Henoch-Schönlein Nephritis Manifesting with Purpura 15 years after Diagnosis of IgA Nephropathy.

Henoch-Schönlein nephritis or immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis is characterized by purpura, arthralgia, abdominal pain, and glomerulonephritis with glomerular IgA deposition. Notably, the presence of purpura is essential to diagnose this disease. We report the case of a patient in whom proteinuria and haematuria were detected during screening tests and he was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy at 20 years of age.

Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome Relapse after 52 Years of Remission: A Case Report.

Minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children and can also present in adults. Corticosteroids generally induce remission of MCNS, and relapses are common after reduction or discontinuation of corticosteroids. We experienced a rare case of steroid-sensitive MCNS where the patient relapsed after 52 years of remission.

Roxithromycin inhibits transforming growth factor-beta production by cultured human mesangial cells.

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays an important role in progression of renal injury. However, few materials which inhibit TGF-beta have been known. Roxithromycin (ROX), macrolide antibiotics, is known to have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and tissue reparative effects besides its bacteriostatic activity, although the exact mechanism of its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects was not defined.

Eotaxin level in induced sputum is increased in patients with bronchial asthma and in smokers.

Background: Airway eosinophilia is one of the hallmarks of asthma. Eotaxin may play an important role in eosinophil recruitment.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between eotaxin levels in the sputum and eosinophilic inflammation.

Thrombin stimulates production of fibronectin by human proximal tubular epithelial cells via a transforming growth factor-beta-dependent mechanism.

Background: Tubulointerstitial fibrosis contributes to the progression of many forms of glomerular disease and to end-stage renal failure. Inflammatory mediators generated during glomerular injury may induce tubulointerstitial lesions by stimulating tubular cells. Thrombin has multiple biological functions in addition to its role in haemostasis and has been detected in the urine of patients with glomerular diseases.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor production by human proximal tubular epithelial cells in culture.

Fibrin deposition in the peritubular capillaries and along the tubular basement membrane is commonly observed in several renal diseases and suggests the involvement of blood coagulation in tubulointerstitial damage. It has been demonstrated that tissue factor (TF) is present in tubular epithelial cells of animal models of nephritis. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) regulates the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation through its ability to inhibit TF activity and it is now thought to be produced mainly by the vascular endothelial cells.