Point-of-care ultrasound training in nephrology: a position statement by the International Alliance for POCUS in Nephrology.

Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) has rapidly evolved from a niche technology to an indispensable tool across medical specialties, including nephrology. This evolution is driven by advancements in technology and the visionary efforts of clinicians in emergency medicine and beyond. Recognizing its potential, medical schools are increasingly integrating POCUS into training curricula, emphasizing its role in enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient care.

Kidney Failure Secondary to Hereditary Xanthinuria due to a Homozygous Deletion of the XDH Gene in the Absence of Overt Kidney Stone Disease.

Hereditary xanthinuria (HXAN) is a rare metabolic disorder that results from mutations in either the xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) or the molybdenum cofactor sulfurase genes (MOCOS), respectively defining HXAN type I and type II. Hypouricemia, hypouricosuria, and abnormally high plasma and urine levels of xanthine, causing susceptibility to xanthine nephrolithiasis and deposition of xanthine crystals in tissues, are the metabolic hallmarks of HXAN. Several pathogenic variants in the XDH gene have so far been identified in patients with HXAN type I, but the clinical phenotype associated with the whole deletion of the human XDH gene is unknown.

Effects of Aspirin on Kidney Biopsy Bleeding Complications: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021261005).

Postprocedural bleeding is the main complication of percutaneous kidney biopsy (PKB). Therefore, aspirin is routinely withheld in patients undergoing PKB to reduce the bleeding risk. The authors aimed to examine the association between aspirin use and bleeding during PKB.

COVID-PA Bulletin: reports on artificial intelligence-based forecasting in coping with COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Pará, Brazil.

Objective: To report the university extension research result entitled 'The COVID-PA Bulletin', which presented forecasts on the behavior of the pandemic in the state of Pará, Brazil.

Methods: The artificial intelligence technique also known as 'artificial neural networks' was used to generate 13 bulletins with short-term forecasts based on historical data from the State Department of Public Health information system.

Results: After eight months of predictions, the technique generated reliable results, with an average accuracy of 97% (observed for147 days) for confirmed cases, 96% (observed for 161 days) for deaths and 86% (observed for 72 days) for Intensive Care Unit bed occupancy.

Tweet me: conferencing in the era of COVID-19 and 280 characters.

The European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Social Media (SoMe) Team provides Twitter coverage of the annual congress. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, #ERAEDTA20 was the first major Nephrology congress to be delivered virtually. The effect of The SoMe Team and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been explored previously.

Artificial neural networks for short-term forecasting of cases, deaths, and hospital beds occupancy in the COVID-19 pandemic at the Brazilian Amazon.

The first case of the novel coronavirus in Brazil was notified on February 26, 2020. After 21 days, the first case was reported in the second largest State of the Brazilian Amazon. The State of Pará presented difficulties in combating the pandemic, ranging from underreporting and a low number of tests to a large territorial distance between cities with installed hospital capacity.

The rise of #SocialMedia in the Nephrology world.

Social media (SoMe) use has increased exponentially in the last decade and is having a profound impact on the Nephrology world. The use of these platforms is contributing to continuous educational and professional development by exposing nephrologists to new research, allowing them to connect with experts, to exchange experiences, or to engage in scientific debates. Here, we introduce the basics of SoMe, focusing on Twitter because it is the most popular SoMe platform used by the medical community for professional purposes.

Early Versus Late Conversion From Immediate to Prolonged-Release Tacrolimus After Renal Transplantation: Clinical Effects and Treatment Costs.

Introduction: Prolonged-release tacrolimus (PR-TAC) was associated with improved renal function after transplantation when compared to immediate-release tacrolimus (IR-TAC) although evidence is still scarce. This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes and treatment costs in patients who converted from IR-TAC to PR-TAC during the first year after renal transplantation (RT) (early converters [EC]) or after that period (late converters [LC]).

Methods: We performed a retrospective study including 79 patients (EC, 39; LC, 41) which were followed up over 60 months.

The role of fibroblast growth factor 23 in chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF-23) is a bone-derived hormone involved in the regulation of phosphate homeostasis. FGF-23 levels are extremely elevated in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and there is evidence supporting the role of this hormone in the pathogenesis of Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD). Furthermore, recent data associates FGF-23 with the pathogenesis of systemic complications of CKD-MBD.