The relationship between coping, emotion regulation, and quality of life of patients on dialysis.

Previous studies have investigated constructs that facilitate adaptation to chronic disease and improve quality of life and constructs that lead to psychopathological complications. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of coping and emotional regulation on the quality of life of patients on dialysis. Three questionnaires were administered to 78 patients on dialysis: Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced, Short Form (36), and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire.

Opposite actions of urotensin II and relaxin-2 on cellular expression of fibronectin in renal fibrosis: A preliminary experimental study.

Our aim was to evaluate the role of urotensin II, urantide (urotensin II receptor antagonist) and relaxin-2 on the cellular expression of fibronectin as a surrogate marker for renal fibrosis. We employed LLC-PK1 renal tubular epithelial cells and assessed the influence on the fibrotic process of the above-mentioned substances by using anti-fibronectin antibodies in western blot analysis. The addition of urotensin II increased fibronectin expression.

Acetate-free biofiltration to remove fibroblast growth factor 23 in hemodialysis patients: a pilot study.

Aim: Serum levels of 32 kDa-phosphaturic hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) rise early in renal failure in order to keep phosphatemia within the normal range; however, this compensatory mechanism itself contributes to chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder. High FGF23 is also associated to left ventricular hypertrophy, vascular calcifications and thus increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this pilot pre-post study was to evaluate the effects of a single hemodiafiltration session with acetate-free biofiltration (AFB) on FGF23 serum levels.

Socio-Economic Factors, Food Habits and Phosphorus Levels in Patients on Hemodialysis.

Background: Hyperphosphoremia is one of the most important risk factors for morbidity and mortality for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, and also, for the general population. Excessive dietary intake of phosphate (P) is one of the key factors. In particular, P in its inorganic form, which is contained in food additives, is more readily absorbed.

Role of Paricalcitol in Modulating the Immune Response in Patients with Renal Disease.

Introduction. The aim was to highlight the existence of a relationship between vitamin D deficiency, chronic inflammation, and proteinuria, by measuring neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and common inflammatory markers after administration of paricalcitol, a vitamin D analog, in vivo and in vitro. Methods.

[Lupus Nephritis and Enteritis, a dual simultaneous involvement with Arteriolar Thrombosis].

Arteriolar thrombosis is a complication that may occur during systemic lupus erithematosus. The pathophysiology could be related to abnormal endothelial function secondary to immune dysregulation. In particular renal and intestinal vessels may be target of thrombosis.

Interplay of vitamin D, erythropoiesis, and the renin-angiotensin system.

For many years deficiency of vitamin D was merely identified and assimilated to the presence of bone rickets. It is now clear that suboptimal vitamin D status may be correlated with several disorders and that the expression of 1-α-hydroxylase in tissues other than the kidney is widespread and of clinical relevance. Recently, evidence has been collected to suggest that, beyond the traditional involvement in mineral metabolism, vitamin D may interact with other kidney hormones such as renin and erythropoietin.

Sevalamer Hydrochloride, Sevelamer Carbonate and Lanthanum Carbonate: In Vitro and In Vivo Effects on Gastric Environment.

Hyperphosphatemia is common in patients with chronic renal failure. Phosphate binders are associated with gastric intolerance, representing the main reason of drug discontinuation. The aim of this study was to compare the effects in vitro and in vivo of sevelamer hydrochloride (SH), sevelamer carbonate (SC) and lanthanum carbonate (LC) on gastric microenvironment.

Semaphorin 3A serum levels are influenced by haemodialysis: what clinical significance?

Aim: Semaphorin 3A urinary levels represent an early, predictive biomarker of acute kidney injury and positively correlate with albumin-to-creatinine ratio and serum creatinine in hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease. Our purpose has been to evaluate semaphorin 3A serum levels in a cohort of haemodialysis (HD) patients, the influence of a single HD session on its concentrations, and the potential correlation with clinical and biochemical parameters.

Methods: We enrolled 18 patients receiving HD with Acetate-Free Biofiltration technique and 16 healthy subjects as controls.

Vitamin D receptor polymorphism in chronic kidney disease patients with complicated cardiovascular disease.

Several studies indicate a relationship between vitamin D and cardiovascular disease. Pleiotropic actions of vitamin D and its analogs are mediated by vitamin D receptor (VDR). VDRs have been identified in almost all tissues, including vascular smooth muscle cells, cardiomyocytes, and endothelial cells.

The future of phosphate binders: a perspective on novel therapeutics.

Chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) is a common complication of CKD. The therapeutic strategies for the treatment of CKD-MBD include phosphate binders, active vitamin D analogs and calcimimetics. The first class of drugs provided nephrologists with a range of phosphate binders that are able to decrease circulating phosphate and parathyroid hormone but involve some tolerability and safety issues.

New therapeutic strategies under development to halt the progression of renal failure.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a pathological condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, prevention of CKD onset and progression is mandatory. As pharmacological agents already used in clinical practice are not yet able to halt the progression of renal damage, new therapeutic strategies are being explored.

New insights on the role of vitamin D in the progression of renal damage.

Several studies indicate a relationship between hypovitaminosis D, survival, vascular calcification and inflammation. In addition to its central role in the regulation of bone mineral metabolism, vitamin D also contributes to other systems, including the immune, cardiovascular and endocrine systems. Vitamin D analogs reduces proteinuria, in particular through suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and exerts anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

Proteinuric effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation in healthy subjects and diabetic patients with stage 3-4 CKD.

Background: Many authors have investigated the numerous connections between the nervous system and kidneys, and recent literature has indicated that these similar systems are interconnected. Recent scientific works have shown that there is similarity between the cerebral cortex 'viscera representation' and the 'motor omunculus'. We studied the connection between the brain and kidney in vivo using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) evaluation in aortic aneurysm repair.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) develops in 10% of patients after surgical abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a predictor of AKI and Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) represent a potential repair mechanism for vascular lesions. We evaluated the diagnostic power of serum (s) and urine (u) NGAL in detecting a possible event of AKI in patients undergoing surgical treatment for AAA repair.

A biotechnological T-shirt monitors the patient's heart during hemodialysis.

Uremic patients are characterized by a "pro-arrhythmic substrate." Arrhythmia appearance during hemodialysis (HD) is an unexpected event with a high incidence of mortality and morbidity and difficult to record in patients repeatedly checked using electrocardiogram (ECG). Furthermore the carrying out of this important examination by classical devices during HD is uncomfortable and sometimes stressful for the patient.

NGAL is a precocious marker of therapeutic response.

NGAL (Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin) is a small 25-kD peptide belonging to the lipocalin superfamily. Several studies highlight its role as an organ injury and disease activity biomarker. In the present review, instead, we wanted to study NGAL as a precocious marker of therapeutic response in renal and non-renal diseases (glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, LES, Crohn's disease and other chronic inflammatory pathologies).

[From oxygen to erythropoietin, as a protagonist of the skin-brain-kidney axis].

Erythropoietin synthesis is one of the essential adaptive responses to a hypoxic environment. In mammals, a renal oxygen sensor capable of stimulating erythropoietic hormone synthesis through a transcriptional factor called HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) has long been identified. Recent research has demonstrated that cerebral astrocytes and skin keratocytes can also produce erythropoietin as a response to different oxygen concentrations.