Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Subgroups in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis with Medium Cutoff Membranes and High-Flux Membranes: THE SHE Continuation Study.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant global health burden, with increasing prevalence and high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). While traditional risk factors contribute, the exact mechanisms remain elusive, with inflammation playing a pivotal role. Medium cutoff (MCO) membranes offer promise in improving dialysis outcomes by efficiently clearing uremic toxins without substantial albumin loss.

Biopsy-proven BK virus nephropathy in renal transplant recipients: A multi-central study from Turkey (BK-TURK STUDY).

Aim: BK polyomavirus infection is a challenging complication of renal transplantation. The management is not standardized and is based on reports from transplantation centers' experiences, usually with small sample sizes. Therefore, we aimed to present our countrywide experience with BK virus nephropathy (BKVN) in renal transplant recipients.

Sarcopenia and cardiovascular disease in patients with and without kidney disease: what do we know?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence is high in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is the most frequent cause of mortality in this population. Advanced age, hypertension, uremic toxins, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, hyperhomocysteinemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation are among the leading causes of increased CVD in advanced stages of CKD. Although defined as a decrease in muscle strength associated with aging, sarcopenia is also prevalent in CKD patients.

Factors Associated with Long-Term Survival in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A 5-Year Prospective Follow-Up Study.

Objectives: In addition to an increase in the prevalence of dialysis treatments for end-stage renal disease worldwide, the mortality rates among patients on maintenance hemodialysis remain higher than that of the general population. This study aims to evaluate factors associated with long-term survival in stable maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Methods: A total of 100 patients initiating hemodialysis by February 2013 were included in this prospective cross-sectional 5-year follow-up study.

Acute kidney injury in Turkey: epidemiological characteristics, etiology, clinical course, and prognosis.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the etiologies, comorbidities, and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Turkey and determine any potential differences among different geographical parts of the country.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted by the Acute Kidney Injury Working Group of the Turkish Society of Nephrology. Demographical and clinical data of patients with AKI at the time of diagnosis and at the 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months of diagnosis were evaluated to determine patient and renal survival and factors associated with patient prognosis.

Comparison of lung ultrasound and other volumetric methods in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Although many alternative methods are present, maintaining ideal volume status in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients still rely on clinical evaluation due to lack of an evidence-based method. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a new method for evaluation of hidden congestion in this group.LUS findings and its relationship with other volumetric methods are investigated in this observational cross-sectional study.

Frequency of depressive symptoms in Syrian refugees and Turkish maintenance hemodialysis patients during COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Pneumonia of unknown cause was detected on 30 December 2019 in China. It was categorized as an outbreak and named as COVID-19 by the World Health Organization. The pandemic affects all people, but patient groups such as hemodialysis (HD) patients have been particularly affected.

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.

Pentraxin-2 is Associated with Renal Fibrosis in Patients Undergoing Renal Biopsy.

Objectives: Progressive renal disease is characterized by histological changes in the kidney and fibrosis is a common outcome. Renal biopsy is the only diagnostic tool to evaluate these histopathological changes. Pentraxin-2 (PTX-2) is an anti-inflammatory constitutive plasma protein associated with the innate immune system.

Demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in Turkey: Turkish Society of Nephrology-Glomerular Diseases (TSN-GOLD) Working Group.

Background: In our study, diagnostic and demographic characteristics of patients diagnosed with RPGN by biopsy, clinical and laboratory findings in our country were investigated.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Turkish Society of Nephrology Glomerular Diseases (TSN-GOLD) Working Group database. Demographic characteristics, indications for biopsy, diagnosis of the glomerular diseases, comorbidities, laboratory and biopsy findings of all patients were recorded.

Unexpectedly High Prevalence of Low Alpha-Galactosidase A Enzyme Activity in Patients with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.

Objectives: Fabry disease (FD) is a rare disease associated with sphingolipid accumulation. Sphingolipids are components of plasma membranes that are important in podocyte function and accumulate in various glomerular diseases such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Both FD and FSGS can cause podocyte damage and are classified as podocytopathies.

Comparison of Circulating Levels of Uremic Toxins in Hemodialysis Patients Treated with Medium Cut-Off Membranes and High-Flux Membranes: Theranova in Sisli Hamidiye Etfal (THE SHE) Randomized Control Study.

Introduction: Removal of uremic toxins is a main objective of hemodialysis; however, whether high-flux and medium cut-off (MCO) membranes differ as regards removal of middle and large uremic toxins is not clear.

Objective: To compare medium cut-off and high-flux dialyzers as regards their intra- and interdialysis effect on circulating levels of middle and large uremic toxins and serum albumin.

Methods: Fifty-two patients were randomized to have hemodialysis with either 3 months of high-flux dialyzer followed by 3 months of MCO or vice versa.

Comparison of Exit-Site Infection Frequency in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis and Automated Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Single-Center Experience.

Objectives: Catheter exit-site infection (ESI) is generally caused by skin flora. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients have more contact with their catheters than automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) patients as a result of performing multiple exchanges per day. The aim of the present study was to compare the frequency of ESIs between these 2 peritoneal dialysis (PD) modalities.

The Impact and Prognostic Significance of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Upregulated 1 (CLLU1) Gene Expression in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Single Center Experience.

Objectives: To determine CLLU1 gene levels and the relationship of that gene among other prognostic parameters in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Methods: Bone-marrow infiltration pattern, β2-microglobulin (β 2-M), cluster of differentiation (CD)38, and ZAP-70 status were recorded. CLLU1 levels were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and expressed as folds.

Comparison of the Outcome of Kidney Transplant After Pulsatile or Continuous Ex Vivo Hypothermic Machine Perfusion of Kidneys Donated After Cardiac Death: Analysis of Kidney Pairs.

Background: Hypothermic machine perfusion is used to improve renal perfusion and reduce the rate of early and late graft dysfunction. It has been used in our unit since 2001. It has 2 modes of flow: continuous or pulsatile.

Kidney Transplantation Outcomes in Temporarily Protected Syrian Patients With End-Stage Renal Failure in Turkey.

Background: Approximately 6.3 million Syrian people migrated to other countries due to war since 2011. There are more than 3.

Educational value of Internet videos in vascular access.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate individually uploaded Internet materials about catheter insertion and removal in terms of their educative value.

Methods: YouTube videos for both catheter insertion and catheter removal were investigated. Rating, like, dislike, the position of a patient, maneuvers during removal, immediate coverage of removal site, and type of cover material were noted.

Fabry Disease Prevalence in Renal Replacement Therapy in Turkey.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder resulting from lack of alpha-galactosidase A (AGALA) activity in lysosomes.

Objective: In this multicenter study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of FD in renal transplant (Tx) recipients in Turkey. We also screened dialysis patients as a control group.

Does Residual Renal Function Have a Beneficial Effect on Patient and Technique Survival in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients?

Objectives: Residual renal function (RRF) at the initiation of peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy can be a predictor of survival in stable PD patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate PD patients regarding the effect of baseline RRF on patient and technique survival.

Methods: Urine output at the beginning of PD therapy was evaluated retrospectively in 202 PD patients.

Encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis: a single center, retrospective analysis of clinical manifestations, risk factors and prognosis.

Background: Encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a multifactorial chronic intra-abdominal inflammatory disorder affecting the peritoneum diffusely. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rates of EPS in our peritoneal dialysis (PD) population, to perform a general assessment of the clinical presentation and to determine the outcome of affected patients and risk factors.

Methods: The medical records of consecutive 384 patients who started PD therapy between January 2001 and November 2016 were evaluated.

Serum VEGF-C levels as a candidate biomarker of hypervolemia in chronic kidney disease.

Attaining and maintaining optimal "dry weight" is one of the principal goals during maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Recent studies have shown a close relationship between Na load and serum vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) levels; thus, we aimed to investigate the role of VEGF-C as a candidate biomarker of hypervolemia. Physical examination, basic laboratory tests, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP), echocardiography, and bioimpedance spectroscopy data of 3 groups of study subjects (euvolemic MHD patients, healthy controls, and hypervolemic chronic kidney disease [CKD] patients) were analyzed.

Re-evaluation of glomerulitis using occlusion criteria based on the Banff 2013 revision: a retrospective study.

The presence of occlusion/near-occlusion of glomerular capillaries was recently added to the existing definition of glomerulitis (g). We retrospectively re-evaluated 135 renal allograft biopsies regarding g to ensure no antibody-damaged grafts were missed. Previous and revised g scores (pg and rg, respectively) were compared for clinicopathologic correlations.

Fasting in Ramadan is not associated with deterioration of chronic kidney disease: A prospective observational study.

Although not mandatory for patients, many Muslims fast in Ramadan. We aimed to investigate the effects of long hours (17.5) fasting on renal functions in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).