bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of a Novel Immunosuppressant, FK 506, on Autoimmune Glomerulonephritis in Brown Norway Rats
Authors: Nakahama H. , Obata K. , Matsuyama T. , Sugita M. , Horio M. , Oka K. , Moriyama T. 
Published: April 2003

Mercuric-chloride (HgCl<sub>2</sub>) induces a lymphoproliferative disorder and autoimmune glomerulonephritis in Brown Norway rats. The effects of a new immunosuppressant FK 506 on this model of glomerulonephritis were studied. Brown Norway rats were treated with HgCl<sub>2</sub> according to a standard protocol (HgCl<sub>2</sub> 1 mg/kg s.c. 3 times/ week). Rats developed proteinuria at day 7, which reached a plateau level at day 14. On day 14, renal histology showed prominent mesangial cellular proliferation and the expansion of mesangial matrix. Electron microscopic study showed the effacement of visceral epithelial foot processes and the microvillous transformation of the visceral epithelium. Immunofluorescence study showed a strong linear staining for IgG and the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 in all glomeruli. Coadministration of FK 506 (1 mg/kg s.c. daily) prevented the appearance of proteinuria at day 14 (621.4 ± 30.5 vs. 2.2 ± 2.7 mg/day) and the morphological lesions. These findings suggest that FK 506 could be useful for the therapy of certain types of human glomerulonephritis.
Perinatal and Infant Outcome of Pregnant Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis
Authors: Nakabayashi Masao , Adachi Tomoko , Itoh Shoko , Kobayashi Makoto , Mishina Jun , Nishida Hiroshi 
Published: April 2003

Recently, perinatal outcome in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis has been improved. But the conditions that will most likely result in successful pregnancy are still obscure. We retrospectively analyzed 15 pregnant patients who were undergoing chronic hemodialysis before pregnancy treated in our perinatal center. We divided these 15 cases into 2 groups: one group of 11 patients whose infants survived and the other group of 4 patients whose infants died 6 h to 8 months after birth due to prematurity. The rate of successful pregnancies having a surviving infant was 73.3% (11/15). We compared the maternal conditions and the progress of pregnancy in the 2 groups. Significant differences (p < 0.01) were seen as follows. The patients in the group whose infants survived underwent hemodialysis for a shorter term before pregnancy (1–6 years), most of them (9/11) could produce urine (≧50 ml/day), and the period of gestation was extended (33.3 ± 4.7 weeks), so the infants were heavier (1,782.9 ± 678.3 g). All the patients who underwent more than 9 years of hemodialysis could not have a surviving infant. From this we can assume that the shorter the period of dialysis before pregnancy, the better the condition is that is likely to result in women giving birth and the better is their infant’s chance of survival.
A New Lactate-Based, Plasticizer-Free, Neutral Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid Provided in a Two-Compartment System: Effect on Peripheral Leukocyte Function
Authors: Alscher Dominik M. , Pauli-Magnus Christiane , Kirchgessner Judith , Kuhlmann Ulrich , Mettang Thomas 
Published: April 2003

<i>Background:</i> A new neutral peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF; Balance<sup>®</sup>) provided in a two-compartment bag (pH 7.4, no plasticizers, minimal glucose degradation products – GDP) was investigated in comparison with a neutral control (Hanks’ balanced salt solution with gelatin 0.1%) and other PDFs with standard properties and plasticizers (Andy plus<sup>®</sup>, pH 5.2, GDP), plasticizer free (stay safe<sup>®</sup>, pH 5.2, GDP), and in addition plasticizer free after sterile filtration instead of heat sterilization (pH 5.2) regarding the function of peripheral blood leukocytes. <i>Methods:</i> Blood was drawn from 12 volunteers, and blood monocytes (MN) and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) were collected. The cells were incubated for 30 min in control medium and the PDFs: glucose 1.5% (83 mmol/l) and 4.25% (238 mmol/l). Respiratory burst of cells was evaluated by chemiluminescence and superoxide (SO) generation after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate. <i>Results:</i> In comparison with the control medium, incubation of MN in the two-compartment PDF showed preservation of respiratory burst. In contrast, the incubation of MN in standard PDF and plasticizer-free PDF showed impaired functions. The same was found for PMNL. SO anion measurement in MN and PMNL after incubation in the new two-compartment PDF also showed preservation of cell function in comparison with the control medium. The incubation of PMNL in standard PDF and plasticizer-free PDF with a high glucose content showed depressed SO anion generation. <i>Conclusions:</i> These in vitro data demonstrate a better preservation of in vitro phagocyte function with adaptation of pH and reduction of glucose, GDP, and plasticizers in PDFs. The best results are achieved with the two-compartment, lactate-based neutral PDF.
Reversible Nephrotic Syndrome in a Patient with Amyloid A Amyloidosis of the Kidney following Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Infection
Authors: Yokota Naoko , Morita Hiroyuki , Iwasaki Shigeki , Ooba Hiroshi , Ideura Terukuni , Yoshimura Ashio 
Published: April 2003

A common form of methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) associated glomerulonephritis is either an endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis or a crescentic glomerulonephritis. This report describes the development of reversible nephrotic syndrome following MRSA infection in a patient with amyloid A amyloidosis. The patient had been diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis for 50 years. Suppurative arthritis due to MRSA became complicated 2 years prior to admission to our hospital. In the meantime, a nonnephrotic-range proteinuria developed. Two weeks before admission, nephrotic syndrome developed. The serum creatinine level remained unchanged throughout the course, but common features characteristic of MRSA-associated glomerulonephritis were observed in this patient, such as elevated serum IgG and IgA levels. A renal biopsy specimen showed glomerular amyloid A amyloidosis of a nodular type, infiltrated mononuclear cells in the mesangium, deposition of IgG, IgA, and C3, and swelling of glomerular endothelial cells. There were no crescentic glomeruli. Following surgical eradication of the MRSA focus in the right knee joint, nephrotic syndrome disappeared. Hence, it was highly possible that MRSA infection induced a reversible nephrotic syndrome by causing reversible injuries to glomerular endothelial cells. The description of this case serves to illustrate the range of MRSA infections that may cause various forms of glomerulonephritides.
Chronic Phosphorus Supplementation Decreases the Expression of Renal PTH/PTHrP Receptor mRNA in Rats
Authors: Masuyama Ritsuko , Kajita Yasutaka , Odachi Junko , Uehara Mariko , Shigematsu Takashi , Suzuki Kazuharu , Goto Shiro 
Published: April 2003

Dietary intake of high levels of phosphorus is known to increase serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH); however, how this increased serum PTH affects the action of PTH in major target tissues, particularly by kidney, remains unknown. In the present study, we therefore undertook to clarify this point in intact animals fed a high-P diet by examining various parameters of PTH action. Twelve weanling Wistar male rats were assigned randomly to two groups: a control group with dietary Ca:P = 1:1 and a high-P group (Ca:P = 1:3) fed the standard AIN-76 diet supplemented with P (0.5 and 1.5 g/100 g of diet). After 3 weeks of feeding, in the high-P diet group, we observed that serum Ca was lowered, without a difference in serum P, when compared to the control group. Excretion of urinary cAMP, an index of renal PTH action, was also decreased, with higher excretion of urinary P in those rats fed the high-P diet. In agreement with the decreased cAMP excretion, a clear reduction in PTH/PTH-related protein (PTHrP) receptor gene expression as estimated by Northern blotting was observed in the kidney, despite increased levels of serum PTH. Thus, the present study indicated that a high-P diet reduces PTH action in the kidney, though the serum PTH is increased.
Brain Natriuretic Peptide Is a Predictor of Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity
Authors: Okumura Hirokazu , Iuchi Kazuyuki , Yoshida Takashi , Nakamura Shinobu , Takeshima Minoru , Takamatsu Hideyuki , Ikeno Atsuhisa , Usuda Kazuo , Ishikawa Tadao , Ohtake Shigeki , Matsuda Tamotsu 
Published: April 2003

Anthracyclines are effective antineoplastic drugs, but they frequently cause dose-related cardiotoxicity. The cardiotoxicity of conventional anthracycline therapy highlights a need to search for methods that are highly sensitive and capable of predicting cardiac dysfunction. We measured the plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) to determine whether BNP might serve as a simple diagnostic indicator of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with acute leukemia treated with a daunorubicin (DNR)-containing regimen. Thirteen patients with acute leukemia were treated with a DNR-containing regimen. Cardiac functions were evaluated with radionuclide angiography before chemotherapies. The plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and BNP were measured at the time of radionuclide angiography. Three patients developed congestive heart failure after the completion of chemotherapy. Five patients were diagnosed as having subclinical heart failure after the completion of chemotherapy. The plasma levels of BNP in all the patients with clinical and subclinical heart failure increased above the normal limit (40 pg/ml) before the detection of clinical or subclinical heart failure by radionuclide angiography. On the other hand, BNP did not increase in the patients without heart failure given DNR, even at more than 700 mg/m<sup>2</sup>. The plasma level of ANP did not always increase in all the patients with clinical and subclinical heart failure. These preliminary results suggest that BNP may be useful as an early and sensitive indicator of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.
Increased Frequency and Specific Reactivity of Serum Antinuclear Antibodies in Patients with Nonimmune Chronic Idiopathic Neutropenia of Adults
Authors: Papadaki Helen A. , Psyllaki Maria , Eliopoulos Dimitris G. , Tsiroyianni Aleka , Eliopoulos George D. 
Published: April 2003

This study describes the frequency of serum organ-specific and organ-nonspecific autoantibodies in 157 patients with nonimmune chronic idiopathic neutropenia of adults (NI-CINA). Forty-two age- and gender-matched volunteers were used as controls. We found that patients with NI-CINA had increased frequency of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) compared to controls (33.1 vs. 9.5%, p = 0.0025), and that ANA positivity inversely correlated with the number of circulating neutrophils (r = –0.2765, p < 0.0001). Speckled pattern of reactivity was seen in 84.6% of ANA-positive patients, and diffuse pattern in the remaining 15.4%. Patients had also increased levels of circulating immune complexes compared to controls (3.30 ± 2.41 vs. 1.70 ± 1.19 µg/ml, p = 0.0042), which inversely correlated with the number of circulating neutrophils (r = –0.2405, p = 0.0154) but not with the titer of ANA positivity. No significant differences were found between the patients and the normal controls in the frequency of positive tests for antibodies to dsDNA, Sm, nRNP, SSA, SSB and Scl-70 antigens, or for parietal cell antibodies, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), anti-cardiolipin and anti-thyroid antibodies. Serum levels of rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein (CRP) and complement factors C3 and C4 ranged within normal limits in the patients studied, but a highly significant correlation was noted between the levels of CRP and ANA positivity (r = 0.3936, p < 0.0001). These findings are suggestive of a chronic inflammation in NI-CINA patients which provides the antigenic stimulus for ANA production, and they further support our previously reported suggestion for the possible involvement of such a low-grade chronic inflammatory process in the pathogenesis of neutropenia in the affected subjects.
Detection of Minimal Residual Disease in a Patient Having Acute Myelogenous Leukemia with t(16;21)(p11;q22) Treated by Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Okoshi Yasushi , Shimizu Seiichi , Kojima Hiroshi , Obara Naoshi , Mukai Harumi Y. , Komeno Takuya , Hasegawa Yuichi , Mori Naoyoshi , Nagasawa Toshiro 
Published: April 2003

A 29-year-old woman having acute myelogeneous leukemia-M1 subtype with the chromosomal abnormality t(16;21)(p11;q22) is presented. Complete blood count at onset showed a hemoglobin level of 7.2 g/dl, a platelet count of 48 × 10<sup>9</sup>/l, and a white blood cell count of 161.2 × 10<sup>9</sup>/l with 99% blasts and 1% lymphocytes. Bone marrow aspiration revealed massive proliferation of blasts that were positive for CD13, CD33, CD34, CD56 and myeloperoxidase, and negative for other T-cell, B-cell and monocytic markers. After achieving complete remission following conventional chemotherapy, she received an HLA-matched bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from her sibling after conditioning with busulfan, etoposide and cyclophosphamide. However, 9 months later, the leukemia relapsed as a painful extramedullary mass in her left femur. In spite of intensive re-induction chemotherapy, she died of progressive disease and sepsis. Although we could not detect the <i>TLS/FUS-ERG</i> fusion transcripts by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in pre-BMT remission phase, they were clearly detectable in bone marrow cells obtained 6 months after transplantation with no translocation detected by conventional cytogenetics. We consider that even high-dose chemotherapy with BMT may not be effective in the eradication of this type of leukemia, and that the detection of minimal residual disease possibly contributes to the better planning of the therapeutic strategy.
The Influence of Increasing Dialysis Treatment Time and Reducing Dry Weight on Blood Pressure Control in Hemodialysis Patients: A Prospective Study
Authors: Luik Antinus J. , v.d. Sande Frank M. , Weideman Peter , Cheriex Emile , Kooman Jeroen P. , Leunissen Karel M.L. 
Published: April 2003

A good blood pressure control can be achieved with long hemodialysis sessions (dialysis center of Tassin, France). However, it is not well known whether a higher dialysis dose or a lower dry weight is responsible for this phenomenon. In a preliminary study, 21 hypertensive dialysis patients, dialyzed three times a week for 3–5 h, were randomized into three groups during a 3-month study period. In 6 patients, the dialysis treatment time was increased by 2 h, and the dry weight was gradually decreased (group 1). In 7 patients the dialysis treatment time was increased by 2 h without a change in dry weight (group 2). In 8 patients the dry weight was gradually lowered without changing the dialysis treatment time (group 3). Before and after the study, cardiac index and left ventricular mass index (echocardiography) and forearm vascular resistance (strain gauge plethysmography) were determined on a middialytic day. The blood pressure was assessed by 48-hour ambulatory monitoring. The antihypertensive medication was reduced when the postdialytic blood pressure became <130/80 mm Hg. The dry weight was reduced by 2.6 ± 1.4 kg in group 1 and by 2.3 ± 0.8 kg in group 3 (p < 0.05). The number of classes of antihypertensive medication was reduced from 3.3 to 1.8 in group 1 (NS), from 2.4 to 1.7 in group 2 (NS), and from 3.1 to 1.3 in group 3 (p < 0.05). The dose of the remaining antihypertensive drugs was reduced by 50% in group 1 (p < 0.05), by 32% in group 2 (NS), and by 72.2% in group 3 (p < 0.05). The interdialytic systolic blood pressure decreased significantly after increasing the dialysis time without changing the dry weight (group 2: 7 ± 5 mm Hg; p < 0.05). The systolic blood pressure was also lower in the other patients groups: group 1: 13 ± 26 mm Hg, group 3 : 7 ± 16 mm Hg (NS). The pulse pressure decreased significantly in group 2 (7 ± 5 mm Hg; p < 0.05) and in group 3 (6 ± 7 mm Hg; p < 0.05) and tended to decrease in group 1 (11 ± 12 mm Hg; p = 0.08). The diastolic blood pressure and the day-night blood pressure difference did not change significantly, nor did cardiac index and left ventricular mass index. The forearm vascular resistance tended to decrease in the patients on long dialysis sessions. This preliminary study suggests that the dialysis treatment time might have an independent beneficial effect on blood pressure control.
Metabolic Vitamin B<sub>12</sub> Status on a Mostly Raw Vegan Diet with Follow-Up Using Tablets, Nutritional Yeast, or Probiotic Supplements
Authors: Donaldson Michael S. 
Published: April 2003

<i>Background:</i> Pure vegetarian diets might cause cobalamin deficiency due to lack of dietary intake. It was hypothesized that a population following a vegan diet consuming mostly raw fruits and vegetables, carrot juice, and dehydrated barley grass juice would be able to avoid vitamin B<sub>12</sub> deficiency naturally. <i>Methods:</i> Subjects were recruited at a health ministers’ reunion based on adherence to the Hallelujah diet for at least 2 years. Serum cobalamin and urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) assays were performed. Follow-up with sublingual tablets, nutritional yeast, or probiotic supplements was carried out on subjects with abnormal MMA results. <i>Results:</i> 49 subjects were tested. Most subjects (10th to 90th percentile) had followed this diet 23–49 months. 6 subjects had serum B<sub>12</sub> concentrations <147 pmol/l (200 pg/ml). 37 subjects (76%) had serum B<sub>12</sub> concentrations <221 pmol/l (300 pg/ml). 23 subjects (47%) had abnormal urinary MMA concentrations above or equal to 4.0 µg/mg creatinine. Sublingual cyanocobalamin and nutritional yeast, but not probiotic supplements, significantly reduced group mean MMA concentrations (tablet p < 0.01; yeast p < 0.05, probiotic > 0.20). <i>Conclusions:</i> The urinary MMA assay is effective for identifying early metabolic cobalamin deficiency. People following the Hallelujah diet and other raw-food vegetarian diets should regularly monitor their urinary MMA levels, consume a sublingual cobalamin supplement, or consume cobalamin in their food.
Mild-to-Moderate Malnutrition Alters Glutathione, Gamma-Glutamyl-Transpeptidase and Glycine Uptake in Small Intestinal Brush-Border Vesicles of Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: Rana S.V. , Gupta D. , Katyal R. , Singh K. 
Published: April 2003

<i>Background:</i> In India about 85% of pre-school children show evidence of mild-to-moderate malnutrition. Consequences of severe malnutrition and protein deficiency are well reported by workers but little information is available on milder forms. <i>Methods:</i> Mild-to-moderate protein energy malnourished (PEM) state was induced in 12 monkeys by providing 2.42 g protein and 55 kcal kg<sup>–1</sup> day<sup>–1</sup> while 12 controls were fed 4.84 g protein and 110 kcal kg<sup>–1</sup>. After a 30–40% reduction in body weight as compared with their controls, the animals were killed and brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were prepared from three parts of small intestine. Purified vesicles were assayed for gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGTP), glutathione (GSH) and U-<sup>14</sup>C-glycine uptake. <i>Results:</i> GGTP activity increased significantly while glutathione and uptake of glycine decreased significantly in all the three parts of small intestine. On nutritional rehabilitation of 9 weeks, the activity of GGTP, GSH and in vitro uptake of glycine amino acid recovered completely. <i>Conclusion:</i> The results of the present study indicates that even mild-to-moderate malnutrition should not be ignored during the development state.
Postprandial Endothelial Impairment and Reduced Glutathione Levels in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Siepi D. , Marchesi S. , Lupattelli G. , Paltriccia R. , Vaudo G. , Pirro M. , Roscini A.R. , Scarponi A.M. , Sinzinger H. , Mannarino E. 
Published: April 2003

<i>Background/Aim:</i> Postmenopausal age is characterized by a higher risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and postprandial lipemia is strictly related with the evidence of CHD. The aim of the study was to clarify the vascular effects of postprandial state in postmenopausal women. <i>Methods:</i> Ten postmenopausal women (mean age 57 ± 8 years) without vascular risk factors and history of cardiovascular disease underwent an oral fat load test. Endothelial function, expressed as brachial flow-mediated vasodilation (FMV), lipid parameters and reduced glutathione (GSH) were evaluated at baseline and 2, 4 and 6 h after the load. <i>Results:</i> FMV showed a significant decrease at the 2nd hour (2.3 ± 2.6%, vs. baseline 7.7 ± 2.8%, p < 0.05) and overlapping to the basal value after 4 h. Triglycerides increased postprandially at the 2nd and 4th hour (1.6 ± 0.6 µmol/l, 1.8 ± 0.5 µmol/l vs. baseline 0.9 ± 0.4 µmol/l, p < 0.05), decreasing thereafter. GSH decreased at the 2nd hour of the postprandial phase (5.1 ± 1.9 µmol/l vs. baseline 8.4 ± 1.9 µmol/l, p < 0.05), normalizing successively. At the univariate analysis a negative correlation was found between FMV and triglyceride changes (r = –0.37, p < 0.05) and a positive one between FMV and GSH modifications (r = 0.40, p < 0.05). <i>Conclusion:</i> These data demonstrated that postprandial lipemia transiently impairs endothelial reactivity by an oxidative burden, partly dependent to triglyceride increase.
Clinical Outcome of Patients with Wegener’s Granulomatosis Treated with Plasma Exchange
Authors: Aasarød Knut , Iversen Bjarne M. , Hammerstrøm Jens , Bostad Leif , Jørstad Størker 
Published: April 2003

We report the clinical course of 29 patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) treated with plasma exchange (PE) in Norway in the period from 1988 to 1999. Median follow-up was 41.5 months. The mean number of exchanges was 8.5 ± 5.8 (range 2–32). Median serum creatinine concentration was 400 µmol/l (range 90–1,356) and 17 patients were dialysis dependent at presentation. Two- and five-year patient survival was 75 and 71%, respectively, and renal (ESRD-free) survival was 74 and 54%, respectively. Seven (50%) of the 14 patients alive in the dialysis group had discontinued dialysis within the first month, and 6 (50%) of 12 patients alive at follow-up had independent renal function. No patients, however, had normal serum creatinine concentration. Median time until development of ESRD for patients presenting with a need for dialysis was ∼32 months. The development of ESRD in 79 patients treated with immunosuppression alone was significantly lower, but when adjusted for serum creatinine there was no difference between patients treated with or without PE. Although a considerable fraction of patients with WG and severe renal involvement regain independent renal function, few will have normal serum creatinine concentration at follow-up, despite the addition of PE as adjunctive therapy.
Postnatal Dexamethasone Treatment and Retinopathy of Prematurity in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Neonates
Authors: Cuculich Phillip S. , DeLozier Kellie A. , Mellen Beverly G. , Shenai Jayant P. 
Published: April 2003

Whether postnatal dexamethasone treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) increases the risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates is uncertain. We performed a retrospective cohort study to determine the association between dexamethasone administered postnatally and the development of ROP in VLBW (≤1,250 g birth weight, ≤32 weeks’ gestational age at birth) neonates. The incidence of severe ROP (stage 2 or higher) was 26% among 72 infants who received no dexamethasone postnatally, 61% among 23 infants who received a low cumulative dexamethasone dose (≤1.8 mg/kg body weight), and 85% among 20 infants who received a high cumulative dexamethasone dose (>1.8 mg/kg body weight). However, after adjustment for confounding covariates of prematurity and severity of lung disease by logistic regression analysis, we found <i>no</i> independent association between postnatal dexamethasone treatment and the incidence of severe ROP.