Increased susceptibility to structural acute kidney injury in a mouse model of presymptomatic cardiomyopathy.

The early events that signal renal dysfunction in presymptomatic heart failure are unclear. We tested the hypothesis that functional and mechanistic changes occur in the kidney that precede the development of symptomatic heart failure. We employed a transgenic mouse model with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of mutant α-B-crystallin that develops slowly progressive cardiomyopathy.

A Novel Biomarker Panel to Identify Steroid Resistance in Childhood Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome.

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS) is the most common glomerular disorder of childhood. Response to initial treatment with corticosteroids is an indicator of prognosis, as resistant patients often present more progressive disease. In this cross-sectional pilot study, we set out to discover a panel of noninvasive biomarkers that could distinguish steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) from steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS).

Urinary Vitamin D-Binding Protein as a Biomarker of Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome.

Background: Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the most common glomerular disorders of childhood and is associated with increased urinary vitamin D-binding protein (uVDBP) excretion. We tested the hypothesis that uVDBP represents a biomarker to differentiate steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) from the more benign forms of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included children with SRNS (n = 24), SSNS (n = 28), and normal controls (n = 5).

Burkitt lymphoma in a child with atopic dermatitis and a 7-year history of regular topical tacrolimus use.

We describe the case of a boy who presented with abdominal Burkitt lymphoma; he had been regularly using tacrolimus ointment 0.1% for severe recurrent atopic dermatitis for 7 years immediately prior to developing cancer. We present his medical history and review the current knowledge regarding a link between topical tacrolimus and malignancy risk.