Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

In spite of its rare incidence, the inherited renal tubular disorder nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) has in the past 10 years attracted the attention of a varied group of medical doctors and basic scientists. With the identification of the two genes involved in NDI, namely the vasopressin type-2 receptor (V2R) and the aquaporin-2 water channel (AQP2) genes, the identification of a large number of different mutations in these genes, and the subsequent functional characterization of mutant V2Rs and AQP2s, our insight into the renal cellular mechanisms involved in diuresis and antidiuresis has increased considerably. We are now entering an exciting new period in the development of new therapeutic strategies for disorders of water balance.

Drug use and cognitive function in residents of homes for the elderly.

In order the investigate the relationship between cognitive function and daily used drugs in the elderly we performed an observational, cross-sectional study in 5 homes for the elderly in the region of Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Participants were 497 residents of these homes. For all these subjects the daily used drugs, classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Classification system were registered and global cognitive function was measured as the total score on the Mini Mental State Examination.

Changes in keratin expression during the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Objective: The relationship between different types of epithelial cells in the prostate and the regulatory mechanism underlying benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are still obscure as is the association between BPH and prostate carcinoma (PCa.) On the basis of keratin immunophenotyping, a subpopulation of cells in normal rat prostate and human PCa have been identified as candidates for the 'amplifying cell' in the stem cell model. In this model the basal cell is described as being associated with the stem cell.

Occurrence of yeast bloodstream infections between 1987 and 1995 in five Dutch university hospitals.

The aim of this study was to identify retrospectively trends in fungal bloodstream infections in The Netherlands in the period from 1987 to 1995. Results of over 395,000 blood cultures from five Dutch university hospitals were evaluated. Overall, there were more than 12 million patient days of care during the nine-year study period.

Lipid peroxidation and susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein to in vitro oxidation in hyperhomocysteinaemia.

The pathobiochemical mechanism of arteriosclerosis in hyperhomocysteinaemia has not yet been elucidated. In vitro studies have shown that the cytotoxic properties of homocysteine can be ascribed to its generation of reactive oxygen species. We studied lipid peroxidation, both in vivo and in vitro, in 10 homozygous cystathionine synthase-deficient (CSD) patients and in a control group of 10 healthy subjects of comparable age and sex.

Cardiac reoperations with a patent internal thoracic artery graft. A double challenge?

Cardiac reoperations remain a challenge. Reoperations in patients with a patent internal thoracic artery graft have a double challenge; the patent internal thoracic artery graft and the problem of peroperative myocardial protection. Our experience in 25 patients is described and discussed.

Identification of four novel mutations in the COL4A5 gene of patients with Alport syndrome.

The type IV collagen alpha 5 chain (COL4A5) genes of patients with Alport syndrome were tested for major gene rearrangements by Southern blot analysis, using COL4A5 cDNA clones as probes. In addition, individual exons were screened for small mutations by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Four new COL4A5 mutations were detected.

Accuracy of ultrasonic evaluation of lumbar intervertebral discs by an anterior approach.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of sonography of the lower lumbar intervertebral discs. The results in 50 patients were compared to lumbar myelography. A short description of the sonographic appearance of the normal and pathological lumbar disc is given.