Effect of a Low Salt Diet on the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective, Open-Label, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: A causal relationship exists between salt intake and hypertension, stroke, and kidney disease. However, whether or not reduced salt intake slows progression of renal diseases has been intensely debated.

Methods: In this prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial, we examined the impact of a low salt diet on renal function, blood pressure, and other metabolic parameters.

Medium Cut-Off versus Low-Flux Dialyzers in Hemodialysis Patients with COVID-19: Clinical Outcomes and Reduction in Interleukin-6.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused extensive morbidity and mortality worldwide. Hemodialysis (HD) patients are both vulnerable to COVID-19 infection and tend to suffer greater disease severity and mortality. This retrospective study aimed to compare medium cut-off (MCO) and low-flux (LF) membrane dialyzers in terms of interleukin-6 (IL-6) reduction, change in inflammatory state, intradialytic complications, and mortality in chronic HD patients with COVID-19.

Cranial versus Caudal Direction Technique of Native Percutaneous Kidney Biopsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Percutaneous kidney biopsy (PKB) is the gold standard for diagnosing various kidney diseases, but it can result in potential complications. This study aimed to compare kidney tissue adequacy and safety between the two biopsy techniques, including cranial direction (CN) and caudal direction (CD), of needle biopsy under real-time ultrasonogram guidance.

Methods: This single-center, prospective, single-blinded, randomized trial included patients undergoing native PKB from July 5, 2017, to June 30, 2019.

Health-related quality of life of daily-life-affected benign essential blepharospasm: Multi-center observational study.

Purpose: To compare Thais' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and severity grading, efficacy and safety in daily-life-affected benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) patients at baseline and after Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) treatment.

Design: Prospective-observational study.

Participants: BEB patients with Jankovic rating scale (JRS) at least 3 in both severity and frequency graded from 14 institutes nationwide were included from August 2020 to June 2021.

Intra-abdominal hypertension among medical septic patients associated with worsening kidney outcomes (IAH-WK study).

High intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the relationship between intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and AKI in medical septic patients is still inconclusive. This prospective cohort study enrolled patients admitted in the Medical Intensive Care Unit from April 2020 to February 2021.

Curcuminoids can prevent post-contrast acute kidney injury in chronic kidney disease patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Post contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI) following coronary procedures is a common cause of renal impairment in hospitalized patients, curcuminoids exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions and have shown positive effects on renal hemodynamic protection The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of curcuminoids in the prevention of PC-AKI in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Methods: This study was a single-center, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in patients with CKD undergoing elective coronary angiography (CAG) at Vajira Hospital from October 2018 to March 2019. Patients were randomized to receive curcuminoids at 1500 mg per day 3 days before and 2 days after the procedure or placebo.

External Validation of the Acute Kidney Injury Risk Prediction Score for Critically Ill Surgical Patients Who Underwent Major Non-Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication encountered in an intensive care unit (ICU). In 2020, the AKI prediction score was developed specifically for critically ill surgical patients who underwent major non-cardiothoracic surgeries. This study aimed to externally validate the AKI prediction score in terms of performance and clinical utility.

Therapeutic plasma exchange with standard hemodialysis machine as an alternative to dedicated apheresis device: A 5-year experience.

Patients suffering from various diseases have been shown to benefit from therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). However, in developing countries, there are many obstacles hindering the establishment and initiation of TPE programs. These include inadequate funding and lack of government healthcare coverage.

Acute Kidney Injury Outcomes of Elderly and Nonelderly Patients in the Medical Intensive Care Unit of a University Hospital in a Developing Country.

Background: Aging is associated with a high risk of acute kidney injury (AKI), and the elderly with AKI show a higher mortality rate than those without AKI. In this study, we compared AKI outcomes between elderly and nonelderly patients in a university hospital in a developing country.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with AKI who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2017.

The efficacy of blind versus real-time ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy in developing country.

Introduction: Renal biopsy is a useful diagnostic procedure. In developing countries, two techniques of renal biopsy, blind percutaneous renal biopsy and real-time ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy, have been performed. The majority of studies compared these using different types and sizes of biopsy needle.

Case Report: Anti-myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) Positive in a Patient Presented with Orbital Apex Syndrome.

A 60-year-old man presented with no light perception, ptosis and ophthalmoplegia in the right eye. The right fundus examination showed marked optic disc swelling. Serological tests for infectious and infiltrative diseases were all negative.

The Effect of Citrate on Clot Formation, Dialyzer Reuse, and Anemia in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Citrate anticoagulation is increasingly favored for preventing extracorporeal circuit clotting during renal replacement therapy. This study tested the effect of citrate compared with acetate on heparin avoidance and other parameters.

Methods: Sixty-one chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients were switched from conventional dialysis fluid (acetate) to citrate dialysis fluid and were treated in 3 phases, each lasting 4 weeks: 50%, 25%, and no heparin.

Acute kidney injury in critically ill surgical patients: Epidemiology, risk factors and outcomes.

Aim: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most serious complications seen in intensive care units (ICUs). However, its epidemiology, risk factors and clinical outcomes in surgical critically ill patients remains unclear.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of the university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.

Associations Among Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, and Fibroblast Growth Factor-21 Levels in Kidney Transplant Patients.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease, even after renal transplantation. Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) provides an indicator of arterial stiffness, whereas fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) levels may provide a biomarker for atherosclerotic disease. We investigated the association between CAVI and FGF-21 and their relationships to carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Effect of high dose ergocalciferol in chronic kidney disease patients with 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency.

Objective: To evaluate 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) deficiency in a cohort ofpredialysis CKD patients and the treatment effect and safety of high dose ergocalciferol supplement in predialysis CKD.

Material And Method: Fifty-six predialysis CKD patients who came for a regular visit at a single hospital with calculated glomerular filtration rate < or =60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were screened for 25-OH-D levels.

Hepatitis G infection and therapeutic response to interferon in HCV-related chronic liver disease.

Circulating HGV-RNA was determined in 117 patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease and in 200 healthy blood donors. The patients, aged 50.8+/-13.

Herpes simplex virus type-2, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus infection in acute non A to E hepatitis Thai patients.

A significant number of acute non A to E hepatitis cases are reported in Thailand every year, and the etiologies of these cases are unknown. Members of the herpesviridae family have been reported to cause either a self limited or fatal hepatitis in a small proportion of patients in other parts of the world. To determine whether herpesviruses may play a role in acute non A to E hepatitis, sera from 32 acute hepatitis patients without markers for acute hepatitis A to E virus infection were examined for IgM to herpesvirus type 2 (HSV-2), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) using commercially available assays.

Etiology of acute non-A, B, C hepatitis in Thai patients: preliminary study.

To better characterize the etiology of acute non-A, B, C hepatitis, 24 sera from 50 acute hepatitis without acute markers for hepatitis A, B, and C were examined for acute markers for the hepatitis E virus (HEV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and Epstein-Barr virus. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) specific for HEV, HSV-2, and CMV was detected using ELISA and total Ig specific to EBV was determined by standard indirect immunofluorescence. IgM to CMV was not observed in sera from any of the patients; whereas, IgM to HEV was detected in sera from 2 patients and IgM to HSV-2 was detected in 5 of 24 acute hepatitis patients.

Haemostatic abnormalities in patients with liver disease associated with viral hepatitis.

Clinical and laboratory findings were studied in 56 patients with liver disease (10 acute hepatitis, 10 fulminant hepatitis and 36 cirrhosis). Spontaneous bleeding occurred in 19 patients (8 fulminant hepatitis, 11 cirrhosis) and another 8 cirrhotic patients had variceal bleeding. There were 22 deaths (36%), 12 of these patients had spontaneous bleeding.

Serum trace metal levels in patients with acute hepatitis B.

This study was conducted to determine serum levels of trace metals in young adult patients in the early icteric phase of acute hepatitis B virus infection. There were 15 patients (10 males, 5 females) and 15 healthy volunteers (11 males, 4 females). The age distribution of both groups ranged from 15-40 years and were comparable [mean (SD) = 28(6) vs 31(7) years; p = 0.

Hepatitis B virus strains in Thailand: genomic variants in chronic carriers.

Genetic heterogeneity of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been shown to influence the serological pattern and clinical picture in HBV infection. Thailand has a high transmission rate of HBV, but the molecular epidemiology of HBV strains circulating in this region was hitherto unknown. In this study, the HBV strains from 34 Thai HBsAg-positive patients were investigated.

Helicobacter pylori prevalence in northeastern Thailand.

Helicobacter pylori is distributed worldwide and has been demonstrated in Thailand. However, no study has been conducted so far in northeastern Thailand. The objective of this study was to find the prevalence of H.

Inferior vena cava stenosis and pancreatic ascites complicating chronic calcific pancreatitis: a case report.

A 19-year-old Thai male, who was a regular drinker, presented with massive ascites, back pain and leg edema for four months. On examination there was obvious clinical evidence of an inferior vena cava obstruction. Inferior vena cavography showed narrowing of the hepatic portion of IVC with collateral circulation.