Urinary endothelin-1-like immunoreactivity excretion in Wilms' tumor survivors.

Background: We evaluated urinary endothelin (ET)-1-like Immunoreactivity (uET-1 L) excretion in Wilms tumor (WT) survivors and investigated its relationships with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF). Glomerular hemodynamics were also assessed by Gomez formulae.

Methods: Seventeen WT survivors underwent renal sequential scintigraphy for residual kidney function determination including ERPF and GFR.

Evaluation of (123)I-orthoiodohippurate single kidney clearance rate by renal sequential scintigraphy in a large cohort of likely normal subjects aged between 0 and 18 years.

Purpose: Age-related values of (123)I-orthoiodohippurate (OIH) single kidney clearance rate (Cl) were estimated in a large cohort of likely normal children aged between 0 and 18 years.

Methods: Among 4,111 children examined in the past 10 years, 917 were selected with the following inclusion criteria: (a) mild ultrasonographic hydronephrosis with right differential renal function (DRF) <53% and >47% (498 pts), (b) known or suspected urinary tract infection with normal ultrasound, serum creatinine and DMSA and DRF <53% and >47% (419 pts). (123)I-OIH-Cl was assessed using a validated gamma camera method.

Renal resistive index early detects chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy in normo- and hypertensive patients.

Background: We studied whether the measurement of intrarenal vascular resistance by Doppler ultrasonography, capable of investigating renal interstitial compartment, allows the early detection of chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy (TIN).

Methods: 30 normotensive and 28 hypertensive (I-II OMS) patients with a clinical history suggestive of chronic TIN and normal renal function were enrolled. 40 healthy volunteers served as controls.

Renal, but not systemic, hemodynamic effects of dopamine are influenced by the severity of congestive heart failure.

Objective: To determine whether the short-term systemic and renal hemodynamic response to dopamine is influenced by clinical severity of congestive heart failure.

Design: Effects of increasing doses of dopamine were assessed in patients consecutively admitted for acutely decompensated congestive heart failure.

Setting: Intensive care unit.

Urinary endothelin-1 excretion according to morpho-functional damage lateralization in reflux nephropathy.

Background: Reflux nephropathy (RN) is a pathophysiological human model of reduced nephron reserve, due to loss of renal mass, but little information exists about the role of urinary endothelin-1 (uET-1) in this disease. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of uET-1-like-immunoreactivity (uET-1L) in RN patients, particularly if lateralized renal damage existed.

Methods: Thirty patients with vescico-ureteral reflux (VUR) and consequent RN, were studied.

Kinetic parameter estimation from renal measurements with a three-headed SPECT system: a simulation study.

We present here a direct least-squares estimation (DLSE) method for the determination of renal kinetic parameters from sequences of very fast acquisitions performed with a three-headed single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system. A simple linear model for the behavior of the radiopharmaceutical, as well as a spatial model for its spatial distribution are defined. The model enables one to estimate the kinetic parameters directly from the projections, once the plasma concentration function is known.

123I-hippuran renal scintigraphy with evaluation of single-kidney clearance for predicting renal scarring after acute urinary tract infection: comparison with (99m)Tc-DMSA scanning.

Unlabelled: The value of (123)I-hippuran (OIH) renal sequential scintigraphy (RSS) in predicting the evolution of defects detected by (99m)Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scanning during a first episode of acute pyelonephritis (APN) was assessed.

Methods: Fifty-eight children with APN underwent (99m)Tc-DMSA planar scanning and (123)I-OIH RSS during acute infection and at least 5 mo later. Renal lesions found by (99m)Tc-DMSA scanning were classified according to the following (99m)Tc-DMSA grading system: 0 = normal, 1 = 1 lesion, 2 = 2 lesions, and 3 = diffuse damage with renal parenchymal subversion.

Thromboxane inhibition improves renal perfusion and excretory function in severe congestive heart failure.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether thromboxane inhibition can favorably affect renal perfusion and clinical conditions in patients affected by severe heart failure.

Background: The renal formation of the vasoconstrictor thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) is increased during cardiac failure.

Methods: By oral administration of picotamide (a renal TxA(2) synthase and TxA(2)/prostaglandin H(2) receptor inhibitor), we blocked renal TxA(2).

SPECT semiquantitative analysis of adrenocortical (131)I-6 beta iodomethyl-norcholesterol uptake to discriminate subclinical and preclinical functioning adrenal incidentaloma.

Unlabelled: The goal of this study was to evaluate the clinical reliability of the (131)I-6 beta-iodomethyl-norcholesterol ((131)I-NP-59) uptake semiquantitative evaluation method we propose for the characterization of adrenocortical masses in a selected population of patients with disease clinically classified as subclinical (SC) and preclinical (PC) Cushing's syndrome (CS) according to Reincke's definition.

Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients with incidentally discovered unilateral adrenal masses were examined by a triple-head SPECT system after intravenous injection of (131)I-NP-59. Abdominal SPECT was performed at 24, 48, 72, and, in selected cases, 96 h after tracer injection.

Efficacy and Safety of Ramipril in Hypertensive Single-Kidney Patients.

The effects of medium-term antihypertensive treatment with the ACE inhibitor ramipril were studied on 10 hypertensive single-kidney patients in a double-blind study versus placebo. Patients with renovascular hypertension were excluded. Compared to placebo, ramipril induces a significant reduction of arterial blood pressure (p < 0.