Effect of monoclonal gammopathy in the progression of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease: a retrospective observational study.

Background: The involvement of monoclonal immunoglobulin (MIg) in renal damage in patients with haematological disorders and renal biopsy-proven monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance is well established. However, no epidemiological studies have been conducted on the effects of MIg on renal function in other patients. We aimed to evaluate the renal prognosis of MIg-positive patients and the effects of MIg on renal function.

Novel Noninvasive Index Combining Echocardiography and Computed Tomography for Screening for Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis.

Background: In patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), early detection of pulmonary hypertension (PH) improves survival. This study aimed to investigate whether a combination index (cPAT) of the tricuspid regurgitation jet peak gradient and the ratio of pulmonary artery (PA) diameter to aortic diameter measured by computed tomography (CT; PA ratio) can estimate the mean PA pressure (mPAP) and detect PH more accurately than conventional parameters in SSc patients.

Methods: A total of 36 SSc patients who underwent PH screening were retrospectively analyzed.

Effect of age, sex, and chronic kidney disease on urinary creatinine excretion in Japanese patients.

Background: Urinary creatinine levels are used to estimate the excretion rates of certain analytes from the respective analyte-to-creatinine ratios. We clarified the influence of age and sex on estimated daily urinary creatinine excretion (eUCrE) based on the urinary creatinine level and daily urine volume.

Methods: All inpatients aged ≥ 18 years who attended the Kochi Medical School Hospital with serum and urinary creatinine measurement results were enrolled.

Pseudoirreversible inhibition elicits persistent efficacy of a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 antagonist.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1), a G protein-coupled receptor, is required for lymphocyte trafficking, and is a promising therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases. Here, we synthesize a competitive S1PR1 antagonist, KSI-6666, that effectively suppresses pathogenic inflammation. Metadynamics simulations suggest that the interaction of KSI-6666 with a methionine residue Met124 in the ligand-binding pocket of S1PR1 may inhibit the dissociation of KSI-6666 from S1PR1.

Differences in characteristics and risk factors for acute kidney injury between elderly and very elderly patients: a retrospective review.

Background: Few epidemiologic studies on acute kidney injury (AKI) have focused on the older adult population. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics and risk factors for AKI in this population.

Methods: This retrospective observational study was performed with the clinical data of all outpatients and inpatients aged ≥ 65 years at the time of enrolment at Kochi Medical School Hospital between 1 January 1981 and 31 December 2021.