Effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on kidney and cardiovascular disease outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background: GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and can also have kidney benefits. However, whether GLP-1 receptor agonists improve clinically important kidney outcomes remains uncertain. We aimed to comprehensively assess the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on kidney and cardiovascular disease outcomes by performing a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Absolute blood volume and long-term survival in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Current online hemodiafiltration devices can be used to determine the absolute blood volume in clinical practice using the dialysate bolus method. Most of publications on this method have focused on preventing intradialytic complications. The influence of absolute blood volume on long-term prognosis has not been reported yet.

Vascular refilling in hemodialysis using feedback-controlled ultrafiltration profile.

Background: The rate and the duration of ultrafiltration (UF) are considered the most important factors to affect vascular refilling. The aim of the study was to investigate whether a UF profile could improve the vascular refilling.

Methods: Dialysis was delivered by a machine providing feedback control of ultrafiltration rates.

Estimation of Absolute Blood Volume Using Online Dialysate Dilution: When and How to Measure?

Absolute blood volume can be calculated from the increase in relative blood volume after an infusion of a well-defined volume bolus of ultrapure dialysate into the extracorporeal circulation. Several working groups have applied this method in research and clinical practice. A critical analysis of differing blood volume data between working groups revealed methodologic problems of the measurement procedure and some important technical aspects.

Effect of semaglutide on kidney function across different levels of baseline HbA1c, blood pressure, body weight and albuminuria in SUSTAIN 6 and PIONEER 6.

Background And Hypothesis: This post-hoc analysis explored the semaglutide effects on eGFR slope by baseline glycemic control, blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), and albuminuria status in people with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk.

Methods: Pooled SUSTAIN 6 and PIONEER 6 data were analyzed for change in estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) slope by baseline HbA1c (<8%/≥8%; <64 mmol/mol/≥64 mmol/mol), systolic BP (<140/90 mmHg/≥140/90 mmHg), and BMI (<30 kg/m2/≥30 kg/m2). SUSTAIN 6 data were analyzed by baseline urinary albumin: creatinine ratio (UACR; <30/30 - 300/>300 mg/g).

Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease are at high risk for kidney failure, cardiovascular events, and death. Whether treatment with semaglutide would mitigate these risks is unknown.

Methods: We randomly assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] of 50 to 75 ml per minute per 1.

SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Capacity in Hemodialysis Patients with and without a Fifth Vaccination with the Updated Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5 Vaccine.

Background: Hemodialysis patients have reduced serologic immunity after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination compared to the general population and an increased risk of morbidity and mortality when exposed to SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: Sixty-six hemodialysis patients immunized four times with the original SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273) either received a booster with the adapted Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5 vaccine 8.

[Improved Care and Treatment Options for Patients with Hyperphagia-Associated Obesity in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome].

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare, autosomal recessive multisystem disease. The pathophysiological origin is a dysfunction of the primary cilium. Clinical symptoms are heterogeneous and variable: retinal dystrophy, obesity, polydactyly, kidney abnormalities, hypogenitalism and developmental delays are the most common features.

Long-term Effects of Kidney Transplantation Compared With Dialysis on Intima-media Thickness in Children-Results From the 4C-T Study.

Background: Children requiring kidney replacement therapy experience high burden of cardiovascular (CV) disease leading to increased mortality. Intima-media thickness (IMT) indicating atherosclerosis is a validated surrogate marker for future CV events.

Methods: We investigated the effect of different treatment modalities (dialysis, preemptive kidney transplantation (KTx), late KTx after dialysis) on IMT by multivariable linear mixed-effect modeling.

Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 neutralization of Omicron BA.1, BA.5 and BQ.1.1 after four vaccinations and the impact of breakthrough infections in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Individuals on haemodialysis (HD) are more vulnerable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection than the general population due to end-stage kidney disease-induced immunosuppression.

Methods: A total of 26 HD patients experiencing SARS-CoV-2 infection after a third vaccination were matched 1:1 with 26 of 92 SARS-CoV-2-naïve patients by age, sex, dialysis vintage and immunosuppressive drugs receiving a fourth vaccination with a messenger RNA-based vaccine. A competitive surrogate neutralization assay was used to monitor vaccination success.

Vascular refilling depends on the ratio of blood volume to extracellular volume in hemodialysis patients.

The ratio of blood volume to extracellular volume is approximately one to three under physiological conditions and also in stable chronic hemodialysis patients. Recently, it was found that this ratio remains unchanged during hemodialysis despite ultrafiltration. This would signify that the higher the ratio, the lower the refilling and vice versa.

Vitamin K1 and progression of cardiovascular calcifications in hemodialysis patients: the VitaVasK randomized controlled trial.

Background: Cardiovascular calcifications are prevented by matrix Gla protein (MGP), a vitamin K-dependent protein. Haemodialysis patients exhibit marked vitamin K deficiency. The randomized, prospective, open-label, multicentre VitaVasK trial analysed whether vitamin K1 supplementation reduces progression of coronary artery calcifications (CACs) and thoracic aortic calcifications (TACs).

Development and Validation of a Prediction Model for Future Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease.

Importance: Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of progressive diabetic kidney disease, but reliable prediction tools that can be used in clinical practice and aid in patients' understanding of disease progression are currently lacking.

Objective: To develop and externally validate a model to predict future trajectories in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease using data from 3 European multinational cohorts.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prognostic study used baseline and follow-up information collected between February 2010 and December 2019 from 3 prospective multinational cohort studies: PROVALID (Prospective Cohort Study in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus for Validation of Biomarkers), GCKD (German Chronic Kidney Disease), and DIACORE (Diabetes Cohorte).

Effects of oral semaglutide on cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and/or chronic kidney disease: Design and baseline characteristics of SOUL, a randomized trial.

Aim: To describe the design of the SOUL trial (Semaglutide cardiOvascular oUtcomes triaL) and the baseline clinical data of its participants.

Materials And Methods: In SOUL, the effects of oral semaglutide, the first oral glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, on the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in individuals with type 2 diabetes and established atherosclerotic CV disease (ASCVD) and/or chronic kidney disease (CKD) will be assessed. SOUL is a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled CV outcomes trial comparing oral semaglutide (14 mg once daily) with placebo, both in addition to standard of care, in individuals aged ≥50 years with type 2 diabetes and evidence of ASCVD (coronary artery disease [CAD], cerebrovascular disease, symptomatic peripheral arterial disease [PAD]) and/or CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.

Intradialytic parenteral nutrition for patients on hemodialysis: when, how and to whom?

Hemodialysis is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates as well as low quality of life. Altered nutritional status and protein-energy wasting are important indicators of these risks. Maintaining optimal nutritional status in patients with hemodialysis is a critical but sometimes overlooked aspect of care.

The rationale, design and baseline data of FLOW, a kidney outcomes trial with once-weekly semaglutide in people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common complication of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) improve glycaemic control and lower body weight in people with T2D, and some reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in those with high CV risk. GLP-1RAs might also have kidney-protective effects.

Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis.

Background: Genetic variants within nearly 1000 loci are known to contribute to modulation of blood lipid levels. However, the biological pathways underlying these associations are frequently unknown, limiting understanding of these findings and hindering downstream translational efforts such as drug target discovery.

Results: To expand our understanding of the underlying biological pathways and mechanisms controlling blood lipid levels, we leverage a large multi-ancestry meta-analysis (N = 1,654,960) of blood lipids to prioritize putative causal genes for 2286 lipid associations using six gene prediction approaches.

Effects of aspirin on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) carry a high cardiovascular (CV) risk. Since whether this risk is reduced by aspirin is unclear, we examined if the effect of aspirin on cardiovascular outcomes varied by baseline kidney function in a primary cardiovascular disease prevention trial. The International Polycap Study-3 (TIPS-3) trial had randomized people without previous cardiovascular disease to aspirin (75 mg daily) or placebo.

S2k guideline: Diagnosis and treatment of chronic pruritus.

Pruritus is a cross-disciplinary leading symptom of numerous diseases and represents an interdisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In contrast to acute pruritus, chronic pruritus (CP) is a symptom of various diseases that is usually difficult to treat. Scratching and the development of scratch-associated skin lesions can alter the original skin status.