
APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network (APOLLO)
Kidney DiseasesKidney Failure2 moreThe APOLLO study is being done in an attempt to improve outcomes after kidney transplantation and to improve the safety of living kidney donation based upon variation in the apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1). Genes control what is inherited from a family, such as eye color or blood type. Variation in APOL1 can cause kidney disease. African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Hispanic Blacks, and Africans are more likely to have the APOL1 gene variants that cause kidney disease. APOLLO will test DNA from kidney donors and recipients of kidney transplants for APOL1 to determine effects on kidney transplant-related outcomes.

Safety and Clinical Outcomes With Amniotic and Umbilical Cord Tissue Therapy for Numerous Medical...
Orthopedic DisorderNeurologic Disorder15 moreTo determine the safety and efficacy of Amniotic and Umbilical Cord Tissue for the treatment of the following condition categories: Orthopedic, Neurologic, Urologic, Autoimmune, Renal, Cardiac and Pulmonary Conditions. The hypotheses are that the treatments are not only extremely safe, but also statistically beneficial for all conditions. Outcomes will be determined by numerous valid outcome instruments that compile general quality of life information along with condition-specific information as well.

A Prospective Danish National Registry of PTRA in Patients With Renovascular Hypertension
Renal Artery ObstructionHypertension3 moreA prospective Danish national registry of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) in high-risk patients with renal artery stenosis selected on the basis of common national criteria, and with a common follow-up protocol for all three Danish centres offering PTRA

The Chinese Registry of Prognostic Study of IgA Nephropathy (CRPIGA)
IgA NephropathyEstablish an IgAN cohort collaboration group and expert committee to carry out registration research. Construct IgAN structured data set standards, formulate structured data collection templates of diagnosis and treatment , and establish multi-center data integration systems on this basis. Establish a standardized IgAN database for combined Hospital Information System and the big data platform of the Medical Federation. Develop IgAN database managements and open standards for data sharing, and carry out high-quality clinical or basic research.

Cardiac Tissue Sodium Assessment in CKD Patients Using Sodium MRI
Chronic Kidney DiseasesDialysis; Complications1 moreChronic kidney disease (CKD) is prevalent worldwide and affects around 10% of people living in developed health economies. As the kidney loses its function in patients with CKD, the kidneys are unable to filter toxins out of the blood as efficiently as those of healthy individuals. Arguably, sodium (salt) is the most relevant toxin in CKD and can build up in the kidneys of patients with CKD. Salt build-up has also been found to occur in the heart muscle tissue and could drive the development of scarring of the heart muscle tissue which contributes to heart failure. Using sodium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we would like to measure the levels of salt in the heart muscle tissue. We will examine whether the heart muscle tissue has high salt levels, and if so, whether this relates to any heart defects. A conventional proton MRI will be done to measure heart function. The MRI images of healthy volunteers, CKD patients, and those on hemodialysis will be analyzed for levels of salt and the findings will then be compared to the cardiac biomarkers (proteins or enzymes that are released into the blood when the heart is damaged or stressed) and fibrosis (scarring) measured from each patient's proton MRI images to establish a possible correlation. This research has the potential to precede additional studies that may investigate the effect of diuretics (a drug that increases the production of urine) on the heart muscle tissue of CKD patients. Using sodium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it is possible to measure the sodium content in the cardiac tissue of patients with kidney disease. In this research study, it will be investigated whether the elevated levels of sodium in patients with kidney disease is also present in their hearts, and if so, whether this relates to cardiac abnormalities. Cardiac sodium MRI images of healthy volunteers, hemodialysis patients, and CKD patients will be analyzed for sodium content. This sodium information will then be compared to the biomarkers of cardiac function and fibrosis measured from each patient's proton MRI images in order to establish a possible correlation. This research has the potential to precede additional studies that may investigate the effect of diuretics on the cardiac tissue of kidney disease patients.

NOX4 and Related Biomarkers in ADPKD
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney DiseaseTo determine the value of NOX4, markers of mitochondria injury and function, and oxidative stress as real-time biomarkers to assess disease severity in patients with early autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

Prediction of BKvirus Nephropathy Risk by the NEPHROVIR Method in Kidney Transplant Patients With...
BK Virus InfectionNephropathy1 moreBKvirus associated nephropathy (BKvAN) is a major complication in kidney transplantation. Due to BKvirus (BKv) intra-graft replication, BKvAN affects nearly 10% of patients and causes graft loss in more than 50% of cases. Without current antiviral therapy, the treatment consists of minimizing immunosuppression, secondarily exposing the patient to a graft rejection risk. Impaired BKv specific T cell response plays a crucial role in the BKvAN pathophysiology. Several teams, including ours, have demonstrated a profound impairment of BKv specific T cell response during BKvAN. Immunovirological monitoring allows an individual assessment of viral reactivation risk based on the anti-viral immune response. Our group has developed the NEPHROVIR method. This non-invasive biological method for BKvAN allows the identification of BKvAN risk level. The aim of this work is to evaluate, by the NEPHROVIR method, the risk to develop a BKvAN with renal impairment in kidney transplant recipients with sustained BKv viremia. The investigators propose the BKVIR study. This is a prospective multicentric study involving 100 kidney transplant recipients with sustained BKv viremia. The aim of this work is to evaluate the NEPHROVIR method as an innovative immunovirological surveillance method for predicting the risk of BKvAN occurrence. The characterization of individual BKvAN risk level could help in the individualized follow-up and management of immunosuppression in patients. The long-term objective would be to diagnose very early, or even anticipate, the occurrence of BKvAN and to allow early readjustment of the immunosuppressive treatment.

Pathogenesis of Kidney Disease in Type 1 Diabetes: a Modern Kidney Biopsy Cohort (The PANDA Study)...
Type 1 DiabetesDiabetic Kidney Disease3 moreDiabetic kidney disease (DKD) occurs in up to 40% of people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), often leading to kidney failure and markedly magnifying risks of cardiovascular disease and premature death. Landmark T1D kidney biopsy studies identified the classic pathological lesions of DKD, which have been attributed largely to hyperglycemia. Recent advances in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and automated insulin delivery have facilitated improved glycemic control, but the residual risk of DKD continues to be high. In addition, obesity and insulin resistance (IR) have accompanied intensive glycemic therapy and may promote mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation. Deciphering the molecular underpinnings of DKD in modern-day T1D and identifying modifiable risk factors could lead to more effective and targeted therapies to prevent DKD.

A Study of Roxadustat to Treat Anemia in Children and Teenagers With Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic Kidney DiseaseRenal AnemiaRoxadustat is a licensed medicine to treat anemia in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Anemia is a low level of red blood cells. Current treatment for anemia is to have injections of medicines called erythropoietin stimulating agents (also known as ESAs) to help the bone marrow make more red blood cells. These are often given together with iron. This treatment is also available to children and teenagers with CKD. However, there are some safety concerns with ESAs. Also, as roxadustat is taken orally, this may be another option for treating anemia in children and teenagers with CKD. In this study, children and teenagers with CKD and anemia will take roxadustat for up to 52 weeks to treat their anemia. The main aim of the study is to learn how roxadustat affects anemia in children and teenagers with CKD. This is an open-label study which means the children and teenagers in the study and the clinic staff know they will be taking roxadustat. In this study, the children and teenagers with CKD who need treatment for anemia can take part. Those currently being treated with an ESA will be switched to roxadustat. Those who have not been treated with an ESA can start on roxadustat straight away. All children and teenagers in the study will take roxadustat 3 times a week for up to 52 weeks (1 year). They will start on a fixed dose of roxadustat for 4 weeks. Blood samples will be taken regularly to check hemoglobin levels. The roxadustat dose may be changed if the blood levels of hemoglobin are too high, too low, or change too quickly. After 4 weeks the dose may be changed, if needed, to keep blood levels of hemoglobin in the blood to just below the normal range. Firstly, teenagers will take roxadustat. 10 teenagers will take their fixed dose of roxadustat for 4 weeks. They will give blood samples to help the researchers work out the most suitable dose for the rest of the teenagers in the study. When the rest of the teenagers start taking roxadustat at the most suitable dose for teenagers, 10 children will take roxadustat for 4 weeks. These 10 children will give blood samples to help the researchers work out the most suitable dose for the rest of the children in the study. Then, the rest of the children will take roxadustat at the most suitable dose for children. There will be many clinic visits during the study. Overnight hospital stays are not expected. There will be 1 visit every 2 weeks for the first 4 weeks of taking roxadustat, then every 4 weeks until the end of treatment. Finally there is 1 visit 4 weeks after treatment has finished. During most visits, the children and teenagers will have their vital signs checked (blood pressure, body temperature and heart rate). Fluid status (how much water is in the body) will also be checked for those who need dialysis. The children and teenagers will also have blood tests and the study doctors will check for any medical problems. The children and teenagers will have a medical examination before their first dose of roxadustat and again at about 24-week (6-month) and 52-week (13-month) visits. They will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) before their first dose of roxadustat and again at the 12-week, 24-week, 36-week, and 52-week visit. They will also have urine tests at the 4-week, 24-week and 52-week visits. At the 52-week visit, the children and teenagers will also have blood tests for hemoglobin and iron levels. The study doctors will also check for any medical problems.

Core Outcome Set for Pharmacist-led Interventions in CKD
Chronic Kidney DiseasesBackground Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition characterised by a gradual reduction in kidney function and structure over time. CKD is a risk factor for other morbidity, where it not only increases the likelihood of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but also can have a detrimental impact on quality of life. Whilst several systematic reviews have demonstrated the benefits of interventions delivered by pharmacists, there is significant variability in terms of the outcomes reported and an inconsistency with the measures used (e.g., medication adherence is often assessed using different outcome measures). The large heterogeneity of outcomes reported and the measures used in randomised controlled trials investigating the impact interventions involving pharmacists have on CKD patients makes it difficult to interpret findings and make comparisons between interventions have. This ultimately affects the quality of research and limits the ability to synthesize evidence, particularly in meta-analyses. Issues around inconsistent outcome reporting could be addressed with the development and application of agreed standardised sets of outcomes. Indeed, the significant range of outcomes in the CKD pharmacy literature led the authors in Raiisi et al., to state that further research is required to establish a core outcome set (COS) in CKD, in relation to pharmacy practice. COS are a collection of outcomes that are standardised and agreed upon, in which as a minimum, they should be measured and reported in all trials for a particular clinical topic. They are of importance as input is provided from a variety of stakeholders such as patients, researchers, family members, carers, and healthcare professionals, in which relevant outcomes are more likely to be identified, as well as helping reduce reporting bias and heterogeneity in the research literature. Currently no pharmacy-specific COS exists for interventions conducted in CKD. Aims The overall objective is to develop a COS for clinical trials evaluating the efficacy or effectiveness of pharmacist-led interventions (i.e., interventions provided to patients are either pharmacist-led or involve their input) in people with CKD. The aim of Phase 1 is to conduct an online survey to explore outcomes of importance to stakeholders. The outcomes identified in Phase 1 will lead into a subsequent Delphi process to develop a COS (Phase 2). Methods Phase 1 The investigators aim to use an online survey to collect data from participants. The questions in this survey can be found in the attached documentation. It is estimated that this survey will take 10 minutes to complete. The first part of the survey asks questions about the participant including what stakeholder group best describes them. The second part asks them about what outcomes are important in pharmacy research and in the management of kidney disease. Phase 2 The outcomes generated in this survey will be supplemented by outcomes identified in an ongoing systematic review performed by the research group. The investigators will take this long-list of outcomes and aim to reach a consensus on a COS using a 2-round Delphi process. The Delphi process is a structured process used for forming a consensus, where stakeholder groups provide their opinions in an iterative approach for answering questions over several rounds. This will also take place using surveys online and the investigators will submit an ethical amendment for each round with the questions and outcomes we will be seeking consensus on. In each Delphi round, participants will be asked to rate the importance of outcomes for inclusion or exclusion. Between each round, excluded outcomes will be removed. Included outcomes (those reaching consensus, defined as a minimum of 75% of participants who scored outcomes as agree or strongly agree or disagree or strongly disagree) will go into the COS. Following the Delphi survey, the investigators will conduct a consensus day. A sample of participants will be invited to discuss the findings and reach a consensus on the final COS.