Influx of Tau and Amyloid-β Proteins into the Blood During Hemodialysis as a Therapeutic Extracorporeal Blood Amyloid-β Removal System for Alzheimer's Disease.

The accumulation of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) and tau in the brain is a major pathological change related to Alzheimer's disease. We have continued to develop Extracorporeal Blood Aβ Removal Systems (E-BARS) as a method for enhancing Aβ clearance from the brain. Our previous report revealed that dialyzers effectively remove blood Aβ and evoke large Aβ influxes into the blood, resulting in a decrease in brain Aβ accumulation after initiating hemodialysis, and that patients who underwent hemodialysis had lower brain Aβ accumulation than those who did not.

A prospective study on blood Aβ levels and the cognitive function of patients with hemodialysis: a potential therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease.

To obtain the proof of concept of a novel therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD), we conducted two prospective studies with hemodialysis patients who had amyloid β protein (Aβ) removed from their blood three times a week. One major pathological change in the brain associated with AD is Aβ deposition, mainly 40 amino acids Aβ1-40 and 42 amino acids Aβ1-42. Impaired Aβ clearance is proposed to be one cause of increased Aβ in the AD brain.

Treatment with cytapheresis for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated renal vasculitis and its effect on anti-inflammatory factors.

To evaluate the efficacy of cytapheresis for the treatment of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) caused by myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-associated vasculitis, the renal prognosis and the mortality rate at 1 year after treatment were compared between a Cytapheresis Group and a Steroid Pulse Group. The Cytapheresis Group included 10 patients who were treated with cytapheresis and oral corticosteroids. Five had granulocytapheresis with the Adacolumn (Japan Immuno Research Laboratories Co.

Complement C4d deposition in transplanted kidneys: preliminary report on long-term graft survival.

The effects of antibody-mediated rejection on long-term graft survival have not been fully investigated. The aim of this study is to clarify the influence on long-term survival of deposition of the complement split product C4d in allografts using polyclonal anti-C4d antibody. Inclusion criteria were recipients who underwent graft biopsy during acute deterioration of graft function within the first 2 yr after transplantation.

Suppression of parathyroid hormone secretion in CAPD patients by intraperitoneal administration of Maxacalcitol.

Background: Maxacalcitol (22-oxacalcitriol; OCT) is a novel vitamin D analogue. In previous clinical studies, OCT was administered three times a week to hemodialysis patients with refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism (2HPT), in whom it acted by inhibiting parathyroid hormone secretion, as well as causing mildly elevated serum calcium. However, intravenous injection of OCT, which requires frequent visits to the outpatient clinic, degrades the quality of life of patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) who otherwise visit the clinic only once or twice per month.

Efficacy of granulocytapheresis and leukocytapheresis for the treatment of microscopic polyangiitis.

We evaluated the efficacy of granulocytaperesis and leukocytapheresis for the treatment of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) and lung hemorrhage caused by microscopic polyangiitis. Three patients with RPGN were treated by granulocytapheresis (GCAP) and five patients with RPGN were treated by leukocytapheresis (LCAP). The prednisolone dose was 0.

Focal segmental sclerotic lesions of the glomerulus in transplanted kidneys assessed using computerized image analysis.

Mechanisms responsible for the development of focal segmental sclerotic lesions of the glomerulus (FSGS lesions) in transplanted kidneys were investigated by morphometric analysis. The mean glomerular area and the interstitial area were measured using computerized image analysis to compare implantation biopsies (so-called 1-h biopsies; 1Bx) with later biopsies (episode Bx; EBx) that had been taken for diagnostic purposes to identify the cause of deteriorating renal function. Groups of patients with (group A, n = 15) or without (group B, n = 10) FSGS lesions were compared.

Cytapheresis for the treatment of myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: report of five cases.

To minimize the adverse effects of high-dose administration of steroids and cyclophosphamide in patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO) antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), granulocytapheresis (GCAP) or leukocytapheresis (LCAP) was performed to reduce inflammation. Four patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) and one patient with pulmonary hemorrhage due to MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis were treated by cytapheresis. The prednisolone (PSL) dose was 0.

[Evaluation of reticulocyte hemoglobin content, percentage of hypochromic red blood cells, and ratio of serum transferrin receptor level/serum iron level as markers of iron-deficiency erythropoiesis in patients undergoing hemodialysis].

Unlabelled: Reticulocyte hemoglobin content(CHr), percentage of hypochromic red blood cells(%HRC, level of serum transferrin receptor(sTfR), and sTfR/serum iron ratio(sTfR/Fe) were measured in 132 hemodialysis patients. On univariate analysis, CHr was positively correlated with serum amyloid A(SAA) and negatively correlated with Kt/V. %HRC showed a positive correlation with the recombinant human erythropoietin(rHuEPO) dosage.