Admission of kidney patients to a closed staff nephrology department results in a better short-term survival.

Background: The outcome of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) is often dismal and measures to ameliorate their course are scarce. When admitted to the hospital, kidney patients are often hospitalized in general Medicine wards rather than in a specialized Nephrology department. In the current study, we compared the outcome of two cohorts of kidney patients (CKD and AKI) admitted either to general open-staff (with rotating physicians) Medicine wards or to a closed-staff (non-rotating Nephrologists) Nephrology ward.

The accuracy of 8-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, adjusted to seasons.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is considered the most reliable and accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP). However, the use of ABPM has some limitations, which make it difficult to complete for the entire 24 h. We aimed to establish in which part of the day BP measurements are in highest correlation with full ABPM (over 24 h) results.

Renal Tubular Acidosis Type I with Prominent Hypokalemia and Nephrolithiasis as a Presentation of Sjögren's/Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease.

Female patient, suffering from nephrolithiasis, at the age of 32 was admitted for renal colic caused by a stone obstructing UP junction with left hydronephrosis. Nephrostomy was placed, resulting in brisk diuresis. Severe metabolic acidosis with normal anion gap and urine pH of 6.

Elevated Circulating Cell-Free DNA in Hemodialysis-Treated Patients Is Associated with Increased Mortality.

Background: Predicting the mortality risk of patients un-dergoing hemodialysis (HD) is challenging. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is released into circulation from dying cells, and its elevation is predictive of unfavorable outcome. In a pilot study, we found post-HD cfDNA level to be a predictor of all-cause mortality.

Treatment of extreme hypercalcaemia: the role of haemodialysis.

A patient with extremely high calcium level of 23.9 mg/dL (5.97 mmol/L) was admitted to our department unconscious with pathological ECG recording, demonstrating shortening of QT interval.

Clinical manifestations of adult tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome.

To describe the clinical manifestations and response to therapy of adult patients with tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome and to provide suggested work-up and treatment. We retrospectively examined medical records of all adult patients suffering from TINU at Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC) over the past 15 years. Characteristics of ocular and nephrologic manifestations were investigated with particular attention given to age, presenting signs and symptoms, treatment and course of disease.

Acute viral hepatitis (C - genotype 6a and B) acquired during kidney transplantation by two patients and review of the literature.

Two patients were contaminated by hepatitis during kidney transplantation from unrelated living donors, performed abroad in 2006. One patient died from fulminant hepatitis C (the first case of virus genotype 6a diagnosed in Israel) 2 months after transplantation and the other developed acute hepatitis B with YMDD to YVDD mutation necessitating life-long antiviral therapy. The dilemma of antiviral therapy in transplant recipients is discussed in this paper.

Erythropoietin prevents dialysis fluid-induced apoptosis of mesothelial cells.

Background: In peritoneal dialysis (PD)-treated patients, denudation of the mesothelium correlates with peritoneal fibrosis and vascular changes. Since recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) induces a range of cytoprotective cellular responses, rHuEPO treatment may reduce PD fluid (PDF)-induced damage.

Methods: To investigate the antiapoptotic effect and mechanism of rHuEPO in peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs), isolated mice PMCs were used for in vitro characterization of rHuEPO effects.

Prolonged fever following kidney biopsy: a case report.

This case report describes a patient with prolonged fever following a kidney biopsy. Workup disclosed a large perirenal and retroperitoneal hematoma. Neither imaging nor blood cultures supported an infective cause of his fever.

Spectrum of mycobacterial infections: tuberculosis and Mycobacterium other than tuberculosis in dialysis patients.

Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease are at high risk of mycobacterial infection.

Objectives: To analyze the difficulties in reaching an accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis in dialysis patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective follow-up of patients who attended our peritoneal and hemodialysis units during the 10 year period 1995-2005.

Minor impairment of oral iron absorption in non-diabetic new dialysis patients.

Background: Iron absorption is impaired in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ESRD duration and diabetes mellitus (DM) are prominent risk factors in ESRD patients, associated with multi-system complications involving the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, we suggest that DM and ESRD duration contribute to iron absorption impairment in ESRD.

Post-reperfusion rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in post-transplant IgA nephropathy.

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is a rare occurrence in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in renal transplant patients on immunosuppressive therapy. RPGN post ischemia-reperfusion has not been previously reported. We report a 62 year old male patient on azathioprine therapy, 9 years after left cadaveric renal transplantation due to end stage renal disease of unknown etiology, who presented with progressive deterioration in renal function and hematuria.

Iron-mobilizing properties of the gadolinium-DTPA complex: clinical and experimental observations.

Background: Gadolinium (Gd) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents are considered to be safe in patients with impaired renal function. Our study investigates a mechanism of severe iron intoxication with life-threatening serum iron levels in a haemodialysis patient following MRI with Gd-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) administration. His previous history was remarkable for multiple blood transfusions and biochemical evidence of iron overload.

Severe Coombs'-negative autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a kidney transplant patient.

Background/aim: Few cases are found in the literature regarding autoimmune hemolytic anemia which is Coombs' test positive in kidney transplant patients, although hemolytic uremic syndrome due to cyclosporin and FK506 has been well described. In the following, we describe a case of severe life-threatening Coombs' test negative autoimmune hemolytic anemia after kidney transplantation.

Methods: Soon after undergoing renal transplantation, the patient presented with hemolytic anemia.

CD40 is expressed on human peritoneal mesothelial cells and upregulates the production of interleukin-15 and RANTES.

Limited data are available concerning the interaction between lymphocytes and human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) during peritonitis. CD40 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of receptors whose ligand (CD154) is mainly expressed on the membrane of activated CD4-positive lymphocytes. CD154-CD40 cross-linking is a central event in antigen presentation, B-cell activation by T cells, and regulation of cytokine secretion from various types of cells.

Clinical and genetic characterization of an autosomal dominant nephropathy.

Autosomal dominant familial nephropathies with adult onset, no macroscopic cysts, and progressive deterioration include medullary cystic disease (ADMCKD) as well as other less specific entities. We studied a kindred of Jewish ancestry in which 15 members (both male and female) have suffered from chronic renal failure. The first evidence of renal involvement was observed between 18 and 38 years.

Renal transplant dysfunction due to severe aorto-iliac atherosclerosis in the presence of patent renal transplant artery.

We report a case of progressive deterioration in renal function and decreased renal graft perfusion induced by extensive aorto-iliac atherosclerotic lesions proximal to a patent renal graft artery. Significant improvement in kidney graft function followed left axillo-femoral bypass graft surgery, which to the best of our knowledge, has never been performed previously for permanent maintenance of renal transplant perfusion.

Aspergillus peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

Aspergillus peritonitis is a rare and serious cause of peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. We report 3 cases of aspergillus peritonitis in CAPD which were successfully treated by catheter removal and amphotericin. Two of the 3 patients returned temporarily to CAPD, but were subsequently transferred to hemodialysis because of membrane failure.