Associations between urinary cysteine-rich protein 61 excretion and kidney function decline in outpatients with chronic kidney disease: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Objectives: To examine whether urinary excretion of cysteine-rich protein 61 (Cyr61), an acknowledged proinflammatory factor in kidney pathologies, increases in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with subsequent rapid kidney function decline.

Design: An observational cohort study.

Setting: In the nephrology outpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital in Taiwan.

Effects of early dialysis on the outcomes of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The appropriate timing for initiating renal replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) remains unknown. This meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy of early initiation of RRT in critically ill patients with AKI. The Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched up to August 13, 2019.

The Impact of High-Flow Nasal Cannula on the Outcome of Immunocompromised Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) can be used as a respiratory support strategy for patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). However, no clear evidence exists to support or oppose HFNC use in immunocompromised patients. Thus, this meta-analysis aims to assess the effects of HFNC, compared to conventional oxygen therapy (COT) and noninvasive ventilation (NIV), on the outcomes in immunocompromised patients with ARF.

Effects of Statin Use in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

Although statin treatment is recommended for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages I⁻IV, its potential benefits have not been reported in advanced CKD patients. Non-diabetic patients with advanced CKD (pre-dialysis patients, estimated glomerular filtration rate <15 mL/min/1.73 m²) were enrolled from a National Health Insurance Research Database with a population of 23 million.

Risk of Incident Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation after Dialysis-Requiring Acute Kidney Injury.

The influence of acute kidney injury (AKI) on subsequent incident atrial fibrillation (AF) has not yet been fully addressed. This retrospective nationwide cohort study was conducted using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2010. A total of 41,463 patients without a previous AF, mitral valve disease, and hyperthyroidism who developed de novo dialysis-requiring AKI (AKI-D) during their index hospitalization were enrolled.

Urinary biomarkers predict advanced acute kidney injury after cardiovascular surgery.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiovascular surgery is a serious complication. Little is known about the ability of novel biomarkers in combination with clinical risk scores for prediction of advanced AKI.

Methods: In this prospectively conducted multicenter study, urine samples were collected from 149 adults at 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after cardiovascular surgery.

Perioperative body weight change is associated with in-hospital mortality in cardiac surgical patients with postoperative acute kidney injury.

Background: Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) is common following cardiac surgery (CS). Body weight (BW) may be an amenable variable by representing the summation of the nutritional and the fluid status. However, the predictive role of perioperative BW changes in CS patients with severe postoperative AKI is never explored.

CTNNB1 Mutation in Aldosterone Producing Adenoma.

Discoveries of somatic mutations permit the recognition of subtypes of aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) with distinct clinical presentations and pathological features. Catenin β1 (CTNNB1) mutation in APAs has been recently described and discussed in the literature. However, significant knowledge gaps still remain regarding the prevalence, clinical characteristics, pathophysiology, and outcomes in APA patients harboring CTNNB1 mutations.

Risk of serous retinal detachment in patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis.

The aim of this retrospective, nationwide, matched cohort study was to investigate the association of serous retinal detachment with having end-stage renal disease (ESRD) while on dialysis. The cohort study included 94,024 patients with ESRD on dialysis registered between January 2000 to December 2009 in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. An age- and sex-matched control group comprised 94,024 patients selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000.

Earlier versus later initiation of renal replacement therapy among critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Although the optimal timing of initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury has been extensively studied in the past, it is still unclear.

Methods: In this systematic review, we searched all related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that directly compared earlier and later RRT published prior to June 25, 2016, from PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. We extracted the study characteristics and outcomes of all-cause mortality, RRT dependence, and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS).

The prevalence of CTNNB1 mutations in primary aldosteronism and consequences for clinical outcomes.

Constitutive activation of the Wnt pathway/β-catenin signaling may be important in aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the prevalence and clinical outcomes after adrenalectomy in APA patients harboring CTNNB1 mutations. The molecular expression of CYP11B2 and gonadal receptors in adenomas were also explored.

Nationwide epidemiology and prognosis of dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury (NEP-AKI-D) study: Design and methods.

Aim: Acute kidney injury (AKI) carries an increasing incidence rate worldwide and increases the risk of developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as well as the medical expenses during the post-AKI course. The Taiwan Consortium for Acute Kidney Injury and Renal Diseases (CAKs) has thus launched a nationwide epidemiology and prognosis of dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury (NEP-AKI-D) study, which prospectively enrols critically ill patients with AKI. Through thoroughly evaluating the risk and prognostic factors of AKI, we hope to lower the incidence of AKI and ESRD from the perspective of AKI-ESRD interaction.