BNT162b2 Booster Vaccination Induced Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 Variants among Hemodialysis Patients.

The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, which evade immunity, has raised the urgent need for multiple vaccine booster doses for vulnerable populations. In this study, we aimed to estimate the BNT162b2 booster effectiveness against the spread of coronavirus variants in a hemodialysis population. We compared humoral and cell-mediated immunity in 100 dialysis patients and 66 age-matched volunteers, before and 2-3 weeks following the first booster vaccine dose.

Occlusive Mesenteric Ischemia in Chronic Dialysis Patients.

Background: Among dialysis patients, occlusive mesenteric vascular disease has rarely been reported.

Objectives: To report on the experience of one center with regard to diagnosing and treating this complication.

Methods: The retrospective case-series involved six patients (3 females, 3 males; age 52-88 years; 5/6 were smokers) on chronic hemodialysis at a single center.

Effect of Acetazolamide on Obesity-Induced Glomerular Hyperfiltration: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aims: Obesity is an important risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease. One of the major factors involved in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated kidney disease is glomerular hyperfiltration. Increasing salt-delivery to the macula densa is expected to decrease glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by activating tubuloglomerular feedback.

The effect of sodium bicarbonate on cytokine secretion in CKD patients with metabolic acidosis.

The incidence of acidosis increases with the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Correction of acidosis by sodium bicarbonate may slow CKD deterioration. Inflammation, which is common in CKD, may be related to acidosis.

Prolonged international normalized ratio during the first year of warfarin treatment.

Objective: Oral anticoagulants (OAC) are effective in the prevention of thromboembolic events but are underused. The 1st year following the beginning of vitamin K antagonists is associated with higher bleeding rate, especially in patients with international normalized ratio (INR) of >4, leading to discontinuation of OAC. We hypothesized that the decision to discontinue OAC during the 1st year in patients with events of overanticoagulation is not fully justified.

Oxidative stress-induced DNA damage and repair in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: protective role of hemoglobin.

Background: DNA repair is a cellular defence mechanism responding to DNA damage caused in large part by oxidative stress. There is a controversy with regard to the effect of red blood cells on DNA damage and cellular response.

Aim: To investigate the effect of red blood cells on H2O2-induced DNA damage and repair in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Cytokine secretion and markers of inflammation in relation to acidosis among chronic hemodialysis patients.

Background: Various cytokines are increased in hemodialysis (HD) patients, and are considered prognostic markers. Metabolic acidosis is common among chronic HD patients and is associated with survival. The relationship between acidosis and cytokines in HD patients has not been fully explored.

Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with primary aldosteronism/low-renin hypertension on low-dose spironolactone.

Background: The incidence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in primary aldosteronism (PA) is higher than in essential hypertension. LVH is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. Treatment of PA with mineralocorticoid receptor blockers (MRBs) improves LVH.

Expression of cyclin E in stage III colorectal carcinoma.

Carcinogenesis is characterized by an abnormal regulation of the cell cycle. Regulators of the cell cycle such as cyclin E play an important role in neoplasia and may be correlated with prognosis. The clinical significance of the expression of cyclin E in stage III colorectal carcinoma has not yet been investigated.

A study of elderly adults taking warfarin admitted with prolonged international normalized ratio: a community hospital's experience.

Objectives: To assess bleeding complications and outcome of individuals receiving oral anticoagulants who were admitted to the hospital with an international normalized ratio (INR) greater than 4 by comparing them according to age (≤ 80, >80).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Community hospital.

Lanthanum, constipation, bafflying X-rays and a perforated colonic diverticulum.

Lanthanum carbonate (LC) is used as a phosphate binder in dialysed patients. Abdominal pain and constipation are known side effects of its use. Furthermore, in radiological studies, LC tablets are seen as intense radio-opaque deposits within the entire gastrointestinal tract-findings which can lead to diagnostic misinterpretations.

Effect of immunosuppressive drugs on spontaneous DNA repair in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Introduction: Immunosuppressive treatment increases the risk of post-transplant cancer. Cyclosporine reduced UV-induced DNA repair by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and increased cancer incidence in kidney transplant recipients. Calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), but not mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors or mycophenolic acid, suppressed H₂O₂-induced DNA repair in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro at maintenance drug concentrations.

Human prostate cancer cells induce inflammatory cytokine secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

A substantial number of studies provide evidence that inflammation may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer via increased activity of inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-6. We have previously shown that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are capable of carrying out an in vitro "immunomodulatory dialog" with colon cancer cells expressed by an increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by PBMC. The aim of the current study was to examine the model of cell-to-cell interaction between PBMC and prostate cancer cells from two lines - androgen resistant (PC-3) and androgen-dependent (LNCaP).

Changes in inflammatory markers during a hemodialysis session and their relation to vascular access type.

Purpose: In an attempt to better understand the relationship between vascular access and inflammation we assessed the effect of vascular access on inflammatory markers changes during hemodialysis (HD) session.

Methods: Fifty HD patients were included: 23 patients with central venous catheters (CVC) and 27 patients with arteriovenous fistulas (AVF). Blood samples for high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF α) were collected before and after HD session.

Fatalities and severe metabolic disorders associated with the use of sodium phosphate enemas: a single center's experience.

We report our experience with severe complications of sodium phosphate enemas. Eleven elderly patients received Fleet enemas for constipation. Three patients received 500 to 798 mL, and 8 received a standard 250-mL dose.

Effect of immunosuppressive drugs on DNA repair in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Introduction: Cancer is a major cause of mortality among transplant recipients. Immunosuppressive treatment is a modifiable factor contributing to this phenomenon. Cyclosporine in kidney transplant recipients was associated with reduced UV-induced DNA repair by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and increased cancer rate.

An alternative facility for a stroke unit in a community hospital.

Objective: The administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) within three hours from onset of neurological symptoms is presently accepted as the standard treatment for suitable individuals, since it has been shown that it improves their outcome. The aim of this retrospective study was to report our experience with tPA administration in a subunit of a department of internal medicine adapted specifically for that goal.

Setting: The study was carried out in a subunit of a department of internal medicine.

Inhibition of mitochondrial function reduces DNA repair in human mononuclear cells.

Background: Mitochondria provide ATP and Ca(2+) needed for DNA repair, but also produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may damage DNA.

Aim: To investigate the effect of mitochondrial function inhibition on DNA repair.

Method: Five mitochondrial inhibitors acting at various sites of electron transport were studied.

Retrospective comparison of mechanical percutaneous thrombectomy of hemodialysis arteriovenous grafts with the Arrow-Trerotola device and the lyse and wait technique.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine whether pharmacologic thrombolysis with urokinase in the lyse and wait (L&W) technique compared with mechanical declotting using the Arrow-Trerotola percutaneous thrombectomy device is more efficient, safer, or less expensive in treating thrombosed hemodialysis grafts.

Materials And Methods: The files of 157 patients who underwent arteriovenous graft declotting from 2000 to 2007 at one tertiary care center were reviewed. The study group included 83 women and 74 men with a mean age of 68 +/- 12 years (range, 27-95 years).

Effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors on rat mesangial cells.

Glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) proliferate and produce extracellular matrix proteins in many progressive renal diseases. Recently, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) were shown to have antiproliferative and antifibrogenic effects in some in vitro and in vivo models. Using the [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation test, we have found that the HDI trichostatin A (TSA) effectively inhibits MC growth at nontoxic nanomolar concentrations.