No abstract

Novel biomarkers are needed to better predict coronary artery calcification (CAC), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in type 1 diabetes. We evaluated the associations between serum uromodulin (SUMOD [a biomarker associated with anti-inflammatory and renal protective properties]), CAC progression, and DKD development over 12 years. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants (n = 527, 53% females) in the Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes (CACTI) study were examined during 2002-2004, at a mean age of 39.6 6 9.0 years and a median duration of diabetes of 24.8 years. Urine albumin-tocreatinine ratio (ACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) determined by the CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) creatinine equation were measured at baseline and after a mean follow-up period of 12.1 6 1.5 years. Elevated albumin excretion was defined as ACR ‡30 mg/g, rapid GFR decline (>3 mL/min/1.73 m 2 /year), and impaired GFR as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m 2. SUMOD was measured on stored baseline plasma samples (Meso Scale Discovery). CAC was measured using electron beam computed tomography. CAC progression was defined as a change in the square root-transformed CAC volume of ‡2.5. RESULTS Higher baseline SUMOD level conferred lower odds of CAC progression (odds ratio 0.68; 95% CI 0.48-0.97), incident elevated albumin excretion (0.37; 0.16-0.86), rapid GFR decline (0.56; 0.35-0.91), and impaired GFR (0.44; 0.24-0.83) per 1 SD increase in SUMOD (68.44 ng/mL) after adjustment for baseline age, sex, systolic blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and albuminuria/GFR. The addition of SUMOD to models with traditional risk factors also significantly improved the prediction performance for CAC progression and incident DKD. CONCLUSIONS Higher baseline SUMOD level predicted lower odds of both CAC progression and incident DKD over 12 years in adults with type 1 diabetes.

Plasma kidney injury biomarkers can help predict development of DKD in T1D.

Ninety-four adult patients undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis were prospectively studied during a 2-year period. Patients were divided into retrocecal (group 1; n = 27 [29%]) and anterior (group 2; n = 67 [71%]) groups according to the position of the appendix. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in duration of symptoms, presenting signs and symptoms, and initial white blood cell count. Furthermore, retrocecal appendicitis was not associated with a higher rate of perforation or increased morbidity. We conclude that the retrocecal position of the appendix does not alter the presentation of appendicitis.

Cross-talk between signaling pathways is increasingly recognized as integral to cellular function. We investigated whether the mitogen-activated protein kinase (