25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels and chronic kidney disease in the AusDiab (Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle) study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Low 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels have been associated with an increased risk of albuminuria, however an association with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is not clear. We explored the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and prevalent chronic kidney disease (CKD), albuminuria and impaired GFR, in a national, population-based cohort of Australian adults (AusDiab Study).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>10,732 adults ≥25 years of age participating in the baseline survey of the AusDiab study (1999–2000) were included. The GFR was estimated using an enzymatic creatinine assay and the CKD-EPI equation, with CKD defined as eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m². Albuminuria was defined as a spot urine albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) of ≥2.5 mg/mmol for men and ≥3.5 for women. Serum 25(OH)D levels of <50 nmol/L were considered vitamin D deficient. The associations between 25(OH)D level, albuminuria and impaired eGFR were estimated using multivariate regression models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>30.7% of the study population had a 25(OH)D level <50 nmol/L (95% CI 25.6-35.8). 25(OH)D deficiency was significantly associated with an impaired eGFR in the univariate model (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.07-2.17), but not in the multivariate model (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.67-1.35). 25(OH)D deficiency was significantly associated with albuminuria in the univariate (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.58-2.67) and multivariate models (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.14-2.07).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Vitamin D deficiency is common in this population, and 25(OH)D levels of <50 nmol/L were independently associated with albuminuria, but not with impaired eGFR. These associations warrant further exploration in prospective and interventional studies.</p

Assessing cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease patients prior to kidney transplantation: clinical usefulness of a standardised cardiovascular assessment protocol.

BACKGROUND: Despite pre-kidney-transplant cardiovascular (CV) assessment being routine care to minimise perioperative risk, the utility of such assessment is not well established. The study reviewed the evaluation and outcome of a standardised CV assessment protocol. METHODS: Data were analysed for 231 patients (age 53.4 ± 12.9 years, diabetes 34.6%) referred for kidney transplantation between 1/2/2012-31/12/2014. One hundred forty-three patients were high-risk (age > 60 years, diabetes, CV disease, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease) and offered dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE); 88 patients were low-risk and offered ECG and echocardiography with/without exercise treadmill test. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up (579 ± 289 days), 35 patients underwent kidney transplantation and 50 were active on the waitlist. There were 24 events (CV or death), none were perioperative. One hundred fifteen patients had DSE with proportionally more events in DSE-positive compared to DSE-negative patients (6/34 vs. 7/81, p = 0.164). In 42 patients who underwent coronary angiography due to a positive DSE or ischaemic heart disease symptoms, 13 (31%) had events, 6 were suspended, 11 removed from waitlist, 3 wait-listed, 1 transplanted and 17 still undergoing assessment. Patients with significant coronary artery disease requiring intervention had poorer event-free survival compared to those without intervention (56% vs. 83% at 2 years, p = 0.044). However, the association became non-significant after correction for CV risk factors (HR = 3.17, 95% CI 0.51-19.59, p = 0.215). CONCLUSIONS: The stratified CV risk assessment protocol using DSE in all high-risk patients was effective in identifying patients with coronary artery disease. The coronary angiograms identified the event-prone patients effectively but coronary interventions were not associated with improved survival

Differential effects of phosphate binders on vitamin D metabolism in chronic kidney disease.

BackgroundPhosphate binders are commonly used in the treatment of patients with hyperphosphatemia. While phosphate binders are used to lower phosphate, the effects of specific phosphate binder types on vitamin D metabolism are unknown.MethodsWe performed a secondary analysis of the Phosphate Normalization Trial in which patients with moderate to advanced chronic kidney disease were randomized to receive either placebo, sevelamer carbonate, lanthanum carbonate or calcium acetate for 9 months. We evaluated changes in serum concentrations of vitamin D metabolites including 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24,25(OH)2D3], 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], the ratio of 24,25(OH)2D3 to 25-hydroxyvitamin D [the vitamin D metabolite ratio (VMR)] and the ratio of serum 1,25(OH)2D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D.ResultsCompared with placebo, randomization to the calcium acetate arm was associated with a 0.6 ng/mL (95% CI 0.2, 1) and 13.5 pg/ng (95% CI 5.5, 21.5) increase in 24,25(OH)2D and VMR, respectively, and a 5.2 pg/mL (95% CI 1.1, 9.4) reduction in 1,25(OH)2D. Randomization to sevelamer carbonate was associated with a 0.5 ng/mL (95% CI -0.9, -0.1) and 11.8 pg/ng (95% CI -20, -3.5) reduction in 24,25(OH)2D3 and VMR, respectively. There was no association of the sevelamer arm with the change in 1,25(OH)2D3, and randomization to lanthanum carbonate was not associated with a change in any of the vitamin D metabolites.ConclusionAdministration of different phosphate binders to patients with moderate to severe CKD results in unique changes in vitamin D metabolism

Reversible bone pain and symmetric bone scan uptake in a dialysis patient treated with cinacalcet: a case report

The medical management of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with end-stage renal disease involves a combination of dietary restrictions, phosphate binders, active vitamin D analogs, and calcimimetics. We report the case of a 36-year-old Hispanic dialysis patient, originally from Cuba and now residing in the USA, who developed severe bone pain and muscle twitching after starting low dose cinacalcet, despite normal pre-dialysis ionized calcium and elevated parathyroid hormone. The clinical symptoms correlated with increased symmetrical uptake on bone scan that resolved rapidly upon discontinuation of cinacalcet. Cinacalcet may induce severe bone pain and a unique bone scan uptake pattern in hemodialysis patients

Chronic Supplementation With a Mitochondrial Antioxidant (MitoQ) Improves Vascular Function in Healthy Older Adults.

UNLABELLED: Excess reactive oxygen species production by mitochondria is a key mechanism of age-related vascular dysfunction. Our laboratory has shown that supplementation with the mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant MitoQ improves vascular endothelial function by reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and ameliorates arterial stiffening in old mice, but the effects in humans are unknown. Here, we sought to translate our preclinical findings to humans and determine the safety and efficacy of MitoQ. Twenty healthy older adults (60-79 years) with impaired endothelial function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation 7.60 m/s; n=11). Plasma oxidized LDL (low-density lipoprotein), a marker of oxidative stress, also was lower after MitoQ versus placebo (P0.1). These findings in humans extend earlier preclinical observations and suggest that MitoQ and other therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial reactive oxygen species may hold promise for treating age-related vascular dysfunction. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02597023.This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards AG049451, AG000279, AG053009, Colorado CTSA UL1 TR001082, and an industry contract with MitoQ Limited (MitoQ Limited provided MitoQ and some financial support). M.P. Murphy is supported by UK MRC MC_U105663142 and as a Wellcome Trust Investigator (110159/Z/15/Z)

Memoria, fluidez y orientación: prueba de cribado de deterioro cognitivo en 5 minutos

Artículo de publicación ISIAntecedentes: En los próximos 20 a˜nos se duplicará la cantidad de personas con deteriorocognitivo (DC) apremiando su pronta detección.Objetivos: Validar una prueba de cribado de DC aplicable en < de 5 min.Métodos: Adultos ≥ 60 a˜nos reclutados desde la comunidad y las clínicas de memoria de lazona urbana de Santiago de Chile fueron clasificados clínicamente en: dementes, DC leve (DCL)y sin DC (SDC). Se evaluó la validez de un nuevo test, MEFO, consistente en la evaluación de:memoria (5 puntos), fluidez fonética (2 puntos) y orientación (6 puntos) contrastado con losresultados del MMSE.Resultados: Se evaluó a 214 personas: 49 con demencia, 47 con DCL y 118 SDC. El MEFO dife-renció a los 3 grupos clínicos entre sí, mientras que el MMSE no permitió discriminar DCL deSDC. El área bajo la curva ROC en el MEFO para diferenciar los grupos SDC versus: a) demenciafue = 0,97; b) DC (dementes + DCL) fue = 0,89; y c) DCL fue = 0,80; siendo estos valores para elMMSE de 0,95, 0,84, y 0,73, respectivamente. Un punto de corte (PC) del MEFO = 6/7 distinguióa las personas con demencia con una sensibilidad (S) = 86% y una especificidad (E) = 96%; y unPC = 8/9 distinguió a aquellos con DC con una: S = 83% y E = 75%.Conclusiones: El MEFO resultó una prueba confiable y válida para diferenciar a personas condemencia y DC, similar al MMSE en estos casos, pero con mayor utilidad para distinguir a lospacientes con DCL y de menor duración de aplicación

Primary coronary artery bypass surgery in the presence of decreasing preoperative renal function: effect on short-term outcomes

Background: This study evaluated the impact of decreasing renal function on short-term outcomes in patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: The study period was from February 1999 to February 2009. Data on 4050 patients undergoing primary CABG were prospectively collected and analyzed retrospectively. The study population was divided into 3 groups: the CABG:N group, patients with preoperative serum creatinine levels 2 mg/dL (n = 87); and the CABG:D group, patients on dialysis (n = 16). Results: The significant differences between the groups (CABG:D > CABG:RF > CABG:N) in short-term outcomes were with respect to blood product use (P < .001), postoperative acute myocardial infarction (P < .001), pulmonary complications (P .001), infection (P < .001), and death (P < .001). The risk of short-term death (30 days) in the CABG:D group (4/16, 25%) was 25 times greater than that in the CABG:N group (38/3947, 0.96%). Conclusion: CABG in the presence of renal failure is associated with significant morbidity and mortality

Effect of different intravenous iron preparations on lymphocyte intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and subpopulation survival

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infections in hemodialysis (HD) patients lead to high morbidity and mortality rates and are associated with early cardiovascular mortality, possibly related to chronic inflammation. Intravenous (IV) iron is widely administered to HD patients and has been associated with increased oxidative stress and dysfunctional cellular immunity. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of three commercially available IV iron preparations on intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and lymphocyte subpopulation survival.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from healthy donor buffy coat. PBMC were cultured and incubated with 100 μg/mL of sodium ferric gluconate (SFG), iron sucrose (IS) or iron dextran (ID) for 24 hours. Cells were then probed for reactive oxygen species (ROS) with dichlorofluorescein-diacetate. In separate studies, isolated PBMCs were incubated with the 25, 50 or 100 μg/mL iron concentrations for 72 hours and then stained with fluorescein conjugated monoclonal antibodies for lymphocyte subpopulation identification. Untreated PBMCs at 24 hours and 72 hours served as controls for each experiment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All three IV iron preparations induced time dependent increases in intracellular ROS with SFG and IS having a greater maximal effect than ID. The CD4+ lymphocytes were most affected by IV iron exposure, with statistically significant reduction in survival after incubation with all three doses (10, 25 and 100 μg/mL) of SFG, IS and ID.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data indicate IV iron products induce differential deleterious effects on CD4+ and CD16+ human lymphocytes cell populations that may be mediated by intracellular reactive oxygen species generation. Further studies are warranted to determine the potential clinical relevance of these findings.</p

Association between high-dose erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, inflammatory biomarkers, and soluble erythropoietin receptors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High-dose erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) for anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been associated with adverse clinical outcomes and do not always improve erythropoiesis. We hypothesized that high-dose ESA requirement would be associated with elevated inflammatory biomarkers, decreased adipokines, and increased circulating, endogenous soluble erythropoietin receptors (sEpoR).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional cohort of anemic 32 CKD participants receiving ESA were enrolled at a single center and cytokine profiles, adipokines, and sEpoR were compared between participants stratified by ESA dose requirement (usual-dose darbepoetin-α (< 1 μg/kg/week) and high-dose (≥1 μg/kg/week)).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Baseline characteristics were similar between groups; however, hemoglobin was lower among participants on high-dose (1.4 μg/kg/week) vs usual-dose (0.5 μg/kg/week) ESA.</p> <p>In adjusted analyses, high-dose ESA was associated with an increased odds for elevations in c-reactive protein and interleukin-6 (p < 0.05 for both). There was no correlation between high-dose ESA and adipokines. Higher ESA dose correlated with higher levels of sEpoR (r_s= 0.39, p = 0.03). In adjusted analyses, higher ESA dose (per μcg/kg/week) was associated with a 53% greater odds of sEpoR being above the median (p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>High-dose ESA requirement among anemic CKD participants was associated with elevated inflammatory biomarkers and higher levels of circulating sEpoR, an inhibitor of erythropoiesis. Further research confirming these findings is warranted.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Clinicaltrials.gov <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00526747">NCT00526747</a></p

Agroecology and Health: Lessons from Indigenous Populations.

Purpose of reviewThe article aims to systematize and disseminate the main contributions of indigenous ancestral wisdom in the agroecological production of food, especially in Latin America. For this purpose, it is necessary to ask whether such knowledge can be accepted by academia research groups and international forums as a valid alternative that could contribute to overcome the world's nutritional problems.Recent findingsAlthough no new findings are being made, the validity of ancestral knowledge and agroecology is recognized by scientific research, and by international forums organized by agencies of the United Nations. These recommend that governments should implement them in their policies of development, and in the allocation of funds to support these initiatives. Agroecology and ancestral knowledge are being adopted by a growing number of organizations, indigenous peoples and social groups in various parts of the world, as development alternatives that respond to local needs and worldviews. Its productive potential is progressively being recognized at an international level as a model that contributes to improve the condition of people regarding nutritional food