Serum Cystatin C Levels Could Predict Rapid Kidney Function Decline in A Community-Based Population.

BACKGROUND: Several biomarkers have been correlated with the prevalence and severity of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, the association between biomarkers and rapid kidney function decline (RKFD) is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive performance of biomarkers to determine who is likely to develop RKFD in a healthy population. METHODS: A community-based cohort of 2608 people residing in northern Taiwan were enrolled, and their renal function was followed annually from January 2014 to December 2019. The outcomes of interest were RKFD, defined as a 15% decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) within the first 4 years, and a decrease in eGFR without improvement in the fifth year. Clinical variables and potential predictors of RKFD, namely adiponectin, leptin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and cystatin C, were measured and analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of RKFD was 17.0% (105/619). After matching for age and sex at a 1:1 ratio, a total of 200 subjects were included for analysis. The levels of cystatin C and total vitamin D were significantly negatively correlated with eGFR. eGFR was negatively correlated with the levels of cystatin C and total vitamin D. Among the biomarkers, cystatin C showed the best predictive performance for RKFD (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.789). Lower serum cystatin C was associated with a higher rate of RKFD in healthy subjects. A generalized additive model showed that 0.82 mg/L was an adequate cut-off value of cystatin C to predict RKFD. Multivariable logistic regression analysis further indicated that low cystatin C and eGFR were independent predictors of the possibility of RKFD. CONCLUSIONS: Serum cystatin C level could predict the possibility of RKFD. We suggest that a low cystatin C level should be considered as a risk factor for RKFD in healthy subjects.

Relationships Between Metabolic Body Composition Status and Rapid Kidney Function Decline in a Community-Based Population: A Prospective Observational Study.

Obesity and metabolic syndrome are strong risk factors for incident chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the predictive accuracy of metabolic body composition status (MBCS), which combines the status of obesity and metabolic syndrome, for rapid kidney function decline (RKFD) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between MBCS and RKFD in a healthy population in a prospective community-based cohort study. In the current study, we followed changes in renal function in 731 people residing in northern Taiwan for 5 years. The participants were divided into four groups according to their MBCS, including metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy overweight (MHOW), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), and metabolically unhealthy overweight (MUOW). We evaluated traditional risk factors for CKD and metabolic profiles. The primary outcome was RKFD, which was defined as a 15% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) within the first 4 years, and a reduction in eGFR which did not improve in the 5th year. During the study period, a total of 731 participants were enrolled. The incidence of RKFD was 17.1% (125/731). Multiple Cox logistic regression hazard analysis revealed that age, cerebrovascular accident, eGFR, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, use of painkillers, depressive mood, MUNW and MUOW were independent predictors of RKFD. After adjusting for age, sex, eGFR and total cholesterol, the participants with MUNW and MUOW had higher hazard ratios (HRs) for RKFD [HR: 2.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-3.95 for MUNW; HR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.21-2.87 for MUOW] than those with MHNW. Similar results were also observed in subgroup analysis of those aged above 65 years. On the basis of the results of this study, we conclude that MBCS was independently associated with RKFD, especially in the older adults. On the basis of our results, we suggest that MUNW and MUOW should be considered as risk factors for RKFD.

Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 Levels Can Predict Rapid Kidney Function Decline in a Healthy Population: A Community-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) associates with decreased kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the correlation between circulating FGF-23 levels and the rate of renal function decline in healthy individuals is largely unknown. We aimed to evaluate the predictive performance of FGF-23 for rapid kidney function decline (RKFD) in a community-based study. METHODS: A total of 2963 people residing in northern Taiwan were enrolled from August 2013 to May 2018 for an annual assessment of kidney function for five years. The baseline estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) were calculated using the 2009 and 2021 Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation, which aggregates the values of serum creatinine and cystatin C (eGFRcr-cys). The outcome was RKFD-a 15% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) within the first four years, and a reduction in eGFR without improvement in the 5th year. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to determine the cut-off value of FGF-23 to predict RKFD. RESULTS: The incidence of RKFD was 18.0% (114/634). After matching for age and sex at a 1:1 ratio, a total of 220 subjects were analyzed. eGFRcr-cys was negatively correlated with total vitamin D level but seemed irrelevant to FGF-23. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that FGF-23, eGFRcr-cys, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) were independent predictors of the possibility of RKFD. FGF-23 showed the best predictive performance for RKFD (AUROC: 0.803), followed by baseline eGFRcr-cys (AUROC: 0.639) and UACR (AUROC: 0.591). From the GAM, 32 pg/mL was the most appropriate cut-off value of FGF-23 with which to predict RKFD. The subgroup and sensitivity analyses showed consistent results that high-FGF-23 subjects had higher risks of RKFD. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating FGF-23 level could be a helpful predictor for RKFD in this community-based population.

Extra nuchal-type fibroma associated with repetitive blunt trauma during religious activities.

Nuchal-type fibroma (NTF) is a rare, benign subcutaneous tumor that usually arises from the posterior neck. NTF is histologically characterised by dense collagen bundles and sparse fibroblasts. Only four trauma-related cases have been previously published. Herein, we present a case of extra NTF with histopathology, and six palanquin porters by using snowball sampling technique in ethnographic field research. A palanquin is a type of human-powered transport carried upon the shoulders mostly seen in religious processions. All individuals (mean age, 26.8 years) displayed similar shoulder masses measuring up to 12 cm in the greatest dimensions. They averaged approximately 8.1 years of palanquin-carrying work each. We believe that long-term, heavy shoulder weight bearing of palanquins in religious dance performances may attribute to the incidence of extra NTF. This study reviews all literature of trauma-associated NTF through PubMed database, and highlights the association between repetitive blunt trauma and the development of NTF.