Serum immunoglobulin E can predict minimal change disease before renal biopsy.

Objectives: Minimal change disease (MCD) is a major cause of nephrotic syndrome in both children and adults. The diagnosis of MCD in adults relies on findings of renal biopsy. Complications, although rare, may occur.

Serum sodium predicts prognosis in critically ill cirrhotic patients.

Background: End-stage liver disease is often complicated by hyponatremia. Cirrhotic patients with hyponatremia admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) have high mortality rates. This study analyzed the outcomes of critically ill cirrhotic patients and identified the prognostic value of serum sodium concentration.

Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency in patients with severe acute biliary pancreatitis: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Gallstones are the most common cause of acute pancreatitis worldwide. Patients with severe acute biliary pancreatitis (SABP) constitute a subgroup of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients in whom systemic inflammation may be triggered and perpetuated by different mechanisms. The aim of this prospective investigation was to examine the adrenal response to corticotropin and the relationship between adrenal function and outcome in patients with SABP.

Embolization of renal angiomyolipomas: short-term and long-term outcomes, complications, and tumor shrinkage.

This study retrospectively evaluated outcomes, complications, and tumor shrinkage in renal angiomyolipomas after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). All renal angiomyolipoma patients who underwent TAE between August 2000 and December 2008 and had short-term (6 months) follow-up images were evaluated. Complications and tumor relapse after TAE were reviewed.

What is the correct depth of chest compression for infants and children? A radiological study.

Objective: For infant and child resuscitation, current basic life support guidelines recommend a compression depth of one third to one half of the anteroposterior chest diameter. This study was conducted to assess the actual compression depths in infants and children when current guidelines are strictly followed.

Patients And Methods: Chest computed tomography scans of 36 infants (<1 year old) and 38 children (1-8 years old) were reviewed.

Acute kidney injury classification: comparison of AKIN and RIFLE criteria.

The Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) group has recently proposed modifications to the risk of renal failure, injury to kidney, failure of kidney function, loss of kidney function, and end-stage renal failure (RIFLE) classification system. The few studies that have compared the two classifications have revealed no substantial differences. This study aimed to compare the AKIN and RIFLE classifications for predicting outcome in critically ill patients.

Low serum concentration of apolipoprotein A-I is an indicator of poor prognosis in cirrhotic patients with severe sepsis.

Background/aims: Severe sepsis is frequently associated with hypocholesterolemia which is also a common finding in cirrhotic patients. Lipoprotein is capable of binding endotoxin to which cirrhotic patients exhibit an excessive pro-inflammatory response.

Methods: We evaluated the relationship between lipid levels, inflammatory cytokines and clinical outcomes in 103 cirrhotic patients with severe sepsis.

A direct association of polyomavirus BK viruria with deterioration of renal allograft function in renal transplant patients.

Background: Polyomavirus BK virus (BKV) causes a BKV-associated nephropathy (BKVAN), frequently causing allograft dysfunction in renal transplant recipients. As BK viruria is a surrogate marker for early detection of BKVAN, the aim of this study was to clarify an association between BK viruria and allograft dysfunction in renal transplant recipients.

Methods: One hundred and six renal transplant recipients with average 5.

Adult-onset perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive Henoch-Schönlein purpura in diabetic nephropathy.

Adult-onset Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a rare systemic vasculitis characterized by a leukocytoclastic vasculitis of small vessels with the deposition of IgA immune complexes involving skin, gastrointestinal tract, joints and kidneys. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay is commonly found in other vasculitic disorders but rarely discovered in HSP patients. ANCA with perinuclear pattern has hardly ever reported in HSP patients.

Evaluation of renal function of angiomyolipoma patients after selective transcatheter arterial embolization.

Background: Angiomyolipoma patients may have renal insufficiency before selective transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) or may undergo subsequent surgery after TAE. Therefore, this retrospective study examined our experience with TAE or TAE and subsequent surgery on renal function of angiomyolipoma patients with and without preexisting renal insufficiency.

Methods: 25 patients who had undergone TAE for renal angiomyolipoma over a 7-year period were reviewed.

Interactive video instruction improves the quality of dispatcher-assisted chest compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation in simulated cardiac arrests.

Objective: Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) significantly improves survival of cardiac arrest victims. Dispatch assistance increases bystander CPR, but the quality of dispatcher-assisted CPR remains unsatisfactory. This study was conducted to assess the effect of adding interactive video communication to dispatch instruction on the quality of bystander chest compressions in simulated cardiac arrests.

The RIFLE score increases the accuracy of outcome prediction in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome undergoing open lung biopsy.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common diagnosis in intensive care units (ICUs) and is frequently correlated with acute kidney injury (AKI).

Objectives: To investigate the outcomes of critically ill patients with ARDS and to shed light on the association between prognosis and risk of renal failure, injury to kidney, failure of kidney function, loss of kidney function and end-stage renal failure (RIFLE) classification.

Methods: This retrospective study investigated the medical records of 60 critically ill patients with ARDS who underwent open lung biopsy (OLB) in 2 medical intensive care units of a tertiary care hospital from December 1999 to May 2005.

Application of tele-ultrasound in emergency medical services.

In emergency medical services, portable ultrasound scanners have the potential to become new-age stethoscopes for emergency physicians. For trauma cases in particular, portable ultrasound scanners can scan the chest and abdomen of emergency patients both rapidly and conveniently. This study describes the development of tele-ultrasound for pre-diagnosis in a medical emergency setting as a part of the updated Mobile Hospital Emergency Medical System (MHEMS).

Continuous renal replacement therapy combined with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in advanced cardiac failure patients.

Acute renal failure during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support is associated with extremely high mortality. This report describes treatment of myocardial dysfunction in one 48-year-old and one 11-year-old patient. Venoarterial ECMO was required to support myocardial dysfunction.

Impact of adding video communication to dispatch instructions on the quality of rescue breathing in simulated cardiac arrests--a randomized controlled study.

Objective: Both ventilations and compressions are important for victims of prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and asphyxial arrest. Dispatch assistance increases bystander CPR, but the quality of dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR), especially rescue breathing, remains unsatisfactory. This study was conducted to assess the impact of adding interactive video communication to dispatch instructions on the quality of rescue breathing in simulated cardiac arrests.

Rifle classification for predicting in-hospital mortality in critically ill sepsis patients.

Severe sepsis and septic shock, often complicated by acute kidney injury (AKI), are the most common causes of mortality in noncoronary intensive care units (ICUs). This study investigates the outcomes of critically ill patients with sepsis and elucidates the association between prognosis and risk of renal failure, injury to the kidney, failure of kidney function, loss of kidney function, and end-stage renal failure (RIFLE) classification. A total of 121 sepsis patients were admitted to ICU from June 2003 to January 2004.

The combination of sirolimus and cyclosporine does not delay initial renal graft function recovery.

Background: Sirolimus has been considered to be a non-nephrotoxic agent. It may delay graft function due to a potential hindrance of the recovery from acute tubular necrosis. It remains controversial as to whether the concomitant administration of sirolimus (SRL) with calcineurin inhibitors delays graft function in Asian patients.

Lack of compliance with basic infection control measures during cardiopulmonary resuscitation--are we ready for another epidemic?

Objective: Healthcare workers in the emergency department are particularly vulnerable to communicable disease. This study aimed to evaluate compliance with standard precautions by analysis of the incidence and systems sources of such contaminations and by quantifying the use of personal protective equipment.

Method: A prospective observational study from 1 November 2005 to 30 April 2006, using analysis of video segments.

The quality of hemodialysis in patients with mental retardation.

Background: Mentally retarded renal failure patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) comprise a small group of HD patients. There was no previous study describing how to manage these patients during HD and if they could achieve adequate dialysis quality.

Methods: We reported seven cases of mentally retarded patients with renal failure among 1224 patients receiving hemodialysis.

Residual renal function - one of the factors associated with arterial stiffness in peritoneal dialysis patients. Insight from a retrospective study in 146 peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Arterial stiffness as determined by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) has been demonstrated to predict cardiovascular events or mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. Peritoneal function and residual renal function (RRF) both are important for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). No association has yet been established between arterial stiffness, and RRF and peritoneal function in patients undergoing PD.

Outcome predictors and new score of critically ill cirrhotic patients with acute renal failure.

Background: End-stage liver disease is often complicated by renal function disturbances. Cirrhotic patients with acute renal failure admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) have high mortality rates. This work seeks to identify specific predictors of hospital mortality in critically ill cirrhotic patients with acute renal failure.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 decreases epithelial sodium channel functionality in renal collecting duct cells via a Smad4-dependent pathway.

Background: Transformation growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) inhibits transepithelial sodium transport and suppresses the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in many different types of epithelial cells; however, the molecular mechanism of this effect in the kidney is still not clear. The aim of this study was to examine the regulation of transepithelial sodium transport by TGF-beta1 in renal cells.

Methods: We derived stable mouse cortical collecting duct cell lines that overexpressed Smad4 or N-termianl truncated Smad4, and studied the effects of TGF-beta1 on them.

Angiotensin II receptor antagonists supplementation is associated with arterial stiffness: insight from a retrospective study in 116 peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a non-invasive waveform analysis, is a useful tool for the vascular evaluation of arterial stiffness. Increased baPWV values have been found increased in patients with arterial stiffness. The aim of this study was to investigate retrospectively the association between arterial stiffness and the common medications used in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Atherosclerotic risk factors among ankle-brachial index and toe-brachial index in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Atherosclerotic vascular change affecting the lower extremities is the most common peripheral vascular disease. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) and toe-brachial index (TBI) are common, non-invasive diagnostic tests for atherosclerosis in the lower extremities. Peritoneum is a vascular-based structure.