Left ventricular geometry and the risk of heavy coronary artery calcification in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease: the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD).

Background: The association between abnormal left ventricular geometry (LVG) patterns and the presence of coronary artery calcification is unclear in patients with CKD.

Methods: A total of 2,038 patients with pre-dialysis CKD at stages 1 to 5 were categorized by LVG patterns, which were echocardiographically determined by the presence or absence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and relative wall thickness (RWT): normal, concentric remodeling, eccentric LVH, and concentric LVH. The study outcome was the presence of heavy coronary artery calcification, which is defined as coronary artery calcium score >1,000 Agatston units.

Impact of longer diabetes duration and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate on cardiovascular complications and mortality: A nationwide population-based study.

Background: Decreased renal function is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and death. However, the impact of diabetes duration and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) on cardiovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes has not been well studied.

Aim: To investigate the complex impact of longer diabetes duration and GFR on CVD and mortality.

Exercise intensity and the risk of end-stage renal disease in diabetes: A nationwide population-based study.

Background: Exercise plays a key role in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM), a major contributor to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a serious public health issue.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between exercise intensity, DM duration, and ESRD incidence.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 2495031 individuals with DM who underwent the Korean National Health Screening between 2015 and 2016, with follow-up through 2022.

Cytotoxic Lesions of the Corpus Callosum Preceding Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome in Hypernatremia and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State: A Case Report.

Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) is a rare neurological disorder associated with osmotic imbalances. Traditionally, ODS has been known to occur following the rapid correction of hyponatremia; however, ODS has also been reported concerning hypernatremia and hyperglycemia. Cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum (CLOCC), identified using transient magnetic resonance imaging, can arise from various causes, including drugs, vascular diseases, infections, and metabolic disturbances such as electrolyte imbalances and dysglycemia.

A Case of Cystinuria With Compound Heterozygous Mutations Both in and Genes.

Cystinuria is an autosomal recessively inherited genetic disorder, and is typically classified into type A, caused by mutations in , or type B, caused by mutations in . While the predominance of the genotypes varies among countries, due to lack of a large scale cohort, the characterization of mutations in or is still limited in East Asia. A 61-year-old male patient admitted to the department of nephrology, with a chief complaint of fever, chillness and left flank pain for a week.

Impact of diabetes duration and hyperglycemia on the progression of diabetic kidney disease: Insights from the KNHANES 2019-2021.

Background: Diabetes is a significant risk factor for chronic kidney disease, and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is prevalent among patients with diabetes. Previous studies have indicated that the duration of diabetes and poor glycemic control are associated with an increased risk of DKD, but data on how the duration and severity of hyperglycemia specifically relate to DKD progression are limited.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between diabetes duration and glycemic control, and DKD progression in South Korea.

Physical activity and the risk of dementia in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Several studies have reported that dementia has a high prevalence in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. However, the relationship between physical activity (PA) and the risk of dementia has not been elucidated for hemodialysis patients.

Methods: A total of 11,724 patients aged ≥40 years who started hemodialysis between 2012 and 2017 were identified from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.

Predictive Value of Serum Hepcidin Levels for the Risk of Incident End-Stage Kidney Disease in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: The KNOW-CKD.

Introduction: Despite the pivotal role of hepcidin in the development of anemia among the patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the association between serum hepcidin levels and CKD progression has been never investigated. We here hypothesized that elevation in serum hepcidin levels might be associated with the risk of incident end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) among the patients with pre-dialysis CKD.

Methods: A total of 2,109 patients with pre-dialysis CKD at stages 1 to pre-dialysis 5 were categorized into the quartiles by serum hepcidin levels.

Circulating osteoprotegerin and progression of coronary artery calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease: the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD).

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a surrogate of cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To establish the role of circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG) as a cardiovascular biomarker in patients with CKD, we investigated whether an increase in serum OPG levels is associated with the risk of CAC progression.

Methods: A total of 1,130 patients with CKD stage 1 to predialysis 5 were divided into quartiles according to serum OPG levels (Q1 to Q4).

Obesity is associated with incident chronic kidney disease in individuals with normal renal function.

Background/aims: Obesity has known to be a modifiable risk factor associated with worse outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but few studies have examined the impact of obesity on CKD incidence in the general population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) as predictors of incident CKD and to evaluate the impact of weight reduction on CKD prevention.

Methods: A total of 2,711 participants from a community-based cohort with normal renal function were prospectively analyzed.

Systematic metabolomics study in the serum and urine of a mouse model of Fabry disease.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal disorder caused by α-galactosidase A enzyme activity deficiency. Although glycosphingolipid analogs have been identified in the plasma or urine of patients with FD, there is a limited understanding of altered metabolomics profiles beyond the globotriaosylceramide accumulation in FD.

Methods: Metabolomics study was performed for monitoring of biomarker and altered metabolism related with disease progression in serum and urine from male α-galactosidase A knockout mice and age-matched wild-type mice at 20 and 40 weeks.

Early single session of hyperbaric oxygen therapy mitigates renal apoptosis in lipopolysaccharides-induced endotoxemia in rats.

Background: Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is a prominent sepsis complication, often resulting in adverse clinical outcomes. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), known for its anti-inflammatory characteristics, antioxidant effects, and ability to deliver high oxygen tension to hypo-perfused tissues, offers potential benefits for SA-AKI. This study investigated whether HBOT improved renal injury in sepsis and elucidated its underlying mechanisms.

A Case of Recurrent Renal Infarction Following Transient Resolution: Evidence From Serial Computed Tomography.

Although renal infarction (RI) is not a rare disease, its outcomes have not been well-documented. Furthermore, transient resolution and recurrence of RI have not been captured through imaging. We report a case of idiopathic RI that recurred within a short period following transient resolution, as demonstrated by serial computed tomography (CT).

Circulating osteoprotegerin levels and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease: results from the KNOW-CKD study.

While the relationship between circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG) and cardiovascular events is well-established in the general population, its association with cardiovascular risks in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients remains less robust. This study hypothesized that elevated circulating OPG levels might be associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in CKD patients, a total of 2,109 patients with CKD stages 1 through pre-dialysis 5 from the KNOW-CKD cohort were categorized into quartiles based on serum OPG levels. The primary outcome of the study was 3-point MACE, defined as a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiac death.

Circulating osteoprotegerin as a cardiac biomarker for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease: the KNOW-CKD study.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a major cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and diagnosis is challenging. Moreover, no specific biomarker for HFpEF has been validated in patients with CKD. The present study aimed to investigate the association between serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels and the risk of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), a surrogate of HFpEF, in patients with pre-dialysis CKD.

Fatal Hypermagnesemia in Patients Taking Magnesium Hydroxide.

Hypermagnesemia is a rare but potentially fatal electrolyte disorder often overlooked because of its unfamiliarity. Magnesium is regulated through a balance of bone, intestinal absorption, and renal excretion. Hypermagnesemia typically arises from excessive magnesium intake or reduced renal excretion; however, it also occurs in patients with normal kidney function.

Insulin resistance is associated with incident chronic kidney disease in population with normal renal function.

Background: Insulin resistance is prevalent in chronic kidney disease and may accelerate the progression of chronic kidney disease. This study aimed to investigate whether insulin resistance is associated with the development of incident chronic kidney disease in a population with normal renal function.

Methods: A total of 3,331 participants from a community-based cohort with normal renal function were prospectively analyzed.

Prognostic role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background/aims: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has a prognostic value in cardiovascular disease, infection, inflammatory disease, and several malignancies. Therefore, the NLR has a possible predictive value in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but this predictive value has not been validated. Here, we aimed to investigate the possibility of NLR as a predictor of CKD progression.

Uncontrolled hypertension is associated with increased risk of graft failure in kidney transplant recipients: a nationwide population-based study.

Backgroud: Hypertension is highly prevalent in patients with kidney transplantation caused by transplantation-related immunologic or non-immunologic risk factors. However, whether a strict definition of hypertension (≥130/80 mmHg) and subdivided blood pressure (BP) groups are associated with an increased risk of graft failure after kidney transplantation using a nationwide large cohort study are still unknown.

Methods: Using Korean National Health Insurance Service data, we included 14,249 patients who underwent kidney transplantation from 2002 to 2016.

Underweight status and development of end-stage kidney disease: A nationwide population-based study.

Background: Underweight status increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in the general population. However, whether underweight status is associated with an increased risk of developing end-stage kidney disease is unknown.

Methods: A total of 9 845 420 participants aged ≥20 years who underwent health checkups were identified from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database and analysed.

Role of APE1/Ref-1 in hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in human renal HK-2 cells.

Background: Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox factor-1 (APE1/Ref-1) is a multipotent protein that plays essential roles in cellular responses to oxidative stress.

Methods: To examine the role of APE1/Ref-1 in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced renal tubular apoptosis, we studied male C57BL6 mice and human proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells treated with H2O2 at different concentrations. The colocalization of APE1/Ref-1 in the proximal tubule, distal tubule, thick ascending limb, and collecting duct was observed with confocal microscopy.