Comparative Analysis of Vascular Calcification Risk Factors in Pre-Hemodialysis and Prevalent Hemodialysis Adult Patients: Insights into Calcification Biomarker Associations and Implications for Intervention Strategies in Chronic Kidney Disease.

This retrospective study aimed to compare risk factors for vascular calcification (VC) between pre-hemodialysis (HD) and prevalent HD adult patients while investigating associations with calcification biomarkers. Baseline data from 30 pre-HD and 85 HD patients were analyzed, including iPTH, vitamin D, FGF 23, fetuin-A, sclerostin, and VC scores (Adragao method). Prevalence of VC was similar in both groups, but HD patients had more frequent VC scores ≥ 6.

Gender-specific differences in hemodialysis patients: a multicenter longitudinal study from Serbia.

Purpose: The study was undertaken with the aim to determine gender-specific differences in incident hemodialysis (HD) patient and their changes over time.

Methods: The retrospective longitudinal closed cohort study involved 441 incident patients starting HD in 2014 and followed for 1-59 (median 43, IQR 40) months. Demographic, clinical data, treatment characteristics, laboratory findings and outcome were abstracted from the patients' medical records.

Nonasthmatic Churg-Strauss syndrome superimposed on chronic pyelonephritis: a case report.

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a granulomatous small-vessel vasculitis. Asthma is seen in the majority of patients with CSS, but atypical nonasthmatic forms of CSS are also being recognized. We herein describe a 67-year-old woman with a history of chronic pyelonephritis and drug allergy reactions who was admitted to our hospital because of worsening renal function preceded by fever, purpura, sinusitis, and a positive urine culture that confirmed a urinary infection.

Contrast-induced nephropathy in a patient with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease: a case report.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is the impairment of kidney function defined as a serum creatinine increase of 25% or 44 µmol/L compared with baseline, usually occurring 24 to 48 hours after the use of intravenous contrast. Important risk factors for CIN include female sex, advanced age (>65 years), type 2 diabetes (T2D), kidney disease, advanced heart failure, and intravascular volume depletion. We herein present a male patient with T2D, moderately reduced renal function, no albuminuria, and a positive echocardiography stress test.

Lipid status association with 25-hydroxy vitamin D: Cross sectional study of end stage renal disease patients.

Background: Some observational studies indicate an association of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) insufficiency and atherogenic cholesterol concentrations. The aim of this study was to investigate relationship between 25(OH)D concentrations and lipid parameters in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, separately for predialysis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

Methods: We have adjusted 25(OH)D concentrations for seasonal variability with cosinor analysis, and performed all further analysis using these corrected 25(OH)D concentrations.

Significance of acPWV for Survival of Hemodialysis Patients.

Background And Objectives: Abnormal arterial stiffness (AS) is a major complication in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients treated by dialysis. Our study aimed to determine the significance of AS for survival of prevalent dialysis patients, as well as its association with cardiovascular parameters or vascular calcification promoters/inhibitors or both and AS.

Materials And Methods: The study involved 80 adult hemodialysis patients.

Increased Glomerular Filtration Rate in Early Stage of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy.

: A previous study indicated that Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) patients in the early stage of the disease had significantly higher creatinine clearance (Ccr) than healthy persons. The aim of the study was to assess whether tubular creatinine secretion affects Ccr in early stages of BEN and to check the applicability of serum creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equations in these patients. : The study involved 21 BEN patients with estimated GFR (eGFR) above 60 mL/min/1.

Dual Roles of the Mineral Metabolism Disorders Biomarkers in Prevalent Hemodilysis Patients: In Renal Bone Disease and in Vascular Calcification.

Background: Vascular calcification (VC) is highly prevalent in dialysis (HD) patients, and its mechanism is multifactorial. Most likely that systemic or local inhibitory factor is overwhelmed by promoters of VC in these patients. VC increased arterial stiffness, and left ventricular hypertrophy.

Serum Lactate As Reliable Biomarker of Acute Kidney Injury in Low-risk Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Background: Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) frequently occurs in patients assessed as low-risk for developing CSA-AKI. Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL), Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) and lactate are promising biomarkers of CSA-AKI but have not yet been explored in low-risk patients.

Aim: To evaluate urinary NGAL (uNGAL), KIM-1 and lactate as biomarkers of CSA-AKI in patients with low-risk for developing CSA-AKI.

How common is Balkan endemic nephropathy among immigrants in endemic regions?

Purpose: In the early 1970s, a number of authors described the development of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) in immigrants in endemic regions. The aim of this study was to examine whether immigrants in endemic regions are suffering from BEN today.

Methods: The study involved 193 residents of two endemic regions divided into three groups: two groups of native residents-(1) members of BEN families, (2) members of non-BEN families, and (3) immigrants, who had moved from non-affected settlements to the endemic regions of Kolubara (38 years ago) or Semberia (20 years ago).

Factors associating with differences in the incidence of renal replacement therapy among elderly: data from the ERA-EDTA Registry.

Background: The incidence of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the general population ≥75 years of age varies considerably between countries and regions in Europe. Our aim was to study characteristics and survival of elderly RRT patients and to find explanations for differences in RRT incidence.

Methods: Patients ≥75 years of age at the onset of RRT in 2010-2013 from 29 national or regional registries providing data to the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry were included.

Comparison of accepted and unaccepted living kidney donors: one-center experience.

Background: Kidney transplantation from living donors (LD) has stagnated in many countries. This study aimed to check whether correction of LD selection practice could increase the number of kidney transplantations.

Methods: From January 2003 to December 2012, 241 potential adult LD were evaluated in our hospital.

Recording blood pressure and eGFR in primary care after the Belgrade screening study.

Background: In 2009, Belgrade nephrologists and general practitioners from thirteen health centers carried out screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Three years later, medical records of patients from four health centers participating in the screening study were retrospectively analyzed in order to check whether general practitioners had continued to control patients at risk for CKD in accordance with the recommendations provided.

Methods: The study included 460 patients who visited their doctor at least once in the three-year period.

The European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry Annual Report 2014: a summary.

This article summarizes the European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry's 2014 annual report. It describes the epidemiology of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 2014 within 35 countries. In 2016, the ERA-EDTA Registry received data on patients who in 2014 where undergoing RRT for ESRD, from 51 national or regional renal registries.

Primary Intestinal Hodgkin Lymphoma Mimicking Intraabdominal Abscess in a Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report.

Introduction: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) comprises a variety of lymphoid and plasma cell disorders arising in patients with a solid organ transplant. Monomorphic lymphomas represent the most significant part of this wide spectrum, with the overall risk rising with the aggressiveness of lymphoid proliferation in comparison to the general population. The development of Hodgkin lymphoma is very rare in transplant recipients, comprising less than 6% of all monomorphic PTLD, while cases of primary intestinal Hodgkin lymphoma in these circumstances are anecdotal.

Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants: Future Perspectives in Kidney Ischemia Reperfusion Injury.

Kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury emerges in various clinical settings as a great problem complicating the course and outcome. Ischemia/reperfusion injury is still an unsolved puzzle with a great diversity of investigational approaches, putting the focus on oxidative stress and mitochondria. Mitochondria are both sources and targets of ROS.

Renal replacement therapy in Europe: a summary of the 2013 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report with a focus on diabetes mellitus.

Background: This article provides a summary of the 2013 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry Annual Report (available at http://www.era-edta-reg.org), with a focus on patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) as the cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Is Impaired Autoregulation Associated with Mortality in Patients with Severe Cerebral Diseases?

Background: Cerebral autoregulation (CA) is a mechanism that compensates for variations in cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) by changes in cerebral blood flow resistance to keep the cerebral blood flow constant. In this study, the relationship between lethal outcome during hospitalisation and the autoregulation-related indices PRx and Mx was investigated.

Materials And Methods: Thirty patients (aged 18-77 years, mean 53 ± 16 years) with severe cerebral diseases were studied.

Autoregulation monitoring and outcome prediction in neurocritical care patients: Does one index fit all?

Indexes PRx and Mx have been formerly introduced to assess cerebral autoregulation and have been shown to be associated with 3-month clinical outcome. In a mixed cohort of neurocritical care patients, we retrospectively investigated the impact of selected clinical characteristics on this association. Forty-one patients (18-77 years) with severe traumatic (TBI, N = 20) and non-traumatic (N = 21) brain injuries were studied.

Cystatin C and serum creatinine as predictors of kidney graft outcome.

Purpose: Serum cystatin C (Cys C) was evaluated as a predictor of kidney graft failure progression, and its predictive ability was compared to other markers of graft function.

Methods: The following kidney graft markers were determined in 91 patients who came for regular checkups of kidney graft function to our outpatient service in February 2008: Cys C, serum creatinine (sCr), 24-h proteinuria and 24-h urinary creatinine clearance (CCr). Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was estimated using sCr-based and Cys C formula.

The pharmacokinetics of recombinant human erythropoietin in Balkan endemic nephropathy patients.

Background: Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) hemodialysis patients require a higher dose of recombinant human erythropoietin for maintaining target hemoglobin level than patients with other kidney diseases.

Objectives: Comparison of the pharmacokinetics of beta-erythropoietin given subcutaneously to hemodialysis patients with BEN or other kidney diseases (non-BEN).

Methods: Recombinant human erythropoietin (75 U/kg) was administered subcutaneously to 10 BEN and 14 non-BEN hemodialysis patients.

Urinary protein patterns in patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Purpose: Urinary excretion of beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), albumin, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and protein was examined in patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), glomerulonephritis (GN) and healthy controls.

Methods: The proteins were measured in morning urine samples from 74 patients with BEN, 50 healthy persons and 22 patients with GN.

Results: In BEN patients, median values for albumin, beta2-MG and protein were above upper normal limits, but median IgG was inside normal range.

Potential influence of tubular dysfunction on the difference between estimated and measured glomerular filtration rate after kidney transplantation.

Purpose: Because no consensus exists regarding the most accurate calculation to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) based on serum creatinine concentrations (sCr) after kidney transplantation, this study sought to assess the potential role of tubular dysfunction on GFR estimates using various equations as well as the effect of pharmacologic blockades on tubular secretion of creatinine on creatinine clearance (ClCr).

Methods: Iohexol GFR (mGFR) was performed in 17 stable kidney transplant recipients(R) at >24 months post-transplantation. Their mean age was 48.

Correlation of bone alkaline phosphatase and iPTH with some basic biochemical markers in predialysis and dialysis patients.

Background: Bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) is a direct and independent indicator of impaired bone turnover. We intended to find out whether there are any significant changes in BALP and iPTH levels, in comparison to total Ca, total Mg, inorganic P, total alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in predialysis and dialysis patients.

Methods: Out of 266 patients investigated, 114 were on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, 112 were on maintenance haemodialysis, while 40 predialysis patients had end stage renal disease.

Screening of elderly for chronic kidney disease.

Background And Aims: The frequency of chronic kidney disease (CKD) markers was assessed in two groups of patients over 60 years--one without and the other with hypertension.

Methods: The cross-sectional study involved 585 asymptomatic elderly patients (227 males), 93 without and 492 with hypertension. Data on patients were obtained by interview, analysis of medical records and physical examinations.