Clinicopathological characteristics of neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein-associated membranous glomerulonephritis.

Neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein (NELL1) is the second most common target antigen in membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN). However, data regarding the clinicopathological characteristics of NELL1-associated MGN are limited owing to its low prevalence. This study examined the prevalence and clinicopathological characteristics of NELL1-associated MGN in a Japanese cohort.

Functional outcomes in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy with three-dimensional images reconstructed from computed tomography: a propensity score-matched comparative analysis.

Our objective was to investigate the long-term functional outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) combined with three-dimensional (3D) imaging. The 3D images, reconstructed using computed tomography, were introduced in RAPN procedures. The demographic, oncological, functional, and volumetric outcomes of 296 patients who underwent RAPN with and without 3D imaging between 2013 and 2021 were analyzed retrospectively.

Immunohistological analysis reveals IgG1-dominant immunophenotype of tubulointerstitial nephritis unassociated with IgG4-related diseases.

Purpose: Tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) has various etiologies, including IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), autoimmune diseases, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), and others. IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration can occasionally be found in TIN unrelated to IgG4-RD. Therefore, there may be problems with usage of IgG4 immunostaining to differentiate between TIN with and TIN without IgG4-RD.

Toward three-dimensionally ordered nanoporous graphene materials: template synthesis, structure, and applications.

Precise template synthesis will realize three-dimensionally ordered nanoporous graphenes (NPGs) with a spatially controlled seamless graphene structure and fewer edges. These structural features result in superelastic nature, high electrochemical stability, high electrical conductivity, and fast diffusion of gases and ions at the same time. Such innovative 3D graphene materials are conducive to solving energy-related issues for a better future.

Salvage robot-assisted radical prostatectomy after carbon ion radiotherapy to the prostate.

Purpose: This study presents the surgical and oncological outcomes of salvage robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) after carbon ion radiotherapy at a single institution.

Methods: Patients who underwent salvage RARP for local recurrence after carbon ion radiotherapy at Kyushu University Hospital between 2020 and 2023 were included. A single surgeon performed salvage RARP with extended pelvic lymph node dissection.

Exploring the implications of blocking renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and fibroblast growth factor 23 in early left ventricular hypertrophy without chronic kidney disease.

Background: Whether fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) directly induces left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) remains controversial. Recent studies showed an association between FGF23 and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). The aim of this study was to investigate changes in FGF23 levels and RAAS parameters and their influences on LVH.

Validation of schedules for optimal prostate-specific antigen monitoring after radical prostatectomy.

Background: Early detection of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) is crucial for early treatment and improving survival outcomes. The optimal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) monitoring remains unclear, and several models have been proposed. We aimed to externally validate four models for optimal PSA monitoring after RP and propose modifications to improve them.

Association of abnormalities in electrocardiography and ultrasonic echocardiography with the occurrence of cardiovascular disease in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Background: In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases with disease progression. CVD screening tests in those with CKD were researched to determine whether abnormalities observed in electrocardiography (ECG) and ultrasonic echocardiography (UCG) were risk factors associated with the development of CVD.

Methods: This study included 604 patients with CKD G4 and G5, for whom both ECG and UCG were performed.

Current status and future perspective of immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma.

In the last decade, the standard treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has evolved, mainly driven by the development and approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Currently, ICI monotherapy and ICI-based combinations with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and targeted therapies against mammalian target of rapamycin or vascular endothelial growth factor have become new standard treatments for first-line and subsequent-line therapies. ICIs play an important role as an adjuvant postoperative therapy, and this field is the subject of active research.

Associations of calcium, phosphate and intact parathyroid hormone levels with mortality, residual kidney function and technical failure among patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Associations of calcium, phosphate and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels with outcomes may be different between patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD). The aim of the study is to evaluate these associations among PD patients.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study on the Japan Renal Data Registry, adults on PD at the end of 2009 were included.

Hypocalcemia and cardiovascular mortality in cinacalcet users.

Background: Calcimimetics are widely used in hemodialysis patients and influence serum calcium levels. Although the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines argued that low calcium levels induced by calcimimetics may be harmless, large observational studies investigating the association between hypocalcemia and mortality are scarce. We investigated the association between serum calcium levels and cardiovascular mortality in calcimimetics users using the nationwide Japanese registry for dialysis patients.

Comparison of Testosterone Level of Seminal Vesicle Fluid in Patients With Prostate Cancer Other Malignancies.

Background/aim: Testosterone is essential for prostate cancer development and growth. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between testosterone in seminal vesicles and prostate cancer incidence and its malignant phenotype.

Patients And Methods: After obtaining institutional review board approval, seminal vesicle fluid samples were collected from patients who underwent prostatectomy or cystectomy.

Improved urinary continence recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with lateral pelvic fascia preservation.

The novel technique of lateral pelvic fascia preservation (LPFP) in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has been reported to improve urinary continence recovery. We aimed to investigate surgical and oncological outcomes after RARP using the LPFP technique and compare them with conventional RARP. This study included patients who underwent RARP with and without the LPFP technique.

Donor Evaluation of Living Kidney Transplantation in the Aging Society.

Background: Because of the lack of organ donation, living kidney transplantation (LKT) is increasing worldwide. Recently, the number of elderly donors has been increasing, and the patients with end-stage kidney diseases are older than those in the previous decades. Due to the advanced ages, their glomerular filtration rates (GFR) decrease, and the comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetic condition, and obesity are common.

Investigation of bone mineral density and the changes by enzyme replacement therapy in patients with Fabry disease.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is an inherited disorder that causes organ dysfunction. However, only a few studies have reported on bone mineral density (BMD) in FD patients, and the relationship between BMD and clinical factors such as globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb3) remains unclear. Therefore, the current study sought to investigate BMD in FD patients, the relationship between BMD and lyso-Gb3, and the effects of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) on changes in BMD and lyso-Gb3.

Renal protective effects of astragalus root in rat models of chronic kidney disease.

Background: Astragalus root is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine. Although renoprotective effects have been reported in some clinical and experimental studies, the details remain unknown.

Methods: We used 5/6 nephrectomized rats as chronic kidney disease (CKD) models.

Effect of Bisphosphonate and Active Vitamin D Analog on Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis in Patients with IgA Nephropathy: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Few studies on glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis exist in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Here we aimed to compare the effects of bisphosphonate (Bis) and active vitamin D analog (Vit. D) in maintaining bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with IgAN.

Fusion-targeted biopsy significantly improves prostate cancer detection in biopsy-naïve men.

Objective: The precise diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC) is crucial to avoid underdiagnosis, overdiagnosis, and overtreatment. We aimed to compare clinically significant PC (csPC) detection between MRI/ultrasound fusion-targeted prostate (TBx) compared to systematic biopsy (SBx) in biopsy-naïve Japanese men.

Methods: We included patients with suspect PC due to elevated PSA level or abnormal digital rectal examination, or both.