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The primary reason to use vitamin D in kidney disease remains to lower PTH levels.PURPOSE OF REVIEW People with chronic kidney disease have a high prevalence of poor physical function, which in turn is associated with poor health-related quality of life, and an increased risk of adverse events, including hospitalizations and all-cause mortality. Implementing early interventions may prove to be effective for preventing decline in physical function; however, it is imperative that clinicians screen patients to identify those at the highest risk of decline. In this review, we present subjective and objective screening tools that can easily and cost-effectively be implemented into routine nephrology practice to assess physical function. RECENT FINDINGS Physical function can be assessed using commonly used physical performance tests that include objective measures, such as tests measuring gait speed, balance, chair-stand ability, and handgrip strength, as well as tests that include subjective self-reported measures. SUMMARY The validated tools summarized in this review offer clinicians the ability to identify people at risk of poor physical function, in turn affording the opportunity to implement interventions for optimum management of risk of physical decline, preventing adverse health outcomes, and encouraging independence.OBJECTIVE This study investigates the effectiveness and tolerability of switching to darunavir/cobicistat (DRV/c)-based antiretroviral regimen (ART) from a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI/r)-based regimen in virologically suppressed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. DRV trough values were also investigated. SETTING Prospective, multicenter, single-country, non-interventional, cohort study. METHODS This study included patients on a PI/r-based ART for at least twelve months having plasma HIV-1 RNA less then 50 copies/mL for at least six months. Primary endpoint HIV-1 RNA less then 50 copies/mL at 48 ± 6 weeks from baseline. A secondary analysis was performed using the time to loss of virological response (TLOVR) algorithm. Biochemical parameters including DRV trough samples were collected as per clinical practice and measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS Of 336 patients enrolled, 282 completed the study 70.8% had plasma HIV-1 RNA less then 50 copies/mL at 48 weeks; using the TLOVR algorithm, 82.7% maintained virological suppression. Virological failure (VF) was observed in 6 patients (1.8%). Adverse event (AE)-related discontinuations were 4.5%. After 48 weeks, we found a significant improvement in both triglycerides (median, 130.0 mg/dL to 113.5 mg/dL, p=0.0254) and HDL cholesterol (48 to 49 mg/dL, p less then 0.0001) but no change in other biomarkers. DRV trough concentrations in 56 subjects showed a median value of 2862.5 (1469.5-4439.0) ng/mL, higher in females than in males (4221 ng/mL vs. 2634 ng/mL, p=0.046). CONCLUSIONS In stable HIV-1 positive virologically suppressed patients, the switch to DRV/c-based ART was beneficial in terms of low rates of VF and AEs due to its high tolerability and improvement in triglycerides.BACKGROUND The overall risk of postcontrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI) after computerized tomography (CT) is negligible, likely because of the small volume of injected iodinated contrast media required. However, the safety of contrast media-enhanced CT in patients with advanced renal functional impairment, an established major risk factor for PC-AKI, is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective study using large data analysis of hospitalized patients at a single center. Adults undergoing CT or magnetic resonance imaging were included in the study and were stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (≤30 or >30 mL/min/1.73 m) and by either contrast-enhanced or nonenhanced imaging. Only patients with serial determination of creatinine before and after imaging were included. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data between groups were analyzed and compared using univariate analysis, propensity score matching, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 22,319 ine-based enhanced CT in hospitalized patients with an eGFR of 30 mL/min/1.73 m or lower. Thrombophilia testing is frequently performed in both seemingly provoked and unprovoked portal vein thrombosis (PVT), yet the clinical implications of these expensive laboratory tests are unknown. We investigated the frequency of clinical management changes in patients with newly diagnosed PVT. This is a retrospective analysis of adult patients with a newly diagnosed PVT at a single institution. NCB-0846 clinical trial The primary outcome is change in clinical management, defined as documented change in choice, dose, or duration of anticoagulation, future thromboprophylaxis, or counseling of asymptomatic family members. Five-hundred and forty-four patients with PVT were identified, 438 (80.5%) of whom had an identifiable pretesting provoking factor, most commonly cirrhosis (39.2%). Two-hundred ninety-one patients (53.5%) had at least one hypercoagulable laboratory test performed. The most frequently positive test was PAI-1 polymorphism, followed by elevated homocysteine and MTHFR mutational analysis. However, the only test that was frequently positive and consistently altered management was JAK2 mutational analysis (15.3%). Factor V Leiden was commonly positive but rarely changed clinical decision-making (1.5%), as was flow cytometric testing for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (0.8%), and antiphospholipid antibodies (0.7%). Patients with cirrhosis rarely had thrombophilia testing results that were clinically significant. A rough cost estimate was dramatically reduced from $231 000 to $76 000 if only clinically meaningful tests were employed in the hypercoagulable work-up. These results highlight the need for focused thrombophilia testing in patients with PVT.OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to report 2 cases with overlapping syndromes in autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy. METHODS Antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Patient data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS One patient presented with overlapping neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and positive GFAP-IgG and aquaporin-4-IgG. His main symptoms included vision loss, hiccups, fever, headache, and ataxia. High leukocyte count and protein levels were found in cerebrospinal fluid. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed abnormalities in the hippocampus, midbrain, pons, medulla, and meninges. Characteristic radial enhancing patterns were seen. The other patient was a male with relapsing polychondritis (RP) and positive GFAP-IgG. His main manifestations were meningoencephalitis and dementia. MRI showed extensive abnormalities in the white matter around the ventricles, temporal lobe, and thalamus, with enhancement. Both patients responded well to the treatment with steroids and immunosuppressants.