The impact of body mass index on mortality according to age in hemodialysis patients: an analysis of the Korean Renal Data System.

The impact of age on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients is not clearly understood. Using data from the Korean Renal Data System (2001-2022), we analyzed 66,129 HD patients, stratified into young (<65 years, n = 24,589), younger-old (65-74 years, n = 17,732), and older-old (≥75 years, n = 23,808) groups. Patients were categorized into BMI quartiles, and survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves and event time ratios for the relative change in the survival time.

Mortality in patients receiving renal replacement therapy in South Korea.

Background: This study analyzed data from the end-stage renal disease patient registry collected by the Korean Society of Nephrology to explore trends in mortality among dialysis patients from 2001 to 2022.

Methods: Mortality was analyzed in two ways: firstly, using the annual mortality rate; and secondly, by assessing survivability after a certain period of time since the initiation of dialysis. Additionally, we categorized the causes of death by disease group annually to observe how the proportions changed.

Trends in clinical outcomes of older hemodialysis patients: data from the 2023 Korean Renal Data System (KORDS).

With an increasing aging population, the mean age of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is globally increasing. However, the current clinical status of elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) is rarely reported in Korea. The current study analyzed the clinical features and trends of older patients undergoing HD from the Korean Renal Data System (KORDS) database.

Status and trends in epidemiologic characteristics of diabetic end-stage renal disease: an analysis of the 2021 Korean Renal Data System.

Korean Renal Data System (KORDS) is a nationwide end-stage renal disease (ESRD) registry database operated by the Korean Society of Nephrology (KSN). Diabetes mellitus is currently the leading cause of ESRD in Korea; this article provides an update on the trends and characteristics of diabetic ESRD patients. The KORDS Committee of KSN collects data on dialysis centers and patients through an online registry program.

Multi-Organ Relapse following COVID-19 in Myeloperoxidase-Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis: A Case Report.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a complex systemic autoimmune disease characterized by small vessel vasculitis. Typically, the relapse rate is lower in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) than in those with chronic kidney disease, prior to dialysis. Here, we report a rare case of multi-organ relapse in a patient with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-AAV who underwent hemodialysis following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The paradoxical effect of aldosterone on cardiovascular outcome in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Background: Patients with end-stage kidney disease face increased risk of cardiovascular events, and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) contributes to the high occurrence of cardiovascular mortality (CM). Although a high serum aldosterone (sALD) level is involved in the development of cardiovascular complications in the general population, this association is unclear in patients undergoing hemodialysis. We aimed to determine the impact of sALD on LVDD and CM among hemodialysis patients (HDPs).

Association between copeptin levels and treatment responses to hypertonic saline infusion in patients with symptomatic hyponatremia: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Copeptin is secreted in equimolar amounts as arginine vasopressin, main hormone regulating body fluid homeostasis. A recent study reported a copeptin-based classification of osmoregulatory defects in syndromes of inappropriate antidiuresis that may aid in prediction of therapeutic success. We investigated usefulness of copeptin for differentiating etiologies of hyponatremia and predicting efficacy and safety of hypertonic saline treatment in hyponatremic patients.

Clinical significance of central systolic blood pressure in LV diastolic dysfunction and CV mortality.

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the major cause of death in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction reflects LV pressure overload and is common in patients with ESKD. Recently, there have been studies on the usefulness of central blood pressure (BP); however, the relationship between central BP and LV diastolic dysfunction is not clear in dialysis patients with preserved systolic function.

Changes in duplex ultrasound parameters during maturation according to arteriovenous access types in incident hemodialysis patients.

Background: Little is known about the changes in hemodynamic parameters during arteriovenous (AV) access maturation using duplex ultrasound according to radiocephalic fistula (RCF), brachiocephalic fistula (BCF), and AV graft (AVG) in incident hemodialysis (HD) patient. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes and differences in brachial artery flow rate (BAFR) and related parameters affecting maturation by duplex ultrasound in incident HD patients according to access type.

Methods: This study was an observational study conducted from March 2019 to October 2020.

Custom-made Doppler ultrasound flow simulator for dialysis access using continuous renal replacement therapy machine.

The purpose of this article was to introduce an easy and inexpensive way of making a simulator for training in Doppler ultrasound flow rate measurement using a continuous renal replacement therapy machine and home-made phantoms. A Doppler ultrasound flow simulator was made using a continuous renal replacement therapy machine and vascular phantoms for flow rate assessment of dialysis access with readily accessible components including rubber tube, keyboard cleaning gel, and freeze-dried instant coffee granules. The simulator is an affordable and easy method of Doppler ultrasound flow rate measurement training for dialysis staff using materials readily available in dialysis centers.

Malnutrition, inflammation, progression of vascular calcification and survival: Inter-relationships in hemodialysis patients.

Background And Aims: Malnutrition and inflammation are closely linked to vascular calcification (VC), the severity of which correlate with adverse outcome. However, there were few studies on the interplay between malnutrition, inflammation and VC progression, rather than VC presence per se. We aimed to determine the relationship of malnutrition, inflammation, abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) progression with survival in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Serum alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transferase in acute pyelonephritis.

Background: Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) and γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) are commonly observed in patients with acute pyelonephritis. The goal of this study was to examine the clinical significance of elevated serum AP and γ-GT levels and to explore the mechanisms underlying these changes.

Methods: We examined serum AP and γ-GT levels in 438 patients with acute pyelonephritis.

Prediction of vascular access stenosis: Blood temperature monitoring with the Twister versus static intra-access pressure ratio.

Background: The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines recommend intra-access flow (Qa) measurement as the preferred vascular access surveillance method over static intra-access pressure ratio (SIAPR). Recently, it has become possible to perform Qa measurement during hemodialysis using thermodilution method called blood temperature monitoring (BTM) with the Twister device. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between Qa by BTM and SIAPR and to compare the performance of two tests in prediction of vascular access stenosis.

Anatomical variants of upper arm veins on preoperative mapping venography for hemodialysis access in Korean adults.

Introduction: The number of elderly patients requiring hemodialysis has increased, along with the need for multiple vascular access placements. Thus, the frequency of access creation using the upper arm veins, including transposed basilic arteriovenous fistula, has also increased. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of anatomical variations in the upper arm veins on preoperative mapping venography and to investigate the implications of such variants on access creation.

The relationship between autophagy, increased neutrophil extracellular traps formation and endothelial dysfunction in chronic kidney disease.

In chronic kidney disease (CKD), the number of circulating neutrophils are increased, and this is usually accompanied by an increased basal activation state. However, the possible association between neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) with vascular complications has not been evaluated. We assessed the relationship between NETs, autophagy and endothelial dysfunction in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.

Adiponectin receptor agonist AdipoRon decreased ceramide, and lipotoxicity, and ameliorated diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Adiponectin is known to take part in the regulation of energy metabolism. AdipoRon, an orally-active synthetic adiponectin agonist, binds to both adiponectin receptors (AdipoR)1/R2 and ameliorates diabetic complications. Among the lipid metabolites, the ceramide subspecies of sphingolipids have been linked to features of lipotoxicity, including inflammation, cell death, and insulin resistance.

Leptin, pre-existing vascular disease, and increased arteriovenous fistula maturation failure in dialysis patients.

Background: The adipocytokine leptin is an independent cardiovascular risk factor and exerts proatherogenic effect. Pre-existing vascular disease is an important cause of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation failure. We explored the association between serum leptin, pre-existing vascular disease, and AVF maturation failure in incident hemodialysis patients.

Resveratrol increases AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression in type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Adiponectin has multiple functions including insulin sensitization, anti-inflammation and antiatherogenesis in various organs. Adiponectin activates 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α via the adiponectin receptor (AdipoR) 1 and 2, which are critical for regulating lipids and glucose homeostasis and for controlling oxidative stress. We investigated whether resveratrol can inhibit renal damage in type 2 diabetic db/db mice and the underlying mechanisms of its effects.

Fenofibrate improves renal lipotoxicity through activation of AMPK-PGC-1α in db/db mice.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α, a lipid-sensing transcriptional factor, serves an important role in lipotoxicity. We evaluated whether fenofibrate has a renoprotective effect by ameliorating lipotoxicity in the kidney. Eight-week-old male C57BLKS/J db/m control and db/db mice, divided into four groups, received fenofibrate for 12 weeks.

Relationship between cognitive impairment and depression in dialysis patients.

Purpose: Patients with chronic kidney disease frequently show cognitive dysfunction. The association of depression and cognitive function is not well known in maintenance dialysis patients. We evaluated cognitive impairment and depression, as well as their relationship in regards to methods of dialysis, maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD).