Association of Gene Polymorphisms with Fractalkine, Fractalkine Receptor, and C-Reactive Protein Levels in Patients with Kidney Failure.

Fractalkine () is a chemokine that plays a significant role in inflammation, one of the pathophysiological processes underlying end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Genetic factors are significantly involved in cytokine expression and have been studied as potential risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD). : We aimed to elucidate the association of gene polymorphisms rs3732378 and rs3732379 with the levels of , receptor (), as well as C-reactive protein (CRP).

Elderly dialysis patients: analysis of factors affecting long-term survival in 4-year prospective observation.

Purpose: To assess factors influencing the long-term survival of elderly dialysis patients.

Methods: The study group consisted of 51 prevalent dialysis patients aged over 70 years (32 F and 19 M, all caucasians), who had been on a chronic hemodialysis (27) or peritoneal dialysis program (24) for at least 2 months; median age was 77 years, median time on dialysis before inclusion was 16 months, and median residual diuresis was 600 ml. The patients were prospectively followed up to 4 years, and an analysis of factors affecting survival was performed.

A super-agonist of growth hormone-releasing hormone causes rapid improvement of nutritional status in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease is frequently associated with protein-energy wasting related to chronic inflammation and a resistance to anabolic hormones such as insulin and growth hormone (GH). In this study, we determined whether a new GH-releasing hormone super-agonist (AKL-0707) improved the anabolism and nutritional status of nondialyzed patients with stage 4-5 chronic kidney disease randomized to twice daily injections of the super-agonist or placebo. After 28 days, this treatment significantly increased 24-h GH secretion by almost 400%, without altering the frequency or rhythmicity of secretory bursts or fractional pulsatile GH release, and doubled the serum insulin-like growth factor-1 level.

Quality of life among diabetic and non-diabetic patients on maintenance haemodialysis.

Aims: To compare the quality of life of end stage renal disease (ESRD) diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis.

Methods: A case-control study of 54 diabetic and 60 non-diabetic patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis. All subjects completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF) version 1.