Mediation analysis of chronic kidney disease risk factors using kidney biomarkers in women living with HIV.

Objective: Novel urinary biomarkers reflecting kidney tubule health are associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk in persons living with HIV. However, it is unknown whether these biomarkers provide mechanistic insight into the associations between clinical risk factors for CKD and subsequent CKD risk.

Methods: Among 636 women living with HIV in the Women's Interagency HIV Study with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >60 ml/min/1.

Evaluation of plasma sphingolipids as mediators of the relationship between kidney disease and cardiovascular events.

Background: Sphingolipids are a family of circulating lipids with regulatory and signaling roles that are strongly associated with both eGFR and cardiovascular disease. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk for cardiovascular events, and have different plasma concentrations of certain plasma sphingolipids compared to patients with normal kidney function. We hypothesize that circulating sphingolipids partially mediate the associations between eGFR and cardiovascular events.

Urinary Biomarkers of Kidney Tubule Health and Mortality in Persons with CKD and Diabetes Mellitus.

Key Points: Among adults with diabetes and CKD, biomarkers of kidney tubule health were associated with a greater risk of death, independent of eGFR, albuminuria, and additional risk factors. Higher urine levels of YKL-40 and KIM-1 were associated with a greater risk of death. For cause-specific death, UMOD was independently and inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular death.

Patient Education for Kidney Failure Treatment: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Rationale & Objective: Education programs are needed for people with advanced chronic kidney disease to understand kidney failure treatment options and participate in shared decision-making (SDM). Little is known about the content and accessibility of current education programs or whether they support SDM.

Study Design: Stakeholder-engaged, mixed-methods design incorporating qualitative observations and interviews, and a quantitative content analysis of slide presentations.

Mechanism of stretch-activated excitatory and inhibitory responses in the lower esophageal sphincter.

We recently found that an orally directed stretch of the esophagus activates a neurally mediated relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Goals of our study were to characterize the neural mechanisms responsible for axial and transverse stretch-activated responses in the LES. LES pressure was monitored in anesthetized and artificially ventilated mice.

Effect of gemfibrozil on apolipoprotein B secretion and diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity in human hepatoblastoma (HepG2) cells.

The mechanism of action of a widely used drug gemfibrozil to reduce triglycerides (TG) and apolipoprotein B (apo B) is incompletely understood. Using human hepatoblastoma (HepG2) cells, we examined the effect of gemfibrozil on apo B secretion and TG synthesis catalyzed by diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), primary processes associated with the secretion of LDL. Gemfibrozil significantly decreased apo B secretion by HepG2 cells.

Radiographic changes after colonoscopic decompression for acute pseudo-obstruction.

Purpose: Colonoscopy has been the principal tool for decompression in acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, known as Ogilvie's syndrome. The objectives of this study were to determine the immediate effect of colonoscopy on the cecal diameter (measured on supine radiographs) and to delineate possible correlations in the diameters of dilated segments of the colon.

Methods: The charts and radiographs of 24 patients who had colonoscopic decompression for acute colonic pseudo-obstruction between 1992 and 1997 at the San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of California, San Diego Hospitals were reviewed.