Rituximab Administered for Recurrent Membranous Nephropathy in a Kidney Transplant Recipient Did Not Eliminate Donor-Specific Antibodies.

Chronic active antibody-mediated rejection is the leading cause of kidney transplant failure. Although various immunosuppressive agents have been tested, rituximab included, presently there is no effective treatment. There are reports about the beneficial role of certain immunosuppressive protocols that include rituximab to reduce donor-specific antibodies, the cause of chronic active antibody-mediated rejection.

Lymphocutaneous nocardiosis in a kidney transplant patient successfully treated with tigecycline.

Cutaneous nocardiosis is an infrequent infection which has been increasingly reported in immunocompromised patients. Although trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is considered to be the agent of choice for treatment of nocardiosis, newer antimicrobials such as tigecycline have been proven to be effective in vitro, as well. We report the first case of primary cutaneous nocardiosis in a renal transplant recipient having corresponded well to treatment with tigecycline.

Melatonin secretion is impaired in women with preeclampsia and an abnormal circadian blood pressure rhythm.

Non-dipping circadian blood pressure (BP) is a common finding in preeclampsia, accompanied by adverse outcomes. Melatonin plays pivotal role in biological circadian rhythms. This study investigated the relationship between melatonin secretion and circadian BP rhythm in preeclampsia.

Effect of cimetidine on the electrophysiologic profile of isolated visceral sheep peritoneum.

The peritoneal mesothelium is a barrier to ion transport in peritoneal dialysis. Cimetidine is an H2 receptor antagonist and a potent inhibitor of Na+/H+ antiporter, which is found in the plasma membranes of various cell types, including mesothelial cells. Recent reports linked Na+/H+ antiporter stimulation with increasing peritoneal fibroblast proliferation.

Spironolactone increases permeability of visceral sheep peritoneum.

Aldosterone is a key component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and spironolactone, an aldosterone receptor blocker, shows beneficial effects in patients with end-stage renal disease and heart failure. The aim of the present study was to investigate by means of Ussing chamber technique the effect of spironolactone on the transmesothelial permeability of visceral sheep peritoneum in vitro. Peritoneal samples from the omentum of adult sheep were collected immediately after slaughter in a cooled and oxygenated Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (KRB) solution.

Acute renal failure: a rare presentation of hypothyroidism.

Thyroid hormones affect the function of almost every body organ, and thyroid dysfunction produces a wide range of metabolic disturbances. Severe hypothyroidism is associated with significant effects on the kidney. The pathophysiology is thought to be multifactorial, while the exact mechanism remains unclear.

Rapid effect of dexamethasone on the permeability of visceral sheep peritoneum.

The peritoneal mesothelium is a biologic barrier to water and ion transport. Its functional and structural integrity is crucial for peritoneal dialysis treatment. In vivo studies have shown that corticosteroids increase transcellular water transport and ultrafiltration of the rat peritoneum.

A case report of osteomyelitis pubis in a hemodialysis patient with diabetes mellitus.

Osteomyelitis pubis is a rare form of osteomyelitis. Known risk factors are urogynecologic surgery, trauma caused by sport activities, pelvic malignancy and intravenous drug use. Immunocompromised patients, including hemodialysis patients, and those with diabetes are also susceptible to infection.

Hepatocyte growth factor exerts its anti-inflammatory action by disrupting nuclear factor-kappaB signaling.

Renal inflammation, characterized by the influx of inflammatory cells, is believed to play a critical role in the initiation and progression of a wide range of chronic kidney diseases. Here, we show that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inhibited renal inflammation and proinflammatory chemokine expression by disrupting nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB signaling. In vivo, HGF gene delivery inhibited interstitial infiltration of inflammatory T cells and macrophages, and suppressed expression of both RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in a mouse model of obstructive nephropathy.

Psoas abscess in a dialysis patient with dialysis-related amyloidosis.

Psoas abscess is an infrequent clinical entity which poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Few cases have been reported in chronic hemodialysis patients. We describe a case of psoas abscess in a dialysis patient with dialysis-related amyloidosis, successfully treated with percutaneous drainage and parenteral antibiotics.

Clonal relatedness of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci in the haemodialysis unit of a single university centre in Greece.

Background: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are frequently encountered pathogens in hospital environment. Dialysis patients, often carrying central venous catheters, are prone to CoNS infections. Methicillin-resistant (MR) staphylococci in hospitals are resistant to multiple antibiotics and may cause an overall increase in the incidence of staphylococcal infections rather than simply replacing the more susceptible strains.

Nocturnal hypertension is associated with an exacerbation of the endothelial damage in preeclampsia.

Background: Non-dipping pattern of circadian blood pressure in preeclampsia is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The pathogenetic mechanisms of this relationship are still unclear. We investigated whether non-dipping in preeclampsia could relate to endothelial activation or damage.

Effect of endothelin-1 on the transmesothelial resistance of isolated visceral sheep peritoneum.

The mesothelium is part of the peritoneal barrier that manages the water and ion transport essential for peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment. In addition, it has a central role in the pathogenesis of peritoneal fibrosis and the resulting ultrafiltration failure observed in many PD patients. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoactive peptide originally described as an endothelial cell-derived factor In addition, ET-1 has been shown to stimulate fibrogenic activity in various organs by regulating the production and turnover of matrix components.

Distinctive role of Stat3 and Erk-1/2 activation in mediating interferon-gamma inhibition of TGF-beta1 action.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a multifunctional cytokine that elicits antifibrotic activity in a variety of organs. In this study, we investigated the potential role and mechanism of IFN-gamma in modulating the fibrogenic action of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) in tubular epithelial cells. Incubation of human proximal tubular epithelial (HKC) cells with IFN-gamma inhibited TGF-beta(1)-mediated alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression.

The immunomodulating effect of interferon-gamma intravesical instillations in preventing bladder cancer recurrence.

Purpose: The purpose is to investigate the prophylactic effect of intravesically instillated recombinant IFN-gamma against recurrence of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and to evaluate its effect in local immune response, presumably mediating its therapeutic efficacy.

Experimental Design: We prospectively randomized in two groups 123 patients with initially diagnosed superficial transitional cell carcinoma and stage Ta, T1, grade 2 tumors, who underwent transurethral tumor resection (TUR). In group A, 60 patients received IFN-gamma (1.

Partial vesiculectomy in an infertile man with seminal vesicle cyst, ipsilateral renal agenesis, and cryptorchidism.

Congenital seminal vesicle cysts associated with renal agenesis are uncommon, but are currently detected more frequently with the use of sectional imaging procedures. Approximately 200 cases have been reported. The unique feature of our case is the combination of this disorder with an ipsilateral undescended testis.