The rise and evolution of COVID-19.

Coronaviridae (CoV) is a large family of zoonotic viruses linked to a range of diseases from the common cold to severe acute and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV epidemics. In 2019, a novel virus emerged from Wuhan, China, and resulted in a marked worldwide outbreak of respiratory illness. Prevention and containment became the prioritized intervention against COVID-19, coupled with a continued search for hallmarks of the disease that would allow early detection and provide insight into management and triage.

Art of prevention: Life in the time of coronavirus.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued to progress since its discovery in December 2019. A cluster of patients with atypical pneumonia identified in Wuhan, China, served as the epicenter of this recent epidemic. This family of viruses is responsible for the common cold along with the infamous severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in 2002 and Middle East respiratory syndrome in 2012.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis Treated with Apremilast.

Erythroderma is a rare potentially deadly exfoliative dermatitis characterized by diffuse cutaneous erythema which may be associated with multi-organ dysfunction. Therefore, it is imperative to recognize and treat it promptly. Erythrodermic psoriasis is the most common form of erythroderma.

Recurrent Syncope and Cardiac Arrest in a Patient with Systemic Light Chain Amyloidosis Treated with Bortezomib.

About 10-15% of patients with multiple myeloma develop light chain (AL) amyloidosis. AL amyloidosis is a systemic disease that may involve multiple organs, often including the heart. It may present clinically with bradyarrhythmia and syncope.

Rare and unusual clinicopathologic presentation of renal AL amyloidosis.

Rarely, renal light chain (AL) amyloidosis may present without significant proteinuria owing to glomerular sparing and amyloid deposition confined to the vasculature and tubulointerstitium.

Role of renal replacement therapy in patients with type 1 hepatorenal syndrome receiving combination treatment of vasoconstrictor plus albumin.

Purpose: Utilization of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in cirrhotic patients has been controversial and is typically dependent on the status of transplantation. A better understanding of the central role for arterial vasodilatation in the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) has led to routine use of vasoconstrictors in combination with albumin as a medical therapy for HRS with prolonged patient survival. The role of RRT in HRS patients receiving such treatment, however, has not yet been examined.

A Treat-to-Target Concept to Guide the Medical Management of Hepatorenal Syndrome.

Background: The principle of treating-to-target has been successfully applied to many diseases with significant improvement in patient care and as a useful guidance for healthcare providers. Appreciation of the central role for arterial vasodilatation in the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) has led to routine use of vasoconstrictors in combination with albumin in patients with HRS. An appropriate target to guide such therapy, however, has not yet been established.

Ion-selective electrode and anion gap range: What should the anion gap be?

Background: Using flame photometry technique in the 1970s, the normal value of anion gap (AG) was determined to be 12 ± 4 meq/L. However, with introduction of the autoanalyzers using an ion-selective electrode (ISE), the anion gap value has fallen to lower levels.

Methods: A retrospective study of US veterans from a single medical center was performed to determine the value of the anion gap in subjects with normal renal function and normal serum albumin and in patients with lactic acidosis and end-stage renal disease on dialysis.

Ambient air pollutants and risk of fatal coronary heart disease among kidney transplant recipients.

Background: There is increasing evidence that specific ambient air pollutants are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality. Because kidney transplant recipients have prevalent traditional and nontraditional risk factors, they may constitute a sensitive subgroup.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Correlation of random urine protein creatinine (P-C) ratio with 24-hour urine protein and P-C ratio, based on physical activity: a pilot study.

Quantification of proteinuria is usually predicated upon 24-hour urine collection. Multiple factors influence urine collection and the rate of protein and creatinine excretion. Urine collection is often incomplete, and therefore creatinine and protein excretion rates are underestimated.

Obesity is not associated with contrast nephropathy.

Background: Exposure to radiocontrast media may result in acute kidney injury (AKI) or traditionally defined contrast nephropathy (CN), both of which may lead to increased morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of both these variants of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) may involve inflammatory mediators that lead to renal impairment. A link between obesity and inflammation has been clearly established, but whether obesity is independently associated with CIN is unknown.

A comparative study of the prevalence of hyperkalemia with the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors versus angiotensin receptor blockers.

Background And Objectives: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are increasingly used in a variety of settings including heart failure, renal failure, arterial hypertension, and diabetic nephropathy. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hyperkalemia with ACEI and ARB use, in a population of the United States veterans. DESIGN, SETTINGS, MATERIAL, AND MEASUREMENTS: Retrospective observational cohort study of 1163 patients on ACEIs and 1168 patients on ARBs in a single Veterans Affairs Medical Center.