An investigation of the basic education of Japanese nurses: comparison of competency with European nurses.

Background: A few studies have compared nursing education systems of Japan and Europe, particularly focusing on competency.

Objective: We evaluated the competency of registered Japanese nurses by comparing it with that of European nurses; the implications of evaluation for the education of nurses are discussed.

Design And Participants: Subjects were 468 European graduate nurses and 100 Japanese nurses.

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and membrane-type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP) affect the remodeling of glomerulosclerosis in diabetic OLETF rats.

Background: We reported previously that diabetic glomerular nodular-like lesions were formed during the reconstruction process of mesangiolysis. However, the precise mechanism has yet to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the roles of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, which is activated from proMMP-2 by membrane-type (MT)-MMP in the sclerotic and endothelial cell injury process of a type II diabetic model, Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats.

Chronic cholesterol crystal embolism with a spontaneous onset.

A 74-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of hypertension, blue toe syndrome and an elevation of serum creatinine from 0.8 to 1.4 mg/dl for eleven months.

[Efficacy of continuous intraoperative administration of low-dose milrinone during the circumflex artery anastomosis of off-pump coronary artery bypass].

Background: We have experienced instability of hemodynamic state during off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB), especially, circumflex (Cx) artery anastomosis. Although some reports have implied the efficacy of mirlinone in OPCAB anastomosis due to its characteristic inotropic effect without increasing myocardial oxygen consumption, we examined the effect of smaller doses of mirlinone during Cx anastomosis.

Methods: Fourteen patients received milrinone (M group) continuously at a rate of 0.

Effect of sevelamer hydrochloride on markers of bone turnover in Japanese dialysis patients with low biointact PTH levels.

Background: In hemodialysis patients, adynamic bone disease has been reported to be closely associated with low levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) due to exposure to high levels of serum calcium following the administration of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or vitamin D agents. This study was conducted to clarify the therapeutic effect of a non-calcemic phosphate binder, sevelamer hydrochloride (sevelamer), for hypoparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients with or without diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Based on entry criteria, 40 Japanese chronic hemodialysis patients (22 males and 18 females with a mean age of 60.

Involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 in human diabetic nephropathy.

Background: The involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in human diabetic nephropathy has not been fully investigated.

Methods: The presence of cells positive for the phosphorylated MAPK family (phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase [p-ERK], phosphorylated p38MAPK [p-p38MAPK]) was investigated immunohistochemically in kidneys of 30 patients with diabetic nephropathy. In addition, 10 patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome, 10 patients with thin basement membrane disease, and 5 patients with benign nephrosclerosis were studied as disease controls.

The outcome and a new ISN/RPS 2003 classification of lupus nephritis in Japanese.

Background: A considerable diversity in prognosis is seen with lupus glomerulonephritis (LGN). Hence, the clinical usefulness of a recent International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) 2003 classification to judge the long-term outcome of human LGN has been investigated.

Methods: We studied retrospectively 60 subjects with LGN (7 males, 53 females, mean age of 33 years old) who underwent renal biopsies and were followed from 1 to 366 months, with a mean of 187 months.

[Membranous nephropathy].

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a frequent cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. A considerable diversity of prognosis is seen with idiopathic MN. We overview the recent progress of clinicopathological research, especially the initial factors affecting the longterm outcome of idiopathic MN.

CD68 and MCP-1/CCR2 expression of initial biopsies reflect the outcomes of membranous nephropathy.

Background: A considerable diversity of prognosis is seen with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). The initial factors affecting long-term outcome remain unclear.

Methods: We studied retrospectively 30 patients with IMN who had been followed up for at least 5 years, or until end-stage renal failure (ESRF).

Pathologic findings of initial biopsies reflect the outcomes of membranous nephropathy.

Background: A considerable diversity of prognosis is seen with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). The initial factors affecting long-term outcome remain unclear.

Methods: We studied retrospectively 105 patients with IMN who had been followed up for at least 5 years, or until end-stage renal failure (ESRF) (primary outcome), or death (secondary outcome).

Electron-dense deposition patterns and the outcomes of idiopathic membranous nephropathy in Japanese.

A considerable diversity in prognosis is seen with membranous nephropathy (MN). In terms of pathological findings, the presence of tubulointerstitial lesions was emphasized as a poor prognostic factor. However, the glomerular factors affecting the long-term outcome of idiopathic human MN have remained unclear.

p38 MAPK phosphorylation and NF-kappa B activation in human crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Background: p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) followed by the activation of NF-kappa B participates in the intracellular signal transduction and production of cytokines and chemokines. The pathophysiological roles of p38 MAPK and NF-kappa B in human glomerulonephritis, however, remain to be investigated.

Methods: We investigated the phosphorylated p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK) and activated NF-kappa B immunohistochemically in the kidneys of 34 patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis and 26 control patients with thin basement membrane disease and minimal change nephrotic syndrome.

The beneficial effects of lymphocytapheresis for treatment of nephrotic syndrome.

A considerable permeability factor (or factors) derived from circulating T cells has a crucial role in proteinuria of nephrotic syndrome (NS). We attempted to remove pathogenic T cells through lymphocytapheresis (LCAP) in 6 patients with primary NS, 2 patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), 2 patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), 1 patient with membranous nephropathy (MN), and 1 patient with MN and FSGS using Cellsorba (Asahi Medical Co., Osaka, Japan).

Administration of FR167653, a new anti-inflammatory compound, prevents renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury in mice.

Background: Various types of chemokines/cytokines play important roles in ischaemia/reperfusion injury in kidneys. However, the roles of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the inflammatory processes of renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury remain to be investigated. We explored the effect of FR167653, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, on renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury in mice.

A new anti-inflammatory compound, FR167653, ameliorates crescentic glomerulonephritis in Wistar-Kyoto rats.

The pathophysiologic effects of FR167653 were investigated in a model of crescentic glomerulonephritis induced by a small dose of nephrotoxic serum in Wistar-Kyoto rats. The rats developed crescentic glomerulonephritis by 6 d after the administration of serum. The subcutaneous administration of FR167653 (32 mg/kg) markedly decreased the severity of the renal damage.