR) at day 10, whose graft tissue samples had been stored in the biorepository between 2010 and 2014.

The relationship between intradialytic hypotension and vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Vascular calcification is associated with structural and functional abnormality of the heart and blood vessels. We investigated the relationship between intradialytic hypotension (IDH) and vascular calcification in hemodialysis (HD) patients, and their impacts on cardiovascular events (CVEs).

Method: We enrolled 191 maintenance HD patients who underwent plain abdomen radiography for abdominal aortic calcification score (AACS).

Vascular calcification and cardiac function according to residual renal function in patients on hemodialysis with urination.

Background: Vascular calcification is common and may affect cardiac function in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, little is known about the effect of residual renal function on vascular calcification and cardiac function in patients on hemodialysis.

Methods: This study was conducted between January 2014 and January 2017.

Changing Patterns of Foreigner Transplants in Korea and Overseas Organ Transplants Among Koreans.

Background: This study aimed to estimate the numbers of foreign patients seeking organ transplantation (OT) in Korea and to examine the relationship between the trend of deceased donors in Korea and number of Korean patients seeking OT overseas since 2000.

Methods: Data on foreigners who received a transplant in Korea were obtained from the Korean Network for Organ Sharing. Data on overseas transplants were obtained from 42 transplant centers surveyed through transplant coordinators.