Relative overhydration is independently associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in dialysis naïve patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which increases as kidney function decreases. LVH pathophysiology is complex, making it difficult to generalise its evolution in CKD. Therefore, early detection and prevention of risk factors are critical.

Effectiveness of serum beta-2 microglobulin as a tool for evaluating donor kidney status for transplantation.

Kidney transplantations using expanded criteria donors (ECD) are being increasingly adopted, but no consensus tools are available to evaluate donor kidney status. Beta-2 microglobulin (B2MG) is a marker of kidney function, and herein, we evaluate the usefulness of assessing B2MG to evaluate donor kidney status. Fifty-seven kidney transplantations were performed from March 2017 to April 2019.

Increased Delta Neutrophil Index Is Associated With Poor Prognosis in Cadaver Donor Kidney Transplantation.

Objective: Delta neutrophil index (DNI), representing an elevated fraction of circulating immature granulocyte in acute infection, has been reported as a useful, predictable marker for mortality in patients with sepsis. We have hypothesized that an increased recipient DNI is associated with poor prognosis in cadaver donor kidney transplantation.

Methods: We investigated patients undergoing kidney transplantation from cadaver donors from March 2013 to January 2018.

Delta Neutrophil Index is Useful to Predict Poor Outcomes in Male Patients with Alcoholic Ketoacidosis.

Background: Alcoholic ketoacidosis (AKA) is known as a benign disease, but the related mortality reported in Korea is high. Acidosis and alcohol change the immunity profile, and these changes can be identified early using the delta neutrophil index (DNI). We aimed to evaluate the use of DNI and other standard laboratory parameters as predictors of prognosis in AKA patients.

Adiponectin for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

The metabolic burden caused by hyperglycemia can result in direct and immediate metabolic injuries, such as oxidative stress and tissue inflammation, in the kidney. Furthermore, chronic hyperglycemia can lead to substantial structural changes such as formation of advanced glycation end-products, glomerular and tubular hypertrophy, and tissue fibrosis. Glomerular hypertrophy renders podocytes vulnerable to increased glomerular filtration, leading to podocyte instability and loss.

Serum leptin level is associated with phase angle in CKD5 patients not undergoing dialysis.

Objective: Malnutrition is very complex in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and is associated with poor prognosis. This is because hemodynamic changes, hormonal changes, persistent inflammatory reactions, and fluid overloads are more complicated as uremia is worsening. Bio-impedance spectroscopy (BIS) is a useful method to estimate fluid balance (Overhydration/ extracellular water, OH/ECW) and nutritional status (Phase angle, PhA).

Association between E/e´ ratio and fluid overload in patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease.

Background: Chronic fluid overload is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can with time lead to diastolic dysfunction and heart failure. We investigated whether markers of fluid status, such as NT-proBNP and bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), can predict echocardiographic findings of diastolic dysfunction in non-dialysis CKD5 patients.

Methods: BIS, echocardiography, and measurement of serum NT-proBNP were performed in patients with non-dialysis CKD stage 5 at a single study visit.

Secondary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis: From Podocyte Injury to Glomerulosclerosis.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a common cause of proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome leading to end stage renal disease (ESRD). There are two types of FSGS, primary (idiopathic) and secondary forms. Secondary FSGS shows less severe clinical features compared to those of the primary one.

An unusual case of fistula formation and thrombosis between arteriovenous graft and a native vein.

Arteriovenous graft for hemodialysis vascular access is a widely used technique with many advantages. However, it has crucial complications with graft thrombosis and infection. We recently experienced an unusual case of arteriovenous graft complication involving graft thrombosis related to fistula formation between the graft and the natural vein with infection.

Is the new GFR equation using inulin clearance a more accurate method for Asian patients?

Recently, a new glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equation for the Japanese population was proposed using measured inulin clearance. To expand its applicability to other Asian populations, we performed a comparative study in the Korean population. Inulin clearance was measured in 166 patients from seven participating medical centers in Korea.

Copeptin in Hemodialysis Patients with Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

Purpose: Copeptin has been considered as a useful marker for diagnosis and prediction of prognosis in heart diseases. However, copeptin has not been investigated sufficiently in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to investigate the general features of copeptin in hemodialysis and to examine the usefulness of copeptin in hemodialysis patients with left ventricular dysfunction (LV dysfunction).

Peanut-induced acute oxalate nephropathy with acute kidney injury.

Oxalate nephropathy is commonly caused by ethylene glycol, vitamin C, and foods like star fruit that contain a lot of oxalate. Peanuts also have high oxalate contents. However, case reports of peanut-induced oxalate nephropathy are not common.

Myeloma progression and urinary gammaglobulin affect the urinary cystatin C to diagnose acute kidney injury in multiple myeloma.

Aims: Urinary cystatin C has been suggested as a useful biomarker for diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI). Multiple myeloma is often complicated by AKI. Therefore, we investigated whether the urinary cystatin C was available for diagnosis of AKI in multiple myeloma.

Estimation of body fluid volume by bioimpedance spectroscopy in patients with hyponatremia.

Purpose: Estimation of body fluid volume in hyponatremia is useful for diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making. Physical examination has been generally used to estimate body fluid volume, but it depends on the physician's abilities. Bioimpedance spectroscopy has been suggested to be a reliable method for the estimation of body fluid volume.

The renoprotective effect of cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor and nitroprusside in a rat model of cyclosporin A-induced nephrotoxicity.

Background: The cyclosporin A (CsA) nephrotoxicity limits its usefulness as an immunosuppression. We studied the administration of both nitroprusside and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (udenafil) in order to determine whether these agents could ameliorate the renal injury in CsA nephrotoxicity.

Methods: 30 8-week-old SD rats were divided into 5 groups: the control (1), SQ with 15 mg/kg CsA (Group 2), CsA along with 5 mg/kg IP nitroprusside (Group 3), CsA with 10 mg/kg PO udenafil (Group 4), and CsA with udenafil and nitroprusside (Group 5).

Tissue Doppler-derived E/e' ratio as a parameter for assessing diastolic heart failure and as a predictor of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background/aims: Diastolic dysfunction occurs frequently in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with heart failure (HF) or mortality. We investigated whether the ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (E/e' ratio), estimated using tissue Doppler imaging, has prognostic value for cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality in patients with CKD.

Methods: For 186 patients with CKD of stages III to V, we obtained echocardiograms with tissue Doppler imaging.

Acute kidney injury by arsine poisoning: the ultrastructural pathology of the kidney.

Arsenic is a terribly poisonous material. There have been many reports of arsine poisoning in workers, and a few have discussed acute kidney injury by arsine. But literatures which investigated the pathologic findings are uncommon, and especially, the ones describing ultrastructural findings are rare.

The effects of proteinuria on urinary cystatin-C and glomerular filtration rate calculated by serum cystatin-C.

Background: The measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) applying serum creatinine (Cr) does not reflect the GFR of patients accurately, and thus recently, studies on the measurement of GFR applying serum cystatin-C (Cys-C) have been conducted. We investigated the relationship between Cys-C and proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Methods: We compared the biochemical test, including serum Cys-C, the amount of proteinuria and the concentration of Cys-C measured by the 24-h urine test, and the difference of GFR on 105 patients who visited our hospital in 6 months (January to June 2007).

Immunogenicity of recombinant human erythropoietin in Korea: a two-year cross-sectional study.

Immunogenicity of erythropoietin (EPO) is related with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). We sought to determine the prevalence of antibody (Ab)-mediated PRCA in Korea and threshold diagnostic criteria by dual parameters: Ab titer and neutralizing activity. This study was a multi-center, cross-sectional study for two years.

Serum T3 level can predict cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality rates in CKD patients with proteinuria.

Background: Patients with proteinuria frequently show changes in thyroid hormone levels. Serum T3 depression predicts a negative outcome in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and may be associated with cardiovascular complications or chronic inflammation. Few studies have explored the relationship between thyroid hormone dysregulation and clinical outcome in patients with proteinuria.

Nephrotic syndrome associated with invasive mole: a case report.

Gestational trophoblastic disease describes a number of gynaecological tumours that originate in the trophoblast layer, including hydatidiform mole (complete or partial), placental site trophoblastic tumour, choriocarcinoma and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). Invasive moles are responsible for most cases of localized GTN. Two cases of GTN previously reported in the literature exhibited membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN).

Superior outcome of nafamostat mesilate as an anticoagulant in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Aims: The incidence of complications associated with cerebrovascular diseases in patients who receive hemodialysis for a long-term period is higher than that of other complications. It is known that mortality due to cerebral hemorrhage is two times higher compared to non-dialysis patients. Anti-coagulants used for hemodialysis are essential.