Plasma cell mucositis with gingival enlargement and severe periodontitis.

Plasma cell mucositis (PCM) is a very rare, chronic, multifocal, idiopathic, non-neoplastic plasma cell proliferative disorder of the upper aerodigestive tract. The classic clinical presentation is an intensely erythematous mucosa with surface changes described variously as papillomatous, cobblestone, nodular or velvety. It is a very rare condition <50 cases reported in literature.

Isolated left ventricular diastolic collapse in pericardial tamponade: an uncommon echocardiographic finding.

A case of circumferential moderate pericardial effusion causing isolated collapse of left ventricular cavity on two-dimensional echocardiography is reported. Pericardial effusion, mostly of infective etiology, is relatively common in this part of the world. When large enough to cause tamponade, collapse of right atrium, right ventricle, and uncommonly left atrium can be seen.

Taming the chronic kidney disease epidemic: a global view of surveillance efforts.

Chronic kidney disease is now recognized to be a worldwide problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality and there is a steep increase in the number of patients reaching end-stage renal disease. In many parts of the world, the disease affects younger people without diabetes or hypertension. The costs to family and society can be enormous.

Ultrahigh performance C60 nanorod large area flexible photoconductor devices via ultralow organic and inorganic photodoping.

One dimensional single-crystal nanorods of C60 possess unique optoelectronic properties including high electron mobility, high photosensitivity and an excellent electron accepting nature. In addition, their rapid large scale synthesis at room temperature makes these organic semiconducting nanorods highly attractive for advanced optoelectronic device applications. Here, we report low-cost large-area flexible photoconductor devices fabricated using C60 nanorods.

Neutrophil extracellular trap-derived enzymes oxidize high-density lipoprotein: an additional proatherogenic mechanism in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Oxidative stress and oxidized high-density lipoprotein (HDL) are implicated as risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Yet, how HDL is oxidized and rendered dysfunctional in SLE remains unclear. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), the levels of which are elevated in lupus, possess oxidant-generating enzymes, including myeloperoxidase (MPO), NADPH oxidase (NOX), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS).

Systemic and local levels of fetuin-a in calcified mitral valves of rheumatic heart disease.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Fetuin-A is a circulating glycoprotein that inhibits ectopic calcification. The study aim was first, to assess serum fetuin-A level in patients with calcified rheumatic mitral valve disease (RMVD), and second, to demonstrate the presence of fetuin-A by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in calcified RMVD which, to date, has not been verified in other studies.

Methods: The study group comprised 68 adult patients with isolated RMVD and normal renal function.

Dialysate sodium prescription and blood pressure in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Diffusive sodium removal has been recommended to control hypertension in hemodialysis patients. Recent evidence on hospitalizations and mortality, however, challenged the benefit of lower dialysate sodium prescriptions and ignited a debate in the dialysis community. We therefore studied the relationship between dialysate sodium and blood pressure over the longer term.

Recovery time, quality of life, and mortality in hemodialysis patients: the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS).

Background: There is limited information about the clinical and prognostic significance of patient-reported recovery time.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting & Participants: 6,040 patients in the DOPPS (Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study).

Effect of food insecurity on chronic kidney disease in lower-income Americans.

Background: The relation of food insecurity (inability to acquire nutritionally adequate and safe foods) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unknown. We examined whether food insecurity is associated with prevalent CKD among lower-income individuals in both the general US adult population and an urban population.

Methods: We conducted cross-sectional analyses of lower-income participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2008 (n = 9,126) and the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study (n = 1,239).

Optimal fluid amount for haemodynamic benefit in cardiac tamponade.

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of volume expansion on cardiac haemodynamics in patients with cardiac tamponade and to ascertain an optimum amount of fluid that can produce the maximum benefit in tamponade patients.

Background: In patients of tamponade, interim measures may occasionally be needed when facilities for pericardial fluid drainage are not immediately available. Intravascular volume expansion is the most commonly advocated measure but with limited scientific data.

Relationship between heart rate variability and pulse wave velocity and their association with patient outcomes in chronic kidney disease.

Background: Arterial stiffness and low heart rate variability (HRV) have each been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in a variety of patient populations. We explored the relationship between HRV and pulse wave velocity (PWV measure of arterial stiffness) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD prior to ESRD) along with examining their association with the outcomes of cardiovascular disease (CVD), death, and progression to end stage renal disease (ESRD).

Methods: The RRI-CKD Study is a 4-center prospective cohort study of CKD stages 3 - 5 (n = 834).

Vascular access care and treatment practices associated with outcomes of arteriovenous fistula: international comparisons from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study.

Background: Vascular access (VA) guidelines recommend the native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as VA of first choice for chronic hemodialysis patients. AVF management is important in hemodialysis patient care. AVF survival is associated with various physical factors, but the effects of dialysis treatment factors upon AVF survival are still not clear.

Foramen of civinini: a new anatomical guide for maxillofacial surgeons.

Introduction: Study on Morphometric and radiological aspect on existence of foramen of civinini. Sphenoid bone comprises of some rare ossified ligaments, may encounter difficulty in surgical procedures. Incidence of Pterygospinous bars various with different racial groups and they are genetically controlled.

Role of corneal collagen cross-linking in pseudophakic bullous keratopathy: a clinicopathological study.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and histopathologic changes induced by collagen cross-linking (CXL) in pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK).

Design: Randomized, prospective, interventional study.

Participants: Twenty-four patients with PBK were included in the study.

Three-dimensional echocardiographic delineation of an acquired aorto-left atrial fistula complicating native aortic valve endocarditis - "advantage of three dimensions".

Aorto-atrial fistulas are rare, but important complications resulting from aortic valve infective endocarditis, aortic valve surgery, or aortic dissection. We hereby report a case of a 20-year male, referred to us with infective endocarditis of the native aortic valve with severe aortic regurgitation and symptoms of heart failure. Detailed evaluation with two-dimensional and three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography revealed aorto-left atrial fistula secondary to the involvement of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF) region.

Associations of frequency and duration of patient-doctor contact in hemodialysis facilities with mortality.

It is unknown whether regular patient-doctor contact (PDC) contributes to better outcomes for patients undergoing hemodialysis. Here, we analyzed the associations between frequency and duration of PDC during hemodialysis treatments with clinical outcomes among 24,498 patients from 778 facilities in the international Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS). The typical facility PDC frequency, estimated by facility personnel, was high (more than once per week) for 55% of facilities, intermediate (once per week) for 24%, and low (less than once per week) for 21%.

Significance of interdialytic weight gain versus chronic volume overload: consensus opinion.

Predialysis volume overload is the sum of interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) and residual postdialysis volume overload. It results mostly from failure to achieve an adequate volume status at the end of the dialysis session. Recent developments in bioimpedance spectroscopy and possibly relative plasma volume monitoring permit noninvasive volume status assessment in hemodialysis patients.

Implementation of an indoxacarb susceptibility monitoring program using field-collected German cockroach isolates from the United States.

Indoxacarb, a sodium channel-blocking insecticide, has been in widespread use for German cockroach control in the United States since 2006. A two-tiered indoxacarb susceptibility monitoring strategy was previously developed as a first step toward determining indoxacarb susceptibility levels in German cockroach field populations. This strategy entails: (tier 1) testing field-collected populations in vial bioassays at two diagnostic concentrations; and (tier 2) testing populations at three diagnostic doses in oral (feeding) bioassays with treated bait matrix.

Psychophysically determined full-field stimulus thresholds (FST) in retinitis pigmentosa: relationships with electroretinography and visual field outcomes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the relationships between full-field stimulus threshold (FST), electroretinography (ERG), and visual field (VF) outcomes in retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Methods: Data from 47 patients with RP (n = 94 eyes) were evaluated. Patients were submitted to comprehensive ophthalmological examination including measurement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), 30-2 threshold static VF, and microperimetry.

Chronic kidney disease: global dimension and perspectives.

Chronic kidney disease is defined as a reduced glomerular filtration rate, increased urinary albumin excretion, or both, and is an increasing public health issue. Prevalence is estimated to be 8-16% worldwide. Complications include increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, kidney-disease progression, acute kidney injury, cognitive decline, anaemia, mineral and bone disorders, and fractures.