Correlation between Aortic Calcification Score and Biochemical Parameters in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between aortic calcification and demographic and biochemical parameters in hemodialysis patients.

Summary: Calcification scores of the aortic arch and abdominal aorta were determined from multi-slice computed tomography scans and evaluated according to the Agatston score. The associations between demographic and biochemical parameters and aortic calcification score were determined.

Efficacy of L-carnitine supplementation for improving lean body mass and physical function in patients on hemodialysis: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Carnitine deficiency is common in patients on hemodialysis. However, the efficacy of L-carnitine supplementation for improving lean body mass (LBM) and physical function has not yet been evaluated.

Methods: In this multicenter, prospective, parallel, randomized, controlled trial, 91 patients on hemodialysis who developed carnitine deficiency were randomly assigned to receive injections of 1,000 mg L-carnitine 3 times per week after each hemodialysis session (L-carnitine group) or no injections (control group) with monitoring for 12 months.

Targets and Therapeutics for Glycemic Control in Diabetes Patients on Hemodialysis.

Background: For diabetes patients without nephropathy, glycemic control is important to reduce the risk or delay the progression of diabetes complications, including nephropathy. In diabetes patients on hemodialysis, good glycemic control is necessary to improve prognosis. Many factors influence the blood glucose level of diabetes patients on hemodialysis, such as factors associated with end-stage kidney disease and factors related to hemodialysis.

Effect of Sucroferric Oxyhydroxide on Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Levels in Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of sucroferric oxyhydroxide on fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 and dose reduction of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) and intravenous saccharated ferric oxide in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: In this prospective, open-label, parallel-group, multicenter trial involving patients receiving lanthanum carbonate hydrate, eligible patients were randomized to a sucroferric oxyhydroxide group or a control group. Hemoglobin, serum phosphate, FGF-23, iron, and ferritin levels, as well as transferrin saturation, doses of intravenous saccharated ferric oxide and ESA administered, and the erythropoietin responsiveness index (ERI) were monitored for 24 weeks.

Renoprotective effects of canagliflozin, a sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, in type 2 diabetes patients with chronic kidney disease: A randomized open-label prospective trial.

Background: To evaluate the renoprotective effects of canagliflozin, we assessed the albuminuria-lowering effect in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: In this prospective, open-label, parallel-group study, type 2 diabetes patients with CKD were randomized to receive either oral canagliflozin (100 mg/day) or usual care (control group) for 52 weeks. Endpoints included changes in urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), other urinary biomarkers, laboratory parameters, and adverse events.

Ferric Citrate Decreases Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 and Improves Erythropoietin Responsiveness in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Serum phosphate and vitamin D receptor activator regulate fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), and iron may modulate FGF23 metabolism. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effects of ferric citrate hydrate and lanthanum carbohydrate on serum FGF23 levels in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: This prospective, open-label, multicenter study enrolled 60 patients on hemodialysis treated with lanthanum carbonate.

Glycated Albumin versus Glycated Hemoglobin as a Glycemic Indicator in Diabetic Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis.

Compared with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glycated albumin (GA) is superior in estimating glycemic control in diabetic patients on hemodialysis (HD). However, the better index for assessment of glycemic control in diabetic patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and the impact of protein loss on GA are unknown. Twenty diabetic patients on HD were matched by age, sex, and baseline postprandial plasma glucose (PG) levels to 20 PD patients.

Comparison of Clinical Trajectories before Initiation of Renal Replacement Therapy between Diabetic Nephropathy and Nephrosclerosis on the KDIGO Guidelines Heat Map.

This study investigated differences between the clinical trajectories of diabetic nephropathy and nephrosclerosis using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) heat map and the clinical characteristics between the two diseases at RRT initiation. This single-center, retrospective study enrolled 100 patients whose estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was ≥45 mL/min/1.73 m(2) at their first visit and who were initiated on RRT.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Darbepoetin α Versus Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator Injected Subcutaneously Once Every Four Weeks in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease at the Pre-Dialysis Stage.

Continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) seems to maintain a stable hemoglobin (Hb) level because its half-life is longer than darbepoetin α (DA). Twenty chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients at the pre-dialysis stage who had been administered DA for over 24 weeks were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous CERA or DA once every four weeks during 48 weeks. In both groups, the rate of achievement of target Hb level changed from 70% to 100% in weeks 0 to 48, with no significant difference between the groups.

A Trial of Pitavastatin Versus Rosuvastatin for Dyslipidemia in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Aim: To determine the lipid lowering effectiveness, cost effectiveness, and safety of rosuvastatin compared with pitavastatin in dyslipidemic patients with concurrent renal disorders.

Methods: This single-center, prospective, open-label, randomized, 12-month study evaluated rosuvastatin (2.5 mg) and pitavastatin (1 or 2 mg) in 134 dyslipidemic patients with concurrent chronic kidney disease (CKD; rosuvastatin group, n=68; pitavastatin group, n=66).

Urinary ACE2 is associated with urinary L-FABP and albuminuria in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Aim: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is expressed in the kidney and may be a renoprotective enzyme since it converts angiotensin (Ang) II to Ang-(1-7). In addition, ACE2 has been detected in urine from patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to determine the urinary ACE2 levels in patients with various stages of CKD and to identify the factors associated with the presence of ACE2.

Oral zinc supplementation reduces the erythropoietin responsiveness index in patients on hemodialysis.

Background: In hemodialysis (HD) patients, zinc depletion caused by inadequate intake, malabsorption, and removal by HD treatment leads to erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) hyporesponsiveness. This study investigated the effects of zinc supplementation in HD patients with zinc deficiency on changes in the erythropoietin responsiveness index (ERI).

Methods: Patients on HD with low serum zinc levels (<65 μg/dL) were randomly assigned to two groups: The polaprezinc group (who received daily polaprezinc, containing 34 mg/day of zinc) (n = 35) and the control group (no supplementation) (n = 35) for 12 months.

Randomized trial of frequent low-efficiency and short hemodialysis/hemofiltration in hemodialysis patients with acute brain injury.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare effects of frequent low-efficiency and short hemodialysis (FLESHD) and frequent low-efficiency and short hemofiltration (FLESHF) in hemodialysis (HD) patients with acute brain injury (ABI).


Methods: We randomly divided 13 HD patients with ABI into FLESHD (n = 6) or FLESHF (n = 7) groups. Conditions for the first to third sessions were as follows.

Changes to prothrombin international normalized ratio in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Background: The clinical utility of factor Xa inhibitors (xabans) has been demonstrated, but these inhibitors are contraindicated in patients undergoing dialysis therapy. Therefore, warfarin remains the mainstay for oral anticoagulation treatment of patients receiving hemodialysis (HD).

Objective: This study investigated the changes in international normalized ratio (INR) during HD treatment of patients receiving warfarin.

The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor alogliptin improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Objectives: The potent and selective dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor alogliptin improves glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes through incretin hormone-mediated increases in both α- and β-cell responsiveness to glucose. In this study, the efficacy and safety of alogliptin in type 2 diabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) were evaluated.

Methods: A prospective, open-label study of 30 patients (male/female: 24/6; mean age: 69.

International normalized ratio decreases after hemodialysis treatment in patients treated with warfarin.

This study determined the changes in international normalized ratio (INR) that occur during hemodialysis (HD) treatment of patients receiving warfarin. Twenty patients were enrolled in the study (15 males, 5 females; mean age, 71 ± 7 years). We investigated changes in INR and R-isomer and S-isomer of warfarin concentrations before (pre-) and after (post-) HD.

Aliskiren reduces home blood pressure and albuminuria in patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the antialbuminuric and antihypertensive effects of aliskiren by monitoring home blood pressure (BP) in comparison with the effects of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan in patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis and albuminuria.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, randomized trial to compare the effects of aliskiren with those of valsartan. Patients with BP <150/90 mmHg, an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 90-30 mL/min/1.

L/N-type calcium channel blocker cilnidipine reduces plasma aldosterone, albuminuria, and urinary liver-type fatty acid binding protein in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Cilnidipine inhibits both L- and N-type calcium channels and has been shown to dilate efferent arterioles as effectively as afferent arterioles. We conducted an open-label, randomized trial to compare the effects of cilnidipine against those of amlodipine on blood pressure (BP), albuminuria, and plasma aldosterone concentration in hypertensive patients with mild- to moderate-stage chronic kidney disease. Patients with BP ≥130/80 mmHg, an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 90-30 ml/min/1.

Efficacy analysis of the renoprotective effects of aliskiren in hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease.

We aimed to assess the effect of aliskiren treatment on blood pressure, albuminuria, and kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We conducted a prospective, open-label study of 67 patients with CKD who were already being treated with other antihypertensives. Inclusion criteria were blood pressure (BP) ≥130/80 mmHg, albuminuria ≥30 mg/g, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >30 ml/min/1.

Additive renoprotective effects of aliskiren on angiotensin receptor blocker and calcium channel blocker treatments for type 2 diabetic patients with albuminuria.

This open-label, randomized, parallel-controlled study investigated the effects of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren on 64 hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and stable glycemic control who were already being treated with fixed doses of antihypertensive agents over a 24-week period. These agents were 80 mg of the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan and 5 mg of the calcium channel blocker (CCB) amlodipine. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the aliskiren group, receiving 150 mg per day aliskiren, which was increased to 300 mg per day (n=32), and the CCB group, which received an increased dose (7.

Effects of lipid-lowering therapy with rosuvastatin on kidney function and oxidative stress in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Aim: We aimed to assess the effects of rosuvastatin treatment on lipid levels, a biomarker of oxidative stress, albuminuria, and kidney function in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, open-label, parallel group, controlled study of 104 patients with diabetic nephropathy, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of > 120 mg/dL, and well-controlled blood pressure who were undergoing treatment with renin angiotensin system inhibitors. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the rosuvastatin group (n = 52; 2.

The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor vildagliptin improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis.

The potent and selective dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor vildagliptin improves glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes through incretin hormone-mediated increases in both α- and β-cell responsiveness to glucose. We conducted a prospective, open-label, parallel group, controlled study of 51 patients with type 2 diabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) during the 24-week study period. Patients were assigned to two groups: the vildagliptin group (n = 30) and the control group (n = 21).

Efficacy analysis of the lipid-lowering and renoprotective effects of rosuvastatin in patients with chronic kidney disease.

We aimed to assess the effects of rosuvastatin treatment on lipid levels, albuminuria, and kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We conducted a prospective, open-label, study of 91 patients with CKD, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels > 120 mg/dL, and well-controlled blood pressure who were undergoing treatment with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors. Subjects were treated with 2.

Comparison of sustained hemodiafiltration with acetate-free dialysate and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration for the treatment of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury.

We conducted a prospective, randomized study to compare conventional continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) with sustained hemodiafiltration (SHDF) using an acetate-free dialysate. Fifty critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) who required renal replacement therapy were treated with either CVVHDF or SHDF. CVVDHF was performed using a conventional dialysate with an effluent rate of 25 mL·kg(-1) · (h-1), and SHDF was performed using an acetate-free dialysate with a flow rate of 300-500 mL/min.