The role of urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein in critically ill patients.

Although several urinary biomarkers have been validated as early diagnostic markers of acute kidney injury (AKI), their usefulness as outcome predictors is not well established. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic and prognostic abilities of urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) in heterogeneous critically ill patients. We prospectively collected data on patients admitted to medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs) from July 2010 to June 2011.

Microinflammation in hemodialysis patients is associated with increased CD14CD16(+) pro-inflammatory monocytes: possible modification by on-line hemodiafiltration.

Background: An increased percentage of pro-inflammatory CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes might contribute to inflammation in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the possible contribution of pro-inflammatory monocytes to inflammation in HD patients and also to evaluate the effect of on-line hemodiafiltration (HDF).

Methods: Flow cytometric detection of monocytes in patients undergoing HD, on-line HDF and healthy controls as well as plasma cytokines and cytokine mRNA measurement were performed.

Primed monocytes: putative culprits of chronic low-grade inflammation and impaired innate immune responses in patients on hemodialysis.

Background: End-stage renal disease patients are known to be in a state of chronic low-grade inflammation and to have high infection-related morbidity and mortality. However, the precise mechanisms are not understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanisms underlying chronic low-grade inflammation and defects in innate immune responses in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Hemophagocytic syndrome in a patient with acute tubulointerstitial nephritis secondary to hepatitis A virus infection.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is generally a self-limited disease, but the infection in adults can be serious, to be often complicated by acute kidney injury (AKI) and rarely by virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS). Our patient, a 48-yr-old man, was diagnosed with HAV infection complicated by dialysis-dependent AKI. His kidney biopsy showed acute tubulointerstitial nephritis with massive infiltration of activated macrophages and T cells, and he progressively demonstrated features of VAHS.

Low iPTH can predict vascular and coronary calcifications in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Background: There is substantial evidence that low levels of serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) are associated with vascular calcium deposition and subsequent increased cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the serum iPTH level, and vascular and coronary artery calcifications (VCs, CACs) and arterial stiffness in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 93 PD patients were included.

Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin: an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in acute kidney injury.

Background: Several recent studies have shown that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) may be a promising biomarker for the early detection of acute kidney injury (AKI), but the role of NGAL in predicting adverse clinical outcomes has not been well addressed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of urine NGAL as outcome predictor in patients with AKI.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study enrolling hospitalized AKI patients.

IL-10 mediates rosiglitazone-induced kidney protection in cisplatin nephrotoxicity.

Cisplatin, a major anti-neoplastic drug, is known to be nephrotoxic and inflammation-inducing. A peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist, regulating lipid metabolism, has known to have anti-inflammatory effect, but the protection mechanisms in various kidney injuries are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the reno-protective effect of rosiglitazone on cisplatin nephrotoxicity in mice focusing on inflammation and apoptosis.

Aloe-induced toxic hepatitis.

Aloe has been widely used in phytomedicine. Phytomedicine describes aloe as a herb which has anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-aging effects. In recent years several cases of aloe-induced hepatotoxicity were reported.

A case of acute cholecystitis without cholestasis caused by Epstein-Barr virus in a healthy young woman.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is known to be one of the causes of viral hepatitis, but its association with cholecystitis is known to be rare. Cholestasis by EBV-induced hepatitis might be a cause of acute cholecystitis in all of the recently reported cases. In contrast, we experienced the case of a 20-year-old woman who was infected with EBV and presented with acute cholecystitis without cholestasis.