Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: risk factors and clinical impact.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a leading nosocomial pathogen, may become multidrug resistant (MDR). Its rate of occurrence, the individual risk factors among affected patients, and the clinical impact of infection are undetermined. We conducted an epidemiologic evaluation and molecular typing using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of 36 isolates for 82 patients with MDR P.

Warfarin therapy is feasible in CYP2C9*3 homozygous patients.

Background: Patients carrying variant CYP2C9 alleles are prone to bleeding complications under standard warfarin treatment. Our aim was to test the feasibility of warfarin therapy in patients with severe, inherited CYP2C9 deficiency. Methods: CYP2C9 genotypes and clinical characteristics were compared retrospectively in patients who maintain stable anticoagulation on low or regular doses of warfarin.

Acute myeloid leukemia presenting as obstructive jaundice.

A 36-year-old man presented with abdominal pain and jaundice. Ultrasound examination of the abdomen showed dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts and a normal common bile duct. No calculi were demonstrated.

Glomerular basement membrane anionic sites in adriamycin nephropathy: effect of saline loading and nitric oxide modulation.

Background: In previous studies we found that experimental Adriamycin (ADR) nephropathy is associated with the loss of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) anionic sites provided by heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Chronic saline loading in normal rats resulted in a similar effect on the GBM anionic sites. The L-arginine-nitric oxide synthase-nitric oxide system is involved in the pathogenesis of experimental chronic renal failure.

Pregnancy decreases immunoreactive parathyroid hormone level in rats with chronic renal failure.

Normal pregnancy is associated with an increase in serum parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol). The effect of pregnancy on these hormones in chronic renal failure (CRF) is unknown. The present work was undertaken to study the changes of serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and calcitriol in pregnant rats with CRF.

Low nitric oxide production in patients with chronic renal failure.

Background: Rats with chronic renal failure have a low nitric oxide (NO) production and a diminished NO excretion. The supplementation of L-arginine has an inhibitory effect on the progression of renal insufficiency.

Methods: The present study was designed to determine whether chronic renal failure patients have a low NO production.

Nitric oxide in ischaemic acute renal failure of streptozotocin diabetic rats.

Changes in nitric oxide (NO) levels were determined in ischaemic acute renal failure in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus rats. Two weeks after streptozotocin administration and immediately after right nephrectomy, the left renal artery was occluded for 60 min. Similar procedures were carried out in non-diabetic rats.

Nitric oxide in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in rats.

1. The present study was performed to determine the relationship between diabetic glomerular hyperfiltration and nitric oxide as modulated by the chronic administration of L-arginine and/or N-omega-nitro-L-arginine, a known nitric oxide synthase inhibitor in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. 2.

Oral administration of L-arginine and captopril in rats prevents chronic renal failure by nitric oxide production.

The effect of oral supplementation of L-arginine, the substrate of nitric oxide, (1.25 g/liter water) and captopril (15 mg/liter water) was studied in 5/6 nephrectomized rats for a period of three months. N-omega-nitro L-arginine, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, was given orally (70 mg/liter water) with or without L-arginine or captopril.

Role of nitric oxide (EDRF) in radiocontrast acute renal failure in rats.

This study was undertaken to examine the possible role of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), identified as nitric oxide (NO), in the pathogenesis of radiocontrast-induced acute renal failure in rats. Normal and salt-depleted rats were monitored for 60 min or 24 h after radiocontrast administration. The administration of L-arginine to normal rats abolished the immediate decrease in p-aminohippurate clearance (CPAH) and attenuated the decrease in inulin clearance (CIn).

Effect of chronic cholesterol loading in the development of acute ischemic renal failure in rats.

The effect of chronic cholesterol loading and lovastatin administration in renal artery clamping acute renal failure in rats is not known. Acute renal failure was induced by 60-min left renal artery clamping immediately after right nephrectomy. The changes in renal function after renal artery clamping in the hyperlipidemic rats were unexpected.

Role of nitric oxide in glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats.

EDRF results from the metabolism of L-arginine. N-omega-nitro-L-arginine is a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-arginine competitive inhibitor). Acute renal failure was induced by i.

Reversal of gangrenous lesions in the blue toe syndrome with lovastatin--a case report.

A seventy-six-year-old man with ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and chronic renal failure developed bilateral cyanotic toes, which upon muscle biopsy, were shown to be caused by atheromatous emboli. The probable source was atheromatosis of the abdominal aorta. The toes became gangrenous, but surgical therapy was deferred because the patient was considered a high risk.

Effect of pregnancy on renal function in amyloidosis of familial Mediterranean fever.

Objective: To study the effect of pregnancy on kidney function in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) with amyloidosis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis relating kidney function at term to kidney function at conception and to blood pressure and colchicine treatment before and during pregnancy in 17 patients with 29 pregnancies found among more than 3000 patient files in our FMF clinic.

Results: Following pregnancy, 7 patients (24% of pregnancies) experienced a decline in renal function.

Experimental uremia in male rats: effect on the reproductive tract and fertility.

Chronic renal failure was induced in 3-month-old male rats by 5/6 nephrectomy. Potency and fertility studies were performed after 3 months of chronic uremia. The mean serum testosterone at the end of the experiments was significantly lower: 0.

Effect of verapamil on disposition of intravenous potassium in diabetic anephric uremic rats.

Calcium channel blockers decrease the plasma potassium concentration in acutely nephrectomized rats exposed to an acute potassium load. We examined the effect of verapamil on the plasma potassium concentration during an acute potassium load in anephric-uremic diabetic and non-diabetic rats. The plasma potassium concentration was measured at 15-min intervals during 60 min of continuous KCl infusion, with and without verapamil.

Severe defect in clearing postprandial chylomicron remnants in dialysis patients.

Lipid abnormalities have been suggested as a major cause of the accelerated atherosclerosis and the high incidence of coronary heart disease in chronic renal failure patients. In the present work the postprandial lipoprotein metabolism was studied in chronic dialysis patients with or without fasting hypertriglyceridemia using the vitamin A loading test. This method investigates specifically postprandial lipoprotein metabolism.

The effect of pregnancy on renal function in amyloidosis of familial Mediterranean fever.

The effect of pregnancy on kidney function was studied in 29 pregnancies of 17 patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and amyloidosis. Pregnancy associated deterioration of renal function occurred in seven patients who had advanced renal disease at conception, marked by serum creatinine > or = 1.5 mg/dl or urine protein > or = 2 g/24 h.