The effects of zinc supplementation on body fat mass in hemodialysis patients: An open-label randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Zinc deficiency is highly prevalent in HD patients. On the other hand, it remains unknown about the role of zinc in their nutritional status.

Methods: We conducted an open-label randomized controlled trial.

A case of renal sarcoidosis complicated by parotid gland and uterine lesions.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease that can affect multiple organs. While pulmonary sarcoidosis is most commonly observed, renal sarcoidosis occurs less frequently. We herein report a case of sarcoidosis with an exceptionally rare distribution including renal lesions.

A survival case of visceral disseminated varicella zoster virus infection in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Visceral disseminated varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is a rare but life-threatening complication in immunosuppressed patients. Herein, we report a survival case of visceral disseminated VZV infection in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Case Presentation: A 37-year-old woman was diagnosed as SLE and initial induction therapy was started.

Clinical Significance of Trace Element Zinc in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

The trace element zinc is essential for diverse physiological processes in humans. Zinc deficiency can impair growth, skin reproduction, immune function, maintenance of taste, glucose metabolism, and neurological function. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are susceptible to zinc deficiency, which is associated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) hypo-responsive anemia, nutritional problems, and cardiovascular diseases as well as non-specific symptoms such as dermatitis, prolonged wound healing, taste disturbance, appetite loss, or cognitive decline.

Sibling cases of gross hematuria and newly diagnosed IgA nephropathy following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination has become a major part of the strategy to reduce Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) numbers worldwide. To date, vaccinations based on several mechanisms have been used clinically, although relapse of existent glomerulonephritis presenting as gross hematuria, and occurrence of de novo glomerulonephritis have been reported.

Case Presentation: We report the first sibling cases newly diagnosed as immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy after the second dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Lower bicarbonate level is associated with CKD progression and all-cause mortality: a propensity score matching analysis.

Background: Although metabolic acidosis is known as a potential complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), there is limited information concerning the association between metabolic acidosis and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Five hundred fifty-two patients referred to renal division of Iwata City Hospital from 2015 to 2017 were included as a retrospective CKD cohort, and finally 178 patients with CKD stage III or IV and 20 to 80 years of age were analyzed. We examined the association between serum bicarbonate (HCO) levels and clinical outcomes using Kaplan-Meier methods after the matching of baseline characteristics by propensity scores.

A Case of M-Type Phospholipase A2 Receptor-Associated Membranous Nephropathy With IgG4-Positive Cells Infiltration in the Interstitium.

A 70-year-old man was referred to our department for evaluation of nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy revealed membranous nephropathy (MN). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated IgG4-positive staining in the glomeruli and interstitial cells.

Elevation of creatine kinase is associated with acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients infected with seasonal influenza virus.

Background: Although acute kidney injury (AKI) is known as a potential complication of influenza infections, there is limited information concerning the association between influenza and AKI. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence, the mortality, and risk factors of AKI in hospitalized patients by seasonal influenza viral infections.

Methods: We performed a single center, retrospective observational study.

Pembrolizumab-associated nephrotic syndrome recovered from transient hemodialysis in a patient with lung cancer.

A 70-year-old man diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma was referred to our department for an evaluation of acute onset of nephrotic syndrome with acute kidney injury (AKI) after the 7th course of pembrolizumab treatment. Renal biopsy could not be performed, because he needed anticoagulation therapy for venous thrombosis. Pembrolizumab was discontinued, and prednisolone was started.

The Impact of Serum Zinc Levels on Abdominal Fat Mass in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Zinc deficiency is highly prevalent and is caused by inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption and removal by treatment in hemodialysis patients. This study investigated the relationship between serum zinc levels and nutritional status in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study examining 87 hemodialysis patients was performed.

Effect of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on cisplatin-induced acute nephrotoxicity in cancer patients with diabetes mellitus: A retrospective study.

Background: Cisplatin is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent. However, acute kidney injury (AKI) limits its subsequent use, resulting in poor cancer prognosis. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have been reported to attenuate cisplatin-induced AKI in animal models, but the effect in human patients remains to be clarified.

A Reversible Gastric Uptake of Bone Scintigraphy in a Patient with Hypercalcemia.

Hypercalcemia is a severe complication in cases of vitamin D intoxication that can result in metastatic calcification. We herein report a female case with hypercalcemia due to eldecalcitol administration associated with the increased uptake of technetium-99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (Tc-HMDP) as the bone-scanning agent in the stomach. A histologic assessment using biopsy specimens identified metastatic calcification of the stomach.

L-carnitine Improved the Cardiac Function via the Effect on Myocardial Fatty Acid Metabolism in a Hemodialysis Patient.

Patients on hemodialysis often have carnitine deficiency. We herein report a woman who experienced the dramatic improvement of cardiac dysfunction after intravenous L-carnitine administration. We also investigated the myocardial fatty acid metabolism using I-labeled β-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) before and after L-carnitine therapy, and the impaired metabolism was ameliorated.

Effects of Lowering Dialysate Calcium Concentration on Bone Metabolic Markers in Hemodialysis Patients With Suppressed Serum Parathyroid Hormone: A Preliminary Study.

Although the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines recommend a dialysate calcium concentration between 2.5 and 3.0 mEq/L, its optimal concentration remains unclear.

Red Blood Cell Distribution Width Is Associated With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients.

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is an index of red blood cell variability that is usually used to differentiate the cause of anemia. However, clinical evidence for the relationship between RDW and mortality in hemodialysis patients is still lacking. We performed a single center, prospective longitudinal study.

Hypokalemia-associated paralysis and metabolic acidosis in a patient with bilateral ureterosigmoidostomy.

Ureterosigmoidostomy is a urological intervention performed to treat various conditions such as invasive bladder cancer, bladder exstrophy, vesicovaginal fistula, or urethral trauma. However, this intervention may lead to several metabolic complications. Here, we report an interesting case with quadriparesis and intestinal paralysis resulting from severe hypokalemia (the serum potassium level, 1.

Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 is significantly elevated in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Aim: Liver cysts are the most common extrarenal manifestation in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is generally used as a marker for biliopancreatic malignancies, although CA19-9 levels in patients with ADPKD are largely unknown.

Methods: A prospective observational study of 53 ADPKD patients and 83 non-ADPKD control subjects was performed.

Circulating 20S proteasome is independently associated with abdominal muscle mass in hemodialysis patients.

Unlabelled: Protein-energy wasting is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients, and it contributes to patient morbidity and mortality. The ubiquitin-proteasome system is the major pathway for intracellular protein degradation and it is involved in the regulation of basic cellular processes. However, the role of this system in the determination of nutritional status is largely unknown.

Caffeine intoxication successfully treated by hemoperfusion and hemodialysis.

Caffeine is an easily available drug which is generally regarded as being safe. However, it can lead to a lethal outcome in severe cases of caffeine intoxication. We herein report a case of a 32-year-old man who ingested approximately 15.

Plasma levels of fibroblast growth factor-23 are associated with muscle mass in haemodialysis patients.

Aim: Malnutrition is highly prevalent in haemodialysis (HD) patients, and it contributes to morbidity and mortality. Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and Klotho contribute to chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) in HD patients, but the role that these molecules play in determining nutritional status is currently unknown.

Methods: A cross-sectional study examining 77 HD patients was performed.

Plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory protein S100A12 (EN-RAGE) are associated with muscle and fat mass in hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Malnutrition is highly prevalent and contributes to mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Although the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) system also contributes to the morbidity and mortality of these patients, the role that the RAGE system plays in determining nutritional status is currently unknown.

Methods: A cross-sectional study examining 79 HD patients was performed.

Anti-cancer agent-induced nephrotoxicity.

Patients with cancer are frequently exposed to risk of renal injuries associated with disease-related or iatrogenic causes. Nephrotoxicity is a potential adverse effect of anti-cancer agents and may result in a variety of functional abnormalities, including glomerular or tubular dysfunction, hypertension and disturbance of the renal endocrine function. In this review article, we comprehensively discuss the incidence, clinical presentation, prevention and management of anti-cancer agent-induced renal dysfunction.

Inflammatory factors for hypoalbuminemia in Japanese peritoneal dialysis patients.

Aim: Hypoalbuminaemia is a common complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD), and the leakage of albumin through peritoneal membrane may be a principal reason for hypoalbuminaemia. However, the relationship between peritoneal inflammation, peritoneal transport properties and hypoalbuminaemia has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 76 Japanese PD patients who had been using a low-glucose PD solution and icodextrin.

Survey of the effects of a column for adsorption of β2-microglobulin in patients with dialysis-related amyloidosis in Japan.

Dialysis-related amyloidosis is a serious complication of long-term hemodialysis. Its pathogenic mechanism involves accumulation of β2-microglobulin in the blood, which then forms amyloid fibrils and is deposited in tissues, leading to inflammation and activation of osteoclasts. Lixelle, a direct hemoperfusion column for adsorption of β2-microglobulin, has been available since 1996 to treat dialysis-related amyloidosis in Japan.