The (rs156697) Polymorphism Modifies Diabetic Nephropathy Risk.

Background and Objectives: In the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications, genetic and environmental factors play important roles. Diabetic nephropathy (DN), one of the major microangiopathic chronic diabetic complications, is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. The present study was designed to investigate the possible modifying effect of glutathione transferase polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 rs1138272/rs1695, GSTO1 rs4925 and GSTO2 rs156697) in the susceptibility to T2DM and diabetic nephropathy.

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.

Plasma activity of the antioxidant enzymes in predicting diabetic nephropathy progression.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to examine whether biomarkers of oxidative stress are predictors of diabetic nephropathy (DN) progression.

Methods: The study involved 45 patients with type 2 diabetes and DN and 15 healthy controls. Patients were followed for 3 years and the annual percentage change in eGFR was used to estimate the progression of DN.

Association of SOD2 (rs4880) and GPX1 (rs1050450) Gene Polymorphisms with Risk of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and its Related Tumors.

Experimental data show that superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) is involved in ochratoxin (OTA)-induced nephrotoxicity, whereas clinical data indicate the role of rs4880 or glutathione peroxidase 1 ( rs1050450 polymorphisms in end-stage renal disease and urothelial carcinoma risk, known to be the major complications of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). Therefore, we hypothesized that and gene polymorphisms would influence the risk of BEN and its associated tumors. The study was conducted in 207 BEN patients and 86 controls from endemic areas.

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.

Differences in Risk Factors and Prevalence of Vascular Calcification between Pre-Dialysis and Hemodialysis Balkan Nephropathy Patients.

: The aim of this study was to compare the risk factors and prevalence of vascular calcification (VC) in pre-dialysis and hemodialysis (HD) patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) or other kidney diseases (non-BEN). : The study involved 115 patients, 32 pre-dialysis and 83 HD patients, separated into groups of BEN and non-BEN patients. In addition to interviews, objective examinations and laboratory analyses, VC was assessed using Adragao score.

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.

Prevalence and risk factors of vascular calcification in pre-dialysis patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Introduction: Vascular calcifications (VC) are common in patients with chronic kidney disease and present one of manifestations of mineral and bone disorders in these patients.

Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of VC in pre-dialysis patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and other kidney diseases.

Methods: The study involved 32 pre-dialysis patients, 15 with BEN and 17 with other kidney diseases.

Association between Hemodialysis Patient Outcomes and Compliance with KDOQI and KDIGO Targets for Mineral and Bone Metabolism.

Background: Increased mortality of hemodialysis (HD) patients is associated with chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD), and therefore, their correction may improve patient survival. Differences in targets recommended by KDOQI and KDIGO CKD-MBD guidelines directed us to compare the relative numbers of patients achieving these targets and to examine possible associations between compliance with the targets and patient outcome.

Methods: A total of 1,744 patients (61.

Biomarkers of oxidative damage and antioxidant enzyme activities in pre-dialysis Balkan endemic nephropathy patients.

Aim: To obtain more insight into molecular mechanisms underlying oxidative stress in Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities were studied in 38 pre-dialysis BEN patients, 21 healthy BEN family members and 36 healthy subjects from non-endemic areas.

Methods: Protein thiol groups (P-SH), antioxidant enzyme activities [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX)], were determined in plasma spectrophotometrically, while malondialdehyde adducts (MDA) by enzyme immunoassay.

Results: BEN patients had significantly lower plasma GPX activity in comparison with values for both control groups (p = 0.

Compliance with guidelines and predictors of mortality in hemodialysis. Learning from Serbia patients.

Objectives: The aims of the study were to determine the percentage of patients on regular hemodialysis (HD) in Serbia failing to meet KDOQI guidelines targets and find out factors associated with the risk of time to death and the association between guidelines adherence and patient outcome.

Methods: A cohort of 2153 patients on regular HD in 24 centers (55.7% of overall HD population) in Serbia were followed from January 2010 to December 2012.

Achievement of guideline targets in elderly patients on hemodialysis: a multicenter study.

Objectives: Advanced age is associated with shorter survival on dialysis. The aim of the present study was to compare the adherence with KDOQI guideline targets and the association between mortality and satisfying the guidelines targets between hemodialysis patients aged 65 years and over and those younger than 65 years.

Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire sent to all 46 HD centers in Serbia with totally 3868 HD patients.

Comprehensive geriatric assessment: comparison of elderly hemodialysis patients and primary care patients.

Backgrounds: The quality of life and survival of elderly depend not only on their age but on many social and health factors. In the present study, comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) was made in elderly patients on regular hemodialysis (HD) and those without chronic kidney disease recruited in primary health care in order to compare their sociodemographic characteristics, physical health, functional ability and social support.

Method: The 106 HD patients and 300 primary care patients aged 70 years and more were studied.

Renal replacement therapy in Europe: a summary of the 2012 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report.

Background: This article summarizes the 2012 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry Annual Report (available at www.era-edta-reg.org) with a specific focus on older patients (defined as ≥65 years).

Renal replacement therapy in Europe: a summary of the 2011 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report.

Background: This article provides a summary of the 2011 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report (available at www.era-edta-reg.org).

Is increased susceptibility to Balkan endemic nephropathy in carriers of common GSTA1 (*A/*B) polymorphism linked with the catalytic role of GSTA1 in ochratoxin a biotransformation? Serbian case control study and in silico analysis.

Although recent data suggest aristolochic acid as a putative cause of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), evidence also exists in favor of ochratoxin A (OTA) exposure as risk factor for the disease. The potential role of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, such as the glutathione transferases (GSTs), in OTA biotransformation is based on OTA glutathione adducts (OTHQ-SG and OTB-SG) in blood and urine of BEN patients. We aimed to analyze the association between common GSTA1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms and BEN susceptibility, and thereafter performed an in silico simulation of particular GST enzymes potentially involved in OTA transformations.

Quality of diabetes care in family medicine practices in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Objectives: In the present study, the audit of medical files of patients with diabetes, followed in family medicine practices in the eastern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), was carried out in order to investigate the frequency of the use of screening tests for early diagnosis of diabetes complications.

Methods: The audit was conducted in 32 family medicine practices from 12 primary health care centers in the eastern part of BiH over one-year period (March 2010 to March 2011). A specially established audit team randomly selected medical files of 20 patients with diabetes from the Diabetes Registry administered by each family medicine team database.

20 years since the establishment of the BANTAO association (Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs).

Unlabelled: The Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (BANTAO) was born in Ohrid on October 9, 1993. The war in former Yugoslavia negatively affected the development of nephrology and also the connections among the nephrologists from the Balkans. However, there was willingness for further mutual collaboration between the nephrologists from the Balkans.

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.

Trends in incidence and prevalence of Balkan endemic nephropathy in the three most affected villages in Serbia over a 36-year period.

The study was undertaken with the aim to evaluate trends in incidence and prevalence of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) in the villages Šopić, Petka, and Vreoci, Lazarevac municipality, Serbia. Data concerning BEN notifications in the population-based registry of the Special Hospital for Endemic Nephropathy, Lazarevac were used to evaluate BEN incidence rates in the three villages over the period 1973-2008. Population estimates were based on national census data.

Renal replacement therapy in Europe-a summary of the 2010 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report.

Background: This study provides a summary of the 2010 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry Annual Report (available at www.era-edta-reg.org).

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.

Epidemiology of end-stage renal disease and hemodialysis treatment in Serbia at the turn of the millennium.

The study presents the epidemiological features of patients treated with renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Serbia from 1997 to 2009 and compares the results of hemodialysis treatment in 1999 and 2009. Epidemiological data were obtained from the National Registry of RRT patients and data on hemodialysis treatment from special surveys conducted in 1999 and 2009. Within the period 1997-2009 the incidence of patients on RRT increased from 108 to 179 per million population (pmp), prevalence rose from 435 to 699 pmp, while mortality rate fell from 20.