A systematic review and narrative synthesis of health literacy interventions among Spanish speaking populations in the United States.

Background: While many populations struggle with health literacy, those who speak Spanish preferentially or exclusively, including Hispanic, immigrant, or migrant populations, may face particular barriers, as they navigate a predominantly English-language healthcare system. This population also faces greater morbidity and mortality from treatable chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes. The aim of this systematic review was to describe existing health literacy interventions for patients with a Spanish-language preference and present their effectiveness.

White Coat Hypertension Persistence in Children and Adolescents: The Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium Study.

Objectives: To determine whether youth with white coat hypertension on initial ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) continue to demonstrate the same pattern on repeat ABPM.

Study Design: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study of patients referred for high blood pressure (BP) and diagnosed with white coat hypertension by ABPM who had follow-up ABPM 0.5-4.

Three-Dimensional Motor Nerve Organoid Generation.

A fascicle of axons is one of the major structural motifs observed in the nervous system. Disruption of axon fascicles could cause developmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Although numerous studies of axons have been conducted, our understanding of formation and dysfunction of axon fascicles is still limited due to the lack of robust three-dimensional in vitro models.

Simulations of breakthrough curves for fixed-bed column adsorption of cobalt (II) ions on spent tealeaves.

The objective of this study is to model the breakthrough adsorption curves of Co (II) ions using spent tealeaves in fixed-bed column experiments. Spent leaves of green tea (GT), peppermint tea (PM) and chamomile (CM) were packed in glass columns with a diameter of 2 cm and height of 15 cm, and used as filters for the removal of the pollutant. Aqueous solutions of cobalt (II) ions (100 mg/L) at pH 6 were prepared and pumped against gravity through the columns at a uniform flow rate of 5 mL/min.

Association of infections and venous thromboembolism in hospitalized children with nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) results in hypercoagulability and increased risk of infection. Furthermore, infection increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Our objective was to determine the prevalence of infection, VTE, and the associated outcomes among a cohort of hospitalized children with NS.

and Mutations Implicate RAB5 Regulation in Nephrotic Syndrome.

Background: Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is a frequent cause of CKD. The discovery of monogenic causes of SRNS has revealed specific pathogenetic pathways, but these monogenic causes do not explain all cases of SRNS.

Methods: To identify novel monogenic causes of SRNS, we screened 665 patients by whole-exome sequencing.

AKI in Children Hospitalized with Nephrotic Syndrome.

Background And Objectives: Children with nephrotic syndrome can develop life-threatening complications, including infection and thrombosis. While AKI is associated with adverse outcomes in hospitalized children, little is known about the epidemiology of AKI in children with nephrotic syndrome. The main objectives of this study were to determine the incidence, epidemiology, and hospital outcomes associated with AKI in a modern cohort of children hospitalized with nephrotic syndrome.

Current Trends, Evaluation, and Management of Pediatric Nephrolithiasis.

The incidence of pediatric nephrolithiasis has been steadily increasing for the past several decades, with a concomitant concerning increase in health care costs and burden to children with this disease. Recent population-based studies have also demonstrated a change in the current trends of pediatric nephrolithiasis that is characterized by a significant increase in the number of girls now being affected. While changes in diet and lifestyle, obesity prevalence, and even imaging practices have been proposed to contribute to the recent increase in pediatric nephrolithiasis, a definite underlying cause remains elusive.

Renin Angiotensin System Blocker Fetopathy: A Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium Report.

Objectives: Fetuses continue to be exposed to renin angiotensin system (RAS) blockers despite their known teratogenicity and a black box warning. We hypothesized that fetopathy from in utero exposure to RAS blockers has a broader spectrum of clinical manifestations than described previously and that there are a variety of clinical scenarios leading to such exposures.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study performed through the Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium.

Rotational atherectomy: if you do not do it before, you can do it after stenting.

We report the treatment of three severely underexpanded freshly deployed stent layers in the proximal left anterior descending artery, despite 24 atm inflation pressure, due to heavily calcified plaque. Rotational atherectomy, using a high rpm and a stepped burr strategy, successfully ablated the stent layers and the protruding calcified plaque. Subsequently, balloon angioplasty resulted in stent expansion and the treated segment was scaffolded with another stent, finally obtaining an excellent angiographic result.

Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale: "Closed" door after the last randomized trials?

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) percutaneous closure has previously been an accepted intervention for the prevention of recurrent cryptogenic stroke on the basis of observational studies. However, randomized trials have been lacking until now. Three recently published randomized trials (CLOSURE I, PC and RESPECT) do not demonstrate the superiority of this intervention versus optimal medical therapy, therefore making this practice questionable.

Design of the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) to evaluate primary glomerular nephropathy by a multidisciplinary approach.

The Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) is a North American multicenter collaborative consortium established to develop a translational research infrastructure for nephrotic syndrome. This includes a longitudinal observational cohort study, a pilot and ancillary study program, a training program, and a patient contact registry. NEPTUNE will enroll 450 adults and children with minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and membranous nephropathy for detailed clinical, histopathological, and molecular phenotyping at the time of clinically indicated renal biopsy.

Successful removal of a floating thrombus in ascending aorta.

Free-floating thrombus in ascending aorta is a rare cause of peripheral embolism with potentially fatal consequences. We report the case of a young patient with syncope and sudden lumbar pain. Computed tomographic scan revealed a large pedunculated floating mass attached to the posterior wall of the ascending aorta, probably responsible of renal embolic infarction; transthoracic echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis.

Technical approach to iliac crest biopsy.

Bone histomorphometry has been the gold standard in the evaluation and diagnosis of renal osteodystrophy. The recent new definition of renal osteodystrophy as chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder has once again highlighted the use of bone biopsy as a powerful and diagnostic tool to determine skeletal abnormalities in chronic kidney disease. The procedure of iliac crest bone biopsy has been proved safe and associated with very minimal morbidity.

Osteomalacia in a hemodialysis patient receiving an active vitamin D sterol.

Background: A 17-year-old Filipino male hemodialysis patient presented for renal transplant evaluation. He had significant skeletal abnormalities characterized by bone pain, an inability to walk, and secondary hyperparathyroidism despite therapy with an active vitamin D sterol (paricalcitol).

Investigations: The patient underwent a physical examination, and his serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, aluminum and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OH-vitamin D) were determined.

Fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium: are they biomarkers of fetal alcohol exposure and effect?

Background: Biomarkers of fetal exposure to alcohol are important to establish so that early detection and intervention can be made on these infants to prevent undesirable outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyze long-chain fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium as potential biomarkers of fetal alcohol exposure and effect.

Methods: Fatty acid ethyl esters were analyzed in the meconium of 124 singleton infants by positive chemical ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and correlated to maternal ethanol use.

Role of parathyroid hormone and therapy with active vitamin D sterols in renal osteodystrophy.

Renal osteodystrophy (ROD) represents a spectrum of bone lesions ranging from a high-turnover to a low-turnover state. The expression of the histologic bone lesions is modulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and aluminum that act as major regulators of osteoblastic activity and bone formation rate. The availability of immunometric PTH assays has allowed reasonable prediction of the subtypes of bone lesions in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).