Decreased Levels of Soluble Developmental Endothelial Locus-1 Are Associated with Thrombotic Microangiopathy in Pregnancy.

HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets) syndrome is a life-threatening complication of pregnancy, which is often secondary to preeclampsia. To date, there is no biomarker in clinical use for the early stratification of women with preeclampsia who are under increased risk of HELLP syndrome. Herein, we show that the levels of circulating developmental endothelial locus-1 (DEL-1), which is an extracellular immunomodulatory protein, are decreased in patients with HELLP syndrome compared to preeclampsia.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 and α-Klotho Protein Are Associated with Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Non-Dialysis CKD Patients.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and α-Klotho protein appear to have an important role in the pathogenesis of CKD-mineral and bone disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of FGF-23 and α-Klotho levels with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with non-dialysis CKD.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study, enrolling participants with non-dialysis CKD from a single center in Greece.

Intradialytic Cardiovascular Exercise Training Alters Redox Status, Reduces Inflammation and Improves Physical Performance in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Redox status (RS) perturbations and inflammation are fundamental features of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that are substantially exacerbated in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study aimed at investigating the efficacy of a 6-month intradialytic exercise training program on RS, inflammation and physical performance in patients with ESRD. Twenty hemodialysis (HD) patients (17 males, three females) were randomly assigned to either an intradialytic training (bedside cycling) group (TR; = 10) or a control group (CON; = 10) for 6 months.

Association between CUBN gene variants, type 2 diabetes and vitamin D concentrations in an elderly Greek population.

Accumulating evidence suggests a potential implication of vitamin D biological network in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. The megalin-cubilin endocytotic system constitutes a key transport structure, with a modulating role in vitamin D metabolism. We aimed to assess the contribution of variants in the CUBN gene to the genetic risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

Nebivolol reduces short-term blood pressure variability more potently than irbesartan in patients with intradialytic hypertension.

Increased blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) is associated with high cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis. Studies on the effects of antihypertensive drugs on BPV in hemodialysis are scarce. This study examines the effects of nebivolol and irbesartan on short-term BPV in patients with intradialytic hypertension.

A Comparative Study of Short-Term Blood Pressure Variability in Hemodialysis Patients with and without Intradialytic Hypertension.

Background: Short-term blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis. Patients with intradialytic hypertension have high risk of adverse outcomes. Whether BPV is increased in these patients is not clear.

The effects of nebivolol and irbesartan on postdialysis and ambulatory blood pressure in patients with intradialytic hypertension: a randomized cross-over study.

Objectives: Intradialytic hypertension is estimated at 5-15% of hemodialysis patients and is associated with poor prognosis. Studies on therapeutic interventions for this entity are extremely few. We aimed to evaluate the effects of nebivolol and irbesartan on peridialytic, intradialytic, and ambulatory BP in patients with intradialytic hypertension.

Assessment of association between lipoxygenase genes variants in elderly Greek population and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications. Arachidonic acid lipoxygenases have been intensively studied in their role in inflammation in metabolic pathways. Thus, we aimed to explore variants of lipoxygenase genes (arachidonate lipoxygenase genes) in a diabetes adult population using a case-control study design.

Low T3 syndrome and long-term mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Aim: To investigate the predictive value of low freeT3 for long-term mortality in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients and explore a possible causative role of chronic inflammation.

Methods: One hundred fourteen HD patients (84 males) consecutively entered the study and were assessed for thyroid function and two established markers of inflammation, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Monthly blood samples were obtained from all patients for three consecutive months during the observation period for evaluation of thyroid function and measurement of inflammatory markers.

Effects of L-carnitine on oxidative stress responses in patients with renal disease.

Purpose: Hemodialyzed patients demonstrate elevated oxidative stress and reduced functional status. Exercise induces health benefits, but acute exertion up-regulates oxidative stress responses in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on i) exercise performance and ii) blood redox status both at rest and after exercise.

Acute exercise may exacerbate oxidative stress response in hemodialysis patients.

Background/aims: Hemodialyzed patients (HD) demonstrate elevated oxidative stress (OXS) levels. Exercise effects on OXS response and antioxidant status of HD was investigated in the present study.

Methods: Twelve HD and 12 healthy controls (HC) performed a graded exercise protocol.

Effect of iron loading on peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and on circulating cytokine levels in iron-depleted hemodialysis patients receiving erythropoietin.

Background/aims: High doses of iron are recommended intravenously in iron-depleted hemodialysis (HD) patients receiving recombinant erythropoietin (EPO). Iron deficiency and mainly iron overload impair cellular and humoral immune response mechanisms. Imbalances in T cell subsets are common findings in disorders of iron metabolism.

Role of eicosanoids of the contralateral kidney in maintenance of two-kidney, one-clip renovascular hypertension in rats.

Objective: To elucidate the role of the eicosanoids prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), 6-keto-prostaglandin F(1a) (PGF(1a)) and thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) in the maintenance of two-kidney, one-clip renovascular hypertension in rats.

Material And Methods: The right renal artery was constricted by a silver clip in 63 male Sprague-Dawley rats to induce hypertension, while a sham operation was performed in 17 control rats. Six months after the induction of hypertension, nephrectomy of the clipped kidney was performed.

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 and angiogenic factor expression in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Background: Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), a principal disease of glomerular capillaries, was investigated for some aspects of glomerular capillary injury and repair (angiogenesis).

Methods: Fifteen cases of IMN were studied immunohistochemically for expression of the endothelial cell antigen platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1[CD31]) and the angiogenesis-stimulating factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP). An equal number of normal control kidneys of fetal and mature origin were tested for the same antigens.