Changes in spike protein antibody titer over 90 days after the second dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in Japanese dialysis patients.

Objectives: There is no report on antibody titers after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in Japanese dialysis patients. As dialysis is different between Japan and other countries, changes in antibody titers were examined.

Methods: Baseline characteristics and anti-spike protein antibody titers (Roche) over 90 days after administration of the BNT162b2 messenger RNA vaccine were investigated in dialysis patients.

Serum NT-proBNP levels and histopathological myocardial fibrosis in autopsied cases from a Japanese community: The Hisayama Study.

Background: natriuretic peptide is associated with myocardial fibrosis in animal models and among patients with heart disease. However, it remains unclear whether serum N-terminal pro-B-type peptide (NT-proBNP) levels are associated with histopathologically proven myocardial fibrosis among individuals without apparent heart disease. This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum NT-proBNP levels and the histopathologically estimated myocardial fibrotic area in autopsied samples from a community.

Reduced Estimated GFR and Cardiac Remodeling: A Population-Based Autopsy Study.

Rationale & Objective: Evidence suggests that cardiac remodeling, including left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis, develops with progression of kidney disease. Few studies have examined cardiac pathology across a range of estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs), which was the objective of this investigation.

Study Design: Population-based cross-sectional study of deceased patients undergoing autopsy.

Serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin d and the development of kidney dysfunction in a Japanese community.

Background:  Recent evidence indicates that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of renal impairment, but studies addressing the influence of vitamin D deficiency on the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general Asian population have been few.

Methods And Results:  A total of 2,417 community-dwelling individuals without CKD stage 3-5 aged ≥40 years were followed for 5 years (mean age, 60 years; women, 59.1%).

The effect of low-dose corticosteroids on short- and long-term renal outcome in patients with cholesterol crystal embolism.

Background: The effect of corticosteroids on renal cholesterol crystal embolism (CCE) remains uncertain. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effect of steroid therapy on short- and long-term renal outcome in CCE patients.

Methods: Fifty-one patients diagnosed with renal CCE were included in this retrospective study.