Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-6 (PCSK6) is a secretory protein that activates corin in the heart. Higher circulating levels of corin are associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction. This study aimed to determine the role of serum PCSK6 and corin levels in predicting cardiovascular outcomes in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). In total, 565 patients who had undergone coronary angiography were enrolled. Serum PCSK6 and corin levels were determined before the administration of contrast media. In this study, coronary revascularization, acute myocardial infarction, acute stroke, and death were defined as cardiovascular outcomes. All patients were followed up for at least one year after coronary angiography or until the occurrence of death. During a median follow-up of 691 days, 67 patients (15.7%) developed composite cardiovascular outcomes after coronary angiography, including 51 incidents of coronary revascularization, 7 instances of acute myocardial infarction, 2 acute strokes, and 15 deaths. After adjustment for demographic characteristics and all significant variables in the univariate analysis, serum levels of neither PCSK6 nor corin were associated with increased risk for cardiovascular outcomes. This correlation remained insignificant in patients with underlying hypertension, diabetes mellitus, CAD, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, in patients without CKD, higher serum PCSK6 levels were associated with increased risk for cardiovascular outcomes (hazard ratio 1.380; 95% confidence interval 1.023–1.862). We found no association between cardiovascular outcomes and pre-procedural serum levels of PCSK6 or corin in patients undergoing coronary angiography. However, an increased risk was seen in non-CKD patients with higher PCSK6 levels. Further studies are needed to verify these results.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a treatment modality for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Dextrose is a common osmotic agent used in PD solutions and its absorption may exacerbate diabetes mellitus, a common complication of ESRD. PD solutions also contain glucose degradation products (GDPs) that may lead to encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS), a severe complication of PD. A previous study showed that far-infrared (FIR) therapy improved a patient’s gastrointestinal symptoms due to EPS. Due to limited literature on the matter, this study aims to investigate dialysate GDPs and peritoneal function in diabetic patients on PD. Thirty-one PD patients were enrolled and underwent 40 min of FIR therapy twice daily for six months. We demonstrated the effect of FIR therapy on the following: (1) decrease of methylglyoxal (p = 0.02), furfural (p = 0.005), and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (p = 0.03), (2) increase of D/D0 glucose ratio (p = 0.03), and (3) decrease of potassium levels (p = 0.008) in both DM and non-DM patients, as well as (4) maintenance and increase of peritoneal Kt/V in DM and non-DM patients, respectively (p = 0.03). FIR therapy is a non-invasive intervention that can decrease dialysate GDPs in PD patients by improving peritoneal transport rate and solute removal clearance, while also maintaining dialysis adequacy.

The management of kidney failure has advanced considerably, with peritoneal dialysis (PD) established as a reliable treatment option that uses the peritoneal membrane to remove excess fluid and toxins. PD has shown particular benefits in the initial stages of treatment, potentially leading to better outcomes compared to hemodialysis. Successful PD, however, depends heavily on the correct placement of the PD catheter. This study presents a protocol to perform the laparoscopic-assisted Seldinger technique (LAST) for peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion, highlighting a combination of the Seldinger method's minimal invasiveness with the enhanced visualization of laparoscopy. LAST allows precise catheter placement, making it especially suitable for patients with prior abdominal surgery or those requiring urgent-start PD. This technique enables patients to initiate PD within a day of catheter insertion. The post-surgical protocol involves a gradual increase in dialysate volume, allowing patients to achieve a full PD dose by day five while maintaining controlled peritoneal pressure and minimizing the risk of dialysate leaks. By integrating laparoscopic visualization with the minimally invasive Seldinger technique, LAST has the potential to offer a superior alternative to traditional methods

The management of kidney failure has advanced considerably, with peritoneal dialysis (PD) established as a reliable treatment option that uses the peritoneal membrane to remove excess fluid and toxins. PD has shown particular benefits in the initial stages of treatment, potentially leading to better outcomes compared to hemodialysis. Successful PD, however, depends heavily on the correct placement of the PD catheter. This study presents a protocol to perform the laparoscopic-assisted Seldinger technique (LAST) for peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion, highlighting a combination of the Seldinger method's minimal invasiveness with the enhanced visualization of laparoscopy. LAST allows precise catheter placement, making it especially suitable for patients with prior abdominal surgery or those requiring urgent-start PD. This technique enables patients to initiate PD within a day of catheter insertion. The post-surgical protocol involves a gradual increase in dialysate volume, allowing patients to achieve a full PD dose by day five while maintaining controlled peritoneal pressure and minimizing the risk of dialysate leaks. By integrating laparoscopic visualization with the minimally invasive Seldinger technique, LAST has the potential to offer a superior alternative to traditional methods