Measures and factors for regularly and effectively holding case conferences to improve quality of care provided by public health nurses for individuals and families: A qualitative descriptive study.

Objective: This study clarified the measures and necessary factors for regularly and effectively conducting case conferences to improve the quality of public health nurses' care for individuals and families.

Design: We employed a qualitative descriptive design.

Sample: The study fields were three Japanese municipalities that regularly held case conferences for at least a year to improve the quality of public health nurses' care for individuals and families.

Finite element analysis of mechanical stress in a cementless tapered-wedge short stem in the varus position.

Background: In recent years, the use of tapered-wedge short stems has increased due to their ability to preserve bones and tendons. Surgical techniques occasionally result in a varus position of the stem, which is particularly pronounced in short stems. Although the varus position is not clinically problematic, there are reports of an increased incidence of stress shielding and cortical hypertrophy.

Developing an Instructional Design-Based Dementia Education Program.

Community building is necessary to help create a dementia-inclusive society. In this study, a one-of-a kind dementia education program based on mutual learning using instructional design was developed alongside community members and stakeholders. The purpose was to implement and evaluate this program and gain insight into dementia education for the community.

Hypothetical model for on-the-job training through case conferences of public health nurses.

Public health nurses (PHNs) face difficulties supporting vulnerable individuals and families. On-the-job training (OJT) is essential for improving nurses' competencies. However, PHN managers lack the knowledge to systematically implement OJT.

Association between adrenal function and dialysis vintage in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Adrenal insufficiency in hemodialysis patients is commonly encountered in clinical practice. However, its association with end-stage renal disease is unclear. We investigated the relationship between adrenal function and relevant clinical parameters, focusing on dialysis vintage.

Acoustic characteristics of broaching procedure for post-operative stem subsidence in cementless total hip arthroplasty.

Purpose: Avoiding stem subsidence is crucial for achieving better outcome for cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model for the incidence of post-operative stem subsidence using full quantitative acoustic parameters in hammering sound during the broaching procedure and to assess the accuracy of this prediction model.

Methods: The acoustic parameters of the hammering sounds during a broaching procedure for 55 hips in 49 patients who underwent THAs with cementless taper-wedged stem were analysed.

Primary Membranous Nephropathy With Enhanced Staining of Exostosin 1/Exostosin 2 in the Glomeruli: A Report of 2 Cases.

Technological advances have allowed the discovery of 6 subtypes of membranous nephropathy based on target antigens: M-type phospholipase A receptor (PLAR), thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A), neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein, semaphorin 3B, exostosin 1 (EXT1), and EXT2. EXT1/EXT2 are thought to be associated with secondary (autoimmune) membranous nephropathy. Although it has been reported that PLAR- and THSD7A-associated membranous nephropathy have rarely been detected concomitantly, there have been no previous reports demonstrating PLAR- or THSD7A-associated membranous nephropathy with enhanced glomerular staining of EXT1/EXT2.

Baseline Urinary Angiotensinogen Excretion Predicts Deterioration of the Kidney Function in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Objective The intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is activated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and urinary angiotensinogen (AGT) levels, a surrogate marker of the intrarenal RAS activation, are associated with blood pressure (BP) and urinary albumin excretion. In addition, it has been shown that changes in urinary AGT levels correlate with annual changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with type 2 diabetes and that elevated levels of urinary AGT in type 2 diabetic patients with albuminuria are a high-risk factor for worsening renal and cardiovascular complications. However, whether or not baseline urinary AGT levels predict deterioration of the kidney function in all patients with CKD is unclear.

Circadian rhythm of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system is caused by glomerular filtration of liver-derived angiotensinogen depending on glomerular capillary pressure in adriamycin nephropathy rats.

Circadian fluctuation disorder of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) causes that of blood pressure (BP) and renal damage. In renal damage with an impaired glomerular filtration barrier, liver-derived angiotensinogen (AGT) filtered through damaged glomeruli regulates intrarenal RAS activity. Furthermore, glomerular permeability is more strongly affected by glomerular hypertension than by systemic hypertension.

Chronotherapy with a Renin-angiotensin System Inhibitor Ameliorates Renal Damage by Suppressing Intrarenal Renin-angiotensin System Activation.

Objective The intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is activated in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and is not suppressed at night in CKD patients showing nocturnal hypertension, contributing to renal damage. Furthermore, changes in RAS inhibitor administration from morning to evening, namely chronotherapy, ameliorates renal damage at night. We attempted to clarify whether or not chronotherapy ameliorates renal damage by suppressing the intrarenal RAS activity.

Case report: increased single-nephron estimated glomerular filtration rate in an adult patient with low birth weight.

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with end-stage kidney disease and hypertension and is considered to be a surrogate marker of low nephron number. Low nephron number is hypothesized to contribute to glomerular hyperfiltration that may cause kidney injury; however, this is not yet proven. Until now, the hyperfiltration in LBW patients has not been shown directly yet.

Monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 κ-type atypical antiglomerular basement membrane disease accompanied by necrotizing glomerulonephritis .

Introduction: Patients without detectable serum antiglomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies but with GBM staining for immunoglobulins (Ig), absence of a crescentic phenotype, mild renal insufficiency, and absence of pulmonary hemorrhage have atypical anti-GBM diseases. We report the case of a 64-year-old man with slowly progressive glomerulonephritis.

Case History: A 64-year-old Peruvian man presented with persistent microscopic hematuria, proteinuria of 2.

The Urinary Angiotensinogen to Urinary Albumin Ratio Reflects Whether the Renin-angiotensin System in the Kidney Is Activated due to Filtration of Plasma Angiotensinogen through the Damaged Glomeruli or the Production of Angiotensinogen in the Proximal Tubules.

Objective Urinary angiotensinogen (AGT) is a surrogate marker for intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity that plays an important role in the development of renal damage. Urinary AGT levels are determined by the filtration of plasma AGT through the damaged glomeruli and production of AGT in the proximal tubules. However, the relative merits of the filtration and production of urinary AGT levels in chronic kidney diseases (CKD) have not been clarified.

GATA2 and PU.1 Collaborate To Activate the Expression of the Mouse Gene, Encoding FcεRIβ, through Distinct Mechanisms.

GATA factors GATA1 and GATA2 and ETS factor PU.1 are known to function antagonistically during hematopoietic development. In mouse mast cells, however, these factors are coexpressed and activate the expression of the gene encoding the β chain of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI).

Simultaneous Occurrence of Sarcoidosis and Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitis in a Patient with Lung Cancer.

A 71-year-old woman with abnormal pulmonary shadows and multiple enlarged thoracic lymph nodes was diagnosed with stage IIB lung adenocarcinoma, pulmonary sarcoidosis, and sarcoidosis-associated lymphadenopathy after biopsies from multiple organ sites. She also had rapidly progressive renal dysfunction, microhematuria, and high myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) concentrations. A renal biopsy revealed granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis and necrotizing glomerulonephritis with crescent formation.

Increased heart rate is associated with intrarenal renin-angiotensin system activation in chronic kidney disease patients.

Background: A higher heart rate is one of the risk factors for heart failure and cardiovascular disease. Activation of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in the development of hypertension and renal damage. However, the association between heart rate and intrarenal RAS activation is unclear.

Salt Loading Aggravates the Relationship between Melatonin and Proteinuria in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Objective Salt loading induces renal damage independently of blood pressure (BP) elevation via reactive oxygen species and sympathetic activity. Melatonin, a hormone that regulates the circadian rhythm, has multiple functions, including anti-oxidant effects and the inhibition of sympathetic activity. We have shown that impaired melatonin secretion is associated with renal damage in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

The impact of serum uric acid reduction on renal function and blood pressure in chronic kidney disease patients with hyperuricemia.

Background: Febuxostat is tolerable in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with hyperuricemia. However, the long-term effect of lowering uric acid with febuxostat on renal function and blood pressure has not been elucidated.

Methods: This was a 2 years retrospective observational study.