Validity of new methods to evaluate renal function in cancer patients treated with cisplatin.

Purpose: Creatinine clearance (Ccr) is used as a marker of renal function in cancer chemotherapy, but it is not correlated with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after high-dose cisplatin treatment. In addition to Ccr, measured using 24-h urine collection (24-h Ccr) or Cockcroft-Gault formula (CGF), the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation and the Japanese GFR estimation equation (the Japanese equation) have been recently developed to estimate GFR for predicting renal function. However, these equations remain to be evaluated, particularly in cancer patients treated with cisplatin.

Prediction of glomerular filtration rate in cancer patients by an equation for Japanese estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Background: Assessment of renal function is important for safe cancer chemotherapy, and eligibility criteria for clinical trials often include creatinine clearance. However, creatinine clearance overestimates glomerular filtration rate, and various new formulae have been proposed to estimate glomerular filtration rate. Because these were developed mostly in patients with chronic kidney disease, we evaluated their validity in cancer patients without kidney disease.

Effect of intravenous saccharated ferric oxide on serum FGF23 and mineral metabolism in hemodialysis patients.

Background/aims: Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) plays a central role in the development of hypophosphatemia and inappropriately low 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D induced by iron therapy for iron-deficiency anemia. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of intravenous saccharated ferric oxide on serum FGF23 levels and mineral metabolism in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 27 hemodialysis patients who had iron-deficiency anemia defined by a hemoglobin concentration < 10.

[Case of goodpasture syndrome associated with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)].

In early June 2004, a 50-year-old female was admitted to the hospital for slight fever, general fatigue, hemoptysis, dyspnea, and renal dysfunction (serum creatinine[Cr] : 6.05 mg/dL). She had been treated with prednisolone (PSL : 10-20 mg/day) for RA.

[Usefulness of the formula for predicting creatinine clearance from serum cystatin C].

Estimation of Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is crucial for the detection of renal insufficiency. In clinical practice, GFR is generally estimated from Ccr by some prediction formulas including the serum creatinine concentration and some variables: age, sex, body size. It has been suggested that serum cystatin C is less influenced by sex, body size, muscular mass or inflammation.

Relationship between parathyroid hormone and cardiac abnormalities in chronic dialysis patients.

Background: It has been shown that parathyroid hormone (PTH) influences cardiac abnormalities in dialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the plasma PTH level and cardiac abnormalities in these patients without overt cardiac disease.

Methods: A total of 81 of the 208 patients who received chronic dialysis treatment at our institution were included in this study.

Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy associated with brain metastasis of seminoma in a patient with chronic kidney disease.

We report a case of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy associated with brain metastasis of seminoma. This disease is characterized by transient cardiac wall motion abnormalities, electrocardiographic changes and minimal myocardial enzymatic release. During the hospital days, acute congestive heart failure suddenly appeared.

Heme-oxygenase upregulation ameliorates angiotensin II-induced tubulointerstitial injury and salt-sensitive hypertension.

Background: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been implicated in the modulation of several diseases including hypertension (HTN) and renal injury. The tubulointerstitial (TI) injuries are supposed to be the main determinants for the development of salt-sensitive HTN. Therefore, this study examined the role of HO-1 in angiotensin II (AngII)-induced TI injury and salt-sensitive HTN.

Leukocytapheresis therapy for steroid-naïve patients with active ulcerative colitis: its clinical efficacy and adverse effects compared with those of conventional steroid therapy.

Background: Steroid administration currently plays a central role in the medical management of ulcerative colitis (UC); however, long-term steroid usage causes adverse effects, which necessitates stoppage of drug intake, leading to worsening of the disease. A steroid-sparing, well-tolerated treatment is therefore required. As several investigators have reported the efficacy of leukocytapheresis (LCAP) combined with steroid therapy, we investigated the clinical usefulness and safety of LCAP for steroid-naïve patients with active UC for comparison with those of conventional steroid therapy.