Low-grade albuminuria reduction with angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Microalbuminuria, defined as urine albumin to urine creatinine ratio of 30 to <300 mg/g, is an established risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the general population. Low-grade albuminuria (<30 mg/g) is considered a marker for subclinical vascular damage that predisposes to future cardiovascular diseases and death. Lowering urinary albumin excretion reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Pharmacokinetic study of interleukin-2 following intravenous injection in hemodialysis patients with renal cell carcinoma.

The purpose of the present study is to determine the change in blood concentration of interleukin-2 (IL-2) after intravenous injection in hemodialysis patients and to assess its safety. Four hemodialysis patients who underwent nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma were treated with IL-2 at a dose of 350 000-700 000 JRU by intravenous injection. Pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed from the serum IL-2 concentration, which reached its peak just after the end of infusion, followed by biphasic elimination, and was below the detection limit in all patients at 24 h postinfusion.

Kidney transplants from living related donors having double inferior vena cava.

We performed four living related kidney transplantations from donors with double inferior vena cava (D-IVC), in which the left kidney was selected in two cases and the right in two cases. By dissecting the right internal iliac vein and isolating the right external iliac vein, the surgical procedure of the recipient side was so devised as to avoid any complications. In one patient, the surgical procedure of the donor side was modified to extend the donor left renal vein by anastomosis of part of the donor IVC to the renal vein.

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus due to hydronephrosis in a patient with a solitary kidney.

A 68-year-old man with a history of nephrectomy of the right kidney was admitted to our hospital with a 1-month history of polyuria (> 41 per day). He also exhibited hyposthenuria, which was unresponsive to treatment with exogenous vasopressin. Radiographic examination revealed partial obstruction of the left ureter and moderate hydronephrosis.

Results of cadaver kidney transplantation with right renal vein extension.

Introduction: Several methods to lengthen the renal vein of the allografts have been proposed in order to secure the surgeon's field of vision and to allow appropriate positioning of the graft. However, its safety and complications have not been clarified. Furthermore, its long- and short-term results have not been investigated.

Cadaveric renal transplantation from a non-heart-beating pediatric donor into adult recipients.

Introduction: The use of cadaveric pediatric kidneys has been suggested as a means to overcome organ shortage, but is debated because of technical complications and an increased incidence of functional allograft impairment.

Methods: We experienced 2 cases of cadaveric renal transplantation from a non-heart-beating pediatric donor.

Results: In our cases, transplanted kidneys achieved good graft function and proteinuria due to glomerulosclerosis was not recognized.

Role of renin-angiotensin system and nuclear factor-kappaB in the obstructed kidney of rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction.

The present study was conducted to elucidate the role of oxidative stress and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in the beneficial effects of angiotensin receptor blockade on obstructive nephropathy. Unilateral ureteral occlusion in rats elicited tubulo-interstitial fibrosis with concomitant macrophage infiltration and increased expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. These changes were accompanied by an induction of renal cortical lipid peroxidation and activation of NF-kappaB.

Hepatocyte growth factor ameliorates renal hemodynamic disorder after ischemia/reperfusion.

Ischemic injury of the transplanted kidney is one of the causes of reduced graft survival. The purpose of the present experiment was to examine whether hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) would improve acute renal hemodynamic recovery immediately after cold ischemia. Addition of HGF to the preservation solution during 3 h cold ischemia of dog kidney accelerated both recovery of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate (GFR).