Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial disease (ADTKD) is a dominantly inherited progressive nonglomerular disease. Several factors, such as a nonspecific clinical presentation and relative rarity, impede the phenotyping of ADTKD into clinically relevant subtypes and impair the appropriate implementation of genetic testing. The study by Olinger et al. describes the largest multicenter ADTKD cohort, which is likely to become a key resource. The authors also provide a new clinical tool that could guide diagnosis and genetic testing.A recent study supports the concept that reduced kidney function causes higher blood pressure, but it found no evidence of causality in the opposite direction. We describe the method of bidirectional Mendelian randomization that was used to explore the direction of the causal relationship between kidney function and blood pressure, and examine the assumptions required for these analyses to give valid results.Associations among hypertension, podocyte depletion, and chronic kidney disease are well-established, but whether mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the normal range influences podocyte depletion has not been previously examined. In this issue, Naik et al. use non-invasive urinary mRNA analysis to demonstrate that higher podocyte stress and detachment are associated with higher MAP in the normal range. The relationship between blood pressure and podocyte health suddenly got much more interesting.The role of membrane channels in juxtaglomerular cell physiology is only partially understood. Pannexin 1 is a mechanosensitive, nonjunctional channel known for its role in adenosine triphosphate release. The study by DeLalio et al. documents involvement of pannexin 1 in renin secretion by studying mice deficient in pannexin 1 in renin-secreting cells and a prorenin-secreting cell line. Pannexin 1 is believed to suppress renin secretion and thereby modify blood pressure. The commentary addresses the broader physiological implication of these observations for the regulation of renin and blood pressure.Progressive focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, characterized by podocyte loss, is often refractory to treatment and leads to progressive proteinuric chronic kidney disease. Interleukin-9 (IL-9) is reported to play important roles in innate and adaptive immunity in extrarenal inflammatory diseases. By using an IL-9 knockout mouse model, Xiong et al. demonstrate IL-9 as a novel pro-podocyte survival cytokine in the adriamycin nephropathy model of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Sequential in vitro and in vivo data corroborate a direct protective role, rather than an immunologic role, for IL-9 on podocyte survival. This commentary highlights these novel data and discusses the necessary steps for developing IL-9 as a potential novel therapeutic for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.The editorial team of Kidney International feels truly proud to publish Detlef Schlöndorff's legacy work. This seminal paper with Lee and Schlöndorff as joint senior authors revealed the importance of crosstalks between different glomerular cell types in diabetic kidney disease. Furthermore, they showed that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and activin membrane-bound inhibitor, an endogenous modulator of transforming growth factor-β signaling, plays a cell type-specific role and may be a good target for intervention against diabetic kidney disease.
  To evaluate the outbreak size and hospital cost effects of bacterial whole-genome sequencing availability in managing a large-scale hospital outbreak.
 
  We built a hybrid discrete event/agent-based simulation model to replicate a serious bacterial outbreak of resistant Escherichia coli in a large metropolitan public hospital during 2017. We tested the 3 strategies of using whole-genome sequencing early, late (actual outbreak), or not using it and assessed their associated outbreak size and hospital cost. The model included ward dynamics, pathogen transmission, and associated hospital costs during a 5-month outbreak. Model parameters were determined using data from the Queensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection (N= 4809 patient admissions) and local clinical knowledge. Sensitivity analyses were performed to address model and parameter uncertainty.
 
  An estimated 197 patients were colonized during the outbreak, with 75 patients detected. The total outbreak cost was A$460 137 (US$317 117), with 6.1% spent on sequencing. Without sequencing, the outbreak was estimated to result in 352 colonized patients, costing A$766 921 (US$528 547). With earlier detection from use of routine sequencing, the estimated outbreak size was 3 patients and cost A$65 374 (US$45 054).
 
  Using whole-genome sequencing in hospital outbreak management was associated with smaller outbreaks and cost savings, with sequencing costs as a small fraction of total hospital costs, supporting the further investigation of the use of routine whole-genome sequencing in hospitals.
 Using whole-genome sequencing in hospital outbreak management was associated with smaller outbreaks and cost savings, with sequencing costs as a small fraction of total hospital costs, supporting the further investigation of the use of routine whole-genome sequencing in hospitals.
  France has included health economic assessment (HEA) as an official criterion for innovative drug pricing since 2013. Until now, no cost-effectiveness threshold (CET) has been officially proposed to qualify incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Although the French health authorities have publicly expressed the need for such reference values, previous initiatives to determine these have failed. The study aims to propose a locally adapted method for estimating a preference-based value for a quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) based on a rational approach to public policy choices in France.
 
  We used the official French value of statistical life (VSL) of €3 million (USD 3.25 million), proposed in 2013 by the French General Commission on Strategy and Prediction. We first estimated the value of life-year (VoLY) by age category according to life expectancy and official discounts recommended for HEA in France.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/AZD2281(Olaparib).html  We then estimated a value of statistical QALY (VSQ) by weighting VoLYs with demographic data and French EQ-5D-3L tariffs.