Evaluation of Software-Optimized Protocols for Acoustic Noise Reduction During Brain MRI at 7 Tesla.

Background: MR-generated acoustic noise may be particularly concerning at 7-Tesla (T) systems. Noise levels can be reduced by altering gradient output using software optimization. However, such alterations might influence image quality or prolong scan times, and these optimizations have not been well characterized.

Assessing Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Therapeutic Alpha-1-Microglobulin in First-in-Human Kidney Transplantation: A Noncomparative Open-Label Multiple-Dose Phase 1b Study.

Background: RMC-035 is a modified version of alpha-1-microglobulin, an endogenous protein developed as a renoprotective agent. Its intended use is to reduce the risk of irreversible loss of kidney function in cardiac surgery patients and to reduce delayed graft function in kidney transplant recipients. This first-in-human study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and safety of RMC-035 in kidney transplant recipients.

Early vascular aging in chronic kidney disease: focus on microvascular maintenance, senescence signature and potential therapeutics.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. We hypothesized that a senescent phenotype instigated by uremic toxins could account for early vascular aging (EVA) and vascular dysfunctions of microvasculature in end stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients which ultimately lead to increased cardiovascular complication. To test this hypothesis, we utilized both in vivo, and ex vivo approaches to study endothelial and smooth muscle function and structure, and characterized markers related to EVA in 82 ESKD patients (eGFR <15 ml/min) and 70 non-CKD controls.

Defining the molecular response to ischemia-reperfusion injury and remote ischemic preconditioning in human kidney transplantation.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) inevitably occurs during kidney transplantation and extended ischemia is associated with delayed graft function and poor outcomes. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a simple, noninvasive procedure aimed at reducing IRI and improving graft function. Experimental studies have implicated the kynurenine pathway as a protective mechanism behind RIPC.

Tocilizumab in chronic active antibody-mediated rejection: rationale and protocol of an in-progress randomized controlled open-label multi-center trial (INTERCEPT study).

Background: Chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (caAMR) in kidney transplants is associated with irreversible tissue damage and a leading cause of graft loss in the long-term. However, the treatment for caAMR remains a challenge to date. Recently, tocilizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the human interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, has shown promise in the treatment of caAMR.

Development and performance of a next generation sequencing (NGS) assay for monitoring of dd-cfDNA post solid organ transplantation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of a novel NGS assay, intended for monitoring of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA), and describe its validity in clinical plasma samples from kidney transplanted patients. Artificial and clinical samples with increasing amounts of patient DNA were evaluated using NGS analysis of indel markers. Monitoring of dd-cfDNA with the NGS assay presented herein demonstrated a sensitivity of ≥0.

Effects of ultra-high field MRI environment on cognitive performance in healthy participants.

Introduction: Ultra-high field MRI (UHF MRI) is rapidly becoming an essential part of our toolbox within health care and research studies; therefore, we need to get a deeper understanding of the physiological effects of ultra-high field. This study aims to investigate the cognitive performance of healthy participants in a 7 T (T) MRI environment in connection with subjectively experienced effects.

Methods: We measured cognitive performance before and after a 1-h 7T MRI scanning session using a Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) in 42 subjects.

Scandiatransplant Exchange Program (STEP): Development and Results From an International Kidney Exchange Program.

Background: Kidney transplant candidates may be incompatible with their intended living donors because of the presence of antibodies against HLA and/or ABO. To increase the possibility of finding an acceptable kidney donor for these patients, the Scandiatransplant Exchange Program (STEP) program within Scandiatransplant was launched in 2019.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of our experiences from the first 4 y of the STEP program, including details about the match runs, performed transplantations, and recipient outcomes within the program.

Phenylacetylglutamine and trimethylamine N-oxide: Two uremic players, different actions.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients exhibit a heightened cardiovascular (CV) risk which may be partially explained by increased medial vascular calcification. Although gut-derived uremic toxin trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is associated with calcium-phosphate deposition, studies investigating phenylacetylglutamine's (PAG) pro-calcifying potential are missing.

Methods: The effect of TMAO and PAG in vascular calcification was investigated using 120 kidney failure patients undergoing living-donor kidney transplantation (LD-KTx), in an observational, cross-sectional manner.

Blood-Brain Barrier Biomarkers before and after Kidney Transplantation.

Kidney transplantation (KT) may improve the neurological status of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, reflected by the altered levels of circulating BBB-specific biomarkers. This study compares the levels of neuron specific enolase (NSE), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and circulating plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) in kidney-failure patients before KT and at a two-year follow up. Using ELISA, NSE, BDNF, and NfL levels were measured in the plasma of 74 living-donor KT patients.

Long-term Prolonged-release Tacrolimus-based Immunosuppression in De Novo Kidney Transplant Recipients: 5-Y Prospective Follow-up of Patients in the ADVANCE Study.

Unlabelled: Although prolonged-release tacrolimus (PR-T) is widely approved for posttransplantation immunosuppression in kidney recipients, large-scale studies are required to assess long-term outcomes. We present follow-up data from the Advagraf-based Immunosuppression Regimen Examining New Onset Diabetes Mellitus in Kidney Transplant Recipients (ADVANCE) trial, in which kidney transplant patients (KTPs) received corticosteroid minimization with PR-T.

Methods: ADVANCE was a 24-wk, randomized, open-label, phase-4 study.

Renal outcome and plasma methylmalonic acid levels after isolated or combined liver or kidney transplantation in patients with methylmalonic acidemia: A multicenter analysis.

Background: Methylmalonic acidemia (MMAemia) is characterized by accumulation of methylmalonic acid (MMA) in all body tissues. To minimize disease-related complications, isolated kidney (KTx), liver (LTx) or combined liver-kidney transplantation (LKTx) have been suggested. However, the impact of these different transplant strategies on outcome are unclear.

Prolonged-Release Once-Daily Formulation of Tacrolimus Versus Standard-of-Care Tacrolimus in Kidney Transplant Patients Across Europe.

Tacrolimus is the calcineurin inhibitor of choice for preventing acute rejection episodes in kidney transplant patients. However, tacrolimus has a narrow therapeutic range that requires regular monitoring of blood concentrations to minimize toxicity. A new once-daily tacrolimus formulation, LCP-tacrolimus (LCPT), has been developed, which uses MeltDose™ drug-delivery technology to control drug release and enhance overall bioavailability.

Blood-brain barrier and gut barrier dysfunction in chronic kidney disease with a focus on circulating biomarkers and tight junction proteins.

Kidney failure and associated uraemia have implications for the cardiovascular system, brain, and blood-brain barrier (BBB). We aim to examine BBB disruption, by assessing brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels, and gut-blood barrier (GBB) disruption by trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Additionally, endothelial tight-junction protein expressions and modulation via TMAO were assessed.

Scoring of medial arterial calcification predicts cardiovascular events and mortality after kidney transplantation.

Background: Progression of vascular calcification causes cardiovascular disease, which is the most common cause of death in chronic kidney failure and after kidney transplantation (KT). The prognostic impact of the extent of medial vascular calcification at KT is unknown.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we investigated the impact of medial calcification compared to a mix of intimal and medial calcification represented by coronary artery calcification (CAC score) and aortic valve calcification in 342 patients starting on kidney failure replacement therapy.

Longitudinal genome-wide DNA methylation changes in response to kidney failure replacement therapy.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an emerging public health priority associated with high mortality rates and demanding treatment regimens, including life-style changes, medications or even dialysis or renal transplantation. Unavoidably, the uremic milieu disturbs homeostatic processes such as DNA methylation and other vital gene regulatory mechanisms. Here, we aimed to investigate how dialysis or kidney transplantation modifies the epigenome-wide methylation signature over 12 months of treatment.

Effects of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 inhibition on resistance artery tone in patients with end stage kidney disease.

Background: The microvasculature is a target organ for the early manifestations of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, a better understanding of the prostaglandin system and characterising the effects of mPGES-1 inhibition and concomitant reduction of PGE in vascular beds are of interest.

Experimental Approach: The effects of mPGES-1 inhibition on constriction and relaxation of resistance arteries (diameter: 100-400 μm) from patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) and controls (Non-ESKD) were studied using wire-myography in combination with immunological and mass-spectrometry based analyses.

Current Practices on Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in Pediatric Patients after Solid Organ Transplantation: Results of ERN TransplantChild Healthcare Working Group Survey.

(1) Background: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a significant complication of solid organ transplantation (SOT). However, there is lack of consensus in PTLD management. Our aim was to establish a present benchmark for comparison between international centers and between various organ transplant systems and modalities; (2) Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire of relevant PTLD practices in pediatric transplantation was sent to multidisciplinary teams from 17 European center members of ERN TransplantChild to evaluate the centers' approach strategies for diagnosis and treatment and how current practices impact a cross-sectional series of PTLD cases; (3) Results: A total of 34 SOT programs from 13 European centers participated.

Observational study of risk factors associated with clinical outcome among elderly kidney transplant recipients in Sweden - a decade of follow-up.

Kidney transplantation (Ktx) in elderly has become increasingly accepted worldwide despite their higher burden of comorbidities. We investigated important risk factors affecting long-term patient and graft survival. We included all (n = 747) Ktx patients >60 years from 2000 to 2012 in Sweden.

Nursing students on the frontline: Impact and personal and professional gains of joining the health care workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.

Background: Final-year nursing students in Spain augmented the health care workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: To understand the lived experience of nursing students who joined the health care workforce during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak (March-May 2020).

Method: Qualitative content analysis of the reflective journals of 40 nursing students in Spain.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the mesangial identity and species diversity of glomerular cell transcriptomes.

Molecular characterization of the individual cell types in human kidney as well as model organisms are critical in defining organ function and understanding translational aspects of biomedical research. Previous studies have uncovered gene expression profiles of several kidney glomerular cell types, however, important cells, including mesangial (MCs) and glomerular parietal epithelial cells (PECs), are missing or incompletely described, and a systematic comparison between mouse and human kidney is lacking. To this end, we use Smart-seq2 to profile 4332 individual glomerulus-associated cells isolated from human living donor renal biopsies and mouse kidney.

Experiences and needs of nursing students during pandemic outbreaks: A systematic overview of the literature.

Background: Recent epidemics have placed overwhelming demands on health systems, leading at times to the deployment of nursing students during the crisis. Little is known about the impact this experience has on students. Although studies have explored nursing students' knowledge about infection control, there are no specific recommendations regarding how these issues should be addressed in nurse education.