Higher-Dose Sitagliptin and the Risk of Congestive Heart Failure in Older Adults with CKD.

Background And Objectives: Sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, is commonly prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes. As this drug is primarily eliminated by the kidney, a reduced dose is recommended for patients with CKD. Some evidence suggests that sitagliptin is associated with a higher risk of congestive heart failure, particularly at higher doses.

Dialysis Modality and Mortality in Heart Failure: A Retrospective Study of Incident Dialysis Patients.

Introduction: Prior studies reported lower mortality with hemodialysis (HD) compared to peritoneal dialysis (PD) in patients with heart failure (HF). We examined mortality rate by initial dialysis modality in incident dialysis patients with a history of HF using contemporary data and methods that ensure comparable HD and PD groups.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study using administrative databases in Ontario, Canada.

Ethical Issues in the Design and Conduct of Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Trials in Hemodialysis Care: An Interview Study With Key Stakeholders.

Background: Pragmatic cluster randomized trials (CRTs) offer an opportunity to improve health care by answering important questions about the comparative effectiveness of treatments using a trial design that can be embedded in routine care. There is a lack of empirical research that addresses ethical issues generated by pragmatic CRTs in hemodialysis.

Objective: To identify stakeholder perceptions of ethical issues in pragmatic CRTs conducted in hemodialysis.

Clustering of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease based on genetic burden of shared molecular mechanisms.

One of the visions of precision medicine has been to re-define disease taxonomies based on molecular characteristics rather than on phenotypic evidence. However, achieving this goal is highly challenging, specifically in neurology. Our contribution is a machine-learning based joint molecular subtyping of Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD), based on the genetic burden of 15 molecular mechanisms comprising 27 proteins (e.

A Higher Concentration of Dialysate Magnesium to Reduce the Frequency of Muscle Cramps: A Narrative Review.

Purpose Of Review: Strategies to mitigate muscle cramps are a top research priority for patients receiving hemodialysis. As hypomagnesemia is a possible risk factor for cramping, we reviewed the literature to better understand the physiology of cramping as well as the epidemiology of hypomagnesemia and muscle cramps. We also sought to review the evidence from interventional studies on the effect of oral and dialysate magnesium-based therapies on muscle cramps.

A Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures of Quality of Life By Dialysis Modality in the Treatment of Kidney Failure: A Systematic Review.

Background: There is an increasing demand to incorporate patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as quality of life (QOL) in decision-making when selecting a chronic dialysis modality.

Objective: To compare the change in QOL over time among similar patients on different dialysis modalities to provide unique and novel insights on the impact of dialysis modality on PROMs.

Design: Systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and nonrandomized controlled trials were examined via a comprehensive search strategy incorporating multiple bibliographic databases.

A Mixed Method Investigation to Determine Priorities for Improving Information, Interaction, and Individualization of Care Among Individuals on In-center Hemodialysis: The Triple I Study.

Background: Current health systems do not effectively address all aspects of chronic care. For better self-management of disease, kidney patients have identified the need for improved health care information, interaction with health care providers, and individualization of care.

Objective: The Triple I study examined challenges to exchange of between patients and health care providers and of care in in-center hemodialysis with the aim of identifying the top 10 challenges that individuals on in-center hemodialysis face in these 3 areas.

Graft Function, Albuminuria, and the Risk of Hemorrhage and Thrombosis After Kidney Transplantation.

Background: Compared to the general population, kidney transplant recipients are at increased risk of hemorrhage and thrombosis. Whether this risk is affected by graft function and albuminuria is unknown.

Objective: To determine the association between graft function and albuminuria and the risk of post-transplant hemorrhage and thrombosis.

St Andrew's COVID-19 surgery safety (StACS) study: Elective plastic surgery, trauma & burns.

Introduction: This study evaluates COVID-19 related patient risk, when undergoing management within one of the largest specialist centres in Europe, which rapidly implemented national COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Method: A prospective cohort study was undertaken in all patients who underwent surgical (n = 1429) or non-operative (n = 191) management during the UK COVID-19 pandemic peak (April-May 2020); all were evaluated for 30-day COVID-19 related death. A representative sample of elective/trauma/burns patients (surgery group, n = 729) were selected and also sub-analysed within a controlled cohort study design.

Performance of the Kidney Failure Risk Equation by Disease Etiology in Advanced CKD.

Background And Objectives: The kidney failure risk equation is a clinical tool commonly used for prediction of progression from CKD to kidney failure. The kidney failure risk equation's accuracy in advanced CKD and whether this varies by CKD etiology remains unknown. This study examined the kidney failure risk equation's discrimination and calibration at 2 and 5 years among a large tertiary care population with advanced CKD from heterogeneous etiologies.

A Systematic Review of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Background: Recently, severe manifestations associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) have been recognized. Analysis of studies for this novel syndrome is needed for a better understanding of effective management among affected children.

Methods: An extensive search strategy was conducted by combining the terms multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and coronavirus infection or using the term multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children in bibliographic electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL) and in preprint servers (BioRxiv.

Kidney, Cardiac, and Safety Outcomes Associated With α-Blockers in Patients With CKD: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Rationale & Objectives: Alpha-blockers (ABs) are commonly prescribed for control of resistant or refractory hypertension in patients with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD). The association between AB use and kidney, cardiac, mortality, and safety-related outcomes in CKD remains unknown.

Study Design: Population-based retrospective cohort study.

Poor Functional Outcome in Patients with Voluntary Knee Instability after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Backgroud: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) remains the gold standard treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, a good functional outcome even after a successful surgery depends on multiple factors. It has been observed that certain patients with a chronic ACL injury demonstrate knee instability voluntarily.

Kidney Function and Potassium Monitoring After Initiation of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Blockade Therapy and Outcomes in 2 North American Populations.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines recommend routine kidney function and serum potassium testing within 30 days of initiating ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker therapy. However, evidence is lacking about whether follow-up testing reduces therapy-related adverse outcomes.

Methods And Results: We conducted 2 population-based retrospective cohort studies in Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Ontario, Canada.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing in older adults with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Background: Older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at heightened risk for polypharmacy. We examined potentially inappropriate prescribing in this population and whether introducing pharmacists into the ambulatory kidney care model was associated with improved prescribing practices.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study using linked administrative databases.

Identifying collagen VI as a target of fibrotic diseases regulated by CREBBP/EP300.

Fibrotic diseases remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality, yet there are few effective therapies. The underlying pathology of all fibrotic conditions is the activity of myofibroblasts. Using cells from freshly excised disease tissue from patients with Dupuytren's disease (DD), a localized fibrotic disorder of the palm, we sought to identify new therapeutic targets for fibrotic disease.

Low hemoglobin at hemodialysis initiation: an international study of anemia management and mortality in the early dialysis period.

Background: Anemia at hemodialysis (HD) initiation is common. Correcting low hemoglobin (Hgb) before HD initiation may improve survival by avoiding potential harms of chronic anemia, high doses of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous (IV) iron in the early HD period, and/or rapid Hgb rise.

Methods: We included 4604 incident HD patients from 21 countries in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study Phases 4-5 (2009-15).

Chemical instability at chalcogenide surfaces impacts chalcopyrite devices well beyond the surface.

The electrical and optoelectronic properties of materials are determined by the chemical potentials of their constituents. The relative density of point defects is thus controlled, allowing to craft microstructure, trap densities and doping levels. Here, we show that the chemical potentials of chalcogenide materials near the edge of their existence region are not only determined during growth but also at room temperature by post-processing.

Realistic simulation of virtual multi-scale, multi-modal patient trajectories using Bayesian networks and sparse auto-encoders.

Translational research of many disease areas requires a longitudinal understanding of disease development and progression across all biologically relevant scales. Several corresponding studies are now available. However, to compile a comprehensive picture of a specific disease, multiple studies need to be analyzed and compared.

: The "Secrets" of a Multitalented Biocontrol Agent.

The plant--pathogen triangle is a complicated web of numerous processes. spp. are avirulent opportunistic plant symbionts.