Uric acid, microalbuminuria and cardiovascular events in high-risk patients.

Background: Elevated levels of serum uric acid and albuminuria are associated with cardiovascular disease, but the relationships have not consistently been demonstrated to be independent of hypertension, other risk factors, or each other. The purpose of this study was to evaluate people at high risk for cardiovascular disease for the influence of uric acid and microalbuminuria on cardiovascular events.

Methods: Consecutive consenting patients undergoing elective angiography (n = 316) had coronary artery disease, risk factors, renal function and diuretic use assessed at baseline.

Amino acids injure mesangial cells by advanced glycation end products, oxidative stress, and protein kinase C.

Background: In diabetes, high intake of dietary protein exacerbates responses associated with kidney damage. Increased levels of amino acids could injure cells by providing free amino groups for glycation reactions leading to advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

Methods: Rat mesangial cells were cultured with increased amino acids designed to resemble protein feeding, high glucose (30.

Treatment of atherosclerotic ostial renal artery stenosis with the intravascular stent.

Traditional approaches to revascularization for atherosclerotic ostial renal artery stenosis (RAS) have been suboptimal because of the invasiveness and relatively high perioperative morbidity and mortality of surgery and the low rates of success and long-term patency with percutaneous renal angioplasty (PTRA). We report our 5-year (1991 to 1996) experience with the intravascular stent (Palmaz stent; Johnson & Johnson, Miami Lakes, FL) for the treatment of ostial RAS in 129 patients (63 men, 66 women) and 148 arteries. The mean age of the patients was 71+/-10 years; 98% were hypertensive and 57% had renal dysfunction.