TIMP-2 and IGFBP7 in human kidney biopsies in renal disease.

Background: Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) are markers of tubular stress and urinary [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] is an established biomarker for risk assessment of acute kidney injury. There are no studies of expression profiles or localization of these markers in human renal tissue with confirmed renal disease.

Methods: We analysed 37 kidney biopsies of patients with renal disease and 10 non-diseased control biopsies for TIMP-2 and IGFBP7 expression using immunohistochemistry.

[Biomarkers in acute kidney injury - the search for the "renal troponin"].

The prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is poor, partly due to significant limitations of the current functional marker-based definition, which results in too small therapeutic window to treat AKI. Therefore, AKI biomarkers are needed to detect AKI earlier. Classical filtration markers are serum creatinine and cystatin C, which, however, show clear limitations for AKI prediction.

Unravelling the pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus.

For decades, itch related to chronic kidney disease (CKDaP) has been a clinical problem, but the aetiology and pathophysiology of CKDaP are still not yet fully understood-currently the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are thought to be multifactorial. As new therapeutic targets have recently been identified and clinical trials have shown promising results, our current understanding of the interrelationships has expanded significantly. Here we review the pathophysiology and recent findings on modulation and sensitization of itch contributing to the development of CKDaP, covering hypothesis regarding immune system dysfunction, metabolic changes, uremic toxin deposition, peripheral neuropathy and imbalances in the endogenous opioid system.

Gender-Specific Differences of Renal Heat Tolerance in Older Adults during Heat Waves.

Background: Heat waves are known to cause increased morbidity and mortality in susceptible populations like old and functionally impaired people. The objective of the study was to assess renal tubular stress, a predictor for development of acute kidney injury, during heat waves in Central Europe. As a marker of renal tubular stress tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 [TIMP-2]·insulin-like growth factor binding protein-7 [IGFBP7], a new FDA-cleared renal tubular stress biomarker, was used.

Under-recognition of Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery in the ICU Impedes Early Detection and Prevention.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality; therefore, prevention is important. The aim of this study was to systematically assess AKI incidence after cardiac surgery as documented in clinical routine compared to the real incidence because AKI may be under-recognized in clinical practice. Further, its postoperative management was compared to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) recommendations because recognition and adequate treatment represent the fundamental cornerstone in the prevention and management of AKI.

Physician-guided, hybrid genetic testing exerts promising effects on health-related behavior without compromising quality of life.

Genetic risk analysis is increasingly in demand by participants. Hybrid genetic testing has the advantage over direct to consumer testing by involving a physician who guides the process and offers counseling after receiving the results. The objective of this study was to determine whether a structured physician moderated primary preventive, hybrid genetic risk assessment enhanced counseling program leads to improvement in lifestyle and does not impair quality of life.

[Volume management: peri-operatively and peri-interventionally].

Fluid therapy is one of the basic and most frequently performed medical therapies in everyday clinical practice. However, optimal volume management is a challenge: the application is simple, but the whole volume management is a complex process and physicians have to pay attention on underlying pathophysiology. Intravenous fluids should be prescribed like medications, i.

[Infections-associated Glomerulonephritis].

Glomerulonephritis, secondary to bacterial, or, more rarely, viral or parasitic infections, is called infection-associated. The epidemiology of infection-associated glomerulonephritis has changed in recent decades. For a long time, the classic form has been acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APGN), but in developed countries its incidence has declined sharply.

Strong Associations Between Inflammation, Pruritus and Mental Health in Dialysis Patients.

Pruritus, impaired mental health and inflammation contribute to morbidity in end-stage renal disease. There are no studies on all 3 conditions. We therefore obtained inflammatory parameter data (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6), pruritus data and psychological test data (36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, "Allgemeine Depressionsskala" and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20) for 19 dialysis patients with pruritus, 20 dialysis patients without pruritus and 15 healthy controls.

[Urine Examination - Step by Step].

The examination of the urine is the oldest and a very basic technique for every nephrologist. It helps to detect, diagnose and classify diseases of the kidneys and the urinary tract. Proteinuria is an important sign of kidney disease and an own factor in the pathophysiology of renal progression.

Urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7]-guided randomized controlled intervention trial to prevent acute kidney injury in the emergency department.

Background: Early detection and prevention of acute kidney injury (AKI) is important to reduce morbidity and mortality. Discovery of early-detection biomarkers has enabled early preventive approaches. There are no data on early biomarker-guided intervention with nephrological consultation in emergency departments (EDs).

Impact of an in-Hospital Patient Education Program on Choice of Renal Replacement Modality in Unplanned Dialysis Initiation.

Background/aims: Up to 50% patients requiring dialysis receive an urgent, unplanned start (UPS) to renal replacement therapy (RRT). Most of these are initiated with an intravenous catheter and commenced and maintained on hemodialysis (HD). Although peritoneal dialysis (PD) could be an equipotent initial modality for RRT, it is used less frequently as long-term RRT in UPS patients.

Urinary TIMP2⋅IGFBP7 for the prediction of platinum-induced acute renal injury.

Introduction: Platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) is a potent antineoplastic treatment, but cisplatin nephrotoxicity is often the limiting factor. Identifying the patients who are at risk for developing platinum-induced renal injury is an important issue. We tested urinary TIMP2·IGFBP7, a new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared test to assess the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI), in a cohort of patients with malignant neoplastic disease receiving PBC.

Renal effects of metallothionein induction by zinc in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Metallothionein (MTT) is an endogenous antioxidant that can be induced by both zinc (Zn) and ischemia. In kidneys, increased MTT expression exerts a putative protective role in diabetes and hypoxia. Our goal was to further investigate the behavior of MTT under the influence of Zn and hypoxia in vitro and in vivo.

Urinary [TIMP-2] × [IGFBP7] for risk prediction of acute kidney injury in decompensated heart failure.

Background: In acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) is high. Early detection of patients at risk for AKI is important. We tested urinary [TIMP-2] × [IGFBP7], a new US Food and Drug Administration-cleared test to assess AKI risk, in a cohort of hospitalized ADHF patients.

The Influence of Thyroid Function, Inflammation, and Obesity on Risk Prediction of Acute Kidney Injury by Cystatin C in the Emergency Department.

Background/aims: There is a growing role for emergency departments (ED) in assessing acute kidney injury (AKI) for hospital admissions but there are few studies addressing acute kidney injury biomarkers and confounding factors in the ED. Cystatin C (CysC), a newer renal biomarker, is influenced by thyroid function, inflammation and obesity. This study aims to be the first study to address the impact of these parameters in the ED.

[Disorders of the acid-base balance and the anion gap].

The regulation of the acid-base balance and pH is critical for the organism. The most important buffer system is CO / HCO. The kidney controls systemic bicarbonate and therefore the metabolic regulation and the lung is relevant for respiratory regulation by an effective CO elimination.

Urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] - Novel Biomarkers to Predict Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: Urine microscopy is an established technique to assess kidney disease, and can add valuable information about the mechanism of damage. However, it requires the time and expertise of an experienced nephrologist and, therefore, is typically used for a limited number of patients in practice. A rapid biomarker test that identifies patients from the emergency department (ED) who are likely to have positive urine microscopy findings would enable more efficient use of this technique.

Association of Renal Stress/Damage and Filtration Biomarkers with Subsequent AKI during Hospitalization among Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department.

Background And Objectives: Emergency departments (EDs) have a growing role in hospital admissions, but few studies address AKI biomarkers in the ED.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Patients admitted to the internal medicine service were enrolled during initial workup in the ED at Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany. Daily serum creatinine (sCr) and urine output (UO) were recorded for AKI classification by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria.

Microbiological Surveillance of Peritoneal Dialysis Associated Peritonitis: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of a Referral Center in GERMANY over 32 Years.

Objectives: Peritonitis is one of the most important causes of treatment failure in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. This study describes changes in characteristics of causative organisms in PD-related peritonitis and antimicrobial susceptibility.

Methods: In this single center study we analyzed retrospective 487 susceptibility profiles of the peritoneal fluid cultures of 351 adult patients with peritonitis from 1979 to 2014 (divided into three time periods, P1-P3).

Acute kidney injury and tools for risk-stratification in 456 patients with hantavirus-induced nephropathia epidemica.

Background: Puumala virus (PUUV) is the most common species of hantavirus in Central Europe. Nephropathia epidemica (NE), caused by PUUV, is characterized by acute kidney injury (AKI) and thrombocytopenia. The major goals of this study were to provide a clear clinical phenotyping of AKI in patients with NE and to develop an easy prediction rule to identify patients, who are at lower risk to develop severe AKI.

Successful antiviral triple therapy in a longstanding refractory hepatitis C virus infection with an acute kidney injury.

Introduction. The HCV infection is a common disease with many chronically infected patients worldwide. So far, the standard therapy of a chronic HCV infection consisted of interferon as single therapy or in combination with ribavirin.

Gastrointestinal involvement in granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis: histological features and outcome.

Aim: Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is rare.

Method: Medical charts of seven patients with GPA and MPA and GI involvement were reviewed regarding clinical presentation, outcome, diagnostic tools and therapy. Second, the cellular composition of the inflammatory infiltrate associated with the vascular lesions in histological samples (ileum, colon, rectum, duodenum) were investigated to identify possible treatment targets.