Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in north Indians, and this is more pronounced in CKD subjects. There is a significant inverse correlation between the vitamin D and PTH levels. The clinical significance of this deficiency and the potential benefits to be derived from vitamin D supplementation in this population merits further studies.

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Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) is a feared complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Renal biopsy is valuable to assess disease severity and prognosis, but no histological data are available for Indigenous Australians (IA). We compared histopathology between IA and non-IA patients (NI) with LN in northern Australia and describe main outcomes.

This in-depth review on melioidosis may stimulate attention for Asian countries on this easy to be neglected infectious disease. The importance also relies on the fact that mortality can be prevented by early institution of specific antimicrobial therapy. ABSTRACT:Melioidosis, caused by the saprophytic soil and freshwater Gram-negative aerobic bacillus Burkholderia pseudomallei, is classically characterized by pneumonia, sometimes with multiple organ abscesses, usually in patients with defined risk factors and with a mortality rate of up to 40%. It is a major cause of community-acquired sepsis in Southeast Asia and tropical northern Australia with an expanding global geographical distribution. It is increasingly recognized as an opportunistic infectious disease of importance to physicians, who may need to suspect it in at-risk patients that may come from or visit endemic areas, and could be fatal if treated late or inappropriately. Mortality could be prevented by early institution of specific antimicrobial therapy. Epidemiology, clinical features, overall management, and aspects of melioidosis particularly relevant to kidney disease and immunosuppression are discussed in this review.

Aim:  To describe the incidence and prevalence of blood‐borne viruses (BBV) including: hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human T‐cell leukaemia virus type‐1 (HTLV) in the haemodialysis‐dependent population of the Top End of the Northern Territory (TENT). Methods:  We retrospectively reviewed the serology of BBV in a longitudinal fashion in the haemodialysis‐dependent population treated in the TENT of Australia from 2000 to 2009 inclusive. HBV, HCV, HIV and HTLV serology on commencement of dialysis and at exit or January 2010, whichever was earlier, as well as demographic details were collected. Patients with a change in serological status had all serology reviewed. Results:  Four‐hundred and forty patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 84.3% were Indigenous and 55.4% female, with a median age of 50 (IQR 43–59) years at the commencement of haemodialysis. Evidence of past HBV infection was documented in 42.7% and 8.9% were hepatitis B surface antigen‐positive. Positive serology for HTLV was documented in 2.2%, 1.6% were hepatitis C antibody‐positive and no individual was HIV‐positive. Three patients had a definite change in their HBV serology over time; this equates to an absolute seroconversion risk of 0.1 per 100 person years or 0.0006 per dialysis episode. Conclusions:  In this cohort, there was a high rate of past and current hepatitis B infection but low rates of seroconversion while on haemodialysis.