Data Analysis of Impaired Renal and Cardiac Function Using a Combination of Standard Classifiers.

We examine the significance of the predictive potential of EPI cystatin C (EPI CysC) in combination with NTproBNP, sodium, and potassium in the evaluation of renal function in patients with cardiorenal syndrome using standard mathematical classification models from the domain of artificial intelligence. The criterion for the inclusion of subjects with combined impairment of heart and kidney function in the study was the presence of newly discovered or previously diagnosed clinically manifest cardiovascular disease and acute or chronic kidney disease in different stages of evolution. In this paper, five standard classifiers from the field of machine learning were used for the analysis of the obtained data: ensemble of neural networks (MLP), ensemble of k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) and naive Bayes classifier, decision tree, and a classifier based on logistic regression. The results showed that in MLP, k-NN, and naive Bayes, EPI CysC had the highest predictive potential. Thus, our approach with utility classifiers recognizes the essence of the disorder in patients with cardiorenal syndrome and facilitates the planning of further treatment.

Is It Possible to Analyze Kidney Functions, Electrolytes and Volemia Using Artificial Intelligence?

Markers used in everyday clinical practice cannot distinguish between the permanent impairment of renal function. Sodium and potassium values and their interdependence are key parameters in addition to volemia for the assessment of cardiorenal balance. The aim of this study was to investigate volemia and electrolyte status from a clinical cardiorenal viewpoint under consideration of renal function utilizing artificial intelligence. In this paper, an analysis of five variables: B-type natriuretic peptide, sodium, potassium, ejection fraction, EPI creatinine-cystatin C, was performed using an algorithm based on the adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system. B-type natriuretic peptide had the greatest influence on the ejection fraction. It has been shown that values of both Na+ and K+ lead to deterioration of the condition and vital endangerment of patients. To identify the risk of occurrence, the model identifies a prognostic biomarker by random regression from the total data set. The predictions obtained from this model can help optimize preventative strategies and intensive monitoring for patients identified as at risk for electrolyte disturbance and hypervolemia. This approach may be superior to the traditional diagnostic approach due to its contribution to more accurate and rapid diagnostic interpretation and better planning of further patient treatment.

Platelet thrombus formation in patients with end-stage renal disease before and after hemodialysis as measured by the total thrombus-formation analysis system.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving hemodialysis (HD) often experience bleeding. However, mechanisms behind this bleeding tendency are incompletely understood but may involve platelet dysfunction. We, therefore, studied platelet-dependent thrombus formation in flowing whole blood inside a microchip coated with collagen, and its association with circulating von Willebrand factor (VWF). METHODS: Blood samples were obtained in 22 patients before and after HD. The area under the 10 min flow pressure curve in a microchip (AUC10) reflecting total platelet thrombogenicity was measured, using the Total Thrombus-formation Analysis System (T-TAS01). AUC10 < 260 indicates platelet dysfunction. VWF activity and antigen in plasma were also assayed. RESULTS: VWF levels were moderately elevated and increased further after HD (P < 0.01 or lower). In contrast, AUC10 before and after HD was < 260 in 17/22 patients and < 130 in 15/22 patients, with no statistically significant difference in pre- vs post-HD measurements, indicating reduced platelet thrombogenicity, but with some variability as 5/22 patients showed normal platelet responsiveness. AUC10 and VWF activity or antigen levels in plasma were not correlated, either before or after HD. CONCLUSIONS: Most ESRD patients display moderate-to-severe platelet dysfunction as assessed by shear-induced platelet-dependent thrombus formation with T-TAS01. HD does not influence platelet function despite HD-induced elevations in VWF. T-TAS01 should be further evaluated as a tool in the assessment of bleeding risk in patients on HD.

Risk factors for urosepsis in chronic kidney disease patients with urinary tract infections.

Occurrence of urosepsis is not uncommon following urinary tract infections (UTI). However, there is a lack of evidence explaining the risk factors predisposing to urosepsis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence and possible risk factors for urosepsis among patients hospitalized with UTI in a cohort of CKD patients. Patients were divided into the urosepsis group and the non-urosepsis group. Of 489 hospitalized patients with UTI, 70 (14.3%) acquired urosepsis. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that diabetes, urinary catheter and length of hospital stay (p < 0.001 for all) were significant independent predictive risk factors for urosepsis in CKD patients with UTI in addition to age, glomerular filtration rate, hydronephrosis, acute kidney injury and E. coli infection (p < 0.05 for all). Finally, Klebsiella spp. cases were associated with significantly higher odds for urosepsis than E. coli cases (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 2.86-7.23, p < 0.001 vs. OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.19-3.69, p = 0.038). Diabetes, presence of an indwelling urinary catheter, length of hospitalization, and infection with Klebsiella spp were independent risk factors for urosepsis in CKD patients with UTI.

Renal dysfunction as intrahospital prognostic indicator in acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE), due to hemodynamic disturbances, may lead to multi-organ damage, including acute renal dysfunction. The aim of our study was to investigate the predictive role of renal dysfunction at admission regarding the short-term mortality and bleeding risk in hospitalized PE patients. METHODS: The retrospective cohort study included 1330 consecutive patients with PE. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated using the serum creatinine value and Cocroft-Gault formula, at hospital admission. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and PE-related mortality in the 30 days following admission, as well as major bleeding events. RESULTS: Based on the estimated GFR, patients were divided into three groups: the first with GFR < 30 mL/min, the second with GFR 30-60 mL/min, and the third group with GFR > 60 mL/min. A multivariable analysis showed that GFR at admission was strongly associated with all-cause death, as well as with death due to PE. Patients in the first and second group had a significantly higher risk of 30-day all-cause mortality (HR 7.109, 95% CI 4.243-11.911, p < 0.001; HR 2.554, 95% CI 1.598-4.081, p < 0.001). Fatal bleeding was recorded in 1.6%, 0.5% and 0.8% of patients in the first, second and in the third group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences regarding major bleeding rates among the groups. CONCLUSION: Renal dysfunction at admission in patients with acute pulmonary embolism is strongly associated with overall PE mortality.

Protein Carbonyl Content Is a Predictive Biomarker of Eccentric Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hemodialysis Patients.

High prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and elevated oxidative stress are associated with poor outcomes in chronic hemodialysis patients. Abnormal left ventriculаr geomеtry and different geometric patterns play an important role as well. Our study analyzed the role of oxidative stress on myocardial remodeling in these patients. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) content, and total antioxidative capacity (TAC) were investigated in 104 hemodialysis patients together with transthoracic echocardiography. Compared to patients with normal ventricular geometry, patients with LVH had increased MDA and PC plasma concentration. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that protein carbonyls, as biomarkers of oxidative protein modification, were an independent predictor of eccentric hypertrophy (eLVH), including higher LV end-diastolic diameter and LV end-diastolic volume, (ß = 0.32 and ß = 0.28, p < 0.001 for both). The incidence of eLVH increased progressively from the lowest to the highest baseline PC tertile (p < 0.001 for the trend) and the subjects in the former group showed a 76% greater risk of developing eLVH compared to their counterparts. After further adjustment for the potential mediators, PCs carried eLVH odds (95% confidence interval (CI)) of 1.256 (0.998-1.514), per standard deviation increase. High plasma protein carbonyls levels are a significant independent predictor of eccentric LVH in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Associations of Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality with Metabolic Syndrome in Hemodialysis Patients: A Prospective Single-Center Study.

Background and objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors, such as abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension, that together increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients have multiple comorbidities and many metabolic disorders, causing the frequent occurrence of metabolic syndrome. The goal of this study was to assess the prevalence of MetS in HD patients, and its association with all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality. Patients and methods: A total of 138 HD patients were included in this prospective study. We analyzed demographic, anthropometric and biochemical data. Outcome measures were all-cause and CV mortality during the three-year follow-up. Results: MetS was diagnosed in 57.24% of enrolled patients. During the 36 months of follow-up, 33 patients died. MetS patients showed a significantly higher mortality rate than non-MetS (30.4% versus 16.36%, p < 0.001). The association of different MetS components with cardiovascular mortality reached significance when a minimum of three components were present (1.81 (95% confidence interval CI = 1.21-2.33)), with a grouped increase in effect size for subjects with four or five MetS components. Subjects with MetS exhibited nearly twice as high risk for all-cause (hazard ratio HR = 1.99 (95%CI) = 1.42-2.97) and 2.5 times for CV (HR = 2.51 (95%CI) = 1.25-3.83) mortality compared with those without MetS, after adjustment for age, gender, and cardiovascular disease. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that MetS is widespread in HD patients. In future, the focus must be on an active screening approach, and treatment of cardiometabolic risk factors, aiming to reduce mortality.

Elevated Serum Ferritin Levels Are Predictive of Renal Function Recovery among Patients with Acute Kidney Injury.

Oxidative stress (OS) frequently contributes to the development of acute kidney injury (AKI). Iron can promote oxidative stress and tissue injury by catalyzing free reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and increasing the steady-state concentration of these potent oxidants. The anticipated role of ferritin is to protect from OS by sequestering iron and limiting its involvement in reactions that generate ROS. In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the association between serum ferritin levels and kidney function recovery among patients with AKI. Renal recovery was determined as a return of serum creatinine to less than 1.25 times the baseline value after 90 days of follow-up. One hundred twelve patients (72 males and 40 females, 63.68 ± 10.6 years old) were included in the final analysis. They were divided into AKI recovery (n = 76) and non-recovery groups (n = 36). Ferritin levels on admission were higher in AKI recovery group [284 (IQR 153-525) ng/mL] compared with the non-recovery group [127.4 (IQR 30-243) ng/mL], p < 0.001. Serum ferritin levels and the renal recovery significantly positively correlated (r = 0.72, p < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, higher serum ferritin was associated with renal function recovery (OR 3.68, CI 2.02-3.97, p < 0.001). The optimal cut-off point of 240.5 ng/mL was determined for serum ferritin, which showed a sensitivity of 75.8% and a positive predictive value of 90%. In conclusion, serum ferritin levels on admission may be used as a prognostic marker for predicting renal recovery in AKI patients.

Population Pharmacokinetics of Bisoprolol in Hemodialysis Patients with Hypertension.

The aim of our study was to estimate clearance of bisoprolol and reveal the factors that could influence its pharmacokinetic (PK) variability in hypertensive patients on hemodialysis, using the population PK analysis. Parameters associated with plasma concentration of bisoprolol at steady state were analyzed in 63 patients (mean age 62.12 years, mean total weight 69.63 kg) who were hypertensive and on hemodialysis due to severe renal failure using non-linear mixed-effect modeling with ADVAN1 subroutine. The final regression model for the clearance of the drug included only creatinine clearance (CLcr) out of 12 tested covariates. The equation that describes CL of bisoprolol is the following: CL (l/h) = 0.12 + 6.33 * CLcr. These findings suggest that the routine measuring of serum creatinine level may be used to facilitate administration of bisoprolol in patients on hemodialysis.

Comparative analysis of autodermal graft and polypropylene mesh use in large incisional hernia defects reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Large defects of the abdominal wall caused by incisional hernia still represent a challenging problem in plastic, reconstructive, and abdominal surgery. For their successful tension-free repair a proper selection of reconstructive material is essential. In the last decades, the use of synthetic meshes was dominant while biological autodermal grafts were rarely used. The aim of the study was to comparatively analyse efficacy and safety of autodermal graft and polypropylene mesh in surgical treatment of large abdominal wall defects. METHODS: This prospective comparative clinical study enroled 40 patients surgically treated for large incisional hernia repair in a 10-year period. The patients were divided into two equal groups consisting of 20 subjects and treated either by biological autodermal graft or by synthetic polypropylene mesh. The surgical techniques of reconstruction, duration of surgery, the occurrence of early, minor, and major (severe) and delyed complications and hospital stay were analysed. The average follow-up took 2 years. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics of patients and in size of defects were not found. The surgical technique of reconstruction with an autodermal graft was more complicated. The duration of surgery in patients treated with autodermal grafts was significantly longer. There was no statistically significant difference regarding occurrence of early, minor postoperative complications and hospital stay in our study. Two severe complications were registered in the synthetic mesh group: intestinal obstruction and enterocutaneous fistula. The recurrence rate was 10% in the autodermal graft group and 15% in the group with a synthetic mesh. CONCLUSION: Tension-free repair of large incisional hernia with autodermal grafts was unjustly neglected despite the fact that it is safe and effective. It can be applied in all cases where synthetic mesh are not indicated (presence of infection, immunodeficient patients, after radiotherapy). They are especially important in war surgery and in lack of funds when commercial grafts cannot be purchased.

How the duration period of erythropoietin treatment influences the oxidative status of hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease is a state of enhanced oxidative stress (OS) and hemodialysis (HD) and renal anemia further augment this disbalance. Anemia correction with erythropoietin (EPO) may improve oxidative status. However, there is no evidence of time dependent effects of EPO therapy on redox status of HD patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the duration of EPO treatment may affect OS parameters in uremic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 104 HD patients and 29 healthy volunteers were included. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the duration of EPO treatment. Forth group consisted of HD patients without EPO treatment. Plasma and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA, MDA(rbc)), reactive carbonyl groups (RCG), plasma sulfhydryl (-SH) groups and total antioxidative capacity (TAC) levels were evaluated. RESULTS: HD patients both with and without EPO treatment, showed a significant increase in all oxidative parameters without significance between EPO treated and -untreated group. The decrease in MDA and MDA(rbc) levels coincided with the duration of EPO treatment. A negative correlation was observed between the duration of EPO treatment and serum MDA (r=-0.309, p=0.003). Increasing periods of EPO treatment were associated with decrease in RCG, without significance between EPO groups. Increase in TAC accompanied increasing durations of EPO treatment, with EPO treatment for more than 24 months causing the most striking changes (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in -SH levels between EPO subgroups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that long term administration of EPO attenuated the lipid peroxidation process and restored the levels of antioxidants.

Indirect serum fibrosis markers in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

UNLABELLED: Assessment of liver fibrosis is important for making treatment decisions, as well as for predicting prognosis and therapeutic outcome in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) treatment and infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate changes in standard laboratory tests (AST, ALT, yGT, cholesterol and platelet count) and indirect serum fibrosis markers: AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB-4 and Forns index, in chronically HCV-infected patients on maintenance HD with and without antiviral treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 38 patients on chronic HD program more than 3 months and with chronic hepatitis C, were included in the study. According to local legislature 14 patients receive antiviral therapy (24 or 48 weeks, according to HCV genotype) adjusted for patients on HD: eight of them achieved sustained virological response (SVR) and six did not. RESULTS: All treated patients were HCV genotype 1. Baseline blood samples for standard laboratory tests and indirect serum fibrosis markers were collected on the day of antiviral treatment initiation, as well as at the end of follow-up treatment, 36 month later. At the beginning of antiviral treatment there were no significant differences in APRI, FIB-4, Forns and its components between patients who will achieve SVR and those who did not. A significant decrease of AST, ALT, yGT and APRI, and moderate decrease FIB-4 and Forns index was found at the end of follow-up in patients with SVR. In non-sustained responders group those three indexes and its components remained unchanged. Using cut-of values for APRI and FIB-4 (APRI < 0.5 and FIB-4 < 1.45) it was registered that raised percentage of patients with "no fibrosis" at the end of follow-up in those who achieved SVR. Absence of fibrosis measured by Forns index remained unchanged in all groups of patients. CONCLUSION: Simple indexes as APRI and FIB-4, successfully decrease after antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients. These parameters seems to be useful in monitoring for liver fibrosis rate after antiviral treatment in patients on maintenance HD infected by HCV and can be used for estimation liver fibrosis progression in candidates for cadaveric renal transplantation.

Prevalence and risk factors of myocardial remodeling in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for morbidity/mortality in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Our study aimed to identify prevalence as well as independent risk factors that contribute to the development of LV geometric remodeling in our HD patients. METHODS: The left ventricles of 116 HD patients were classified echocardiographically into four different geometric patterns on the basis of LV mass and relative wall thickness. Furthermore, we measured inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter and its collapsibility index (CI) by echocardiography. Finally, we modeled a stepwise multiple regression analysis to determine the predictors of LV geometry. RESULTS: Our study provides evidence that HD patients had a prevalence of abnormal LV geometry in 92% and LVH in 81%. We found all four geometric models of LV. Most dominant were eccentric LVH. Concentric LVH was observed in 37, normal geometry (NG) in 9, and concentric remodeling (CR) in 13 of HD patients. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly higher in the cLVH group (95 +/- 10 mmHg) than in the NG and CR groups (81.6 +/- 12.3 and 80 +/- 11.8, respectively, p < 0.001). The cLVH and eCLVH groups had significantly lower mean hemoglobin (10.3 +/- 1.4 g/dL and 10.6 +/- 1g/dL, respectively) compared with the NG group (11.9 +/- 1.4 g/dL), p < 0.001. Furthermore, interdialytic weight gain (kg) was significantly higher in eCLVH group (3.13 +/- 0.8) than in NG group (2.3 +/- 1.1), p < 0.001. Mean IVC index of the eLVH group (10.83 +/- 2.07 mm/m(2)) was significantly higher than corresponding indexes of NG (10.83 +/- 2.07 mm/m(2)), CR (8.31 +/- 1.32 mm/m(2)) and cLVH (8.12 +/- 2.06 mm/m(2)) groups (p < 0.001 for each comparisons). CONCLUSION: Mean arterial pressure, hemoglobin, IVC index, and interdialytic weight gain were found to be independent predictors of LV geometry (R(2) = 0.147; p < 0.001) in HD patients.