Experiences with acute kidney injury complicating non-fulminant hepatitis A.

Aim: To describe the clinical features and to identify factors related to development of acute kidney injury in acute hepatitis A patients.

Methods: The study and control groups consisted of 21 and 425 patients who did or did not develop acute kidney injury, respectively, after acute hepatitis A from January 1997 to May 2007.

Results: There were 13 men and eight women; their mean age at diagnosis was 28.

The experience of pregnancy after renal transplantation: pregnancies even within postoperative 1 year may be tolerable.

Background: To identify factors related with successful pregnancy in renal transplant recipients and the effect of pregnancy on long-term graft outcome.

Methods: The study group consisted of 48 women who conceived after undergoing renal transplantation (total pregnancies 74). The control group consisted of 187 nonpregnant female renal transplant recipients.

High glucose-induced NF-kappaB activation occurs via tyrosine phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha in human glomerular endothelial cells: involvement of Syk tyrosine kinase.

Activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) occurs by dissociation from IkappaB after serine or tyrosine phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha, but the way of NF-kappaB activation by high glucose has not been defined. High glucose is known to activate NF-kappaB via protein kinase C and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we investigated how high glucose activates NF-kappaB for CC chemokine ligand 2 production in cultured human glomerular endothelial cells.

Risk factors for MDRD-GFR of less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 in former kidney donors.

Background: Although several previous studies have reported that kidney donors are not at increased risk for adverse effects, some donors have been found to progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD). We retrospectively evaluated the risk factors for estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation (MDRD-GFR) of less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 in kidney donors.

Peritubular capillary C4d deposition and renal outcome in post-transplant IgA nephropathy.

Background: Immunological staining of the transplanted kidney for C4d in peritubular capillaries (C4d(PTC)) has emerged as a useful method to detect antibody-mediated rejection in situ. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the prevalence of C4d(PTC) deposition in allograft renal biopsies diagnosed of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and analysed its clinical significance.

Method: Sixty-six biopsy specimens of post-transplant IgAN, which were obtained to evaluate azotemia and/or heavy proteinuria, were examined by immunohistochemical staining of the paraffin sections with polyclonal antibody for C4d.

Matrix metalloproteinase expression in the recurrence of superficial low grade bladder transitional cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma has a high recurrence rate following endoscopic resection. Most parameters used to predict recurrence are associated with high grade transitional cell carcinoma. However, there are few valid parameters for predicting low grade transitional cell carcinoma recurrence.

Improvement of operating conditions in waste incinerators using engineering tools.

Operation parameters such as waste feed rate, air supply, and temperature of the gas in incineration plants should be carefully determined for various situations, which include seasonal and annual changes in fuel characteristics, and performance change of the hardware. These changes may cause off-design point operation of the incinerators, which results in many problems in operation of the flue gas treatment system, low-oxygen in the combustion chamber, thermal damage of the incinerator wall, and so on. In this study, an engineering approach using computational tools along with field tests and observation is presented.

Modification of p53 with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine regulates p53 activity and stability.

Post-translational addition of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to p53 is known to occur, but the site of O-GlcNAcylation and its effects on p53 are not understood. Here, we show that Ser 149 of p53 is O-GlcNAcylated and that this modification is associated with decreased phosphorylation of p53 at Thr 155, which is a site that is targeted by the COP9 signalosome, resulting in decreased p53 ubiquitination. Accordingly, O-GlcNAcylation at Ser 149 stabilizes p53 by blocking ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis.

Long-term effects of ileal conduit urinary diversion on upper urinary tract in bladder cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the functional and morphologic changes of the upper urinary tract after radical cystectomy and ileal conduit urinary diversion for bladder cancer.

Methods: Radical cystectomy and ileal conduit urinary diversion were performed in a total of 249 patients with bladder cancer at our hospital from 1980 to 1999. Of the 249 patients, 67 were excluded because of the presence of preoperative lesions in the upper urinary tract or elevated serum creatinine (greater than 1.

Comparison of serum beta 2-microglobulin and 24 hour urinary creatinine clearance as a prognostic factor in multiple myeloma.

A new staging system for multiple myeloma (MM) has utilized serum concentrations of beta2-microglobulin (Sbeta2M) and albumin as important prognostic factors for survival. Since Sbeta2M is an indicator of glomerular filtration rate, we compared the prognostic values of Sbeta2M and 24-hr urinary creatinine clearance (Ccr) in patients with MM. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 170 MM patients from January 1996 to November 2003 whose 24-hr urinary Ccr was available at the time of diagnosis.

Heat shock protein 60 modified with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine is involved in pancreatic beta-cell death under hyperglycemic conditions.

The objective of this study was to identify proteins modified with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) in pancreatic beta-cells and to understand their roles in cell death under hyperglycemic conditions. Here we report that heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) is modified with O-GlcNAc. Levels of O-GlcNAcylated HSP60 increased twofold in response to hyperglycemic conditions.

Detection rate of prostate cancer on biopsy according to serum prostate-specific antigen in Korean men: a multicenter study.

Objectives: To evaluate the detection rate of prostate cancer on biopsy according to the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level in Korean men and compare the detection rate with those of Japanese and American men in other studies.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 2422 Korean men who had undergone prostate biopsy at 12 medical centers from 1993 to 2002. In the case of a PSA level greater than 4.

Juvenile prostatic hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is common in aging men, but rare in childhood. We report a case of juvenile prostatic hyperplasia in a 10-year-old boy, who visited our clinic for hematuria and voiding symptoms. Radiologic studies revealed a huge prostate protruding into the bladder.

Vesicoureteral reflux in adult women with uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis.

Objectives: To evaluate the significance of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in adult women with uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis.

Methods: Eighty-six adult women with uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis were studied from April 1998 to October 2003. They showed no structural urinary tract abnormalities.

Major renal artery aneurysm as cause of hydronephrosis treated by renal preservation surgery.

We report a case of a giant renal artery aneurysm causing hydronephrosis that initially had erroneously been thought to be a renal cyst. Giant renal artery aneurysms greater than 10 cm in diameter are very rarely reported. The aneurysm was repaired successfully with kidney preservation and closure of the arterial fistula.

Extramammary Paget's disease of penis and scrotum.

Objectives: To make clear the uncertainty of the clinical outcome of extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD). Penile and scrotal involvement of EMPD is exceedingly rare, and only small series or case reports have been reported.

Methods: From 1995 to 2003, 36 patients with penile and scrotal EMPD were treated and followed up.

STAT1-independent down-regulation of interferon-gamma-induced class II transactivator and HLA-DR expression by transforming growth factor beta-1 in human glomerular endothelial cells.

Background: The competition between STAT1 and Smad3 for a limiting amount of the nuclear protein p300, a transcriptional coactivator, was suggested to be a mechanism for the antagonism between interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). We investigated the effect of TGF-beta1 on IFN-gamma-induced HLA-DR production in cultured human glomerular endothelial cells (HGECs), and the involvement of p300 in this process.

Methods: Cell surface expression of HLA-DR and mRNA levels of HLA-DR and class II transactivator (CIITA), the master regulator of HLA-DR gene transcription, were measured by cellular ELISA and Northern blot, respectively.

Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration versus hemodialysis as renal replacement therapy in patients with acute renal failure in the intensive care unit.

Objective: Hemodialysis (HD) and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) have been adopted as forms of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with acute renal failure (ARF). Although CVVHDF has many advantages, previous studies reported no definite improvement in survival rate compared to HD.

Material And Methods: In this retrospective study, 148 intensive care unit patients underwent HD (70 males, 25 females; mean age 45 +/- 17 years) or CVVHDF (42 males, 11 females; mean age 52 +/- 18 years).

Persistent increase of matrix metalloproteinases in cerebrospinal fluid of tuberculous meningitis.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were analyzed by gelatin zymography and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with tuberculous meningitis (n=24), acute aseptic meningitis (n=23) and the control (n=10). The MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in the samples from the tuberculous meningitis patients than those from either the aseptic meningitis patients or the controls. In tuberculous meningitis, the patients with late neurologic complications had higher MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels than those without.

Dexamethasone regulates AP-1 to repress TNF-alpha induced MCP-1 production in human glomerular endothelial cells.

Background: Glomerular endothelial cells play a role in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis by producing chemotactic factors. We investigated the role of NF-kappa B and AP-1 in tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) induced monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) production in cultured human glomerular endothelial cells (HGEC). We also examined whether or not these processes could be modified by glucocorticoid.

Exogenous nitric oxide inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha- or interleukin-1-beta-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in human mesangial cells. Role of IkappaB-alpha and cyclic GMP.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) plays an important role in glomerulonephritis and nitric oxide (NO) exerts a variety of renal pathophysiological effects. We investigated the effect of exogenous NO on pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced MCP-1 expression in human mesangial cells and its signal transduction pathway. Cells were pretreated with NO donors such as 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1) or nitroprusside, and then stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta).

Effects of regular exercise on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Background: Psychological problems such as depression and anxiety are common in hemodialysis patients. In several studies, exercise programs were effective in relieving depression or anxiety in these patients, although not all agree.

Purpose: In this study, we evaluated the effects of an exercise program on exercise capacity, anxiety, depression and quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Effects of simvastatin on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and serum albumin in hemodialysis patients.

A 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor is recommended in hemodialysis (HD) patients with hypercholesterolemia to improve their lipid profiles. We evaluated effects of simvastatin on markers for inflammation, oxidative stress, and coagulation in HD patients. Sixty-two maintenance HD patients with serum cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dL or greater were randomly assigned to the treatment group (n = 31; 8 men, 23 women; age, 63 +/- 11 years) and administered simvastatin, 20 mg/d, for 8 weeks or to the control group (n = 31; 10 men, 21 women; age, 60 +/- 12 years).

Exogenous nitric oxide inhibits VCAM-1 expression in human peritoneal mesothelial cells. Role of cyclic GMP and NF-kappaB.

Leukocyte adhesion to mesothelium is an important step during peritonitis, which is mediated by adhesion molecules including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). We investigated the effect of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) on VCAM-1 expression in cultured human peritoneal mesothelial cells and its signal transduction pathway. Mesothelial cells were exposed to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the presence or absence of NO donors, 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1) and nitroprusside (NP).