Enterococcal endocarditis associated with crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Glomerulonephritis secondary to infective endocarditis (IE) is an uncommon diagnosis and is usually associated with cardiac valvular infection by blood-culture-positive bacteria. We report a case of necrotizing glomerulonephritis associated with culture-positive endocarditis caused by Enterococcus faecalis. The patient presented with renal abnormalities and was further investigated by renal biopsy.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the rotator interval in patients on long-term hemodialysis: correlation with the range of shoulder motions.

Objective: To assess the rotator interval of patients on long-term hemodialysis with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the presence of adhesive capsulitis and to correlate these findings with shoulder motions.

Methods: Seventeen shoulders in 16 patients (mean age, 53.8 years) on hemodialysis (range of duration, 4-28 years) who had pain and limited range of shoulder motion underwent MRI.

The effect of propolis in experimental Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Purpose: To examine the effect of propolis in a rat model of Acanthamoeba keratitis and to determine its in vitro cytotoxicity in cultured corneal epithelial cells.

Methods: Eighteen Wistar albino rats were used. Cultured corneal epithelial cells obtained from two healthy rats for in vitro cytotoxicity of propolis.

A rare complication of hemodialysis catheters: superior vena cava syndrome.

Central venous catheters in hemodialysis patients may result in superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. With the increasing use of these catheters, the SVC syndrome will probably be more common among hemodialysis patients. This report describes 3 cases of SVC syndrome due to central venous catheters that developed in hemodialysis patients with previous multiple catheter placements.

A case of Kaposi's sarcoma following treatment of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and a review of the literature.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an unusual tumor principally affecting the skin of the lower extremities. Although the association between KS and renal transplant has been well documented, there are a few KS cases in the literature associated with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis or other glomerular diseases. This report presents a patient with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) who developed KS following treatment with long-term medium dose glucocorticoid and short-term additional immunosuppressives.

A novel immunosuppressive agent, sirolimus, in the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma in a renal transplant recipient.

Renal transplant recipients are susceptible to Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) because of treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. Sirolimus, a new immunosuppressive agent, has been successfully used for immune-suppression in kidney transplant recipients. Several studies have shown the potential role of sirolimus to inhibit progression of KS in kidney-transplant recipients.

In vitro amoebicidal activity of propolis on Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of an ethanolic extract of propolis on the growth and adherence of Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites and cysts.

Methods: The effect of propolis with concentrations of 8.0, 6.

Gingival health status in renal transplant recipients: relationship between systemic inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in renal transplant recipients (RTR). Systemic and periodontal inflammation has been suggested to have a possible role in the development of atherosclerosis. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between gingival health status, inflammation and atherosclerosis in RTRs.

Bilateral -14.0 diopters index myopia successfully treated with cataract surgery: a case report.

We report a 60-year-old man with bilateral nuclear cataract and -14.0 diopters index myopia. Following uncomplicated phacoemulsifications and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantations on both eyes, right and left axial lengths were 22.

Is the CD14 C159T polymorphism effective in the development of secondary amyloidosis in Familial Mediterranean fever?

The most important complication of FMF is the development of amyloidosis. It is more common in the eastern Mediterranean compared to the US. The individual response to endotoxin may have a significant effect on the development of amyloidosis in FMF patients.

Combined organ failure with combination antihyperlipidemic treatment: a case of hepatic injury and acute renal failure.

Objective: To report a case of acute hepatic injury and acute renal failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis associated with fluvastatin-gemfibrozil combination therapy for hyperlipidemia.

Case Summary: A 56-year-old woman with a history of hyperlipidemia presented with fatigue, weakness in her lower extremities, and red-colored urine. One month prior, she had started combination therapy of fluvastatin 80 mg/day and gemfibrozil 1200 mg/day.

Arg753Gln TLR-2 polymorphism in familial mediterranean fever: linking the environment to the phenotype in a monogenic inflammatory disease.

Objective: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease common in eastern Mediterranean populations. The most severe complication is the development of secondary amyloidosis. Toll-like receptor (TLR-2) plays a critical role in linking the recognition of microbes to immune activation.

Conjunctival impression cytology in pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

Background: In this study, ocular surface changes and tear film functions in patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) and pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome were evaluated.

Methods: This study is a randomized, double-blind and prospective study. Conjunctival impression cytology, tear film break-up time (TFBUT) test and basal Schirmer test (BST) were performed on 45 eyes of 45 subjects with PEXG (group I), 48 eyes of 48 subjects with PEX syndrome (group 2) and 50 eyes of 50 normal subjects (group 3).

The role of proinflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms for development of insulin resistance after renal transplantation.

Background: Insulin resistance, a frequent prediabetic metabolic complication after renal transplantation, is generally linked to immunosuppressive drugs including corticosteroids, cyclosporine (CsA) or tacrolimus, as well as to age, cadaveric donors and ethnic factors. Cytokines are known to be inflammation modulatory substances that contribute to metabolic derangements after transplantation. The present study investigated the effects of cytokine gene polymorphisms on insulin resistance in renal transplant recipients.

The effects of topical ketorolac and indomethacin on measles conjunctivitis: randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To compare the effect of topical ketorolac and indomethacin on measles conjunctivitis.

Design: Prospective double-masked placebo-controlled randomized trial.

Methods: Sixty-two patients with severe measles conjunctivitis were included in this study.

IL-10 genotype predicts serum levels of adhesion molecules, inflammation and atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) patients suffer from inflammation and accelerated atherosclerosis that accounts for a large number of premature deaths. The anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10 gene is polymorphic and potential direct effects of IL-10 gene polymorphisms on the circulating serum levels of adhesion molecules, inflammation and atherosclerosis in HD patients still have to be elucidated.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, circulating serum levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin (E-selectin), and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), serum albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 121 HD patients (70 male and 51 female, with mean age 49 +/- 18 yrs).

The effect of latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost on intraocular pressure after cataract surgery.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative topical latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost administration on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) after phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation.

Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-masked study included 120 eyes of 120 consecutive, normotensive, uncomplicated cataract patients having phacoemulsification surgery with PC IOL implantation. They were randomized into 1 of 4 treatment groups, each of which had 30 patients.

Value of 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) gated SPECT for the detection of silent myocardial ischemia in hemodialysis patients: clinical variables associated with abnormal test results.

Background: Although coronary artery disease is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing hemodialysis, there is no accurate diagnostic strategy for these patients.

Aim: To assess the value of 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) gated single-photon emission computed tomography for the detection of silent myocardial ischemia in patients undergoing hemodialysis and to evaluate the clinical variables associated with abnormal test results.

Methods: Thirty-one asymptomatic patients undergoing hemodialysis (20 men, 11 women), with a mean age of 45 years (range, 25-75 years), were included in the study.

Association of mineral metabolism with an increase in cellular adhesion molecules: another link to cardiovascular risk in maintenance haemodialysis?

Background: Abnormal mineral metabolism is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The exact pathogenesis linking mineral metabolism to cardiovascular risk is unknown. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between serum phosphate and/or Ca x PO(4) product with serum levels of soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and the degree of carotid artery atherosclerosis in patients on haemodialysis.

The effects of maintenance recombinant human erythropoietin therapy on ambulatory blood pressure recordings: conventional, Doppler, and tissue Doppler echocardiographic parameters.

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Left ventricular dysfunction is present in approximately 80% of these patients and is highly predictive of future ischemic heart disease, cardiac failure, and death. Anemia has been identified as one of several risk factors responsible for cardiac complications.

Carotid angioplasty for the management of extracranial carotid occlusive disease.

Introduction: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has become established as the preferred approach to the management of critical carotid stenosis. Carotid angioplasty with stenting (CAS) has recently arisen as an alternative in the treatment of carotid occlusive disease. This report describes our experience with carotid angioplasty applied to an unselected patient population suffering from high-grade carotid occlusive disease.

Carotid artery angioplasty with stenting and postprocedure hypotension.

Introduction: Although carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has become established as the preferred approach to the management of critical carotid stenosis, carotid angioplasty with stenting (CAS) has arisen as a competitive modality. We report here a nonindustry-supported experience using CAS in a nonselected patient population suffering from critical carotid stenosis.

Methods: All patients suffering from carotid stenosis (>50% symptomatic or >80% asymptomatic) were offered CAS or CEA.

U-shaped association of body mass index with inflammation and atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients.

Objective: High body mass index (BMI) is associated with mortality in the general population, whereas obesity is suggested to confer a survival advantage in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, underlying mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. We examined the cross-sectional association of BMI with inflammatory and nutritional markers and atherosclerosis in HD patients.

Salt and blood pressure: time to challenge.

Hypertension is a worldwide epidemic and its control is costly, but still inadequate. The mechanisms underlying the development of primary hypertension remain elusive. Several observations point to the kidney as a primary actor and sodium as the main culprit for development of hypertension.