Application of Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Practice - Perception of a Multinational Group of Nephrologists.

This study investigates the perception of a multinational group of nephrologists on artificial intelligence (AI) application in clinical practice. A validated on-line survey was performed in March 2024, in 4 continents. The results revealed a prevalent familiarity with AI and machine learning (ML) terms, but traditional tools remained favored for clinical decision support.

Early referral to nephrological care improves long-term survival and hospitalization after dialysis initiation, independent of optimal dialysis start - a call for harmonization of reimbursement policies.

Early treatment of kidney disease can slow disease progression and reduce the increased risk of mortality associated with end-stage kidney disease. However, uncertainty exists whether early referral (ER) to nephrological care or an optimal dialysis start impacts patient outcome after dialysis initiation. We determined the effect of ER and suboptimal dialysis start on the 3-year mortality and hospitalizations after dialysis initiation.

Does choroidal thickness predict persistent subretinal fluid after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair? A retrospective study with fellow eye comparison.

Purpose: To evaluate whether choroidal thickness (CT) is associated with persistent subretinal fluid (pSRF) after simple primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair.

Methods: This single-centre, retrospective, observational study included patients who underwent RRD repair with at least 12-month follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative parameters were evaluated for association with pSRF.

Improved immunologic response to COVID-19 vaccine with prolonged dosing interval in haemodialysis patients.

Vaccination against 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can reduce disease incidence and severity. Dialysis patients demonstrate a delayed immunologic response to vaccines. We determined factors affecting the immunologic response to COVID-19 vaccines in haemodialysis patients.

Humoral immunogenicity and tolerability of heterologous ChAd/BNT compared with homologous BNT/BNT and ChAd/ChAd SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in hemodialysis patients : A multicenter prospective observational study.

Background: After the reports of severe adverse reactions to the AstraZeneca ChAdOx1-S-nCoV-19 vaccine, patients who had received one dose of ChAdOx1-S-nCoV-19 vaccine were recommended a second dose of Pfizer's BNT162b2 vaccine. In hemodialysis patients, we compared the humoral immunogenicity and tolerability of homologous vaccination with ChAdOx1-nCoV-19/ChAdOx1-nCoV-19 (ChAd/ChAd) and BNT162b2/BNT162b2 (BNT/BNT) with heterologous vaccination of first dose of ChAdOx1-nCoV-19 and a second dose with BNT162b2 (ChAd/BNT).

Methods: In a multicenter prospective observational study, SARS-CoV-2 spike-IgG antibody levels, Nucleocapsid-protein-IgG-antibodies, and vaccine tolerability were assessed 6 weeks after second SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in 137 hemodialysis patients and 24 immunocompetent medical personnel.

Prognostic Value of the Malnutrition-inflammation Score in Hospitalization and Mortality on Long-term Hemodialysis.

Objective: Since its development, cumulative evidence has accumulated regarding the prognostic value of the Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS/Kalantar score) prognostic value; however, there is a shortage of recent and large studies with comprehensive statistical methodologies that contribute to support a higher level of evidence and a consensual cutoff. The aim of this study was to assess the strength of MIS association with hospitalization and mortality in a nationwide cohort.

Methods: This was a historical cohort study of hemodialysis patients from 25 outpatient centers followed up for 48 months.

Immunogenicity and tolerability of COVID-19 vaccination in peritoneal dialysis patients-A prospective observational cohort study.

Background: In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, information on the immunogenicity and tolerability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is still scarce. We compared the immunogenicity and tolerability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of PD patients with that of medical personnel.

Methods: In a prospective observational cohort study, PD patients and immunocompetent medical personnel were evaluated for SARS-CoV-2 spike-IgG- and Nucleocapsid-IgG-antibody-levels before, 2 weeks after the first, and 6 weeks after the second SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and vaccine tolerability after the first and second vaccination.

Time-dependent evolution of IgG antibody levels after first and second dose of mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in haemodialysis patients: a multicentre study.

Background: Vaccination programs are essential for the containment of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which has hit haemodialysis populations especially hard. Early reports suggest a reduced immunologic response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines in dialysis patients, in spite of a high degree of seroconversion. We aimed to identify risk factors for a reduced efficacy of an mRNA vaccine in a cohort of haemodialysis patients.

Immunogenicity of a first dose of mRNA- or vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in dialysis patients: a multicenter prospective observational pilot study.

Background: Dialysis patients are at risk for lower SARS-CoV-2-vaccine immunogenicity than the normal population. We assessed immunogenicity to a first mRNA- or vector-based SARS-CoV-2-vaccination dose in dialysis patients.

Methods: In a multicenter observational pilot study, 2 weeks after a first vaccination (BNT162b2/Pfizer-BioNTech [Comirnaty] or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/Oxford-Astra-Zeneca [Vaxzevria]), hemodialysis patients (N = 23), peritoneal dialysis patients (N = 4) and healthy staff (N = 14) were tested for SARS-CoV-2-spike IgG/IgM, Nucleocapsid-protein-IgG-antibodies and plasma ACE2-receptor-binding-inhibition capacity.

Risk prediction of COVID-19 incidence and mortality in a large multi-national hemodialysis cohort: implications for management of the pandemic in outpatient hemodialysis settings.

Background: Experiences from the first wave of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic can aid in the development of future preventive strategies. To date, risk prediction models for COVID-19-related incidence and outcomes in hemodialysis (HD) patients are missing.

Methods: We developed risk prediction models for COVID-19 incidence and mortality among HD patients.

Can an intradialytic snack model compensate the catabolic impact of hemodialysis?

Background And Aims: Hemodialysis (HD) has a catabolic effect caused by alterations in protein metabolism, increase in resting energy expenditure (REE) and protein needs due to inflammation, HD circuit blood and heat losses, protein losses to dialysate and HD filter membrane biocompatibility. We aim to determine, as a proof of concept, whether a standardized intradialytic snack model is adequate to compensate the catabolic impact of HD.

Methods: Cross sectional analysis of patients' chosen intradialytic intake according to a snack model, at the day of blood sample collection of three different months.

The European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry Annual Report 2016: a summary.

Background: This article summarizes the ERA-EDTA Registry's 2016 Annual Report, by describing the epidemiology of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 2016 within 36 countries.

Methods: In 2017 and 2018, the ERA-EDTA Registry received data on patients undergoing RRT for ESRD in 2016 from 52 national or regional renal registries. In all, 32 registries provided individual patient data and 20 provided aggregated data.

Predictors of nutritional and inflammation risk in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Malnutrition and chronic inflammation are prevalent complications in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Different nutritional assessment tools are used to identify patients at risk. A composite and comprehensive malnutrition inflammation score (MIS) has been correlated with morbidity and mortality, and appears to be a robust and quantitative tool.

A Rare Manifestation of Tuberculosis in a Renal Transplant Patient: A Case Report.

Cutaneous lesions in the presence of fever in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy are a diagnostic challenge and may represent manifestations of multiple diseases, such as fungal infections, nocardiosis, lymphoproliferative diseases, zoonosis, and tuberculosis. The authors report a case of a 66-year-old white man with chronic kidney disease since 2014 (chronic pyelonephritis) who had a renal transplant in the previous 6 months. Induction therapy was performed with thymoglobulin, and his current immunosuppression scheme included tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisolone.

Post-Kidney-Transplant Diabetes: Evaluation of Risk Factors.

Introduction: Post-transplant diabetes mellitus is a complication of kidney transplantation with deleterious effects on graft and patient survival and is associated with higher mortality. The goal of this paper is to identify risk factors that contribute to its development so that it can be avoided.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 659 kidney transplants performed in adult patients between January 2013 and December 2017.

Surgical Complications in Kidney Transplantation: An Overview of a Portuguese Reference Center.

Introduction: Kidney transplantation (KT) is a surgery performed worldwide and has some complications. The objective of this study is to evaluate our surgical complications, comparing the outcomes with those KTs without surgical complications.

Patients And Methods: An observational cross-sectional study of all surgical complications among 3102 kidney transplants performed between June 1980 and April 2018.

Pretransplant Biopsy of Marginal Kidneys: Is It Necessary?

Introduction: Pretransplant kidney biopsy from marginal donors is used to guide the decision of whether to accept or discard organs for transplantation; however, there is controversy about this procedure, and the need for a pretransplant biopsy is still a debate. We sought to determine if histologic evaluation before implantation of marginal kidneys would influence the outcome.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study of marginal donor transplants at Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra was done.

Pediatric Kidney Transplantation: Experience of a Center Over 4 Decades.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease in the pediatric population is associated with numerous comorbidities and an increased risk of mortality. Kidney transplantation (KT) is considered to be the option of choice in children with end-stage renal disease.

Aim: To characterize a single center experience in pediatric KT in the last 35 years.

Staphylococcus Infection-Associated Glomerulonephritis in a Kidney Transplant Patient: Case Report.

Background: Staphylococcus infection-associated glomerulonephritis is a rare cause of graft dysfunction in kidney transplant. Suspicion should be high in the setting of elevation of serum creatinine, active urinary sediment, with or without hypocomplementemia, and simultaneous Staphylococcus aureus infection. A kidney biopsy is usually diagnostic.

The European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry Annual Report 2015: a summary.

Background: This article summarizes the European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry's 2015 Annual Report. It describes the epidemiology of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 2015 within 36 countries.

Methods: In 2016 and 2017, the ERA-EDTA Registry received data on patients who were undergoing RRT for ESRD in 2015, from 52 national or regional renal registries.

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.

What Can We Do When All Collapses? Fatal Outcome of Collapsing Glomerulopathy and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus With Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage: Case Report.

Introduction: Collapsing glomerulopathy (CG) is a rare form of glomerular injury. Although commonly associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, it can occur in association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Case Report: We present the case of a 50-year-old man, with chronic kidney disease secondary to focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, who received a cadaveric kidney transplant in 2007.

Surgical Complications in Early Post-transplant Kidney Recipients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of early surgical complications of kidney transplantation in our institution and its association with donor and recipient factors, as well as patient and transplant outcome.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of all kidney transplants performed during 2015 was made. We evaluated the incidence of surgical complications and the outcome of patients and grafts at a 3-month follow-up interval.