The Framingham Risk Score Is Associated with Chronic Graft Failure in Renal Transplant Recipients.

Predicting chronic graft failure in renal transplant recipients (RTR) is an unmet clinical need. Chronic graft failure is often accompanied by transplant vasculopathy, the formation of de novo atherosclerosis in the transplanted kidney. Therefore, we determined whether the 10-year Framingham risk score (FRS), an established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease prediction module, is associated with chronic graft failure in RTR.

Urinary Carnosinase-1 Excretion is Associated with Urinary Carnosine Depletion and Risk of Graft Failure in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Results of the TransplantLines Cohort Study.

Carnosine affords protection against oxidative and carbonyl stress, yet high concentrations of the carnosinase-1 enzyme may limit this. We recently reported that high urinary carnosinase-1 is associated with kidney function decline and albuminuria in patients with chronic kidney disease. We prospectively investigated whether urinary carnosinase-1 is associated with a high risk for development of late graft failure in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).

Pipelines and Systems for Threshold-Avoiding Quantification of LC-MS/MS Data.

The accurate processing of complex liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) data from biological samples is a major challenge for metabolomics, proteomics, and related approaches. Here, we present the pipelines and systems for threshold-avoiding quantification (PASTAQ) LC-MS/MS preprocessing toolset, which allows highly accurate quantification of data-dependent acquisition LC-MS/MS datasets. PASTAQ performs compound quantification using single-stage (MS1) data and implements novel algorithms for high-performance and accurate quantification, retention time alignment, feature detection, and linking annotations from multiple identification engines.

A metabolomic index based on lipoprotein subfractions and branched chain amino acids is associated with incident hypertension.

Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the performance of the Diabetes Risk Index (DRI), a metabolomic index based on lipoprotein particles and branched chain amino acids, on the incidence of newly developed hypertension in a large community dwelling cohort.

Methods: The DRI was calculated by combining 6 lipoprotein parameters [sizes of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), concentrations of large VLDL, small LDL, and large HDL particles], and the concentrations of valine and leucine. DRI scores were estimated in 4169 participants from the PREVEND prospective cohort.

Triglyceride-rich lipoprotein and LDL particle subfractions and their association with incident type 2 diabetes: the PREVEND study.

Background: Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins particles (TRLP) and low density lipoprotein particles (LDLP) vary in size. Their association with β-cell function is not well described. We determined associations of TRLP and LDLP subfractions with β-cell function, estimated as HOMA-β, and evaluated their associations with incident T2D in the general population.

Glucose Regulation Beyond HbA in Type 2 Diabetes Treated With Insulin: Real-World Evidence From the DIALECT-2 Cohort.

Objective: To investigate glucose variations associated with glycated hemoglobin (HbA) in insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: Patients included in Diabetes and Lifestyle Cohort Twente (DIALECT)-2 ( = 79) were grouped into three HbA categories: low, intermediate, and high (≤53, 54-62, and ≥63 mmol/mol or ≤7, 7.1-7.

Phosphate and fibroblast growth factor 23 in diabetes.

Diabetes is associated with a strongly elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, which is even more pronounced in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Currently available guideline-based efforts to correct traditional risk factors are only partly able to attenuate this risk, underlining the urge to identify novel treatment targets. Emerging data point towards a role for disturbances in phosphate metabolism in diabetes.

Using a novel concept to measure outcomes in solid organ recipients provided promising results.

Objectives: Efforts to evaluate the health of solid organ transplant recipients are hampered by the lack of adequate patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) targeting this group. We developed the Transplant ePROM (TXP), which is based on a novel measurement model and administered through a mobile application to fill this gap. The main objective of this article is to elucidate how we derived the weights for different items, and to report initial empirical results.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients: Lessons to be learned.

Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) may be at increased risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes, due to prevalent comorbidities and immunosuppressed status. Given the global differences in COVID-19 policies and treatments, a robust assessment of all evidence is necessary to evaluate the clinical course of COVID-19 in KTR. Studies on mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI) in KTR in the World Health Organization COVID-19 database were systematically reviewed.

Exhaled Hydrogen as a Marker of Intestinal Fermentation Is Associated with Diarrhea in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Background: Diarrhea is common among kidney transplant recipients (KTR). Exhaled hydrogen (H) is a surrogate marker of small bowel dysbiosis, which may drive diarrhea. We studied the relationship between exhaled H and diarrhea in KTR, and explored potential clinical and dietary determinants.

Net Endogenous Acid Excretion and Kidney Allograft Outcomes.

Background And Objectives: High dietary acid load may accelerate a decline in kidney function. We prospectively investigated whether dietary acid load is associated with graft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients, and whether venous bicarbonate mediates this association.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: We used data from 642 kidney transplant recipients with a functioning graft ≥1 year after transplantation.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, circulating ketone bodies and all-cause mortality in a general population-based cohort.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent, paralleling the obesity epidemic. Ketone bodies are produced in the liver, but it is currently uncertain whether circulating ketone bodies are increased in the context of NAFLD. We investigated the association between NAFLD and circulating ketone bodies and determined the extent to which NAFLD and circulating ketone bodies are associated with all-cause mortality.

Barriers to and Facilitators of Sustained Employment: A Qualitative Study of Experiences in Dutch Patients With CKD.

Rationale & Objective: Although patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at risk for work disability and loss of employment, not all experience work disruption. We aimed to describe the barriers to and facilitators of sustained employment experienced by Dutch patients with CKD.

Study Design: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.

Meat intake and risk of mortality and graft failure in kidney transplant recipients.

Background: It is unknown whether meat intake is beneficial for long-term patient and graft survival in kidney transplant recipients (KTR).

Objectives: We first investigated the association of the previously described meat intake biomarkers 1-methylhistidine and 3-methylhistidine with intake of white and red meat as estimated from a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Second, we investigated the association of the meat intake biomarkers with long-term outcomes in KTR.

Circulating Trimethylamine N-Oxide Is Associated with Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Mortality in Type-2 Diabetes: Results from a Dutch Diabetes Cohort (ZODIAC-59).

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a novel cardiovascular (CV) disease and mortality risk marker, is a gut microbiota-derived metabolite as well. Recently, plasma concentrations of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) have been reported to be affected by microbiota. The association of plasma TMAO with CV mortality in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and its determinants are still incompletely described.

Boron Contents of German Mineral and Medicinal Waters and Their Bioavailability in Drosophila melanogaster and Humans.

Scope: Boron is a trace element that naturally occurs in soil, making mineral and medicinal water important contributors to overall intake. Thus, in a systematic screening, the mean boron concentrations of 381 German mineral and medicinal waters are determined.

Methods And Results: Boron concentrations in mineral and medicinal waters are analyzed by inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Self-reported alcohol consumption, carbohydrate deficient transferrin and risk of cardiovascular disease: The PREVEND prospective cohort study.

Background: Self-reported alcohol consumption is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) is an established objective marker of excessive alcohol consumption, but data on its prospective association with CVD are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the associations of self-reported alcohol consumption and CDT (expressed as %CDT, a more reliable marker than absolute CDT levels) with CVD risk.

Statin use and incident cardiovascular events in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Statins achieve potent LDL lowering in the general population leading to a significant cardiovascular (CV) risk reduction. In renal transplant recipients (RTR) statins are included in treatment guidelines, however, conclusive evidence of improved cardiovascular outcomes has not been uniformly provided and concerns have been raised about simultaneous use of statins and the immunosuppressant cyclosporine. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of statins on a compound CV endpoint, comprised of ischaemic CV events and CV mortality in RTR, with subgroup analysis focussing on cyclosporine users.

Frailty and Kidney Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: Frailty is a multidimensional condition and is the result of the body's age-associated decline in physical, cognitive, physiological, and immune reserves. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the quality of evidence of the included studies, determine the prevalence of frailty among kidney transplant candidates, and evaluate the relationship between frailty and associated patient characteristics and outcomes after kidney transplantation.

Methods: A systematic search was performed for relevant literature on frailty and kidney transplantation.

Interleukin 6 and Development of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction in the General Population.

Background The cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is poorly understood, and specific therapies are lacking. Previous studies suggested that inflammation plays a role in the development of HFpEF. Herein, we aimed to investigate in community-dwelling individuals whether a higher plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) level is associated with an increased risk of developing new-onset heart failure (HF) over time, and specifically HFpEF.

Circulating trimethylamine-N-oxide is associated with all-cause mortality in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Aims: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota-liver metabolite, has been associated with cardiometabolic disease. However, whether TMAO is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and NAFLD-related health outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association of TMAO with NAFLD and to assess the extent to which the association of TMAO with all-cause mortality is dependent on the presence of NAFLD in the general population.

Interplay between gut microbiota, bone health and vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease.

Deregulations in gut microbiota may play a role in vascular and bone disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD). As glomerular filtration rate declines, the colon becomes more important as a site of excretion of urea and uric acid, and an increased bacterial proteolytic fermentation alters the gut microbial balance. A diet with limited amounts of fibre, as well as certain medications (eg phosphate binders, iron supplementation, antibiotics) further contribute to changes in gut microbiota composition among CKD patients.

Proteoglycan binding as proatherogenic function metric of apoB-containing lipoproteins and chronic kidney graft failure.

Lipoprotein-proteoglycan binding is an early key event in atherosclerotic lesion formation and thus conceivably could play a major role in vasculopathy-driven chronic graft failure and cardiovascular mortality in renal transplant recipients. The present study investigated whether lipoprotein-proteoglycan binding susceptibility (LPBS) of apoB-containing lipoproteins and levels of the classical atherosclerosis biomarker LDL-C were associated with cardiovascular mortality (n = 130) and graft failure (n = 73) in 589 renal transplant recipients who were followed up from at least 1 year after transplantation for 9.5 years.