Methodological challenges and biases in the field of cognitive function among patients with chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 850 million people globally and is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. The prevalence of cognitive impairment among CKD patients ranges from 30 to 60%, and the link between CKD and cognitive impairment is partially understood. Methodological challenges and biases in studying cognitive function in CKD patients need to be addressed to improve diagnosis, treatment, and management of cognitive impairment in this population. Here, we review the methodological challenges and study design issues, including observational studies’ limitations, internal validity, and different types of bias that can impact the validity of research findings. Understanding the unique challenges and biases associated with studying cognitive function in CKD patients can help to identify potential sources of error and improve the quality of future research, leading to more accurate diagnoses and better treatment plans for CKD patients.</p

Drugs with a negative impact on cognitive functions (part 3): antibacterial agents in patients with chronic kidney disease

The relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cognitive function has received increased attention in recent years. Antibacterial agents (ABs) represent a critical component of therapy regimens in patients with CKD due to increased susceptibility to infections. Following our reviewing work on the neurocognitive impact of long-term medications in patients with CKD, we propose to focus on AB-induced direct and indirect consequences on cognitive function. Patients with CKD are predisposed to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) due to altered drug pharmacokinetics, glomerular filtration decline, and the potential disruption of the blood–brain barrier. ABs have been identified as a major cause of ADRs in vulnerable patient populations. This review examines the direct neurotoxic effects of AB classes (e.g. beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and metronidazole) on the central nervous system (CNS) in patients with CKD. We will mainly focus on the acute effects on the CNS associated with AB since they are the most extensively studied effects in CKD patients. Moreover, the review describes the modulation of the gut microbiota by ABs, potentially influencing CNS symptoms. The intricate brain–gut–kidney axis emerges as a pivotal focus, revealing the interplay between microbiota alterations induced by ABs and CNS manifestations in patients with CKD. The prevalence of antibiotic-associated encephalopathy in patients with CKD undergoing intravenous AB therapy supports the use of therapeutic drug monitoring for ABs to reduce the number and seriousness of ADRs in this patient population. In conclusion, elucidating AB-induced cognitive effects in patients with CKD demands a comprehensive understanding and tailored therapeutic strategies that account for altered pharmacokinetics and the brain–gut–kidney axis

Mechanisms behind variation in the Clostridium difficile 16S–23S rRNA intergenic spacer region

Clostridium difficile infection is an increasing problem in hospitals worldwide, mainly due to the recent emergence of a hypervirulent C. difficile strain. C. difficile PCR ribotyping, based on size variation of the 16S–23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (16S–23S ISR), is widely used in Europe for molecular epidemiological investigation. The mechanism underlying the 16S–23S ISR size variations in the genome of C. difficile is currently not completely understood. To elucidate this mechanism, isolates of six different PCR ribotypes were analysed by cloning and sequencing the 16S–23S ISR. A direct repeat, IB, of 9 bp was detected up to five times in the 16S–23S ISR in all 47 clones investigated. Thirty-five clones displayed differences either by ribotype or by nucleotide sequence. The sequences of the 16S–23S ISR of C. difficile showed a uniformly organized structure, composed of a tRNAAla gene and spacers of 33 and 53 bp separated by the 9 bp direct repeat IB. The results of the study support the hypothesis that this composition is responsible for the length variations seen in the 16S–23S ISR, and indicate that these length variations result from slipped-strand mispairing and intra- and possibly interchromosomal homologous recombination

Cognitive disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease:Approaches to prevention and treatment

Background: Cognitive impairment is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and early intervention may prevent the progression of this condition. Methods: Here, we review interventions for the complications of CKD (anemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, metabolic acidosis, harmful effects of dialysis, the accumulation of uremic toxins) and for prevention of vascular events, interventions that may potentially be protective against cognitive impairment. Furthermore, we discuss nonpharmacological and pharmacological methods to prevent cognitive impairment and/or minimize the latter's impact on CKD patients' daily lives. Results: A particular attention on kidney function assessment is suggested during work-up for cognitive impairment. Different approaches are promising to reduce cognitive burden in patients with CKD but the availabe dedicated data are scarce. Conclusions: There is a need for studies assessing the effect of interventions on the cognitive function of patients with CKD.</p

High Seroprevalence of Enterovirus Infections in Apes and Old World Monkeys

To estimate population exposure of apes and Old World monkeys in Africa to enteroviruses (EVs), we conducted a seroepidemiologic study of serotype-specific neutralizing antibodies against 3 EV types. Detection of species A, B, and D EVs infecting wild chimpanzees demonstrates their potential widespread circulation in primates

Cognitive disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease: specificities of clinical assessment

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Cognitive disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease: Approaches to prevention and treatment

Background: Cognitive impairment is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and early intervention may prevent the progression of this condition. Methods: Here, we review interventions for the complications of CKD (anemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, metabolic acidosis, harmful effects of dialysis, the accumulation of uremic toxins) and for prevention of vascular events, interventions that may potentially be protective against cognitive impairment. Furthermore, we discuss nonpharmacological and pharmacological methods to prevent cognitive impairment and/or minimize the latter's impact on CKD patients' daily lives. Results: A particular attention on kidney function assessment is suggested during work-up for cognitive impairment. Different approaches are promising to reduce cognitive burden in patients with CKD but the availabe dedicated data are scarce. Conclusions: There is a need for studies assessing the effect of interventions on the cognitive function of patients with CKD

Caractérisation de nouveaux médiateurs entre cancer, inflammation et thrombose : ADAMTS13, PSGL-1 et Siglec-5

Cancer and thrombosis are frequent and serious concerns in human pathology and public health. This conditions are known to share closed relationships, and reciprocal promotion involving cellular interactions and complex molecular mechanisms. Molecular pathways often involve hemostasis or immunity actors and participate in inflammation process, which can be either cause or consequence. Improved knowledge on molecular mediators at the crossroads of hemostasis and inflammation may allow best understanding of these mechanisms and improving therapeutic management.Thus, we studied Willebrand factor / ADAMTS13 couple : a key protein in hemostasis whose rate is influenced by inflammatory processes and its regulatory protease. This study in cancer patients shows that Willebrand factor and ADAMTS13 could be used as biomarkers to predict individual thrombosis risk and thus improve therapeutic management. Precise role of this proteins in cancer-mediated thrombosis remain unexplored.Furthermore, we hypothesized an interaction between two leukocyte receptors : PSGL-1(P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1) and Siglec-5. Leukocytes, especially neutrophils are recruited to inflammation sites after a key step of rolling along vasculature. PSGL-1 expressed on the majority of leukocytes is P-selectin ligand and plays a major role in leukocyte rolling. PSGL-1 has a structure rich in sialic acids. Siglec-5 is an immunoglobulin-like receptor and binds sialic acids. Thus, we described and characterized the interaction between these two proteins, and studied its role in leukocyte rolling in vitro and in vivo. Before considering any application, the modalities of this interaction should further analyzed (binding site, etc. ...) and its effect in other mechanism involving PSGL-1/P-selectin interaction like thrombus formation.La maladie cancéreuse et la maladie thrombotique sont des problématiques fréquentes et graves rencontrées en pathologie humaine et en santé publique. Elles ont une relation réciproque médiée par des interactions cellulaires et des mécanismes moléculaires complexes faisant intervenir des acteurs de l’hémostase et de l’immunité. Tout ou partie de ces phénomènes rendent en effet compte du processus d’inflammation et de réponse de l’organisme à l’agression. La caractérisation de certains médiateurs moléculaires ayant des rôles connus dans l’hémostase et l’inflammation peut nous permettre d’améliorer la compréhension de ces phénomènes et de proposer des pistes de réflexion diagnostiques ou thérapeutiques.Nous nous sommes donc intéressé au couple facteur Willebrand/ADAMTS13 : une protéine clé de l’hémostase dont le taux est influencé par les processus inflammatoires et sa protéase régulatrice. Cette étude menée chez des patients atteints de cancer nous a permis de montrer que l’utilisation de ces protéines comme des biomarqueurs peut améliorer la stratification du risque individuel de thrombose pour les patients et donc d’améliorer la prise en charge thérapeutique. Le rôle de ces protéines dans la physiopathologie de ces mécanismes reste à préciser.Par ailleurs, sur la base de connaissances structurelles, nous avons l’émis l’hypothèse d’une interaction entre deux récepteurs de la surface des leucocytes, cellules-clés de la réponse inflammatoire. En effet, PSGL-1 (P-sélectine glycoprotéine ligand 1), récepteur présent sur une grande partie des leucocytes est le ligand de la P-sélectine sur l’endothélium vasculaire et joue un rôle majeur dans le roulement des leucocytes permettant leur recrutement aux sites de l’inflammation. PSGL-1 a une structure riche en acides sialiques. Le Siglec-5 est quant à lui un récepteur de structure proche des immunoglobulines qui lie des acides sialiques. Nous avons donc décrit et caractérisé la liaison entre ces deux protéines, et étudié son rôle dans le roulement des leucocytes in vitro et in vivo. Avant d’envisager toute application, il reste bien sûr à caractériser plus précisément les modalités de cette interaction (site de liaison, etc…) et son effet dans d’autres mécanismes régulés par l’interaction PSGL-1/P-sélectine comme la formation du thrombus

Characterization of new mediators between cancer, inflammation and thrombosis : ADAMTS13 , PSGL -1 and Siglec -5

La maladie cancéreuse et la maladie thrombotique sont des problématiques fréquentes et graves rencontrées en pathologie humaine et en santé publique. Elles ont une relation réciproque médiée par des interactions cellulaires et des mécanismes moléculaires complexes faisant intervenir des acteurs de l’hémostase et de l’immunité. Tout ou partie de ces phénomènes rendent en effet compte du processus d’inflammation et de réponse de l’organisme à l’agression. La caractérisation de certains médiateurs moléculaires ayant des rôles connus dans l’hémostase et l’inflammation peut nous permettre d’améliorer la compréhension de ces phénomènes et de proposer des pistes de réflexion diagnostiques ou thérapeutiques.Nous nous sommes donc intéressé au couple facteur Willebrand/ADAMTS13 : une protéine clé de l’hémostase dont le taux est influencé par les processus inflammatoires et sa protéase régulatrice. Cette étude menée chez des patients atteints de cancer nous a permis de montrer que l’utilisation de ces protéines comme des biomarqueurs peut améliorer la stratification du risque individuel de thrombose pour les patients et donc d’améliorer la prise en charge thérapeutique. Le rôle de ces protéines dans la physiopathologie de ces mécanismes reste à préciser.Par ailleurs, sur la base de connaissances structurelles, nous avons l’émis l’hypothèse d’une interaction entre deux récepteurs de la surface des leucocytes, cellules-clés de la réponse inflammatoire. En effet, PSGL-1 (P-sélectine glycoprotéine ligand 1), récepteur présent sur une grande partie des leucocytes est le ligand de la P-sélectine sur l’endothélium vasculaire et joue un rôle majeur dans le roulement des leucocytes permettant leur recrutement aux sites de l’inflammation. PSGL-1 a une structure riche en acides sialiques. Le Siglec-5 est quant à lui un récepteur de structure proche des immunoglobulines qui lie des acides sialiques. Nous avons donc décrit et caractérisé la liaison entre ces deux protéines, et étudié son rôle dans le roulement des leucocytes in vitro et in vivo. Avant d’envisager toute application, il reste bien sûr à caractériser plus précisément les modalités de cette interaction (site de liaison, etc…) et son effet dans d’autres mécanismes régulés par l’interaction PSGL-1/P-sélectine comme la formation du thrombus.Cancer and thrombosis are frequent and serious concerns in human pathology and public health. This conditions are known to share closed relationships, and reciprocal promotion involving cellular interactions and complex molecular mechanisms. Molecular pathways often involve hemostasis or immunity actors and participate in inflammation process, which can be either cause or consequence. Improved knowledge on molecular mediators at the crossroads of hemostasis and inflammation may allow best understanding of these mechanisms and improving therapeutic management.Thus, we studied Willebrand factor / ADAMTS13 couple : a key protein in hemostasis whose rate is influenced by inflammatory processes and its regulatory protease. This study in cancer patients shows that Willebrand factor and ADAMTS13 could be used as biomarkers to predict individual thrombosis risk and thus improve therapeutic management. Precise role of this proteins in cancer-mediated thrombosis remain unexplored.Furthermore, we hypothesized an interaction between two leukocyte receptors : PSGL-1(P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1) and Siglec-5. Leukocytes, especially neutrophils are recruited to inflammation sites after a key step of rolling along vasculature. PSGL-1 expressed on the majority of leukocytes is P-selectin ligand and plays a major role in leukocyte rolling. PSGL-1 has a structure rich in sialic acids. Siglec-5 is an immunoglobulin-like receptor and binds sialic acids. Thus, we described and characterized the interaction between these two proteins, and studied its role in leukocyte rolling in vitro and in vivo. Before considering any application, the modalities of this interaction should further analyzed (binding site, etc. ...) and its effect in other mechanism involving PSGL-1/P-selectin interaction like thrombus formation

Maladie rénale chronique et troubles neurocognitifs

International audienceChronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 25% of people aged over 70 years. Cognitive impairment (CI) is frequent in patients with CKD and affects 30% to 60% of patients treated by hemodialysis. The link between CKD and CI is explained by common risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes, but also by CKD-specific risk factors through vascular, degenerative, and toxic mechanisms. In patients with non-dialyzed CKD, albuminuria is more strongly linked to CI occurrence than glomerular filtration rate. Vascular dementia is the main cause of CI in patients with CKD, but incidence of Alzheimer's disease has also been found higher in patients with end-stage of kidney disease than in the general population. Executive functions, orientation and attention are the most frequently affected cognitive domains in patients with CKD. Occurrence of CI in older patients with CKD could be prevented by controlling blood pressure or the use of anticoagulant drugs in case of atrial fibrillation, which is particularly frequent in patients with CKD, in order to prevent cerebrovascular lesions. Nephrological care could also influence the occurrence of neurological complications. Anticholinesterasic drugs and memantine should be used with caution in patients with CKD, because most of these drugs accumulates in case of low glomerular filtration rate. Due to the poor prognosis of patients with CI and end-stage of kidney disease treated by dialysis or kidney transplantation, a cognitive assessment should be proposed to older patients with severe CKD in order to discuss the initiation and the type of renal replacement therapy with both patients and caregive