| 1. |
- Carlqvist, Jeanette, et al.
(author)
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Minimal risk of contrast-induced kidney injury in a randomly selected cohort with mildly reduced GFR
- 2021
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In: European Radiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0938-7994 .- 1432-1084. ; 31:5, s. 3248-3257
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: Previous large studies of contrast-induced or post-contrast acute kidney injury (CI-AKI/PC-AKI) have been observational, and mostly retrospective, often with patients undergoing non-enhanced CT as controls. This carries risk of inclusion bias that makes the true incidence of PC-AKI hard to interpret. Our aim was to determine the incidence of PC-AKI in a large, randomly selected cohort, comparing the serum creatinine (Scr) changes after contrast medium exposure with the normal intraindividual fluctuation in Scr. Methods: In this prospective study of 1009 participants (age 50–65 years, 48% females) in the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 50 mL/min, all received standard dose intravenous iohexol at coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Two separate pre-CCTA Scr samples and a follow-up sample 2–4 days post-CCTA were obtained. Change in Scr was statistically analyzed and stratification was used in the search of possible risk factors. Results: Median increase of Scr post-CCTA was 0–2 μmol/L. PC-AKI was observed in 12/1009 individuals (1.2%) according to the old ESUR criteria (> 25% or > 44 μmol/L Scr increase) and 2 individuals (0.2%) when using the updated ESUR criteria (≥ 50% or ≥ 27 μmol/L Scr increase). Possible risk factors (e.g., diabetes, age, eGFR, NSAID use) did not show increased risk of developing PC-AKI. The mean effect of contrast media on Scr did not exceed the intraindividual Scr fluctuation. Conclusions: Iohexol administration to a randomly selected cohort with mildly reduced eGFR is safe, and PC-AKI is very rare, occurring in only 0.2% when applying the updated ESUR criteria. Key Points: • Iohexol administration to a randomly selected cohort, 50–65 years old with mildly reduced eGFR, is safe and PC-AKI is very rare. • Applying the updated ESUR PC-AKI criteria resulted in fewer cases, 0.2% compared to 1.2% using the old ESUR criteria in this cohort with predominantly mild reduction of renal function. • The mean effect of CM on Scr did not exceed the intraindividual background fluctuation of Scr, regardless of potential risk factors, such as diabetes or NSAID use in our cohort of 1009 individuals.
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| 2. |
- Carson, Richard T., et al.
(author)
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Perceptions of the seriousness of major public health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in seven middle-income countries
- 2023
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In: Communications Medicine. - : Springer Nature. - 2730-664X. ; 3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- IntroductionPublic perception of the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to six other major public health problems (alcoholism and drug use, HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, lung cancer and respiratory diseases caused by air pollution and smoking, and water-borne diseases like diarrhea) is unclear. We designed a survey to examine this issue using YouGov’s internet panels in seven middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America in early 2022.MethodsRespondents rank ordered the seriousness of the seven health problems using a repeated best-worst question format. Rank-ordered logit models allow comparisons within and across countries and assessment of covariates.ResultsIn six of the seven countries, respondents perceived other respiratory illnesses to be a more serious problem than COVID-19. Only in Vietnam was COVID-19 ranked above other respiratory illnesses. Alcoholism and drug use was ranked the second most serious problem in the African countries. HIV/AIDS ranked relatively high in all countries. Covariates, particularly a COVID-19 knowledge scale, explained differences within countries; statistics about the pandemic were highly correlated with differences in COVID-19’s perceived seriousness.ConclusionsPeople in the seven middle-income countries perceived COVID-19 to be serious (on par with HIV/AIDS) but not as serious as other respiratory illnesses. In the African countries, respondents perceived alcoholism and drug use as more serious than COVID-19. Our survey-based approach can be used to quickly understand how the threat of a newly emergent disease, like COVID-19, fits into the larger context of public perceptions of the seriousness of health problems.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Nyman, Ulf, et al.
(author)
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Absolute and relative GFR and contrast medium dose/GFR ratio : cornerstones when predicting the risk of acute kidney injury.
- 2024
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In: European Radiology. - 0938-7994 .- 1432-1084. ; 31:1, s. 612-621
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is considered the best overall index of kidney function in health and disease and its use is recommended to evaluate the risk of iodine contrast medium-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) either as a single parameter or as a ratio between the total contrast medium dose (gram iodine) and GFR. GFR may be expressed in absolute terms (mL/min) or adjusted/indexed to body surface area, relative GFR (mL/min/1.73 m2). Absolute and relative GFR have been used interchangeably to evaluate the risk of CI-AKI, which may be confusing and a potential source of errors. Relative GFR should be used to assess the GFR category of renal function as a sign of the degree of kidney damage and sensitivity for CI-AKI. Absolute GFR represents the excretion capacity of the individual and may be used to calculate the gram-iodine/absolute GFR ratio, an index of systemic drug exposure (amount of contrast medium in the body) that relates to toxicity. It has been found to be an independent predictor of AKI following percutaneous coronary angiography and interventions but has not yet been fully validated for computed tomography (CT). Prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the optimal gram-iodine/absolute GFR ratio to predict AKI at various stages of renal function at CT. Only GFR estimation (eGFR) equations based on standardized creatinine and/or cystatin C assays should be used. eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine ratio < 0.6 indicating selective glomerular hypofiltration syndrome may have a stronger predictive power for postcontrast AKI than creatinine-based eGFR. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Once the degree of kidney damage is established by estimating relative GFR (mL/min/1.73 m2), contrast dose in relation to renal excretion capacity [gram-iodine/absolute GFR (mL/min)] may be the best index to evaluate the risk of contrast-induced kidney injury. KEY POINTS: • Relative glomerular filtration rate (GFR; mL/min/1.73 m2) should be used to assess the GFR category as a sign of the degree of kidney damage and sensitivity to contrast medium-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). • Absolute GFR (mL/min) is the individual's actual excretion capacity and the contrast-dose/absolute GFR ratio is a measure of systemic exposure (amount of contrast medium in the body), relates to toxicity and should be expressed in gram-iodine/absolute GFR (mL/min). • Prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the optimal contrast medium dose/GFR ratio predicting the risk of CI-AKI at CT and intra-arterial examinations.
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| 5. |
- Nyman, Ulf, et al.
(author)
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Revised Swedish guidelines on intravenous iodine contrast medium-induced acute kidney injury 2022: A summary
- 2023
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In: Acta Radiologica. - : SAGE Publications. - 0284-1851 .- 1600-0455. ; 64:5
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Swedish Society of Uroradiology has revised their computed tomography (CT) guidelines regarding iodine contrast media-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). They are more cautious compared to the European Society of Urogenital Radiology and the American College of Radiology since the actual risk of CI-AKI remains uncertain in patients with moderate to severe kidney damage due to a lack of prospective controlled studies and mainly based on retrospective propensity score-matched studies with low-grade evidence. Another source of uncertainty is the imprecision of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimating equations. However, randomized hydration studies indictae an upper limit risk of CI-AKI of about 5% for outpatients with a GFR in the range of 30-44 or 45-59 mL/min/1.73m(2) combined with multiple risk factors. Apart from GFR limits, the guideline also includes limits for systemic contrast medium exposure expressed in gram-iodine/GFR ratio.
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| 6. |
- Pistis, Kristin Danielson, et al.
(author)
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The effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on hepcidin-25 and erythropoiesis in patients with chronic kidney disease
- 2023
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In: BMC Nephrology. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1471-2369. ; 24:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Hepcidin is considered to play a central role in the pathophysiology of renal anemia. Recent studies in healthy individuals have demonstrated a suppressive effect of vitamin D (VD) on the expression of hepcidin. In this post-hoc analysis based on a randomized controlled study, we evaluated the effect of supplementing chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (stage G3-G4) with a high daily dose of native VD on serum levels of hepcidin-25, the hepcidin/ferritin ratio, as well as on markers of erythropoiesis.Methods: Patients with CKD stage G3-G4 included in a double blind, randomized, placebo (PBO) controlled study with available hepcidin measurements were analyzed. Study subjects received either 8000 international units (IU) of cholecalciferol daily or PBO for 12 weeks. We evaluated the change in markers of hepcidin expression, erythropoiesis, and iron status from baseline to week 12 and compared the change between the groups.Results: Eighty five patients completed the study. Calcitriol, but not 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D), was inversely correlated with serum levels of hepcidin-25 (rho = -0,38; p = < 0, 01 and rho = -0,02; p = 0, 89, respectively) at baseline. Supplementation with VD significantly raised the serum concentration of serum 25(OH)D in the treatment group (from 54 (39-71) to 156 (120-190) nmol/L; p = < 0, 01)) but had no effect on any of the markers of hepcidin, erythropoiesis, or iron status in the entire cohort. However, we did observe an increase in hemoglobin (HB) levels and transferrin saturation (TSAT) as compared to the PBO group in a subgroup of patients with low baseline 25(OH)D levels (< 56 nmol/L). In contrast, in patients with high baseline 25(OH)D values (>= 56 nmol/L), VD supplementation associated with a decrease in HB levels and TSAT (p = 0,056) within the VD group in addition to a decrease in hepcidin levels as compared to the PBO group.Conclusion: High-dose VD supplementation had no discernible effect on markers of hepcidin or erythropoiesis in the entire study cohort. However, in patients with low baseline 25(OH)D levels, high-dose VD supplementation associated with beneficial effects on erythropoiesis and iron availability. In contrast, in patients with elevated baseline 25(OH)D levels, high-dose VD supplementation resulted in a decrease in hepcidin levels, most likely due to a deterioration in iron status.
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| 7. |
- Sterner, Thomas, 1952, et al.
(author)
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Funding Inclusive Green Transition through Greenhouse Gas Pricing : Carbon Pricing
- 2020
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In: ifo DICE Report. - 2511-7815. ; 18:1, s. 3-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 2015 was a special year. During a few months the political stars aligned and made it possible for the international community to agree on the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement to limit global warming. Now the signatories need to find ways to implement these agreements, which not only imply a deep decarbonization of the economy but must also meet the Sustainable Development Goals. In this article we discuss the importance of pricing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions2 to make this happen. Climate abatement is a truly global public good and so we actually have to have a functioning policy in all countries. Our interest is thus on pricing in all countries but in particular the developing countries that are bigger and most crucial to the struggle for a green transition.
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| 8. |
- Åkesson, Michael, et al.
(author)
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Long-term safety of Gadofosveset in clinical practice
- 2022
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In: Magnetic Resonance Imaging. - : Elsevier BV. - 0730-725X. ; 86, s. 70-73
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this study was to systematically search for long-term complications, including Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF), in patients who were previously administered the gadolinium-based contrast agent Gadofosveset at our institute. Materials and methods: All patients who were administered Gadofosveset at our institute between 2006 and 2009 were identified in our Radiological Information System (RIS). Clinical data such as cause of death during follow-up, and dermatological or nephrological diseases were systematically searched for in electronic patient records (EPR). Results: During 2006–2009, Gadofosveset was administered a total of 67 times to 62 patients. One patient was unavailable for follow-up. The remaining 61 patients were followed up for up to 14 (median 12) years based on RIS and EPR data. There were 13 deaths among the 61 patients, all assessed as unrelated to Gadofosveset administration. No dermatological or renal disease suggestive of NSF, or potentially related to Gadofosveset administration, was found. At the time of examination, six patients were diagnosed with various stages of renal insufficiency, three of whom were on hemodialysis. Another three patients were diagnosed with renal insufficiency during the follow-up period, but none of these diagnoses were suspected to be related to the administration of Gadofosveset. Conclusions: Based on the results of this retrospective safety analysis of up to 14 years following 1–2 exposures, we conclude that Gadofosveset in clinical practice is safe in the long-term.
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