[Fibrate-induced deterioration of renal function].

Introduction: Fibrates represent one of the medications used to treat patients with hyperlipemia. Deterioration in renal function is not a very known adverse effect of fibric acid derivates. In the last 26 months we have detected thirteen patients with acute renal failure associated to fibrates in our outpatients' clinic.

[Analysis of evaluation process of research projects submitted to the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Spain].

Background: At the present time it seems very clear that research improvement is both an unquestionable fact and the right way to develop technological innovation, services and patents. However, such improvement and corresponding finances needs to be done under fine and rigorous evaluation process as an assessment tool under which all the research projects applying to a public or private call for proposals should be submitted to assure a coherence point according to the investment to be made. At this end, the main target of this work has been focused to analysis and study the evaluation process traditionally made by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS) as well as to propose most adequate modifications.

Remission of lupus nephritis with cyclophosphamide and late relapses following therapy withdrawal.

We describe the long-term follow-up of severe lupus nephritis treated with cyclophosphamide, with emphasis on the incidence of relapses after therapy withdrawal. From a cohort of SLE patients followed over a period of twelve years, we review the charts of the eleven with histologic evidence of class IV nephritis who reached complete remission with cyclophosphamide and who were followed for more than four years after the discontinuation. In all patients, cyclophosphamide was maintained for longer than two years after complete remission.