Association between serum uric acid and all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Background: The association between serum uric acid (UA) and all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients is conflicting. We investigated this association and explored the effect modification of underlying nutritional status, as reflected in the lean tissue index (LTI) and the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), which serve as markers of muscle mass and nutritional risk in HD patients.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2023.

The association between serum complement 4 and relapse of primary membranous nephropathy: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: Relapse after initial remission reduces renal survival in patients with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN). In this study, we aim to identify risk factors of relapse in PMN and construct a model to identify patients at high risk of relapse early.

Methods: We conducted a multi-center retrospective study using the China Renal Data System database, which includes data from 24 urban academic centers across China.

Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations as predictive biomarkers for first-line programmed death 1 inhibitors efficacy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective study.

Esophageal cancer (EC) poses a significant global health burden, necessitating effective treatment strategies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a promising therapeutic option for EC, but the identification of predictive biomarkers remains crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records from advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with first-line programmed death 1 inhibitors.

Mutations and High Prevalence of dMMR-associated Mutational Signatures as Prognostic Indicators in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

The conventional treatment strategies for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are predominantly guided by the status of RAS and BRAF mutations. Although patients may exhibit analogous pathological characteristics and undergo similar treatment regimens, notable disparities in their prognostic outcomes can be observed. Therefore, tissue and plasma samples from 40 mCRC patients underwent next-generation sequencing targeting 425 cancer-relevant genes.

Effect of preoperative arterial diameter on hospitalization and mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis with forearm arteriovenous fistula access.

Background: As pointed out by the recent Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Clinical Practice Guideline for Vascular Access, the current quality of evidence supporting preoperative vascular anatomy and patient outcomes is suboptimal and insufficient to make recommendations. This study assessed arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) created with different preoperative arterial diameters on hospitalization and mortality rates in patients undergoing hemodialysis at the authors' center.

Methods: Data from 261 patients who underwent HD between 2017 and 2019 were retrospectively examined.

Prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio on proteinuria remission in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Background: As a novel marker of inflammation, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been studied in various diseases. However, NLR in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) has been rarely studied. We sought to assess the role of NLR in predicting proteinuria remission in IMN.

The effect of early conversion from central venous catheter to arteriovenous fistula on hospitalization and mortality in incident haemodialysis patients.

Background: Controversy remains as to whether initiating haemodialysis (HD) with a central venous catheter (CVC) and vascular access conversion are associated with the risk of morbidity and mortality in incident HD patients.

Methods: At our dialysis centre, the vascular access strategy is to create an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) early and use the AVF to initiate HD. In emergency situations, HD is initiated with a CVC and subsequent conversion from a CVC to an AVF as soon as possible.

The association between platelet-lymphocyte ratio and the risk of all-cause mortality in chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have high levels of inflammatory mediators. These inflammatory mediators contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has recently been recognized as a novel inflammatory marker and has been shown to be associated with the prognosis in CKD patients.

The diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and superb microvascular imaging in differentiating benign from malignant solid breast lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To investigate the added value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and superb microvascular imaging (SMI) to the conventional ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis of breast lesions.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Chinese national knowledge infrastructure databases, Chinese biomedical literature databases, and Wanfang were searched for relevant studies from November 2015 to November 2021. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Studies (QUADAS) tool.

The association between the locations of arteriovenous fistulas and patency rates: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) continue to be the most prevalent type of vascular access for hemodialysis (HD). However, the appropriate locations of AVF are controversial. We conducted the meta-analysis to investigate the differences in patency between upper-arm and forearm AVF.

Maturation and survival of arteriovenous fistula: The challenge starts from the preoperative assessment stage.

Background: It is necessary to assess the association between the preoperative indicators and the maturation and survival of arteriovenous fistula (AVF).

Methods: We retrospectively identified 236 patients with a new AVF created between 2016 and 2018 in our Dialysis Center.

Results: Multivariate Logistic regression showed that preoperative arterial diameter (odds ratio [OR] = 1.

Circulating irisin level in chronic kidney disease patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Irisin is not only a myokine but also an adipokine that is critical in many diseases including in the development of such diseases as obesity, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, and chronic inflammation. However, the association between irisin and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear. This systematic review aimed to assess circulating irisin levels in patients with CKD and compare them with those in non-CKD patients.