Renoprotective effects of paramylon, a β-1,3-D-Glucan isolated from Euglena gracilis Z in a rodent model of chronic kidney disease.

Paramylon is a novel β-glucan that is stored by Euglena gracilis Z, which is a unicellular photosynthesizing green alga with characteristics of both animals and plants. Recent studies have indicated that paramylon functions as an immunomodulator or a dietary fiber. Currently, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health problem, and there is no effective preventive treatment for CKD progression.

TAFRO syndrome as a cause of glomerular microangiopathy: a case report and literature review.

Background: TAFRO syndrome is a systemic inflammatory disorder that manifests as thrombocytopenia (T), anasarca (A), fever (F), reticulin fibrosis (R), and organomegaly (O). Renal dysfunction is frequently complicated with TAFRO syndrome, however, it is challenging to perform kidney biopsy in patients with TAFRO syndrome in the presence of thrombocytopenia. Renal histology in TAFRO syndrome mainly shows membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN)-like lesions or thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)-like glomerulopathy.

[The university hospital palliative care team's approach to the transfer of end-stage cancer patients from hospital care to home medical care].

The palliative care team's roles are to provide a symptom relief to cancer patients, help them accept their medical conditions, and offer advice regarding the selection of appropriate medical treatments to suit their needs. Seeking the comfort of their homes, patients prefer a home care of superior medical care provided at hospitals. In 2008, 25 of the end-stage cancer patients at hospitals were expressed their desires to have a home medical care, and 10 of them were allowed to do so.

Long-term intensive insulin therapy for Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To determine the clinical usefulness of long-term intensive insulin therapy in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Patients And Methods: Various clinical indicators and potential of withdrawal from insulin therapy were investigated in 20 type 2 diabetic patients receiving treatment in the outpatient clinic over a period of 8 years after starting intensive insulin therapy between April 1997 and March 1999.

Results: The mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was approximately 6.

Hypertension management in diabetic patients: prescribing trends from 1999 to 2005 in three Japanese university hospitals.

Purpose: In hypertensive patients with diabetes, antihypertensive therapy is important in reducing the risk of macro- and microvascular complications. In contrast to the guidelines issued by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in and after 2002, the guidelines issued by the Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH) in 2000 and 2004 maintained the traditional view that beta-blockers and thiazides should be rated as second-line drugs. However, both sets of guidelines recommended angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) as first-line agents for such patients.