Search

Aim The potential role of soluble α-klotho in diabetic kidney disease has not yet been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of plasma and/or urine α-klotho with the progression of type 2 diabetic nephropathy. Methods The baseline values of plasma and urine α-klotho were measured in 147 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≥60mL/min/1.73m 2 . In this prospective observational study, a total of 109 type 2 diabetic patients were followed up for 34months (8–50 months). Results Plasma α-klotho, but not urine α-klotho, was negatively correlated with the decline of eGFR ( r =−0.304, P =0.001; r =0.042, P =0.068, respectively). After adjusting for several clinical parameters, baseline eGFR and urine ACR, plasma α-klotho was significantly associated with the decline of eGFR ( r =−0.219, P =0.008). In the normoalbuminuria group (n=63), the plasma α-klotho remained significantly associated with a decline in eGFR ( r =0.324, P =0.004) in the final model. Conclusions It is suggested that plasma α-klotho may be an early biomarker for predicting renal impairment in type 2 diabetic patients. The disappearance of a compensatory increase of plasma α-klotho might be a predictive marker for the progression of type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Catheter-related exit site infection is a major risk factor for the development of peritonitis and can contribute to failure of treatment maintenance in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Although povidone-iodine can be used for exit site care, the irritation induced by the local application of povidone-iodine could lead to secondary infection. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical effectiveness of normal saline compared with povidone-iodine as a method of exit site care in chronic PD patients. Methods: In all, 126 patients undergoing PD treatment for>6 months between January 2006 and December 2009 were enrolled. Data were retrospectively analyzed for the incidence of exit site infection and peritonitis for 2 years prior to and after December 2007. In addition, we identified the incidences of catheter-related infections during follow-ups from January 2010 to December 2013. Results: The participants׳ mean age was 58.8±12.9 years. The incidences of exit site infection and peritonitis were one episode per 64.6 patients–months and one episode per 40.4 patients–months in the povidone-iodine group, respectively, whereas these were one episode per 57.5 patients–months and one episode per 45.6 patients–months in the normal saline group, respectively. Whereas Gram-positive bacteria most frequently caused catheter-related infections in both groups, culture-negative infections were dominant in the normal saline group. Conclusion: Exit site care using normal saline did not increase the incidence of exit site infection and peritonitis. Therefore, normal saline may be an alternative treatment for exit site care in patients receiving PD.

Background: Periodontitis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are important health issues; however, the association between periodontitis and CKD markers, especially in Korean adults, remains elusive. Methods: Data on 15,729 Korean adults were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys IV and V. The CKD markers included a decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR

Objectives Protein kinase casein kinase II (PKCK2) has multiple, overlapping roles in induction of apoptosis. Apoptosis can be a common pathway of renal injury caused by a nephrotoxic drug or an injury. We evaluated the role of PKCK2 in cyclosporine (CsA)-induced nephropathy in rats by inhibiting PKCK2 with emodin. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats fed a low-sodium diet were divided into four treatment groups: control (0.9% saline injection), CsA (15 mg/kg/d subcutaneously), CsA + emodin (CsA plus emodin 20 mg/kg/d subcutaneously), and emodin only. The expression levels of apoptosis-associated factors and of PKCK2 were examined by Western blot analysis. Results Overexpression of PKCK2 noted with CsA treatment was prevented by emodin, a low-molecular-weight PKCK2 inhibitor, which dampend drug-induced up-regulation phosphorylated p53 and activation of caspases 3, 7, and 8. In addition, emodin prevented increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio induced by CsA. Emodin prevented up-regulation of PKCK2 by CsA treatment, suggesting that its apoptotic-preventing activity was mediated via PKCK2. Conclusions Our findings indicated that PKCK2 may play a role in apoptotic injury associated with CsA-induced nephropathy in rats.

Background: Niacin supplementation improves dyslipidemia and lowers serum phosphorus levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We evaluated whether low-dose niacin supplementation can improve dyslipidemia, lower serum phosphorus levels, and be administered with a low frequency of adverse effects in patients with CKD. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of patients with CKD who had taken niacin from January 2009 to June 2011. We excluded patients with CKD stage 1 and 5. We then enrolled 31 patients with CKD who had taken niacin at a fixed dose of 500 mg/day for 6 months. We also randomly selected 30 patients with CKD who had been taking statin for 9 months as a control group. Results: Among the 34 patients with CKD who were prescribed niacin, five (14%) complained of adverse effects, and three (8%) discontinued niacin. The proportion of patients in the niacin group who had been taking a statin or omega-3 fatty acids was 67.7% and 48.8%, respectively. In the niacin group, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was significantly increased and triglyceride level was significantly decreased at 12 and 24 weeks compared with baseline levels (P

Vitamin D deficiency, low levels of fetuin-A, and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) are related to vascular calcification, which is associated with cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that omega-3 fatty acid (FA), which has cardioprotective properties, modifies vitamin D status, fetuin-A, and FGF-23 levels in dialysis patients. In a randomized, open-label, controlled study, a total of 47 patients treated with dialysis for at least 1 year were randomized to treatment for 6 months with omega-3 FAs (Omacor, 3 g/d; Pronova, Sandefjord, Norway) or a control group. Levels of fetuin-A and FGF-23 were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mean age of the enrolled patients was 57.4 ± 10.4 years, and mean dialysis duration was 46.5 ± 28.1 months. Twenty-seven hemodialysis patients and 16 peritoneal dialysis patients finished this trial. After 6 months, the levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and fetuin-A were significantly increased in the group taking the omega-3 FA supplement compared with baseline. Levels of calcium, phosphorous, parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, FGF-23, and lipid profiles were not significantly changed in the omega-3 FA-supplemented group after 6 months compared with baseline. The erythrocyte membrane contents of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were significantly increased, and oleic acid content was significantly decreased in the omega-3 FA-supplemented group after 6 months compared with baseline. Regarding vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease, omega-3 FA supplementation may have a clinical benefit caused by activating vitamin D, increasing fetuin-A levels, and modifying erythrocyte membrane FA contents in dialysis patients.

We have developed a new type of enzyme-based glucose biosensor based on a dye couple system. A concentration dependence of glucose on a test strip containing physically adsorbed glucose oxidase, peroxidase and dye couple have been optically measured. The application of this method permits the exploitation of the biosensor during a period of more than 300 days.

The effects of the complexation of a metal ion with an azacrown indoaniline (ACIA) dye on absorption spectra were evaluated using the Pariser–Parr–Pople (PPP-MO) method. The ACIA dye carrying a monoazacrown moiety exhibited sensitivity to metal ion complexation using an optical sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR). A multilayer sensing chip was prepared with the ACIA dye sensing layer coated on a gold layer. Using the ACIA dye as a metal ion sensing molecule, a highly selective response to Li+ was observed.

The complex formation of squarylium (SQ) and dithiosquarylium (DTSQ) dyes with Cu2+ and Ag+ was investigated spectrophotometrically. Their absorption spectra showed cation selective spectral intensity changes in the presence of specific metal ions in CH2Cl2–CH3CN due to cation complexing. Highly selective ion sensing film optodes for the determination of two kinds of ions, Cu2+and Ag+, were prepared with plasticized PVC–PVAc–PVA membranes containing the SQ or DTSQ dye.