Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Supplementation and Respiratory Infections.

Background: Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) can actively affect the maintenance and optimal functioning of immune cells. The metabolites of both omega-3 and omega-6 play an important role in the synthesis of different mediators, such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, protectins, and resolvins, that can interfere with the virus and modulate inflammation.

Summary: In this narrative review, we aim to identify whether LCPUFA supplementation may be effective in protecting the population against respiratory tract infections.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Improves Fatty Acids Profile in Pediatric Patients with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome.

The fatty acid profiles of patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) are different from that of healthy controls, even during remission, revealing an increase of the pro-inflammatory omega 6 series. It is still unknown whether the concomitance of nephrotic syndrome affects the potential positive effects of the Mediterranean diet on the levels of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. We performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the association between the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and fatty acid profile in 54 children with INS.

Role of Arachidonic Acid and Its Metabolites in the Biological and Clinical Manifestations of Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome.

Studies concerning the role of arachidonic acid (AA) and its metabolites in kidney disease are scarce, and this applies in particular to idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). INS is one of the most frequent glomerular diseases in childhood; it is characterized by T-lymphocyte dysfunction, alterations of pro- and anti-coagulant factor levels, and increased platelet count and aggregation, leading to thrombophilia. AA and its metabolites are involved in several biological processes.

Fatty Acids in Nephrotic Syndrome and Chronic Kidney Disease.

The role of fatty acids (FAs) in inflammation and in the related chronic diseases has been demonstrated. However, there is a lack of consistent and agreed knowledge about the role of FA profile and renal physiology and pathology, most articles focusing on the effect of polyunsaturated FAs supplementation, without considering the impact of basal FA metabolism on the efficacy of the supplementation. Here, we have summarized the specific literature concerning the assessment of circulating FA in 2 renal diseases, namely nephrotic syndrome and chronic kidney disease, also under hemodialytic treatment, and have received the most significant contributions in the last years.

A thiazide test for the diagnosis of renal tubular hypokalemic disorders.

Although the diagnosis of Gitelman syndrome (GS) and Bartter syndrome (BS) is now feasible by genetic analysis, implementation of genetic testing for these disorders is still hampered by several difficulties, including large gene dimensions, lack of hot-spot mutations, heavy workup time, and costs. This study evaluated in a cohort of patients with genetically proven GS or BS diagnostic sensibility and specificity of a diuretic test with oral hydrochlorothiazide (HCT test). Forty-one patients with GS (22 adults, aged 25 to 57; 19 children-adolescents, aged 7 to 17) and seven patients with BS (five type I, two type III) were studied; three patients with "pseudo-BS" from surreptitious diuretic intake (two patients) or vomiting (one patient) were also included.

Autosomal dominant hypocalcemia with mild type 5 Bartter syndrome.

Type 5 Bartter syndrome has been recently defined as a Bartter syndrome due to the most activating mutations of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). It has been attributed to the inhibition exerted by CaSR activity on sodium transport in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (TALH). Two monozygotic twin sisters (T1 and T2) with autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (ADH) due to a nonconservative activating CaSR mutation in the extracellular domain (K29E) were studied.