The role of flow cytometric ANCA detection in screening for acute pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Background: Most cases of pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis (PICGN) are associated with serum anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). This article studied the sensitivity and specificity of serum ANCA, determined by flow cytometry and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), to identify patients with acute PICGN.

Methods: 577 adults presenting for first biopsy of their native kidneys with serum taken for ANCA (flow cytometry and IIF) determination were studied.

Renal processing of serum proteins in an albumin-deficient environment: an in vivo study of glomerulonephritis in the Nagase analbuminaemic rat.

Background: Plasma albumin has been considered as important for governing glomerular permselectivity as well as being tubulotoxic in proteinuric states. The purpose of this study was to examine glomerular permselectivity and protein clearance of plasma albumin-deficient Nagase analbuminaemic rats (NAR) in normal and proteinuric states associated with puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis (PAN) and anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis (anti-GBM GN) and to compare the results with those of previous studies using Sprague-Dawley rats.

Methods: Glomerular permselectivity was measured using tritium-labelled polydisperse Ficoll.

Time and exercise improve phosphate removal in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Control of serum phosphate remains a difficult clinical issue in most hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study examines 2 nonpharmacological approaches to improving phosphate control in HD patients.

Methods: First, 9 stable HD patients underwent dialysis in random fashion for either 4 hours 3 times weekly or 5 hours 3 times weekly.

Macrophages in mouse type 2 diabetic nephropathy: correlation with diabetic state and progressive renal injury.

Background: Macrophage-mediated renal injury has been implicated in progressive forms of glomerulonephritis; however, a role for macrophages in type 2 diabetic nephropathy, the major cause of end-stage renal failure, has not been established. Therefore, we examined whether macrophages may promote the progression of type 2 diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice.

Methods: The incidence of renal injury was examined in db/db mice with varying blood sugar and lipid levels at 8 months of age.

Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of intramuscular vitamin B12 for the treatment of hyperhomocysteinaemia in dialysis patients.

Background: Plasma homocysteine is elevated in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Folic acid has been shown to partially reduce homocysteine levels in dialysis patients. It is not known whether vitamin B12 reduces homocysteine independent of folic acid in patients who are not vitamin B12 deficient.

Haematopoietic cell transplantation in the treatment of sickle cell disease.

Allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is presently the only treatment which offers the possibility of a cure for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). While approximately 84% of patients survive disease-free after human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling donor HCT, this therapy has traditionally been reserved for patients who have suffered serious complications due to the risk of transplant-related morbidity and mortality. Typically, these sickle-related complications have included recurrent episodes of acute chest syndrome, recurrent vaso-occlusive episodes and stroke.

Activation and cellular localization of the p38 and JNK MAPK pathways in rat crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Background: The p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) are intracellular signal transduction pathways involved in the production of inflammatory mediators. Little, however, is known about the contribution of these pathways to renal inflammation, nor the cell types in which these pathways are activated within normal and inflamed kidneys. The aim of this study was therefore to delineate the pattern and cellular localization of p38 and JNK activation in normal rat kidney and rat acute and chronic inflammatory renal disease.

Macrophages act as effectors of tissue damage in acute renal allograft rejection.

Background: Macrophages constitute 38% to 60% of infiltrating cells during acute renal allograft rejection. Their contribution to tissue damage during acute rejection was examined by depleting macrophages in a rat model.

Methods: Lewis rats underwent bilateral nephrectomy and then received a Dark Agouti renal allograft and liposomal-clodronate, control phosphate-buffered saline liposomes, or saline intravenously (n=7 per group) on days 1 and 3 postsurgery.

Epidemiology of vascular access in the Australian hemodialysis population.

Background: A number of demographic and comorbid factors have been demonstrated to be associated with the placement of arteriovenous grafts (AVG) and central venous catheters (CVC) as opposed to native arteriovenous fistulas (AVF). However, no data are available regarding these factors in a hemodialysis population where AVF utilization is high.

Methods: All adult patients on hemodialysis on September 30, 2001 in Australia were included in the study.

Association between albuminuria and proteinuria in the general population: the AusDiab Study.

Background: The relationship between urinary albumin and total protein excretion and the appropriateness of one test over the other are unclear due to the paucity of large epidemiological studies of albuminuria and proteinuria. In screening for renal and cardiovascular disease, whether to measure albuminuria, proteinuria or both, is currently an unanswered question.

Methods: Random urine samples from 10,596 (94.

Blockade of macrophage migration inhibitory factor does not prevent acute renal allograft rejection.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory molecule involved in cell-mediated immunity and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). We inhibited systemic and local MIF production to determine its contribution to acute rejection (AR). Skin DTH response and acute rejection of skin and kidney allografts were examined using MIF gene knockout (MIF -/-) and wild-type mice (MIF +/+) with anti-MIF or control antibody.

Untreated hypertension among Australian adults: the 1999-2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab).

Objective: To measure the prevalence of untreated hypertension in Australian adults, and examine the associations with clinical and lifestyle factors.

Design: AusDiab, a cross-sectional survey conducted between May 1999 and December 2000, involved participants from 42 randomly selected census districts throughout Australia.

Participants: Of 20 347 eligible people aged >or= 25 years who completed a household interview, 11 247 attended a physical examination (response rate, 55%).

Personality and development in childhood: a person-centered approach.

A person-centered approach to personality focusing on types of persons defined by profiles of traits is applied to childhood personality development. In 28 diverse samples of 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds, three personality types, labeled resilient, overcontrolled, and undercontrolled, are identified. In two longitudinal samples, the undercontrolled type was related to intellectual decline over a period of six years.

Track of a fiber fuse: a Rayleigh instability in optical waveguides.

The phenomenon colloquially known as a fiber fuse occurs when an optical fiber carrying high power is damaged or in some way abused. Beginning at the damage site a brilliant, highly visible plasmalike disturbance propagates back toward the optical source at speeds ranging from 0.3 to approximately 3 m/s, leaving in its wake a trail of bubbles and voids.

Prevalence of kidney damage in Australian adults: The AusDiab kidney study.

The incidence of ESRD is increasing dramatically. Progression to end-stage may be halted or slowed when kidney damage is detected at an early stage. Kidney damage is frequently asymptomatic but is indicated by the presence of proteinuria, hematuria, or reduced GFR.

Calcaneal fractures in adolescents. CT classification and results of operative treatment.

The morphology of calcaneal fractures in 9 adolescents (mean age 13.4 years) with 10 fractures were classified using plain films and computed tomography scans. The patterns were found to be similar to those in adults.

Laboratory assessment of immune function in renal transplant patients.

Background: Advances in immunosuppression have made renal transplantation an effective therapy for end stage renal failure; with low rejection rates and long graft survival times. However, the major adverse consequences, infection and malignancy have not diminished. To predict this risk a score of immune competence has been developed from the simultaneous laboratory assessment of multiple parameters of immune function.

Interferon-gamma augments acute macrophage-mediated renal injury via a glucocorticoid-sensitive mechanism.

Macrophages have been implicated in causing renal injury in both human and experimental kidney disease. The aim of the current study was to determine whether modulating the state of macrophage activation directly affects the capacity of these cells to cause renal injury. This was investigated using an adoptive transfer model in which macrophage activation can be manipulated in vitro, using interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or dexamethasone (Dex), and then macrophage-mediated renal injury determined in vivo.

Induction of MIF synthesis and secretion by tubular epithelial cells: a novel action of angiotensin II.

Background: Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays an important role in the development of renal injury through its vasoactive and proinflammatory activities. We investigated whether some of the effects of Ang II could be mediated through the production of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF).

Methods: Groups of rats underwent sham surgery (sham), subtotal nephrectomy (STNx), or STNx plus treatment with irbesartan.

Activation of the ERK pathway precedes tubular proliferation in the obstructed rat kidney.

Background: In vitro studies suggest that activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway plays a critical role in the proliferation of tubular epithelial and myofibroblast-like cells. However, little is known of ERK activation in individual cell types in normal or diseased kidney. The aims of this study were to (1) localize ERK activation within the kidney, and (2) examine the relationship between ERK activation and cell proliferation in the injured kidney.