Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging environmental and biomedical concern due to their potential bioaccumulation and toxic effects. Given the extensive exposure of dialysis patients to large volumes of dialysate and water, the presence of MPs in dialysis solutions raises concerns regarding chronic exposure and systemic implications. This study systematically quantifies and characterizes MPs in hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids, investigating their sources and potential health risks. A total of 30 dialysis solution samples were analysed (revealing 36 suspect particles) using advanced spectroscopic techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, to identify polymer compositions. MPs predominantly fibers, were detected in all tested solutions, with polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) as the primary polymers. Statistical analyses confirmed significant variability in MP contamination across different dialysis fluids. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis solutions show no statistically significant difference in MP concentration (HD: 0.29 ± 0.16 mp.L⁻¹, PD: 0.34 ± 0.02 mp.L⁻¹, p = 0.86). MP particles in HD solutions (1.31 ± 0.98 mm) are significantly larger than those in PD solutions (0.64 ± 0.43 mm) (p = 0.030). Despite similar MP concentrations, PD patients are estimated to be exposed to ~ 50% more MPs weekly than HD patients (9.57 ± 5.28 vs. 14.28 ± 0.84 mp. L⁻¹, p < 0.001). These findings highlight a potential, yet underrecognized, source of MP exposure in dialysis patients, necessitating further investigation into the implications of chronic MP absorption on renal function and systemic health. Regulatory policies should prioritize improved filtration techniques, alternative polymer-free materials, and stricter quality control measures to mitigate MP contamination in medical solutions. Future research should explore the long-term effects of MP exposure in dialysis-dependent individuals and refine analytical methodologies for contamination assessment. This study reveals microplastic contamination in dialysis fluids, highlighting a previously unrecognized exposure route that may impact patient health and emphasizing the need for improved filtration, polymer-free materials, and stricter regulatory measures.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum albumin levels and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24-h ABPM) recordings in non-diabetic essential hypertensive patients. A total of 354 patients (mean [SD] age: 55.5 [14.3] years, 50% females) with essential hypertension and 24-h ABPM recordings were included. Patient 24-h nighttime and daytime ABPM values, systolic and diastolic dipping status and average nocturnal dipping were recorded. The correlations between serum albumin levels and nocturnal systolic and diastolic dipping were evaluated, and correlates of average nocturnal systolic dipping were determined via a linear regression model. Overall, 73.2% of patients were determined to be non-dippers. The mean (SD) levels of serum albumin (4.2 [0.3] g/dL vs. 4.4 [0.4] g/dL, p<0.001) and the average nocturnal systolic (15.2 [4.8] mmHg vs. 0.3 [6.6] mmHg, p<0.001) and diastolic dipping (4.2 [8.6] mmHg vs. 18.9 [7.0] mmHg, p<0.001) were significantly lower in non-dippers than in dippers. A significant positive correlation was noted between serum albumin levels and both systolic (r=0.297, p<0.001) and diastolic dipping (r=0.265, p<0.001). The linear regression analysis revealed that for each one-unit increase in serum albumin, the average nocturnal dip in systolic BP increased by 0.17 mmHg (p=0.033). Our findings indicate an association between serum albumin levels and the deterioration of circadian BP rhythm among essential hypertensive patients along with the identification of a non-dipper pattern in more than two-thirds of patients. Our findings emphasize the importance of serum albumin levels, rather than urinary albumin excretion, as an independent predictor of nocturnal systolic dipping, at least in non-diabetic essential hypertensive patients with moderate proteinuria.

Objective Older adults with comorbidities have been reported to be at higher risk for adverse outcomes of Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19). The characteristics of COVID-19 in older patients and its clinical outcomes in different kidney disease groups are not well known. Methods Data were retrieved from a national multicentric database supported by Turkish Society of Nephrology, which consists of retrospectively collected data between April 17, 2020, and December 31, 2020. Hospitalized patients aged 18 years or older with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis suffering from stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease(CKD) or on maintenance hemodialysis(HD) treatment were included in the database. Non-uremic hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were also included as the control group. Results We included 879 patients [388(44.1%) female, median age: 63(IQR:50-73) years]. The percentage of older patients in the CKD group was 68.8%(n=188/273), in HD group was 49.0%(n=150/306) and in the control group was 30.4%(n=70/300). Comorbidities were higher in the CKD and HD groups. The rate of presentation with severe-critical disease was higher in the older CKD and HD groups (43.6%, 55.3%, 16.1%, respectively). Among older patients, the intensive care unit(ICU) admission rate was significantly higher in the CKD and HD group than in the control group (38.8%, 37.3%, and 15.7%, respectively). In-hospital mortality or death and/or ICU admission rates in the older group were significantly higher in the CKD (29.3% and 39.4%) and HD group (26.7% and 30.1%) compared to the control group (8.6% and 17.1%). In the multivariate analysis, in-hospital mortality rates in CKD and HD groups were higher than control group [Hazard ratio(HR): 4.33([95% confidence interval(CI): 1.53-12.26] and HR: 3.09(95%CI: 1.04-9.17), respectively]. Conclusion Among older COVID-19 patients, in-hospital mortality is significantly higher in those with stage 3-5 CKD and on maintenance HD than older patients without CKD regardless of demographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical and laboratory data on admission.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS) on short-term mortality and to identify the best cut-off point in the Turkish maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) population. A total of 100 patients on MHD were included in this prospective single-center study. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were obtained from all patients. The study population was followed up as a 12-month prospective cohort to evaluate mortality as the primary outcome. Median (IQR) age and HD vintage of 100 patients (M/F: 52/48) were 53 (39.5 - 67) years and 53.5 (11 - 104.7) months, respectively. Deceased patients (n = 7) had significantly older age (years) (50 (38.5 - 63.5) vs. 70 (62 - 82), respectively, p = 0.001), lower spKt/V (1.60 (1.40 - 1.79) vs. 1.35 (0.90 - 1.50), respectively, p = 0.002), lower triceps skinfold thickness (14 (10 - 19) vs. 9 (7 - 11), respectively, p = 0.021) and higher MIS (5 (4 - 7) vs. 10 (7 - 11), respectively, p = 0.013). In the ROC analysis, we found that the optimal cut-off value of MIS for predicting death was 6.5 with 85.7% sensitivity and 62.4% specificity (positive and negative predictive values were 0.6951 and 0.8136, respectively). Advanced age, low spKt/V, and high MIS were found to be predictors of mortality in multivariate logistic regression analysis. The 1-year mortality rate was significantly higher in MIS > 6.5 group compared to the MIS ≤ 6.5 group (14,3% (6/41) vs. 1.6% (1/59), respectively). Compared to MIS ≤ 6.5 group, 1 year survival time of the patients with MIS > 6.5 was found to be significantly lower (47.8 ± 0.16 vs. 43.6 ± 1.63 weeks, respectively, p (log-rank) = 0.012). MIS is a robust and independent predictor of short-term mortality in MHD patients. Patients with MIS > 6.5 had a significant risk, and additional risk factors associated with short-term mortality were advanced age and low spKt/V.

AAbstract Background/aim: Hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (HA-AKI) may commonly develop in Covid-19 patients and is expected to have higher mortality. There is little comparative data looking for the effect of HA-AKI on mortality of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and a control group of general population suffering from Covid-19. HA-AKI development was assessed in a group of stage 3-5 CKD patients and control group without CKD among adult patients hospitalized for Covid-19. The role of AKI development on the outcome (in-hospital mortality and admission to the intensive care unit [ICU]) of patients with and without CKD was compared. Among 621 hospitalized patients (age 60 [IQR:47-73]), women: 44.1%), AKI developed in 32.5% of the patients, as stage 1 in 84.2%, stage 2 in 8.4% and, stage 3 in 7.4%. AKI developed in 48.0 % of CKD patients, whereas in 17.6% of patients without CKD. CKD patients with HA-AKI had the highest mortality rate of 41.1 % compared to 14.3 % of patients with HA-AKI but no CKD (p<0.001). However, patients with AKI+non-CKD had similar rates of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and death rate as patients with CKD without AKI. Adjusted mortality risk of the AKI+non-CKD group (HR: 9.0, 95%CI:1.9-44.2) and AKI+CKD group (HR: 7.9, 95%CI:1.9-33.3) were significantly higher than non-AKI+non-CKD group. AKI frequently develops in hospitalized patients due to Covid-19 and is associated with high mortality. HA-AKI has worse outcome whether it develops in patients with or without CKD, but the worst outcome was seen in AKI+CKD patients.