Beta-lactam-associated hypokalemia.

The aim of this narrative review was to discuss the literature on β-lactam antibiotic-associated hypokalemia, a potentially life-threatening electrolyte disorder. The PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases were searched for articles published between 1965 and 2023, using the following terms: 'hypokalemia' OR 'potassium loss' OR 'potassium deficiency' AND 'beta-lactams' OR 'penicillin' OR 'penicillin G' OR 'cephalosporins' OR 'ceftazidime' OR 'ceftriaxone' OR 'flucloxacillin' OR 'carbapenems' OR 'meropenem' OR 'imipenem' OR 'cefiderocol' OR 'azlocillin' OR 'ticarcillin'. Additional search terms were 'hypokalemia' AND 'epidemiology' AND 'ICU' OR 'intensive care unit' OR 'ER' OR 'emergency department' OR 'ambulatory' OR 'old' OR 'ageing population', and experimental (animal-based) studies were excluded.

Clinically Evident Cardiopulmonary Congestion Does Not Significantly Impact the Prognosis of Patients With Septic Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common issue among in-hospital patients, with high mortality rates. Sepsis is a primary cause of AKI, particularly in the intensive care unit. Patients with septic AKI often experience cardiovascular congestion, leading to the formal classification of cardiorenal syndrome type 5.

Electronic Acute Kidney Injury Alert at the Brandenburg Medical School: Implementation and Follow-Up.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) substantially worsens the prognosis of hospitalized patients worldwide. In order to optimize early AKI recognition and therapeutic intervention, AKI alert systems have been implemented and evaluated in the past. Herein, we aimed to analyze outcome variables of AKI patients under the conditions of a de novo-established AKI alert system at the Brandenburg Hospital of the Brandenburg Medical School.

Dissecting nephron morphogenesis using kidney organoids from human pluripotent stem cells.

During kidney development the emergence of complex multicellular shapes such as the nephron (the functional unit of the kidney) rely on spatiotemporally coordinated developmental programs. These involve gene regulatory networks, signaling pathways and mechanical forces, that work in concert to shape and form the nephron(s). The generation of kidney organoids from human pluripotent stem cells now represent an unprecedented experimental set up to study these processes.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is regulated by HIF-1α and cAMP and promotes renal cyst cell proliferation in a macrophage-independent manner.

Progressive cyst growth leads to decline of renal function in polycystic kidney disease. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was found to be upregulated in cyst-lining cells in a mouse model of polycystic kidney disease and to promote cyst growth. In addition, MIF can be secreted by tubular cells and may contribute to cyst growth in an autocrine manner.

Infection and Predictors of Outcome of Cirrhotic Patients after Emergency Care Hospital Admission.

Introduction And Aims: We aimed to explore the impact of infection diagnosed upon admission and of other clinical baseline parameters on mortality of cirrhotic patients with emergency admissions.

Material And Methods: We performed a prospective observational monocentric study in a tertiary care center. The association of clinical parameters and established scoring systems with short-term mortality up to 90 days was assessed by univariate and multivariable Cox regression analysis.

Elevated cardiac troponin T in cirrhotic patients with emergency care admissions: Associations with mortality.

Background And Aim: Mortality of cirrhotic patients after emergency care admission is high, and prognostic factors can help in prioritizing patients. The aim of our study was to assess the association between levels of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and 1-year mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis without known cardiac disease, who were admitted to the emergency department (ED).

Methods: All patients with cirrhosis presented to the ED from October 2009 until August 2015 who had an initial cTnT value measured with the first lab panel were retrospectively analyzed with a follow-up of 365 days.

Differentiation of human CD14+ monocytes: an experimental investigation of the optimal culture medium and evidence of a lack of differentiation along the endothelial line.

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal culturing media for human CD14+ monocytes and to evaluate whether these cells are capable of differentiating into vascular endothelial cells. Human monocytes isolated from peripheral blood were cultured for 1, 3, 7, 10 or 14 days in different media containing either 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 10% autologous donor serum (Auto), 10% FBS with interleukin-3 and macrophage colony stimulating factor (FBS-WF) or 10% Auto and the same growth factors (AU-WF). The cells were differentiated using endothelial cell conditioning medium (EC).

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury in cirrhotic patients. A retrospective analysis.

Background: The nephrotoxic potential of intravenous iodinated contrast (IC) is controversial. Cirrhotic patients are often submitted to imaging procedures involving IC and small changes in renal function may have detrimental effects.

Material And Methods: Retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients with elective imaging by either contrast-enhanced CT or MRI.

Evaluation of T1ρ as a potential MR biomarker for liver cirrhosis: comparison of healthy control subjects and patients with liver cirrhosis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare mean liver T1ρ values in patients with liver cirrhosis and healthy control subjects in order to evaluate T1ρ as a potential MR biomarker for liver cirrhosis.

Materials And Methods: Ten healthy control subjects (mean age 42.7 years; 6 female, 4 male) and 21 patients with clinically diagnosed liver cirrhosis (mean age 56.

Comparative measurement of CNP and NT-proCNP in human blood samples: a methodological evaluation.

Background: C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) has anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-migratory properties. During the past years, CNP has attained an increasing interest by many research groups, especially in the cardiovascular field. Nevertheless, still no reliable data exist on the difference of CNP concentration between serum and plasma samples.