A Case of Transplant Nephrectomy due to Chronic Graft Intolerance Syndrome.

We report a case of graft intolerance syndrome in which transplant nephrectomy was performed 11 years after kidney transplantation. A 46-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in February 2018 with a mild fever, left lower abdominal pain, and gross hematuria with enlargement of the transplanted kidney. Urinary tract infection was ruled out.

Associations among smoking, MGMT hypermethylation, TP53-mutations, and relapse in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Epigenetic silencing of the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) DNA repair enzyme via promoter hypermethylation (hmMGMT) may increase mutations in the TP53 oncosuppressor gene and contribute to carcinogenesis. The effects of smoking, which is a risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), were investigated to determine whether they up- or down-regulate hmMGMT. Additionally, the impact of hmMGMT and disruptive TP53-mutations on relapse was investigated in patients with HNSCC.

Antibody-mediated rejection due to anti-HLA-DQ antibody after pregnancy and delivery in a female kidney transplant recipient.

Herein, we report a case of antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) due to anti-HLA-DQ antibody after pregnancy and delivery in a female kidney transplant recipient. A 34-year-old female recipient was admitted at 2 years after delivery for an examination of an elevated serum creatinine (S-Cr) level. The patient had received a living kidney transplantation from her mother at 22 years of age, and her kidney graft function was almost stable.

Associations Between Low Serum Testosterone and All-Cause Mortality and Infection-Related Hospitalization in Male Hemodialysis Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Infectious diseases are the second highest cause of death in patients on dialysis. In addition, testosterone deficiency or hypogonadism is prevalent in dialysis patients. However, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the association between testosterone levels and infectious events.

Helicobacter cinaedi bacteremia with cellulitis in a living-donor kidney transplant recipient identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: a case report.

Background: Helicobacter cinaedi causes bacteremia and cellulitis, mainly in immunocompromised patients. We report a rare case of H. cinaedi bacteremia with cellulitis in a living-donor kidney transplant recipient identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

Successful Treatment of Plasma Cell-Rich Acute Rejection Using Pulse Steroid Therapy Alone: A Case Report.

Despite the recent development of immunosuppressive agents, plasma cell-rich acute rejection (PCAR) has remained refractory to treatment. Herein, we report an unusual case of PCAR that responded well to pulse steroid therapy alone. A 47-year-old man was admitted for a protocol biopsy three months after kidney transplantation, with a stable serum creatinine level of 1.

The prognostic values of caveolin-1 immunoreactivity in peritubular capillaries in patients with kidney transplantation.

The low sensitivity of C4d immunoreactivity in peritubular capillaries (PTCs) hinders its use in the diagnosis of chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (CAAMR). C4d-negative CAAMR was defined in the 2013 Banff classification, which included the expression of endothelial-associated transcripts (ENDATs). We previously showed that the ENDAT caveolin-1 (CAV-1) is a distinct feature of CAAMR.

Recurrence and graft loss after renal transplantation in adults with IgA vasculitis.

Background: IgA vasculitis, a rare condition resulting in end-stage renal disease, is a small-vessel vasculitis that affects the kidney in 49-83 % of adults. The reported recurrence rate of IgA vasculitis in renal transplant recipients is 11.5-60 %, leading to graft loss in 0-50 % of these patients.

Successful treatment of recurrent Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis in a renal allograft with tonsillectomy and steroid pulse therapy.

We report a case of recurrent Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) treated successfully with a tonsillectomy and steroid pulse therapy in a kidney transplant patient. A 29-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for an episode biopsy; she had a serum creatinine (S-Cr) of 1.0 mg/dL and 1.

Associations among serum trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) levels, kidney function and infarcted coronary artery number in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a metabolite of phosphatidylcholine generated by gut microbiota and liver enzymes, and has recently been recognized as contributing to atherosclerosis. Elevated serum TMAO levels have been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (sudden death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography. We aimed to clarify whether TMAO levels are associated with the number of infarcted coronary arteries as a measure of the severity of atherosclerosis, with adjustment using a priori-defined covariates such as kidney function.

Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Magnesium Concentrations in Hemodialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Magnesium concentration is a proven predictor of mortality in hemodialysis patients. Recent reports have indicated that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use affects serum magnesium levels, however few studies have investigated the relationship between PPI use and magnesium levels in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to clarify the association between PPI use and serum magnesium levels in hemodialysis patients.

Probable C4d-negative accelerated acute antibody-mediated rejection due to non-HLA antibodies.

We report a case of probable C4d-negative accelerated acute antibody-mediated rejection due to non-HLA antibodies. A 44 year-old male was admitted to our hospital for a kidney transplant. The donor, his wife, was an ABO minor mismatch (blood type O to A) and had Gitelman syndrome.

Acute T cell-mediated rejection accompanied by C4d-negative acute antibody-mediated rejection and cell debris in tubulus: A case report.

Herein, we report a complicated case of acute T-cell-mediated rejection (ACR) accompanied by C4d-negative acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and cell debris in tubulus. A 32 year-old male was admitted for an episode biopsy with a serum creatinine (S-Cr) level of 1.83 mg/dL and pyuria (20-29 white blood cells per high power field) 49 days following kidney transplantation.

Clinical and pathological features of donor/recipient body weight mismatch after kidney transplantation.

Background: Previous studies have shown that a donor/recipient body weight mismatch affects long-term graft survival and graft function after kidney transplantation. However, the mechanisms are not fully understood.

Aim: To address the mechanisms, we compared the pathological and physiological features between patients with a donor/recipient body weight mismatch and those without a mismatch 1 yr after kidney transplantation.

Change in glomerular volume and its clinicopathological impact after kidney transplantation.

Background: Both immunological and non-immunological etiologies affect graft function after kidney transplantation, including acute rejection, calcineurin inhibitor toxicity, and a recurrence of glomerulonephritis. Glomerular enlargement or glomerular sclerosis due to glomerular hyperfiltration related to increased renal blood flow is another cause. Although the glomerular volume in baseline biopsies predicts late allograft function, the relationship between allograft function and the annual changes in glomerular volume after kidney transplantation are unclear.

Homozygous deletions of UGT2B17 modifies effects of smoking on TP53-mutations and relapse of head and neck carcinoma.

Background: Smoking induces oncogenic TP53-mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Disruptive mutations of TP53-gene and expression of p16 protein [p16 (+)] in tumor tissue associate with worse and better prognosis, respectively. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2 family, polypeptide B17 (UGT2B17) detoxifies smoking-related metabolites.

Acute vascular rejection during antituberculosis therapy in a kidney transplant patient.

We report a case of acute vascular rejection occurring during antituberculosis therapy in a patient who had received a kidney transplant. A 29 year-old man was admitted for a protocol biopsy; he had a serum creatinine (S-Cr) level of 1.5 mg/dL 1 year after primary kidney transplantation.

Distinct effects of alcohol consumption and smoking on genetic alterations in head and neck carcinoma.

Background: Tobacco and alcohol consumption are risk factors for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Recently, whole-exome sequencing clarified that smoking increased TP53 and other mutations in HNSCC; however, the effects of alcohol consumption on these genetic alterations remain unknown. We explored the association between alcohol consumption and somatic copy-number alterations (SCNAs) across the whole genome in human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative HNSCCs, and compared with the effects of smoking on genetic alterations.

A case of BK virus nephropathy and cytomegalovirus infection concurrent with plasma cell-rich acute rejection.

The BK virus is a double-stranded DNA virus to which 90% of adults have been exposed. BK virus infections typically result in an oral or respiratory infection; however, BK virus reactivation is an infectious disease of concern in kidney transplant recipients. The prevalence of BK virus nephropathy (BKN) in kidney transplant recipients is approximately 5%, and most cases occur within one yr after kidney transplantation.