Haplotypes in the GC, CYP2R1 and CYP24A1 Genes and Biomarkers of Bone Mineral Metabolism in Older Adults

Candidate gene studies have analyzed the effect of specific vitamin D pathway genes on vitamin D availability; however, it is not clear whether genetic variants also affect overall bone metabolism. This study evaluated the association between genetic polymorphisms in GC, CYP2R1 and CYP24A1 and serum levels of total 25(OH)D, iPTH and other mineral metabolism biomarkers (albumin, total calcium and phosphorus) in a sample of 273 older Spanish adults. We observed a significant difference between CYP2R1 rs10741657 codominant model and total 25(OH)D levels after adjusting them by gender (p = 0.024). In addition, the two SNPs in the GC gene (rs4588 and rs2282679) were identified significantly associated with iPTH and creatinine serum levels. In the case of phosphorus, we observed an association with GC SNPs in dominant model. We found a relationship between haplotype 2 and 25(OH)D levels, haplotype 4 and iPTH serum levels and haplotype 7 and phosphorus levels. In conclusion, genetic variants in CYP2R1 and GC could be predictive of 25(OH)D and iPTH serum levels, respectively, in older Caucasian adults. The current study confirmed the role of iPTH as one of the most sensitive biomarkers of vitamin D activity in vivo.

Amendment of organic compost proprieties through composting-vermicomposting integration

The aim of the current study is to evaluate the effects of integrating composting-vermicomposting to improve the organic compost as from the physicochemical analyses and by their application on Brachiaria decumbens growth. Experiments carried out in composting unit used 30:1 ratio of nitrogen-rich organic waste (raw vegetables, fruits and cooked food) and carbon (dry grass) in 2 pile configurations (with, or without passive aeration). After 60 days, product was subjected to vermicomposting for 45 days. Composts were analyzed to check their quality (temperature, pH, moisture, organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus levels), as well as compared to each other as biofertilizers (10% (w/v)) for B. decumbens growth. Data have suggested that the vermicomposting process improved the compost pile by increasing its nitrogen (1.26% to 1.95%), phosphorus (0.64% to 1.2%) and organic carbon contents (17.1% to 18.9%). B. decumbens growth showed no significant differences between those treatments, which indicates that organic fraction should be increased (>10%) to release their nutrients to plant.

Serum Phosphorus and Albumin in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis: Interaction and Association With Mortality

Hyperphosphatemia and hypoalbuminemia confer worse clinical outcomes, whether these risk factors interact to predispose to mortality is unclear. In this prospective cohort study, 2,118 patients undergoing incident continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) were enrolled and categorized into four groups based on the changing point regarding mortality at 1.5 mmol/L for serum phosphorus and 35 g/L for serum albumin. Risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were examined independently and interactively in overall and subgroups. There was no association between serum phosphorus with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but significant interactions (p = 0.02) between phosphorus and albumin existed in overall population. Patients in subgroup with high phosphorus and low albumin were at greater risk of all-cause (HR 1.95, 95%CI 1.27–2.98, p = 0.002) but not cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.37, 95%CI 0.10–1.33, p = 0.13), as compared to those with low phosphorus and high albumin. In contrast, patients with both low parameters had a higher risk of all-cause (HR 1.75, 95%CI 1.22–2.50, p = 0.002) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.92, 95%CI 1.07–3.45, p = 0.03). Notably, an elevated risk of both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was observed in those with low serum albumin, irrespective of phosphorus levels, suggesting low albumin may be useful to identify a higher-risk subgroup of patients undergoing CAPD with different serum phosphorus levels.

Processing Solid Waste of Animal Beef using Bioactivators in Effort to Reduce Environmental Pollution

Cattle waste both in the form of solid and liquid waste that is produced every day if left alone without proper waste treatment, it can cause environmental pollution, namely air, water, and soil pollution. The environment becomes squalid and attracts various animals such as flies and dogs which can carry various diseases such as deare, typhoid, cholera and skin diseases which can spread quickly and smell bad. One of the efforts to overcome environmental pollution around cattle is to carry out a composting process using cow rumen bioactivator. This study aims: (1) to find out whether cow rumen bioactivator can reduce the unpleasant odor caused by cattle waste, (2) find out whether cow rumen bioactivator can accelerate the composting process, (3) determine the effect of bioactivator volume on compost quality, namely nitrogen content. (N-total), Phosphorus levels, and Potassium levels. This study uses qualitative analysis to test odors (H2S gas, CO2 gas, NH3 gas and CH4 gas) which was carried out at the CHEMICAL Laboratory of SMK Kesehatan Bhakti Indonesia Medika Kediri, and quantitative analysis to test Nitrogen levels using a Kjeldahl flask, Phosphorus levels with a visible spectrophotometer. , Potassium levels with AAS conducted at the Laboratory of PTPN X Jengkol Plosoklaten Kediri. This study showed: (1) after the composting process, cattle solid waste did not smell, (2) the composting process took 30 days, (3) the addition of various bioactivators (25 ml, 50 ml, 75 ml, and 100 ml), volume 50 ml is the optimal volume in the composting process with 3 kg of cattle solid waste. From the decomposition results, total nitrogen content was 0.592%, phosphorus content was 0.27%, and potassium content was 0.538%. These levels meet the Quality Standards for organic fertilizers and soil enhancers according to the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture no. 2/Pert./HK.060/2/2006.

Activation of the Calcium Receptor by Calcimimetic Agents is Preserved Despite Modest Attenuating Effects of Hyperphosphatemia

Background Some reports indicate that serum phosphorus levels in the range seen clinically among patients undergoing dialysis attenuate calcium receptor activation and modify parathyroid hormone (PTH) release from isolated parathyroid glands in vitro. Some clinicians and providers of dialysis thus have suggested that calcimimetic agents are ineffective and should not be used to manage secondary hyperparathyroidism among those undergoing dialysis when serum phosphorus concentrations exceed certain threshold levels. Methods To determine whether hyperphosphatemia diminishes the therapeutic response to calcimimetic agents, we used data from large clinical trials to analyze the effects of etelcalcetide and cinacalcet to lower plasma PTH levels in individuals on hemodialysis who had secondary hyperparathyroidism and varying degrees of hyperphosphatemia. Results Plasma PTH levels declined progressively during 26 weeks of treatment with either etelcalcetide or cinacalcet without regard to the degree of hyperphosphatemia at baseline. However, with each calcimimetic agent, the decreases in PTH from baseline were less at each interval of follow-up during the trials among participants with serum phosphorus levels above one of three prespecified threshold values compared with those with serum phosphorus levels below these thresholds. Conclusions These in vivo findings are the first in humans to support the idea that hyperphosphatemia attenuates calcium receptor activation by calcium ions and by calcimimetic agents. The effect of hyperphosphatemia on the responsiveness to calcimimetic agents appears relatively modest, however, and unlikely to be significant therapeutically. The efficacy of treatment with calcimimetic agents for lowering plasma PTH levels among those with secondary hyperparathyroidism remains robust despite substantial elevations in serum phosphorus.

Multicenter Prospective Cohort on Aortic Valve Stenosis in Japanese Patients With End Stage Kidney Disease in Tokai Region (ASKIT)

Background:The prevalence of aortic valve stenosis (AS) in patients on maintenance dialysis is high and the prognosis is poor. Because only few large cohort studies have analyzed patients with AS on dialysis, the factors that cause AS in such patients remain unclear.Methods:This multicenter, prospective cohort study included 2,786 patients on dialysis who underwent transthoracic echocardiography between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018. Patients with a maximum aortic jet velocity (Vmax) ≥2.0 m/s, pressure gradient (PG) between the left ventricle and ascending aorta (mean PG) ≥20 mmHg, or aortic valve area (AVA) ≤1.0 cm2 were categorized into the AS group. Of these, patients with Vmax ≥3.0 m/s, mean PG ≥20 mmHg, or AVA ≤1.0 cm2 were categorized into the severe AS group. The AS and severe AS groups were then compared with the non-AS group to identify the risk factors for AS using multivariate logistic analysis. We also compared the risk factors for AS with and without aortic valve calcification, which is the stage prior to age-related AS.Results:Of the 2,786 patients analyzed, 555 (20.0%) and 139 (6.9%) were categorized into the AS and severe AS groups, respectively. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that aging, long-term dialysis, and elevated serum phosphorus levels were associated with AS in the AS and severe AS groups (p <0.05). Additional investigation using stratified multivariate analysis revealed that groups with serum phosphorus levels of 5.0–5.9 mg/dL and >6.0 mg/dL had a higher risk of AS than those with serum phosphorus levels of <4.0 mg/dL (odds ratio: 2.24; p = 0.01 and odds ratio: 2.66, p = 0.005, respectively). Aortic valve calcification was associated with aging, long-term dialysis, diabetes mellitus, administration of vitamin D receptor activators, elevated serum calcium levels, and anemia (p <0.05 for all).Conclusions:Dialysis patients had a high prevalence of AS, and AS was associated with aging, long dialysis duration, and elevated serum phosphorus levels.Trial registration: UMIN000026756, Registered on March 29, 2017.