Effect of Orthostatic Hypotension on Kidney Function.

Background: The association between orthostatic hypotension (OH) and long-term changes in kidney function in the general population is not yet well known.

Methods: We performed a population-based cohort study based on data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). The primary exposure was the presence of classic OH, defined as a postural drop in blood pressure (systolic blood pressure ≥20 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥10 mm Hg) at 2 min of standing after 5 min of supine rest.

Serum Phosphorus Levels are Associated with Intradialytic Hypotension in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a common serious complication in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Hyperphosphatemia is also common in HD patients and promotes vascular calcification. Given the association between vascular calcification and IDH, we investigated the association between IDH and serum phosphorus in HD patients.

Effect of alcohol consumption on kidney function: population-based cohort study.

The association between alcohol consumption and kidney function is intriguing, but study results are mixed and controversial. We examined the association of alcohol consumption with the overall change in kidney function over 12 years. We analyzed data from a population-based cohort that was part of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

Potassium intake, skeletal muscle mass, and effect modification by sex: data from the 2008-2011 KNHANES.

Background: A loss of muscle mass may be influenced by multiple factors. Insulin sensitivity and metabolic acidosis are associated with muscle wasting and may be improved with potassium intake. This study evaluated the association between dietary potassium intake and skeletal muscle mass.

Association between Ultrafiltration Rate and Clinical Outcome Is Modified by Muscle Mass in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: The association between ultrafiltration rate (UFR) and mortality may be affected by the muscle mass or volume status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, there is an absence of data regarding this association.

Methods: We performed an observational study on patients (≥18 years old) who had been on HD for at least 3 months.

Ultrafiltration Rate Effects Declines in Residual Kidney Function in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: High ultrafiltration rate (UFR) has been associated with increased mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, the impact of UFR on decline of residual kidney function (RKF) has not been elucidated among patients receiving conventional HD.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 7,753 patients who initiated conventional HD from 2007 to 2011 and survived the first year of dialysis with baseline UFR and renal urea clearance (KRU) data at baseline and 1 year (5th patient-quarter).

Multicenter, cross-sectional observational study of the impact of neuropathic pain on quality of life in cancer patients.

Purpose: Neuropathic cancer pain (NCP) is a common and potentially debilitating symptom in cancer patients. We investigated the prevalence of NCP, as well as its management and association with QOL.

Methods: Cancer patients with pain ≥1 on the visual analogue scale (VAS) were surveyed with the Douleur Neuropathique (DN4) questionnaire, the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), and the EuroQOL five dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire.

Value of Doppler evaluation of physically abnormal fistula: hemodynamic guidelines and access outcomes.

Background/aims: The strategy of access care at out center involves the use of ultrasound (USG) in case of physical examination (PE) abnormality. USG determines the need of angiography. This study investigated the possible association between the need for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and hemodynamic parameters of USG.

Clinical experience with ultrasound guided angioplasty for vascular access.

Background: The use of ultrasound guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (UG-PTA), which use ultrasound as an imaging modality, is an evolving strategy. But, in Korea, this method is rarely used. We report our experiences with UG-PTA with respect to technical success rates and complication rates compared to conventional PTA (C-PTA), performed between 2010 and 2015 at Samsung Changwon Hospital, Korea.

Acute Peritoneal Dialysis in Patients with Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, complications, and mortality rate associated with acute peritoneal dialysis (PD) in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: A total of 75 patients who were treated at Samsung Changwon Hospital between February 2005 and March 2016 were included in the study sample. The outcomes included in-hospital survival, renal recovery, metabolic and fluid control rates, and technical success rates.

Comparison of Gait Speed and Peripheral Nerve Function Between Chronic Kidney Disease Patients With and Without Diabetes.

Objective: To compare overall physical function, including gait speed and peripheral nerve function, between diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and nondiabetic CKD patients and to investigate the association between gait speed and peripheral nerve function in CKD patients.

Methods: Sixty adult CKD patients (35 with and 25 without diabetes), who received maintenance hemodialysis (HD), were included in this study. Demographic data, past medical history, current medical condition and functional data-usual gait speed, vibration perception threshold for the index finger (VPT-F) and the great toe (VPT-T), activity of daily living (ADL) difficulty, and peripheral neuropathy (PN) along with the degree of its severity-were collected and compared between the two groups.

Triplet cytotoxic chemotherapy with gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin for advanced pancreatic cancer.

In advanced or relapsed pancreatic cancer, mono- or duo-therapy has shown modest efficacy at best. The present study evaluated the efficacy of a triplet combination in relapsed or advanced pancreatic cancer. A total of 37 patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas in stage III/IV or with relapsed disease were treated with a gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (GFP) regimen every 3 weeks.

Multinational Randomized Phase III Trial With or Without Consolidation Chemotherapy Using Docetaxel and Cisplatin After Concurrent Chemoradiation in Inoperable Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: KCSG-LU05-04.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of consolidation chemotherapy (CC) with docetaxel and cisplatin (DP) after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with the same agents in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC).

Patient And Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to either CCRT alone (observation arm) or CCRT followed by CC (consolidation arm). CCRT with docetaxel (20 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (20 mg/m(2)) was administered every week for 6 weeks with a total dose of 66 Gy of thoracic radiotherapy in 33 fractions.

The intracavitary ECG method for insertion of a tunneled dialysis catheter without using fluoroscopy.

Purpose: Recently, there have been many reports that exact central vein catheter tip positioning was possible using intracardiac electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring. Ultrasonic guidance in combination with intracardiac ECG monitoring may allow for a tunneled dialysis catheter to be inserted at the bedside without using fluoroscopy. Therefore we report on the intracavitary ECG method for insertion of a tunneled dialysis catheter with ultrasound guidance and the feasibility, safety, effectiveness, complications and limitations of this method.

Association between colistin dose and development of nephrotoxicity.

Objective: To investigate the development of nephrotoxicity associated with colistin dose, and whether this relationship differs depending on renal function.

Design: A retrospective cohort study of patients who received intravenous colistin to treat infections caused by extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative microorganisms. Adult patients receiving colistin for 72 hours or longer were included in this study.

Association between serum bicarbonate levels and albuminuria in stage 3 and stage 4 chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study.

Aims: Metabolic acidosis is a common manifestation of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and appears to be associated with CKD progression and mortality. We evaluated whether serum bicarbonate level is associated with albuminuria in patients with stage 3 and 4 CKD.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of outpatients with CKD stages 3 - 4 (estimated glomerular filtration rate 15 - 59 mL/minutes/1.

Unilateral and bilateral acute pyelonephritis: differences in clinical presentation, progress and outcome.

Purpose: Acute pyelonephritis (APN) generally involves a single kidney, but it can be bilateral. The aim of the present study was to evaluate differences in clinical presentation, progress and outcome for bilateral APN compared with unilateral APN.

Study Design: The medical records of all patients over 19 years of age, hospitalised for APN and who underwent abdominal enhanced CT at Samsung Changwon Hospital between January 2009 and August 2012 were retrospectively reviewed.

Phase II trial of combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin for advanced cancers of the bile duct, gallbladder, and ampulla of Vater.

Aims And Background: For advanced cancers of the bile duct, gallbladder and ampulla of Vater, there are only a few treatment options. We explored the efficacy of the combination of gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin for advanced biliary cancers.

Methods: From September 2003 to April 2010, 28 patients with recurrent or metastatic biliary tract cancer were enrolled.

Health-related quality of life in adults with metabolic syndrome: the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey, 2007-2008.

Background/aims: An association between metabolic syndrome and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is still controversial. We investigated the association between metabolic syndrome in itself and HRQoL in the Korean adult population.

Methods: The study is a cross-sectional analysis of 8,941 adults ≥19 years of age who participated in the 2007 and 2008 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Depression and life quality in chronic renal failure patients with polyneuropathy on hemodialysis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between severity of peripheral polyneuropathy (PPN) and degree of depression and quality of life in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on hemodialysis (HD).

Method: Forty seven chronic renal failure patients on hemodialysis were recruited (22 male, 25 female, mean age of 63.17±12.

Interaction of malnutrition, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and ventricular remodeling in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the interaction of nutritional status, N-terminal probrain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and ventricular remodeling in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: NT-proBNP was measured by immunoassay. Nutritional status was assessed using the subjective global assessment (SGA) and malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS).

Potential role of urinary angiotensinogen in predicting antiproteinuric effects of angiotensin receptor blocker in non-diabetic chronic kidney disease patients: a preliminary report.

Objectives: Many chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have persistent overt proteinuria despite angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) treatment. This study investigated whether the initial difference in intrarenal renin-angiotensin system activity measured with urinary angiotensinogen would affect the antiproteinuric effects of ARB.

Methods: Between September 2005 and September 2008, in 50 non-diabetic proteinuric CKD patients not taking renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, the urinary protein/creatinine ratio (P/Cr), angiotensinogen/creatinine ratio (AGT/Cr), plasma renin and aldosterone were measured before starting valsartan, and were followed for 18 months.

A phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and mitomycin C in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Aims And Background: Low-dose leucovorin is a well known potentiator of 5-fluorouracil activity in colorectal cancer but not in gastric cancer. To assess their efficacy on response rate and survival, 5-fluorouracil and low-dose leucovorin were combined with mitomycin C.

Methods: Fifty patients with gastric cancer and metastatic disease, unresectable or relapsed disease were treated with the following regimen every 28 days: mitomycin C, 7 mg/m2 IV bolus on day 1, and leucovorin, 20 mg/m2 IV, followed immediately by 5-fluorouracil, 375 mg/m2 on days 1-5.

[A single institution's experience of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography in the eldery patients: outcomes, safety and complications].

Background/aims: As the population ages, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) is being used increasingly as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for elderly patients with pancreatobiliary disease. The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes, safety and complications associated with ERCP performed in the elderly patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical record of 596 patients who were 50 years of age or older and underwent ERCP from January 2005 to September 2010.

Effect of losartan on proteinuria and urinary angiotensinogen excretion in non-diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease.

Purpose: Activation of the rennin-angiotensin system (RAS) is thought to contribute to hypertension and proteinuria, and eventually to the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recent evidence suggests that urinary angiotensinogen (UAGT) excretion reflects activation of the intrarenal RAS. This study was performed to determine the effect of losartan on proteinuria and UAGT excretion in non-diabetic patients with CKD with non-nephrotic-range proteinuria.