Intake of Marine-Derived Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Mortality in Renal Transplant Recipients.

The effect of marine-derived omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (-3 PUFA) on long-term outcome in renal transplant recipients (RTR) remains unclear. We investigated whether marine-derived -3 PUFA intake is associated with all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in RTR. Intake of eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid (EPA-DHA) was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Plasma N-terminal Prosomatostatin and Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality in a Prospective Observational Cohort: the PREVEND Study.

Background: Somatostatin is a component of the well-known insulin-like growth factor-1/growth hormone (GH) longevity axis. There is observational evidence that increased GH is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to investigate the potential association of plasma N-terminal fragment prosomatostatin (NT-proSST) with incident CVD and all-cause mortality in apparently healthy adults.

Intake of n-3 fatty acids and long-term outcome in renal transplant recipients: a post hoc analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Supplementation with n-3 fatty acids may improve long-term outcomes of renal transplant recipients (RTR). Recent evidence suggests that EPA and DHA have different outcomes compared with α-linolenic acid (ALA). We examined the prospective associations of EPA-DHA and ALA intakes with graft failure and all-cause mortality in 637 RTR.

A feedback system in residency to evaluate CanMEDS roles and provide high-quality feedback: Exploring its application.

Introduction: Residents benefit from regular, high quality feedback on all CanMEDS roles during their training. However, feedback mostly concerns Medical Expert, leaving the other roles behind. A feedback system was developed to guide supervisors in providing feedback on CanMEDS roles.

Causal path analyses of the association of protein intake with risk of mortality and graft failure in renal transplant recipients.

The effect of a low protein intake on survival in renal transplant recipients (RTR) is unknown. A low protein intake may increase risks of malnutrition, low muscle mass, and death. We aimed to study associations of protein intake with mortality and graft failure and to identify potential intermediate factors.

Assessment of Cotinine Reveals a Dose-Dependent Effect of Smoking Exposure on Long-term Outcomes After Renal Transplantation.

Background: Smoking is a risk factor for poor late outcomes in renal transplant recipients (RTR). Smoking exposure can be assessed by self-report and cotinine measurements. We investigated whether use of cotinine as a biomarker for smoking exposure can serve as an alternative for self-report and to compare associations of smoking exposure by self-report and cotinine with outcomes in RTR and assess dose dependency.

PROFSS: a screening tool for early identification of functional somatic symptoms.

Objective: To develop and validate a brief screening tool for predicting functional somatic symptoms (FSS) based on clinical and non-clinical information from the general practitioner referral letter, and to assess its inter-rater reliability.

Methods: The derivation sample consisted of 357 consecutive patients referred to an internal outpatient clinic by their general practitioner. Referral letters were scored for candidate predictors for the main outcome measure, which was a final diagnosis of FSS made by the internist.

Urinary Urea Excretion and Long-term Outcome After Renal Transplantation.

Background: Little is known about optimal protein intake after transplantation. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate associations of urinary urea excretion, a marker for protein intake, with graft failure and mortality in renal transplant recipients (RTR) and potential effect modification by body mass index (BMI) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Methods: Urinary urea excretion was measured in repeated 24-hr urine collections between 6 and 18 months after transplantation.

Bilirubin as a potential causal factor in type 2 diabetes risk: a Mendelian randomization study.

Circulating bilirubin, a natural antioxidant, is associated with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the nature of the relationship remains unknown. We performed Mendelian randomization in a prospective cohort of 3,381 participants free of diabetes at baseline (age 28-75 years; women 52.6%).

Circulating peroxiredoxin 4 and type 2 diabetes risk: the Prevention of Renal and Vascular Endstage Disease (PREVEND) study.

Aims/hypothesis: Oxidative stress plays a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We previously showed that the circulating antioxidant peroxiredoxin 4 (Prx4) is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. We aimed to evaluate the association of Prx4 with type 2 diabetes risk in the general population.

Continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion in type 1 diabetes: a 6-year post-trial follow-up.

Background: Continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion (CIPII) with an implantable pump is a treatment option for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Aim of the present study was to describe the long-term course of glycaemic control, complications, health related quality of life (HRQOL) and treatment satisfaction among T1DM patients treated with CIPII.

Methods: Nineteen patients that participated in a randomized cross-over trial comparing CIPII and subcutaneous (SC) therapy in 2006 were followed until 2012.

Design of the e-Vita diabetes mellitus study: effects and use of an interactive online care platform in patients with type 2 diabetes (e-VitaDM-1/ZODIAC-40).

Unlabelled: Trial registration: NCT01570140.

Background: Due to ongoing rise in need for care for people with chronic diseases and lagging increase in number of care providers, alternative forms of care provision and self-management support are needed. Empowering patients through an online care platform could help to improve patients' self-management and reduce the burden on the healthcare system.

Safety and efficacy of gliclazide as treatment for type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Objective And Design: Gliclazide has been associated with a low risk of hypoglycemic episodes and beneficial long-term cardiovascular safety in observational cohorts. The aim of this study was to assess in a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials the safety and efficacy of gliclazide compared to other oral glucose-lowering agents (PROSPERO2013:CRD42013004156).

Data Sources: Medline, EMBASE, Clinicaltrials.

Midregional fragment of proadrenomedullin, new-onset albuminuria, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes (ZODIAC-30).

Objective: The midregional fragment of proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is a marker of endothelial dysfunction and has been associated with a variety of diseases. Our aim was to investigate whether MR-proADM is associated with new-onset albuminuria and cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes treated in primary care.

Research Design And Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes participating in the observational Zwolle Outpatient Diabetes Project Integrating Available Care (ZODIAC) study were included.

Exercise and type 2 diabetes mellitus: changes in tissue-specific fat distribution and cardiac function.

Purpose: To prospectively assess the effects of an exercise intervention on organ-specific fat accumulation and cardiac function in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials And Methods: Written informed consent was obtained from all participants, and the study protocol was approved by the medical ethics committee. The study followed 12 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (seven men; mean age, 46 years ± 2 [standard error]) before and after 6 months of moderate-intensity exercise, followed by a high-altitude trekking expedition with exercise of long duration.

Role of HDL cholesterol and estimates of HDL particle composition in future development of type 2 diabetes in the general population: the PREVEND study.

Background And Aims: High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) may directly stimulate β-cell function and glucose metabolism. We determined the relationships of fasting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), plasma apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and apoA-II, and HDL-C-to-apoA-I and HDL-C-to-apoA-II ratios, as estimates of HDL particle composition, with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A prospective study was carried out in the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-Stage Disease (PREVEND) cohort after exclusion of subjects with diabetes at baseline (n = 6820; age, 28-75 years).

Pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and risk of new-onset diabetes after kidney transplantation.

Objective: Chronic exposure to calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids poses renal transplant recipients (RTR) at high risk for development of new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT). Pancreatic β-cell dysfunction may be crucial to the pathophysiology of NODAT and specific markers for β-cell dysfunction may have additive value for predicting NODAT in this population. Therefore, we prospectively investigated whether proinsulin, as a marker of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, is associated with future development of NODAT and improves prediction of it.

Peroxiredoxin 4, a novel circulating biomarker for oxidative stress and the risk of incident cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.

Background: Oxidative stress has been suggested to play a key role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of our study was to investigate the associations of serum peroxiredoxin 4 (Prx4), a hydrogen peroxide-degrading peroxidase, with incident CVD and all-cause mortality. We subsequently examined the incremental value of Prx4 for the risk prediction of CVD compared with the Framingham risk score (FRS).

Liver function tests and risk prediction of incident type 2 diabetes: evaluation in two independent cohorts.

Background: Liver function tests might predict the risk of type 2 diabetes. An independent study evaluating utility of these markers compared with an existing prediction model is yet lacking.

Methods And Findings: We performed a case-cohort study, including random subcohort (6.

Association between 9p21 genetic variants and mortality risk in a prospective cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes (ZODIAC-15).

The genomic region at 9p21 chromosome near the CDKN2A/CDKN2B genes is associated with type 2 diabetes(T2D) and cardiovascular disease(CVD). The effect of the 9p21 locus on long-term mortality in patients with T2D has yet to be determined.We examined three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 9p21, consistently and independently associated with T2D (rs10811661) or CVD (rs10757278, rs2383206), in relation to the risk of total and cardiovascular mortality in diabetic patients.

Dietary protein, blood pressure and renal function in renal transplant recipients.

Hypertension is highly prevalent among renal transplant recipients (RTR) and a risk factor for graft failure and cardiovascular events. Protein intake has been claimed to affect blood pressure (BP) in the general population and may affect renal function. We examined the association of dietary protein with BP and renal function in RTR.

Influence of age on the prognostic value of mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin in the general population.

Objective: Experimental studies have shown that adrenomedullin (ADM) has an important role in circulatory homeostasis. Mid-regional pro-ADM (MR-proADM) is a stable form of ADM. Observational studies found an important association with age, body mass index and kidney function.