Peritoneal Dialysis Registry With 2013 Survey Report.

Since 2009, the peritoneal dialysis (PD) registry has been carried out as part of the annual nationwide survey conducted by the Statistical Survey Committee of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy with the cooperation of the Japanese Society for Peritoneal Dialysis. In this study, the current status of PD patients is reported on the basis of the results of the survey conducted at the end of 2013. The subjects were PD patients who lived in Japan and participated in the 2013 survey.

Retinal orientation and interactions in rhodopsin reveal a two-stage trigger mechanism for activation.

The 11-cis retinal chromophore is tightly packed within the interior of the visual receptor rhodopsin and isomerizes to the all-trans configuration following absorption of light. The mechanism by which this isomerization event drives the outward rotation of transmembrane helix H6, a hallmark of activated G protein-coupled receptors, is not well established. To address this question, we use solid-state NMR and FTIR spectroscopy to define the orientation and interactions of the retinal chromophore in the active metarhodopsin II intermediate.

Free backbone carbonyls mediate rhodopsin activation.

Conserved prolines in the transmembrane helices of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are often considered to function as hinges that divide the helix into two segments capable of independent motion. Depending on their potential to hydrogen-bond, the free C=O groups associated with these prolines can facilitate conformational flexibility, conformational switching or stabilization of the receptor structure. To address the role of conserved prolines in family A GPCRs through solid-state NMR spectroscopy, we focus on bovine rhodopsin, a GPCR in the visual receptor subfamily.

[Roles of and Team Medical Care Involving Clinical Engineers in Blood Purification Therapy].

Progress in medical care strongly depends on the development of pharmaceutical and medical technologies. Multi-disciplinary care by a medical team is required for the diversity of medical care. "Clinical engineering technician (CET) " is one of the national medical licenses in Japan.

An Overview of Regular Dialysis Treatment in Japan (As of 31 December 2013).

A nationwide survey of 4325 dialysis facilities was conducted at the end of 2013, among which 4268 (98.7%) responded. The number of new dialysis patients was 38,095 in 2013.

Peritoneal Dialysis Registry With 2012 Survey Report.

Since 2009, the peritoneal dialysis (PD) registry survey has been carried out as part of the annual nationwide survey conducted by the Statistical Survey Committee of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy with the cooperation of the Japanese Society for Peritoneal Dialysis. In this report, the current status of PD patients is presented on the basis of the results of the survey conducted at the end of 2012. The subjects were PD patients who lived in Japan and participated in the 2012 survey.

Differences in the Characteristics of Dialysis Patients in Japan Compared with Those in Other Countries.

Background: Japanese patients undergoing dialysis have an extremely low mortality rate compared with those in the United States and Europe. As shown in the Dialysis Outcomes 38; Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS), certain features of dialysis treatment, such as single treatment time and amount of blood flow, are unique to Japan, but factors contributing to the low mortality risk are unclear. Although DOPPS is a multi-country prospective cohort study, the study results may not entirely reflect the real trend in Japan because the number of Japanese institutions participating in the study is small.

Uncovering the triggers for GPCR activation using solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) span cell membranes with seven transmembrane helices and respond to a diverse array of extracellular signals. Crystal structures of GPCRs have provided key insights into the architecture of these receptors and the role of conserved residues. However, the question of how ligand binding induces the conformational changes that are essential for activation remains largely unanswered.

Sequential structural changes in rhodopsin occurring upon photoactivation.

We describe the use of solid-state magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy for characterizing the structure and dynamics of dark, inactive rhodopsin and the active metarhodopsin II intermediate. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is well suited for structural measurements in both detergent micelles and membrane bilayer environments. We first outline the methods for large-scale production of stable, functional rhodopsin containing (13)C- and (15)N-labeled amino acids.

Associations among epoetin therapy, inflammation, nutritional status, and mortality in patients on hemodialysis.

Objective: Inflammation contributes to hemopoiesis by lowering responses to epoetin (EPO) and to an increase in the mortality of patients on hemodialysis. However, nutritional status might alter associations among inflammation, EPO responsiveness, and the risk of mortality. We assessed the effect of inflammation on mortality according to nutritional status among EPO responses in a cohort of prevalent hemodialysis patients.

Pruritus in hemodialysis patients: Results from the Japanese Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (JDOPPS).

Pruritus affects many patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). In this study, pruritus and its relationship to morbidity, quality of life (QoL), sleep quality, and patient laboratory measures were analyzed in a large sample of Japanese patients undergoing HD. Severity of patient-reported pruritus symptoms experienced during a 4-week period was collected from 6480 Japanese patients undergoing HD in three phases of the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS; 1996-2008; 60-65 study facilities/phase).

Gender, low Kt/V, and mortality in Japanese hemodialysis patients: opportunities for improvement through modifiable practices.

Guidelines have recommended single pool Kt/V > 1.2 as the minimum dose for chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients on thrice weekly HD. The Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) has shown that "low Kt/V" (<1.

Overview of regular dialysis treatment in Japan (as of 31 December 2011).

A nationwide statistical survey of 4255 dialysis facilities was conducted at the end of 2011. Responses were submitted by 4213 facilities (99.0%).

Effects of the ankle-brachial blood pressure index and skin perfusion pressure on mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Objective: Clinically, the ankle-brachial blood pressure index (ABI) and skin perfusion pressure (SPP) are used to screen for subclinical peripheral artery disease. However, the association between the SPP and mortality in hemodialysis patients has not been previously reported. We investigated these factors and compared the ABI and SPP in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Study of discrepancies between recorded and actual blood flow in hemodialysis patients.

Adequate blood flow (Qb) is necessary for effective hemodialysis (HD). Aim of the study was to examine relationship between the actually delivered Qb (dQb) and reported Qb (rQb) with dialysis machine. One hundred HD patients with arteriovenous fistula were enrolled.

Membrane peroxidation and methemoglobin formation are both necessary for band 3 clustering: mechanistic insights into human erythrocyte senescence.

Oxidative damage and clustering of band 3 in the membrane have been implicated in the removal of senescent human erythrocytes from the circulation at the end of their 120 day life span. However, the biochemical and mechanistic events leading to band 3 cluster formation have yet to be fully defined. Here we show that while neither membrane peroxidation nor methemoglobin (MetHb) formation on their own can induce band 3 clustering in the human erythrocytes, they can do so when acting in combination.

Patient selection and prescription of on-line HDF in Japan.

Renal replacement therapy for end-stage kidney disease can be achieved by several interventions including hemodialysis (HD), hemodiafiltration (HDF), peritoneal dialysis (PD) and kidney transplantation, and others. The December 31, 2011 prevalent population included 270,072 patients on HD, 9,094 on PD and 14,051 on HDF; the total treated ESRD population thus rose above 300,000. In contrast, the number of HDF patients decreased after 2007, one of the reasons for Japan's health insurance system.

An overview of regular dialysis treatment in Japan (as of 31 December 2010).

A nationwide statistical survey of 4226 dialysis facilities was conducted at the end of 2010, and 4166 facilities (98.6%) responded. The number of new patients introduced into dialysis was 37,512 in 2010.

The C-terminus of the G protein α subunit controls the affinity of nucleotides.

The C-terminus of the G protein α subunit has a well-known role in determining the selective coupling with the cognate G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In fact, rhodopsin, a prototypical GPCR, exhibits active state [metarhodopsin II (MII)] stabilization by interacting with G protein [extra formation of MII (eMII)], and the extent of stabilization is affected by the C-terminal sequence of Gα. Here we examine the relationship between the amount of eMII and the activation efficiency of Gi mutants whose Giα forms have different lengths of the C-terminal sequence of Goα.

Overview of regular dialysis treatment in Japan (as of 31 December 2009).

A nationwide statistical survey of 4196 dialysis facilities was conducted at the end of 2009, and 4133 facilities (98.5%) responded. The number of patients undergoing dialysis at the end of 2009 was determined to be 290 661, an increase of 7240 patients (2.

Flowcytometric analysis of lymphocytapheresis in a patient with recurrent FSGS after renal transplant.

Frequently, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) recurs after renal transplantation, resulting in poor graft survival. Pathological mechanisms of the recurrence are still unknown, but both B and T cell disorders are suspected based on much evidence. This supports theoretical benefits using plasma exchange (PE) and lymphocytapheresis (LCAP).

Correlation of new bone metabolic markers with conventional biomarkers in hemodialysis patients.

Background: New bone metabolic markers have become available clinically for evaluating chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD). The aim of this study was to correlate these new bone metabolic markers with conventional markers in regular hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: One hundred forty three HD patients underwent cross-sectional assessment.

Prevalence of intracranial artery calcification in hemodialysis patients--a case-control study.

Background: Intracranial artery calcification has been reported to be an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke. Also, existence of a positive correlation has been reported between the presence of arterial calcification and that of ischemic changes in the area supplied by such arteries. While intracranial artery calcification has frequently been observed on computed tomographic (CT) images of the brain in hemodialysis patients, its prevalence has not been reported previously.

Comparison between whole and intact parathyroid hormone assays.

The standard measurement of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the intact PTH (iPTH) assay, which is used for approximately 90% of Japanese dialysis patients. The iPTH assay reacts not only with 1-84 PTH, but also with large truncated fragments of non-1-84 PTH, including 7-84 PTH. On the other hand, the whole PTH assay is specific for 1-84 PTH.