User of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor and/or angiotensin II receptor blocker might be associated with vascular calcification in predialysis chronic kidney disease patients: a retrospective single-center observational study : ACEI/ARB and vascular calcification.

Background: Vascular calcification is a prominent feature in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus. A recent report suggests that angiotensin II is protective to vascular calcification. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between vascular calcification and use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and/or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) from a cross-sectional view.

Impact of point-of-care creatinine monitoring on early detection of acute kidney injury in critical illness.

Purpose: To assess the utility and accuracy of creatinine measurement using point-of-care (POC) blood gas analysis compared to standard laboratory assay and to assess the effectiveness of frequent creatinine monitoring using POC blood gas analysis with respect to early detection of acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: We performed a single center retrospective observational study in 398 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. We investigated the clinical concordance of creatinine values measured by POC blood gas analysis (Cr-BG) compared to those measured by laboratory assay (Cr-lab).

Continuous Hemodiafiltration with an AN69ST Hemofilter (AN69ST-CHDF) as FGF-23-Lowering Therapy.

Background: Recent studies have shown that fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is elevated not only in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but also in acute illnesses such as acute kidney injury, septic shock, and acute heart failure. FGF-23 would be not only a simple biomarker but also a direct toxic factor in acute illness. Therefore, lowering circulating FGF-23 levels in clinical practice would be an exciting and valuable interventional strategy.

Abnormal Diurnal Patterns of Parathyroid Hormone are Associated with Sustained Mild Hypercalcemia in Non-Dialyzed Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Plasma PTH levels are normally high during the night and early morning and lowest at approximately 10 am (the PTH circadian rhythm). Our objective was to examine the relationship between the PTH circadian rhythm and calcium-phosphorus metabolism in non-dialyzed, chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Methods: The characteristics of twenty-eight subjects comprised: male, 23; diabetic patients, 16; mean age, 71.