Apoptotic cell-free DNA promotes inflammation in haemodialysis patients.

Background: A proinflammatory environment characterized by the continuous activation of the innate immune system is thought to contribute to the markedly elevated mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The presence of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been demonstrated as biomarker in many pathologies.

Methods: We evaluated the occurrence of cfDNA in HD patients and its functional relevance for innate immunity and inflammation.

Effects of TCN2 776C>G on vitamin B, folate, and total homocysteine levels in kidney transplant patients.

Background: Controversy exists regarding the possible associations between a single nucleotide polymorphism of the transcobalamin II encoding gene (TCN2 776C>G) and plasma levels of vitamin B(12), folate, or total homocysteine.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 732 kidney allograft recipients, patients were categorized by TCN2 776C>G genotype. In univariate and multivariate linear regression models that allowed the outcome variables vitamin B(12), folate, and total homocysteine plasma levels to follow a gamma distribution, we tested for possible associations of allelic variants of the TCN2 776C>G gene and these three dependent variables.

Acute effect of amino acid peritoneal dialysis solution on vascular function.

Background: Oral ingestion of proteins or amino acids is associated with endothelial dysfunction. The effect of commercial amino acid peritoneal dialysis solutions on vascular function is unknown.

Objective: We compared the acute effect of intraperitoneal amino acid administration with that of intraperitoneal glucose administration on vascular function in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Effect of TCN2 776C>G on vitamin B12 cellular availability in end-stage renal disease patients.

Background: Transcobalamin II is a serum protein that transports vitamin B12 from the intestine to the tissues. This complex, holo-transcobalamin II, may reflect vitamin B12 availability in the body. Conflicting data exist with regard to the effect of a polymorphism in the gene coding for transcobalamin II, TCN2 776C>G, on transcobalamin II levels in the general population, which in turn may affect holo-transcobalamin II, vitamin B12, as well as total homocysteine (tHcy) plasma levels.

Effect of glutamate carboxypeptidase II and reduced folate carrier polymorphisms on folate and total homocysteine concentrations in dialysis patients.

This study was designed to examine the effect of two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1 80G>A) and the glutamate carboxypeptidase 2 (GCP2 1561C>T) gene on total homocysteine (tHcy) plasma level and folate status in 120 chronic dialysis patients. Red blood cell folate concentration was higher in patients with the GCP2 CT or TT genotype (ANOVA, P = 0.04).

Riboflavin is a determinant of total homocysteine plasma concentrations in end-stage renal disease patients.

The effect of thiamine (vitamin B(1)) or riboflavin (vitamin B(2)) availability on fasting total homocysteine (tHcy) plasma levels in end-stage renal disease patients is unknown. A cross-sectional study was performed in a population of non-vitamin supplemented patients maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Red blood cell availability of thiamine (alpha-ETK) and of riboflavin (alpha-EGR), along with other predictors of tHcy plasma levels, was considered in the analysis.