5/6 Nephrectomy impairs acute kaliuretic responses and predisposes to postprandial hyperkalemia.

The susceptibility of patients with chronic kidney disease to develop postprandial hyperkalemia suggests alterations in normal kidney sodium (Na) and potassium (K) handling, but the exact nature of these changes is largely unknown. To address this, we analyzed the natriuretic and kaliuretic responses to diuretics and acute K loading in rats who underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx) and compared this with the response in sham-operated rats. The natriuretic and kaliuretic responses to furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, and amiloride were largely similar between 5/6Nx and sham rats except for a significantly reduced kaliuretic response to hydrochlorothiazide in 5/6Nx rats.

Calcineurin inhibitor effects on kidney electrolyte handling and blood pressure: tacrolimus versus voclosporin.

Background: Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) affect kidney electrolyte handling and blood pressure (BP) through an effect on the distal tubule. The second-generation CNI voclosporin causes hypomagnesaemia and hypercalciuria less often than tacrolimus. This suggests different effects on the distal tubule, but this has not yet been investigated experimentally.

Do patients with nephrotic syndrome have an increased risk of osteoporosis? A nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Objectives: To evaluate whether nephrotic syndrome (NS) and further corticosteroid (CS) use increase the risk of osteoporosis in Asian population during the period January 2000-December 2010.

Design: Nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.

Setting: All healthcare facilities in Taiwan.

Late capsular blockage syndrome: Clinical and anterior segment optical coherence tomography characteristics.

Background: Late capsular blockage syndrome (CBS) is a rare phenomenon which is found after cataract surgery. The mechanism, anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) presentation, and clinical characteristics are not well studied.

Methods: We studied patients who developed late CBS in Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2012 to 2019.

Management of Delayed Complications of Hydrogel Scleral Buckles.

(1) Background: hydrogel scleral buckles (HSB)-related complications can happen decades after implantation, although this material has been retrieved for a long time. Due to its fragile texture, ensuring the complete removal of this material and avoiding complications are challenging. Incomplete removal, iatrogenic complication, recurrent retinal detachment, and infection could occur.

The Clinical Feature and Treatment Outcome of Ocular Melanoma: A 34-Year Experience in a Tertiary Referral Center.

Malignant melanoma can arise from melanocytes in various structures of the eye, orbit, and ocular adnexa. We reviewed the clinical features and long-term results of all subjects with histologically proved melanoma originating from any of the ocular and periocular structures in a tertiary referral center. Overall, 88 patients including 47 men were recruited.

Curcumin Suppresses TGF-β1-Induced Myofibroblast Differentiation and Attenuates Angiogenic Activity of Orbital Fibroblasts.

Orbital fibrosis, a hallmark of tissue remodeling in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO), is a chronic, progressive orbitopathy with few effective treatments. Orbital fibroblasts are effector cells, and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) acts as a critical inducer to promote myofibroblast differentiation and subsequent tissue fibrosis. Curcumin is a natural compound with anti-fibrotic activity.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Chronic Kidney Disease Risk: A Nationwide, Population-Based Study.

Introduction: Patients with carbon monoxide poisoning (COP) commonly have long-term morbidities. However, it is not known whether patients with COP exhibit an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) alters this risk.

Methods: This study identified 8,618 patients who survived COP and 34,464 propensity score-matched non-COP patients from 2000 to 2013 in a nationwide administrative registry.

Dietary potassium and the kidney: lifesaving physiology.

Potassium often has a negative connotation in Nephrology as patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are prone to develop hyperkalaemia. Approaches to the management of chronic hyperkalaemia include a low potassium diet or potassium binders. Yet, emerging data indicate that dietary potassium may be beneficial for patients with CKD.

Smartphone-based diabetic macula edema screening with an offline artificial intelligence.

Background: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a sight-threatening condition that needs regular examinations and remedies. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is the most common used examination to evaluate the structure and thickness of the macula, but the software in the OCT machine does not tell the clinicians whether DME exists directly. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to aid in diagnosis generation and therapy selection.

Phytobezoar-induced small bowel obstruction in an elderly patient undergoing dialysis: a case report.

A phytobezoar is defined as an accumulation of poorly digested fruit and vegetable fibers in the gastrointestinal tract. Phytobezoar-induced small bowel obstruction is an uncommon entity and is usually removed surgically. We herein describe an elderly man undergoing dialysis who developed a phytobezoar because of excessive consumption of high-fiber fruits and inappropriate chewing.

Mitochondrial transport mediates survival of retinal ganglion cells in affected LHON patients.

The mutations in the genes encoding the subunits of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain are the most common cause of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a maternal hereditary disease characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration. The characteristics of incomplete penetrance indicate that nuclear genetic and environmental factors also determine phenotypic expression of LHON. Therefore, further understanding of the role of mutant mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit proteins and nuclear genetic factors/environmental effects in the etiology of LHON is needed.

Life-threatening acute water intoxication in a woman undergoing hysteroscopic myomectomy: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Acute water intoxication after hysteroscopy is a rare, life-threatening condition, often accompanied with delayed diagnosis owing to masked symptoms because of general anesthesia.

Case Presentation: Herein we presented a 39-year-old female who presented with cardiac arrest after hysteroscopic myomectomy because of acute water intoxication and survived after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, continuous venous-venous hemofiltration, and aggressive high sodium fluid resuscitation.

Conclusion: Failure to recognize and treat this condition appropriately may lead to potentially lethal cardiopulmonary complications.

Continuous veno-venous hemofiltration yields better renal outcomes than intermittent hemodialysis among traumatic intracranial hemorrhage patients with acute kidney injury: A nationwide population-based retrospective study in Taiwan.

Object: Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (TICH) patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) were reported to have a high mortality rate. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is indicated for patients with a severe kidney injury. This study aimed to compare the effects of different RRT modalities regarding chronic dialysis rate among adult TICH patients with AKI.

Primary ductal adenocarcinoma of lacrimal gland: Two case reports and review of the literature.

A 64-year-old male presented with progressive proptosis of the left eye for 3 months. Orbital computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a 3.9 cm infiltrative mass over the superotemporal quadrant of the left orbit.

Conjunctival papilloma: Clinical features, outcome, and factors related to recurrence.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical features, treatment, and outcome of patients with conjunctival papilloma.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two patients (22 eyes) with biopsy-proven conjunctival papilloma between January 2005 and January 2015 in a tertiary medical center were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical profiles, treatment, outcome, and factors related to recurrence were evaluated.

Immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic disease.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recently recognized inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. It characterized by distinctive histopathological appearance of dense IgG4-positive lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis in one or more organs, simultaneously or subsequently. In cases of ocular adnexal involvement, unique clinicohistopathological features were delineated by recent studies, and IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) is generally recognized as the disease name.

Increased risk of osteoporosis in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Background: We evaluated the risk of osteoporosis in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) using a nationwide population-based dataset.

Methods: In a cohort study of 986,713 individuals, we selected 2,493 PBC patients who were aged 18 years or older and had been diagnosed with PBC, based on the International Classification of Disease (ICD-9-CM) codes 571.6, during 20002010.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia induced by low-dose methotrexate in a patient with chronic urticaria.

Methotrexate has immunosuppressive effects and is administered for refractory chronic urticaria. We present a case of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a patient with refractory chronic urticaria managed by low-dose weekly methotrexate treatment (total cumulative dose 195mg). Our study highlights the importance of providing prompt diagnosis and treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in patients with chronic urticaria under methotrexate therapy.

Change of Serum IgG4 in Patients with Ocular Adnexal Marginal Zone B Cell Lymphoma Associated with IgG4-Related Ophthalmic Disease After Treatment.

Purpose: To investigate the change of serum IgG4 concentrations correlated with clinical evolution in patients with ocular adnexal marginal zone B cell lymphoma associated with IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD).

Methods: Three consecutive patients with histopathologically confirmed ocular adnexal marginal zone B cell lymphoma associated with IgG4-ROD were evaluated. Two patients received radiotherapy and 1 patient received steroid therapy.

Relationship between Plasma Triglyceride Level and Severity of Hypertriglyceridemic Pancreatitis.

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia is the third most common cause of acute pancreatitis, but whether the level of triglyceride (TG) is related to severity of pancreatitis is unclear.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of TG level on the severity of hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis (HTGP).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.