Effect of fruits granola (Frugra®) consumption on blood pressure reduction and intestinal microbiome in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of death in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Blood pressure (BP) and uremic toxins are well-known risk factors for CVDs, which are influenced by diet. Dietary fiber supplementation in patients undergoing HD may reduce the risk of CVDs by improving lipid profiles and inflammatory status and lowering the levels of the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS).

IgA Nephropathy: Beyond the Half-Century.

In 1968, Jean Berger first introduced the medical world to IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Fifty-five years later, its pathogenesis is still unclear, but treatments such as renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAAS-Is), tonsillectomies, and glucocorticoids are currently used worldwide. There have been great strides in the past 20 years since the discoveries of the specific dysregulation of mucosal immunity, galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1), and Gd-IgA1 immune complexes in patients with IgAN.

Post-Operative Kidney Function Using Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest (DHCA) in Aortic Arch Operation.

Background: Although deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) is a useful option to protect the central nervous system during aortic arch operations, the influence of simultaneous renal ischemia remains controversial.

Patients And Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. Sixty-three patients who underwent thoracic aortic surgery with DHCA and 24 patients who underwent cardiac surgery without DHCA were included in this study.

The Influence of an Unexpected Switch of Hemodialysis Facilities on the Quality of Life (QOL) in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: We experienced a sudden breakdown of hemodialysis system during a clinical study of dermal itch and serum BNP concentrations.

Patients And Methods: Forty-eight hemodialysis patients were enrolled in the itch-related study. It was intended to improve itch by lowering BNP with supportive communication between the patients and the dialysis staff.

Immunotactoid Glomerulopathy with Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection: A Novel Association.

A 70-year-old woman underwent a renal biopsy due to nephrotic syndrome. She had suffered from nontuberculous mycobacterial infection (NTM) for 14 years. The patient was diagnosed as having membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) type 3 and immunoglobulin (Ig)-associated MPGN based upon LM/erythromycin and IF findings, respectively.

[Salvage Surgery for Unresectable Advanced Esophagogastric Junction Carcinoma with Multiple Liver Metastases after Successful Second-Line Treatment with Nab-Paclitaxel and Ramucirumab Following a Refractory Response to S-1 plus CDDP Therapy-A Case Report].

We report a case of unresectable advanced esophagogastric junction carcinoma that was treated with nab-paclitaxel and ramucirumab, which resulted in complete response and salvage surgery. A 57-year-old male complained of upper abdominal discomfort. While attending a hospital for diabetes mellitus, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed.

A novel hydrogel sheet prevents postoperative pancreatic fistula in a rat model.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a novel hydrogel sheet in preventing postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF).

Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistula is a life-threatening complication. As no study has reported the use of hydrogel sheets in preventing POPF, their effectiveness for that purpose remains unclear.

Oxidative stress and Liver X Receptor agonist induce hepatocellular carcinoma in Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis model.

Background And Aim: The incidence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is progressively increasing. However, the pathophysiology and etiology of NASH progression to HCC are unknown. We hypothesized that steatosis was the key factor in NASH-related hepatocarcinogenesis and aimed to evaluate the effects of long-term liver X receptor (LXR) agonist stimulation on hepatic steatosis induced by a high-fat diet and oxidative stress.

A patient with colitis-associated cancer who developed clinically manifest Crohn's disease only after surgery.

Background: Patients with prolonged inflammatory bowel disease have a greater risk of colorectal cancer, known as colitis-associated cancer. Here we describe an unusual case of colitis-associated cancer.

Case Presentation: The subject is a 41-year-old male who has not presented digestive symptoms and has an appreciable medical history.

Progressive Renal Dysfunction due to IgG4-Related Kidney Disease Refractory to Steroid Therapy: A Case Report.

Recently, as the number of case reports of IgG4-related kidney disease (IgG4-RKD) has increased, the histopathological features and clinical approach have been clarified. IgG4-RKD generally has a benign prognosis due to the efficacy of steroid therapy and rarely requires dialysis. Herein, we report a case of IgG4-RKD that presented with a subacute onset, advanced to end-stage kidney disease, and finally required maintenance hemodialysis despite steroid therapy.

Exercise-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in a Police Officer with Hereditary Renal Hypouricemia.

Hereditary renal hypouricemia is characterized by hypouricemia with hyper-uric acid clearance due to a defect in renal tubular transport. Patients with hereditary renal hypouricemia have a higher risk of exercise-induced acute kidney injury (EAKI) and reduced kidney function. Although the best preventive measure is avoiding exercise, there are many kinds of jobs that require occupational exercise.

MPGN Type 3 Associated with Pemphigus Herpetiformis Mimicking PGNMID and Dermatitis Herpetiformis.

A 45-year-old man suffering from dermal blistering disease with proteinuria and hematuria underwent renal biopsy. The renal biopsy specimen suggested proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits under routine light, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. The staining for IgG subclasses (IgG1 and IgG2) and κ/λ light chain indicated secondary immune complex type MPGN type 3.

Evaluation of safety for hepatectomy in a novel mouse model with nonalcoholic-steatohepatitis.

Aim: To investigate whether the liver resection volume in a newly developed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model influences surgical outcome.

Methods: For establishment of a NASH model, mice were fed a high-fat diet for 4 wk, administered CCl for the last 2 wk, and administered T0901317 for the last 5 d. We divided these mice into two groups: A 30% partial hepatectomy (PH) of NASH liver group and a 70% PH of NASH liver group.

An Acute Case of Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis-Balamuthia mandrillaris Infection.

A 74-year-old woman who exhibited drowsiness was referred to our hospital. Enhanced head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multiple ring-enhancing lesions and lesions showing partial mild hemorrhaging. The patient gradually progressed to a comatose condition with notable brain deterioration of unknown cause on follow-up MRI.

Novel non-alcoholic steatohepatitis model with histopathological and insulin-resistant features.

Although several non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) models have been reported to date, few of these models fully reflect the histopathology and pathophysiology of human NASH. The aim of this study was to establish a novel NASH model by feeding a high-fat (HF) diet and administering both carbon tetrachloride (CCl ) and the Liver X receptor agonist T0901317. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups (each n = 5): HF, HF + CCl , HF + T0901317, and the novel NASH model (HF + CCl  + T0901317).

Effects of Cardiac Function with Postoperative Arteriovenous Fistula Blood Flow in Patients with Hemodialysis.

Background/aims: This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of cardiac function with postoperative arteriovenous fistula (AVF) blood flow in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: A total of 45 HD patients were examined at the Juntendo University Hospital. The AVF blood flow was measured using ultrasonography, and the cardiac function was measured using echocardiography.

Augmentation of Cytolytic Activity in Murine Natural Killer Cells and Inhibition of Tumor Growth by the Ethanol Fraction of Oyster Extract.

A reduced number and/or reduced activity of natural killer (NK) cells, which are important for defense against a variety of cancers and viral infections, occur under various stress conditions and in patients with various diseases. In this article, we report that the 30% to 50% ethanol precipitate of oyster extract (EPOE50) dose-dependently enhanced the activity of mouse spleen NK cells in vitro and in vivo. The activity of EPOE50 was eluted with a molecular weight of about 2000 by gel filtration and was inactivated by periodate but not by proteinase K.

Predictive factors associated with increased progression to dialysis in early chronic kidney disease (stage 1-3) patients.

Background: It has been reported that echocardiographic parameters are independently associated with the progression to dialysis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (stages 3-5). The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether physical, biochemical, and echocardiographic parameters are associated with the progression to dialysis in early CKD (stage 1-3) patients.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 272 CKD patients who underwent echocardiography at the time of diet education, renal biopsy, and the examination of kidney injuries at Juntendo University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, from 2001 to 2010.

Improvement of liver function by the administration of oyster extract as a dietary supplement to habitual alcohol drinkers: A pilot study.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is characterized by elevated serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity with hepatic steatosis, hepatitis or occasionally fibrosis that may progress to cirrhosis. The potential therapeutic role of oyster extract (OE) or OE-containing dietary supplements (OE supplement) in ALD has seldom been evaluated. In the present study, 84 adults who had an alcohol-drinking habit and marginally high serum GGT levels were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled feeding trial to study the effect on alcohol-impaired liver function as reflected by an increased serum level of GGT, as well as the safety, of an OE supplement.

TWEAK/Fn14 system and crescent formation in IgA nephropathy.

Background: The TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) contributes to kidney inflammation producing secretion by renal cells. The present study examined whether the level of TWEAK is associated with histologic findings in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Methods: The levels of urinary TWEAK (uTWEAK) from 116 IgAN patients, 50 non-IgA kidney disease patients, and 50 healthy individuals were measured by ELISA.

B-type (brain) natriuretic peptide and pruritus in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction And Objective: While pruritus is a common complication in hemodialysis patients, the pathophysiological mechanisms remain obscure. Recently, B-type (brain) natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been defined as an itch-selective neuropeptide in pruriceptive neurons in mice, and higher serum levels of BNP are frequently observed in hemodialysis patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the role of serum BNP in pruritus in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Progression of IgA Nephropathy Among Japanese Patients.

Background: The impact of being overweight remains unclear in Asian populations that tend to be lean. The objective of this study is to clarify the impact of body mass index (BMI) and metabolic factors on the prognosis of Japanese patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Methods: A total of 193 patients with IgAN were divided into three groups equally according to BMI: Group L (lean group, BMI: 15.

Serum under-O-glycosylated IgA1 level is not correlated with glomerular IgA deposition based upon heterogeneity in the composition of immune complexes in IgA nephropathy.

Background: Although serum under-O-glycosylated IgA1 in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients may deposit more preferentially in glomeruli than heavily-O-glycosylated IgA1, the relationship between the glomerular IgA deposition level and the O-glycan profiles of serum IgA1 remains obscure.

Methods: Serum total under-O-glycosylated IgA1 levels were quantified in 32 IgAN patients by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with Helix aspersa (HAA) lectin. Serum under-O-glycosylated polymeric IgA1 (pIgA1) was selectively measured by an original method using mouse Fcα/μ receptor (mFcα/μR) transfectant and flow cytometry (pIgA1 trap).

Properdin has an ascendancy over factor H regulation in complement-mediated renal tubular damage.

Background: Urinary (U)-complement components have been detected in patients with proteinuric renal diseases, and complement activation via the alternative pathway (AP) is believed to play a role in renal tubular damage. The present study aimed to examine the regulation of complement AP activation in patients with renal tubular damage by focusing on the balance between properdin (P) and factor H (fH).

Methods: In the in vivo studies, U concentrations of P, fH and membrane attack complex (MAC) were measured in patients with renal diseases using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and their relationships with the clinical data were evaluated.

Usefulness of HPLC assay for early detection of microalbuminuria in chronic kidney disease.

Background: Since the degree and increase of albuminuria predict cardiovascular and renal diseases even within the range of normoalbuminuria. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay has been reported as a useful tool for earlier detection of microalbuminuria than turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA) in diabetes but has not been evaluated for other common diseases that caused chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: We measured albumin in spot urine by TIA and HPLC assay in 119 patients with diabetes, hypertension, IgA nephropathy in complete remission, or autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease whose dipstick screening tests were negative.