Blood osteoprotegerin is associated with arteriovenous access thrombosis in hemodialysis patients.

Background: A functioning arteriovenous (AV) access is essential for hemodialysis efficiency and the quality of life in hemodialysis patients. Blood osteoprotegerin (OPG) and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) have been linked to cardiovascular diseases and vascular calcification. This study investigated the relationship between blood OPG, RANKL, and the occurrence of AV access thrombosis.

Identification of Gut Microbiome Signatures Associated with Indole Pathway in Tryptophan Metabolism in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.

Microbiota tryptophan metabolism and the biosynthesis of indole derivatives play an important role in homeostasis and pathogenesis in the human body and can be affected by the gut microbiota. However, studies on the interplay between gut microbiota and tryptophan metabolites in patients undergoing dialysis are lacking. This study aimed to identify the gut microbiota, the indole pathway in tryptophan metabolism, and significant functional differences in ESRD patients with regular hemodialysis.

Cerebral white matter burden is linked to cognitive function in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease is related to neurodegeneration and structural changes in the brain which might lead to cognitive decline. The Fazekas scale used for assessing white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) was associated with poor cognitive performance. Therefore, this study investigated the associations between the mini-mental status examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), cognitive abilities screening instrument (CASI), and Fazekas scale in patients under hemodialysis (HD).

Exploring the Relationship between Gut Microbiome Composition and Blood Indole-3-acetic Acid in Hemodialysis Patients.

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a protein-bound uremic toxin resulting from gut microbiota-driven tryptophan metabolism, increases in hemodialysis (HD) patients. IAA may induce endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress, elevating cardiovascular and cognitive risk in HD patients. However, research on the microbiome-IAA association is limited.

Shared decision-making for renal replacement treatment and illness perception in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Background: Current healthcare trends emphasize the use of shared decision-making (SDM) for renal replacement treatment (RRT) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This is crucial to understand the relationship between SDM and illness perception of CKD patients. Few studies have focused on SDM and illness perception status of CKD patients and the impact of illness perception on RRT after SDM.

Decreased levels of perfluoroalkyl substances in patients receiving hemodialysis treatment.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been reported to be harmful to multiple organs in the human body. Based on a previous study suggesting that hemodialysis (HD) may be a means of eliminating PFAS from the human body, we aimed to compare the serum PFAS concentrations of patients undergoing regular HD, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and controls. Additionally, we also investigated the correlation between PFAS and biochemical data, as well as concurrent comorbidities.

Proximal tubule-derived exosomes contribute to mesangial cell injury in diabetic nephropathy via miR-92a-1-5p transfer.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is an increasing threat to human health and regarded to be the leading cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. Exosomes delivery may play a key role in cross-talk among kidney cells and the progression of DN. However, the mechanisms underlying exosomes in DN remain unclear.

Mutations in Chronic Kidney Disease in Taiwan.

UMOD is the first identified and the most commonly mutated gene that causes autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease (ADTKD). Recent studies have shown that ADTKD-UMOD is a relatively common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the status of ADTKD-UMOD in Taiwan remains unknown.

Investigation of the Relationship between Cardiovascular Biomarkers and Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity in Hemodialysis Patients.

Brachial−ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardiovascular (CV) biomarkers are correlated with clinical cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in patients with kidney disease. However, limited studies evaluated the relationship between baPWV and CV biomarkers in hemodialysis patients. This study investigated the relationship between circulating CV biomarkers and baPWV in patients on hemodialysis.

Kidney Function Change and All-Cause Mortality in Denosumab Users with and without Chronic Kidney Disease.

Denosumab is approved for osteoporosis treatment in subjects with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD). Confirmation is required for its safety, treatment adherence, renal function effect, and mortality in patients with CKD. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare new users of denosumab in terms of their two-year drug adherence in all participants (overall cohort) and CKD participants (CKD subcohort), which was defined as baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 mL/min/1.

Autocrine Exosomal Fibulin-1 as a Target of MiR-1269b Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Proximal Tubule in Diabetic Nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is an increasing threat to human health and is regarded to be the leading cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. Exosomes deliver biomolecule massages and may play a key role in cell communication and the progression of DN. A cross-disciplinary study, including , , and human studies, was conducted to explore the cross-talk within proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) in DN.

U-Shaped Association between Waist-to-Hip Ratio and All-Cause Mortality in Stage 3-5 Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with Body Mass Index Paradox.

The obesity paradox, referring to the association of high body mass index (BMI) with low all-cause mortality risk, is found in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Central obesity is associated with metabolic syndrome and may have better prognostic value than BMI for all-cause mortality. Whether central obesity is associated with all-cause mortality in cases of obesity paradox in CKD patients remains unknown.

Mobile Health, Disease Knowledge, and Self-Care Behavior in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Mobile health (mHealth) management is an emerging strategy of care for patients with chronic diseases. However, the effect of mHealth management on clinical outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been well-studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the additional influence of mHealth on disease knowledge and self-care behavior in CKD patients who had received traditional education.

Hypoxia-Induced Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells through miR-545-3p-TNFSF10.

Hypoxia is regarded as one of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of kidney injury and further progression to kidney failure. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in kidney tubules is a critical process of kidney fibrosis. This study utilized transcriptome analysis to investigate hypoxia-induced EMT through microRNA (miRNA)-modulated EMT in proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs).

The Relationship between Subtypes of Health Literacy and Self-Care Behavior in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health issue that is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Self-care behavior has been associated with clinical outcomes in chronic diseases, and adequate self-care behavior may mitigate adverse outcomes. Health literacy may be an important factor associated with self-care.

Podocentric view of glomerular proteinuria: Focused on cytoskeletal changes and toward promising targeted therapies and challenges.

Among renal cells, podocytes (glomerular epithelial cells) are the most critical to prevent plasma proteins from excessive loss by forming their sophisticated foot processes (FP) and slit diaphragms (SD). A general finding in the glomeruli of patients with nephrotic syndrome is the foot processes "effacement" resulted from dysregulated actin cytoskeleton reorganization. Ultrastructural analysis in patients with nephrotic syndrome has demonstrated that such changes tend to be dynamic and can sometimes be reversible.

Differences in the Microbial Composition of Hemodialysis Patients Treated with and without β-Blockers.

β-blockers are commonly prescribed to treat cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients. Beyond the pharmacological effects, β-blockers have potential impacts on gut microbiota, but no study has investigated the effect in hemodialysis patients. Hence, we aim to investigate the gut microbiota composition difference between β-blocker users and nonusers in hemodialysis patients.

Comparative effectiveness of bisoprolol and carvedilol among patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis.

Background: Despite widespread use, there is no trial evidence to inform β-blocker's (BB) relative safety and efficacy among patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). We herein compare health outcomes associated with carvedilol or bisoprolol use, the most commonly prescribed BBs in these patients.

Methods: We created a cohort study of 9305 HD patients who initiated bisoprolol and 11 171 HD patients who initiated carvedilol treatment between 2004 and 2011.

The relationship of indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate with target cardiovascular proteins in hemodialysis patients.

Protein-bound uremic toxins (Indoxyl sulfate [IS] and p-cresyl sulfate [PCS]) are both associated with cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality in subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Possible mechanisms have not been elucidated. In hemodialysis patients, we investigated the relationship between the free form of IS and PCS and 181 CV-related proteins.

Anti-Acid Drug Treatment Induces Changes in the Gut Microbiome Composition of Hemodialysis Patients.

Anti-acid drugs, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and histamine-2 blocker (H-blocker), are commonly prescribed to treat gastrointestinal disorders. These anti-acid drugs alter gut microbiota in the general population, but their effects are not known in hemodialysis patients. Hence, we investigated the microbiota composition in hemodialysis patients treated with PPIs or H-blocker.

Timing of mTORI usage and outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.

The introduction of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi) as immunosuppressive agents has changed the landscape of calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppressive regimens. However, the timing of mTORi conversion and its associated outcomes in kidney transplantation have conflicting results. This study investigated the effect of early or late mTORi post-transplant initiation on major transplant outcomes, including post-transplant malignancy, in kidney transplant recipients in our center.