Associations between Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (sRAGE) and S100A12 (EN-RAGE) with Mortality in Long-term Hemodialysis Patients

Hemodialysis (HD) patients experience vascular calcification, ultimately leading to high mortality rates. Previously, we reported associations between soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGEs) and extracellular newly identified RAGE-binding protein S100A12 (EN-RAGE) and vascular calcification. Here, we extended our observations, investigating whether these biomarkers may be useful for predicting cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in these subjects. Thus, we evaluated the relationship between sRAGE and S100A12 and mortality in long-term HD patients. This was a prospective observational cohort study in 199 HD patients from an extended analysis of our previous study. Plasma sRAGE, S100A12, comorbidities, and other traditional risk factors were investigated. The cumulative incidences for death using Cox proportional hazards regression were evaluated in multivariable analyses. The observation period was 44 months. During the observation period, 27 (13.6%) patients died. Univariate analysis demonstrated that S100A12 was correlated with diabetes (P = 0.040) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (P = 0.006). In multivariable analyses, plasma sRAGE (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.155; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.612–2.183; P = 0.656) and S100A12 (HR = 0.960; 95% CI = 0.566–1.630; P = 0.881) were not associated with mortality in HD patients, although traditional predictors of mortality, including age, history of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and serum levels of albumin and hsCRP were related to mortality. Powerful predictors of mortality were age, CVD, and albumin levels. Plasma sRAGE and S100A12 may be weak surrogate markers for predicting all-cause mortality in patients undergoing HD, although S100A12 was partly related to diabetes and inflammation.

Mycobacterium intracellulare Pulmonary Disease with Endobronchial Caseation in a Patient Treated with Methotrexate / 결핵및호흡기질환

Methotrexate (MTX) has been established as a standard disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug. If adequate disease control is achieved for a reasonable period of time, tapering the MTX dosage is recommended because the chronic use of MTX can result in opportunistic infection. We present here a case of a woman with rheumatoid arthritis taking MTX, and the woman developed actively caseating endobronchial Mycobacterium intracellulare disease with pulmonary infiltrations. After discontinuing the MTX, the patient was able to tolerate 18 months of antimycobacterial treatment without flare ups of rheumatoid arthritis, and she completely recovered from nontuberculous mycobacterial respiratory disease.

A Case of Acute Kidney Cortex Necrosis Caused by Tranexamic-Acid / 대한내과학회지

Kidney cortex necrosis is a relatively rare cause of acute kidney injury and is characterized by complete or partial destruction of the renal cortex, but sparing of the medulla. Tranexamic acid has antifibrinolytic activity and is used to reduce bleeding. We report a rare case of kidney cortex necrosis caused by tranexamic acid. A 49-year-old woman complained of coughing up blood-tinged sputum. She had a history of bronchiectasis and was treated with tranexamic acid for 3 days. Four days after admission, she developed anuria and azotemia. Computerized tomography showed enhancement of the renal medulla, but not the bilateral renal cortex. The patient was treated with hemodialysis, and has since been maintained on hemodialysis for 6 months. Due to the development of kidney cortex necrosis in patients treated with tranexamic acid, all its potential complications should be considered.

A Case of Post-Operative Intra-Abdominal Infection Caused by Corynebacterium Striatum / 대한내과학회지

Corynebacterium striatum is an aerobic, Gram-positive bacillus that is part of the resident flora of skin and mucosal membranes. C. striatum is usually considered a non-pathogenic contaminant, although infective endocarditis and respiratory infection, and less frequently arthritis and meningitis, due to C. striatum have been reported. C. striatum has been particularly associated with catheter-related infections and infections following conditions that resulted in disruption of the skin barrier in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts. We describe a case of post-operative intra-abdominal infection caused by the rare pathogen, C. striatum.

A case of emphysematous hepatitis with spontaneous pneumoperitoneum in a patient with hilar cholangiocarcinoma / 대한간학회지

An 80-year-old woman with hilar cholangiocarcinoma was hospitalized due to sudden-onset abdominal pain. Computed tomography revealed hepatic necrosis accompanied with emphysematous change in the superior segment of the right liver (S7/S8), implying spontaneous rupture, based on the presence of perihepatic free air. Although urgent percutaneous drainage was performed, neither pus nor fluids were drained. These findings suggest emphysematous hepatitis with a hepatic mass. Despite the application of intensive care, the patient's condition deteriorated rapidly, and she died 3 days after admission to hospital. Liver gas has been reported in some clinical diseases (e.g., liver abscess) to be caused by gas-forming organisms; however, emphysematous hepatitis simulating emphysematous pyelonephritis is very rare. The case reported here was of fatal emphysematous hepatitis in a patient with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Low Resistin Level is Associated with Poor Hospitalization-Free Survival in Hemodialysis Patients

Malnutrition and inflammation are related to high rates of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Resistin is associated with nutrition and inflammation. We attempted to determine whether resistin levels may predict clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients. We conducted a prospective evaluation of 100 outpatients on hemodialysis in a single dialysis center (male, 46%; mean age, 53.7 +/- 16.4 yr). We stratified the patients into 4 groups according to quartiles of serum resistin levels. During the 18-month observational period, patients with the lowest quartile of serum resistin levels had poor hospitalization-free survival (log rank test, P = 0.016). After adjustment of all co-variables, patients with the lowest quartile of serum resistin levels had poor hospitalization-free survival, compared with reference resistin levels. Higher levels of interleukin-6 were an independent predictor of poor hospitalization-free survival. In contrast, serum resistin levels were not correlated with interleukin-6 levels. The current data showed that low resistin levels may independently predict poor hospitalization free survival in hemodialysis patients.

A Case of Acute Kidney Cortex Necrosis Caused by Tranexamic-Acid / 대한내과학회지

Kidney cortex necrosis is a relatively rare cause of acute kidney injury and is characterized by complete or partial destruction of the renal cortex, but sparing of the medulla. Tranexamic acid has antifibrinolytic activity and is used to reduce bleeding. We report a rare case of kidney cortex necrosis caused by tranexamic acid. A 49-year-old woman complained of coughing up blood-tinged sputum. She had a history of bronchiectasis and was treated with tranexamic acid for 3 days. Four days after admission, she developed anuria and azotemia. Computerized tomography showed enhancement of the renal medulla, but not the bilateral renal cortex. The patient was treated with hemodialysis, and has since been maintained on hemodialysis for 6 months. Due to the development of kidney cortex necrosis in patients treated with tranexamic acid, all its potential complications should be considered.

A Case of Post-Operative Intra-Abdominal Infection Caused by Corynebacterium Striatum / 대한내과학회지

Corynebacterium striatum is an aerobic, Gram-positive bacillus that is part of the resident flora of skin and mucosal membranes. C. striatum is usually considered a non-pathogenic contaminant, although infective endocarditis and respiratory infection, and less frequently arthritis and meningitis, due to C. striatum have been reported. C. striatum has been particularly associated with catheter-related infections and infections following conditions that resulted in disruption of the skin barrier in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts. We describe a case of post-operative intra-abdominal infection caused by the rare pathogen, C. striatum.

Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome Induced by Ethambutol and Rifampin

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a disorder which can be caused by treatment with a diverse collection of drugs, and it is characterized by fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, and internal organ involvement with eosinophilia. Although ethambutol and rifampin are popularly used to treat tuberculosis, there has been only one reported case of DRESS syndrome associated with ethambutol. DRESS syndrome associated with administration of rifampin have not been reported. In this report and discussion, we present the case of a patient suffering from DRESS syndrome induced by both ethambutol and rifampin.

A Comparison of Two Brands of Clopidogrel in Patients With Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although generic clopidogrel is widely used, clinical efficacy and safety between generic and original clopidogrel had not been well evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of 2 oral formulations of clopidogrel 75 mg tablets in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between July 2006 and February 2009, 428 patients that underwent implantation with DES for CAD and completed >1 year of clinical follow-up were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into the following 2 groups based on treatment formulation, Platless(R) (test formulation, n=211) or Plavix(R) (reference formulation, n=217). The incidence of 1-year major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) and stent thrombosis (ST) were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The baseline demographic and procedural characteristics were not significantly different between two treatment groups. The incidence of 1-year MACCEs was 8.5% {19/211, 2 deaths, 4 myocardial infarctions (MIs), 2 strokes, and 11 target vessel revascularizations (TVRs)} in Platless(R) group vs. 7.4% (16/217, 4 deaths, 1 MI, 2 strokes, and 9 TVRs) in Plavix(R) group (p=0.66). The incidence of 1-year ST was 0.5% (1 definite and subacute ST) in Platless(R) group vs. 0% in Plavix(R) group (p=0.49). CONCLUSION: In this study, the 2 tablet preparations of clopidogrel showed similar rates of MACCEs, but additional prospective randomized studies with pharmacodynamics and platelet reactivity are needed to conclude whether generic clopidgrel may replace original clopidogrel.

Volume Control by Using the Body Composition Monitor in a Puerperal Patient on Hemodialysis

Accurate measurement of the volume status in hemodialysis patients is important as it can affect mortality. However, no studies have been conducted regarding volume management in cases where a sudden change of body fluid occurs, such as during puerperium in hemodialysis patients. This report presents a case in which the patient was monitored for her body composition and her volume status was controlled using a body composition monitor (BCM) during the puerperal period. This case suggests that using a BCM for volume management may help maintain hemodynamic stability in patients with a rapidly changing volume status for a short term period, such as during puerperium.

Acute Severe Symptomatic Hyponatremia Following Coronary Angiography

Hyponatremia is a relatively common electrolyte disorder. Although severe acute hyponatremia following coronary angiography is rare, potentially lethal neurologic manifestations may result. We describe a patient with severe, symptomatic hyponatremia, an unusual complication of coronary angiography. Lack of familiarity with contrast media-related hyponatremia caused a delay in diagnosis and therapy in our case. The diagnosis of acute hyponatremia should be considered in any patient who develops behavioral or neurologic manifestations following coronary angiography. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is essential to avoid permanent neurologic damage or death.

Kaposi's Sarcoma in a Patient on Hemodialysis / 대한신장학회지

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an unusual multifocal neoplasm of vascular endothelial cell origin. The trunk, arms, head, and neck are the most common sites. It is common in men and has four distinct variants: classic, Africa-endemic, immunosuppressive drug-associated, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated KS. KS appears to develop immunosuppressed patients, but is uncommon in patients on dialysis. A 79-year-old man on hemodialysis for 2 months presented with pruritus over the entire body and multiple, discrete, variable-sized, dark blue papulonodules (papuloplaques, maculopapules) on the left arm and shoulder. A biopsy specimen form the left arm showed spindle cells with slit-like spaces and extravasated red blood cells. The specimen was positive for CD 34 antigen, and human herpesvirus 8 was detected. We report a case of KS that occurred in a 79-year-old patient on hemodialysis.