Correlates of SARS-CoV-2 Breakthrough Infections in Kidney Transplant Recipients Following a Third SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine Dose.

Background: Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) exhibit a significantly diminished immune response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines compared with the general population, primarily due to ongoing immunosuppressive therapy. This study evaluated the immunogenicity of a third SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose in KTRs and assessed the association between antibody response and protection against SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection. Additionally, the clinical and immunological correlates of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection were examined.

A Nationwide Factorial Randomized Trial of Electronic Nudges to Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Their General Practices for Increasing Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy: The NUDGE-CKD Trial.

Background: Many individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face a considerable but modifiable risk of cardiovascular and renal outcomes because of suboptimal implementation of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). We investigated whether electronic letter-based nudges delivered to individuals with CKD and their general practices could increase GDMT uptake.

Methods: This was a nationwide 2×2 factorial implementation trial with randomization at the patient and general practice level and analyzed at the patient level.

Effect of Remote Ischemic Conditioning and Red Blood Cells Biomarkers on Outcomes in Patients With Acute Stroke.

Background: Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is a simple and low-cost intervention that is thought to increase collateral blood flow through the vasodilatory effects of nitric oxide (NO) produced by the endothelium and red blood cells (RBCs). The aim of this study was to investigate whether RBC form and function are associated with short- and long-term outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and whether RIC treatment modified this effect.

Methods And Results: This is a predefined substudy to the RESIST (Remote Ischemic Conditioning in Patients with Acute Stroke Trial) randomized clinical trial conducted in Denmark.

Rationale and design of NUDGE-CKD: A nationwide randomized factorial trial of electronic nudges for increasing guideline-directed medical therapy in chronic kidney disease.

Background: Treatment guidelines for chronic kidney disease (CKD) recommend sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) as first-line treatment for a broad range of individuals with CKD, alongside renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi). However, adoption of guidelines in clinical practice is often delayed, potentially leading to avoidable associated morbidity and mortality. Effective strategies are needed to improve implementation of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in patients with CKD.

The effects of empagliflozin on systemic haemodynamic function: three randomized, placebo-controlled trials.

Background: Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors lower blood pressure. The underlying mechanisms are multifactorial and include effects on vascular function. We examined the systemic hemodynamic effects of empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD) and in patients with nondiabetic CKD.

Nutritional assessment of patients in haemodialysis by bioimpedance spectroscopy and BMI.

Introduction: Dialysis patients carry an increased risk of malnutrition, which is often defined by BMI. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the quality of BMI as a marker of nutritional status in haemodialysis (HD) patients by comparing BMI to body composition measurements from bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS).

Methods: This observational study included 85 patients receiving chronic HD in 2021 at the Dialysis Clinic, Gødstrup Hospital, Denmark.

Renal clearance estimated by rubidium-82 positron emission tomography/computed tomography and technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine clearance infusion technique.

Background: Although numerous techniques exist for renal blood flow (RBF) estimation, none of the methods have been implemented in routine clinical practice due to their inadequacies and burdensomeness. Previously, we evaluated rubidium-82 (Rb) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for renal perfusion determination and found strong indications of method precision and reliability. The aim of this study was to compare renal Rb clearance with renal technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine ([Tc]Tc-MAG3) clearance as a first attempt to validate Rb PET/CT for renal perfusion estimation using a reference method.

Effect of Remote Ischemic Conditioning on the Form and Function of Red Blood Cells in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is a simple and low-cost intervention that is thought to increase collateral blood flow through the vasodilatory effects of nitric oxide (NO) produced by the endothelium and red blood cells (RBCs). This study aims to investigate whether RIC affects RBC deformability and levels of NO and nitrite in patients with ischemic stroke.

Methods: This is a predefined substudy to the RESIST (Remote Ischemic Conditioning in Patients With Acute Stroke Trial) randomized clinical trial conducted in Denmark.

Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial on the Renal and Systemic Hemodynamic Effects of Empagliflozin.

Introduction: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). A decrease in renal blood flow (RBF) with attenuation of glomerular hyperfiltration may contribute. We examined renal and systemic hemodynamic effects of SGLT2i in relevant patient categories.

SGLT2 inhibition improves endothelium-independent vasodilatory function in type 2 diabetes: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial.

Aims: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of empagliflozin on endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation and systemic hemodynamic parameters and to assess the role of the nitric oxide (NO) system in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Materials And Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled cross over trial, patients with T2DM were treated with either empagliflozin 10 mg or matching placebo for 4 weeks. Following a 2-week washout, participants were crossed over to 4 weeks of the opposite treatment.

Mannan-Binding Lectin Is Associated with Inflammation and Kidney Damage in a Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes.

Autoreactivity of the complement system may escalate the development of diabetic nephropathy. We used the BTBR OB mouse model of type 2 diabetes to investigate the role of the complement factor mannan-binding lectin (MBL) in diabetic nephropathy. Female BTBR OB mice ( = 30) and BTBR non-diabetic WT mice ( = 30) were included.

Self-Performed Dietary Sodium Reduction and Blood Pressure in Patients With Essential Hypertension: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease worldwide. Patients with blood pressure (BP) response to dietary sodium reduction are referred to as "salt sensitive." Salt sensitivity (SS) might be due to differences in sodium storage capacity and the erythrocyte SS examines this capacity of the red blood cells.

Effects of Empagliflozin in Type 2 Diabetes With and Without Chronic Kidney Disease and Nondiabetic Chronic Kidney Disease: Protocol for 3 Crossover Randomized Controlled Trials (SiRENA Project).

Background: Sodium-glucose-cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have revolutionized the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), reducing the risk of cardiovascular and renal end points by up to 40%. The underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.

Objective: The study aims to examine the effects of empagliflozin versus placebo on renal hemodynamics, sodium balance, vascular function, and markers of the innate immune system in patients with DM2, DM2 and CKD, and nondiabetic CKD.

Dietary sodium restriction reduces blood pressure in patients with treatment resistant hypertension.

Purpose: Patients with treatment resistant hypertension (TRH) are at particular risk of cardiovascular disease. Life style modification, including sodium restriction, is an important part of the treatment of these patients. We aimed to analyse if self-performed dietary sodium restriction could be implemented in patients with TRH and to evaluate the effect of this intervention on blood pressure (BP).

Screening for hypertension in adults - the use of tonometric blood pressure monitoring.

Objectives: Arterial hypertension increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Reliable screening tools for diagnosing hypertension are important to ensure correct risk stratification of subjects. In this study, we aimed to analyse if a wrist-worn device using a tonometric technique for measuring of 24-hour blood pressure could be used to diagnose hypertension and non-dipping.

A systematic evaluation of five different image-derived input functions for the clinical implementation of F-NaF bone PET/CT in patients with chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the use of varying input parameters on resulting bone plasma clearance ( ) and other kinetic modelling parameters in a group of patients with chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD).

Methods: Raw PET/CT data and blood data were systematically analyzed using five different VOIs for the input functions in the left ventricle and in the thoracic aorta. Standardized VOIs were placed in four thoracic vertebrae and the results pooled and averaged.

Reliability of rubidium-82 PET/CT for renal perfusion determination in healthy subjects.

Background: Changes in renal perfusion may play a pathophysiological role in hypertension and kidney disease, however to date, no method for renal blood flow (RBF) determination in humans has been implemented in clinical practice. In a previous study, we demonstrated that estimation of renal perfusion based on a single positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan with Rubidium-82 (Rb) is feasible and found an approximate 5% intra-assay coefficient of variation for both kidneys, indicative of a precise method.This study's aim was to determine the day-to day variation of Rb PET/CT and to test the method's ability to detect increased RBF induced by infusion of amino acids.

Chemosensory function and food preferences among haemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Malnutrition and disturbed sense of smell and taste frequently occur in patients treated with chronic haemodialysis. The common denominator between chemosensation and nutrition may be food preferences. Our aim was to investigate smell and taste function as well as food preferences among haemodialysis patients and compare the results with those of age-matched controls.

Urothelial Carcinoma in an Allograft kidney.

Patients who have been kidney transplanted have an increased risk of developing cancer. This case report presents a rarely described case in which a patient, who had received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor, was diagnosed with disseminated urothelial carcinoma originating from the allograft. After the removal of the allograft and the immunosuppressive treatment, there was regression in the cancer.

Bone Turnover, Mineralization, and Volume Estimated by 18F-Sodium Fluoride PET/CT and Biomarkers in Chronic Kidney Disease: Mineral and Bone Disorder Compared with Bone Biopsy.

Introduction: Invasive bone biopsy to assess bone metabolism in patients with chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder may be replaced by the noninvasive 18F-NaF PET/CT and biomarkers of bone metabolism. We aimed to compare parameters of bone turnover, mineralization, and volume assessed by bone biopsies with results derived from 18F-NaF PET/CT and biomarkers (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, fibroblast growth factor 23, and osteoprotegerin).

Methods: A cross-sectional study included 17 dialysis patients, and results from 18F-NaF PET/CT scans and the biomarkers were directly compared with the results of histomorphometric analyses of tetracycline double-labeled trans-iliac bone biopsies.

Renal Artery Stenting in Consecutive High-Risk Patients With Atherosclerotic Renovascular Disease: A Prospective 2-Center Cohort Study.

Background The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the effects of renal artery stenting in consecutive patients with severe atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and high-risk clinical presentations as defined in a national protocol developed in 2015. Methods and Results Since the protocol was initiated, 102 patients have been referred for revascularization according to the following high-risk criteria: severe renal artery stenosis (≥70%) with true resistant hypertension, rapidly declining kidney function, or recurrent heart failure/sudden pulmonary edema. At baseline, the mean 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure was 166.

Technetium-99m-MAG3 and technetium-99m-DTPA: Renal clearance measured by the constant infusion technique - Old news?

Background: Accurate, precise and straightforward methods for measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and/or renal plasma flow (RPF) are still in demand today. The time-consuming constant infusion technique (CIT) is the gold standard and preferred for research, whereas the simple, but less precise, single injection technique (SIT) is used in clinical settings. This study investigated the use of Tc-DTPA and Tc-MAG by CIT as a measure of renal function.

Hemodynamic, renal and hormonal effects of lung protective ventilation during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, analysis of secondary outcomes from a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Lung protective ventilation with low tidal volume (TV) and increased positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) can have unfavorable effects on the cardiovascular system. We aimed to investigate whether lung protective ventilation has adverse impact on hemodynamic, renal and hormonal variables.

Methods: In this randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 24 patients scheduled for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy were included.