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Physical performance of kidney transplanted patients in challenging environments, such as deserts, has been poorly studied. Six kidney transplanted (T: 5 males, 1 female; 45±6 yrs) and 8 control (C: 5 males, 3 females; 49±13 yrs) subjects participated in a 5-day desert trek. Blood pressure, hydration status (Height2/Rz by bioimpedance), heart rate, energy expenditure (by SenseWear Pro Armband) and walking velocities were recorded during each daily trekking stage (GPS-assisted wearable devices). Systo-diastolic blood pressure did not differ between C (119/77±12/8 mmHg) and T (121/77±10/6 mmHg) groups throughout the study. The hydration status was stable from day 1 (Ht2/Rz: 64±13 cm2/Ohm in T and 59±12 cm2/Ohm in C subjects) to day 5 (66±11 cm2/Ohm in T and 61±13 cm2/Ohm in C subjects) in both groups. Two patients on steroid treatment showed a relative hyperhydration. Mean heart rate did not differ between T (135±10 bpm) and C (136±5 bpm) subjects throughout the study, although a reduction from day 1 to day 5 was observed in T subjects only (p 55 ml/min showed acceptable physical performance and acclimatization to desert environment, suggesting a good long-term outcome of transplantation

Background and Objectives: Hemodialysis patients (HD) and kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) have been heavily impacted by COVID-19, showing increased risk of infection, worse clinical outcomes, and higher mortality rates than the general population. Although mass vaccination remains the most successful measure in counteracting the pandemic, less evidence is available on vaccine effectiveness in immunodepressed subjects previously infected and recovered from COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This study aimed at investigating the ability to develop an adequate antibody response after vaccination in a 2-dose series against SARS-CoV-2 in HD patients and KTR that was administered after laboratory and clinical recovery from COVID-19. Results: Comparing SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG levels measured before and after 2 doses of mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2 vaccine, Comirnaty, Pfizer–BioNTech or mRNA-1273 vaccine, Spikevax, Moderna), highly significant increases of antibody titers were observed. The antibody peak level was reached at 3 months following second dose administration, regardless of the underlying cause of immune depression and the time of pre-vaccine serology assessment after negativization. Conclusions: Our data indicate that HD patients and KTR exhibit a satisfying antibody response to a 2-dose series of mRNA vaccine, even in cases when infection-induced humoral immunity was poor or rapidly fading. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of booster doses in conferring effective and durable protection in weak patient categories.

Many studies reported a higher risk of COVID-19 disease among patients on dialysis or with kidney transplantation, and the poor outcome of COVID-19 in these patients. Patients in conservative management for chronic kidney disease (CKD) have received attention only recently, therefore less is known about how COVID-19 affects this population. The aim of this study was to provide evidence on COVID-19 incidence and mortality in CKD patients followed up in an integrated healthcare program and in the population living in the same catchment area. The study population included CKD patients recruited in the Emilia-Romagna Prevention of Progressive Renal Insufficiency (PIRP) project, followed up in the 4 nephrology units (Ravenna, Forlì, Cesena and Rimini) of the Romagna Local Health Authority (Italy) and alive at 1.01.2020. We estimated the incidence of COVID-19, its related mortality and the excess mortality within this PIRP cohort as of 31.07.2020. COVID-19 incidence in CKD patients was 4.09% (193/4,716 patients), while in the general population it was 0.46% (5,195/1,125,574). The crude mortality rate among CKD patients with COVID-19 was 44.6% (86/193), compared to 4.7% (215/4,523) in CKD patients without COVID-19. The excess mortality of March-April 2020 was +69.8% than the average mortality of March-April 2015–19 in the PIRP cohort. In a cohort mostly including regularly followed up CKD patients, the incidence of COVID-19 among CKD patients was strongly related to the spread of the infection in the community, while its lethality is associated with the underlying kidney condition and comorbidities. COVID-19 related mortality was about ten times higher than that of CKD patients without COVID. For this reason, it is urgent to offer a direct protection to CKD patients by prioritizing their vaccination.

Background: Despite the benefits of physical activity on cardiovascular risk in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), the long-term effects of exercise have been poorly investigated. This is a three-year observational study comparing graft function and cardiovascular risk factors in active KTRs (AKTRs) vs. sedentary KTRs (SKTRs). Methods: KTRs with stable renal function were assigned to active or sedentary group in relation to the level of daily physical activity based on World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations (&lt, 150 or &gt, 150 minutes/week, respectively). Complete blood count, renal function indices, lipid profile, blood pressure and anthropometric measures were collected yearly for an observation period of three years. The comparisons between the two groups were performed by repeated measures analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs), with age as a covariate. Results: Fifty-four subjects were included in the study. Thirty of them were identified as AKTRs (M/F 26/4, aged 45 &plusmn, 12 years) and 24 as SKTRs (M/F 18/6, aged 51 &plusmn, 14 years). Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups except body mass index (BMI) that was significantly higher in SKTRs (p = 0.043). Furthermore, over the three-year observation period, BMI decreased in AKTRs and increased in SKTRs (p = 0.006). Graft function was stable in AKTRs, while it showed a decline over time in SKTRs, as indicated by the rise in serum creatinine levels (p = 0.006) and lower eGFR (p = 0.050). Proteinuria, glucose and uric acid levels displayed a decrease in AKTRs and an increase in SKTRs during the three-year period (p = 0.015, p = 0.004 and p = 0.013, respectively). Finally, concerning lipid profiles, AKTRs had a significant reduction over time of triglycerides levels, which conversely showed a clinically relevant increase in SKTRs (p = 0.014). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that regular weekly exercise training may counteract the increased cardiovascular risks and also prevent graft function decline in KTRs.

Background Following the positive experience of the national project “A transplant...and now it’s time for sport,” the Transplant Reference Center of the Emilia-Romagna Region has pursued the promotion of pre- and post-transplant physical exercise by developing a network. Methods The path involved the transplant centers and operative units (UU.OO) who wanted to target transplant and waiting list patients, who are clinically stable, to perform personalized exercise through a program (supervised or not) prescribed by a specialist in sports medicine. With the collaboration of the Collective Prevention and Public Health Service, the network was established, consisting of the sports medicine centers and the gyms that promote health for adapted physical activity (PS-AMA). To implement the network, training courses for all the professionals involved (doctors, nurses, exercise specialists) and operational meetings in the transplant centers-nephrology units with patients’ associations have been organized. Results To date, there are 14 transplant centers and UU.OO, 9 sports medicine centers, and 45 PS-AMA involved in this network. Seven training courses were organized with the participation of 193 health professionals. Since January 2016, there have been 65 transplanted patients and 5 patients on the waiting list who practice the prescribed exercise. Of these, 45 carry out supervised exercise in PS-AMA; 25 perform autonomous exercise. Each patient is monitored every 6 months. No problems related to the exercise performance were recorded. Conclusions The development of a network of professionals and associations is the key element to raise awareness of physical activity among transplanted and waiting-for-transplant patients, reducing the pathologies associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

Background/Aims: The role of physical activity in transplanted patients is often underestimated. We discuss the Italian National Transplant Centre experience, which started in 2008 studying transplanted patients involved in sports activities. The study was then developed through a model of cooperation between surgeons, sports physicians and exercise specialists. Methods: A multicentre study was realized in 120 transplanted patients of which 60 treated with supervised physical activity (three sessions/week of aerobic and strengthening exercises) and 60 controls. We present the results of the first 26 patients (16 males, 10 females; 47.8±10.0 years; 21 kidney, 5 liver transplanted; time from transplant 2.3±1.4 years) who completed 12 months of supervised physical activity. Results: Data showed an increase of peak aerobic power (t=4.535; PConclusion: These preliminary results confirm the positive effects of supervised physical exercise. It can be considered as an input to promote other detailed exercise protocols.

The PIRP project was conceived in 2004; with the aim to face the increased prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with the aging and increased survival of the population. The first phase of the project consisted of training primary care physicians to identify people at risk of CKD and to implement intervention strategies that proved to be effective in preventing CKD it or delaying its progression once it is established. In the second phase of the project, dedicated ambulatories were opened in the nephrology units of Emilia-Romagna hospitals to provide an in-depth assessment and personalized care to CKD patients, following them up until renal failure or death or referring them back to general practitioners, according to the study protocol. A web-based registry was implemented to collect demographic and clinical data on PIRP patients. As of 30 June 2018, the registry included 26.211 CKD patients, with a median follow-up of 24.5 months. Over the 14 years of the PIRP the mean age of incident patients increased from 71.0 years to 74.2 years and the mean eGFR increased from 30.56 to 36.52 mL/min/1.73 m ², proving that the project was successful in recruiting older patients with a better renal function. At 5 years, the percentage of patients still active in the project was =45%.The implementation of the project has seen a reduction in the number of patients arriving every year to the dialysis treatment in E-R (about 100 units less from 2006 to 2016). The PIRP cohort is the largest in Italy and in Europe, which makes it ideal for research based on international comparisons and as a model for national registries.