Transient maintenance of tracheal patency upon the insertion of a flexible bronchoscope in a patient with an anterior mediastinal mass: a case report.

Background: Patients with an anterior mediastinal mass are at risk of perioperative respiratory collapse.

Case Presentation: A 74-year-old woman with a large anterior mediastinal mass that led to partial tracheal collapse (shortest diameter, 1.3 mm) was scheduled for tracheobronchial balloon dilation and stent placement under general anesthesia.

[Clinico-histopathological analysis of renal changes in MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis].

Objective: The pathological and clinical findings, therapies and prognoses of MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis, were investigated in cases who showed rapidly progressive nephritic syndrome and received renal biopsy.

Methods: Vasculitis activity was evaluated by BVAS(Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score). The renal biopsy findings were evaluated by scoring glomeruli, interstitial and vascular lesions.

Risk factors for progression in patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease in the Japanese population.

Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important worldwide health problem. The incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is increasing steadily around the world, however few studies have discussed the risk factors for progression in patients with early-stage CKD. Therefore, we designed a retrospective cohort study of patients with early-stage CKD to identify the risk factors influencing the annualized slope of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

[Effects of steroid therapy on membranous nephropathy].

Background: Although membranous nephropathy is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, its treatment remains under debate.

Methods: To clarify the effects of steroid therapy, the data of 51 Japanese adult patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy who received treatment at our department were analyzed retrospectively. We divided the patients with nephrotic syndrome and a serum creatinine level <1.

ATF3 protects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Oxidative stress-induced cell death plays a major role in the progression of ischemic acute renal failure. Using microarrays, we sought to identify a stress-induced gene that may be a therapeutic candidate. Human proximal tubule (HK2) cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and RNA was applied to an Affymetrix gene chip.

The characteristics of relapse in adult-onset minimal-change nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Although minimal-change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is highly steroid-responsive, the frequency of relapses in some patients is high, necessitating the administration of repeated courses of prednisolone in high doses. It is, therefore, necessary to identify factors that can predict this increased risk of relapse in some patients in order to establish useful treatment methods to reduce the risk.

Methods: To clarify the factors that might increase the risk of relapses, the data of 82 Japanese adult patients with MCNS receiving treatment at our department were analyzed retrospectively.

Protective effect of carbon monoxide donor compounds in endotoxin-induced acute renal failure.

Background: Sepsis is a common cause of acute renal failure (ARF) in clinical practice. However, the precise mechanism of endotoxin-induced ARF is not fully understood. There have been several reports that inhalation of carbon monoxide (CO) gas could be protective against acute rejection in intestine, lung, and kidney transplantation.

Klotho reduces apoptosis in experimental ischaemic acute renal failure.

Background: Klotho is associated with the suppression of several ageing phenotypes. Because high klotho gene expression was detected in the kidney and several studies have found altered expression in animal models, we explored the physiological relevance of klotho expression in the kidney under renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI).

Methods: Male Wistar rats were subjected to bilateral renal ischemia or sham operation, followed by reperfusion for 6, 12 or 24 h, or 2 to 10 days.

CD2AP expression in a renal ischemia/reperfusion injury model and analysis of its related genes using overexpression and RNA interference technique.

Background: CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) is a ubiquitously expressed 80-kDa intracellular protein, and has been speculated to act as an intracellular signaling pathway between plasma membrane proteins and cytoskeleton proteins. CD2AP expression has been reported in both the glomerulus and tubular epithelium in the kidney, and CD2AP knockout mice exhibit congenital nephrotic syndrome. However, the precise properties and its role in the renal tubules have not been clarified.

Oxidative stress decreases klotho expression in a mouse kidney cell line.

Background/aims: Defects in klotho gene expression in the mouse result in a syndrome that resembles human aging. We recently identified expression of klotho in a mouse inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD3) cell line for the first time, and in the present study we explored the physiological relevance of the regulation of klotho expression in the presence of oxidant stress injury.

Methods: Klotho expression was analyzed by real-time PCR, Western blot, and immuocytochemical staining during exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).

[Functional analysis of the left-right determinant inv (inversion of embryonic turning) gene].

We identified the inv gene that encodes left and right asymmetry and regulates kidney development based on the information of the inv mutant mouse. However, functional properties and the modulator of gene expression of inv have been unclear. We used the tissue injury model for assessing the functional roles of inv in ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI).

Osmoadaptation-related genes in inner medulla of mouse kidney using microarray.

To distinguish biological molecular processes of osmotic stress occurring in inner medulla, we utilized microarrays to monitor expression profiles. RNAs from three segments (cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla) of mouse kidney were isolated and applied to microarrays. We found 35 genes expressed highly in inner medulla.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with membranous nephropathy effectively treated with steroids.

Corticosteroids were successfully used to treat a 66-year-old man with retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) and previously diagnosed membranous nephropathy. Proteinuria was noted at the age of 51 years, and membranous nephropathy was diagnosed by renal biopsy. Ten years later, he presented with right hydronephrosis and renal dysfunction, and was diagnosed as having RPF based on the typical diagnostic imaging findings.