Non-contrast low-dose CT can be used for volumetry of ADPKD.

Background: Kidney volume provides important information for the diagnosis and prognosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), as well as for the evaluation of the effects of drugs such as tolvaptan. Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) is commonly used for volumetry, and this study examined the correspondence and correlation of kidney volume measured by standard-dose or low-dose CT.

Methods: Axial standard-dose and low-dose CT images with 1-mm slices were obtained from 24 ADPKD patients.

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.

Impact of needle type on substitution volume during online hemodiafiltration: plastic cannulae versus metal needles.

Background: Plastic cannulae have attracted increasing interest as an alternative to traditional metal needles with the aim of reducing cannulation-related complications. We investigated whether the substitution volumes during hemodiafiltration differ using these two types of needles in dialysis patients.

Methods: An intervention study involving 26 hemodialysis patients was conducted in Korea between March and September in 2021.

Consistency of the estimated target weights and ECW/TBW using BIA after hemodialysis in patients between standing and lying-down positions.

Background: As hemodialysis is administered with the patient lying down, the distribution of body fluid is stable in the lying position, which is why this position is recommended for bioimpedance analysis (BIA). Although the InBody S10 is widely used for hemodialysis patients in the lying position, clinicians must make the measurements in person. In contrast, patients can use the InBody 770 to obtain measurements by themselves in the standing position, which may be more convenient.

High cortisol levels are associated with oxidative stress and mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Background: Chronic stimulation of the mineralocorticoid receptor has been suggested as one of the potential causes of cardiovascular events and death in patients with end-stage renal disease. This observational cohort study was performed to demonstrate that serum cortisol might be a predictive marker for patient mortality and to evaluate its association with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: Patients receiving HD three times a week were screened for enrollment at two institutions.

Quality of life in patients with diabetic nephropathy: findings from the KNOW-CKD (Korean Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease) cohort.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) can affect quality of life (QoL) because it requires arduous lifelong management. This study analyzed QoL differences between DN patients and patients with other chronic kidney diseases (CKDs).

Methods: The analysis included subjects (n = 1,766) from the KNOW-CKD (Korean Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease) cohort who completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form questionnaire.

Effects of the route of erythropoietin administration on hemoglobin variability and cardiovascular events in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Despite of the routine use of erythropoietin in hemodialysis patients to correct anemia, its administration route's effects on hemoglobin variability and cardiovascular events remain elusive. Herein, we determined different erythropoietin administration routes' effects on hemoglobin variability in hemodialysis patients and the associated factors of hemoglobin variability and cardiovascular events.

Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of a prospective, controlled, randomized, unblinded study with 78 Korean hemodialysis patients receiving intravenous (n = 40) or subcutaneous (n = 38) erythropoietin therapy.

Stepwise achievement of high convection volume in post-dilution hemodiafiltration: A prospective observational study.

High-volume online hemodiafiltration (HDF) has been reported to reduce the patient's mortality. However, achieving a high convection volume is challenging. In this prospective study, we investigated the feasibility of achieving high-volume HDF with ≥21 L substitution volume via modification of blood flow rate (BFR), needle size, and dialysis membrane.

Liver Infarction and Venous Thromboembolism after Tamoxifen Use in an ADPKD Patient with Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis: A Case Report.

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a potentially fatal complication after long-term peritoneal dialysis, and tamoxifen can be used for its prevention and treatment. However, tamoxifen is known to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism. A 49-year-old woman was admitted with sudden abdominal pain.

Expert-level segmentation using deep learning for volumetry of polycystic kidney and liver.

Purpose: Volumetry is used in polycystic kidney and liver diseases (PKLDs), including autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), to assess disease progression and drug efficiency. However, since no rapid and accurate method for volumetry has been developed, volumetry has not yet been established in clinical practice, hindering the development of therapies for PKLD. This study presents an artificial intelligence (AI)-based volumetry method for PKLD.

Quantified Vascular Calcification at the Dialysis Access Site: Correlations with the Coronary Artery Calcium Score and Survival Analysis of Access and Cardiovascular Outcomes.

Vascular calcification is a major contributor to mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. In this study, we investigated whether there was a correlation between the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and the vascular calcification score (VCS), and whether higher VCS increased the incidence of interventions and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). ECG-gated CT, including vascular access and the coronary vessel, was taken.

Comprehensive analysis of mutations of renal cell carcinoma in an autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease patient.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is known to be more prevalent in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients than in the general population. However, little is known about genetic alterations or changes in signaling pathways in RCC in patients with ADPKD.In the current report, whole-exome and transcriptome sequencing was performed for paired samples of tumor tissue, cyst tissue, and peripheral blood (triple set) from a patient diagnosed with ADPKD and RCC.

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.

Malnutrition, inflammation, progression of vascular calcification and survival: Inter-relationships in hemodialysis patients.

Background And Aims: Malnutrition and inflammation are closely linked to vascular calcification (VC), the severity of which correlate with adverse outcome. However, there were few studies on the interplay between malnutrition, inflammation and VC progression, rather than VC presence per se. We aimed to determine the relationship of malnutrition, inflammation, abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) progression with survival in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Serum alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transferase in acute pyelonephritis.

Background: Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) and γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) are commonly observed in patients with acute pyelonephritis. The goal of this study was to examine the clinical significance of elevated serum AP and γ-GT levels and to explore the mechanisms underlying these changes.

Methods: We examined serum AP and γ-GT levels in 438 patients with acute pyelonephritis.

Changes in bioimpedance analysis components before and after hemodialysis.

Background: This study compared nutritional parameters in hemodialysis (HD) subjects and controls using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and investigated how BIA components changed before and after HD.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 147 subjects on maintenance HD from two hospitals and 298 propensity score-matched controls from one healthcare center. BIA was performed pre- and post-HD at mid-week dialysis sessions.

Prediction of vascular access stenosis: Blood temperature monitoring with the Twister versus static intra-access pressure ratio.

Background: The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines recommend intra-access flow (Qa) measurement as the preferred vascular access surveillance method over static intra-access pressure ratio (SIAPR). Recently, it has become possible to perform Qa measurement during hemodialysis using thermodilution method called blood temperature monitoring (BTM) with the Twister device. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between Qa by BTM and SIAPR and to compare the performance of two tests in prediction of vascular access stenosis.

Esophageal Artery Pseudoaneurysm and Takayasu Arteritis in a Patient with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

A 47-year-old female previously diagnosed with ADPKD visited the hospital due to sudden pain in her upper abdomen and back. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT), and CT angiography identified an esophageal artery pseudoaneurysm and hematoma in the esophagus. Urgent angiography and embolization were performed.

Effects of aspirin resistance and mean platelet volume on vascular access failure in hemodialysis patients.

Background/aims: Maintaining the patency of vascular access (VA) in hemodialysis (HD) patients is important and can be life-saving. We investigated the effects of aspirin resistance and mean platelet volume (MPV) on VA failure in HD patients.

Methods: We enrolled 163 patients on maintenance HD.

Seropositive rate of the anti-hepatitis A immunoglobulin G antibody in maintenance hemodialysis subjects from two hospitals in Korea.

Background/aims: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a self-limiting infectious disease, but 1% of subjects develop fulminant hepatitis. The prevalence of the anti-HAV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody in hemodialysis subjects in Korea remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the seropositive rate of anti-HAV antibody among hemodialysis subjects in two hospitals according to age group.

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.