Treatments for coarctation of the aorta (CoA) can alleviate blood pressure (BP) gradients (Δ), but long-term morbidity still exists that can be explained by altered indices of hemodynamics and biomechanics. We introduce a technique to increase our understanding of these indices for CoA under resting and nonresting conditions, quantify their ...

Aims: To evaluate if obesity has an additional negative impact on left ventricular (LV) geometry and function in normotensive pediatric patients >12 months after successful treatment of aortic coarctation (CoA). Methods and Results: We studied 40 CoA patients (mean age 14 ± 3 years, and male sex 70%), of them ...

Excessive keratinocyte proliferation is thought to be responsible for the formation and development of psoriasis vulgaris. Evidence indicates that epigenetic modifications are associated with aberrant gene expression, however, nothing is known about the status of histone modifications in psoriasis vulgaris. We investigated alterations in histone modifications in patients with psoriasis ...

This was a screening study that aimed to determine the presence of nephrotoxic mycotoxins in urine samples from patients with chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The percentage detection of aflatoxins, ochratoxins and fumonisins in 31 patients were 61.29%, 93.5% and 19.4%, ...

Objective: This systematic review evaluates the clinical utility of a novel biomarker kidney injury molecule 1 (Kim-1) in the prediction, diagnosis and prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods: We searched literature in electronic databases from January 2002 to December 2009 by the key words "kidney injury molecule 1" or ...

BACKGROUND: Adequate pump flow is a prerequisite for recovery of end-organ failure and outcome in patients treated with a biventricular assist device (BiVAD). We hypothesized that hemodynamics and organ recovery would improve after biventricular, apical cannulation compared with right atrial cannulation. METHODS: Between 2003 and 2009, we treated 31 patients ...

Abstract Incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with pyogenic liver abscess is rare. In our study we found AKI in 32.6% of patients with liver abscess. Majority of the patients were in their fifties and sixties. As per acute kidney injury network trial criteria, renal failure was in ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate neurological manifestations of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) and investigate the etiology and pathogenesis of peripheral and central nervous complications in pSS. Thirty-two patients with pSS were enrolled in the present study, 20 of whom had neurological involvement plus sicca symptoms. The clinical ...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. We evaluated the association between CKD and severity of coronary artery stenosis by calculating SYNTAX Score in patients with left main coronary artery and/or 3-vessel coronary artery disease. Coronary angiograms of 217 patients were assessed. Chronic ...

An acute increase in the international normalized ratio (INR; a comparison of prothrombin time to monitor the effects of warfarin) over 3 in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often associated with an unexplained acute increase in serum creatinine (SC) and an accelerated progression of CKD. Kidney biopsy in ...

Few studies have been done on the relation between acetylator status and allergic diseases. To determine any possible association between acetylating phenotype in pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and the disease prognosis. Thirty-six pediatric patients and forty two healthy children as a control group were participated in the study. ...

BACKGROUND: Kidney impairment is noted in primary aldosteronism (PA), and probably initiated by glomerular hyperfiltration. METHODS: A prospectively defined survey was conducted of 602 patients who were suspected of PA in the multiple-center Taiwan Primary Aldosteronism Investigation (TAIPAI) database. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated and followed up at ...

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are high in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients compared to the general population. Systemic inflammation may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis in CKD patients. We assessed the relationship among, endothelial dysfunction, early atherosclerosis and inflammation in predialysis, dialysis and post kidney-transplantation CKD patients. ...

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), most commonly caused by cast nephropathy resulting from precipitation of free light chains (FLC) in renal tubules. AKI may be irreversible and require dialysis and predicts a poor prognosis. Reduction in serum FLC concentration is thought to be ...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to identify clinical and kidney morphologic features that predict a favorable blood pressure (BP) response to renal artery stenting (RAS). METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 149 patients who underwent primary RAS over 9 years. Patients were categorized as "responders" based on ...

Aim:  Hyperuricemia is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and cardiovascular events (CVE). In a US study, only 4% of rheumatologists initiated urate-lowering therapy in patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AHU). The present study aimed to clarify how Japanese board-certified nephrologists manage AHU in CKD patients. Methods:  Questionnaires on management ...

Background: The evaluation of health-related quality of life (QOL) in chronic kidney disease intends to quantify its consequences, according to the patient’s subjective perception. Aim: To evaluate the health-related QOL in four groups of patients followed at our Nephrology Department: chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 1-4, kidney transplant (KT), haemodialysis ...

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a factor that affects the outcome of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, there are only a few reports on the management of anemia in Japanese patients with CKD who are not on dialysis. METHODS: We investigated the prevalence, related factors and management of anemia in ...

Objective. Recent studies have identified chronic kidney disease (CKD) as an important risk factor for vasculopathies. While the link between CKD and cardiovascular events is well established, the link with cerebrovascular lesions (CVL) has been less well described. METHODS: We studied the prevalence and prognostic importance of CKD in 1014 ...

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: The RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss of kidney function, and end-stage renal failure) classification for acute kidney injury (AKI) was recently modified by the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN). The two definition systems differ in several aspects, and it is not clearly determined which has the better clinical ...

Early detection and timely intervention are important for improving contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) prognosis. Whether urinary N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG) is a useful marker for early detection of CIN was investigated in 590 patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography (CA) and/or therapeutic percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndromes or stable angina, and ...

We examined the associations of circulating levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and some other inflammatory mediators with cardiorenal syndrome. In advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), the values of area under the curve of PTX3, tumor necrosis factor α, ...

Idiopathic peripheral facial nerve palsy or Bell's palsy (BP) is the most common cause of facial nerve palsy. To evaluate the role of glucose metabolism abnormalities in BP. We identified 148 patients with unilateral BP and 128 control subjects. In all we evaluated glucose level at fasting and after a ...

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation and loss of appetite is the most common problem in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This comparative cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the changes in circulating levels of ghrelin, obestatin, leptin, all of which have an effect on food intake, and proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor ...

Background: Cinacalcet reduces intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), Ca and P serum levels in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). Methods: This Spanish, multicenter, observational, retrospective study collected data from SHPT dialysis patients 12 weeks before and up to 72 weeks after starting cinacalcet in clinical practice. Results: Data from 428 patients ...

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that is characterized by recurrent episodes of intense vomiting. There are several postulated mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis and one potential explanation for this disorder may be linked to autonomic dysfunction. The aim of our study was to evaluate autonomic nerve ...

Leptospirosis is the most important zoonosis in the world. Patients are typically young men. Several factors are involved in acute kidney injury (AKI) in leptospirosis, including direct nephrotoxic action of the leptospira, hyperbilirubinemia, rhabdomyolysis and hypovolemia. The major histological findings are acute interstitial nephritis and acute tubular necrosis. Leptospirosis-induced AKI ...

Continuous ionic dialysance monitoring is a useful clinical tool to determine the dialysis dose in real time in each hemodialysis session. We followed up 49 patients for 16 months. Six patients with a Kt reduction of ≥20% in >3 consecutive hemodialysis sessions were identified. Fistulography demonstrated significant stenosis in all ...

Abstract Conclusions: Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) with multiple involvement of cranial nerves is more severe and intractable than RHS without such involvement. Objectives: Typically, RHS involves VII and VIII nerves and unilaterally, and RHS accompanied by multiple cranial neuropathy is very rare. We describe 11 patients who developed RHS with ...

This study reports the signs and symptoms that are the features of trigeminal nerve injuries caused by local anaesthesia (LA). Thirty-three patients with nerve injury following LA were assessed. All data were analysed using the SPSS statistical programme and Microsoft Excel. Lingual nerve injury (LNI; n = 16) and inferior ...

Efforts to increase the number of functioning arteriovenous fistulas in chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 4 and 5 have been impacted by concerns about the risk for contrast-induced nephropathy during diagnostic and interventional procedures for poorly developed fistulas. We conducted a prospective observational study of low volume iodinated contrast administration ...

This study reports the signs and symptoms that are the features of trigeminal nerve injuries caused by local anaesthesia (LA). Thirty-three patients with nerve injury following LA were assessed. All data were analysed using the SPSS statistical programme and Microsoft Excel. Lingual nerve injury (LNI; n = 16) and inferior ...

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is one of the reasons of acute polyneuropathy causing severe morbidity and mortality. Forty-six patients with GBS were included in our study. Clinical, laboratory, electrophysiological and prognostic features of the patients were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of children who attained ...

Hemifacial spasm is commonly caused by arterial compression of the facial nerve. Although vascular compression usually occurs at the facial nerve exit zone, in some cases, the facial nerve is compressed more distally. We analyzed the clinical outcome of microneurovascular decompression in patients with hemifacial spasm caused by either distal ...

The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors for severe thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) and compressive optic neuropathy in Korean patients. This study was a retrospective comparative case series. All TAO patients who were first seen at our institution between 2005 and 2009 and who had follow-up periods of ...

Background:  Involvement of visceral organs usually dominates the clinical picture of primary systemic AL amyloidosis, but some patients suffer from serious peripheral neuropathy. The aim of this study is to clinically and electrophysiologically investigate peripheral nerve involvement in AL amyloidosis patients. Patients and methods:  We reviewed clinical manifestations, electrophysiological findings ...

The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is effective in the treatment of dysmenorrhea associated with adenomyosis. However, the mechanism of pain relief of LNG-IUS in patients with adenomyosis is unclear. We aimed to investigate the effects of LNG-IUS on the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptors, NGFR p75 ...

Gluten sensitivity can engender neurologic dysfunction, one of the two commonest presentations being peripheral neuropathy. The commonest type of neuropathy seen in the context of gluten sensitivity is sensorimotor axonal. We report 17 patients with sensory ganglionopathy associated with gluten sensitivity. This is a retrospective observational case series of 17 ...

Sensory neuronopathies (SN) represent a subgroup of peripheral nervous system disorders which are becoming increasingly recognized. Despite a few reports of autonomic dysfunction, this complication has not been fully appreciated. Autonomic function was quantified through tests of sympathetic and parasympathetic function (forming the Autonomic Tests Score, ATS), and through a ...

To analyze the efficacy of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) immunosuppression in the management of active thyroid eye disease (TED). This is a consecutive case series of 36 patients treated with 1 g of IVMP over 3 days, between January 2000 and January 2008. The indications for this treatment were moderate to ...

Premature closure of one coronal skull suture produces a characteristic arching or relative elevation of the superior orbital rim on the involved side. This sign is associated with facial asymmetry, and both signs are usually the most conspicuous features in patients with mild unilateral coronal craniosynostosis. Photographs suggest that at ...

To investigate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with ultrasound (US) in asymptomatic SSc patients and to seek out the relationship between CTS and SSc clinical variables In 64 SSc patients (55 women and 9 men, mean age 57±14 years) and in 30 healthy controls, area (MNA), transverse (MNT) and anteroposterior (MNAP) ...

In this article, 2 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) are presented. These patients developed respiratory failure which could not be explained by any cardiac or pulmonary pathology. The first case had pure motor involvement and probable CIDP, and the second case had severe sensorial dysfunction and an ataxic ...

The functions of the human face are not only of esthetic significance but also extend into metaphoric nuances of psychology. The loss of function of one or both facial nerves has a remarkable impact on patients' lives. To retrospectively analyze the functional outcomes of microneurovascular facial reanimation using masseteric innervation. ...

Our objective was to review patients who presented to our medical center with a diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis affecting the vagus nerve and to present symptoms, progression, treatments, and outcome. We performed a chart review of patients who presented to our medical center in the past 10 years with a diagnosis ...

The potential association between the severity of autonomic dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy has not been extensively investigated, with the few studies yielding inconsistent results. We evaluated the relationship between autonomic dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy in chronic hemodialysis patients in a cross-sectional study. Cardiovascular autonomic function was assessed in 42 consecutive ...

Increased weakness during cold (cold paresis) was reported in single cases of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). This was unexpected because demyelination is a feature of MMN and symptoms of demyelination improve, rather than worsen, in cold. It was hypothesized that cold paresis in MMN does not reflect demyelination only, but ...

Anti-SOX1 antibodies have been described to be positive in patients with paraneoplastic Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome and, in a lower amount, in patients with anti-Hu positive paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, and with SCLC alone, respectively. We found 5/32 patients with paraneoplastic neuropathy and, surprisingly, 4/22 patients with neuropathy of unknown origin positive ...

OBJECTIVE: Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) due to amyloidogenic transthyretin (TTR) is often associated with impairment of thermonociceptive functions. This study investigated skin innervation and its clinical significance in genetically defined FAP due to a hot-spot Ala97Ser TTR mutation (Ala97Ser). METHODS: Skin biopsies were performed on the distal leg of patients ...

Type 1 Gaucher disease is currently categorized as non-neuronopathic, although recent studies suggest peripheral neurological manifestations. We report prevalence and incidence data for peripheral neuropathy and associated conditions from a multinational, prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study in patients with type 1 Gaucher disease, either untreated or receiving enzyme replacement therapy. ...