Influence of dialysis therapies on oral health: a pilot study.

Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health problem worldwide. Currently, the link between oral health status, dialysis modality, and dialysis vintage is still not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate periodontal disease, dental caries, and Candida colonization among patients under hemodialysis (HD) therapy, peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy, and PD with previous history of HD (HD/PD).

Oral Colonization of Species in a Peritoneal Dialysis Population: A Possible Reservoir for PD-Related Infections?

Peritoneal dialysis-related infections are important morbidity/mortality causes, being staphylococci the most prevalent agents. Since nasopharynx carriage is a known risk factor for PD infections and the oral cavity is a starting point for systemic diseases development, we aimed at comparing the oral staphylococci colonization between PD patients and controls and studying the association with PD-related infections. Saliva samples were plated in Mannitol salt, and isolates were identified by gene sequencing.

Calcitriol Prevents Cardiovascular Repercussions in Puromycin Aminonucleoside-Induced Nephrotic Syndrome.

Puromycin aminonucleoside-induced nephrotic syndrome (PAN-NS) is characterized by cardiac remodeling and increased local inflammatory activity. Patients with NS and animal models of NS have vitamin D3 deficiency. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of calcitriol on cardiac remodeling and local inflammatory state in PAN-NS rat model.

The microbiome in chronic kidney disease patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an imbalanced human microbiome due not only to CKD-associated factors such as uremia, increased inflammation and immunosuppression, but also to pharmacological therapies and dietary restrictions. End-stage renal disease patients require renal replacement therapies commonly in the form of hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). HD implies the existence of a vascular access, such as an arteriovenous fistula/graft or a venous catheter, whereas PD implies a long-term peritoneal catheter and the constant inflow of peritoneal dialysate.

Oral Yeast Colonization and Fungal Infections in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Pilot Study.

Peritonitis and exit-site infections are important complications in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients that are occasionally caused by opportunistic fungi inhabiting distant body sites. In this study, the oral yeast colonization of PD patients and the antifungal susceptibility profile of the isolated yeasts were accessed and correlated with fungal infection episodes in the following 4 years. Saliva yeast colonization was accessed in 21 PD patients and 27 healthy controls by growth in CHROMagar-Candida® and 18S rRNA/ITS sequencing.

Phase Angle Predicts Arterial Stiffness and Vascular Calcification in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Objectives: Fluid overload (FO) is frequently present in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and is associated with markers of malnutrition, inflammation, and atherosclerosis/calcification (MIAC) syndrome. We examined the relationships in stable PD patients between phase angle (PhA) and the spectrum of uremic vasculopathy including vascular calcification and arterial stiffness and between PhA and changes in serum fetuin-A levels.

Methods: Sixty-one stable adult PD patients were evaluated in a cross-sectional study (ST1).

Asymptomatic Effluent Protozoa Colonization in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Currently, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health problem. Considering the impaired immunity of CKD patients, the relevance of infection in peritoneal dialysis (PD), and the increased prevalence of parasites in CKD patients, protozoa colonization was evaluated in PD effluent from CKD patients undergoing PD. Overnight PD effluent was obtained from 49 asymptomatic stable PD patients.

Evolution of bone disease after kidney transplantation: A prospective histomorphometric analysis of trabecular and cortical bone.

Aim: Post-transplant bone disease results from multiple factors, including previous bone and mineral metabolism disturbances and effects from transplant-related medications. Bone biopsy remains the gold-standard diagnostic tool.

Methods: We aimed to prospectively evaluate trabecular and cortical bone by histomorphometry after kidney transplantation.

Renalase regulates peripheral and central dopaminergic activities.

Renalase is a recently identified FAD/NADH-dependent amine oxidase mainly expressed in kidney that is secreted into blood and urine where it was suggested to metabolize catecholamines. The present study evaluated central and peripheral dopaminergic activities in the renalase knockout (KO) mouse model and examined the changes induced by recombinant renalase (RR) administration on plasma and urine catecholamine levels. Compared with wild-type (WT) mice, KO mice presented increased plasma levels of epinephrine (Epi), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) that were accompanied by increases in the urinary excretion of Epi, NE, DA.

Plasma and urine renalase levels and activity during the recovery of renal function in kidney transplant recipients.

Renalase is a recently described enzyme secreted by the kidney into both plasma and urine, where it was suggested to degrade catecholamines contributing to blood pressure control. While there is a controversy regarding the relationship between renal function and plasma renalase levels, there is virtually no data in humans on plasma renalase activity as well as on both urine renalase levels and activity. We prospectively examined the time course of plasma and urine renalase levels and activity in 26 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving a cadaver kidney transplant (cadaver kidney recipients [CKR]) before surgery and during the recovery of renal function up to day 90 post transplant.

Concerted action of ANP and dopamine D1-receptor to regulate sodium homeostasis in nephrotic syndrome.

The edema formation in nephrotic syndrome (NS) is associated with a blunted response to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). The natriuretic effects of ANP have been related to renal dopamine D1-receptors (D1R). We examined the interaction between ANP and renal D1R in rats with puromycin aminonucleoside-induced NS (PAN-NS).

Intestinal and renal guanylin peptides system in hypertensive obese mice.

Guanylin (GN), uroguanylin (UGN) and the GC-C receptor have been associated with two endocrine axes: the salt and water homeostasis regulating enterorenal axis and the recently described appetite-regulating UGN/GC-C extraintestinal axis. The present work assessed the mRNA expression levels of GN peptides system (GPS) in a model of diet-induced obesity. Male C57BL/6J mice were submitted to either a high-fat high-simple carbohydrate diet (obese) or a normal diet (control).

Sodium-dependent modulation of systemic and urinary renalase expression and activity in the rat remnant kidney.

Objective: The present study examined the influence of high-sodium intake on systemic and urinary renalase levels and activity in 3/4 nephrectomized (3/4nx) and Sham rats.

Results: The reduced circulating renalase levels in 3/4nx rats during normal-sodium intake were accompanied by increased plasma renalase activity. The sodium-induced increase of blood pressure in 3/4nx rats was accompanied by significant decreases in circulating renalase levels and activity as well as by a significant decrease in cardiac renalase levels in 3/4nx rats but not in Sham rats.