Erythropoietin Improves Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Acute Kidney Injury after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Previous studies reported the beneficial effect of erythropoietin (EPO) in acute injuries. We followed patients with and without acute kidney injury (AKI) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and evaluated the effect of EPO on long-term outcome. We also assessed the efficacy of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) as a predictive marker of AKI. Seventy-one patients scheduled for elective CABG were randomly given either 300 U/kg of EPO or saline before CABG. The primary outcome was AKI, and the secondary outcome was the all-cause-mortality and composite of all-cause-mortality and end stage renal disease (ESRD). Twenty-one patients had AKI, 14 (66.7%) in the placebo group and 7 (33.3%) in the EPO group (P = 0.05). Also, uNGAL was higher in the patients with AKI than in those without AKI at baseline, 2, 4, 24, and 72 hr after CABG (P = 0.011). Among patients with AKI, 2-week creatinine (Cr) was not different from baseline Cr in the EPO group, but 2-week Cr was significantly higher than baseline Cr in the placebo group (P = 0.009). All-cause-mortality (P = 0.022) and the composite of all-cause-mortality and ESRD (P = 0.003) were reduced by EPO. EPO reduces all-cause-mortality and ESRD in patients with AKI, largely due to the beneficial effect of EPO on recovery after AKI

Dietary Lipids and Dyslipidemia in Chronic Kidney Disease

The progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to altered lipid metabolism. CKD patients exhibit high blood triglyceride (TG) levels, reduced concentrations and functionality of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and elevated levels of atherogenic small, dense, low-density lipoproteins (sdLDL). Disorders of lipid metabolism and other metabolic disturbances place CKD patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Extensive evidence supports the cardioprotective effects of unsaturated fatty acids, including their beneficial effect on serum cholesterol and TG levels. Dietary lipids might therefore be especially important in the nutritional management of CKD. We review current dietary recommendations for fat intake by CKD patients and suggest potential nutritional interventions by emphasizing dietary lipids that might improve the blood lipid profile and reduce cardiovascular risk in CKD

Nutritional predictors of mortality in prevalent peritoneal dialysis patients

Malnutrition remains one of the major predictors of mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutritional status of prevalent PD patients, and to determine the best predictors of outcome among anthropometric and laboratory indices of nutrition. The study included 106 prevalent PD patients from a single university-based unit. Anthropometric assessment at baseline included: body mass, body mass index (BMI), skinfold thickness, lean body mass (LBM), content of body fat (%F), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC). Laboratory analysis comprised of albumin and total cholesterol. Additionally, each patient underwent a subjective global assessment (SGA). The patients were followed for 36 months. Survival analyses were made with the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the Cox proportional hazard model. Following SGA, malnutrition was diagnosed in 30 (28%) patients. Importantly, eight of the malnourished patients (27%) were nevertheless overweight or obese. Body weight and BMI showed complete lack of association with the outcome. In Kaplan-Meier analysis low: LBM, MAMC, albumin and cholesterol were significantly related to mortality. Cox analysis revealed that, following adjustment, LBM below median was independently associated with poor outcome (hazard ratio [HR] 3.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-8.49, p=0.02). Moreover, the lowest quartile of total cholesterol showed independent association with mortality (HR 8.68, CI 2.14-35.21, p<0.01). Malnutrition is prevalent in patients undergoing PD, and overweight/obesity does not preclude its appearance. The most valuable nutritional indices in predicting outcome in this cohort were LBM and total cholesterol concentration

Nutritional predictors of mortality in prevalent peritoneal dialysis patients.

Malnutrition remains one of the major predictors of mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutritional status of prevalent PD patients, and to determine the best predictors of outcome among anthropometric and laboratory indices of nutrition. The study included 106 prevalent PD patients from a single university-based unit. Anthropometric assessment at baseline included: body mass, body mass index (BMI), skinfold thickness, lean body mass (LBM), content of body fat (%F), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC). Laboratory analysis comprised of albumin and total cholesterol. Additionally, each patient underwent a subjective global assessment (SGA). The patients were followed for 36 months. Survival analyses were made with the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the Cox proportional hazard model. Following SGA, malnutrition was diagnosed in 30 (28%) patients. Importantly, eight of the malnourished patients (27%) were nevertheless overweight or obese. Body weight and BMI showed complete lack of association with the outcome. In Kaplan-Meier analysis low: LBM, MAMC, albumin and cholesterol were significantly related to mortality. Cox analysis revealed that, following adjustment, LBM below median was independently associated with poor outcome (hazard ratio [HR] 3.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-8.49, p=0.02). Moreover, the lowest quartile of total cholesterol showed independent association with mortality (HR 8.68, CI 2.14-35.21, p<0.01). Malnutrition is prevalent in patients undergoing PD, and overweight/obesity does not preclude its appearance. The most valuable nutritional indices in predicting outcome in this cohort were LBM and total cholesterol concentration

Analysis of Serum Fatty Acids Profile in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Patients with end-stage kidney disease, treated with renal transplantation, are at increased risk of cardio-vascular disease (CVD) and cardio-vascular mortality. They are also characterized by an atherogenic dyslipidemia. Alterations of the fatty acids (FA) profile contribute to increased cardio-vascular risk in the general population. In the current study we test the hypothesis that kidney transplantation is associated with ab-normalities in FA profile. FA profile was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in 198 renal transplant recipients, and 48 control subjects. The most profound differences between renal transplant patients and controls were related to the content of branched chain FA, monounsaturated FA, and n-6 polyunsaturated FA, respectively. The FA profile significantly separated the patients from the controls in the principal component analysis (PCA). The abnormalities of FA profile showed a tendency for normalization in long-term kidney recipients, as compared to patients with recent transplants. The n-3 PUFA content demonstrated a strong inverse association with the presence of inflammation. Most profound alterations of the FA profile were observed in patients with impaired graft function (glomerular filtration rate &lt; 45 mL/min). The study demonstrated significant disorders of the FA profile in kidney transplant recipients, that might contribute to cardio-vascular risk in this vulnerable patient population

Analysis of Serum Fatty Acids Profile in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Patients with end-stage kidney disease, treated with renal transplantation, are at increased risk of cardio-vascular disease (CVD) and cardio-vascular mortality. They are also characterized by an atherogenic dyslipidemia. Alterations of the fatty acids (FA) profile contribute to increased cardio-vascular risk in the general population. In the current study we test the hypothesis that kidney transplantation is associated with ab-normalities in FA profile. FA profile was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in 198 renal transplant recipients, and 48 control subjects. The most profound differences between renal transplant patients and controls were related to the content of branched chain FA, monounsaturated FA, and n-6 polyunsaturated FA, respectively. The FA profile significantly separated the patients from the controls in the principal component analysis (PCA). The abnormalities of FA profile showed a tendency for normalization in long-term kidney recipients, as compared to patients with recent transplants. The n-3 PUFA content demonstrated a strong inverse association with the presence of inflammation. Most profound alterations of the FA profile were observed in patients with impaired graft function (glomerular filtration rate < 45 mL/min). The study demonstrated significant disorders of the FA profile in kidney transplant recipients, that might contribute to cardio-vascular risk in this vulnerable patient population

Analysis of the differences in whole-genome expression related to asthma and obesity

Introduction Concomitant obesity significantly impairs asthma control. Obese asthmatics show more severe symptoms and an increased use of medications. Objectives The primary aim of the study was to identify genes that are differentially expressed in the peripheral blood of asthmatic patients with obesity, asthmatic patients with normal body mass, and obese patients without asthma. Secondly, we investigated whether the analysis of gene expression in peripheral blood may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of obese patients who present with symptoms similar to asthma. Patients and methods The study group included 15 patients with asthma (9 obese and 6 normal-weight patients), while the control group-13 obese patients in whom asthma was excluded. The analysis of whole-genome expression was performed on RNA samples isolated from peripheral blood. Results The comparison of gene expression profiles between asthmatic patients with obesity and those with normal body mass revealed a significant difference in 6 genes. The comparison of the expression between controls and normal-weight patients with asthma showed a significant difference in 23 genes. The analysis of genes with a different expression revealed a group of transcripts that may be related to an increased body mass (PI3, LOC100008589, RPS6KA3, LOC441763, IFIT1, and LOC100133565). Based on gene expression results, a prediction model was constructed, which allowed to correctly classify 92% of obese controls and 89% of obese asthmatic patients, resulting in the overall accuracy of the model of 90.9%. Conclusions The results of our study showed significant differences in gene expression between obese asthmatic patients compared with asthmatic patients with normal body mass as well as in obese patients without asthma compared with asthmatic patients with normal body mass

Severity of Inflammation Is Associated with Food Intake in Hospitalized Geriatric Patients-A Merged Data Analysis

The extent to which inflammation impacts food intake remains unclear, serving as a key risk factor for malnutrition as defined by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM). To address this, we analyzed a large, merged dataset of geriatric hospitalized patients across Europe. The study included 1650 consecutive patients aged &amp; GE;65 year from Germany, Italy, Finland, Denmark, and Poland. Nutritional intake was assessed using the first item of the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form; C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured using standard procedures. In total (age 79.6 &amp; PLUSMN; 7.4 year, 1047 females), 23% exhibited moderate to severe inflammation, and 12% showed severe inflammation; 35% showed moderate reductions in food intake, and 28% were considered malnourished. Median CRP levels differed significantly between patients with severe, moderate, and no decrease in food intake. Among patients with a CRP level of 3.0-4.99 mg/dL, 19% experienced a severe decrease in food intake, while 66% experienced moderate to severe decreases. Regression analysis revealed that inflammation was the most prominent risk factor for low food intake and malnutrition, surpassing other factors such as age, gender, infection, and comorbidity. A CRP level of &amp; GE;3.0 mg/dL is associated with reduced food intake during last 3 months in two thirds of hospitalized geriatric patients and therefore indicative for a high risk of malnutrition