Progressive increase in vascular access blood flow after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in patients on hemodialysis.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is the gold standard for treating stenoses with dysfunctional vascular access. Recently, we found that vascular access blood flow (VABF) measured immediately after PTA increased over time without the need for additional procedures in the patients who underwent PTA. Therefore, this study was conducted to confirm an increase in VABF after PTA and identify the factors associated with it.

Associations between central pulse pressure, microvascular endothelial function, and fluid overload in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Microcirculatory endothelial dysfunction is a complex phenomenon that contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between microcirculatory endothelial dysfunction and macrovascular disease remains incompletely understood. Fluid overload is a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Effects of Normal Reference Range of Phosphorus and Corresponding PTH on Endothelial Function in CKD Patients.

Introduction: Endothelial dysfunction commonly occurs in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. Among CKD patients, biomarkers involved in the pathogenesis of CKD-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD), such as phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and fibroblast growth factor 23, are associated with endothelial dysfunction. We investigated whether these biomarkers induce endothelial dysfunction in CKD patients with normal phosphorus levels.

Early fluid management affects short-term mortality in patients with end-stage kidney disease undergoing chronic hemodialysis and requiring continuous renal replacement therapy.

Background: Early fluid management is considered a key element affecting mortality in critically ill patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Most studies have primarily focused on patients with intrinsic acute kidney injury requiring CRRT, although end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients generally exhibit greater vulnerability. We investigated the association between fluid balance and short-term mortality outcomes in ESKD patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis and requiring CRRT.

The effect of uric acid and urinary sodium excretion on prehypertension: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: This study examined the effect of serum uric acid (SUA) level and urinary sodium excretion on blood pressure as well as their combined effect on prehypertension in a Korean population.

Method: Data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for adults (≥ 19 years of age) were used. The participants were classified into two groups, normotension and prehypertension, according to the JNC-7 definition.

The interactive effects of input and output on managing fluid balance in patients with acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy.

Background: The interactive effect of cumulative input and output on achieving optimal fluid balance has not been well elucidated in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). This study evaluated the interrelation of fluid components with mortality in patients with AKI requiring CRRT.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study conducted with a total of 258 patients who were treated with CRRT due to AKI between 2016 and 2018 in the intensive care unit of Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital.

Uric acid induced the phenotype transition of vascular endothelial cells induction of oxidative stress and glycocalyx shedding.

Recent data suggested a causative role of uric acid (UA) in the development of renal disease, in which endothelial dysfunction is regarded as the key mechanism. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) and shedding of the glycocalyx are early changes of endothelial dysfunction. We investigated whether UA induced EndoMT in HUVECs and an animal model of hyperuricemia fed with 2% oxonic acid for 4 wk.

Treatment and clinical outcomes of elderly idiopathic membranous nephropathy: A multicenter cohort study in Korea.

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common glomerulonephritis in elderly patients showing nephrotic syndrome. However, little is known about its treatment options and outcomes in elderly MN patients at long term follow-up. We retrospectively enrolled patients with biopsy-proven MN between April 1990 and December 2015 from eight tertiary hospitals in Korea.

Selective tubular activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-2α has dual effects on renal fibrosis.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a key transcriptional factor in the response to hypoxia. Although the effect of HIF activation in chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been widely evaluated, the results have been inconsistent until now. This study aimed to investigate the effects of HIF-2α activation on renal fibrosis according to the activation timing in inducible tubule-specific transgenic mice with non-diabetic CKD.

Dementia is a risk factor for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in elderly Korean patients initiating hemodialysis: a Korean national population-based study.

Background: Dementia is common in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis (HD) and is associated with worse outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) in elderly patients with dementia initiating HD.

Methods: Using the database from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, we analyzed 10,171 patients aged 65 years or older who had initiated dialysis from 2005 to 2008.

Technique failure in Korean incident peritoneal dialysis patients: a national population-based study.

Background: Technique failure is an important issue for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. In this study, we aimed to analyze technique failure rate in detail and to determine the predictors for technique failure in Korea.

Methods: We identified all patients who had started dialysis between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2008, in Korea, using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database.

The Relationship between Magnesium and Endothelial Function in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis.

Purpose: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients tend to have higher serum magnesium values than healthy population due to their positive balance of magnesium in kidney. Recent studies found that magnesium level is positively correlated with endothelial function. Therefore, this study was conducted to define the relationship between magnesium level and endothelial dysfunction in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis (HD).

Risk of major cardiovascular events among incident dialysis patients: A Korean national population-based study.

Background: Dialysis patients are at high risk for cardiovascular diseases, but until now there have been no detailed analyses of the incidences among Asian patients initiating dialysis. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence rates of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and to compare them between incident HD patients and PD patients.

Methods: We included all patients who had started dialysis between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008 in Korea, and analyzed 30,279 eligible patients [22,892 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 7387 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients] by intention-to-treat.

Comparison of epitheliotrophic factors in autologous serum eyedrops from sera of chronic renal failure patients vs. normal controls.

Purpose: To investigate the composition and biological activity of serum epitheliotrophic factors from chronic renal failure (CRF) patients vs. healthy controls.

Methods: Twenty, 50 and 100 % autologous serum eyedrops (ASEs) were prepared from 16 CRF patients and 16 normal subjects.

Improving survival rate of Korean patients initiating dialysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the survival rate among Korean dialysis patients changed during the period between 2005 and 2008 in Korea.

Materials And Methods: A total of 32357 patients who began dialysis between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008 were eligible for analysis. Baseline demographics, comorbidities, and mortality data were obtained from the database of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service.

A population-based approach indicates an overall higher patient mortality with peritoneal dialysis compared to hemodialysis in Korea.

To date, only a few large-scale studies have measured the effect of dialysis modality on mortality in Asian populations. Here, we sought to compare survival between incident hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients using the Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service database. This enabled us to perform a population-based complete survey that included 32,280 incident dialysis patients and followed them for a median of 26.

An assessment of survival among Korean elderly patients initiating dialysis: a national population-based study.

Background: Although the proportion of the elderly patients with incident end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients has been increasing in Korea, there has been a lack of information on outcomes of dialysis treatment. This study aimed to assess the survival rate and to elucidate predictors for all-cause mortality among elderly Korean patients initiating dialysis.

Methods: We analyzed 11,301 patients (6,138 men) aged 65 years or older who had initiated dialysis from 2005 to 2008 and had followed up (median, 37.