BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a global health threat with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite current therapies, there is a need for innovative interventions to slow CKD progression. Probiotic supplementation shows promise due to its positive effects on gastrointestinal health and inflammation. However, existing research is inconclusive, necessitating a meta-analysis to assess probiotics’ impact on CKD outcomes.

To evaluate the existing scientific literature among probiotic supplementation and the improvement in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients compared to placebo treatment.

A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published up to 2023. Studies that meet the predefined eligibility criteria were included. Data extraction was performed, and methodological quality and risk of bias assessment was conducted for each study. Effect measures, such as mean differences or standardized mean differences, were used to quantify the association between probiotic supplementation and GFR improvement. The random-effects model was applied to estimate the overall effect size, and subgroup analyses were performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed, and sensitivity analyses was conducted to evaluate the robustness of the findings.

The meta-analysis encompassed three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted from 2017 to 2023, involving 121 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The analysis focused on the impact of probiotic supplementation on CKD, examining Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), and Urine Protein Creatinine Ratio (UPCR). While no significant distinctions were found in GFR and BUN changes between probiotics and placebos, there was a statistically significant reduction in UPCR associated with probiotic supplementation in one study. Notably, considerable heterogeneity in GFR and significant heterogeneity in UPCR reduction were observed among the trials. Sensitivity analysis, excluding studies with small sample sizes or high bias risk, remained consistent with overall findings.

The meta-analysis indicated no significant impact of probiotic supplementation on GFR and BUN, but there was a notable reduction in Urine UPCR. The observed heterogeneity among the studies calls for cautious interpretation due to variations in study designs, patient populations, and probiotic formulations. While the results suggest a potential role for probiotics in reducing proteinuria in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, the need for further research with larger sample sizes and standardized methodologies is emphasized to establish definitive conclusions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) and kidney function decline. METHODS: Data was obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study on the Chinese middle-aged and older population for analysis. The kidney function decline was defined as an annual estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decrease by > 3 mL/min per 1.73 m ². Multivariable logistic regression was applied to determine the association between SUA and kidney function decline. The shape of the association was investigated by restricted cubic splines. RESULTS: A total of 7,346 participants were included, of which 1,004 individuals (13.67%) developed kidney function decline during the follow-up of 4 years. A significant dose-response relation was recorded between SUA and the kidney function decline ( OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.27), as the risk of kidney function decline increased by 14% per 1 mg/dL increase in SUA. In the subgroup analyses, such a relation was only recorded among women ( OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.03-1.45), those aged < 60 years ( OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05-1.42), and those without hypertension and without diabetes ( OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06-1.41). Although the dose-response relation was not observed in men, the high level of SUA was related to kidney function decline ( OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.05-3.17). The restricted cubic spline analysis indicated that SUA > 5 mg/dL was associated with a significantly higher risk of kidney function decline. CONCLUSION The SUA level was associated with kidney function decline. An elevation of SUA should therefore be addressed to prevent possible kidney impairment and dysfunction.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; East Asian People ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Kidney/physiopathology* ; Longitudinal Studies ; Risk Factors ; Uric Acid/blood*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of seven glomerular filtration rate (GFR) evaluation formulas Schwartz2009, Schwartz1976, Counahan-Barratt, Filler, CKD-EPI_scysc, Cockrofi-Gault, CKD-EPI_ScysC-Scr in high concentration of methotrexate (HDMTX) chemotherapy dose adjusted cut-off point (GFR ≤85 ml/min) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four children with ALL were included in the study. GFR determined by renal dynamic imaging (sGFR) was used as the standard to evaluate the accuracy, consistency of eGFR calculated by seven formulas and sGFR, and the diagnostic efficacy of each formula when the sGFR ≤85 ml/min boundary. RESULTS: All of the accuracy of eGFR estimated by Schwartz2009 were greater than 70% in the 0-3, >4 and ≤6, >6 and ≤9, >9 and ≤16 years old group and male group, and the consistency exceeded the professional threshold. When the sensitivity of the ROC curve sGFR ≤85 ml/min was 100% of CKD-EPI_scysc in the 0-3, >3 and ≤4 years old group, Filler in the >3 and ≤4 years old group, and Cockrofi-Gault in the >6 and ≤9 years old group, the specificity was 73.02%, 78.95%, 78.95%, 69.32%, respectively, and the AUC under the ROC curve was the largest (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Schwartz2009 formula predicts the highest accuracy of eGFR in the 7 glomerular filtration rate. CKD-EPI_scysc, Filler, and Cockrofi-Gault formulas have more guiding signi-ficance for the adjustment of HDMTX chemotherapy in pre-adolescence in children with ALL when sGFR ≤85 ml/min.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Male ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Methotrexate ; Creatinine ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy* ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/diagnosis*

OBJECTIVES: The excretion of urinary vitamin D-binding protein (uVDBP) is related to the occurrence and development of early-stage renal damage in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study aims to explore the significance of detecting uVDBP in T2DM patients and its relationship with renal tubules, and to provide a new direction for the early diagnosis of T2DM renal damage. METHODS: A total of 105 patients with T2DM, who met the inclusion criteria, were included as a patient group, and recruited 30 individuals as a normal control group. The general information and blood and urine biochemical indicators of all subjects were collected; the levels of uVDBP, and a marker of tubular injury [urine kidney injury molecule 1 (uKIM-1), urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and urine retinol-binding protein (uRBP)] were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were corrected by urinary creatinine (Cr) to uVDBP/Cr, uKIM-1/Cr, uNGAL/Cr and uRBP/Cr. The Pearson's and Spearman's correlation tests were used to analyze the correlation between uVDBP/Cr and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and markers of tubular injury, and multivariate linear regression and receiver operating characteristic curve were used to analyze the correlation between uVDBP/Cr and UACR or eGFR. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the uVDBP/Cr level in the patient group was increased (P<0.05), and which was positively correlated with UACR (r=0.774, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with eGFR (r=-0.397, P<0.01). There were differences in the levels of uKIM-1/Cr, uNGAL/Cr, and uRBP/Cr between the 2 groups (all P<0.01). The uVDBP/Cr was positively correlated with uKIM-1/Cr (r=0.752, P<0.01), uNGAL/Cr (r=0.644, P<0.01) and uRBP/Cr (r=0.812, P<0.01). The sensitivity was 90.0% and the specificity was 82.9% (UACR>30 mg/g) for evaluation of uVDBP/Cr on T2DM patients with early-stage renal damage, while the sensitivity was 75.0% and the specificity was 72.6% for evaluation of eGFR on T2DM patients with early-stage renal damage. CONCLUSIONS The uVDBP/Cr can be used as a biomarker in early-stage renal damage in T2DM patients.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications* ; Creatinine ; Vitamin D-Binding Protein/urine* ; Lipocalin-2/urine* ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Biomarkers

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between depressive symptoms and the risks of rapid decline in renal function and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in middle-aged and elderly with normal kidney function. METHODS: The residents aged 40- 75 years with eGFR≥60 mL·min^-1·1.73 m^-2 without proteinuria in Lanzhou region, who participated in the "REACTION" study carried out in 2011, were selected and followed up in 2014. A total of 4961 individuals with complete and qualified data from the two surveys were included in the subsequent analysis. Based on PHQ-9 questionnaire scores, the baseline population was divided into two groups with and without depressive symptoms. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to compare the incidences of rapid renal function decline and CKD between the two groups and study the association of depressive symptoms with the risk of these renal conditions. RESULTS: PHQ-9 questionnaire scores were not found to correlate with baseline SCr, ALB, UACR or eGFR levels among the participarts (P>0.05). After a mean follow-up time of 3.4±0.6 years, 33.9% of the participants with depressive symptoms at baseline experienced a rapid decline in renal function and 3.6% progressed to CKD. During the follow-up, the incidence of rapid decline in renal function and the risk of developing CKD were not found to correlate with depressive symptoms in these participants (P>0.05) regardless of the type of the depressive syndromes. CONCLUSION Depressive symptoms are not associated with the risks of rapid renal function decline or progression to CKD in middle-aged and elderly with normal kidney function.
Aged ; Middle Aged ; Humans ; Cohort Studies ; Depression ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Disease Progression ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/epidemiology* ; Kidney/physiology* ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic kidney disease is one of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), and it is a main cause for chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease (ESRD). It is important to find out the factors that cause the progression of renal function. The study aims to explore the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) trajectory and the progression of renal function in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A total of 846 patients with T2DM, who were admitted to the Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, from January 2009 to December 2021 and met the criteria of baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)≥60 mL/(min·1.73 m²), were selected as the research subjects. The SUA data of multiple measurements were collected and identified as different SUA trajectories by group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM). According to the SUA trajectories, the patients were divided into a low trajectory group (105 cases), a middle trajectory group (396 cases), a middle high trajectory group (278 cases), and a high trajectory group (67 cases). Cox regression analysis was used to examine the effect of SUA trajectory on the progression of renal function in patients with T2DM. Subgroup analysis was performed by sex, age, course of disease, body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). RESULTS: The median follow-up was 4.8 years. At the end of follow-up, 158 patients had different degrees of decline in renal function. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors by Cox regression analysis, the risks of eGFR<60 mL/(min·1.73 m²), eGFR reduction rate≥50%, serum creatinine (Scr) doubling and composite endpoint (eGFR reduction rate≥50%, Scr doubling or ESRD) in the high trajectory group were significantly higher than those in the low trajectory group, with HR of 3.84 (95% CI 1.83 to 8.05), 6.90 (95% CI 2.27 to 20.96), 6.29 (95% CI 2.03 to 19.52), and 8.04 (95% CI 2.68 to 24.18), respectively. There was no significant difference in the risk of ESRD among the above 4 groups (all P>0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that: compared with the low trajectory group, the risks of eGFR<60 mL/(min·1.73 m²) in patients with high trajectory in the subgroup of male, female, age<65 years, course of disease<10 years, BMI≥24 kg/m² and HbA1c≥7% were increased (all P<0.05). The SUA trajectory had no interaction with sex, age, course of disease, BMI and HbA1c (all interactive P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The high SUA trajectory increases the risk for progression of renal function in patients with T2DM. Long-term longitudinal changes of SUA should be paid attention to.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications* ; Cohort Studies ; Uric Acid ; Glycated Hemoglobin ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications* ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Kidney/physiology* ; Risk Factors

Humans ; Heart Failure/therapy* ; Kidney/physiology* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Glomerular Filtration Rate

Humans ; Diabetic Nephropathies/pathology* ; Kidney/pathology* ; Biopsy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Disease Progression

Objective: To investigate the associations between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients diagnosed with PA and admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from October 2017 to April 2022 were enrolled. General information, blood routine, renal function, and other clinical data of the patients were collected. Based on the median NLR of the enrolled patients, NLR-1·1.73 m^-2. Multiple linear regression and multivariate logistic regression models, smooth curve fitting and threshold effect exploration were used to analyze the relationship between NLR and eGFR in PA patients, and stratified analysis and interaction tests were used to evaluate potential variables that may affect the correlation between NLR and eGFR. Results: This study finally included 743 PA patients, aged (50.3±10.4) years, 42.9% (319/743) were female, and the median NLR was 2.3. After adjusting for sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and other factors, multiple linear regression analysis showed that high NLR was negatively correlated with eGFR (β=-4.9, P=0.008), and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high NLR was associated with low eGFR (OR=3.1, P=0.002). In the corrected smooth curve, NLR is U-shaped correlation with eGFR, and the inflection point is at NLR=3.5. When the NLR was<3.5, the eGFR decreased with the increase of NLR (corrected β=-4.7, P<0.001); When the NLR was≥3.5, the eGFR increased with the increase of NLR (corrected β=5.8, P=0.031). The results of stratified analysis showed that there was an interaction between the association of NLR and eGFR with the presence or absence of hyperlipidemia (P interaction=0.017), and the correlation between NLR and eGFR was stronger in PA patients with hyperlipidemia. Conclusion: In the PA patients, there is a U-shaped relationship between NLR and eGFR, and higher NLR is associated with lower eGFR. PA patients with elevated NLR should undergo additional screening for chronic kidney disease and receive related preventive interventions.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Lymphocytes ; Hyperaldosteronism/diagnosis* ; Hyperlipidemias

Objective: To investigate the associations between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients diagnosed with PA and admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from October 2017 to April 2022 were enrolled. General information, blood routine, renal function, and other clinical data of the patients were collected. Based on the median NLR of the enrolled patients, NLR-1·1.73 m^-2. Multiple linear regression and multivariate logistic regression models, smooth curve fitting and threshold effect exploration were used to analyze the relationship between NLR and eGFR in PA patients, and stratified analysis and interaction tests were used to evaluate potential variables that may affect the correlation between NLR and eGFR. Results: This study finally included 743 PA patients, aged (50.3±10.4) years, 42.9% (319/743) were female, and the median NLR was 2.3. After adjusting for sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and other factors, multiple linear regression analysis showed that high NLR was negatively correlated with eGFR (β=-4.9, P=0.008), and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high NLR was associated with low eGFR (OR=3.1, P=0.002). In the corrected smooth curve, NLR is U-shaped correlation with eGFR, and the inflection point is at NLR=3.5. When the NLR was<3.5, the eGFR decreased with the increase of NLR (corrected β=-4.7, P<0.001); When the NLR was≥3.5, the eGFR increased with the increase of NLR (corrected β=5.8, P=0.031). The results of stratified analysis showed that there was an interaction between the association of NLR and eGFR with the presence or absence of hyperlipidemia (P interaction=0.017), and the correlation between NLR and eGFR was stronger in PA patients with hyperlipidemia. Conclusion: In the PA patients, there is a U-shaped relationship between NLR and eGFR, and higher NLR is associated with lower eGFR. PA patients with elevated NLR should undergo additional screening for chronic kidney disease and receive related preventive interventions.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Lymphocytes ; Hyperaldosteronism/diagnosis* ; Hyperlipidemias