Phosphate, oxidative stress, and nuclear factor-κB activation in vascular calcification

Phosphate-induced vascular calcification, characterized by induction of osteogenic programs, mineral vesicle release, and apoptosis, is prevalent in patients with kidney disease. Zhao et al. provide a mechanistic link between phosphate-induced calcification and increased mitochondrial membrane potential, increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, activation of the nuclear factor-κB pathway, and subsequent expression of osteogenic genes and vascular mineralization. This link clarifies the intracellular mechanism of vascular calcification and may allow exploration of antioxidants as therapeutic agents for vascular calcification

Air pollution and acute kidney injury in the U.S. Medicare population: A longitudinal cohort study

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have reported the association between air pollution exposure and reduced kidney function. However, it is unclear whether air pollution is associated with an increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). OBJECTIVES: To address this gap in knowledge, we investigated the effect estimates of long-term exposures to fine particulate matter [PM METHODS: This nationwide population-based longitudinal cohort study included 61,300,754 beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part A fee-for-service (FFS) who were RESULTS: Exposure to DISCUSSION: This study found an association between exposures to air pollution and the risk of the first hospital admission with AKI, and this association persisted even at low concentrations of air pollution. Our findings provide beneficial implications for public health policies and air pollution guidelines to alleviate health care expenditures and the disease burden attributable to AKI. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10729