Ischemic preconditioning at a remote site prevents acute kidney injury in patients following cardiac surgery.

Acute kidney injury, a common complication of cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Ischemic preconditioning at a remote site mitigates ischemia-reperfusion injury and may prevent acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery, thus providing clinical benefit. To further study this, we enrolled 120 adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery for whom cardiopulmonary bypass was anticipated in a randomized, single-blind, and controlled pilot trial.

Effects of combination tocopherols and alpha lipoic acid therapy on oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in chronic kidney disease.

Objective: Although increased oxidative stress and inflammation are highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD), few studies have investigated whether oral antioxidant therapy can alter markers of inflammation or oxidative stress in patients with CKD. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a combination of mixed tocopherols and alpha lipoic acid (ALA) would alter biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in subjects with stage 3 to 4 CKD.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Gamma-tocopherol and docosahexaenoic acid decrease inflammation in dialysis patients.

Objective: Increased cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis patients may be related to augmented oxidative stress and inflammation, for which no proven beneficial therapies are available.

Study Design: We examined the effects of gamma tocopherol and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) administration on inflammation and oxidative stress markers in hemodialysis patients in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Active treatment consisted of capsules containing gamma tocopherol (308 mg) and DHA (800 mg).

Alpha and gamma tocopherol metabolism in healthy subjects and patients with end-stage renal disease.

Background: The metabolism of alpha and gamma tocopherol, the major components of vitamin E, have not been studied in uremic patients. The major pathway of tocopherol metabolism is via phytyl side chain oxidation, leaving carboxyethyl-hydroxychromans (CEHC) as metabolites. Alpha and gamma CEHC are water soluble, renally excreted, with known potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties.

Linkage of hypoalbuminemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis therapy.

Background: Hypoalbuminemia is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Increased biomarkers of acute-phase inflammation and oxidative stress are highly prevalent and also correlate with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The extent to which hypoalbuminemia, biomarkers of inflammation, and biomarkers of oxidative stress are linked in this patient population is unknown.