Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With a Drug-Eluting Stent Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients Receiving Dialysis: A National Study From Taiwan

Rationale & Objective

We aimed to study the comparative effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent and coronary artery bypass grafting in patients receiving dialysis.

Study Design

This was a retrospective observational cohort study.

Setting & Participants

This population-based study identified patients receiving dialysis hospitalized for coronary revascularization between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2015, in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Exposures

Patients received percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent versus coronary artery bypass grafting.

Outcomes

The study outcomes were all-cause mortality, in-hospital mortality, and repeat revascularization.

Analytical Approach

Propensity scores were used to match patients. Cox proportional hazards models and logistic regression models were constructed to examine associations between revascularization strategies and mortality. Interval Cox models were fitted to estimate time-varying hazards during different periods.

Results

A total of 1,840 propensity score-matched patients receiving dialysis were analyzed. Coronary artery bypass grafting was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (coronary artery bypass grafting vs percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent; crude mortality rate 12.5% vs 3.3%; adjusted OR, 5.22; 95% CI, 3.42-7.97; P < 0.001) and longer hospitalization duration (median [IQR], 20 [14-30] days vs 3 [2-8] days; P < 0.001). After discharge, repeat revascularization, acute coronary syndrome, and repeat hospitalization all occurred more frequently in the percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent group. Importantly, with a median follow-up of 2.8 years, coronary artery bypass grafting was significantly associated with a higher risk of all-cause overall mortality (adjusted HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.05-1.35; P = 0.006) in the multivariable Cox proportional hazard model. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses yielded consistent results.

Limitations

This was an observational study with mainly Asian ethnicity.

Conclusions

Percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent may be associated with better survival than coronary artery bypass grafting in patients receiving dialysis. Future studies are warranted to confirm this finding.

Adverse events following the first, second and third doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to identify adverse events following the first three doses of COVID-19 vaccines in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Risk factors associated with postvaccination adverse events were explored.

METHODS

Postvaccination adverse events in 438 HD patients who received 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were prospectively assessed. The adverse events among three doses were compared using generalized linear mixed models. Factors associated with adverse events were assessed with multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The vast majority of participants received Oxford/AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 as their first two doses and Moderna mRNA-1273 as their third dose. Overall, 79%, 50% and 84% of the participants experienced at least one adverse event after their first, second, and third doses, respectively. These adverse events were mostly minor, short-lived and less than 5% reported daily activities being affected. Compared with the first dose, the second dose caused a lower rate of adverse events. Compared with the first dose, the third dose elicited a higher rate of injection site reactions and a lower rate of systemic reactions. Multivariate analyses showed that every 10-year increase of age (odds ratio 0.67, 95% confidence intervals 0.57-0.79) was associated with decreased risk of adverse events, while female sex (2.82, 1.90-4.18) and arteriovenous fistula (1.73, 1.05-2.84) were associated with increased risk of adverse events. Compared with Oxford/AstraZeneca ChAdOx1, Moderna mRNA-1273 was associated with an increased risk of injection site reactions.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 vaccination was well tolerated in HD patients. Age, sex, dialysis vascular access and vaccine types were associated with postvaccination adverse events.

Short-Term Effects of a Therapeutic Diet on Biochemical Parameters in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Crossover Trial

OBJECTIVE

Although unhealthy diets exacerbate nutritional and metabolic derangements in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), how therapeutic diets that possess a variety of different dietary strategies acutely modify diverse biochemical parameters related to cardiovascular disease remains underexplored.

METHODS

Thirty-three adults with end-stage kidney disease undergoing thrice-weekly hemodialysis participated in a randomized crossover trial comparing a therapeutic diet with their usual diets for 7 days, separated by a 4-week washout period. The therapeutic diet was characterized by adequate calorie and protein amounts, natural food ingredients with a low phosphorus-to-protein ratio, higher portions of plant-based food, and high fiber content. The primary outcome measure was the mean difference in the change-from-baseline intact fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) level between the 2 diets. The other outcomes of interest included changes in mineral parameters, uremic toxins, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels.

RESULTS

Compared with the usual diet, the therapeutic diet lowered intact FGF23 levels (P = .001), decreased serum phosphate levels (P < .001), reduced intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (P = .003), lowered C-terminal FGF23 levels (P = .03), increased serum calcium levels (P = .01), and tended to lower total indoxyl sulfate levels (P = .07) but had no significant effect on hs-CRP levels. Among these changes, reduction in serum phosphate level achieved in 2 days, modifications of intact PTH and calcium levels in 5 days, and reductions in intact and C-terminal FGF23 levels in 7 days of therapeutic diet intervention.

CONCLUSION

Within the 1-week intervention period, the dialysis-specific therapeutic diet rapidly reversed mineral abnormalities and tended to decrease total indoxyl sulfate levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis but had no effect on inflammation. Future studies to assess the long-term effects of such therapeutic diets are recommended.

[Correction model of the sampling time error on the blood trough concentration of tacrolimus in non-sustained-release dosage form for renal transplant recipients]

Objective: To establish correction model of the sampling time error on the blood trough concentration of tacrolimus in non-sustained-release dosage form for renal transplant recipient and improve the accuracy of drug dose assessment and clinical adjustment in renal transplant recipients. Methods: Visit records of 206 outpatients in the Department of Transplantation, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University were retrospectively collected from October 15, 2022 to October 30, 2022. The distribution of sampling time of tacrolimus blood drug concentration was described and the time range of correction was determined. Twenty inpatients after renal transplantation in the Department of Transplantation, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University from October 1, 2022 to November 30, 2022 were prospectively included, and their demography data, laboratory test results during follow-ups, and CYP3A5 genotype were collected. The patients took tacrolimus in non-sustained-release dosage form every 12 h starting from 19∶30 on the day of admission. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the patients on the second day of admission at 7∶30 and on the third day at 6∶00-10∶00 every 30 minutes to test the blood concentration of tacrolimus. Using the collection time as the independent variable and the blood tacrolimus concentration as the dependent variable, a simple linear regression was performed to fitting a linear model of tacrolimus blood concentration-sampling time. Multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the influencing factors of the tacrolimus metabolic rate within a specific period and generate the regression equation. Results: The 206 outpatients aged (46±13) years, including 131 males (63.6%). The time gap [M (Q₁, Q₃)] between the sampling time of the follow-up outpatients and standard C₁₂ was 24 (13.0, 46.5) min, and the maximum time gap was 135 min. The 20 enrolled inpatients aged (45±12) years, including 15 males (75.0%). There was no significant difference in the blood concentration of tacrolimus collected at 7∶30 on the second (7.87±2.21)ng/ml and third days (7.84±2.33)ng/ml after admission of the enrolled inpatients (P=0.917), and the blood tacrolimus concentration rhythm was stable in the trial. The plasma concentration of C_10.5-C_14.5 was linearly related to the time, with R² [M (Q₁, Q₃)] 0.88 (0.85, 0.92) and all P<0.05. The metabolic rate of tacrolimus during C_10.5-C_14.5=0.984+0.090×basic concentration of tacrolimus (ng/ml)-0.036×body mass index+0.489×CYP3A5 genotype-0.007×hemolobin(g/L)-0.035×alanine aminotransferase (U/L)+0.143×total cholesterol (mmol/L)+0.027×total bilirubin (μmol/L), with R²=0.85. Conclusion: This study propose a correction model for tacrolimus (non-sustained-release dosage form) trough concentration around C₁₂, which is helpful for clinicians to easily and accurately assess renal transplant recipients' tacrolimus exposure.

Microbiota analysis in the hemodialysis population - Focusing on Enterobacteriaceae

BACKGROUND

Infection is a recognized risk factor for mortality among hemodialysis (HD) population, including infection caused by Enterobacteriaceae. We aimed to investigate Enterobacteriaceae in gut microbiota among HD patients and to analyze associations between microbiota and clinical parameters.

METHODS

This prospective study of microbiota analysis in HD patients was conducted in April-May 2019. A control group without recent antibiotic use or hospitalization was used for comparison. Stool samples underwent 16S rRNA sequencing, using Greengenes 16S rRNA database for microbiota analysis.

RESULTS

Among 96 hemodialysis (HD) patients, mean age was 61.9 ± 0.8 years and mean duration of HD was 6.5 ± 0.7 years. No significant differences were found in alpha diversity between HD and control groups (HD group 949.5, controls 898; p = 0.16) although significant between-group differences were found in beta diversity (p < 0.001). At phylum level, HD group had a higher abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, but lower abundance of Bacteriodetes. At genus level, Escherichia-Shigella complex increased among HD patients who had hospitalization with 1 year (median 0.024 vs 0.004, p = 0.054) and Klebsiella was associated with emergency room visit within 1 year among HD patients (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Alpha diversity in HD patients is not lower than that in healthy controls but significant between-group differences are found in microbiota composition according to beta diversity, due to decreased Bacteriodetes and increased Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Deeper microbiota analyses for Enterobacteriaceae are necessary. Whether change in dietary components can help to decrease mortality among dialysis population warrants further research.

Extremely Low Dose of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent May be Associated with Increased Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients

INTRODUCTION

Although high dose erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) has been shown to increase mortality risk and adverse cardiovascular events in hemodialysis patients, the safety of extremely low dose ESA is unclear.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the association between ESA dose and mortality in the monthly dosing range of 0-43,000 U of equivalent epoetin alpha in 304 Taiwan hemodialysis patients by using Cox proportional hazard model and cubic spline model.

RESULTS

Compared with mean monthly ESA dose of 15,000-25,000 U (mean ± standard deviation 20,609 ± 2,662 U), monthly ESA dose of less than 15,000 U (mean ± standard deviation 7,413 ± 4,510 U) is associated with increased mortality. Monthly ESA dose of 25,001-43,000 U (mean ± standard deviation 31,160 ± 4,304 U) is not associated with higher mortality risk than monthly ESA dose of 15,000-25,000 U. The results were consistent in Cox proportional hazard models and cubic spline models. Subgroup analyses showed no significant heterogeneities among prespecified subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Extremely low dose of ESA in hemodialysis patients may be associated with increased mortality risk. Future studies are warranted to prove this association.

Uremic pruritus: pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatments

Uremic pruritus is one of the most common and bothersome symptoms in patients with end-stage renal disease. Most patients with uremic pruritus experience a prolonged and relapsing course and significant impairments of quality of life. The pathophysiology of uremic pruritus is not completely understood. A complex interplay among cutaneous biology and the nervous and immune systems has been implicated, with the involvement of various inflammatory mediators, neurotransmitters, and opioids. Uremic pruritus treatment outcomes are often unsatisfactory. Clinical trials have mostly been small in scale and have reported inconsistent results. Recent evidence shows that gabapentinoids, nalfurafine, and difelikefalin are effective for relieving uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients. This review provides an overview of the epidemiology and proposed mechanisms of uremic pruritus, then highlights the manifestations of and clinical approach to uremic pruritus. Current evidence regarding treatment options, including topical treatments, treatment of underlying disease, phototherapy, and systemic treatments, is also outlined. With a better understanding of uremic pruritus, more therapeutic options can be expected in the near future.

Physician Compliance with Computerized Clinical Decision Support System is a Complete Intermediate Factor in the Anemia Management of Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease on Hemodialysis: A Retrospective Electronic Health Record Observational Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND

Previous studies on clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) for the management of renal anemia in patients with end-stage kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis have previously focused solely on the effects of the CDSS. However, the role of physician compliance in the efficacy of the CDSS remains ill-defined.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate whether physician compliance was an intermediate variable between the CDSS and the management outcomes of renal anemia.

METHODS

We extracted the electronic health records of patients with end-stage kidney disease on hemodialysis at the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital Hemodialysis Center (FEMHHC) from 2016 to 2020. FEMHHC implemented a rule-based CDSS for the management of renal anemia in 2019. We compared the clinical outcomes of renal anemia between the pre- and post-CDSS periods using random intercept models. Hemoglobin levels of 10 to 12 g/dL were defined as the on-target range. Physician compliance was defined as the concordance of adjustments of the erythropoietin-stimulating agent (ESA) between the CDSS recommendations and the actual physician prescriptions.

RESULTS

We included 717 eligible patients on hemodialysis (mean age 62.9, SD 11.6 years; male n=430, 59.9%) with a total of 36,091 hemoglobin measurements (average hemoglobin and on-target rate were 11.1, SD 1.4, g/dL and 59.9%, respectively). The on-target rate decreased from 61.3% (pre-CDSS) to 56.2% (post-CDSS) owing to a high hemoglobin percentage of >12 g/dL (pre: 21.5%; post: 29%). The failure rate (hemoglobin <10 g/dL) decreased from 17.2% (pre-CDSS) to 14.8% (post-CDSS). The average weekly ESA use of 5848 (SD 4211) units per week did not differ between phases. The overall concordance between CDSS recommendations and physician prescriptions was 62.3%. The CDSS concordance increased from 56.2% to 78.6%. In the adjusted random intercept model, the post-CDSS phase showed increased hemoglobin by 0.17 (95% CI 0.14-0.21) g/dL, weekly ESA by 264 (95% CI 158-371) units per week, and 3.4-fold (95% CI 3.1-3.6) increased concordance rate. However, the on-target rate (29%; odds ratio 0.71, 95% CI 0.66-0.75) and failure rate (16%; odds ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.76-0.92) were reduced. After additional adjustments for concordance in the full models, increased hemoglobin and decreased on-target rate tended toward attenuation (from 0.17 to 0.13 g/dL and 0.71 to 0.73 g/dL, respectively). Increased ESA and decreased failure rate were completely mediated by physician compliance (from 264 to 50 units and 0.84 to 0.97, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirmed that physician compliance was a complete intermediate factor accounting for the efficacy of the CDSS. The CDSS reduced failure rates of anemia management through physician compliance. Our study highlights the importance of optimizing physician compliance in the design and implementation of CDSSs to improve patient outcomes.

Cardiovascular and renal efficacy and safety of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in patients without diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials

OBJECTIVES

To assess the cardiovascular and renal efficacy and safety of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in patients without diabetes.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library for publications up to 17 August 2022. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to pool effect measures across studies. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs are expressed for composite cardiovascular outcome of cardiovascular death or hospitalisation for heart failure, cardiovascular death, hospitalisation for heart failure, all-cause mortality and composite renal outcome of ≥50% reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), end-stage kidney disease or renal death. Annual rate of change in eGFR is expressed as the mean difference with 95% CI.

RESULTS

We identified four trials with 8927 patients with heart failure or chronic kidney disease (CKD). Compared with placebo, SGLT2 inhibitors showed favourable effects on the composite cardiovascular outcome (RR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.87; moderate certainty), cardiovascular death (0.85, 0.74 to 0.99; moderate certainty), hospitalisation for heart failure (0.72, 0.62 to 0.82; moderate certainty), the composite renal outcome (0.64, 0.48 to 0.85; low certainty) and the annual rate of change in eGFR (mean difference: 0.99, 0.59 to 1.39 mL/min/1.73 m²/year; moderate certainty), while there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (0.88, 0.77 to 1.01; very low certainty). Moderate certainty evidence indicated that SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the risk of serious adverse events and acute renal failure. Low certainty evidence suggested that SGLT2 inhibitors increased the risk of urinary tract infection and genital infection, while there were no differences in discontinuation due to adverse events, amputation, fracture, hypoglycaemia, ketoacidosis or volume depletion.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence of low to moderate certainty suggests that SGLT2 inhibitors provide cardiorenal benefits but have increased risk for urinary tract infection and genital infection in patients without diabetes and with heart failure or CKD.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021239807.

[Artificial intelligence-assisted identification of mucus plugs in asthma]

Airway mucus plug is an important clinical feature of bronchial asthma and is related to the prognosis of the disease. Clinically, chest CT is a preferred tool for evaluating airway mucus plugs. At present, the interpretation of CT images relies on manual reading, but the airway mucus plugs of patients with bronchial asthma are mostly distributed in the small and medium airways, which are difficult to identify with the naked eye. In recent years, with the continuous progress of deep learning and big data technology, artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted image reading technology has been introduced into clinical application, which has significantly improved the efficiency and accuracy of mucus plug identification. Currently, AI-assisted airway mucus plug identification has been used in respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchial asthma. Therefore, the application of AI counting to mucus plugs in patients with bronchial asthma is of great significance.

Humoral antibody response to the first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in Asian patients undergoing hemodialysis

Background and objectives

The immunogenicity of vaccines is known to be attenuated in patients with end‐stage kidney disease due to uremia. Patients on dialysis were excluded from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccine trials; thus, the effectiveness of vaccines for this population is unclear. The aim of this study was to explore whether Asian dialysis patients can effectively produce an immune response after being vaccinated with the first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccine.

Design setting, participants, and measurements

In this prospective cohort study, we included Asian hemodialysis patients who received the ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccine. At 3 weeks after the first dose of vaccination, we assessed the humoral immune response by measuring anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 S antibody titers. The primary outcome was the seropositive rate following vaccination, defined as an antibody titer greater than or equal to 0.8 U/ml. Factors associated with seropositivity were explored in multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results

In total, 434 participants were included. The mean age was 64 years, the mean dialysis vintage was 6 years, and 61% of the participants were men. At a mean time of 22 days from vaccination, 56% of the participants were seropositive. The vast majority (88%) had low antibody titers (< 15 U/ml). The multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that older age (every increase of 10 years, odds ratio [OR] 0.80, 95% CI 0.65–0.98, p = 0.03) was negatively associated with seropositivity and that higher Kt/V (every increase of 0.1, OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.28, p = 0.03) and higher serum albumin level (every increase of 0.1 g/dl, OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02–1.18, p = 0.02) were positively associated with seropositivity.

Conclusions

In Asian hemodialysis patients, the seropositive rate was low, and most had low antibody titers after the first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccine. Younger age, better dialysis adequacy, and higher albumin levels were associated with seropositivity.

Long-term safety and efficacy of ferric citrate in phosphate-lowering and iron-repletion effects among patients with on hemodialysis: A multicenter, open-label, Phase IV trial

Background

We explored the long-term safety and efficacy of ferric citrate in hemodialysis patients in Taiwan, and further evaluated the iron repletion effect and change of iron parameters by different baseline groups.

Methods

This was a 12-month, Phase IV, multicenter, open-label study. The initial dose of ferric citrate was administered by patients’ clinical condition and further adjusted to maintain serum phosphorus at 3.5–5.5 mg/dL. The primary endpoint was to assess the safety profiles of ferric citrate. The secondary endpoints were to evaluate the efficacy by the time-course changes and the number of subjects who achieved the target range of serum phosphorus.

Results

A total of 202 patients were enrolled. No apparent or unexpected safety concerns were observed. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were gastrointestinal-related with discolored feces (41.6%). Serum phosphorus was well controlled, with a mean dose of 3.35±1.49 g/day, ranging from 1.5 to 6.0 g/day. Iron parameters were significantly improved. The change from baseline of ferritin and TSAT were 227.17 ng/mL and 7.53%, respectively (p-trend<0.001), and the increase started to slow down after 3–6 months of treatment. In addition, the increase trend was found only in patients with lower baseline level of ferritin (≤500 ng/mL) and TSAT (<30%).

Conclusions

Ferric citrate is an effective phosphate binder with favorable safety profile in ESRD patients. The iron-repletion by ferric citrate is effective, and the increase is limited in patients with a higher baseline. In addition to controlling hyperphosphatemia, ferric citrate also shows additional benefits in the treatment of renal anemia.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03256838; 12/04/2017.

Acute effects of dietary phosphorus intake on markers of mineral metabolism in hemodialysis patients: post hoc analysis of a randomized crossover trial

Background

Long-term dietary phosphorus excess influences disturbances in mineral metabolism, but it is unclear how rapidly the mineral metabolism responds to short-term dietary change in dialysis populations.

Methods

This was a post hoc analysis of a randomized crossover trial that evaluated the short-term effects of low-phosphorus diets on mineral parameters in hemodialysis patients. Within a 9-day period, we obtained a total of 4 repeated measurements for each participant regarding dietary intake parameters, including calorie, phosphorus, and calcium intake, and markers of mineral metabolism, including phosphate, calcium, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), intact fibroblast growth factor 23 (iFGF23), and C-terminal fibroblast growth factor 23 (cFGF23). The correlations between dietary phosphorus intake and serum mineral parameters were assessed by using mixed-effects models.

Results

Thirty-four patients were analyzed. In the fully adjusted model, we found that an increase in dietary phosphorus intake of 100 mg was associated with an increase in serum phosphate of 0.3 mg/dL (95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.2–0.4, p < .001), a decrease in serum calcium of 0.06 mg/dL (95% CI, −0.11 to −0.01, p = .01), an increase in iPTH of 5.4% (95% CI, 1.4–9.3, p = .01), and an increase in iFGF23 of 5.0% (95% CI, 2.0–8.0, p = .001). Dietary phosphorus intake was not related to cFGF23.

Conclusions

Increased dietary phosphorus intake acutely increases serum phosphate, iPTH, and iFGF23 levels and decreases serum calcium levels, highlighting the important role of daily fluctuations of dietary habits in disturbed mineral homeostasis in hemodialysis patients.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease in Belize: A Population-based Survey

Background

Health resources supporting dialysis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited in Central America, and little information about the prevalence and risk factors for CKD in this region is available.

Methods

The Survey of Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease was a population-based cross-sectional study conducted throughout Belize in 2017. The study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors for CKD via structured questionnaires and clinical measurements in Belizeans aged 20-55 years. A two-stage stratified sampling technique was applied. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1·73 m² or the presence of proteinuria.

Findings

A total of 7,506 adults with a mean age of 34·6 years old completed the survey; 53·2% were women. The overall CKD prevalence was 13·7%. Women had a higher CKD prevalence than men (14·8% vs. 12·5%), and the overall awareness of CKD was low (3·7%). The prevalences of stage 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 CKD were 2·85%, 2·93%, 6·59%, 1·10%, 0·18%, and 0·06%, respectively. Older age, female sex, Mestizo/Hispanic ethnicity, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, and obesity were identified as independent risk factors for CKD.

Interpretation

The prevalence of CKD was 13·7% in Belizeans aged 20-55 years. The study confirms the high burden of CKD in Belize and provides important epidemiological information for Central America. Case management systems and surveillance programmes targeting high-risk populations are crucial for ameliorating the burden of CKD.

Funding

Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Renal Failure in Belize.

Altered Monocytic Phenotypes are Associated with Uraemic Pruritus in Patients Receiving Haemodialysis

Uraemic pruritus is one of the most bothersome symptoms in patients receiving haemodialysis. A total of 175 patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis, with 74 patients experiencing uraemic pruritus, were prospectively recruited to assess the influence of the phenotype of blood monocytes and various cytokines on uraemic pruritus. The phenotype of blood monocytes was determined by flow cytometry as classical (CD14⁺⁺CD16⁻) monocytes, non-classical (CD14⁺CD16⁺⁺) monocytes, and intermediate (CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺) monocytes. Eight cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-2, interferon-γ, IL-12p70, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-α, and IL-10, were simultaneously detected with a multiplex bead-based immunoassay. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that a higher percentage of intermediate monocytes (effect estimate 0.08; 95% confidence interval 0.01–0.16) were independent predictors of a higher visual analogue scale score for pruritus intensity. No differences were noted for all 8 cytokines between patients with and without uraemic pruritus. The results of this study indicate that altered monocytic phenotypes could play a role in uraemic pruritus.

Boiling for 15 minutes improves nutrient profiles in fishes included in the diets of dialysis patients

INTRODUCTION

Little is known about the effects of boiling on nutrient levels in fishes that have a relatively high phosphorus-to-protein ratio (PPR), which are important sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. We hypothesized that the beneficial effects of boiling for a shorter duration (15 min) on nutrient contents in fishes were similar to those of boiling for a longer duration (30 min), which has been shown to decrease the PPR in meat.

METHODS

The protein, fat, and phosphorus contents and the PPR of three cooked fish species and their corresponding fish broths were chemically analyzed. The effects of boiling on changes in protein, fat, phosphorus, and the PPR was examined by comparing fish that were prepared with usual cooking methods (no boiling), boiled for 15 min, and boiled for 30 min. The nutrients in fish broths that were boiled for 15 min were also compared with those boiled for 30 min.

FINDINGS

There were no significant differences in the changes in phosphorus, PPR, protein, and fat content in fish and fish broths prepared with the two boiling methods. In the fish boiled for 15 min, the phosphorus content was 24% lower (p = 0.001), and the PPR was 20% lower (p = 0.04) than those in nonboiled fish. Additionally, boiling for 30 min reduced the phosphorus content by 31% (p = 0.001), and the PPR by 27% (p = 0.04) compared to nonboiled fish, but the protein and fat contents were unchanged after both 15 and 30 min of boiling.

DISCUSSION

The 15- and 30-min boiling methods resulted in a similar reduction in phosphorus and the PPR in fish, with minimal effects on protein and fat. A shorter duration of boiling is recommended to achieve better nutrient profiles in fishes consumed by dialysis patients.

Emergence of T cell immunosenescence in diabetic chronic kidney disease

Background

Type 2 diabetes is an important challenge given the worldwide epidemic and is the most important cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in developed countries. It is known that patients with ESRD and advanced renal failure suffer from immunosenescence and premature T cell aging, but whether such changes develop in patients with less severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear.

Method

523 adult patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited for this study. Demographic data and clinical information were obtained from medical chart review. Immunosenescence, or aging of the immune system was assessed by staining freshly-obtained peripheral blood with immunophenotyping panels and analyzing cells using multicolor flow cytometry.

Result

Consistent with previously observed in the general population, both T and monocyte immunosenescence in diabetic patients positively correlate with age. When compared to diabetic patients with preserved renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate > 60 ml/min), patients with impaired renal function exhibit a significant decrease of total CD3⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells, but not CD8⁺ T cell and monocyte numbers. Immunosenescence was observed in patients with CKD stage 3 and in patients with more severe renal failure, especially of CD8⁺ T cells. However, immunosenescence was not associated with level of proteinuria level or glucose control. In age, sex and glucose level-adjusted regression models, stage 3 CKD patients exhibited significantly elevated percentages of CD28^-, CD127^-, and CD57⁺ cells among CD8⁺ T cells when compared to patients with preserved renal function. In contrast, no change was detected in monocyte subpopulations as renal function declined. In addition, higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with enhanced immunosenescence irrespective of CKD status.

Conclusion

The extent of immunosenescence is not significantly associated with proteinuria or glucose control in type 2 diabetic patients. T cells, especially the CD8⁺ subsets, exhibit aggravated characteristics of immunosenescence during renal function decline as early as stage 3 CKD. In addition, inflammation increases since stage 3 CKD and higher BMI drives the accumulation of CD8⁺CD57⁺ T cells. Our study indicates that therapeutic approaches such as weight loss may be used to prevent the emergence of immunosenescence in diabetes before stage 3 CKD.

Prediction of the development of acute kidney injury following cardiac surgery by machine learning

Background

Cardiac surgery–associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a major complication that results in increased morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. Most established prediction models are limited to the analysis of nonlinear relationships and fail to fully consider intraoperative variables, which represent the acute response to surgery. Therefore, this study utilized an artificial intelligence–based machine learning approach thorough perioperative data-driven learning to predict CSA-AKI.

Methods

A total of 671 patients undergoing cardiac surgery from August 2016 to August 2018 were enrolled. AKI following cardiac surgery was defined according to criteria from Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO). The variables used for analysis included demographic characteristics, clinical condition, preoperative biochemistry data, preoperative medication, and intraoperative variables such as time-series hemodynamic changes. The machine learning methods used included logistic regression, support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGboost), and ensemble (RF + XGboost). The performance of these models was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). We also utilized SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) values to explain the prediction model.

Results

Development of CSA-AKI was noted in 163 patients (24.3%) during the first postoperative week. Regarding the efficacy of the single model that most accurately predicted the outcome, RF exhibited the greatest AUC (0.839, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.772–0.898), whereas the AUC (0.843, 95% CI 0.778–0.899) of ensemble model (RF + XGboost) was even greater than that of the RF model alone. The top 3 most influential features in the RF importance matrix plot were intraoperative urine output, units of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) transfused during surgery, and preoperative hemoglobin level. The SHAP summary plot was used to illustrate the positive or negative effects of the top 20 features attributed to the RF. We also used the SHAP dependence plot to explain how a single feature affects the output of the RF prediction model.

Conclusions

In this study, machine learning methods were successfully established to predict CSA-AKI, which determines risks following cardiac surgery, enabling the optimization of postoperative treatment strategies to minimize the postoperative complications following cardiac surgeries.

P0815ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: A POPULATION-BASED SURVEY

Background and Aims

Observational studies suggest an association between moderate alcohol consumption and cardioprotective effects. However, the role of alcohol consumption on chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains inconclusive, and little is known about whether age influences the effects alcohol consumtion. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between alcohol consumption and chronic kidney disease in a population-based survey.

Method

We used data from the Taiwanese Survey on Prevalences of Hypertension, Hyperglycemia, and Hyperlipidemia. This is a population-based survey which applied a multistage, stratified, and random sampling from population throughout Taiwan in 2007. The survey assessed the prevalence, awareness, and treatment of metabolic syndrome by body measurements, structured questionnaires, and examinations of blood and urine. We obtained data of adult participants, including demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, lifestyle habits, and results of blood and urine exams. According to the frequency of alcohol consumption, we categorized participants into frequent drinkers (at least 1 time per week), occasional drinkers (less than 1 time per week), and nondrinkers. The study outcome was CKD, which was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) &lt; 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or a dipstick proteinuria ≥ 1+. The eGFR was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for study outcome comparing different levels of alcohol consumption. To evaluate the influence of age, we stratified participants into younger (age &lt; 45 years) and older (age ≥ 45 years) subgroups.

Results

The mean age of the participants were 48 years, with a female prevalence of 53% and CKD prevalence of 12%. There were 2,197 older participants and 1,770 younger participants. There were 548 frequent drinkers, 915 occasional drinkers, and 2,504 nondrinkers. Compared with nondrinkers, occasional drinkers (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.43-0.81) and frequent drinkers (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.44-0.87) showed a lower hazard risk of CKD (Table). Among those with an age ≥ 45 years, occasional drinkers (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.30-0.81) showed a lower risk of CKD but frequent drinkers (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.49-1.01) showed a borderline lower risk of of CKD compared with nondrinkers (Table). Among those with an age &lt; 45 years, only frequent drinkers (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.13-1.00) showed a lower risk of CKD compared with nondrinkers (Table).

Conclusion

Our study showed that alcohol consumption was associated with a lower risk of CKD, and this effect seemed to be more prominent among frequent drinkers and those with an age ≥ 45 years. Whether alcohol consumption provides renoprotective effects, as well as the influence of age, requires longitudinal studies.

Quality of Sleep and Psychosocial Factors for Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis

Objectives

Sleep disorders are common in end-stage renal disease patients. This study examined the relationship between self-reported quality of sleep (QoS) and certain psychosocial domains for patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods

The study subjects included 190 PD patients from 7 urban dialysis clinics in Northern Taiwan, from whom we obtained biochemical parameters and demographic data. QoS, quality of life (QoL), religious/spiritual activity, and depression were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) for QoL, the Royal Free Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory, respectively.

Results

The average PSQI score was 9.1 ± 4.1 and, in total, 85.8% of all patients were poor sleepers (global PSQI ≥ 5). There was no difference in age, gender, and mode or duration of PD between good and poor sleepers. Biochemical data did not differ between the two groups. Widowed patients experienced significantly poorer QoS than patients with other marital status (PSQI scores: 12.3 ± 4.9 vs 8.88 ± 4.0, p = 0.006). The percentage of patients that held a bachelor's degree or above was significantly higher in good sleepers (55.6% vs 29.4%, p = 0.008). The PSQI value correlated negatively with the QoL scale in both physical ( r = –0.295, p < 0.001) and mental domains ( r = –0.410, p < 0.001), and correlated positively with the depression scale ( r = 0.351, p < 0.001). There appeared to be no association between QoS and spiritual/religious activity ( r = –0.097, p = 0.223).

Conclusions

Psychosocial factors including depression, patients’ perceptions regarding QoL, marital status, and educational background correlated significantly to the subjective QoS for PD patients. When dealing with sleep disorders in PD patients, physicians should pay considerable attention to their psychosocial backgrounds.

Uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate suppresses myocardial Cx43 assembly and expression via JNK activation

Heart rhythm disturbances have been widely recognized as major triggers of cardiovascular (CV) mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Connexin 43 (Cx43)-composed gap junctions are essential in cardiomyocyte synchronization and may be involved in the pathological response to uremic toxins. Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is one of the most dominant uremic toxins that contribute to CKD-related cardiovascular diseases. In primary cultures of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes, we demonstrated that IS treatment decreased spontaneous contraction without impairing viability. In addition, there was disruption of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) between cardiomyocytes after 30 min of IS stimulation. IS caused time- and dose-dependent Cx43 redistribution, and the patterns of Cx43 immunostaining returned to baseline while IS stimulation was removed. Furthermore, IS exposure downregulated Cx43 protein and mRNA levels. Elevated JNK1 and JNK2 phosphorylation was further identified after IS exposure in both rat cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells. The above changes as well as GJIC and Cx43 suppression were reversed by pretreatment with a JNK inhibitor (SP600125). Inhibition of p-JNK attenuated IS-mediated downward trends in Cx43 transcription and translation. In cardiac muscle from nephrectomy-induced CKD mice, an alteration in Cx43 level was identified at intercalated discs. Our findings disclosed that JNK activation might participate in the remodeling of gap junction and Cx43 expression by uremic toxin-IS both in vitro and in vivo.

BSA-bounded p-cresyl sulfate potentiates the malignancy of bladder carcinoma by triggering cell migration and EMT through the ROS/Src/FAK signaling pathway

Para-cresyl sulfate (P-CS), a major uremic toxin derived from the metabolites of tyrosine and phenylalanine through liver, existed in the blood of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD increases the malignancy in bladder cancers; however, effects of P-CS on bladder cancers are not fully understood. P-CS is conjugated with BSA physiologically, and this study aims to investigate the effects and possible underlying mechanisms of BSA-bounded P-CS on human bladder cancer cells. With P-CS treatment, the intracellular ROS increased in bladder cancer cells. ROS then triggered epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stress fiber redistribution, and cell migration. With specific inhibitors, the key signals regulating P-CS-treated migration are Src and FAK. This study provided a clinical clue that patients with higher serum P-CS have a higher risk of malignant urothelial carcinomas, and a regulatory pathway of how P-CS regulates bladder cancer migration.

Effects of lower versus higher phosphate diets on fibroblast growth factor-23 levels in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Elevated fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) levels increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to compare the effects of different dietary interventions, lower versus higher phosphate levels, on FGF23 in patients with CKD.

Methods

We conducted electronic literature searches of Medline, PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library for publications up to 29 October 2016 for randomized clinical trials that compared lower versus higher phosphate dietary interventions in adults with CKD. The primary outcome was the difference in change-from-baseline FGF23 levels between intervention groups. Considering the difference in measurement units between intact FGF23 and C-terminal FGF23 assays, the treatment effect was analysed as the standardized mean difference (SMD) with the 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

We identified five trials enrolling a total of 94 normophosphataemic patients with Stage 3B CKD. The study duration ranged from 1 to 12 weeks. Compared with higher phosphate diets, lower phosphate diets tended to reduce FGF23 levels (SMD -0.74, 95% CI -1.54 to 0.07, P = 0.07). Subgroup analyses showed a trend (P for interaction = 0.09) towards a better FGF23-lowering effect by lower phosphate diets in studies using the intact FGF23 assay (SMD -1.14, 95% CI -2.24 to -0.04) than those using the C-terminal FGF23 assay (SMD -0.05, 95% CI -0.67 to 0.57).

Conclusions

Short-term dietary phosphate restriction tends to reduce FGF23 levels in patients with moderately decreased kidney function, and the FGF23-lowering effects tend to be more prominent when measured with the intact FGF23 assay.

Short-Term Effects of Very-Low-Phosphate and Low-Phosphate Diets on Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Crossover Trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The short-term effects of low-phosphate diets on fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) level and the optimal amount of dietary phosphate restriction in patients undergoing hemodialysis remain unknown.

DESIGN SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

This was a randomized, active-controlled trial with a crossover design that included 35 adults with ESKD undergoing thrice-weekly hemodialysis and with a serum phosphate level >5.5 mg/dl or between 3.5 and 5.5 mg/dl with regular phosphate binder use at a hemodialysis unit of tertiary teaching hospital in Taiwan. Subjects were randomized 1:1 to receive a very-low-phosphate diet, with a phosphate-to-protein ratio of 8 mg/g, or a low-phosphate diet, with a phosphate-to-protein ratio of 10 mg/g for 2 days, each with a 5-day washout during which subjects adhered to their usual diet. The primary outcome measure was mean difference in change-from-baseline intact FGF23 level between intervention groups. Secondary outcomes included difference in change-from-baseline serum phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), and C-terminal FGF23 level between intervention groups.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the mean change-from-baseline in intact FGF23 levels between the two study diets. The very-low-phosphate diet significantly lowered serum phosphate (mean difference, 0.6 mg/dl; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.2 to 1.0; P=0.002). There were no significant differences in change-from-baseline intact PTH and C-terminal FGF23 levels between the two study diets.

CONCLUSIONS

Over the 2-day period, the FGF23-lowering effect of the very-low-phosphate diet is similar to that of the low-phosphate diet. The very-low-phosphate diet has an additional phosphate-lowering effect compared with the low-phosphate diet.

[Experimental study of silybin-phospholipid complex intervention on amiodarone-induced fatty liver in mice]

Objective: To probe into the mechanism and interventional effects of silybin-phospholipid complex on amiodarone-induced steatosis in mice. Methods: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups (5 mice in each group): a control group (WT) with normal diet, a model group with amiodarone 150mg/kg/d by oral gavage (AM), and an intervention group on amiodarone 150mg/kg/d combined with silybin-phospholipid complex(AM+SILIPHOS. All mice were fed their assigned diet for one week. Then, one week later, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein were detected of each group. A liver pathological change was observed by oil red O and H&E staining. Ultrastructural pathological changes of hepatocytes were observed to evaluate the intervention effect by transmission electron microscopy. RT-q PCR was used to detect the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and its regulated lipid metabolism genes CPTI, CPTII, Acot1, Acot2, ACOX, Cyp4a10 and Cyp4a14 in liver tissues. Intra-group comparison was done by paired t-test. One-way ANOVA was used for comparison between groups and semi-quantitative data were tested using Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Oil Red O and H&E staining results of liver tissue in the intervention group showed that intrahepatic steatosis was significantly reduced when compared to model group. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the model group had pyknotic nuclei, mitochondrial swelling, structural damage, and lysosomal degradation whereas the intervention group had hepatic nucleus without pyknosis, reduced mitochondrial swelling and slight structural damage than that of model group. RT-q PCR results showed that the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, CPTI, CPTII, Acot1, Acot2, ACOX, Cyp4a10 and Cyp4a14 were increased in the model group but the expression of CPTI, Cyp4a14, Acot1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha were decreased in the intervention group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Silybin-phospholipid complex can alleviate amiodarone-induced steatosis, and its mechanism may play a role in protecting mitochondrial function and regulating fatty acid metabolism. Thus, silybin-phospholipid complex has potential intervention effect on amiodarone-induced fatty liver.

Icodextrin Is Associated with a Lower Mortality Rate in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background:Icodextrin (ICO) improves fluid removal in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. However, whether physiological benefits of ICO translate into patient survival remains unclear. We examine the association of ICO and clinical outcomes.Methods:We identified patients who initiated long-term PD from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. We matched ICO users with non-users according to propensity score and survival status when ICO was prescribed. We utilized time-dependent analyses to avoid immortal time bias. Additional competing risk models were utilized for the outcomes except for death. The outcomes of interest were time to death, technique failure, peritonitis, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and hospitalization.Results:A total of 4,914 PD patients were enrolled and 2,836 PD patients (57.7%) were identified as ICO users. The ICO users had significantly better overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63 - 0.86), especially among early ICO users (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.54 - 0.77, p value for interaction: 0.007). The ICO users were associated with higher risk of peritonitis (subdistribution HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06 - 1.14) and hospitalization (subdistribution HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05 - 1.24), considering competing risk of death. However, when considering ICO use as a time-varying covariate, ICO users shared similar risks for technique failure, peritonitis, MACE, and hospitalization as non-users. The effect of ICO on mortality was especially prominent among those early users.Conclusions:After adjustments for immortal time biases, ICO users were significantly associated with approximately 20% reduction in mortality, especially among early users.

Indoxyl sulfate induces myotube atrophy by ROS-ERK and JNK-MAFbx cascades

Accumulations of uremic toxins has been widely recognized as the major trigger of skeletal muscle loss in chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is defined as uremic sarcopenia. Current study was aimed to examine the effects of representative uremic toxin, indoxyl sulfate (IS), on C2C12 myotubes. The incubation of IS (from 0.1 mM to 1.2 mM) exerted the reduction in myotube diameter without cell survival impairment. Elevated oxidative stress and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) phosphorylation were observed after IS stimulation for 1 and 24 h. After N-acetylcysteine (NAC) treatment as antioxidants, the recovery in IS-induced decrease myotube diameter and ERK phosphorylation was observed. This findings were implicit the transduction of p-ERK in IS-induced ROS toxicity. Moreover, the increase of LC3β was found closely with IS treatment in C2C12 myotubes. The reverse effect of NAC on LC3β expression revealed the ROS-responsibility in autophagy regulation of CKD myopathy. The evaluation of IS-treated proteasome system showed increased phospho-myosin light chain, along with the upregulation of muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx) mRNA and protein. This alteration in MAFbx was also identified in nephrectomy-induced CKD model. Besides, the inhibition of p-JNK was capable to attenuate IS-induced upward change in MAFbx protein expression. These findings indicated that IS-mediated myotube atrophy may manipulate through ROS-ERK axis and JNK-MAFbx regulation in C2C12 cells.

A comprehensive characterization of aggravated aging-related changes in T lymphocytes and monocytes in end-stage renal disease: the iESRD study

Background

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) exhibit a premature aging phenotype of the immune system. Nevertheless, the etiology and impact of these changes in ESRD patients remain unknown.

Results

Compared to healthy individuals, ESRD patients exhibit accelerated immunosenescence in both T cell and monocyte compartments, characterized by a dramatic reduction in naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T cell numbers but increase in CD8+ T_EMRA cell and proinflammatory monocyte numbers. Notably, within ESRD patients, aging-related immune changes positively correlated not only with increasing age but also with longer dialysis vintage. In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, the combination of high terminally differentiated CD8+ T cell level and high intermediate monocyte level, as a composite predictive immunophenotype, was independently associated with prevalent coronary artery disease as well as cardiovascular disease, after adjustment for age, sex, systemic inflammation and presence of diabetes. Levels of terminally differentiated CD8+ T cells also positively correlated with the level of uremic toxin p-cresyl sulfate.

Conclusions

Aging-associated adaptive and innate immune changes are aggravated in ESRD and are associated with cardiovascular diseases. For the first time, our study demonstrates the potential link between immunosenescence in ESRD and duration of exposure to the uremic milieu.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12979-018-0131-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prognostic importance and determinants of uremic pruritus in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis: A prospective cohort study

Background

Uremic pruritus is a common and frustrating symptom among patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study aimed to examine the prognostic importance of uremic pruritus and to identify the determinants for higher pruritus intensity in PD patients.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients receiving maintenance PD. A visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to measure the intensity of uremic pruritus. The composite endpoint of PD technique failure or all-cause death was assessed using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. The determinants for the VAS score of uremic pruritus was assessed using a multivariable linear regression model.

Results

Among the 85 PD patients, 24 (28%) had uremic pruritus. During a median follow-up of 28.0 months, 12 patients experienced technique failure, and 7 died. We found that a higher VAS score of pruritus intensity was an independent risk factor for technique failure or death (hazard ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.18 to 2.28; P = 0.003) after adjusting for a variety of confounding factors. We also found that a weekly total Kt/V of less than 1.88, a longer duration of dialysis, a higher dietary protein intake, and higher blood levels of intact parathyroid hormone and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were independent determinants of higher VAS scores of pruritus intensity.

Conclusions

Our results show that uremic pruritus is an independent risk factor of technique failure and death in patients receiving PD. We also found that a weekly total Kt/V < 1.88 is associated with higher intensity of uremic pruritus in PD patients.

Anti-cytomegalovirus IgG antibody titer is positively associated with advanced T cell differentiation and coronary artery disease in end-stage renal disease

Background

Accumulating evidence indicates that persistent human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is associated with several health-related adverse outcomes including atherosclerosis and premature mortality in individuals with normal renal function. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) exhibit impaired immune function and thus may face higher risk of HCMV-related adverse outcomes. Whether the level of anti-HCMV immune response may be associated with the prognosis of hemodialysis patients is unknown.

Results

Among 412 of the immunity in ESRD study (iESRD study) participants, 408 were HCMV seropositive and were analyzed. Compared to 57 healthy individuals, ESRD patients had higher levels of anti-HCMV IgG. In a multivariate-adjusted logistic regression model, the log level of anti-HCMV IgG was independently associated with prevalent coronary artery disease (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.2~ 3.2, p = 0.01) after adjusting for age, sex, hemoglobin, diabetes, calcium phosphate product and high sensitivity C-reactive protein. Levels of anti-HCMV IgG also positively correlated with both the percentage and absolute number of terminally differentiated CD8+ and CD4+ CD45RA+ CCR7- T_EMRA cells, indicating that immunosenescence may participate in the development of coronary artery disease.

Conclusion

This is the first study showing that the magnitude of anti-HCMV humoral immune response positively correlates with T cell immunosenescence and coronary artery disease in ESRD patients. The impact of persistent HCMV infection should be further investigated in this special patient population.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12979-018-0120-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

[Study on the change of optical zone after femtosecond laser assisted laser in situ keratomileusis]

Objective: To explore the change of optical zone after femtosecond laser assisted laser in sitn keratomileusis(FS-LASIK) so as to provide the reference for measurement and design of clinical optical zone. Methods: This retrospective case series study covers 41 eyes of 24 patients (7 males and 17 females, aged from 18 to 42 years old) with myopia and myopic astigmatism who have received FS-LASIK surgery at Corneal Refractive Department of Qingdao Eye Hospital and completed over 6 months of clinical follow-up. Pentacam system (with the application of 6 corneal topographic map modes including: the pure axial curvature topographic map, the pure tangential curvature topographic map, the axial curvature difference topographic map, the tangential curvature difference topographic map, the postoperative front elevation map and the corneal thickness difference topographic map), combined with transparent concentric software (a system independently developed by Qingdao Eye Hospital) was used to measure the optical zone at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively, the optical zone diameters measurement results among different follow-up times in group were analyzed with the repeated measures analysis of variance, and the actual measured values and the theoretical design values of the optical zone were analyzed with independent-samples t-testing. Spearman correlation coefficient (r(s)) have been applied to evaluate the relationship between postoperative optical zone measurement values and the potential influencing factors. Results: The optical zone diameters measured by pure axial curvature topographic map at 1, 3 and 6 months after FS-LASIK showed (6.55±0.50)mm, (6.50±0.53)mm and (6.48±0.53)mm respectively. The differences between values are of no statistical significance (F=1.60, P=0.21), the optical zone diameter measured by pure tangential curvature topographic map at 1, 3 and 6 months after FS-LASIK showed (5.44±0.46)mm, (5.46±0.52)mm and (5.44±0.50)mm respectively, the differences between values are of no statistical significance (F=0.17, P=0.85). The optical zone diameters measured by postoperative front elevation map at 1, 3 and 6 months after FS-LASIK showed (5.06±0.28)mm, (5.12±0.32)mm and (5.17±0.28)mm respectively. The differences between the values of 3 and 6 months postoperatively are of no statistical significance (F=6.14, P=0.15), the optical zone diameters measured by axial curvature difference topographic map at 1, 3 and 6 months after FS-LASIK showed (6.51±0.37)mm, (6.45±0.41)mm and (6.41±0.40)mm respectively, and the differences between the values of 3 and 6 months postoperatively are of no statistical significance (F=7.25, P=0.05). The optical zone diameters measured by tangential curvature difference topographic map at 1, 3 and 6 months after FS-LASIK showed (5.21±0.23)mm, (5.16±0.19)mm and (5.17±0.20) mm respectively, and the differences between the values of 1 and 3 months postoperatively are of statistical significance (F=1.75, P=0.04). The optical zone diameters measured by corneal thickness difference topographic map at 1, 3 and 6 months after FS-LASIK showed (6.53±0.40)mm, (6.39±0.43)mm and (6.41±0.47)mm respectively, and the differences between the values of 1 and 3 months postoperatively are of statistical significance (F=1.67, P=0.032). The actual measured optical zone values from the 6 different modes of Pentacam system are less than the theoretical design values (7.75 mm), and the differences were statistical significance (t=-15.42, -29.39, -59.27, -21.47, -81.69, -18.22, P<0.01). Conclusions: The optical zone measurement values tend to be stable at 3 months after FS-LASIK. The actual measured values from all the 6 different modes of Pentacam system were less than the theoretical design values. The results from pure tangential curvature topographic map, the tangential curvature difference topographic map and the postoperative front elevation map showed greater variation with clear border, which was beneficial for eccentric research. The results from pure axial curvature topographic map, the axial curvature difference topographic map and the corneal thickness difference topographic map were close to the theoretically designed values. Furthermore, the axial curvature difference topographic map showed clearer border and less variation thus maybe more favorable for measuring optical zone in clinical application.(Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54: 39-47).

Association of Intensive Blood Pressure Control and Kidney Disease Progression in Nondiabetic Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance

The optimal blood pressure (BP) target remains debated in nondiabetic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective

To compare intensive BP control (<130/80 mm Hg) with standard BP control (<140/90 mm Hg) on major renal outcomes in patients with CKD without diabetes.

Data Sources

Searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library for publications up to March 24, 2016.

Study Selection

Randomized clinical trials that compared an intensive vs a standard BP target in nondiabetic adults with CKD, reporting changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), doubling of serum creatinine level, 50% reduction in GFR, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or all-cause mortality.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Random-effects meta-analyses for pooling effect measures. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses for exploring heterogeneity.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Differences in annual rate of change in GFR were expressed as mean differences with 95% CIs. Differences in doubling of serum creatinine or 50% reduction in GFR, ESRD, composite renal outcome, and all-cause mortality were expressed as risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs.

Results

We identified 9 trials with 8127 patients and a median follow-up of 3.3 years. Compared with standard BP control, intensive BP control did not show a significant difference on the annual rate of change in GFR (mean difference, 0.07; 95% CI, -0.16 to 0.29 mL/min/1.73 m2/y), doubling of serum creatinine level or 50% reduction in GFR (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.76-1.29), ESRD (RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.78-1.18), composite renal outcome (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.81-1.21), or all-cause mortality (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.66-1.37). Nonblacks and patients with higher levels of proteinuria showed a trend of lower risk of kidney disease progression with intensive BP control.

Conclusions and Relevance

Targeting BP below the current standard did not provide additional benefit for renal outcomes compared with standard treatment during a follow-up of 3.3 years in patients with CKD without diabetes. However, nonblack patients or those with higher levels of proteinuria might benefit from the intensive BP-lowering treatments.

Factors associated with poor outcomes of continuous renal replacement therapy

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is one of the dialysis modalities for critically ill patients. Despite intensive dialysis care, a high mortality rate is found in these patients. Our objective was to investigate the factors associated with poor outcomes in these patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database. Records of critically ill patients who received CRRT between 2007 and 2011 were retrieved, and the patients were categorized into two groups: those with acute kidney injury (AKI) and those with history of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Our primary and secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and long-term survival and non-renal recovery (long-term dialysis dependence), respectively, in the AKI group. We enrolled 15,453 patients, with 13,204 and 2249 in the AKI and ESRD groups, respectively. Overall, 66.5% patients died during hospitalization. In-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between groups (adjusted odds ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.84–1.02). Age, chronic liver disease, and cancer history were identified as independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality in both groups. Hypertension was associated with higher risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with AKI. Age, coronary artery disease, and admission to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) were risk factors for long-term dialysis dependence in patients with AKI. Patients with AKI and ESRD have similarly poor outcomes after CRRT. Older age and presence of chronic liver disease and cancer were associated with higher mortality. Older age, presence of coronary artery disease, and admission to MICU were associated with lower renal recovery rate in patients with AKI.

Comparative effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors versus angiotensin II receptor blockers for major renal outcomes in patients with diabetes: A 15-year cohort study

Background

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are considered to have similar renoprotective effects; so far there has been no consensus about their priorities. This study aimed to compare ACEIs and ARBs for major renal outcomes and survival in a 15-year cohort of adults with diabetes.

Methods

This study utilized Taiwan’s medical and pharmacy claims data in the Longitudinal Cohort of Diabetes Patients. The primary outcome was long-term dialysis, and secondary outcomes were hospitalization for acute kidney injury, hospitalization for hyperkalemia, all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and non-cardiovascular death. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for outcomes comparing ACEIs with ARBs. We conducted subgroup analyses and interaction tests among patients with different age and comorbid diseases.

Results

A total of 34,043 patients received ACEIs and 23,772 patients received ARBs. No differences were found for primary or secondary outcomes in the main analyses. ACEIs showed significantly lower hazard than ARBs for long-term dialysis among patients with cardiovascular disease (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66–0.97, interaction P = 0.003) or chronic kidney disease (0.81, 0.71–0.93, interaction P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Our analyses show similar effects of ACEIs and ARBs in patients with diabetes. However, ACEIs might provide additional renoprotective effects among patients who have cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease.

Reappraisal of effects of serum chemerin and adiponectin levels and nutritional status on cardiovascular outcomes in prevalent hemodialysis patients

Although chemerin, an adipokine, increases the cardiovascular (CV) risk in obese people, it is associated with a survival advantage in incident hemodialysis (HD) patients. We explored the potential effects of chemerin on CV outcomes in prevalent HD patients. This prospective study included 343 prevalent HD patients. The composite outcome was the occurrence of CV events and death during follow-up. We used multivariate Cox regression analysis to test the predictive power of different chemerin and adiponectin levels and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) for the outcomes. HD patients with higher chemerin levels (≥211.4 ng/mL) had a lower risk of CV events (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.98) and composite CV outcome (adjusted HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.45-0.99) than those with lower chemerin levels (<211.4 ng/mL). When evaluating CV outcomes, we identified an interaction between chemerin levels and GNRI, but not between chemerin and adiponectin levels. The findings remained robust in the sensitivity analysis. Thus, in prevalent HD patients with negligible residual renal function, higher chemerin levels predict more favourable CV outcomes.

A Comparison of Uremic Pruritus in Patients Receiving Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis

Uremic pruritus is common and bothersome in patients receiving either peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD). To date, the preferred dialysis modality regarding the alleviation of uremic pruritus remains controversial. We conducted this cross-sectional study to compare the prevalence, intensity, and characteristics of uremic pruritus between PD and HD patients. Patients receiving maintenance dialysis at a referral medical center in Taiwan were recruited. Dialysis modality, patient demographic, clinical characteristics, and laboratory data were recorded. The intensity of uremic pruritus was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. Multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to compare the severity of uremic pruritus between PD and HD patients. Generalized additive models were applied to detect nonlinear effects between pruritus intensity and continuous covariates. A total of 380 patients completed this study, with a mean age of 60.3 years and 49.2% being female. Uremic pruritus was presented in 24 (28.6%) of the 84 PD patients and 113 (38.2%) of the 296 HD patients (P = .12). The VAS score of pruritus intensity was significantly lower among the PD patients than the HD patients (1.32 ± 2.46 vs 2.26 ± 3.30, P = .04). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that PD was an independent predictor for lower VAS scores of pruritus intensity compared with HD (β-value -0.88, 95% confidence interval -1.62 to -0.13). The use of active vitamin D was also an independent predictor for a lower intensity of uremic pruritus, whereas hyperphosphatemia and higher serum levels of triglyceride and aspartate transaminase were significantly associated with higher pruritus intensity. There was a trend toward a less affected body surface area of uremic pruritus in the PD patients than in the HD patients, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = .13).In conclusion, the severity of uremic pruritus was lower among PD patients than HD patients, and PD may provide better alleviation of pruritus symptoms. The result provides a valuable reference for clinicians and patients when choosing a dialysis modality.

Risk Factors for Development and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Exploratory Meta-Analysis

The risk factors influencing the natural course of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are complex and heterogeneous, and few systematic reviews to date have focused on this issue. The aim of the study is to identify the risk factors for disease development and progression in each stage of CKD. We conducted electronic literature searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library up to October 15, 2012, for observational studies evaluating the risk factors on the development or progression of CKD. Eligible studies should have collected repeated information that could evaluate changes in renal function. Extracted information from all the included studies was synthesized narratively. Quality assessments were performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. An exploratory random-effects meta-analysis was performed where feasible to pool effect sizes across studies for a specific risk factor in a specific outcome. We identified 38 cohort studies and 2 case-control studies from 40 articles, with a total of 318,898 participants from 14 countries. The follow-up duration ranged from 1.5 to 16 years. The majority of the included studies were of high quality. The baseline CKD stages of the included studies ranged from normal to later stages, and only 19 studies could be classified into a specific range of CKD stages during follow-up. Three risk factors from studies of the same baseline and follow-up CKD stages were eligible for the exploratory meta-analysis, including male sex, substantial proteinuria, and diabetes. The hazard ratios for the progression from CKD stages 3-5 to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were 1.37 (95% confidence interval 1.17-1.62), 1.64 (1.01-2.66), and 1.16 (0.98-1.38) for male sex, substantial proteinuria, and diabetes, respectively. In conclusion, our analyses comprehensively summarize the initiating and perpetuating factors for CKD. Male sex and substantial proteinuria are significant perpetuating factors for the progression from late stage CKD to ESRD, and diabetes may play a minor role for the outcome of ESRD among patients with later stages of CKD.

Outcome Comparisons Between Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis With and Without Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Nationwide Matched Cohort Study

Polycystic kidney disease (PCKD) is the most common hereditary cause of end-stage renal disease. The complications associated with this disease may affect the performance of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes between patients on PD with PCKD and without PCKD.We extracted an incident cohort of adult (≥ 20 years old) patients on long-term PD from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients with PCKD were identified by specific diagnosis codes. We recorded baseline comorbidities, socioeconomic status, timing of referral to a nephrologist, prior hemodialysis history before PD, and the type of PD modalities. We compared the risk of death, technique failure, peritonitis, hospitalization, and outpatient visiting as well as overall medical expenditure between the patients with PCKD and a groups of patients without PCKD who were propensity-score matched (1:3). The analysis was carried out by various Cox regression models that considered competing risk and time-varying coefficients. We enrolled 139 patients with PCKD and 7739 patients without PCKD who started long-term PD between 1999 and 2010. Patients with PCKD were less comorbid and more often treated with automated PD. In the propensity-score matched analysis, both overall survival and technique survival did not differ between the patients and the result was similar for hospitalization and peritonitis after adjusting for the application of automated PD. Furthermore, the overall annual medical expenditures were similar between the patients with and without PCKD. PD patients with PCKD are comparable to PD patients without PCKD in terms of risk of death, peritonitis, technique failure, and hospitalization in the present study. Furthermore, the medical expenses of the 2 groups after initiation of PD are also indistinguishable.

Comparative Study of Outcomes among Patients with Polycystic Kidney Disease on Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis

Polycystic kidney disease (PCKD) is the most common hereditary cause of end-stage renal disease, the complications of which may prevent the choice of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The aim of this study was to explore the effects of dialysis modality on outcomes in patients with PCKD. We extracted a cohort of 1417 adult patients with PCKD initiating long-term dialysis therapy in 1999-2010 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, among which 125 patients chose PD. The patients on HD were older and had a higher comorbidity index compared to those on PD. We compared the risks for death, hospitalization and medical expenditures between the patients on PD and propensity-score matched patients on hemodialysis (HD). The overall survival did not differ between the patients on PD and HD. The patients on PD tended to have higher hazard ratios (HR) for the first episode of hospitalization (adjusted HR 1.34 [95% CI, 1.04-1.79]). The annual medical expenses were 10% lower for the patients on PD. PD is an equivalent choice of renal replacement therapy to HD for patients with PCKD in terms of survival. Although the patients on PD had a higher risk for hospitalization, the medical expenditure for PD was 10% lower.

Risk factors for severe hypocalcemia after parathyroidectomy in prevalent dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism

PURPOSE

Hypocalcemia is one of the common complications after parathyroidectomy (PTX). Severe hypocalcemia (SH) can lead to tetany, cardiac arrhythmia and even sudden death. However, predictors for the development of SH in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism demonstrated in some small-scale studies with a limited sample size remain inconclusive.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of 420 consecutive dialysis patients who underwent PTX during a 12-year period was performed. We checked serum levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) for three consecutive days postoperatively. SH was defined as the minimum values of serum calcium lower than 1.875 mmol/L (7.5 mg/dL) within 3 days after operation.

RESULTS

The mean (±SD) age of our study population was 53 ± 12 years, and more than half (57 %) were female. SH occurred in 37 % of the patients after PTX. Using a multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, lower preoperative levels of Ca (odds ratio 0.69, 95 % CI 0.60-0.79, P < 0.001), higher preoperative levels of iPTH (odds ratio 1.04, 95 % CI 1.00-1.07, P = 0.048), P (odds ratio 2.43, 95 % CI 1.49-3.95, P < 0.001) and ALP (odds ratio 1.08, 95 % CI 1.05-1.11, P < 0.001) were found to be independent predictors of occurrence of SH following PTX.

CONCLUSIONS

The readily obtainable preoperative laboratory parameters including Ca, iPTH, P, and ALP will allow identification of a subgroup of patients who are at greater risk for the development of SH following PTX.

Excessive Access Cannulation Site Bleeding Predicts Long-Term All-Cause Mortality in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Our group has previously reported that excessive vascular access bleeding during dialysis treatment in stable hemodialysis (HD) patients was associated with anemia and may indicate poorer health. The association between excessive blood loss from access cannulation site and clinical outcomes was unknown. We hypothesized that excessive access bleeding may have an impact on all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in this population. We prospectively conducted an observational, longitudinal study of 360 HD patients. Excessive access bleeding was defined as at least an occurrence of blood loss greater than 4 mL per HD session during a study period of one month. During a median follow-up of 83 months, all-cause mortality and CV mortality were registered. Outcomes were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. A total of 118 (32.8%) participants died and 54 of these were from CV death. Using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, access bleeding was found to be an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (HR 1.67, 95% CI 0.96-2.91, P = 0.070) but not for CV death (HR 1.53, 95% CI 0.88-2.68, P = 0.135). Our study identified that excessive access cannulation site bleeding could be a novel marker for increased risk of death in HD patients.