Access to treatment for chronic kidney disease by children and adolescents in Brazil.

Background: This study aimed to identify main factors associated with child and adolescent access to chronic kidney disease (CKD) treatment in Brazil.

Methods: Multi-center cross-sectional study conducted in eight pediatric nephrology centers across all Brazilian geographic regions. Information was collected on characteristics associated with referral and treatment of patients with CKD.

Functional capacity, renal function and vitamin D in community-dwelling oldest old.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum 25(OH)D with the physical and mental functional capacity of elderly individuals aged 80 years or older.

Methods: We evaluated the functional capacity in its multidomain aspects: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Mental State Mini-Exam (MMSE), Verbal Fluency Test (VF), handgrip strength and time to sit and rise from a chair five times, combined creatinine and cystatin C-based eGFR and 25(OH)D levels in 205 independent asymptomatic and community-dwelling elderly subjects in a cross-sectional study.

Results: Every 1 year of life, there was reduction of about 10% chance of adequate performance in functional capacity.

The risk factors for and effects of visceral leishmaniasis in graft and renal transplant recipients.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in renal transplant recipients and to analyze the impacts of this disease on graft success and patient health.

Methods: This retrospective, case-control study examined 120 renal transplant patients in a VL endemic area. The treatment group included patients (n=20) who developed VL after transplantation, and the control group (n=100) was composed of renal transplant recipients without VL.

Incidence of bloodstream infection among patients on hemodialysis by central venous catheter.

This study evaluated the incidence and risk factors of bloodstream infection (BSI) among patients with a double-lumen central venous catheter (CVC) for hemodialysis (HD) and identified the microorganisms isolated from the bloodstream. A follow-up included all patients (n=156) who underwent hemodialysis by double-lumen CVC at the Federal University of São Paulo-UNIFESP, Brazil, over a one-year period. From the group of patients, 94 presented BSI, of whom 39 had positive cultures at the central venous catheter insertion location.