Assessment of CTLA-4 Gene Expression Levels on CD8+ T Cells in Renal Transplant Patients and Relation with Serum sCTLA-4 Levels.

CTLA-4 (Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen-4) is an immune regulator molecule that is expressed on a variety of immune cells, including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. After realizing the significance of this regulator molecule, researchers began to concentrate on its activation or inhibition in cancer. Even though there have been some studies on organ transplantation and autoimmunity, the role of the CTLA-4 molecule in renal transplantation has not been demonstrated.

Middle-term outcomes in renal transplant recipients with COVID-19: a national, multicenter, controlled study.

Background: In this study, we evaluated 3-month clinical outcomes of kidney transplant recipients (KTR) recovering from COVID-19 and compared them with a control group.

Method: The primary endpoint was death in the third month. Secondary endpoints were ongoing respiratory symptoms, need for home oxygen therapy, rehospitalization for any reason, lower respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, biopsy-proven acute rejection, venous/arterial thromboembolic event, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/disease and BK viruria/viremia at 3 months.

Relationship between disease awareness and severity of kidney disease in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease patients.

Introduction: Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is responsible for 5%-10% of end-stage renal disease. We examined the relationship between renal and extrarenal findings, disease severity, and the level of consciousness of PKD patients.

Methods: Patients were asked to answer the questionnaire about PKD.

Immunological Results of Long-Term Use of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Inhibitors and Its Effects on Renal Graft Functions.

BACKGROUND Calcineurin inhibitor drugs (CNI), which are the basis of immunosuppression in kidney transplantation, contribute to renal graft loss, with increased morbidity and mortality due to their potentially harmful effects on the renal graft, cardiovascular system, and tumor pathology. For this reason, the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi) such as sirolimus (SRL) and everolimus (EVE) has been preferred more frequently, as they are associated with fewer complications and longer graft function. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 89 adult renal transplant patients (37 patients on mTORi and 52 on CNI) who had similar age, sex, primary renal disease, dialysis type, post-transplant follow-up period, and donor type.

Mortality analysis of COVID-19 infection in chronic kidney disease, haemodialysis and renal transplant patients compared with patients without kidney disease: a nationwide analysis from Turkey.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and immunosuppression, such as in renal transplantation (RT), stand as one of the established potential risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Case morbidity and mortality rates for any type of infection have always been much higher in CKD, haemodialysis (HD) and RT patients than in the general population. A large study comparing COVID-19 outcome in moderate to advanced CKD (Stages 3-5), HD and RT patients with a control group of patients is still lacking.

Relationship between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene alterations and fibrosis in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) is a pathological change that occurs mostly long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, as a result of triggering the inflammatory response. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is an important molecule featured in the development of fibrosis. It has been shown in literature that PAI-1 gene alterations are associated with fibrosis in many tissues and organs.

Impact of Subclinical Rejection on Kidney Graft Function.

Background: In kidney transplant recipients with borderline infiltration, protocol biopsy results demonstrated the relationship with chronic injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of subclinical rejection (SCR) on 6-month protocol biopsy results in long-term renal function in renal transplant recipients with stable graft function.

Material And Methods: Transplant protocol biopsies performed in 45 patients with stable renal function were included in this study at 6 months.

Factors affecting TST level in patients undergoing dialysis: a multicenter study.

Introduction: The risk of TB is increased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) when compared with individuals with normal renal function. We aimed to determine tuberculin skin test (TST) response and the factors which might affect the response in patients with CKD undergoing dialysis in this study.

Methods: The purified protein derivative solution was administered to the patients and the diameter of induration was measured.

Acute renal infarction in Turkey: a review of 121 cases.

Purpose: Renal infarction is a clinical condition which is caused by renal artery occlusion and leads to permanent renal parenchymal damage. In the literature, there are generally case reports on this subject, and few studies that include a large group of patients. Therefore, we aimed to present the data of a large group of patients who were diagnosed with acute renal infarction in our country in this retrospective study.

Pretreatment with paricalcitol attenuates level and expression of matrix metalloproteinases in a rat model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury .

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a leading cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). The inflammatory response that drives IRI involves upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which results in proteolytic degradation of renal microvascular matrix. Evidence suggests a potential protective role of active vitamin D on ischemic injury by downregulating MMPs.

Pretreatment with nebivolol attenuates level and expression of matrix metalloproteinases in a rat model of renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

Aim: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-containing proteinases that are involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and a number of cell surface proteins in order to maintain tissue homeostasis. They are involved in pathogenesis of several ischaemic organ injuries. In the present study, we aimed to determine the expression and level of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) model and the potential beneficial effect of nebivolol, a β -adrenergic receptor blocker, on both MMP-2 and -9 level and expression and tubular injury caused by IRI.

Screening Fabry's disease in chronic kidney disease patients not on dialysis: a multicenter study.

Objectives: Fabry's disease is an X-linked inherited, rare, progressive, lysosomal storage disorder, affecting multiple organs due to the deficient activity of α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) enzyme. The prevalence has been reported to be 0.15-1% in hemodialysis patients; however, the information on the prevalence in chronic kidney disease not on dialysis is lacking.

Delayed Graft Function in Kidney Transplantation: Risk Factors and Impact on Early Graft Function.

Context: Although kidney transplantations are routinely performed at many centers in Turkey, the incidence and risk factors associated with delayed graft function (DGF) here have not yet been well defined.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of DGF and its impact on early graft function.

Design: The medical charts of 154 adult patients who underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation between 2000 and 2014 in a single center were reviewed retrospectively.

Renal tubular acidosis in renal transplant patients: the effect of immunosuppressive drugs.

Background: Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a non-anion gap metabolic acidosis and is generally mild and asymptomatic in kidney recipients. Calcineurine inhibitors (CNIs) increase the frequency of RTA but the frequency of RTA development in kidney transplant recipients receiving mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi) treatment remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency of RTA in kidney transplant recipients on mTORi and CNI treatment and to compare both groups.

Relationship between epicardial adipose tissue, inflammation and volume markers in hemodialysis and transplant patients.

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are still the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in both patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) treatment and individuals with renal transplantation (Rtx). Measurement of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness is an easily applied, cheap, and useful recent method predicting increased CV risk. We aimed to compare EAT changes in HD and Rtx patients and the association between EAT and inflammatory and CV volume markers in both groups.

Long-term outcome of kidney transplantation from elderly living and expanded criteria deceased donors.

The imbalance between organ demand and supply causes the increasing use of suboptimal donors. The aim of this study is to investigate the survival and allograft function of kidney transplantation from standard (SLD) and elderly living (ELD), standard criteria (SCDD) and expanded criteria deceased (ECDD) donors. All patients transplanted from 1997 to 2005 were investigated according to the donor characteristics.

The evaluation of red cell distribution width in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Background. Red cell distribution width (RDW) has been used as a marker of iron deficiency; however, it is accepted as a marker of cardiovascular survival. We aimed to study RDW levels in hemodialysis (HD) patients and the association between RDW and inflammatory, nutritional, and volume markers.

The effects of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors on serum uric acid levels in renal transplant patients.

Backgrounds/aims: Elevated uric acid (UA) levels are frequently observed after renal transplantation. We investigated the consequences of shifting from calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) to mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi) on UA levels and graft functions.

Methods: Ninety-six patients were enrolled.

Relation between serum estradiol levels and mortality in postmenopausal female hemodialysis patients.

Background: Recently, low serum estradiol levels have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk and mortality in non-uremic patient populations. We investigated the predictive value of serum estradiol levels for mortality in female hemodialysis patients.

Methods: One hundred and forty-seven prevalent female hemodialysis patients were included in March 2005 and followed up for 32 ± 16 months.

Preventive effect of nebivolol on contrast-induced nephropathy in rats.

Background: Altered renal vasodilatation and oxidative stress are important mechanisms of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of nebivolol, a beta blocker, on prevention of CIN. We hypothesized that nebivolol may prevent CIN due to its renal vasodilatation and antioxidant effects.

Impact of diabetic and pre-diabetic state on development of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of diabetic and pre-diabetic state on the development of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in chronic kidney disease patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Methods: A total of 421 patients with Cockcroft clearance between 15 and 60 ml/min were divided into three groups [diabetes mellitus (DM), n = 137; pre-diabetes (pre-DM), n = 140; and normal fasting glucose (NFG), n = 144]. CIN was defined as an increase of > or =25% in creatinine over baseline within 48 h of angiography, DM as glucose > or =126 mg/dl, pre-DM as glucose between 100 and 125 mg/dl and NFG as glucose <100 mg/dl.