Iloprost as an acute kidney injury-triggering agent in severely atherosclerotic patients.

Background: Iloprost, a stable prostacyclin analog, is used as a rescue therapy for severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD). It has systemic vasodilatory and anti-aggregant effects, with severe vasodilatation potentially causing organ ischaemia when severe atherosclerosis is the underlying cause. In this study, we retrospectively analysed renal outcomes after iloprost infusion therapy in 86 patients.

Differential influence of vitamin D analogs on left ventricular mass index in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Purpose: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common feature in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Inadequate treatment of SHPT has been associated with cardiovascular complications, and vitamin D therapy might influence the development of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of intravenous paricalcitol and calcitriol treatments on left ventricular mass index changes in MHD patients.

Long-term oral nutrition supplementation improves outcomes in malnourished patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis.

Background: There is no consensus on the type, time of initiation, or duration of use of enteral nutrition in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to compare the effects of a renal-specific oral nutrition supplement (RS-ONS) and a standard recommended nutrition regime on biochemical and nutrition markers in malnourished patients with CKD on hemodialysis.

Methods: Sixty-two malnourished patients with CKD, divided into experimental (RS-ONS; n = 32; mean [SD] age, 62.

The role of oxidative stress and inflammatory response in high-fat diet induced peripheral neuropathy.

Objective: Earlier studies suggest that high-calorie diet is an important risk factor for neuronal damage resulting from oxidative stress of lipid metabolism. In our experimental study of rats under high-fat diet, oxidative stress markers and axonal degeneration parameters were used to observe the sciatic nerve neuropathy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the pathophysiology of neuropathy induced by high-fat diet.

The influence of socioeconomic factors on depression in maintenance hemodialysis patients and their caregivers.

Aim: A Depression has a strong impact on the quality of life of patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). The objective of this study was to analyze the factors influencing the depression scores of MHD patients and their primary caregivers.

Methods: 141 patients (54 female, aged 53.

Serum thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor levels in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma has been associated with the development of thromboembolic events. Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a carboxypeptidase B-like proenzyme, which potently inhibits fibrinolysis. The purpose of the present study was to assess the TAFI levels in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Magnesium in chronic kidney disease: challenges and opportunities.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic kidney disease, which is partly explained by the fact that 40-70% of patients receiving dialysis have significant coronary artery disease. Recent clinical studies have shown that lower serum magnesium (Mg) levels are associated with vascular calcification and cardiovascular mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). On the other hand, hypermagnesemia inhibits parathyroid hormone secretion, which is considered an important independent risk factor for vascular calcification, left ventricular hypertrophy and mortality in ESRD patients.

T-wave depletion and bradycardia possibly secondary to acute pancreatitis: review of the literature.

Acute pancreatitis has frequently been reported to be associated with transient electrocardiography changes mimicking myocardial infarction despite normal epicardial coronary arteries. Although the origin of these findings is poorly understood, suggested mechanisms have included electrolyte abnormalities, a vagally mediated reflex, coronary vasospasm, and myonecrosis because of the release of pancreatic proteolytic enzymes. We report a case of acute pancreatitis with new-onset electrocardiography changes and bradycardia despite no evidence of coronary artery disease.

Role of Helicobacter pylori in pathogenesis of upper respiratory system diseases.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the frequently encountered micro-organisms in the aerodigestive tract. Although infections caused by H.

Causes and mechanisms of nondipping hypertension.

Growing evidence indicates that nondippers have worsened cardiovascular outcomes than dippers. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with a lack of nocturnal BP fall (nondipping) have also been shown to be more closely associated with target organ damage and worsened cardiovascular outcome than in patients with essential hypertension with dipping pattern. The underlying pathogenetic mechanisms potentially linking nondipping with cardiovascular disease are not fully understood.

Eosinophilic colitis in a patient with advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: a paraneoplastic syndrome?

Eosinophilia associated with tumors is extremely rare. The exact underlying pathogenetic mechanisms are not well understood; limited data have been reported about granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-5 in the development of eosinophilia. We report a patient with marked eosinophilia, leukocytosis, and eosinophilic colitis presenting with bloody stool.

Serum BNP concentration and left ventricular mass in CAPD and automated peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objective: To compare ultrafiltration under continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and automated PD (APD), disclosing potential effects on serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and echocardiographic findings.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional clinical study included 32 patients on CAPD and 30 patients on APD without clinical evidence of heart failure or hemodynamically significant valvular heart disease. Peritoneal equilibration tests, BNP levels, and echocardiographic measurements were performed in each subject.

Active pulmonary tuberculosis with vertebra and rib involvement: case report.

Multifocal skeletal tuberculosis is defined as osteoarticular lesions that occur simultaneously at two or more locations and is generally associated with disseminated disease. Although involvement of bones accounts for 1 to 5% of all tuberculosis cases, multifocal involvement of the skeleton is extremely rare. We present a case of active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) with vertebral and rib involvement and multiple hypodense lytic lesions accompanied by a paravertebral mass lesion.