Renal artery stenosis and renal parenchymal damage in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm proven by autopsy.

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a major risk factor for patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between clinical characteristics and renal histology in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Methods: We studied 79 cases with AAA autopsied at the National Cardiovascular Center.

The cutoff value of aldosterone-to-renin ratio for the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism in patients taking antihypertensive medicine.

Background: Primary aldosteronism (PA) may account for as much as 6-20% of cases of refractory hypertension referred to hypertension clinics. Because antihypertensive agents affect the physiologic renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, screening diagnostic tests for PA are generally performed after antihypertensive agents are discontinued. However, such tests can be dangerous for patients with severe hypertension or other cardiovascular complications.

Leiomyosarcoma of the hypopharynx: a case report.

Cases of leiomyosarcoma in the head and neck are very rare with only four reports of a leiomyosarcoma originating in the hypopharynx. A rare case of leiomyosarcoma of the hypopharynx is described. A 62-year-old woman, who had experienced slight difficulty of swallowing and hoarseness, visited our hospital.

Decreased coronary flow reserve in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) reflects the functional capacity of microcirculation to adapt to blood demand during increased cardiac work.

Methods: Forty-one patients who had already undergone coronary angiography were studied. They consisted of 21 haemodialysis patients with no significant left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) stenosis and 20 non-renal failure patients without LAD stenosis.

Brain natriuretic peptide in hemodialysis patients: predictive value for hemodynamic change during hemodialysis and cardiac function.

Background: Though brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is widely used as a clinical marker of cardiac function, there is considerable confusion in the interpretation of its value in hemodialysis (HD) patients whose BNPs are often elevated without cardiac diseases. The aim of the present study is to examine the predictive value of BNP for blood pressure (BP) fall during HD and cardiac function.

Methods: Subjects consisted of 205 (160 males, 45 females; age 66.

Midregional proadrenomedullin reflects cardiac dysfunction in haemodialysis patients with cardiovascular disease.

Background: Although adrenomedullin is an indicator of cardiac dysfunction in haemodialysis patients, the clinical significance of midregional proadrenomedullin has not been elucidated. Objectives. We evaluated whether midregional proadrenomedullin reflects cardiac dysfunction, systemic inflammation or blood volume in haemodialysis patients.

Effect of early nephrology referral on the initiation of hemodialysis and survival in patients with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular diseases.

Background: The timing of referral to nephrologists is highly variable in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The impact of early referral on the timing of hemodialysis (HD) and mortality in the patients with CKD and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) was evaluated in this present study.

Methods And Results: A total of 366 patients with CKD and CVD began HD at the National Cardiovascular Center between 1983 and 2003, and survival was followed until 2005.

Salivary duct carcinoma in the sinonasal tract.

Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is an uncommon malignant tumor, characterized by aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. SDC usually arises from ductal epithelium of the major salivary glands, and it is quite infrequent elsewhere. We present a rare case of a 73-year-old man with SDC, which is possibly originated from the paranasal sinuses or the lacrimal system.

Reverse white-coat effect as an independent risk for microalbuminuria in treated hypertensive patients.

Background: The influence of the converse phenomenon of white-coat hypertension called 'reverse white-coat hypertension' or 'masked hypertension' on hypertensive target organ damage has not been fully elucidated. The present study assessed the hypothesis that this phenomenon may specifically associate with microalbuminuria, a marker of early renal damage, in treated hypertension.

Methods: A total of 267 treated essential hypertensive patients (133 men and 134 women; mean age, 66 years) without renal insufficiency or macroalbuminuria were enrolled in this study.