Cystatin C proteoforms in chronic kidney disease.

Cystatin C, a cysteine protease inhibitor, is used as a biomarker of renal function. It offers several advantages compared to creatinine, and formulas for the estimation of the glomerular filtration rate based on cystatin C have been developed. Recently, several proteoforms of cystatin C have been discovered, including an intact protein with a hydroxylated proline at the N-terminus, and N-terminal truncated forms. There is little knowledge about the biological significance of these proteoforms. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of patients with different stages of chronic renal disease (pre-dialysis n = 53; hemodialysis n = 51, renal transplant n = 53). Measurement of cystatin C proteoforms by MALDI-TOF MS, assessment of medicine prescription using the first two levels of the Anatomical Therapeutic chemical system from patients' records. RESULTS: Patients receiving hemodialysis had the highest cystatin C concentrations, followed by pre-dialysis patients and patients with a renal transplant. In all groups, the most common proteoforms were native cystatin C and CysC 3Pro-OH while the truncated forms made up 28%. The distribution of the different proteoforms was largely independent of renal function and total cystatin C. However, the use of corticosteroids (ATC-L02) and immunosuppressants (ATC-H04) considerably impacted the distribution of proteoforms. CONCLUSION: The different proteoforms of cystatin C increased proportionally with total cystatin C in patients with chronic kidney disease. Prescription of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants had a significant effect on the distribution of proteoforms. The biological significance of these proteoforms remains to be determined.

Medication Prescription, Common Side-effects, and Nutritional Status are Associated in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with metabolic, nutritional, and extra-renal changes, as well as a high rate of comorbidities, which necessitates the prescription of numerous medications. Patients with CKD often experience poor nutritional status related to disease severity and prescribed medication; however, this association has not been investigated in depth. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the association between prescribed medication and nutritional status in patients with CKD. METHODS: Assessment of nutritional status was performed using anthropometric and functional measurements and by biochemical measures. Patient history and the number and type of currently prescribed medications were collected from patients' records. We evaluated the total number and the number of specific medicines with common or very common side-effects of nausea or xerostomia. RESULTS: Two hundred seventeen patients with CKD were included in this cross-sectional study (n = 112 with pre-dialysis CKD stages 3-5, n = 33 with hemodialysis, and n = 72 with kidney transplant). On average, patients were prescribed nine medications concurrently. The number of prescribed medications was inversely associated with mid-upper arm circumference, skinfold thickness triceps, handgrip strength, serum albumin, and hemoglobin after adjustment for age, sex, and kidney function. Prescription of medications with nausea as a side-effect showed similar associations, whereas prescription of medications with xerostomia as a side-effect was associated with lower handgrip strength. CONCLUSION: Medication prescription was associated with poor nutritional status in patients with CKD, and monitoring of nutritional status in patients with CKD with long medication lists is warranted to identify and treat patients with poor nutritional status.

Evaluation of Novel Concentrated Interdisciplinary Group Rehabilitation for Patients With Chronic Illnesses: Protocol for a Nonrandomized Clinical Intervention Study.

BACKGROUND: An aging population with a growing burden of chronic complex illnesses will seriously challenge the public health care system. Consequently, novel and efficacious treatment approaches are highly warranted. Based on our experiences with concentrated treatment formats for other health challenges, we developed a highly concentrated interdisciplinary group rehabilitation approach for chronic illnesses. OBJECTIVE: We aim to explore the acceptability of the intervention and describe potential changes in functional impairment at follow-up. METHODS: The cornerstones of the intervention are as follows: (1) prepare the patient for change prior to treatment, (2) focus on health promoting microchoices instead of symptoms, and (3) expect the patient to integrate the changes in everyday living with limited hands-on follow-up. The intervention will be delivered to patients with highly diverse primary symptoms, namely patients with low back pain, post-COVID-19 symptoms, anxiety and depression, and type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Recruitment started between August 2020 and January 2021 (according to the illness category). For initial 3-month results, recruitment is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. CONCLUSIONS: If successful, this study may have a substantial impact on the treatment of low back pain, post-COVID-19 symptoms, anxiety and depression, and type 2 diabetes, which together constitute a major socioeconomic cost. Further, the study may widen the evidence base for the use of the concentrated treatment format in a diverse group of medical conditions. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/32216.

Correction to: High rates of central obesity and sarcopenia in CKD irrespective of renal replacement therapy - an observational cross-sectional study.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported an error in the presentation of Table 3 and Table 4.

High rates of central obesity and sarcopenia in CKD irrespective of renal replacement therapy - an observational cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Poor nutritional status of patients with renal disease has been associated with worsening of renal function and poor health outcomes. Simply measuring weight and height for calculation of the body mass index does however not capture the true picture of nutritional status in these patients. Therefore, we measured nutritional status by BMI, body composition, waist circumference, dietary intake and nutritional screening in three groups of renal patients. METHODS: Patients with chronic kidney disease not on renal replacement therapy (CKD stages 3-5, n = 112), after renal transplantation (n = 72) and patients treated with hemodialysis (n = 24) were recruited in a tertiary hospital in Bergen, Norway in a cross-sectional observational study. Dietary intake was assessed by a single 24 h recall. All patients underwent nutritional screening, anthropometric measurements, body composition measurement andfunctional measurements (hand grip strength). The prevalence of overweight and obesity, central obesity, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity and nutritional risk was calculated. RESULTS: Central obesity and sarcopenia were present in 49% and 35% of patients, respectively. 49% of patients with central obesity were normal weight or overweight according to their BMI. Factors associated with central obesity were a diagnosis of diabetes and increased fat mass, while factors associated with sarcopenia were age, female gender, number of medications. An increase in the BMI was associated with lower risk for sarcopenia. CONCLUSION: Central obesity and sarcopenia were present in renal patients at all disease stages. More attention to these unfavorable nutritional states is warranted in these patients.