Comparison of the efficacy of 0.9% normal saline with balanced crystalloid (Plasmalyte) in maintaining the metabolic profile in head injury patients undergoing evacuation of acute subdural haematoma - A randomised controlled trial.

Background and Aims: The choice of intravenous fluids is important in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), where large volumes may be required for resuscitation. Our study aimed to compare 0.9% normal saline (NS) with balanced crystalloid (Plasmalyte) in TBI patients in terms of metabolic and coagulation profile, brain relaxation score (BRS) and renal functions using serum urea, creatinine and urinary tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2* insulin-like growth factor binding protein-7, [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7], value to assess the risk of acute kidney injury. Methods: This randomised controlled trial on 90 TBI patients undergoing emergency craniotomy and subdural haematoma evacuation was conducted in a tertiary care institute. The patients were randomised to receive either NS (Group NS) or Plasmalyte (Group P) as the intraoperative maintenance fluid. The primary outcome measures included the potential of hydrogen (pH), base excess (BE) and chloride values from an arterial blood gas. The secondary outcomes were the coagulation profile, BRS and urinary [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7]. The two groups' metabolic profile differences were analysed using two-way repeated analysis of variance. BRS was analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test. A P value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The pH and chloride values were significantly higher, and the BE values were significantly lower in Group P compared to Group NS (P < 0.001). Brain relaxation and coagulation profiles were comparable between the two groups. Serum creatinine (P = 0.002) and urinary [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] (P = 0.042) were significantly higher in the NS group. Conclusion: Plasmalyte maintains a more favourable metabolic profile than NS in TBI patients without affecting brain relaxation adversely.

Sarcopenia, a Risk Predictor of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury in Elderly Patients after Hip Fracture Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background and Objectives: Hip fracture surgery, which affects quality of life, can be a major challenge in geriatric populations. Although sarcopenia is known to be associated with postoperative outcomes, there are few studies on the association between sarcopenia and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in this population. We investigated the association between sarcopenia and postoperative AKI in elderly patients following hip fracture surgery. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent hip fracture surgery at our institution from March 2019 to December 2021. Patients under the age of 65, patients with no preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans and patients with inappropriate cross-sectional images for measurement were excluded. The psoas-lumbar vertebral index (PLVI), which is the ratio of the average area of both psoas muscles to the area of the fourth lumbar vertebral body, was measured from preoperative CT scans. Sarcopenia was defined as a PLVI within the lowest 25% for each sex, and patients were categorized into sarcopenic and nonsarcopenic groups. The occurrence of AKI was determined based on the serum creatinine level within postoperative day 7 using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between clinical variables and the occurrence of AKI. Results: Among the 348 enrolled patients, 92 patients were excluded, and 256 patients were analyzed. The PLVI cutoff values for defining sarcopenia lower than 25% for male and female patients were 0.57 and 0.43, respectively. The overall incidence of AKI was 18.4% (47 patients), and AKI occurred more frequently in sarcopenic patients than in nonsarcopenic patients (29.7% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.007). According to the multivariate logistic regression, which included all variables with a p value < 0.05 in the univariate analysis and adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, sarcopenia was revealed to be an independent predictor of postoperative AKI (odds ratio = 5.10, 95% confidence interval = 1.77-14.77; p = 0.003). Conclusions: Preoperative sarcopenia, which corresponds to the lowest quartile of PLVI values, is associated with postoperative AKI among elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery.

Trans-sodium crocetinate suppresses apoptotic and oxidative response following myoglobin-induced cytotoxicity in HEK-293 cells.

Objectives: Rhabdomyolysis (RM) is a serious fatal syndrome. The RM leads to acute kidney injury (AKI) as a fatal complication. The belief is that RM-induced AKI is triggered by myoglobin (MB). MB activates oxidative and apoptotic pathways. Trans-sodium crocetinate (TSC) is obtained from saffron. It has anti-oxidant and renoprotective effects. This research was designed to assess the mechanisms of MB-induced cytotoxicity in HEK-293 cells (human embryonic kidney cells) as well as the possible effects of TSC against MB-induced cytotoxicity. Materials and Methods: HEK-293 cells were exposed to diverse concentrations of TSC (2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 100 µM) for 24 hr. Then, MB (9 mg/ml) was added to the cells. After 24 hr, cell viability was measured through MTT, and the values of ROS generation were calculated using DCFH-DA assay. Also, autophagy and apoptosis markers in cells were assessed by western blot analysis. Results: MB decreased viability and increased ROS levels in HEK-293 cells. However, pretreatment of HEK-293 cells with TSC for 24 hr reduced the cytotoxicity and ROS production caused by MB. Furthermore, MB enhanced both the apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio) and autophagy markers (LC3II/I ratio and Beclin-1) in HEK-293 cells. On the other hand, TSC pretreatment condensed the levels of autophagy and apoptosis criteria in response to MB cytotoxicity. Conclusion: TSC has a positive effect in preventing MB-induced cytotoxicity in HEK-293 cells by increasing anti-oxidant activity and regulation of apoptotic and autophagy signaling pathways.

Thrombocytopenia Secondary to COVID-19: Outcomes Analysis in Terms of Thrombotic Microangiopathy, Acute Kidney Injury, and Mortality.

Background: COVID-19 usually complicates respiratory failure; microvascular, macrovascular, and renal complications are common. Both micro and macrovascular complications are associated with multi-organ dysfunction and in-hospital mortality. Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) causes microvascular thromboses associated with organ failure, including acute kidney injury (AKI). Materials and Methods: This Retrospective Cohort study included 100 COVID-19 patients with thrombocytopenia, followed up in a university hospital's intensive care unit (ICU). The primary endpoints were in-hospital mortality or discharge from the hospital and assessing the occurrence of TMA and AKI during the hospitalization. The effect of thrombotic microangiopathy and acute kidney injury on mortality was investigated using logistic regression models in Stata software version 12.1. Results: The TMA and AKI were associated with in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients presenting with thrombocytopenia in multivariate regression analysis, adjusted for other variables. The effect of AKI on mortality was obtained (adjusted OR 4.09, 95% CI: 1.33-12.53, p = 0.01). Moreover, the odds of mortality due to TMA were ten-fold higher in the patients who had TMA than those who did not (adjusted OR 10.26, 95% CI: 1.26-83.76, p = 0.03). Conclusion: We outlined TMA in COVID-19 patients, which could be responsible for kidney injury and mortality in critically COVID-19 patients.

Machine-learning predictions for acute kidney injuries after coronary artery bypass grafting: a real-life muticenter retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is associated with poor outcomes. The objective of this study was to apply a new machine learning (ML) method to establish prediction models of AKI after CABG. METHODS: A total of 2,780 patients from two medical centers in East China who underwent primary isolated CABG were enrolled. The dataset was randomly divided for model training (80%) and model testing (20%). Four ML models based on LightGBM, Support vector machine (SVM), Softmax and random forest (RF) algorithms respectively were established in Python. A total of 2,051 patients from two other medical centers were assigned to an external validation group to verify the performances of the ML prediction models. The models were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit statistic, Bland-Altman plots, and decision curve analysis. The outcome of the LightGBM model was interpreted using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative AKI in the modeling group was 13.4%. Similarly, the incidence of postoperative AKI of the two medical centers in the external validation group was 8.2% and 13.6% respectively. LightGBM performed the best in predicting, with an AUC of 0.8027 in internal validation group and 0.8798 and 0.7801 in the external validation group. The SHAP revealed the top 20 predictors of postoperative AKI ranked according to the importance, and the top three features on prediction were the serum creatinine in the first 24 h after operation, the last preoperative Scr level, and body surface area. CONCLUSION: This study provides a LightGBM predictive model that can make accurate predictions for AKI after CABG surgery. The LightGBM model shows good predictive ability in both internal and external validation. It can help cardiac surgeons identify high-risk patients who may experience AKI after CABG surgery.

Predictive factors of selective transarterial embolization failure in acute renal bleeding: a single-center experience.

PURPOSE: Transarterial embolization of renal artery branches (RTE) is a minimally invasive procedure commonly performed in life-threatening renal bleeding of different etiologies. Despite the widespread use of RTE, no consensus guidelines are currently available. Our aim was to investigate clinical and technical efficacy and to identify potential predictors for clinical failure of this procedure. METHODS: All the RTE procedures performed in our Interventional Radiology unit in last 10 years were retrospectively collected and analyzed. All selected patients underwent both pre-procedural computed tomography angiography (CTA) and post-procedural CTA within 30 days. Clinical success was considered as primary endpoint. Demographic, laboratory, and diagnostic findings predictive of clinical failure of RTE were identified. RESULTS: Over a total of 51 patients enrolled, 27 (53%) were females and 33 (64.7%) had a renal bleeding of iatrogenic origin. Technical and clinical success was 100% and 80.4%, respectively. Hematoma volumes > 258.5 cm3 measured at CTA, higher pre- and post-procedural serum creatinine (Scr) levels, an increase in Scr value > 0.135 mg/dl after the procedure, a worse post-procedural estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a post-procedural reduction of eGFR < 3.350 ml/min, and a post-procedural reduction of platelet count (PLT) > 46.50 × 103/mmc showed a significantly higher rate of clinical failure. CONCLUSION: RTE is a safe and effective procedure in the management of acute renal bleeding of various origins. Hematoma volume, Scr, PLT, and eGFR values were found to be predictive factors of poor clinical outcome and should be closely monitored.

Prognosis and mortality within 90 days in community-acquired acute kidney injury in the Southwest of Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is common among hospitalized patients and has a poor prognosis. Research is scarce on the impact of a CA-AKI episode among patients without preexisting kidney disease and has not previously been investigated in Sweden. The aim was to describe the outcomes of patients with normal pre-hospitalization kidney function, admitted with community-acquired AKI and to investigate the association between AKI severity with outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective population-based study was applied including patients with CA-AKI according to KDIGO classification, admitted via emergency department (ED) 2017-2019 and with a 90-day follow-up period from the ED-admission, collecting data from the Regional Healthcare Informative Platform. Age, gender and AKI stages, mortality and follow-up regarding recovery and readmission was registered. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence Interval (CI) for mortality was analyzed using Cox regression adjusted for age, comorbidities, and medication. RESULTS: There were 1646 patients included, mean age was 77.5 years. CA-AKI stage 3 occurred in 51% of patients < 65 years of age and 34% among those > 65 years. In this study, 578 (35%) patients died and 233 (22%) recovered their kidney function. Mortality rate peaked within the first two weeks and among those at AKI stage 3. Nephrology referral post discharge occurred in 3% and 29% were readmitted. HRs for mortality was 1.9 (CI 1.38-2.62) for those who are > 65 years, 1.56 (CI 1.30-1.88) for atherosclerotic-cardiovascular disease. Medication with RAASi related to a decreased HR 0.27 (95% CI 0.22-0.33). CONCLUSIONS: CA-AKI is associated with high mortality within 90 days, increased risk for developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and only one fifth recover their kidney function after hospitalization with an AKI. Nephrology referral was sparse. Patient follow-up after a hospitalization with AKI should be carefully planned during the first 90 days and focused on identifying those with a higher risk of developing CKD.

Single Atom-Engineered NIR-II Gold Clusters with Ultrahigh Brightness and Stability for Acute Kidney Injury.

Near-infrared-II (NIR-II) imaging has shown great potential for monitoring the pathological progression and deep tissue imaging but is limited to present unmet NIR-II agent. Present fluorophores show a promising prospect for NIR-II imaging, but brightness and photostability are still highly challenging during real-time monitoring. In this work, atom-engineered NIR-II Au24 Cd1  clusters with ultrahigh brightness, stability, and photostability are developed via single atomic Cd doping. Single atom Cd substitutions contribute to Cd 4d state in HOMO and redistribution of energy level near the gap, exhibiting 56-fold fluorescence enhancement of Au24 Cd1  clusters. Meanwhile, single atomic Cd reinforces CdAu bond energy, formation energy, and stabilized cluster structure, leading to persistent stability for up to 1 month without decay, as well as excellent photostability of 1 h without photobleaching, much longer than clinically approved indocyanine green (<5 min). In vivo imaging shows gold clusters can monitor acute kidney injury (AKI) even after 72 h of injury, enabling evaluating progression at a very long window. Meanwhile, the bioactive gold clusters can alleviate AKI-induced oxidative stress damage and acute neuroinflammation. Single atom-engineered gold clusters exhibit molecular tracking and diagnostic prospect in kidney-related diseases.

Rapidly Blocking the Calcium Overload/ROS Production Feedback Loop to Alleviate Acute Kidney Injury via Microenvironment-Responsive BAPTA-AM/BAC Co-Delivery Nanosystem.

Calcium overload and ROS overproduction, two major triggers of acute kidney injury (AKI), are self-amplifying and mutually reinforcing, forming a complicated cascading feedback loop that induces kidney cell "suicide" and ultimately renal failure. There are currently no clinically effective drugs for the treatment of AKI, excluding adjuvant therapy. In this study, a porous silicon-based nanocarrier rich in disulfide bond skeleton (<50 nm) is developed that enables efficient co-loading of the hydrophilic drug borane amino complex and the hydrophobic drug BAPTA-AM, with its outer layer sealed by the renal tubule-targeting peptide PEG-LTH. Once targeted to the kidney injured site, the nanocarrier structure collapses in the high glutathione environment of the early stage of AKI, releasing the drugs. Under the action of the slightly acidic inflammatory environment and intracellular esterase, the released drugs produce hydrogen and BAPTA, which can rapidly eliminate the excess ROS and overloaded Ca2+ , blocking endoplasmic reticulum/mitochondrial apoptosis pathway (ATF4-CHOP-Bax axis, Casp-12-Casp-3 axis, Cyt-C-Casp-3 axis) and inflammatory pathway (TNF-α-NF-κB axis) from the source, thus rescuing the renal cells in the "critical survival" state and further restoring the kidney function. Overall, this nanoparticle shows substantial clinical promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for I/R injury-related diseases.

Urine sediment findings were milder in patients with COVID-19-associated renal injuries than in those with non-COVID-19-associated renal injuries.

BACKGROUND: Acute renal injury is an important complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Both COVID-19-specific mechanisms, such as damage to the renal parenchyma by direct infection, and non-specific mechanisms, such as the pre-renal injury factors, have been proposed to be involved in COVID-19-associated renal injuries. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the characteristics of COVID-19-associated renal injuries, focusing mainly on urine sediment findings. METHODS: We compared the urine sediment findings and their associations with renal functions or urinary clinical parameters between subjects with COVID-19 and subjects without COVID-19 with acute renal injuries. RESULTS: We found that the number of urine sediment particles and the levels of N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase, α1-microglobulin, liver type fatty acid-binding protein, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin were associated with the severity of COVID-19. In addition, we observed that the number of granular casts, epithelial casts, waxy casts, and urinary chemical marker levels were lower in the subjects with COVID-19 than subjects without COVID-19 with acute renal injuries when the subjects were classified according to their renal function. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that pre-renal injury factors might be largely involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19-associated renal injuries compared with non-COVID-19-associated renal injuries arising from surgery or sepsis.

Nephrotoxins and acute kidney injury - The consensus of the Taiwan acute kidney injury Task Force.

The Taiwan Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Task Force conducted a review of data and developed a consensus regarding nephrotoxins and AKI. This consensus covers: (1) contrast-associated AKI; (2) drug-induced nephrotoxicity; (3) prevention of drug-associated AKI; (4) follow up after AKI; (5) re-initiation of medication after AKI. Strategies for the avoidance of contrast media related AKI, including peri-procedural hydration, sodium bicarbonate solutions, oral N-acetylcysteine, and iso-osmolar/low-osmolar non-ionic iodinated contrast media have been recommended, given the respective evidence levels. Regarding anticoagulants, both warfarin and new oral anticoagulants have potential nephrotoxicity, and dosage should be reduced if renal pathology exam proves renal injury. Recommended strategies to prevent drug related AKI have included assessment of 5R/(6R) reactions - risk, recognition, response, renal support, rehabilitation and (research), use of AKI alert system and computerized decision support. In terms of antibiotics-associated AKI, avoiding concomitant administration of vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam, monitoring vancomycin trough level, switching from vancomycin to teicoplanin in high-risk patients, and replacing conventional amphotericin B with lipid-based amphotericin B have been shown to reduce drug related AKI. With respect to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug associated AKI, it is recommended to use these drugs cautiously in the elderly and in patients receiving renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors/diuretics triple combinations.

Safety analysis regarding acute kidney injuries for chloride-restrictive intravenous fluid administration against that of chloride-liberal for patients admitted in the medical intensive care unit: A non-randomised retrospective (chrachl-mic) study.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injuries are common in the medical intensive care unit. Generally, intravenous normal saline is administered in critically ill patients but it is associated with acute kidney injury. Current knowledge of chloride and its effect on the physiological functions of the kidney is limited. The objectives of the study were to compare the safety of chloride-restrictive intravenous fluid administration against that of chloride-liberal regarding acute kidney injuries. METHODS: Data regarding RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss, and end-stage renal failure) categories, Kidney Disease: Improved Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stage, Δ creatinine, and requirements of renal replacement therapy of 285 patients admitted to medical intensive care unit for critical illness during 4-months from the hospitalisation were retrospectively collected and analysed. Patients received chloride-liberal intravenous fluid (CL cohort, n = 163) or that of chloride-restrictive (CR cohort, n = 122) during bundle-of-care. RESULTS: Patients with risk (P = .039) and injury (P = .041) categories of RIFLE, high Δ creatinine (0.22 ± 0.02 mg/dL/patient vs 0.18 ± 0.02 mg/dL/patient, P < .0001), and patients with KDIGO stage 1 (P = .023) and stage 2 (P = .048) were reported significantly higher in the CL cohort than the CR cohort. The higher numbers of patients were put on renal replacement therapy in the CL cohort than those of the CR cohort (16 vs 3, P = .014). CONCLUSION: The chloride-restrictive intravenous fluid administration has reduced the chances of acute kidney injuries in the intensive medical care unit.

Baseline serum cystatin C as a marker of acute kidney injury in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.

BACKGROUND: A creatinine-based estimation of the renal function lags behind the onset of disease process. Cystatin C is a new marker for acute kidney injury (AKI). However, data are limited in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). We evaluated serum cystatin C as an early predictor of AKI in patients with ACLF. METHODS: In a prospective observational study, patients with ACLF and normal serum creatinine level were included in the study. Serum cystatin C was analyzed with the development of AKI and the disease outcome. RESULT: Forty-seven patients (mean age: 43.26±16.34 years; male:female: 2.35:1) were included in the study. AKI developed in 34% of patients during the hospital stay. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that the best cutoff for baseline cystatin C was 1.47 mg/L with a sensitivity of 0.94 and specificity of 0.68. The cystatin C ((area under the curve [AUC]=0.853) performance was better than that of the creatinine (AUC=0.699), Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) (AUC=0.661), and model for end-stage liver disease-sodium (MELD-Na) (AUC=0.641). In the univariate analysis, age, platelet count, creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)-modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD), cystatin C, and estimated glomerular filtration rate-serum cystatin C (eGFRcysC) were significantly associated with AKI in ACLF patients. Cystatin C was an independent positive predictor of AKI. Cystatin C was positively correlated with the MELD-Na scores (r=0.374 and p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Our study supports previous studies reporting that serum cystatin C is a better predictor for AKI development compared to serum creatinine. Cystatin C may be used as an early marker for new-onset AKI in hospitalized patients with ACLF.

Discriminatory Precision of Renal Angina Index in Predicting Acute Kidney Injury in Children; a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There is still controversy over the value of renal angina index (RAI) in predicting acute renal failure (AKI) in children. Therefore, the present study aims to provide evidence by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis on the value of RAI in this regard. METHODS: An extensive search of Medline, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted by the end of January 2020 using words related to RAI and AKI. Two independent reviewers screened and summarized the related studies. Data were analysed using STATA 14.0 statistical program and discriminatory precision of RAI was assessed. RESULTS: Data from 11 studies were included. These studies included data from 3701 children (60.41% boys). There were 752 children with AKI and 2949 non-AKI children. Pooled analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve of RAI in prediction of AKI was 0.88 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85 to 0.91]. Sensitivity and specificity of this tool in predicting AKI were 0.85% (95% CI: 0.74% to 0.92%) and 0.79% (95% CI: 0.69% to 0.89%), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio of RAI was 20.40 (95% CI: 9.62 to 43.25). CONCLUSION: The findings of the present meta-analysis showed that RAI is a reliable tool in predicting AKI in children.

Relationship Between Level of Heart Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein (Before and after Procedures) with Acute Renal Failure after PCI in Patients Under PCI.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Acute renal failure (AKI) is one of the most important complications of PCI. Due to delay in creatinine increase, we need specific factors to detect AKI earlier. The aim of this study is to evaluate the valuable factors by focusing on HFAB-P that can be predictive for AKI after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). METHODS: This prospective study was performed on 95 patients (55 males and 44 females aged between 49-78 years) under PCI in Golestan and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Ahvaz. Patients were divided into three groups based on the development of AKI after the procedure: no AKI, severe AKI (doubling of serum creatinine or needing dialysis) and any type of AKI (increased creatinine ≥ 0/3 mg/dl or a 50% increase in the means of 1/5 times serum creatinine). The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, the medical history and the results of the HFABP marker, GFR, and creatinine before and after PCI were evaluated for all patients. RESULTS: The progenies showed 6 patients with severe AKI, 17 patients with any type of AKI, and 72 patients without AKI. Diabetes (P = 0.003), hypertension (P = 0.027), gender of patients (P = 0.025) and hospital admission days (P <0.001) were significantly different among the groups. Patients' age and positive troponin were significantly higher in patients with AKI. HFABP was the only factor that had significant changes before and after PCI (P <0.001). The cut-off value of HFABP was 4.69 with 95.6% sensitivity and 84.7% specificity. It has a good negative predictive value of 98.39% which suggests it to be a good test for the AKI prediction. Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) and creatinine (Cr) were significantly different after PCI (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: HFABP can be considered as a predictor for AKI after PCI. Moreover, our study suggests that evaluating several parameters such as Cr and GFR before and after PCI can predict the AKI development after PCI.

Incidence, Risk Factors and Prognosis of Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Acute Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography.

Background and Objectives: Heart failure (HF) is a well-known risk factor for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). We sought to evaluate the risk factors and prognostic impact of CI-AKI in patients with AHF who undergo coronary angiography (CAG). Methods: A total 594 patients with AHF underwent CAG from May 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013. CI-AKI was defined as an increase ≥25% or ≥0.5 mg/dL in serum creatinine at 48 hours after CAG or the initiation of dialysis after CAG. The deviation of body weight on CAG day from the dry weight (ΔBWTCAG, %) was calculated for each patient. Results: Overall, CI-AKI was observed in 24.7% of patients. Patients with CI-AKI had higher in-hospital death (16.3% vs. 5.1%, p<0.001; relative risk [RR], 2.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.45-4.31) and 1-year post-discharge death (38.1% vs. 17.4%, p<0.001; hazard ratio, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.40-3.34) than those without CI-AKI. Patients with CI-AKI had greater ΔBWTCAG than those without CI-AKI (5.5±5.7% vs. 3.7±4.0%, p<0.001). A J-shaped association between the risk of CI-AKI and ΔBWTCAG was noted. In patients with weight excess (n=179), an increase of ΔBWT by 1% was associated with 9% (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03-1.16), while in patients with weight deficiency (n=86), a decrease of ΔBWT by 1% was associated with 11% increased risk for CI-AKI (RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.05-1.17). Conclusions: In AHF patients undergoing CAG CI-AKI is common and associated with worse clinical outcomes. Achieving optimum body weight before CAG may reduce the risk of CI-AKI. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01389843.

Near-infrared spectroscopy parameters in patients undergoing continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration / Espectroscopia no infravermelho próximo em pacientes sob hemodiafiltração venovenosa contínua

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the impacts of continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration on the microcirculation in patients with acute kidney injury. Methods A prospective observational pilot study conducted in a 40-bed, open clinical-surgical intensive care unit of a private tertiary care hospital located in the city of São Paulo (SP), Brazil. Microcirculation was assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy by means of a 15mm probe placed over the thenar eminence. Vascular occlusion test was performed on the forearm to be submitted to near-infrared spectroscopy by inflation of a sphygmomanometer cuff to 30mmHg higher than the systolic arterial pressure. The primary endpoint was the assessment of near-infrared spectroscopy-derived parameters immediately before, 1, 4 and 24 hours after the initiation of continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration. Results Nine patients were included in this pilot study over a period of 2 months. Minimum tissue oxygen saturation measured during the vascular occlusion test was the only near-infrared spectroscopy-derived parameter to differed over the time (decrease compared to baseline values up to 24 hours after initiation of continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration). Conclusion The impacts of microcirculatory dysfunction on clinical outcomes of patients undergoing to continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration need to be further investigated.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar o impacto da hemodiafiltração venovenosa contínua na microcirculação de pacientes com lesão renal aguda. Métodos Estudo piloto, prospectivo e observacional conduzido em uma unidade de terapia intensiva clínico-cirúrgica aberta, com 40 leitos, localizada em um hospital terciário, privado, na cidade de São Paulo (SP), Brasil. A microcirculação foi avaliada empregando-se a espectroscopia no infravermelho próximo, por meio de uma sonda de 15mm posicionada sobre a eminência tenar. O teste de oclusão vascular foi realizado no antebraço a ser submetido à espectroscopia no infravermelho próximo, inflando-se o manguito de um esfigmomanômetro a um valor 30mmHg acima da pressão arterial sistólica. O desfecho primário foi a avaliação dos parâmetros derivados por espectroscopia no infravermelho próximo imediatamente antes, 1, 4 e 24 horas após o início da hemodiafiltração venovenosa contínua. Resultados Foram incluídos nove pacientes neste estudo piloto ao longo de 2 meses. A saturação de oxigênio tecidual mínima mensurada durante o teste de oclusão vascular foi o único parâmetro derivado por espectroscopia no infravermelho próximo que diferiu ao longo do tempo, com queda em relação aos valores iniciais nas primeiras 24 horas após o início da hemodiafiltração venovenosa contínua. Conclusão A influência da disfunção microcirculatória sobre os desfechos clínicos de pacientes submetidos à hemodiafiltração venovenosa contínua precisa ser melhor investigada.

Stem Cell Mobilizers: Novel Therapeutics for Acute Kidney Injury.

In the past decade, rapid developments in stem cell studies have occurred. Researchers have confirmed the plasticity of bone marrow stem cells and the repair and regeneration effects of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells on solid organs. These findings have suggested the possibility of using bone marrow stem cell mobilizers to repair and regenerate injured organs. Recent studies on the effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and Plerixafor (AMD3100) on mouse acute kidney injury models have confirmed that the use of bone marrow stem cell mobilizers may be an effective therapeutic measure. This paper summarizes studies describing the effects of G-CSF and AMD3100 on various acute kidney injury models over the past 10 years.

Acute kidney injury after trauma: An analysis of risk factors for incidence and prognosis / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the incidence and mortality of acute kidney injury (AKI) in posttraumatic patients, and to analyze the risk factors influencing the incidence and outcomes of AKI. Methods Totally 4 221 patients with trauma who were admitted to No. 309 Hospital of PLA between Jan. 2004 and Jan. 2014 were screened and subjected to a retrospective study, and the incidence rate of AKI and mortality were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors for the incidence and prognosis of the patients with AKI. Results The incidence of AKI in posttraumatic patients in this study was 11. 6% (489/4 221) according to the classification and diagnosis criteria from Kidney Disease:Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), and 46. 0% (225/489) of them died prior to hospital discharge. There was an increasing hospital mortality tendency with the increase of AKI severity, with the hospital mortality rates being 30. 1% (84/279), 54. 6% (53/97), and 77. 9% (88/113) in AKI patients with KDIGO 1, 2, and 3 stage, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increase of age, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) scores on admission > 17, injury severity score (ISS) on admission > 16, severe head injury, abdominal organ injury, rhabdomyolysis, shock and respiration system dysfunction were risk factors for occurrence of AKI (P25, severe head injury, KDIGO stage 3, cardiovascular and respiratory system dysfunction (P < 0. 05, P < 0. 01). Conclusion AKI is a common clinical complication with high mortality in posttraumatic patients. To prevent severe complications after trauma is the key for improving the prognosis of patients.

Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Severe Complications among Patients with Acute Hepatitis A Virus Infection in The Jeonbuk Province of Korea / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The frequency of symptomatic acute HAV infections in adulthood are increasing in Korea. This study analyzes the clinical severity in patients with acute HAV infection and investigates risk factors associated with three severe complications: prolonged cholestasis, acute kidney injury, and acute liver failure. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 726 patients diagnosed from January 2006 to December 2010 at three tertiary hospitals in Jeonbuk Province, Republic of Korea with acute HAV infection. RESULTS: In the group of 726 patients, the mean age was 30.3 years, 426 (58.6%) were male, and 34 (4.7%) were HBsAg positive. Severe complications from acute HAV infection occurred as follows: prolonged cholestasis in 33 (4.6%), acute kidney injury in 17 (2.3%), and acute liver failure in 16 (2.2%). Through multivariate analysis, age > or =40 years (OR 2.63, p=0.024) and peak PT (INR) > or =1.5 (OR 5.81, p=0.035) were found to be significant risk factors for prolonged cholestasis. Age > or =40 years (OR 5.24, p=0.002) and female gender (OR 3.11, p=0.036) were significant risk factors for acute kidney injury. Age > or =40 years (OR 6.91, p=0.002), HBsAg positivity (OR 5.02, p=0.049), and peak total bilirubin (OR 1.11, p=0.001) were significant risk factors for acute liver failure. CONCLUSIONS: Age > or =40 years, female gender, HBsAg positivity, peak PT (INR) > or =1.5, and peak total bilirubin were significant risk factors for severe complications in acute HAV infections.