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Background In southern Europe, the risk of cancer in patients with end-stage kidney disease receiving dialysis has not been well quantified. The aim of this study was to assess the overall pattern of risk for de novo malignancies (DNMs) among dialysis patients in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, north-eastern Italy. Methods A population-based cohort study among 3407 dialysis patients was conducted through a record linkage between local healthcare databases and the cancer registry (1998–2013). Person-years (PYs) were calculated from 30 days after the date of first dialysis to the date of DNM diagnosis, kidney transplant, death, last follow-up or December 31, 2013, whichever came first. The risk of DNM, as compared to the general population, was estimated using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results During 10,798 PYs, 357 DNMs were diagnosed in 330 dialysis patients. A higher than expected risk of 1.3-fold was found for all DNMs combined (95% CI: 1.15–1.43). The risk was particularly high in younger dialysis patients (SIR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.42–2.45 for age 40–59 years), and it decreased with age. Moreover, significantly increased DNM risks emerged during the first 3 years since dialysis initiation, especially within the first year (SIR = 8.52, 95% CI: 6.89–10.41). Elevated excess risks were observed for kidney (SIR = 3.18; 95% CI: 2.06–4.69), skin non-melanoma (SIR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.46–2.22), oral cavity (SIR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.36–4.00), and Kaposi’s sarcoma (SIR = 10.29, 95% CI: 1.25–37.16). Conclusions The elevated risk for DNM herein documented suggest the need to implement a targeted approach to cancer prevention and control in dialysis patients.

We investigated the role of vitamin D in the risk of tuberculosis (TB) among patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The retrospective cohort was conducted with data of 20,985 patients with kidney disease and 20,985 controls without kidney disease (1:1 matching on age of cohort entry and sex) in the duration of 1997–2010 from the Taiwan National Health insurance database. Then, by a case–cohort study, among 20,985 kidney disease, 3194 ESKD patients were identified with matched 3194 non-ESKD patients. Multivariate analyses revealed a significant association between kidney disease and tuberculosis (adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.57 (1.33–1.86)), and the risk increased after 3 years of follow-up the (adjusted IRR 3.79 (2.55–5.62)), but after more years of follow-up no significance was observed. We also found that ESKD increases the risk of tuberculosis (adjusted IRR 3.67 (2.27–5.93)). However, vitamin D usage was not related with the tuberculosis risk in ESKD patients (p > 0.1783). Our study showed increased risk of tuberculosis in kidney disease and ESKD patients, and vitamin D was not beneficial in ESKD.

Aims/hypothesisSome studies have reported that annual change in eGFR (eGFR slope) is associated with the future risk of end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and death in general or chronic kidney disease cohorts. However, the benefits of using eGFR slopes for prediction of major clinical outcomes in diabetes are unclear.MethodsWe used data from the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron MR Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) trial and the ADVANCE Post-Trial Observational Study (ADVANCE-ON). After excluding the first 4 months during which an acute fall in eGFR was induced by the initiation of an ACE inhibitor and diuretic combination agent, eGFR slopes were estimated by linear mixed models, using three measurements of eGFR at 4, 12 and 24 months after randomisation over 20 months, and categorised according to quartiles. Cox regression models were used to evaluate adjusted HRs for the study’s primary outcome, a composite of major renal events, major macrovascular events and all-cause mortality during the subsequent follow-up from 24 months after randomisation.ResultsA total of 8,879 participants (80%) were included in this cohort. The mean age was 65.6 years (SD 6.3), the mean eGFR was 75 ml min−1 (1.73 m)−2 (SD 17) and the median urinary albumin/creatinine ratio was 14 μg/mg (interquartile range 7–38). The mean eGFR slope was −0.63 ml min−1 (1.73 m)−2 year−1 (SD 1.75). Over a median follow-up of 7.6 years following the 20-month eGFR slope ascertainment period, 2,221 participants (25%) met the primary outcome. An annual substantial decrease in eGFR (lowest 25%, <−1.63 ml min−1 [1.73 m]−2 year−1) was significantly associated with the subsequent risk of the primary outcome (HR 1.30 [95% CI 1.17, 1.43]) compared with a stable change in eGFR (middle 50%, −1.63 to 0.33). An annual substantial increase in eGFR (highest 25%, >0.33) had no significant association with the risk of the primary outcome (HR 0.96 [95% CI 0.86, 1.07]).Conclusions/interpretationOur study supports the utility of eGFR slope in type 2 diabetes as a surrogate endpoint for renal outcomes, as well as a prognostic factor for identifying individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.Trial registry numberClinicalTrials.gov registration no. NCT00145925 and no. NCT00949286

With the rapid development of medicine and technology, machine learning (ML) techniques are extensively applied to medical informatics and the suboptimal health field to identify critical predictor variables and risk factors. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are important risk factors for many comorbidities and complications. Existing studies that utilize different statistical or ML algorithms to perform CKD data analysis mostly analyze the early-stage subjects directly, but few studies have discussed the predictive models and important risk factors for the stage-III CKD high-risk health screening population. The middle stages 3a and 3b of CKD indicate moderate renal failure. This study aims to construct an effective hybrid important risk factor evaluation scheme for subjects with MetS and CKD stages III based on ML predictive models. The six well-known ML techniques, namely random forest (RF), logistic regression (LGR), multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), gradient boosting with categorical features support (CatBoost), and a light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), were used in the proposed scheme. The data were sourced from the Taiwan health examination indicators and the questionnaire responses of 71,108 members between 2005 and 2017. In total, 375 stage 3a CKD and 50 CKD stage 3b CKD patients were enrolled, and 33 different variables were used to evaluate potential risk factors. Based on the results, the top five important variables, namely BUN, SBP, Right Intraocular Pressure (R-IOP), RBCs, and T-Cho/HDL-C (C/H), were identified as significant variables for evaluating the subjects with MetS and CKD stage 3a or 3b.

The vascular endothelium is a dynamic, functionally complex organ, modulating multiple biological processes, including vascular tone and permeability, inflammatory responses, thrombosis, and angiogenesis. Endothelial dysfunction is a threat to the integrity of the vascular system, and it is pivotal in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD), with this disturbance being almost universal in patients who reach the most advanced phase of CKD, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Low NO bioavailability in CKD depends on several mechanisms affecting the expression and the activity of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Accumulation of endogenous inhibitors of eNOS, inflammation and oxidative stress, advanced glycosylation products (AGEs), bone mineral balance disorders encompassing hyperphosphatemia, high levels of the phosphaturic hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), and low levels of the active form of vitamin D (1,25 vitamin D) and the anti-ageing vasculoprotective factor Klotho all impinge upon NO bioavailability and are critical to endothelial dysfunction in CKD. Wide-ranging multivariate interventions are needed to counter endothelial dysfunction in CKD, an alteration triggering arterial disease and cardiovascular complications in this high-risk population.

ABC of Kidney Disease ABC of Kidney Disease, Second Edition The ABC of Kidney Disease, Second Edition is a practical guide to the most common renal diseases to help healthcare professionals screen, identify, treat and refer renal patients appropriately and to provide the best possible care. Covering the common renal presentations in primary care, this highly illustrated guide provides guidance on symptoms, signs and treatments, which tests to use, measures to prevent progression, and when and how to refer. Fully revised in accordance with current guidelines, it also includes organizational aspects of renal disease management, dialysis and transplantation. The appendices contain an explanatory glossary of renal terms, guidance on anaemia management and information on drug prescribing and interactions. The ABC of Kidney Disease, Second Edition is an ideal practical reference for GPs, GP registrars, junior doctors, medical students and for anyone working with patients with renal-related conditions. About the ABC series The new ABC series has been thoroughly updated, offering a fresh look, layout and features throughout, helping you to access information and deliver the best patient care. The newly designed books remain an essential reference tool for GPs, GP registrars, junior doctors and those in primary care, designed to address the concerns of general practitioners and provide effective study aids for doctors in training. Now offering over 70 titles, this extensive series provides you with a quick and dependable reference on a range of topics in all the major specialities. Each book in the new series now offers links to further information and articles, and a new dedicated website provides you with even more support. The ABC series is the essential and dependable source of up-to-date information for all practitioners and students in general practice. To receive automatic updates on books and journals in your specialty, join our email list. Sign up today at www.wiley.com/email

Access to dialysis treatment and the types of treatments employed in Australia differs by Indigenous status. We examined whether dialysis treatment utilisation in Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians also differs by gender. Using registry data we evaluated 21,832 incident patients (aged ≥18 years) commencing dialysis, 2001–2013. Incidence rates were calculated and multivariate regression modelling used to examine differences in dialysis treatment (modality, location and vascular access creation) by race and gender. Dialysis incidence was consistently higher in Indigenous women compared to all other groups. Compared to Indigenous women, both non‐Indigenous women and men were more likely to receive peritoneal dialysis as their initial treatment (non‐Indigenous women RR=1.91, 95%CI 1.55–2.35; non‐Indigenous men RR=1.73, 1.40–2.14) and were more likely to commence initial treatment at home (non‐Indigenous women RR=2.07, 1.66–2.59; non‐Indigenous men RR=1.95, 1.56–2.45). All groups were significantly more likely than Indigenous women to receive their final treatment at home. Contemporary dialysis treatment in Australia continues to benefit the dominant non‐Indigenous population over the Indigenous population, with non‐Indigenous men being particularly advantaged. Treatment guidelines that incorporate a recognition of gender‐based preferences and dialysis treatment options specific to Indigenous Australians may assist in addressing this disparity.

In Dialysis Without Fear, psychiatrist and dialysis patient Dr. Daniel Offer joins with his wife, Marjorie Kaiz Offer, and daughter, Susan Offer Szafir, to reveal how life can be lived, and lived well, on dialysis. Drawing on his long medical career and more than seven years of personal experience with dialysis, Dr. Offer dispels many misconceptions surrounding this treatment, explaining how you can adapt to the new diet, travel, work and continue to partake in life's joys and celebrations. But the fears and hardships can be quite real, and Dr. Offer brings his years as a psychiatrist to bear as he provides practical advice on how patients can overcome them. Walking through each step of dialysis, he explains different types of treatment, examines the pros and cons of a transplant, and discusses side effects. Since dialysis affects the entire family, Dr. Offer and his co-authors also provide realistic insights into how relatives can cope and thrive together, sharing the humour, courage, and triumphs of real families who have successfully faced the challenges of dialysis. The result is an inspiring, practical guide that will help patients and their families learn to overcome the difficulties of dialysis, live without fear, and enjoy every day.

Background Sarcopenia is common in chronic kidney disease, but no unified consensus exists regarding its diagnostic criteria. New definitions, including the Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC), define sarcopenia based on decreased muscle function without measuring muscle mass. However, the application and relationship of newer definitions to functional disability in end‐stage kidney disease, particularly among peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, remain underexplored. This study evaluated the prevalence and concordance of sarcopenia using older and recent definitions and their association with functional limitations in PD patients. Methods This cross‐sectional study evaluated Thai chronic PD patients (n = 384) with complete measurements for sarcopenia (BIA, handgrip strength and gait speed). Patients were classified according to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Sarcopenia Project, the International Working Group on Sarcopenia (IWGS), the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2019 (EWGSOP2), the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS2019) and the 2020 SDOC. Functional disability was assessed using the Barthel Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score. Associations with dependency were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Results The median age was 60 years (IQR, 52–68); 54.8% were men, and 31.3% were over 65. Sarcopenia prevalence varied 5‐fold: FNIH (8.3%), IWGS (18.5%), EWGSOP2 (19.0%), AWGS2019 (22.3%) and SDOC (44.5%). Using AWGS2019 as the reference, agreement was good with EWGSOP2 and IWGS but poor with FNIH and SDOC. Of 207 with sarcopenia by any definition, only 15 patients (7.3%) fulfilled all criteria. Sarcopenia prevalence was higher among older adults (≥ 65 years) across all definitions (p < 0.001). Functional limitations in at least one domain (ADL ≤ 19) occurred in 86 patients (22.4%) and were more frequent in sarcopenic patients for all definitions except IWGS. By multivariable analysis, only FNIH and SDOC were significantly associated with dependency (ADL ≤ 11): FNIH, OR 5.49, p = 0.013; SDOC, OR 6.01, p = 0.023. Using AWGS2019 component thresholds, 64.6% had low physical performance, 58.6% had low muscle strength and 22.7% had low muscle mass. Low muscle strength had a higher prevalence of functional limitation (27.1% vs. 15.7%, p < 0.05) and dependency (5.80% vs. 0%, p = 0.002) than those without. Conclusions Sarcopenia is common in PD patients, with substantial variability in prevalence and associations with functional limitations across definitions. Functional impairment was more frequent in low muscle strength. While SDOC was associated with functional deficits, it may overdiagnose sarcopenia in PD. Future studies using clinically relevant outcomes are needed to define sarcopenia in this high‐risk group.

Since 1972, many victims of endstage renal disease (ESRD) have received treatment under a unique Medicare entitlement. This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the federal ESRD program: who uses it, how well it functions, and what improvements are needed.The book includes recommendations on patient eligibility, reimbursement, quality assessment, medical ethics, and research needs.Kidney Failure and the Federal Government offers a wealth of information on these and other topics:The ESRD patient population.Dialysis and transplantation providers.Issues of patient access and availability of treatment.Ethical issues related to treatment initiation and termination.Payment policies and their relationship to quality of care.This book will have a major impact on the future of the ESRD program and will be of interest to health policymakers, nephrologists and other individual providers, treatment site administrators, and researchers.