Gut permeability, circulating bacterial fragments and measures of congestion in peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Limited data exist on the association between gut permeability, circulating bacterial fragment and volume overload in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We measured circulating bacterial fragments, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), calprotectin and zonulin levels, and evaluate their association with the clinical outcomes in PD patients.

Methods: This was a single-center prospective study on 108 consecutive incident PD patients.

Omentin-1 Levels and Outcomes in Incident Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Rationale & Objective: Omentin-1 is an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective properties. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic role of plasma omentin-1 levels in incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of prospective cohort.

Circulating and Adipose Tissue Adiponectin Level and Outcomes in Incident Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Rationale & Objective: Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Adiponectin, a key adipokine, is related to obesity and insulin resistance. We determined the clinical and prognostic value of plasma adiponectin level and its adipose tissue messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in new PD patients.

Adipose and serum zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) expressions predict longitudinal change of adiposity, wasting and predict survival in dialysis patients.

There were limited data on adipose and serum zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) expression and its association with body composition in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to quantify adipose and serum ZAG expression and evaluate their association with body composition and its longitudinal change, together with mortality in incident dialysis patients. We performed a single-center prospective cohort study.

Urinary mi-106a for the diagnosis of IgA nephropathy: Liquid biopsy for kidney disease.

Urinary micro-RNA (miRNA) level may serve as non-invasive disease markers for immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), but urinary miRNA targets identified in previous studies may represent kidney scarring rather than being specific for IgAN. We aim to identify urinary miRNA targets for the diagnosis of IgAN by including hypertensive nephrosclerosis (HTN) as a control group. Methods In the development cohort, we performed complete miRNA profiling of urinary sediment in 33 patients with IgAN, 9 with HTN, and 9 healthy controls (CTL).

Extended antibiotic therapy for the prevention of relapsing and recurrent peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Relapsing and recurrent peritonitis episodes are major causes of technique failure in peritoneal dialysis (PD). We examined the efficacy of extended antibiotic therapy for the prevention of relapsing and recurrent peritonitis.

Methods: From February 2016 to November 2018 we recruited 254 PD patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PD peritonitis.

Adipose expression of miR-130b and miR-17-5p with wasting, cardiovascular event and mortality in advanced chronic kidney disease patients.

Background: There are limited data on the association of adipose microRNA expression with body composition and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to evaluate the association of adipose miR-130b and miR-17-5p expressions with body composition, functional state, cardiovascular outcome and mortality in incident dialysis patients.

Methods: We performed a single-center prospective cohort study.

Exploring the Link Between Hepatic Perfusion and Endotoxemia in Hemodialysis.

Introduction: The liver receives gut-derived endotoxin via the portal vein, clearing it before it enters systemic circulation. Hemodialysis negatively impacts the perfusion and function of multiple organs systems. Dialysate cooling reduces hemodialysis-induced circulatory stress and protects organs from ischemic injury.

Circulating endotoxin and inflammation: associations with fitness, physical activity and the effect of a 6-month programme of cycling exercise during haemodialysis.

Background: Intradialytic cycling (IDC) may provide cardiovascular benefits to individuals receiving haemodialysis, but the exact mechanism behind these improvements remains unclear. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a 6-month programme of IDC on circulating endotoxin (secondary analysis from the CYCLE-HD trial). Secondary aims were to investigate changes in circulating cytokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, tumour necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein (CRP) and the IL-6:IL-10 ratio] and their associations with physical activity, fitness and cardiovascular outcomes.

Prognostic significance of peritoneal dialysis effluent mitochondrial DNA level.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) resembles bacterial DNA and potentially triggers local and systemic inflammation. We evaluate the prognostic implications of PD effluent mtDNA level in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: We measured mtDNA in the PD effluent (PDE) sediment and supernatant of 168 incident PD patients.

Kidney microRNA-21 Expression and Kidney Function in IgA Nephropathy.

Rationale & Objective: Previous studies have suggested that microRNA-21 (miR-21) plays an important role in kidney fibrosis. We examined the relationship between intrarenal miR-21 level and rate of kidney function loss in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN).

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Polymerase chain reaction/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) is not suitable for rapid bacterial identification in peritoneal dialysis effluent.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis is a serious complication of PD, but routine microbiological culture is slow and could not identify the organism in 15% cases. We examine the accuracy of polymerase chain reaction/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS), a PCR-based method developed for the direct detection of bacteria in blood, for rapid identification of microorganisms from PD effluent.

Methods: We recruited 73 consecutive patients with PD-related peritonitis.

Author Correction: Metabolomic Changes of Human Proximal Tubular Cell Line in High Glucose Environment.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Metabolomic Changes of Human Proximal Tubular Cell Line in High Glucose Environment.

Hyperglycemia causes mitochondrial damage renal tubular cells, which contribute to the progression of diabetic kidney disease. However, the metabolic aberration of renal tubular cells in an hyperglycemic milieu has not been fully elucidated. In this study, human proximal renal tubular cell line (HK-2 cell) are incubated in glucose and mannitol at 5 mM or 25 mM.

Urinary miRNA profile for the diagnosis of IgA nephropathy.

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide. Urinary micro-RNA (miRNA) level is increasingly reported to as non-invasive markers of various kidney diseases. We aim to identify urinary miRNA targets for the diagnosis of IgAN.

Urinary mitochondrial DNA level as a biomarker of tissue injury in non-diabetic chronic kidney diseases.

Background: Urinary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragment level has been proposed as a biomarker of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this study, we determine the relation between urinary mtDNA level and rate of renal function deterioration in non-diabetic CKD.

Methods: We recruited 102 non-diabetic CKD patients (43 with kidney biopsy that showed non-specific nephrosclerosis).

Urinary mitochondrial DNA level in non-diabetic chronic kidney diseases.

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We study the relation between urinary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels and renal dysfunction in non-diabetic CKD.

Methods: We recruited 32 CKD patients (20 had hypertensive nephrosclerosis, 12 had IgA nephropathy).

Endotoxemia in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Pilot Study to Examine the Role of Intestinal Perfusion and Congestion.

Endotoxemia is common in advanced chronic kidney disease and is particularly severe in those receiving dialysis. In hemodialysis patients, translocation from the bowel occurs as a consequence of recurrent circulatory stress leading to a reduction in circulating splanchnic volume and increased intestinal permeability. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are often volume expanded and have continuous direct immersion of bowel in fluid; these may also be important factors in endotoxin translocation and would suggest different therapeutic strategies to improve it.

Dialysate bacterial endotoxin as a prognostic indicator of peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis.

Peritonitis is the major complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The aim of our present study is to explore the prognostic value of endotoxin level in PD effluent for the prediction of treatment failure in PD-related peritonitis. We studied 325 peritonitis episodes in 223 patients.

Plasma Mitochondrial DNA Level is a Prognostic Marker in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Background/aims: Circulating bacterial DNA fragment is related to systemic inflammatory state in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We hypothesize that circulating mitochondrial DNA, which has a similar structure with bacterial DNA, correlates with systemic inflammatory state and predicts cardiovascular event in new PD patients.

Methods: We measured plasma mitochondrial DNA level by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 197 new PD patients and 150 patients with chronic kidney disease.

Micro-RNA and mRNA myocardial tissue expression in biopsy specimen from patients with heart failure.

Aims: There is increasing evidence that changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression occur in chronic heart failure and these may be involved in the pathogenesis. In this study we have explored the expression of selected myocyte and fibroblast-related microRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that are associated with hypertrophy, apoptosis and fibrosis in biopsy specimens from patients with relatively new onset heart failure compared to a group of patients without heart failure.

Methods And Results: Myocardial biopsy specimens taken from Chinese patients presenting with recent heart failure were compared with a group of patients without heart failure undergoing routine cardiac surgery (n=34).

Circulating bacterial-derived DNA fragment level is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Circulating bacterial DNA fragment is related to systemic inflammatory state in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We hypothesize that plasma bacterial DNA level predicts cardiovascular events in new PD patients.

Methods: We measured plasma bacterial DNA level in 191 new PD patients, who were then followed for at least a year for the development of cardiovascular event, hospitalization, and patient survival.

Bacteria-derived DNA fragment in peritoneal dialysis effluent as a predictor of relapsing peritonitis.

Background And Objectives: Relapsing and recurrent peritonitis episodes are important causes of treatment failure in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study explored whether the level of bacteria-derived DNA fragment in PD effluent predicts the development of relapsing or recurrent peritonitis.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: The study included 143 patients with PD peritonitis in a dialysis unit between September 2010 and December 2011.