Dynamic SPECT evaluation of renal plasma flow using technetium-99m MAG3 in kidney transplant patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Patlak's graphic analysis method to determine renal plasma flow (RPF) in kidney transplants.

Methods: Dynamic SPECT was performed with 99mTc MAG3 in 12 patients. RPF was determined by both Patlak's graphic analysis method and Russell's method.

Inhibitory factors of serum opsonic activity in serum from patients with chronic renal failure.

We investigated the mechanism of impaired serum opsonic activity in patients suffering from chronic renal failure (CRF). Prehemodialysis pooled serum from CRF patients was fractionated using Sephadex G-50 gel chromatography, and the effects of the obtained fractions on serum opsonic activity were examined using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence responses. Number 25-30 fractions in the prehemodialysis serum contained factors that may inhibit serum opsonic activity.

[Estimation of catecholamine release based on dialyzer clearance rate during hemodialysis].

To estimate catecholamine (CA) release during hemodialysis (HD), plasma-free and conjugated CAs and their dialyzer clearance rates were measured in 10 HD patients (age; 49.8 +/- 15.2 years, duration of HD; 5.

[Expression of c-H-ras, c-erb B1 and c-erb B2 gene products in human bladder cancer].

To investigate the expression of c-H-ras (p21), c-erb B1 (EGFR) and c-erb B2 (p185) gene products in human bladder cancer, immunohistochemical studies using monoclonal antibodies to these proteins were performed on formaline fixed (within 15 hours)-paraffin sections of tumor tissues from 20 patients with bladder cancer, normal appearing adjacent bladder (non-tumor) tissues from 11 of the 20 patients, and normal bladder tissues from 3 patients who died of non-cancerous diseases as control. p21 Positive staining was demonstrated in the superficial cells of urothelium in 1 of 3 controls, also in 5 of 20 tumor tissues compact cells without vacuole in cells which have an increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. Seven of 11 non-tumor tissues indicated positive staining either in superficial layer only or in whole layers of urothelium, and 1 of the latter group reacted with the monoclonal antibody to human bladder cancer produced in our laboratory.

[Urinary kallikrein-like activity in renal transplant recipients].

Koolen, M.I. et al.

[Urinary prostaglandin E2 and kallikrein-like activity excretion in renal transplant recipients].

We investigated the relationship between urinary prostaglandin E2 (UPGE2), kallikrein (UKal), graft function and complications after renal transplantation in 11 patients. Grafts of 9 patients were from living-related donors (LRD), and other 2 patients were from a cadaveric donor (CAD). UPGE2 was measured by the radio immunoassay, and UKal was measured by the amidolytic method using Pro-Phe-Arg-MCA.

[Plasma normetanephrine and metanephrine levels and their relationship to norepinephrine and epinephrine].

To study the relation of normetanephrine (NM) and metanephrine (M) to norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E), plasma free NM (f-NM), free M (f-M), total NM (t-NM) and total M (t-M) were measured in normal subjects and patients with pheochromocytoma (PHEO), neuroblastoma, Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism and chronic renal failure (CRF) by radioimmunoassay. Plasma f-NE and E were measured by radioenzymatic assay. Both f- and t-NM were high in PHEO, neuroblastoma and CRF.

A case of recurrent malignant pheochromocytoma complicated by watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, achlorhydria syndrome.

A patient is reported who had undergone right adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma and 15 yr later developed a recurrence in the same site complicated by the watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, achlorhydria syndrome. This tumor was histologically defined as a composite malignant pheochromocytoma-ganglioneuroblastoma (well differentiated type). Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and catecholamine concentrations were elevated in both plasma and the tumor.

[Watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, achlorhydria syndrome due to recurrent malignant pheochromocytoma].

A case of malignant pheochromocytoma, with a recurrence 15 years after adrenalectomy and with an associated watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, achlorhydria syndrome, is reported. Histological evaluation of the tumors revealed composite malignant pheochromocytoma-ganglioneuroblastoma (well differentiated type). Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and catecholamine levels were high both in the plasma and in the tumors.

[Diurnal variation and responses of corticoids to dexamethasone and ACTH before and after adrenal surgery in primary aldosteronism].

We studied diurnal variation and the responses of plasma corticoids to dexamethasone and ACTH before and after adrenal surgery in 11 patients with primary aldosteronism. Diurnal variation of plasma corticoids was examined in all cases. Before adrenal surgery, plasma aldosterone (Ald) was higher at all times, deoxycorticosterone (DOC) was high value at 5:00 and then normal value, 11-deoxycortisol (S) was high value at 5:00 and 9:00, thereafter normal value, while corticosterone (B) and cortisol (F) were almost normal value at all times.

The mechanism of aldosterone response to furosemide test in patients with Shy-Drager syndrome.

We examined the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in seven patients with Shy-Drager syndrome by studying their response to the stimulation of 1 mg/kg furosemide injection followed by sitting for 1 hour. Six of the seven patients showed a low response of plasma renin activity to the stimulation. However, in five of the low responders, the plasma aldosterone levels after stimulation were observed to be similar to those of the control subjects; in addition, an increment in the plasma cortisol level appeared although no such increment was observed in normal subjects.

Renin-angiotensin system and plasma aldosterone in Cushing's syndrome.

The renin-angiotensin system was studied in eight patients with Cushing's syndrome (four with adrenal adenoma and four with adrenal hyperplasia) and in five normal controls. Basal plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone concentration (PAC) were similar in supine position among Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal adenoma (PRA; 1.0 +/- 0.

Effects of benzothiazepine derivative (CRD-401) on blood pressure, excretion of electrolytes, and plasma renin activity.

A benzothiazepine derivative, CRD-401, was administered orally in a dosage of 60 to 120 mg/day to 14 patients with various renal diseases. The systolic pressure was lowered slightly in some cases after administration of CRD-401. Urine volume and urinary excretion of electrolytes were increased by the drug in most patients except those with severe renal dysfunction.

[Corticoid secretion in primary aldosteronism. II. The renin releasing test and the angiotensin II analog infusion test (author's transl)].

To study the secretion of adrenocortical steroids, the renin releasing test and the angiotensin II analog (1-Sar, 8-Ala-Angiotensin II) infusion test was performed on four subjects with primary aldosteronism. The plasma renin activities of these subjects in the preoperative state were rather low, without any response to the renin releasing test. Plasma aldosterone was, however, significantly high and showed a tendency to declineits value when the subject was in an upright position.

[Corticoids secretion in primary aldosteronism. I. Diurnal variation and the effect of dexamethasone (author's transl)].

For the purpose of studying the metabolism of adrenocortical steroids in primary aldosteronism, diurnal variation and the effect of dexamethasone were examined in four patients. The circadian rhythm of cortisol was observed in plasma aldosterone and corticosterone in all cases in the preoperative state. With regards to plasma progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, however, no demonstrable change was noted.