{"title":"Exercise therapy for kidney transplant recipients: a systematic review and meta-analysis with a focus on exercise type.","authors":"Noriyuki Kounoue, Shintaro Ochiai, Masahiko Yazawa, Tadashi Sofue, Naohiko Fujii, Masakazu Saitoh, Ichiei Narita, Kunihiro Yamagata, Junichi Hoshino, Hideyo Oguchi","doi":"10.1007/s10157-026-02836-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10157-026-02836-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Exercise therapy is important for exercise tolerance, for the prevention of frailty or sarcopenia, and to improve quality of life (QOL). Previous studies, including systematic reviews, have shown the efficacy of exercise therapy for kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), but the optimal types of exercise remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to synthesize the published evidence and compare the efficacy of types of exercise.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We systematically searched for randomized controlled trials of the efficacy of exercise therapy in KTRs on PubMed and Ichushi, then performed a meta-analysis. Exercise was categorized as aerobic training (AT), resistance training (RT), or AT + RT. The risk of bias was assessed using ROB2 and the certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-five studies were included in the study and 18 in the meta-analysis. Exercise was associated with significant improvements in QOL (SF-36 physical functioning score), cardiorespiratory function (VO<sub>2</sub>peak), physical function (performance in the 6-min walk test (6MWT) and sit/stand test (STS)), and a metabolic index (triglyceride concentration). Kidney function tended to be superior in the exercise group, but the difference was not significant. Other indices of glucose and lipid metabolism and the incidence of hospitalization did not differ between the Exercise and Control groups. AT + RT significantly improved VO<sub>2</sub>peak, 6MWT performance, and the triglyceride concentration, whereas AT alone did not improve VO<sub>2</sub>peak and RT alone did not improve 6MWT performance or the triglyceride concentration. The certainty of the evidence was generally \"low\" or \"very low\".</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Exercise therapy improved the QOL, cardiorespiratory function, physical function, and triglyceride concentration of KTRs. The AT + RT combination may be the most effective exercise therapy for such patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":10349,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Nephrology","volume":" ","pages":"792-809"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147303045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Podometrics as a translational platform for kidney health and disease: Oshima award address 2025.","authors":"Kotaro Haruhara","doi":"10.1007/s10157-026-02846-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10157-026-02846-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Podocyte injury and loss are pivotal early events in the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). As podocytes have a limited capacity for regeneration and proliferation, quantitative changes in podocyte number, size, and density are critical determinants of kidney health and disease. Experimental studies have shown that podocyte depletion alone is sufficient to induce albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis and that increased podocyte volume occurs in response to glomerular hypertrophy and various stresses on podocytes. These findings led to the emergence of podometrics (i.e., the quantitative assessment of podocyte number, size, density, glomerular volume, and podocyte loss rates in kidney tissue and urine). Although the clinical application of podometrics has long been limited by technical challenges, recent methodological advances have enabled reliable podometric analyses of human kidney specimens. Accumulating clinical evidence indicates that podocyte depletion is closely associated with aging, hypertension, and various kidney diseases and that podometrics provides prognostic information, including short-term therapeutic responsiveness and long-term kidney outcomes. In this article, we summarize recent advances in podometric methodologies and review the clinical and morphological factors associated with podometrics across life courses and disease states. We further introduce the concept of \"nephro-podometrics\", defined as the integrated quantitative assessment of podometrics and nephron-related parameters, including nephron number and single-nephron indices, within the same kidney. This framework maximizes the information obtainable from kidney specimens and provides a quantitative pathological platform that links structural changes to functional abnormalities, thereby supporting patient feedback and clinical decision making in nephrology.</p>","PeriodicalId":10349,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Nephrology","volume":" ","pages":"698-705"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13090209/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147626960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Incidence and clinicopathological analysis of portal vein and inferior vena cava thrombosis in autopsy cases of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.","authors":"Anna Shinozaki, Tomoko Yamamoto, Atsushi Kurata","doi":"10.1007/s10157-026-02825-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10157-026-02825-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>With regard to complications of portal vein (PV) and inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), several cases have been reported based on imaging findings. However, only one autopsy case has been described and no systematic analysis has been conducted to date. This retrospective study aimed to review autopsy cases from our department over the past 37 years to clarify the frequency and background factors of thrombosis formation in ADPKD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Among 4001 autopsies performed at our institution from 1987 to 2023, 10 ADPKD cases were identified. We examined the presence of thrombus in these 10 cases and compared pleural effusion and ascites volumes, major organ weights, and clinicopathological factors between cases with thrombus and those without.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 10 ADPKD cases, thrombi were identified in four cases in which autopsies were performed relatively recently. These thrombi were distributed in the PV, IVC, and their branches. Compared to non-thrombotic cases, those with thrombi showed a statistically significant increase in kidney weight and tended to have a higher frequency of complications such as sepsis and severe aortic atherosclerosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study reports the first systematic autopsy-based investigation of PV and IVC thrombosis in ADPKD. Thrombosis was found at a high frequency of 40% and appears to have increased in recent years. Increased kidney weight was associated with thrombosis formation, and blood stasis due to compression by enlarged kidneys is considered the primary cause. Further case accumulation and elucidation of the pathophysiology involved are anticipated.</p>","PeriodicalId":10349,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Nephrology","volume":" ","pages":"718-725"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13090223/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146131096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Long-term frailty progression and mortality in hemodialysis: Impact of dialysis duration and baseline frailty in a nationwide Japanese cohort.","authors":"Kakuya Niihata, Noriaki Kurita, Ryohei Inanaga, Tatsunori Toida, Masanori Abe, Takao Masaki, Suguru Yamamoto","doi":"10.1007/s10157-026-02839-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10157-026-02839-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Long-term transitions in physical function among patients receiving hemodialysis remain poorly characterised. We aimed to describe 8-year trajectories of physical function and examine their associations with baseline dialysis duration and physical function status.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This nationwide cohort study analysed data from 223,501 Japanese adults undergoing hemodialysis registered in the 2010 Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy Renal Data Registry. Baseline dialysis duration was categorised as < 5, 5- < 10, 10- < 20, 20- < 30, or ≥ 30 years. Physical function at baseline was assessed using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status and classified as non-frail, frail, or bedridden. Physical function at 8 years was categorised as non-frail, frail, bedridden, or deceased. Multinomial logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios, average marginal effects, and predicted probabilities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Over 8 years, 59.9% died, 8.8% became frail, 2.4% were bedridden, and 28.9% remained non-frail. Longer dialysis duration and baseline frailty or bedridden status were associated with higher odds of subsequent frailty, bedridden status, and mortality. Compared with patients with < 5 years of dialysis, those with ≥ 30 years had a 1.6% higher probability of frailty and a 13.2% higher probability of death. Compared with baseline non-frail status, frailty was associated with a 0.04% change in frailty and a 15.8% increase in death; bedridden status was associated with a 1.7% increase in being bedridden and a 26.0% increase in death.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Long-term dialysis duration and baseline physical function strongly influence mortality, whereas absolute frailty progression is modest. These findings support early, values-based shared decision-making in dialysis care.</p>","PeriodicalId":10349,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Nephrology","volume":" ","pages":"767-779"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147324794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mika Fujihira, Toshiaki Ohkuma, Masanori Iwase, Wakako Sakamoto, Taiki Higashi, Ai Murao-Kimura, Ayaka Oshiro, Tetsuro Ago
{"title":"Impact of leisure-time and daily life physical activity on chronic kidney disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes: The Fukuoka Diabetes Registry.","authors":"Mika Fujihira, Toshiaki Ohkuma, Masanori Iwase, Wakako Sakamoto, Taiki Higashi, Ai Murao-Kimura, Ayaka Oshiro, Tetsuro Ago","doi":"10.1007/s10157-026-02838-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10157-026-02838-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The beneficial effects of physical activity (PA) on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors have been well established. However, evidence linking PA to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with diabetes is limited. This study aimed to examine the association between PA, including leisure-time PA (LTPA) and daily life PA (DLPA), and CKD cross-sectionally.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 4,922 patients with type 2 diabetes were classified into quartiles of LTPA and three categories of DLPA (sedentary, light, and moderate/vigorous). CKD was defined as a decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on cystatin C (< 60 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>) and/or albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g). Odds ratios for the presence of CKD were computed using logistic regression analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher LTPA levels were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of developing CKD (P for trend = 0.001). Higher DLPA was also associated with a lower prevalence of CKD (P for trend < 0.001). Similar associations were observed for decreased eGFR and albuminuria. The combination of higher LTPA and DLPA levels further decreased the likelihood of CKD, with a significant interaction between the two.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Higher LTPA and DLPA levels were independently associated with a lower prevalence of CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes.</p>","PeriodicalId":10349,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Nephrology","volume":" ","pages":"737-746"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147456011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuya Yamaguchi, Takaya Sasaki, Nobuo Tsuboi, Hirokazu Marumoto, Yusuke Okabayashi, Kotaro Haruhara, Go Kanzaki, Kentaro Koike, Vivette D D'Agati, John F Bertram, Toshiharu Ninomiya, Takashi Yokoo
{"title":"Integrating nephron number into risk stratification for IgA nephropathy.","authors":"Yuya Yamaguchi, Takaya Sasaki, Nobuo Tsuboi, Hirokazu Marumoto, Yusuke Okabayashi, Kotaro Haruhara, Go Kanzaki, Kentaro Koike, Vivette D D'Agati, John F Bertram, Toshiharu Ninomiya, Takashi Yokoo","doi":"10.1007/s10157-026-02843-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10157-026-02843-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The International IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) prediction tool provides reliable risk estimates for kidney outcomes using clinical and histopathological variables. However, additional structural biomarkers may further improve prognostic precision. This study investigated whether incorporating estimated nephron number enhances the predictive performance of the International IgAN prediction tool.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a post hoc analysis of 218 adult patients with primary IgAN diagnosed with native kidney biopsy between 2007 and 2017. Nephron number per kidney was estimated by multiplying estimated kidney cortical volume derived from unenhanced computed tomography by nonsclerotic glomerular density obtained from kidney biopsy specimens. The 5 year risk of a composite kidney outcome (≥ 50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] or initiation of kidney replacement therapy) was calculated using the International IgAN prediction tool. Discrimination and reclassification were assessed using Harrell's C statistics, the category-free net reclassification improvement (NRI), and the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cohort had a mean age of 42.6 years, 61.5% were male, and the mean eGFR was 60.7 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>. The mean estimated nephron number was 6.8 × 10<sup>5</sup> per kidney. During the 5 year follow-up, 25 patients (11.5%) reached the composite outcome. The original model showed excellent discrimination (C statistics 0.855), which improved to 0.867 after adding nephron number. The NRI significantly improved (0.544, P = 0.011), while the IDI showed a non-significant trend (P = 0.46).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Estimated nephron number provides additive prognostic value beyond established clinical and pathological predictors in patients with IgAN, supporting its role as a complementary biomarker in risk stratification.</p>","PeriodicalId":10349,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Nephrology","volume":" ","pages":"828-832"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147519962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Attribute-based cross-classification reveals sex- and age-specific prognostic impact of anemia in ADPKD.","authors":"Kosaku Nitta, Hiroshi Kataoka, Yusuke Ushio, Shun Manabe, Shiho Makabe, Shigeru Otsubo, Norio Hanafusa, Ken Tsuchiya, Junichi Hoshino, Toshio Mochizuki","doi":"10.1007/s10157-026-02867-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-026-02867-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Anemia is less prevalent in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) owing to preserved erythropoietin production. However, its impact on kidney prognosis remains unclear. Given sex-related differences in hemoglobin (Hb) levels, we hypothesized that the prognostic relevance of anemia may vary by sex and age. Therefore, we aimed to identify subgroup-specific risk patterns using an attribute-based cross-classification approach to support individualized anemia management in ADPKD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 552 Japanese patients with ADPKD from a single-center cohort. The primary outcome was a ≥ 30% decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or initiation of renal replacement therapy. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association between Hb and kidney outcomes. Subgroup analyses were performed using cross-classification by sex and age (< 50 or ≥ 50 years). Anemia was defined using multiple Hb thresholds (< 11, < 12, and < 13 g/dL).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Lower Hb levels were independently associated with worse renal outcomes (hazard ratio [HR] per 1 g/dL increase: 0.83). Cross-classified analyses revealed distinct risk patterns. Anemia (Hb level < 13.0 g/dL) significantly increased the risk in young (HR: 2.92) and old men (HR: 3.84). In women, anemia defined as a Hb level < 12.0 g/dL was associated with adverse outcomes in both age groups (HR: 1.98 in < 50 years; HR: 2.08 in ≥ 50 years).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Anemia is a significant prognostic marker for kidney disease progression in ADPKD. Its prognostic impact differs by sex and age, suggesting the need for attribute-based, individualized hemoglobin thresholds rather than uniform cutoffs, to optimize risk stratification and clinical assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":10349,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Nephrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147764472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Association of osteoporosis treatment with risk of fracture, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality in patients on maintenance dialysis: a retrospective database study using real-world data in Japan.","authors":"Yasuo Imanishi, Kanae Takahashi, Hisako Yoshida, Ryota Kawai, Yuki Eguchi, Kengo Saito, Yu Sadachi, Ayumi Shintani","doi":"10.1007/s10157-026-02858-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-026-02858-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Patients with chronic kidney disease who have progressed to dialysis treatment have increased fracture risk. However, the impact of osteoporosis treatment on fracture risk has not been evaluated in a large-scale study using Japanese real-world data.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective observational study (UMIN000054749), DeSC-IQVIA Integrated Claims Data were used to investigate the impact of osteoporosis treatment on fracture risk and other events in patients receiving maintenance hemo- or peritoneal dialysis. Data from April 2014 to August 2022 were extracted, and patients were divided into treated/untreated groups based on prescription records for osteoporosis medications during a 1-year exposure assessment period. The primary endpoint was the incidence of total and hip fractures from the index date (1 year post-exposure assessment period) until the end of follow-up.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 156,557 patients receiving maintenance dialysis for ≥ 1 year, 38,246 were included: 1093 and 37,153 in the treated and untreated groups, respectively. Although there was a numerically higher fracture incidence in the treated group, no significant difference was observed between the groups overall. As aged, the difference in fracture risk between the groups decreased. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that age, sex, fracture history (primary risk factor), diabetes, and sleep disorder were statistically significant effect modifiers of fracture risk.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The numerically higher incidence of fractures in the treated group may have been due to patient background differences. Fracture risk management is essential in dialysis patients, and osteoporosis treatment should be considered at an earlier age, taking into account the patient's background.</p>","PeriodicalId":10349,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Nephrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147764453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Review no. 3: handling of longitudinal creatinine data to define acute kidney injury.","authors":"Yoshihisa Miyamoto, Yuka Sugawara, Megumi Oshima, Hajime Nagasu, Takashige Kuwabara, Tadashi Sofue, Naoki Nakagawa, Masao Iwagami","doi":"10.1007/s10157-026-02856-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-026-02856-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by a sudden decline in kidney function. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) clinical practice guidelines define AKI based on an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) levels as well as a decrease in urine volume. For clinical researchers of AKI, the ability to handle longitudinal SCr data and flag AKI status and stage in individual patients is a fundamental skill. This article provides a practical guide for identifying AKI episodes from longitudinal SCr data using R programming. The methods described in this article are based on a hands-on seminar presented at the 68th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Nephrology in 2025.</p>","PeriodicalId":10349,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Nephrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147764547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}