Objective To investigate the risk factors of pneumonia in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods The clinical data of patients undergoing dialysis longer than three months at the Hemodialysis Center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from July 2013 to July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into pneumonia group and non- pneumonia group. Follow-up time started from admission to the beginning of hemodialysis. All patients were followed until the patient died, or withdrawn from hemodialysis, or transferred to another center, or until the study deadline (April 2019). Baseline clinical data were compared between the two groups, and the differences in clinical data between the pneumonia group and the baseline were also analyzed. Risk factors for pneumonia in hemodialysis patients was analyzed by binary logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to compare the survival prognosis of the two groups, and the Log-rank method was used for significant test. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze risk factors for MHD patients' death. Results (1) A total of 311 patients were enrolled in the study, in which 178 (57.2%) of the patients were male, and 75(24.1%) of the patients had pneumonia. Compared with non-pneumonia group, the pneumonia group patients were older (P=0.002), had higher level of white blood cells (P=0.001) and lower level of serum creatinine (P=0.003), albumin (P=0.001), and serum magnesium (P=0.039). There were also statistically significant differences between the two groups in the proportion of females and underlying diseases (all P＜0.05). (2) The time of pneumonia occurred from the initial time of dialysis was (10.69±9.82) months. Compared with baseline values, decreased hemoglobin and albumin level were found (both P＜0.01). (3) Logistic regression analysis showed male patients had lower risk of pneumonia than female patients (OR=0.438, 95%CI 0.242-0.795, P=0.007). For every 1 g/L increase in albumin, the risk of pneumonia was reduced by 6.4% (OR=0.936, 95%CI 0.885-0.991, P=0.022). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the difference in 5-year cumulative survival rate between pneumonia group and non-pneumonia group was statistically significant ( 60.6% vs 84.4%, χ2=16.647, P＜0.001). (4) Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that long dialysis time (HR=0.870, 95%CI 0.832-0.909, P＜0.001) and high serum albumin level (HR=0.898, 95%CI 0.845-0.955, P=0.001) were protective factors in patients with MHD. Pneumonia (HR=3.008, 95%CI 1.423-6.359, P=0.004) was an independent risk factor for death in MHD patients. Conclusions Hemoglobin and albumin level are reduced in MHD patients with pneumonia. Low albumin level is a risk factor for pneumonia in patients. MHD patients with pneumonia have a lower survival time than those without pneumonia.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of covered stent (CS) in the treatment of central venous occlusive disease (CVOD) of different branches in hemodialysis patients. Methods Twenty-five cases of CVOD in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from Oct 2015 to June 2018 were enrolled. All patients underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)+stent graft (PTS) successfully. The stent grafts of different diameters were implanted according to intraoperative angiography to measure the diameter of normal blood vessels around the diseased vessels. The operation was successful and the follow-up data was complete. According to the different branches of central venous lesions, the patients were divided into three groups: subclavian vein group, brachiocephalic vein group and superior vena cava group. The stent diameter, primary patency and assisted primary patency time were analyzed and compared in the three groups. Results The diameters of the subclavian vein group, the brachiocephalic vein group, and the superior vena cava group were (10.29±0.42) mm, (12.29±0.32) mm and 13.00 mm, respectively. There were significant differences in the diameters of the subclavian vein group, the superior vena cava group and the brachiocephalic vein group (both P＜0.05). As of the end of follow-up, the primary patency time of the subclavian vein group, the brachiocephalic vein group, and the superior vena cava group was (10.57±2.00) months, (19.40±3.28) months, and (32.75±3.28) months respectively. The primary patency time of the superior vena cava group was significantly longer than the other two groups (P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in the primary patency time between the subclavian vein group and the brachiocephalic vein group (P=0.072). The assisted primary patency time of the subclavian vein group, the brachiocephalic vein group and the superior vena cava group was (15.57±3.20) months, (25.14±2.39) months, (39.00±3.03) months. There was a statistically significant difference in the assisted primary patency time between the three groups (P＜0.05). Conclusions There are differences in vascular patency between postoperative vascular grafts of different diameters in different sites. The larger the diameter of the lumen stent, the longer the stent patency time is. It is important to protect the blood vessels with smaller diameters.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of steroids-free immunosuppressive therapy including tacrolimus, cyclosporin A, tripterygium glycosides or intravenous cyclophosphamide in membranous nephropathy (MN) patients combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods This study was a retrospective analysis of patients with T2DM complicated with biopsy proved MN in the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University from January 2009 to January 2017. The patients were divided into steroids-free group and control group. The patients in steroids-free group were treated with one or two immunosuppressive agents except glucocorticoids. The patients in control group were treated with glucocorticoid combining with immunosuppressive agents. Results A total of 64 patients were enrolled in this study. There were 26 cases in steroids-free group and 38 cases in control group. The total remission rate was 69.24% in steroids-free group and 73.68% in control group at 12 months. In a median follow up of 33(12-106) months, two patients in control group entered hemodialysis and one of them died after 1 year of dialysis. One patient in steroids-free group died of accidental death and no patient entered dialysis. All patients in control group had elevated blood glucose level, whereas only 5 patients in steroids-free group had elevated blood glucose and all these 5 patients used tacrolimus. Conclusion Immunosuppressive regimen without glucocorticoid treatment can reduce side effects on blood glucose level in MN patients with type 2 diabetes, with a certain rate of treatment response.

Objective To investigate the incidence of renal insufficiency in solitary kidney patients and analyze the risk factors. Methods Patients with solitary kidney who were admitted to the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University from January 2012 to January 2019 were retrospectively selected as subjects. According to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) level, the patients were divided into two groups: eGFR＜60 ml?min-1?(1.73 m2)-1 group and eGFR≥60 ml?min-1?(1.73 m2)-1 group. The data of the general information, laboratory examinations and kidney size were collected, and the differences of the above indicators between the two groups were compared. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors of renal function decline. Results (1) A total of 323 solitary kidney patients with age of (53.8±15.8) years and median duration of 10.0 years were enrolled in the study, including 203 males (62.8%). There were 150 cases (46.4%) with hypertension, 136 cases (42.1%) with proteinuria, and 134 cases (41.5%) with renal insufficiency, even 29 cases(9.0%) had developed into end-stage renal disease. (2) Compared with those in eGFR≥60 ml?min-1?(1.73 m2)-1group, patients in eGFR＜60 ml?min-1?(1.73 m2)-1 group had higher age, mean arterial pressure, serum creatinine, serum uric acid, fasting blood glucose, and higher proportion of hypertension and proteinuria, but had lower proportion of congenital solitary kidney, hemoglobin, plasma albumin and residual kidney diameter. The differences of above indicators were statistically significant ( all P＜0.05). (3) Logistic regression analysis showed that increasing age (every ten years, OR=1.752, 95%CI 1.455-2.109, P＜0.001), anemia (OR=2.327, 95%CI 1.356-3.994, P=0.002), hyperuricemia (OR=5.097, 95%CI 2.873-9.042, P＜0.001) and high urine protein level (every 1+, OR=1.515, 95%CI 1.197-1.919, P=0.001) were independent risk factors for renal dysfunction in solitary kidney patients. Conclusions The incidence of renal insufficiency in solitary kidney patients is 41.5%. Patients with solitary kidney may perform varying degrees of kidney damage, such as hypertension, proteinuria and eGFR decline. Increasing age, anemia, hyperuricemia and high urine protein level are independent risk factors for renal insufficiency in solitary kidney patients.

Objective To investigate the clinico-pathological characteristics, outcomes and their predictors in malignant hypertension related kidney injury with and without primary glomerular diseases. Methods Patients with clinical diagnosis of malignant hypertension, biopsy-proven kidney injury caused by malignant hypertension and complete clinical data from January 2010 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. According to clinical and renal pathology, patients were divided into malignant hypertension related kidney injury without primary nephropathy group and with primary nephropathy group. Clinico-pathological characteristics and outcomes were evaluated and compared between malignant hypertension related kidney injury with and without primary glomerular diseases. Results Totally 31 biopsy-proven kidney injury patients were analyzed. Among them, there were 18 cases with primary glomerular diseases and 13 cases without primary glomerular diseases, with age of (32.5±6.5) years old and (34.7±8.1) years old, respectively. There were 12 males in both group. The proportion of primary IgA nephropathy was higher (16/18) in the group of malignant hypertension related kidney injury with primary glomerular diseases. Malignant hypertension with primary glomerular diseases patients had lower plasma albunin level [(32.7±6.4) g/L vs (38.5±7.3) g/L, P=0.027], higher 24-hour proteinuria level [(4.03±2.71) g vs (1.45±0.98) g, P=0.002] and higher incidence rates of dysmorphic hematuria (14/18 vs 0, P=0.001) than those without primary glomerular diseases patients. Glomerular sclerosis, mesangial proliferation, tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis were more severe in malignant hypertension with primary glomerular diseases patients (all P＜0.05), but the ischemic wrinkling of glomerular capillary was more severe in malignant hypertension without primary glomerular diseases (P＜0.01). There were no differences of acute or chronic malignant hypertensive injury in small artery and in afferent arterioles between the two groups. Cox regression analysis showed that loss of brush-border with flattening of tubular epithelium was the predictor for renal partial recovery (HR=5.956, 95%CI 1.198-29.614, P=0.029). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that malignant hypertension patients with primary glomerular diseases had shorter renal survival time than those without primary glomerular diseases [(24.1±9.3) months vs (56.6±12.4) months], and accumulative renal survival rate of malignant hypertension patients with primary glomerular diseases was lower than that without primary glomerular diseases (11.6% vs 53.3%, Log-rank χ2=5.022, P=0.025). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that severe tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis were independent risk factors for end-stage renal disease in malignant hypertension patients (HR=5.870, 95%CI 1.372-25.112, P=0.017). Conclusions Malignant hypertension with primary glomerular diseases patients have more severe clinico-pathological renal impairment and poorer prognosis of long-term renal survival than those without primary glomerular diseases. Acute renal tubular injury (loss of brush-border with flattening of tubular epithelium) is the only predictor of renal function improvement in patients with malignant hypertension and renal impairment within one year. Tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis is a risk factor for end-stage renal disease in patients with malignant hypertension. Renal biopsy is an indispensable tool for predicting short-term and long-term renal outcomes.

Objective To evaluate the effect of total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation (TPTX+AT) and total parathyroidectomy (TPTX) on secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). Methods PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane library were searched from inception to June 2017 for relative studies, which were screened according to inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of included study were conducted to compare the improvement of symptoms, persistent SHPT, recurrent SHPT, reoperation, hypoparathyroidism, duration of operation and hospitalization between TPTX+AT group and TPTX group. Results A total of 11 studies with 1212 patients were included. Results of meta-analyses showed no difference between TPTX+AT and TPTX regarding improvement of symptoms and persistent SHPT (RR=1.03, P=0.70; RR=0.81, P=0.67, respectively), but TPTX was associated with lower risks of recurrent SHPT and reoperation (RR=0.25, P＜0.01; RR=0.19, P＜0.01). Patients with TPTX had higher rate of hypoparathyroidism (RR=2.68, P＜0.01) but shorter time of operation (MD=-17.3, P=0.01). Durations of hospitalization were similar between the two groups (MD=-0.06, P=0.98). Conclusion Compared with TPTX+AT, TPTX reduces the risks of recurrent SHPT, reoperation and operation time, but has higher risk of hypoparathyroidism.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of clinically diagnosed acute kidney injury (AKI) patients progressing to acute kidney disease (AKD). Methods The clinical data of AKI patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the outcome of the patients, AKI patients were divided into non-acute kidney disease (NAKD) group and AKD group. Clinical characteristics and laboratory data of two groups were compared. The risk factors of AKD in patients with AKI were analyzed by logistic regression, and then the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of these risk factors. Results A total of 254 patients with AKI were enrolled, and 186 patients developed AKD with an incidence of 73.2%. The incidences of AKD in stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3 of AKI were 20.0%, 46.7% and 83.5% respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed increased peak serum creatinine (within 7 days after AKI diagnosis) (OR=2.561, 95%CI 1.584-4.140, P＜0.001), proteinuria (OR=2.952, 95%CI 1.162-7.500, P=0.023) and increased intact parathyroid hormone (OR=1.757, 95%CI 1.104-2.797, P=0.017) were independent risk factors for progression to AKD in patients with AKI. The ROC showed that increased peak serum creatinine (within 7 days after AKI diagnosis) was an important predictor of AKD in patients with AKI (AUC=0.798, P＜0.001). Conclusion Increased peak serum creatinine (within 7 days after AKI diagnosis), proteinuria and increased intact parathyroid hormone are independent risk factors for progression to AKD in patients with AKI, providing new evidences and ideas for clinical preventions and treatments of AKD.

Objective To evaluate the quality of clinical practice guidelines for kidney diseases in China and provide reference for selecting suitable high-quality guidelines for primary care and developing standardized guidelines. Methods The China Guideline Clearinghouse, China Biology Medicine disc, VIP Database, Wanfang Database and CNKI, and other resources were searched from January 2013 to July 2018. In accordance with the criteria for inclusion and exclusion, the published guidelines for kidney diseases were screened. The Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation-China (AGREE-China) was used to systematically assess the current status of domestic guidelines for kidney diseases. Results A total of 18 guidelines for kidney diseases were included, covering different types of kidney disease such as glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, end-stage renal disease and other diseases. The overall score ranged from 30 to 68, with an average score of 47.3. The average scores of these guidelines were 20.1, 12.8, 0.5, 9.9 and 3.9 in five review fields including scientificity/rigorism, effectiveness/safety, economy, availability/feasibility, and conflicts of interest, respectively. Of these 18 guidelines, 8(44.4%) guidelines were strongly recommended, and 10(55.6%) guidelines were weakly recommended. Conclusions There are still deficiencies in scientificity/rigorism and economy in current guidelines for kidney diseases in China. The AGREE-China can be used as an evaluation tool for guidelines for kidney diseases in accordance with China's situation, while its practicability and feasibility still need further verification and improvement.