A rare cause of hypokalemia.

Hypokalemia is a common electrolyte derangement seen in the inpatient setting, often with multiple plausible explanations. However, for patients with nonobvious causes, obtaining a more thorough history, including dietary history, can yield valuable insight and clues to guide clinicians in their evaluation.

Effect of Sacubitril/Valsartan on Patients Having Heart Failure With Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Long-term Observational Study.

Background/aim: Sacubitril/valsartan (SV), a novel pharmacological class of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors, is effective in treating heart failure (HF) by inhibiting the degradation of natriuretic peptides and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. However, no studies have observed the long-term effects of SV on patients with HF and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) undergoing hemodialysis (HD) over a long period.

Patients And Methods: This single-center retrospective study of 21 months duration involved consecutive patients with HF and preserved LVEF undergoing HD, who received 50-200 mg/day.

Effects of Oral Semaglutide on Renal Function in Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Short-term Clinical Study.

Background/aim: In the SUSTAIN-6 trial, semaglutide reduced the risk of worsening nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. The objective of this retrospective study was to elucidate the effect and safety of oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Patients And Methods: Six patients with DKD received 3 mg/day semaglutide orally.

Case Report: IgG4-related kidney disease complicated by interstitial pneumonia.

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by tubulointerstitial nephritis with IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration. We report the case of an 84-year-old male who presented with a history of dyspnea on exertion and cough. The lymph nodes were palpated in the axilla.

Effect of finerenone on diabetic kidney disease outcomes with estimated glomerular filtration rate below 25 mL/min/1.73 m.

Background: In the Finerenone in Reducing Cardiovascular Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease trial, finerenone reduced the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes, while in the Finerenone in Reducing Kidney Failure and Disease Progression in Diabetic Kidney Disease trial, it improved renal and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with advanced CKD. However, no previous studies have assessed patients with CKD and type 2 diabetes with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 25 mL/min/1.73 m.

Predictive significance of glomerular insulin receptor substrate-1 in patients with diabetic kidney disease.

Background: In rodents, glomerular expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) is decreased in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and reduced associated functioning is involved in the development and progression of DKD. This study aimed to evaluate the significance of glomerular IRS1 expression in DKD patients, and investigated whether glomerular IRS1 expression can reflect renal pathology and predict renal outcomes.

Methods: This study included 10 patients who underwent renal biopsy and were diagnosed with DKD or minor glomerular abnormality (MGA).

Effects of incretin-based therapeutic agents including tirzepatide on renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of incretin-based therapeutic agents, including the latest agent tirzepatide, on renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Cochrane databases were searched for studies involving incretin-based therapeutic agents up to July 2022. Randomized and controlled trials comparing incretin-based therapeutic agents with placebo or other antidiabetic agents, and reporting renal outcomes were selected.

Multicentric IL-5-positive Castleman Disease With Nephrotic Syndrome Relapsed After Rituximab Treatment.

Background/aim: To date, no reports of interleukin (IL)-5-producing Castleman disease with nephrotic syndrome and moreover no reports of relapse after remission with rituximab treatment, have been published.

Case Report: A 67-year-old male presented to the Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital with a history of low-grade fever, papules, and nephrotic syndrome. Lymph nodes were palpated in the inguinal region.

Microfluidic system with light intensity filters facilitating the application of photodynamic therapy for high-throughput drug screening.

Background: Photodynamic therapy utilizes light energy with a photosensitizer (a light-sensitive drug) to kill cancer cells through creation of singlet oxygen via light activation. When a photosensitizer is injected into the bloodstream and exposed to a specific wavelength of light, it generates oxygen to destroy or damage nearby cancer cells, while minimizing side effects on normal cells. Although photodynamic therapy is effective for treating cancer, various parameters, such as the optimum light intensity and photosensitizer dose, are currently poorly understood due to the complexity of conventional experimental schemes.

Identification of Lysine Histidine Transporter 2 as an 1-Aminocyclopropane Carboxylic Acid Transporter in by Transgenic Complementation Approach.

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), a biosynthetic precursor of ethylene, has long been proposed to act as a mobile messenger in higher plants. However, little is known about the transport system of ACC. Recently, our genetic characterization of an ACC-resistant mutant with normal ethylene sensitivity revealed that lysine histidine transporter 1 (LHT1) functions as a transporter of ACC.

Exposure to ambient PM during pregnancy and preterm birth in metropolitan areas of the state of Georgia.

A number of studies has pointed to air pollution as an additional factor that could be associated with preterm birth. We assessed in this study the association between exposure to PM in ambient air during pregnancy and preterm birth in metropolitan areas of the state of Georgia, where the rate of preterm birth has been among the highest in the nation over the years. Birth data were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics natality dataset.

A missense allele of KARRIKIN-INSENSITIVE2 impairs ligand-binding and downstream signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana.

A smoke-derived compound, karrikin (KAR), and an endogenous but as yet unidentified KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2 (KAI2) ligand (KL) have been identified as chemical cues in higher plants that impact on multiple aspects of growth and development. Genetic screening of light-signaling mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana has identified a mutant designated as ply2 (pleiotropic long hypocotyl2) that has pleiotropic light-response defects. In this study, we used positional cloning to identify the molecular lesion of ply2 as a missense mutation of KAI2/HYPOSENSITIVE TO LIGHT, which causes a single amino acid substitution, Ala219Val.

Lithium inhibits tumor lymphangiogenesis and metastasis through the inhibition of TGFBIp expression in cancer cells.

Metastasis is the main cause of mortality in cancer patients. Although there are many anti-cancer drugs targeting tumor growth, anti-metastatic agents are rarely developed. Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are crucial for cancer progression; in particular, lymphangiogenesis is pivotal for metastasis in cancer.

Genetic identification of ACC-RESISTANT2 reveals involvement of LYSINE HISTIDINE TRANSPORTER1 in the uptake of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid in Arabidopsis thaliana.

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) is a biosynthetic precursor of ethylene, a gaseous plant hormone which controls a myriad of aspects of development and stress adaptation in higher plants. Here, we identified a mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana, designated as ACC-resistant2 (are2), displaying a dose-dependent resistance to exogenously applied ACC. Physiological analyses revealed that mutation of are2 impaired various aspects of exogenous ACC-induced ethylene responses, while not affecting sensitivity to other plant hormones during seedling development.

Hrq1 facilitates nucleotide excision repair of DNA damage induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide and cisplatin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Hrq1 helicase is a novel member of the RecQ family. Among the five human RecQ helicases, Hrq1 is most homologous to RECQL4 and is conserved in fungal genomes. Recent genetic and biochemical studies have shown that it is a functional gene, involved in the maintenance of genome stability.

Genetic identification of a second site modifier of ctr1-1 that controls ethylene-responsive and gravitropic root growth in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Ethylene controls myriad aspects of plant growth throughout developmental stages in higher plants. It has been well established that ethylene-responsive growth entails extensive crosstalk with other plant hormones, particularly auxin. Here, we report a genetic mutation, named 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC) resistant root1-1 (are1-1) in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.

Genetic identification of a novel locus, ACCELERATED FLOWERING 1 that controls chromatin modification associated with histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Flowering on time is a critically important for successful reproduction of plants. Here we report an early-flowering mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana, accelerated flowering 1-1D (afl1-1D) that exhibited pleiotropic developmental defects including semi-dwarfism, curly leaf, and increased branching. Genetic analysis showed that afl1-1D mutant is a single, dominant mutant.

Hrq1 functions independently of Sgs1 to preserve genome integrity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Maintenance of genome stability in eukaryotes involves a number of conserved proteins, including RecQ helicases, which play multiple roles at various steps in homologous recombination and DNA repair pathways. Sgs1 has been described as the only RecQ helicase in lower eukaryotes. However, recent studies revealed the presence of a second RecQ helicase, Hrq1, which is most homologous to human RECQL4.

Determination of the Potential of Drug Candidates to Cause Severe Skin Disorders Using Computational Modeling.

Efficient and accurate prediction for drugs' potential to cause rare and severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is needed to facilitate the evaluation of risk-benefit ratio of drug candidates during drug development. Severe skin disorders like the Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which are life-threatening dermatological conditions, are such ADRs that have not received sufficient attention so far. In this study, a total of 1127 marketed drugs were screened for their potential to cause SJS/TEN, of which 255 were found to cause SJS/TEN and 239 were unlikely to cause SJS/TEN.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hrq1 requires a long 3'-tailed DNA substrate for helicase activity.

RecQ helicases are well conserved proteins from bacteria to human and function in various DNA metabolism for maintenance of genome stability. Five RecQ helicases are found in humans, whereas only one RecQ helicase has been described in lower eukaryotes. However, recent studies predicted the presence of a second RecQ helicase, Hrq1, in fungal genomes and verified it as a functional gene in fission yeast.