The Clinical Application of Urine Soluble CD163 in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis.

BACKGROUND: Up to 70% of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) develop GN, with 26% progressing to ESKD. Diagnostic-grade and noninvasive tools to detect active renal inflammation are needed. Urinary soluble CD163 (usCD163) is a promising biomarker of active renal vasculitis, but a diagnostic-grade assay, assessment of its utility in prospective diagnosis of renal vasculitis flares, and evaluation of its utility in proteinuric states are needed. METHODS: We assessed a diagnostic-grade usCD163 assay in (1) a real-world cohort of 405 patients with AAV and 121 healthy and 488 non-AAV disease controls; (2) a prospective multicenter study of 84 patients with potential renal vasculitis flare; (3) a longitudinal multicenter cohort of 65 patients with podocytopathy; and (4) a cohort of 29 patients with AAV (with or without proteinuria) and ten controls. RESULTS: We established a diagnostic reference range, with a cutoff of 250 ng/mmol for active renal vasculitis (area under the curve [AUC], 0.978). Using this cutoff, usCD163 was elevated in renal vasculitis flare (AUC, 0.95) but remained low in flare mimics, such as nonvasculitic AKI. usCD163's specificity declined in patients with AAV who had nephrotic-range proteinuria and in those with primary podocytopathy, with 62% of patients with nephrotic syndrome displaying a "positive" usCD163. In patients with AAV and significant proteinuria, usCD163 normalization to total urine protein rather than creatinine provided the greatest clinical utility for diagnosing active renal vasculitis. CONCLUSIONS: usCD163 is elevated in renal vasculitis flare and remains low in flare mimics. Nonspecific protein leakage in nephrotic syndrome elevates usCD163 in the absence of glomerular macrophage infiltration, resulting in false-positive results; this can be corrected with urine protein normalization.

Urinary Soluble CD163 in Active Renal Vasculitis.

A specific biomarker that can separate active renal vasculitis from other causes of renal dysfunction is lacking, with a kidney biopsy often being required. Soluble CD163 (sCD163), shed by monocytes and macrophages, has been reported as a potential biomarker in diseases associated with excessive macrophage activation. Thus, we hypothesized that urinary sCD163 shed by crescent macrophages correlates with active glomerular inflammation. We detected sCD163 in rat urine early in the disease course of experimental vasculitis. Moreover, microdissected glomeruli from patients with small vessel vasculitis (SVV) had markedly higher levels of CD163 mRNA than did those from patients with lupus nephritis, diabetic nephropathy, or nephrotic syndrome. Both glomeruli and interstitium of patients with SVV strongly expressed CD163 protein. In 479 individuals, including patients with SVV, disease controls, and healthy controls, serum levels of sCD163 did not differ between the groups. However, in an inception cohort, including 177 patients with SVV, patients with active renal vasculitis had markedly higher urinary sCD163 levels than did patients in remission, disease controls, or healthy controls. Analyses in both internal and external validation cohorts confirmed these results. Setting a derived optimum cutoff for urinary sCD163 of 0.3 ng/mmol creatinine for detection of active renal vasculitis resulted in a sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 96%, and a positive likelihood ratio of 20.8. These data indicate that urinary sCD163 level associates very tightly with active renal vasculitis, and assessing this level may be a noninvasive method for diagnosing renal flare in the setting of a known diagnosis of SVV.

Multimorbidity and functional decline in community-dwelling adults: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity affects up to one quarter of primary care populations. It is associated with reduced quality of life, an increased risk of mental health difficulties and increased healthcare utilisation. Functional decline is defined as developing difficulties with activities of daily living and is independently associated with poorer health outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the association between multimorbidity and functional decline and to what extent multimorbidity predicts future functional decline. METHODS: A systematic literature search (1990-2014) and narrative analysis was conducted. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Population; Community-dwelling adults (≥18 years), Risk; Multimorbidity defined as the presence of ≥2 chronic medical conditions in an individual, Primary outcome; Physical functional decline measured using a validated instrument, Study design; cross-sectional or cohort studies. The following databases were included: PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library and the International Research Community on Multimorbidity (IRCMo) publication list. Methodological quality assessment of included studies was conducted with a suitable risk of bias tool. RESULTS: A total of 37 studies were eligible for inclusion (28 cross-sectional studies and 9 cohort studies). The majority of cross-sectional studies (n = 24/28) demonstrated a consistent association between multimorbidity and functional decline. Twelve of these studies reported that increasing numbers of chronic condition counts were associated with worsening functional decline. Nine cohort studies included 14,133 study participants with follow-up periods ranging from one to six years. The majority (n = 5) found that multimorbidity predicted functional decline. Of the five studies that reported the impact of increasing numbers of conditions, all reported greater functional decline with increasing numbers of conditions. One study examined disease severity and found that this also predicted greater functional decline. Overall, cohort studies were of good methodological quality but were mixed in terms of participants, multimorbidity definitions, follow-up duration, and outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence indicates that multimorbidity predicts future functional decline, with greater decline in patients with higher numbers of conditions and greater disease severity. This review highlights the importance of considering physical functioning when designing interventions and systems of care for patients with multimorbidity, particularly for patients with higher numbers of conditions and greater disease severity.

Kidney failure amongst Irish Travellers.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of Kidney Failure with Replacement Therapy (KFRT) amongst Irish Travellers has not been well described. This study aims to determine the burden of KFRT amongst the Irish Traveller population and identify determinants of health amongst this cohort which may differ from the general population in Ireland. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included self-identifying Irish Travellers with KFRT registered in the National Kidney Disease Clinical Patient Management System between 1995 and 2022. KFRT was defined as Chronic Kidney Disease stage 5 (CKD G5) treated by dialysis or CKD G1-G5 after transplantation. The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of KFRT in Irish Travellers. Secondary exploratory outcomes included age at diagnosis, family history, biopsy diagnosis, kidney replacement therapy (KRT) modality, time to initiation of KRT, primary vascular access used, and time to receive a kidney transplant. RESULTS: Four of six Irish hospital groups participated in the study. A total of 38 patients were identified as Irish Travellers with KFRT, with a crude prevalence rate of KFRT of 0.12% (CI 0.084-0.161, 95%) or 11.9 per 10,000 Irish Travellers. The mean age for diagnosis of kidney disease was 43 (SD, 20.8) and at commencement of KRT was 45 (SD, 20.9) years. A biopsy-proven diagnosis was provided in 24%. Twenty-two per cent was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease or congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. The predominant modality for KRT was haemodialysis (89%), with central venous catheters being the most common initial vascular access (79%). Kidney transplants occurred in 45% of those studied, with a mean waiting time of 1.96 (SD, 1.6) years. CONCLUSIONS: The Irish Traveller community have similar prevalence of KFRT when compared to the national prevalence, with a short time interval from diagnosis to commencement of KRT. They are less likely to avail of home therapies but have comparable wait times to the national waiting time to receive a kidney transplant.

Metabolic control analysis of developing oilseed rape (Brassica napus cv Westar) embryos shows that lipid assembly exerts significant control over oil accumulation.

Metabolic control analysis allows the study of metabolic regulation. We applied both single- and double-manipulation top-down control analysis to examine the control of lipid accumulation in developing oilseed rape (Brassica napus) embryos. The biosynthetic pathway was conceptually divided into two blocks of reactions (fatty acid biosynthesis (Block A), lipid assembly (Block B)) connected by a single system intermediate, the acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) pool. Single manipulation used exogenous oleate. Triclosan was used to inhibit specifically Block A, whereas diazepam selectively manipulated flux through Block B. Exogenous oleate inhibited the radiolabelling of fatty acids from [1-(14)C]acetate, but stimulated that from [U-14C]glycerol into acyl lipids. The calculation of group flux control coefficients showed that c. 70% of the metabolic control was in the lipid assembly block of reactions. Monte Carlo simulations gave an estimation of the error of the resulting group flux control coefficients as 0.27±0.06 for Block A and 0.73±0.06 for Block B. The two methods of control analysis gave very similar results and showed that Block B reactions were more important under our conditions. This contrasts notably with data from oil palm or olive fruit cultures and is important for efforts to increase oilseed rape lipid yields.

The genetic landscape of polycystic kidney disease in Ireland.

Polycystic kidney diseases (PKDs) comprise the most common Mendelian forms of renal disease. It is characterised by the development of fluid-filled renal cysts, causing progressive loss of kidney function, culminating in the need for renal replacement therapy or kidney transplant. Ireland represents a valuable region for the genetic study of PKD, as family sizes are traditionally large and the population relatively homogenous. Studying a cohort of 169 patients, we describe the genetic landscape of PKD in Ireland for the first time, compare the clinical features of patients with and without a molecular diagnosis and correlate disease severity with autosomal dominant pathogenic variant type. Using a combination of molecular genetic tools, including targeted next-generation sequencing, we report diagnostic rates of 71-83% in Irish PKD patients, depending on which variant classification guidelines are used (ACMG or Mayo clinic respectively). We have catalogued a spectrum of Irish autosomal dominant PKD pathogenic variants including 36 novel variants. We illustrate how apparently unrelated individuals carrying the same autosomal dominant pathogenic variant are highly likely to have inherited that variant from a common ancestor. We highlight issues surrounding the implementation of the ACMG guidelines for variant pathogenicity interpretation in PKD, which have important implications for clinical genetics.

In the preparation and administration of intravenous medicines, what are the best practice standards that healthcare professionals need to follow to ensure patient safety? Protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: Intravenous therapy and medicines (IVTM) are the most common invasive interventions in use in healthcare. Prescribed IVTM play an essential role in the treatment of illness, management of chronic conditions and in maintaining health and wellbeing. The intravenous (IV) route is the administration of concentrated medications (diluted or undiluted) directly into peripherally or centrally inserted vascular access devices. Medication safety is a key priority and best practice standards are required to guide the safe preparation and administration of IVTM. Methods: We will conduct a systematic review of the literature pertaining to the preparation and administration of intravenous therapy and medicines. Our search will include studies concerned with the preparation and/or administration of IVTM via peripheral or central vascular access devices. We will be guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) in this review. Literature will include all trial designs, national/international guidelines, and expert consensus opinion made available in English from 2009 to present day. Conclusions: We will synthesise the evidence concerning safe and effective preparation and administration of intravenous therapy and medicines to inform the development of a national guideline for healthcare professionals in Ireland. The availability of up-to-date, contemporaneous evidence-based practice standards will ensure quality and safety for service-users. Registration:  This study has been submitted to PROSPERO and we are awaiting confirmation of registration.

Effect of Disease Activity at Three and Six Months After Diagnosis on Long-Term Outcomes in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

OBJECTIVE: The treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) aims to suppress disease activity and prevent subsequent disease flare. This study sought to explore the association of early disease control with long-term outcomes to validate early disease control as an end point for future clinical trials in AAV. METHODS: Data from 4 European Vasculitis Society inception clinical trials in AAV (1995-2002) and subsequent data on long-term outcomes from the trial data registry were studied. Clinical parameters in patients with AAV at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after diagnosis were assessed to study the long-term risk of death and end-stage renal failure (ESRF). At 6 months, outcomes were defined based on a disease status of either sustained remission (remission by 3 months, sustained to 6 months), late remission (remission after 3 months and by 6 months), relapsing disease (remission by 3 months but relapse by 6 months), or refractory disease (no remission by 6 months). RESULTS: Of the 354 patients with AAV who were followed up for a median of 5.7 years, 46 (13%) developed ESRF, 66 (18.6%) died, and 89 (25.1%) had either died or developed ESRF. At 6 months, predictors of the composite end point of death or ESRF were as follows: age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1-1.05; P = 0.012), estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.92-0.95; P < 0.001), and disease status at 6 months (late remission, HR 2.94, 95% CI 1.1-7.85 [P = 0.031]; relapsing disease, HR 8.21, 95% CI 2.73-24.65 [P < 0.001]; refractory disease, HR 4.89, 95% CI 1.96-12.18 [P = 0.001]). Similar results were observed when these analyses were performed separately for death and for ESRF. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that disease status at 3 and 6 months following the diagnosis of AAV may be predictive of the long-term risk of mortality and ESRF, and therefore these may be valid end points for induction trials in AAV. The current findings need to be validated in a larger data set.

Spatial and Temporal Clustering of Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An environmental trigger has been proposed as an inciting factor in the development of anti-GBM disease. This multicenter, observational study sought to define the national incidence of anti-GBM disease during an 11-year period (2003-2014) in Ireland, investigate clustering of cases in time and space, and assess the effect of spatial variability in incidence on outcome. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: We ascertained cases by screening immunology laboratories for instances of positivity for anti-GBM antibody and the national renal histopathology registry for biopsy-proven cases. The population at risk was defined from national census data. We used a variable-window scan statistic to detect temporal clustering. A Bayesian spatial model was used to calculate standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for each of the 26 counties. RESULTS: Seventy-nine cases were included. National incidence was 1.64 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.82 to 3.35) per million population per year. A temporal cluster (n=10) was identified during a 3-month period; six cases were resident in four rural counties in the southeast. Spatial analysis revealed wide regional variation in SIRs and a cluster (n=7) in the northwest (SIR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.02 to 3.06). There were 29 deaths and 57 cases of ESRD during a mean follow-up of 2.9 years. Greater distance from diagnosis site to treating center, stratified by median distance traveled, did not significantly affect patient (hazard ratio, 1.80; 95% CI, 0.87 to 3.77) or renal (hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.40 to 1.13) survival. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report national incidence rates of anti-GBM disease and formally investigate patterns of incidence. Clustering of cases in time and space supports the hypothesis of an environmental trigger for disease onset. The substantial variability in regional incidence highlights the need for comprehensive country-wide studies to improve our understanding of the etiology of anti-GBM disease.

Antisense expression of 3-oxoacyl-ACP reductase affects whole plant productivity and causes collateral changes in activity of fatty acid synthase components.

Brassica napus cv Westar plants were transformed with 3-oxoacyl-ACP reductase (KR) in antisense orientation, driven by either the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter or a seed-specific acyl carrier protein promoter to determine the effects on plant productivity and on the activity of other fatty acid synthase (FAS) components. In plants with altered KR activity, total seed yield was reduced in all cases. In less severely affected plant lines, seeds had a normal appearance and composition but the yield of seeds was reduced by approximately 50%. In more severely affected lines, reductions in both seed fatty acid content and the number of seeds produced per plant were evident, resulting in a 90% reduction in fatty acid synthesized per plant. These phenotypes were independent of the promoter used. In severely affected lines, a large proportion of seeds showed precocious germination, and these had a reduced oleate content and increased levels of polyunsaturated 18-carbon fatty acids, compared with normal seeds of the same line. This reduction in 18:1 fatty acids was mimicked on imbibition of seeds with a normal appearance, indicating a preferential use of oleate moieties in precocious germination events. The reduction in activity of KR was mirrored for a second fatty acid synthase component, enoyl-ACP reductase, indicating a mechanism to maintain the ratio of fatty acid synthase components throughout embryogenesis.

Fatty acid and lipid biosynthetic genes are expressed at constant molar ratios but different absolute levels during embryogenesis.

In plants, fatty acid and complex lipid synthesis requires the correct spatial and temporal activity of many gene products. Quantitative northern analysis showed that mRNA for the biotin carboxylase subunit of heteromeric acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, fatty acid synthase components (3-oxoacyl-acyl carrier protein [ACP] reductase, enoyl-ACP reductase, and acyl-ACP thioesterase), and stearoyl-ACP desaturase accumulate in a coordinate manner during Brassica napus embryogenesis. The mRNAs were present in a constant molar stoichiometric ratio. Transcript abundance of mRNAs for the catalytic proteins was found to be similar, whereas the number of ACP transcripts was approximately 7-fold higher. The peak of mRNA accumulation of all products was between 20 and 29 d after flowering; by 42 d after flowering, the steady-state levels of all transcripts fell to about 5% of their peak levels, which suggests that the mRNAs have similar stability and kinetics of synthesis. Biotin carboxylase was found to accumulate to a maximum of 59 fmol mg(-1) total RNA in embryos, which is in general agreement with the value of 170 fmol mg(-1) determined for Arabidopsis siliques (J.S. Ke, T.N. Wen, B.J. Nikolau, E.S. Wurtele [2000] Plant Physiol 122: 1057-1071). Embryos accumulated between 3- and 15-fold more transcripts per unit total RNA than young leaf tissue; the lower quantity of leaf 3-oxoacyl-ACP reductase mRNA was confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. This is in conflict with analysis of B. napus transcripts using an Arabidopsis microarray (T. Girke, J. Todd, S. Ruuska, J. White, C. Benning, J. Ohlrogge [2000] Plant Physiol 124: 1570-1581) where similar leaf to seed levels of fatty acid synthase component mRNAs were reported.