| 1. |
- Duranton, Flore, et al.
(author)
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Blood Pressure Seasonality in Hemodialysis Patients from Five European Cities of Different Latitudes
- 2018
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In: Kidney and Blood Pressure Research. - : S. Karger. - 1420-4096 .- 1423-0143. ; 43:5, s. 1529-1538
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/Aims: Climate influences the regulation of blood pressure (BP). Our objective was to precisely estimate BP seasonality in hemodialysis (HD) patients from five European cities with marked climate differences. Methods: Stable prevalent HD patients from 5 European facilities (Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain), Seville (Spain), Montpellier (France), Ottignies (Belgium), Umea (Sweden)) present over the years 1995-1999 were included in this historical longitudinal observational study. Individual monthly averages of pre-dialysis BP level were computed from all facility BP measurements (>90 000 observations). The association between BP level and location, seasons and meteorological measurements was analyzed by mixed models. Results: 261 patients were included and followed-up for a median duration of 2 years (6903 monthly observations). Pre-dialysis SBP and DBP were minimal in summer (July) and maximal in winter (November and December), and mean changes were respectively 4.2 [3.0;5.4] and 2.0 [1.3;2.7] mmHg. Seasonality was confirmed in 4 locations (P-season <= 0.0010.001 for SBP and DBP), but not in Umea (both P-season >0.05). Seasonal changes in DBP were larger in southern locations (P-interaction =0.02). BP level was associated with climate parameters: in a positive manner with humidity or rainfall, and inversely with sunshine duration or temperature. The effects of temperature and rainfall on DBP varied with latitude (P-interaction <0.02) and were greater in southern locations. Conclusion: BP varies with seasons and climate in different European areas and seasonality can be more important in southern locations. These changes in BP deserve attention as they may be responsible for a significant increase in cardiovascular risk which may be preventable.
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| 3. |
- Mischak, Harald, et al.
(author)
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Implementation of proteomic biomarkers : making it work
- 2012
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In: European Journal of Clinical Investigation. - : Wiley. - 0014-2972 .- 1365-2362. ; 42:9, s. 1027-1036
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- While large numbers of proteomic biomarkers have been described, they are generally not implemented in medical practice. We have investigated the reasons for this shortcoming, focusing on hurdles downstream of biomarker verification, and describe major obstacles and possible solutions to ease valid biomarker implementation. Some of the problems lie in suboptimal biomarker discovery and validation, especially lack of validated platforms with well-described performance characteristics to support biomarker qualification. These issues have been acknowledged and are being addressed, raising the hope that valid biomarkers may start accumulating in the foreseeable future. However, successful biomarker discovery and qualification alone does not suffice for successful implementation. Additional challenges include, among others, limited access to appropriate specimens and insufficient funding, the need to validate new biomarker utility in interventional trials, and large communication gaps between the parties involved in implementation. To address this problem, we propose an implementation roadmap. The implementation effort needs to involve a wide variety of stakeholders (clinicians, statisticians, health economists, and representatives of patient groups, health insurance, pharmaceutical companies, biobanks, and regulatory agencies). Knowledgeable panels with adequate representation of all these stakeholders may facilitate biomarker evaluation and guide implementation for the specific context of use. This approach may avoid unwarranted delays or failure to implement potentially useful biomarkers, and may expedite meaningful contributions of the biomarker community to healthcare.
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| 4. |
- Vanholder, Raymond, et al.
(author)
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Conservative treatment of the uremic syndrome.
- 2009
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In: Seminars in dialysis. - 0894-0959 .- 1525-139X. ; 22:4, s. 449-453
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In addition to extracorporeal renal replacement strategies, which in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are largely reserved for the treatment of end-stage kidney failure, conservative measures can be taken to reduce concentration, effects, or both concentration and effects of uremic retention solutes. In this overview, we will focus on those therapies, which are aimed at preventing or delaying cardio-vascular disease, retarding or halting the progression of CKD, or both. We will discuss, consecutively, inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis, beta-blockers, calcium-channel antagonists, anti-inflammatory drugs, intestinal sorbents, calcimimetics, and glitazones. Some of these approaches could lead to a therapeutic breakthrough in the future. In addition, comprehensive tables will be provided for more traditional therapeutic approaches, such as lifestyle changes and other pharmaceutical treatments.
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| 5. |
- Vanholder, Raymond, et al.
(author)
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The role of EUTox in uremic toxin research.
- 2009
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In: Seminars in dialysis. - 0894-0959 .- 1525-139X. ; 22:4, s. 323-328
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this publication, we review the activities of the European Uremic Toxin Work Group (EUTox) in the field of uremic toxin research. Founded in 1999 under the umbrella of the European Society of Artificial Organs (ESAO), and active since 2000, this group focuses essentially on questions related to solute retention and removal during chronic kidney disease, and on the deleterious impact of those solutes on biological/biochemical systems. As of January 1, 2009, the group had met 28 times; it organized the third meeting, "Uremic Toxins in Cardiovascular Disease," which took place in October 2008 in Amiens, France. The current group is composed of 25 members belonging to 23 European research institutions. As of November 1, 2008, in total 69 papers had been published to which at least two different research groups belonging to EUTox have contributed in a collaborative effort. Of these, 40 papers were on original research and eight were specific EUTox reviews or position statements. A website (http://www.eutox.info) summarizes all relevant information concerning the work group. EUTox also developed an interactive uremic toxin database, where concentrations of known toxins are displayed, to be used by researchers in the field. In the future, EUTox intends to continue its focus on bench to bedside research with specific consideration of proteomics, metabonomics, secretomics, and genomics.
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