[Iodine deficiency due to an abnormal diet].

Background: In the past, iodine deficiency was an important cause of goitre and mental retardation. Since the introduction of iodised salt the incidence of iodine deficiency has declined enormously.

Case Description: An 8-year old girl had goitre for several months.

Latent cytomegalovirus infection is an independent risk factor for late graft failure in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a risk factor for rejection and mortality soon after renal transplantation. Little is known about its consequences longer after transplantation. We prospectively investigated whether latent CMV infection is a risk factor for graft failure and mortality long after transplantation.

Smoking is a risk factor for graft failure and mortality after renal transplantation.

Background: Smoking in renal transplant recipients (RTR) is an acknowledged cardiovascular risk factor. It is, however, unclear whether smoking also increases the risk of graft failure (GF).

Method: In this study, we prospectively assessed the association of current smoking versus past and never smoking with GF and mortality in 604 RTR (age 51.

Influence of C-reactive protein and urinary protein excretion on prediction of graft failure and mortality by serum albumin in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Hypoalbuminemia is an established predictor of poor outcome in renal transplant recipients (RTR). It is considered to reflect inflammation, poor nutritional status, or proteinuria. We explored the roles of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and urinary protein excretion in prediction of graft failure and mortality by serum albumin in RTR.

High plasma hemopexin activity is an independent risk factor for late graft failure in renal transplant recipients.

Chronic low-grade inflammation is involved in late renal transplant dysfunction. Recent studies suggest a role for hemopexin, an acute phase protein, in kidney damage. We investigated whether hemopexin activity (Hx) predicts graft failure in renal transplant recipients (RTRs).

Plasma procalcitonin is an independent predictor of graft failure late after renal transplantation.

Background: Chronic low-grade inflammation is involved in chronic transplant dysfunction after renal transplantation. Procalcitonin (PCT), known to reflect microbial inflammation, may also reflect ongoing noninfectious chronic low-grade inflammation in organ parenchyma, including transplanted kidneys. We aimed to compare predictive performance of plasma PCT for development of graft failure in renal transplant recipients (RTR) with that of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), an established marker of systemic chronic low-grade inflammation.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and mortality in renal transplant recipients versus the general population.

Background: Mortality rates are higher in renal transplant recipients (RTR) than in the general population (GP). It is unknown what risk factors account for this difference.

Methods: We prospectively followed a cohort of 606 RTR for 3026 person-years, during which 95 died.

Skin-autofluorescence is an independent predictor of graft loss in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Skin-autofluorescence (skin-AF) noninvasively measures the tissue accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs are nephrotoxic and potential effectors of cardiovascular mortality. We investigated whether skin-AF predicted graft loss after kidney transplantation.

Circulating markers of endothelial dysfunction interact with proteinuria in predicting mortality in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Proteinuria is associated with endothelial dysfunction (ED) and increased mortality. We investigated whether urinary protein excretion (UPE) is correlated with markers of ED and whether these markers affect the association of proteinuria with mortality in renal transplant recipients (RTR).

Methods: Six hundred four RTR with a functioning graft for more than 1 year were included.

Urinary creatinine excretion reflecting muscle mass is a predictor of mortality and graft loss in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Insulin resistance has been implicated to underlie both excess cardiovascular disease and chronic transplant dysfunction after renal transplantation. Skeletal muscle mainly determines peripheral insulin resistance, and could therefore affect outcome.

Methods: All transplant recipients at our outpatient clinic with a functioning graft more than 1 year were invited to participate between 2001 and 2003.

High urinary excretion of kidney injury molecule-1 is an independent predictor of graft loss in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Chronic transplant dysfunction is characterized by renal function decline and proteinuria. Kidney injury molecule (KIM)-1, a transmembrane tubular protein with unknown function, is undetectable in normal kidneys, but markedly induced after injury. Urinary KIM-1 excretion has been quantified as biomarker of renal damage.

Low levels of sRAGE are associated with increased risk for mortality in renal transplant recipients.

Objective: Infusion of the soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) was protective against atherosclerosis and nephropathy in animal models. In this study we investigated determinants of endogenous sRAGE in renal transplant recipients and whether sRAGE was associated with mortality and graft loss.

Methods And Results: A total of 591 patients participated at a median time of 6 years after transplantation.

Elevated levels of C-reactive protein independently predict accelerated deterioration of graft function in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Chronic transplant dysfunction is characterized by a gradual decline in renal function with slowly rising serum creatinine. The underlying mechanism is thought to include inflammation and atherosclerosis. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a well-established marker of both inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Abdominal obesity and smoking are important determinants of C-reactive protein in renal transplant recipients.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a predictor of coronary heart disease, total mortality and chronic allograft nephropathy in renal transplant recipients. The determinants of CRP have been investigated in the general population, but not in renal transplant recipients. CRP might reflect metabolic aberrations in association with central obesity and systemic atherosclerosis.

Arachidonic acid mediates non-capacitative calcium entry evoked by CB1-cannabinoid receptor activation in DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells.

Cannabinoid CB1-receptor stimulation in DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells induces a rise in [Ca2+]i, which is dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and modulated by thapsigargin-sensitive stores, suggesting capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE), and by MAP kinase. Non-capacitative Ca2+ entry (NCCE) stimulated by arachidonic acid (AA) partly mediates histamine H1-receptor-evoked increases in [Ca2+]i in DDT1 MF-2 cells. In the current study, both Ca2+ entry mechanisms and a possible link between MAP kinase activation and increasing [Ca2+]i were investigated.