ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Despite evidence that diet is very important in relation to chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, studies in this field are scarce and have focused only on some specific nutrients. We evaluated the energy, macronutrient and micronutrient intakes and dietary patterns of non-dialysis CKD participants in the PROGREDIR study. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study; CKD cohort, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Baseline data on 454 participants in the PROGREDIR study were analyzed. Dietary intake was evaluated through a food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were derived through principal component analysis. Energy and protein intakes were compared with National Kidney Foundation recommendations. Linear regression analysis was performed between energy and nutrient intakes and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and between sociodemographic and clinical variables and dietary patterns. RESULTS: Median energy and protein intakes were 25.0 kcal/kg and 1.1 g/kg, respectively. In linear regression, protein intake (β = -3.67; P = 0.07) was related to eGFR. Three dietary patterns (snack, mixed and traditional) were retained. The snack pattern was directly associated with male gender (β = 0.27; P = 0.006) and inversely with diabetes (β = -0.23; P = 0.02). The traditional pattern was directly associated with male gender (β = 0.27; P = 0.007) and schooling (β = 0.40; P < 0.001) and inversely with age (β = -0.01; P = 0.001) and hypertension (β = -0.34; P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We identified low energy and high protein intake in this population. Protein intake was inversely related to eGFR. Dietary patterns were associated with age, gender, schooling level, hypertension and diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have shown a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D, defined as a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level less than 30 ng/ml, in both healthy populations and patients with chronic kidney disease. Patients undergoing kidney transplant are at an increased risk of skin cancer and are advised to avoid sunlight exposure. Therefore, these patients might share two major risk factors for hypovitaminosis D: chronic kidney disease and low sunlight exposure. This paper describes the prevalence and clinical characteristics of hypovitaminosis D among patients undergoing kidney transplant. METHODS: We evaluated 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels in a representative sample of patients undergoing kidney transplant. We sought to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D, compare these patients with a control group, and identify factors associated with hypovitaminosis D (e.g., sunlight exposure and dietary habits). RESULTS: Hypovitaminosis D was found in 79% of patients undergoing kidney transplant, and the major associated factor was low sunlight exposure. These patients had higher creatinine and intact parathyroid hormone serum levels, with 25-hydroxyvitamin D being inversely correlated with intact parathyroid hormone serum levels. Compared with the control group, patients undergoing kidney transplant presented a higher prevalence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and lower serum calcium, phosphate and albumin but higher creatinine and intact parathyroid hormone levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed the high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients undergoing kidney transplant. Therapeutic strategies such as moderate sunlight exposure and vitamin D supplementation should be seriously considered for this population.

RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A doença renal crônica (DRC) tornou-se um problema de saúde pública. A carga socioeconômica da terapia renal substitutiva é muito elevada, assim como a morbimortalidade cardiovascular associada à DRC. Medidas terapêuticas e preventivas têm impacto parcial e novos estudos são necessários. Há poucos estudos de coorte em populações com DRC. Nosso objetivo foi criar uma coorte que contemplasse formas mais avançadas de DRC (estágios 3 e 4). A coleta de dados foi centrada em parâmetros renais e cardiovasculares. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo de coorte prospectivo; São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: O recrutamento ocorreu entre março de 2012 e dezembro de 2013, no Hospital das Clínicas, em São Paulo. Foram coletados dados de história médica, questionário de frequência alimentar, antropometria, exames laboratoriais, escore de cálcio, ecocardiografia, espessura de camada médio-intimal de carótidas, velocidade de onda de pulso, retinografia e variabilidade de frequência cardíaca. Um biobanco incluindo soro, plasma, soro e plasma pós-teste oral de tolerância à glicose, urina (manhã e 24 horas) e DNA foi estabelecido. RESULTADOS: 454 participantes (60% homens e 50% diabéticos) com idade média de 68 anos foram recrutados. A taxa média de filtração glomerular estimada-Colaboração da Epidemiologia para DRC foi de 38,4 ml/min/1,73 m2. O seguimento está em andamento e os desfechos principais são: início de terapia renal substitutiva, eventos cardiovasculares e óbito. CONCLUSÃO: A coorte PROGREDIR é um estudo prospectivo promissor que permitirá melhor compreensão dos determinantes de DRC e a validação de biomarcadores candidatos para o risco de progressão de DRC e de mortalidade.

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become an important public health issue. The socioeconomic burden of renal replacement therapy (RRT) is very high, as is CKD-related cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Preventive and therapeutic measures only have modest impact and more research is needed. Few cohort studies have been conducted on populations with CKD. Our aim was to establish a cohort that would include more advanced forms of CKD (stages 3 and 4). Data collection was focused on renal and cardiovascular parameters. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cohort study; São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Recruitment took place in Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, from March 2012 to December 2013. Data relating to medical history, food-frequency questionnaire, anthropometry, laboratory work-up, calcium score, echocardiography, carotid intimal-medial thickness, pulse-wave velocity, retinography and heart rate variability were collected. A biobank including serum, plasma, post-oral glucose tolerance test serum and plasma, urine (morning and 24-hour urine) and DNA was established. RESULTS: 454 participants (60% men and 50% diabetics) of mean age 68 years were enrolled. Their mean estimated glomerular filtration rate-CKD Epidemiology Collaboration was 38 ml/min/1.73 m2. Follow-up is ongoing and the main outcomes are the start of RRT, cardiovascular events and death. CONCLUSIONS: The PROGREDIR cohort is a promising prospective study that will allow better understanding of CKD determinants and validation of candidate biomarkers for the risks of CKD progression and mortality.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic options for diabetes treatment and their potential side effects, in addition to analyzing the risks and benefits of tight glycemic control in patients with diabetic kidney disease. For this review, a search was performed using several pre-defined keyword combinations and their equivalents: “diabetes kidney disease” and “renal failure” in combination with “diabetes treatment” and “oral antidiabetic drugs” or “oral hypoglycemic agents.” The search was performed in PubMed, Endocrine Abstracts and the Cochrane Library from January 1980 up to January 2015. Diabetes treatment in patients with diabetic kidney disease is challenging, in part because of progression of renal failure-related changes in insulin signaling, glucose transport and metabolism, favoring both hyperglycemic peaks and hypoglycemia. Additionally, the decline in renal function impairs the clearance and metabolism of antidiabetic agents and insulin, frequently requiring reassessment of prescriptions. The management of hyperglycemia in patients with diabetic kidney disease is even more difficult, requiring adjustment of antidiabetic agents and insulin doses. The health team responsible for the follow-up of these patients should be vigilant and prepared to make such changes; however, unfortunately, there are few guidelines addressing the nuances of the management of this specific population.

Las enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS) constituyen un problema de salud pública con importantes consecuencias y secuelas que incluyen la enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica, la infertilidad, el carcinoma cervical y los desenlaces adversos del embarazo. En la última década, la estrecha asociación entre la presencia de ETS y el aumento del riesgo de transmisión sexual del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana ha renovado el interés por la prevención y control de las ETS. Sin embargo, en América Latina y el Caribe, la información epidemiológica sobre la magnitud del problema de las ETS es escasa y, en general, está limitada a un pequeño número de estudios y a datos oficiales incompletos de los países de la zona. Tras una cuidadosa revisión de la literatura y un análisis de los datos que posee la Organización Mundial de la Salud sobre cada país, hemos estimado la prevalencia e incidencia en América Latina y el Caribe de cuatro ETS curables (sífilis, gonorrea, infección por clamídias y tricomoniasis) en hombres y mujeres de 15 a 49 años de edad. Para ello se utilizaron parámetros tales como la duración de la infección, la estimación de los pacientes tratados frente a los no tratados y los datos de población. En 1996, el número estimado de casos en América Latina y el Caribe fue de 1,3 millones para la sífilis, de 7,1 millones para la gonorrea, de 10,0 millones para las infecciones clamidiales y de 17,7 millones para la tricomoniasis. Con una cifra estimada total que, en el mejor de los casos, es superior a 36 millones de casos anuales, las ETS tratables parecen constituir un importante problema de salud pública en la zona.