Mayo Clinic Consensus Report on Membranous Nephropathy: Proposal for a Novel Classification.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a pattern of injury caused by autoantibodies binding to specific target antigens, with accumulation of immune complexes along the subepithelial region of glomerular basement membranes. The past 20 years have brought revolutionary advances in the understanding of MN, particularly via the discovery of novel target antigens and their respective autoantibodies. These discoveries have challenged the traditional classification of MN into primary and secondary forms.

Mayo Clinic consensus report on membranous nephropathy: proposal for a novel classification.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a pattern of injury caused by autoantibodies binding to specific target antigens, with accumulation of immune complexes along the subepithelial region of glomerular basement membranes. The past 20 years have brought revolutionary advances in the understanding of MN, particularly via the discovery of novel target antigens and their respective autoantibodies. These discoveries have challenged the traditional classification of MN into primary and secondary forms.

Comparison of plasma and oral fluid concentrations of mycophenolic acid and its glucuronide metabolite by LC-MS in kidney transplant patients.

Purpose: Mycophenolic acid is one of the most used immunosuppressive drugs in solid organ transplant treatments in the world. Developing a highly sensitive analytical method to analyse the drug and its metabolites in oral fluid and plasma is important to evaluate the possibility of using oral fluid as a biological matrix in therapeutic drug monitoring, instead of plasma.

Method: The liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was developed and validated for determining mycophenolic acid (MPA) and its glucuronide metabolite (MPAG) in oral fluid and plasma, with both matrices presenting a detection limit of 1 ng/mL for MPA and 5 ng/mL for MPAG.

Time to Positivity of Bacteria Cultures in Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid: Evaluation of Different Laboratory Techniques.

Patients with chronic kidney disease on peritoneal dialysis (PD) are susceptible to infections, with peritonitis being the primary cause of dropout. Peritoneal fluid culture is one of the essential elements for proper diagnosis and peritonitis treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the time required to obtain a positive culture using different laboratory methods.

Depression, quality of life, and body composition in patients with end-stage renal disease: a cohort study.

Objective:: To prospectively evaluate depressive symptoms, nutritional status, and quality of life (QoL) and search for possible associations in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods:: A cohort study of 104 adult patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis was conducted. Anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical variables were evaluated after a midweek hemodialysis session.

Effect of standard and neutral-pH peritoneal dialysis solutions upon fibroblasts proliferation.

Introduction: Continuous exposition of the peritoneal membrane to conventional dialysis solutions is an important risk factor for inducing structural and functional alterations.

Objective: To compare in vitro mouse fibroblast NIH-3T3 cell viability after exposition to a neutral pH dialysis solution in comparison to cells exposed to a standard solution.

Methods: Experimental study to compare the effects of a conventional standard or a neutral-pH, low-glucose degradation products peritoneal dialysis solution on the viability of exposed fibroblasts in cell culture.

Hand hygiene in peritoneal dialysis patients: a comparison of two techniques.

Introduction And Objectives: Hand hygiene is essential for preventing peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related infections. The present study compared the effectiveness of two hygiene techniques in reducing the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) on the hands of patients undergoing PD.

Methods: In this controlled clinical trial, 22 participants enrolled in the same PD program underwent a two-hand evaluation for microbiologic flora.

[Comparison of two hand hygiene techniques in peritoneal dialysis patients].

Introduction: Hand hygiene is an important procedure in preventing peritoneal dialysis-related infections.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of two distinct techniques for hand hygiene in reducing the number of colony-forming units in patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Materials And Method: Controlled clinical trial.

Low response to intradermal hepatitis B vaccination in incident hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Hepatitis B (HB) may progress to cirrhosis and liver carcinoma. Its prevalence is estimated at 3.2 % in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

[Evaluation of an educational program on calcium and phosphorus metabolism for patients on hemodialysis].

This cohort study evaluated the effects of an educational program about metabolism and control of serum levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (PO4), parathormone (PTH), Ca x PO4 product on 33 stable patients on hemodialysis. Patients were randomized into two groups: control (n = 17) and intervention (n = 16). The control group received information on vascular access.

Nutritional status evaluated by multi-frequency bioimpedance is not associated with quality of life or depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients.

Hemodialysis therapy significantly impacts on patients' physical, psychological, and social performances. Such reduced quality of life depends on several factors, such as malnutrition, depression, and metabolic derangements. This study aims to evaluate the current nutritional status, quality of life and depressive symptoms, and determine the possible relationships with other risk factors for poor outcomes, in stable hemodialysis patients.

Erythrocytes L-arginine y+ transporter inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide in ice-bath.

Erythrocytes L: -arginine uptake is conveyed by y+ and y+L membrane transport systems. Pre-incubation with N-ethylmaleimide for 10 min at 37°C inhibits the y+ system. The aim of this study was to determine the ideal pre-incubation temperature in evaluating y+ and y+L systems.

Two variable sodium profiles and adverse effects during hemodialysis: a randomized crossover study.

Intradialytic symptomatic hypotension and muscle cramps are frequent and disturbing adverse effects involving hemodialysis patients. The use of sodium profiling has been a proposed approach to preclude such events. The aim of the study was to compare the frequency of intradialytic adverse effects and changes in anthropometric and physiological variables without profiling and with two distinct sodium profiles.

Rapidly deteriorating kidney function in a young man previously diagnosed with membranous nephropathy.

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Cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness in asymptomatic children.

Atherosclerosis, beginning in childhood, is dependent on several risk factors and may be predictive of coronary artery disease in adulthood. The risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis are similar to those for clinical disease. Carotid intima-media thickness is a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis and a predictor of subsequent vascular events.

Warning: an anemia outbreak due to chloramine exposure in a clean hemodialysis unit--an issue to be revisited.

In July 2004, an anemia outbreak was identified in our hemodialysis (HD) unit. The dialysate chloramine levels had risen from <0.1 mg/mL in May to 0.

Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis: a life-threatening syndrome.

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a rare life-threatening syndrome, potentially reversible when detected at an early stage. Hypokalemia may also occur in other conditions characterized by muscle weakness. Acute myopathy associated with thyrotoxicosis has been described in Asian populations, although it seldom affects Caucasians or African-Americans.

Solutes transport characteristics in peritoneal dialysis: variations in glucose and insulin serum levels.

Background: Differences in small solutes transport rate (SSTR) during peritoneal dialysis (PD) may affect water and solutes removal. Patients with high SSTR must rely on shorter dwell times and increased dialysate glucose concentrations to keep fluid balance. Glucose absorption during peritoneal dialysis (PD), besides affecting glucose and insulin metabolism, may induce weight gain.

Erythrocyte L-arginine uptake in peritoneal dialysis patients changes over time.

During long-term exposure to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD), the characteristics of the peritoneal membrane may be altered. The substrate for nitric oxide synthesis is L-arginine, which may enter cells via the y+ and y+L transport systems. Peritoneal membrane characteristics may depend on vascular function and the L-arginine-NO pathway.

Erythrocyte L-arginine uptake in peritoneal dialysis patients: systems y and y+ L.

L-Arginine is the substrate for nitric oxide synthesis and may enter cells by the y+ and y+ L transport systems. Peritoneal membrane characteristics may depend on vascular function and the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway. In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated erythrocyte L-arginine uptake in stable peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with various categories of peritoneal transport function.