Development of Epidural and Paraspinal Abscesses after Insufficient Evaluation and Treatment of Acute Pyelonephritis Caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Diagnoses of pyelonephritis caused by Staphylococcus aureus should be accompanied by investigations of concomitant bladder obstruction and metastatic infections, especially to the spine or heart. Complicated pyelonephritis due to S. aureus requires more than 2 weeks of antibiotics, which is the typically recommended treatment duration for pyelonephritis.

Diastolic dysfunction is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in incident dialysis patients with preserved systolic function.

Background: Diastolic heart failure (HF), the prevalence of which is gradually increasing, is associated with cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in the general population and, more specifically, in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the impact of diastolic dysfunction on CV outcomes has not been studied in incident dialysis patients with preserved systolic function.

Methods: This prospective observational cohort study investigates the clinical consequence of diastolic dysfunction and the predictive power of diastolic echocardiographic parameters for CV events in 194 incident ESRD patients with normal or near normal systolic function, who started dialysis between July 2008 and August 2012.

Changes in echocardiographic parameters according to the rate of residual renal function decline in incident peritoneal dialysis patients.

Residual renal function (RRF) is associated with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy as well as all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, no studies have yet examined the serial changes in echocardiographic findings according to the rate of RRF decline in incident dialysis patients. A total of 81 patients who started peritoneal dialysis (PD) between 2005 and 2012 at Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea, and who underwent baseline and follow-up echocardiography within the first year of PD were recruited.

Increased dialysate MCP-1 is associated with cardiovascular mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients: a prospective observational study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the dialysate MCP-1 (dMCP-1) and systemic inflammatory and nutritional markers in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. In addition, we examined the prognostic value of dMCP-1 on all-cause or cardiovascular mortality in these patients.

Methods: We prospectively followed 169 prevalent PD patients from April 1st 2008 to December 31st 2012.

Mean platelet volume is a prognostic factor in patients with acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy.

Purpose: Platelet size has been demonstrated to reflect platelet activity and to predict poor clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, the prognostic value of platelet size for mortality has not been studied in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).

Materials And Methods: A total of 349 patients who received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for AKI between August 2009 and October 2011 were divided into 2 groups based on the median mean platelet volume (MPV) at the time of CRRT initiation.

Interdialytic weight gain and cardiovascular outcome in incident hemodialysis patients.

Background: Interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) has been regarded as a surrogate of volume overload, but also as a marker of a better nutritional status in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis (HD). This paradoxical meaning of IDWG requires further investigation, particularly in adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 1,013 incident HD patients from 36 HD centers of the Clinical Research Center for ESRD in Korea was included.

The relationship of initial transferrin saturation to cardiovascular parameters and outcomes in patients initiating dialysis.

Background: The prognostic importance of anemia for cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality has been extensively investigated. However, little is known about the impact of transferrin saturation (TSAT), a marker reflecting the availability of iron for erythropoiesis, on clinical outcome in dialysis patients.

Methods: A total of 879 anemic incident dialysis patients were recruited from the Clinical Research Center for End-Stage Renal Disease in Korea and were divided into 3 groups according to baseline TSAT of ≤20%, 20-40%, and >40%.

Decreased circulating klotho levels in patients undergoing dialysis and relationship to oxidative stress and inflammation.

Introduction: It has been reported that klotho deficiency is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in experimental kidney disease models. Patients with endstage renal disease (ESRD) are particularly characterized by increased oxidative stress and inflammation. However, little is known about the relationship between these features and klotho in patients with ESRD.

Comparison of the Haas and the Oxford classifications for prediction of renal outcome in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Pathologic features can provide valuable information for determining prognosis in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). However, it is uncertain whether the Oxford classification, a new classification of IgAN, can predict renal outcome better than previous ones. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 500 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN between January 2002 and December 2010 to compare the ability of the Haas and the Oxford classifications to predict renal outcome.

Using the Oxford classification of IgA nephropathy to predict long-term outcomes of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis in adults.

Recently, there has been emerging concern that crescents, the main histologic feature of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis, merely reflect active inflammation, and may not be useful in predicting long-term outcomes. We therefore conducted a single-center retrospective study to evaluate whether the new Oxford classification of immunoglobulin A nephropathy can be used to predict long-term outcome in patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis. We included 61 biopsy-proven patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis between January 1991 and August 2010.

Effect of peritoneal dialysis modality on the 1-year rate of decline of residual renal function.

Purpose: The effect of different peritoneal dialysis (PD) modalities on the decline in residual renal function (RRF) is unclear due to inconsistencies among studies. In particular, the effect of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) modalities [continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) and nightly intermittent peritoneal dialysis (NIPD)] on RRF has not been examined in a large cohort.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective study to investigate the association between PD modalities and decline in RRF in 142 incident PD patients [34 on CCPD, 36 on NIPD, and 72 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)].

Sagittal abdominal diameter is an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in incident peritoneal dialysis patients.

Backgrounds And Aims: Visceral fat has a crucial role in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease, the major cause of death in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), as an index of visceral fat, significantly correlated with mortality in the general population, the impact of SAD on clinical outcomes has never been explored in ESRD patients. Therefore, we sought to elucidate the prognostic value of SAD in incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Clinical implication of crescentic lesions in immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

Background: To date, there has been much controversy about the role of crescentic lesion as a significant prognostic factor in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). This study evaluated whether crescentic lesions predict adverse renal outcomes in IgAN patients.

Methods: A total of 430 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN between January 2000 and December 2009 were included.

Membranous glomerulonephritis in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome-refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia.

A 74-year-old woman presented with edema in the lower extremities. Laboratory tests revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia, and nephrotic-range proteinuria. Myelodysplastic syndrome-refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (MDS-RCMD) was confirmed by bone marrow biopsy.

The impact of low triiodothyronine levels on mortality is mediated by malnutrition and cardiac dysfunction in incident hemodialysis patients.

Objective: Little is known about the impact of low triiodothyronine (T3) levels on mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients starting hemodialysis (HD) and whether this impact is mediated by malnutrition, inflammation, or cardiac dysfunction.

Design And Methods: A prospective cohort of 471 incident HD patients from 36 dialysis centers within the Clinical Research Center for ESRD in Korea was selected for this study. Based on the median value of T3, patients were divided into 'higher' and 'lower' groups, and all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality rates were compared.

Association between the ratio of insulin-like growth factor-I to insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 and inflammation in incident automated peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is known to be associated with inflammation in various populations. However, the association between the IGF system and inflammation has not previously been investigated in automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the IGF system correlates with inflammation in APD patients.

Diastolic dysfunction is associated with an increased risk of contrast-induced nephropathy: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is the third leading cause of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury, and it is associated with poor long-term clinical outcomes. Although systolic heart failure is a well-known risk factor for CIN, no studies have yet evaluated the association between diastolic dysfunction and CIN.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 735 patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and had an echocardiography performed within one month of the procedure at our institute, between January 2009 and December 2010.

Stepwise treatment using corticosteroids alone and in combination with cyclosporine in korean patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Purpose: We undertook an observational study to investigate the effects of immunosuppressive treatment on proteinuria and renal function in 179 Korean idiopathic membranous nephropathy patients with nephrotic syndrome.

Materials And Methods: The primary outcome was regarded as the first appearance of remission and the secondary outcomes as a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >50% or initiation of dialysis, and all-cause mortality. Seventy-two (40.

Urine output is associated with prognosis in patients with acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy.

Purpose: Although some studies have found that early initiation of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is associated with better prognosis, no consensus exists on the best timing to start CRRT. We investigated whether the timing of CRRT initiation was relevant to overall mortality and explored which factors at the time of CRRT initiation were associated with better outcomes in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).

Materials And Methods: A total of 361 patients who received CRRT for AKI between 2009 and 2011 were collected and divided into 2 groups based on the median blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels or 6-hour urine output immediately before CRRT was started.

Circulating α-klotho levels in CKD and relationship to progression.

Background: α-Klotho is reported to have protective effects against kidney injury, and its renal expression is decreased in many experimental models of kidney disease. However, circulating α-klotho levels in human chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the relationship to progression are unknown.

Study Design: Post hoc analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Thyroid hormone replacement therapy attenuates the decline of renal function in chronic kidney disease patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is not a rare condition in females, the elderly, or patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Even though previous studies have demonstrated that thyroid hormone replacement therapy (THRT) improves cardiac function and dyslipidemia in patients with SCH, it remains unclear as to whether THRT can improve renal function in CKD patients with SCH. This study investigated the impact of THRT on changes in estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) in this patient population.

Progression of aortic arch calcification over 1 year is an independent predictor of mortality in incident peritoneal dialysis patients.

Backgrounds And Aims: The presence and progression of vascular calcification have been demonstrated as important risk factors for mortality in dialysis patients. However, since the majority of subjects included in most previous studies were hemodialysis patients, limited information was available in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of aortic arch calcification (AoAC) and prognostic value of AoAC progression in PD patients.

Early initiation of continuous renal replacement therapy improves patient survival in severe progressive septic acute kidney injury.

Purpose: The definition of "early" in terms of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) initiation has not been uniformly used. Therefore, we tried to elucidate whether the timing of CRRT application, based on the interval between the start time of vasopressors infusion and CRRT initiation, was an independent predictor of mortality in the patients with septic acute kidney injury (AKI).

Materials And Methods: Progressive septic AKI patients, in whom the infusion doses of vasopressors were increased compared with the initial dose during the first 6 hours of vasopressor treatment and CRRT was performed, between 2009 and 2011, were collected and divided into 2 groups based on the median interval between the 2 points.

The effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor on insulin resistance in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Insulin resistance is associated with the progression of atherosclerosis and is reported to predict cardiovascular mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although statins exert pleiotropic effects, it is uncertain whether statin therapy improves insulin resistance in these patients. In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we aimed to evaluate the effects of statin on insulin resistance among 70 patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Decreased circulating C3 levels and mesangial C3 deposition predict renal outcome in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Background And Aims: Mesangial C3 deposition is frequently observed in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). However, the role of complement in the pathogenesis or progression of IgAN is uncertain. In this observational cohort study, we aimed to identify the clinical implications of circulating C3 levels and mesangial C3 deposition and to investigate their utility as predictors of renal outcomes in patients with IgAN.