Role of High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein in Future Cardiovascular Events in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background/aim: The pathogenesis of cardio-vascular disease (CVD) in hemodialysis (HD) patients involves inflammation and oxidative stress. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is an established inflammatory biomarker associated with CVD. Several studies have suggested that the inflammatory biomarker pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) and the oxidative stress-related biomarker soluble lectin-like low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) are novel biomarkers for CVD in non-HD populations.

Incidence of postoperative cytomegalovirus and BK-polyoma virus infections and graft loss in ABO-incompatible renal transplant recipients: a multicenter retrospective study.

Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the incidence of perioperative infections and graft viability in ABO-compatible and ABO-incompatible renal transplant recipients.

Methods: We included 643 living donor renal transplant recipients registered in the Michinoku Renal Transplant Network from 1998 to 2021. Patients were divided into the ABO-compatible and ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation groups.

Impact of timing of rejection episode on cardiovascular events in living donor kidney transplantation: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are still highly prevalent after kidney transplantation. However, little is known about the impact of the timing of rejection episodes on cardiovascular disease. The study aimed to analyze the influence of the timing of rejection episodes on cardiovascular events in recipients of living donor kidney transplantation.

Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1α Suppresses the Innate Immune Response in Cultured Human Proximal Tubular Cells.

Background/aim: Retinoic acid-inducible gene (RIG)-I like receptors (RLRs) are expressed on renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) in viral nephropathy, indicating the presence of RLR-mediated innate immune responses in RPTECs. Hypoxia is also known to affect innate immunity. This study investigated the effects of hypoxia, and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) on innate immunity in RPTECs.

Humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine on in ABO blood type incompatible kidney transplant recipients treated with low-dose rituximab.

We aimed to evaluate the humoral response after the second and third doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine in ABO blood type incompatible kidney transplant (KT) recipients treated with rituximab. This retrospective study conducted between June 2021 and June 2022 included 131 KT recipients and 154 nontransplant controls who had received mRNA vaccines. We compared the seropositivity (anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibody titer ≥ 0.

Dietary Intake of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Diabetic Nephropathy: Cohort Analysis of the Tsugaru Study.

Background/aim: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal failure and its incidence continues to increase. To decrease this, a countermeasure from an early stage is required. This is a DN stage 2 observation study that analyzed the results of a concurrent dietary survey in the Tsugaru study and discussed the relationship between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acid and DN.

Relationship Between Cardiovascular Events and Serum Lipid and Plasma Fatty Acid Profile in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients With Diabetic Mellitus.

Background/aim: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a frequent complication in hemodialysis (HD) patients, especially when the underlying disease is diabetes mellitus (DM). In this study, we investigated cardiovascular events and lipid and fatty acid profile in maintenance HD patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Patients And Methods: The subjects were 123 patients undergoing HD at Oyokyo Kidney Research Institute Hirosaki Hospital, who were considered to have DKD as the underlying cause of dialysis induction.

Valacyclovir-associated acute kidney injury and encephalopathy in an elderly woman with normal kidney function: a case report.

A 72-year-old Japanese woman was treated by 3000 mg/day of valacyclovir for the herpes zoster in her left back. She had been treated as hypertension with no renal insufficiency. In two days, she visited an emergency room of a regional stroke care center with dysarthria, dexterity disorder and gait disturbance.

Kidney Transplantation in a Patient With Noonan Syndrome: A Case Report.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a congenital genetic abnormality characterized by short stature, delayed onset of puberty, cardiac malformations, and characteristic external malformations. Congenital chromosomal or genetic abnormalities are sometimes associated with carcinomas. Furthermore, they are difficult to manage perioperatively because of multiple complications and mental retardation.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibodies after the second BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in Japanese kidney transplant recipients.

We aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and investigated factors associated with seropositivity after the second SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. This retrospective study conducted between June and November 2021 included 106 KT recipients and 127 healthy controls who received the second dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine at least 7 days before the measurement of antibody titers. The antibody titer against the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein was determined.

Nintedanib-Induced Renal Thrombotic Microangiopathy.

Nintedanib is a unique tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to suppress fibrosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Nintedanib has been shown to suppress multiple processes of fibrosis, thereby reducing the rate of lung function decline in patients with IPF. Since vascular endothelial growth factor is one of this agent's targets, nephrotoxicity, including renal thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), is a possible major adverse effect.

PolyIC Induces Retinoic Acid-inducible Gene-I and Melanoma Differentiation-associated Gene 5 and Modulates Inflammation in Podocytes.

Background/aim: Viral infection often exacerbates proteinuria, which has been suggested to be due to antiviral responses of podocytes. We examined the effect of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyIC) on the expression of retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) in differentiated human podocytes in culture.

Materials And Methods: The podocytes were treated with 2 ng/ml to 500 μg/ml of polyIC for 3 to 36 h, and also transfected with siRNA against RIG-I and MDA5.

Peritoneal Dialysis with Marked Pneumoperitoneum.

Pneumoperitoneum, the presence of free air within the peritoneal cavity, is often caused by the perforation of gas-containing viscus and commonly requires surgical treatment. However, in patients with peritoneal dialysis, free air is commonly seen on X-ray. We present the case of a patient with peritoneal dialysis with marked pneumoperitoneum.

Living Kidney Transplantation From Marginal Donors Presents Feasible Donor Renal Function Despite Inferior Recipient Renal Function.

Introduction: Kidney transplantation from marginal donors is an important solution for organ shortage problems. In this study, we evaluated the safety and effectiveness of living kidney transplantation from marginal donors at our hospitals.

Methods: Between June 2006 and April 2019, 107 patients underwent living kidney transplantation at our hospitals.

Outcome of ABO Blood Type-Incompatible Living-Related Donor Kidney Transplantation Under a Contemporary Immunosuppression Strategy in Japan.

Background: Because of the serious donor shortage in Japan, there is an increasing need for ABO blood type-incompatible kidney transplantation (ABOi-KT) in living-related donor kidney transplantation. We evaluated the outcomes of ABOi-KT performed at our hospitals using a contemporary immunosuppression strategy with low-dose rituximab.

Patients And Methods: Between June 2006 and April 2019, 107 patients underwent living-related donor kidney transplantation at our hospitals.

Survey on attitudes toward brain-dead and living donor transplantation in medical students: a cross-sectional study in Japan.

Background: Although a shortage in organ donation is a critical problem in Japan, understanding of and attitude toward organ transplantation in medical students have not been sufficiently reported.

Methods: Between 2013 and 2018, we surveyed 702 medical students in the fifth-year clinical training in our urology department. The survey concerned (1) knowledge of Japanese transplantation law, which was amended in 2010, and (2) whether the respondents had an organ donor card and had agreed to be a brain-dead donor or a living donor in kidney transplantation with specific reasons for their choices.

Impact of distance between donor and recipient hospitals on cadaveric kidney transplantation outcomes.

Background: The impact of distance between donor and recipient hospitals on outcomes in cadaveric kidney transplantations is unknown. We investigated the association between inter-hospital distance and outcomes in cadaveric kidney transplantations in Japan.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 363 cadaveric kidney transplantations between 2002 and 2017 in Japan.

Successful Resuscitation of a Patient with Life-Threatening Metabolic Acidosis by Hemodialysis: A Case of Ethylene Glycol Intoxication.

Background: Ethylene glycol intoxication causes severe metabolic acidosis and acute kidney injury. Fomepizole has become available as its antidote. Nevertheless, a prompt diagnosis is not easy because patients are often unconscious.

Factors Associated with Microalbuminuria Remission in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Importance of Early Intervention for Microalbuminuric Patients (TSUGARU STUDY).

Aim: The aim of this study was to clarify the rates of remission and progression for microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM); and factors associated with remission and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Patients And Methods: T2DM patients with a urinary albumin excretion (UAE) rate of 30-300 mg/gCr who were attending the medical clinic in the Tsugaru region in Japan were enrolled into this prospective, observational study for 36 months (N=317). We investigated the rate of remission (UAE <30 mg/g creatinine (Cr); normal albuminuria) and the rate of progression (UAE ≥300 mg/gCr; overt proteinuria) 36 months after study registration.

Daclatasvir/asunaprevir based direct-acting antiviral therapy ameliorate hepatitis C virus-associated cryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis: a case report.

Background: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) dramatically improve the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. However, the effects of DAAs on extra-hepatic manifestations such as HCV-associated glomerulonephritis, especially in cases with renal dysfunction, are not well elucidated.

Case Presentation: A 69-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed as having chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1b at the age of 55.

Involvement of hormones in olfactory imprinting and homing in chum salmon.

The olfactory hypothesis for salmon imprinting and homing to their natal stream is well known, but the endocrine hormonal control mechanisms of olfactory memory formation in juveniles and retrieval in adults remain unclear. In brains of hatchery-reared underyearling juvenile chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), thyrotropin-releasing hormone gene expression increased immediately after release from a hatchery into the natal stream, and the expression of the essential NR1 subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor increased during downstream migration. Gene expression of salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sGnRH) and NR1 increased in the adult chum salmon brain during homing from the Bering Sea to the natal hatchery.

NF-κB-dependent increase in tissue factor expression is responsible for hypoxic podocyte injury.

Background: Fibrin deposition within glomeruli is commonly seen in kidney biopsy specimens, suggesting enhanced coagulant activity. Tissue factor (TF) is a coagulation factor which is also related to various biological effects, and TF is upregulated by hypoxia in cancer cells. Recently, hypoxic podocyte injury has been proposed, therefore, we investigated TF expression in hypoxia.

A case of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated with curved fibril deposition.

Background: It is sometimes challenging to diagnose unsusual cases of fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) and immunotactoid glomerulopathy (ITG), the rare causes of nephrotic syndrome.

Case Presentation: A 75-year-old Japanese woman presented with nephrotic syndrome, microhematuria and renal insufficiency. Renal biopsy revealed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) with IgM and weak C3 deposition.