A case of complete remission of glucocorticoid-dependent nephrotic syndrome after TRF-budesonide treatment in a patient with mild mesangial proliferative IgA nephropathy.

The combination of nephrotic syndrome with mild histopathological lesions of IgA nephropathy is considered by some as a special form of IgA nephropathy with superimposed minimal change disease (MCD) while by others as coincidental deposition of IgA in patients with MCD (MCD-IgAN). We present the first case of complete remission of nephrotic syndrome in a 55-year-old man with MCD-IgAN after the administration of targeted-release formulation of budesonide (TRF-budesonide). The patient's treatment with TRF-budesonide, even though methylprednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclophosphamide had been previously tried, is of particular importance because it not only suggests that TRF-budesonide appears to be a promising treatment for MCD-IgAN but may also provide a new therapeutic option for patients with podocytopathies.

Messages about climate, pollution and social justice harms of tobacco as motivators to quit: an untapped communication opportunity?

Background: Campaigns highlighting the health harms of smoking have demonstrated success in motivating people who smoke to quit. Tobacco production and use also exert a toll on the environment, sustainable development and human rights. However, messages highlighting these harms of tobacco have been relatively unexplored as a cessation motivation strategy.

Haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients have severely impaired post-occlusive skin forearm vasodilatory response assessed with laser speckle contrast imaging.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular events and mortality in various disease states, including end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Novel technological approaches have emerged for real-time assessment of endothelial reactivity. This study examined skin microcirculation using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) before and after arterial occlusion in ESRD patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Normal white blood cell counts predict long-term mortality of hemodialysis patients.

Purpose: It is unclear whether normal white blood cell (WBC) counts are predictive of subsequent mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: All patients aged 17 years or more, who initiated hemodialysis at a tertiary Hospital from January 2000 to August 2017 with a dialysis vintage of greater than 90 days and normal median WBC count of their first dialysis year were included in the study. They were followed until they died, transferred to other dialysis facilities, switched to peritoneal dialysis, received a renal transplant or reached the end of the study (August 31, 2018).

Efficacy and safety of a low monthly dose of intravenous iron sucrose in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Purpose: Scientific data regarding intravenous iron supplementation in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are scarce. In attempting to administer the minimum monthly IV iron dose that could improve erythropoiesis, we wanted to assess the safety and efficacy of monthly maintenance intravenous administration of 100 mg iron sucrose in PD patients.

Methods: In a 9-month prospective study, all clinically stable PD patients received intravenously 200 mg of iron sucrose as a loading dose, followed by monthly doses of 100 mg for five consecutive months.