Osteoprotegerin, inflammation and dyslipidemia are associated with abdominal aortic calcification in non-diabetic patients on peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Abdominal aortic calcification (AC) has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in hemodialysis patients but is rarely discussed in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We examined the independent predictors and predictive power for survival of AC in prevalent PD patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: AC was detected by computed tomography (CT) and represented as the percentage of the total aortic cross-section area affected by AC (%AC). The predictors of %AC ≥ 15 were examined by multiple logistic regression analysis. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to determine the hazard ratios associated with high %AC. A total of 183 PD patients were recruited to receive CT scans and divided into group 1 (%AC < 15, n = 97), group 2 (%AC ≥ 15, n = 41), and group 3 (diabetic patients, n = 45). Group 1 patients had lower osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels than group 2 patients (798 ± 378 vs. 1308 ± 1350 pg/mL, p < 0.05). The independent predictors for %AC ≥ 15 included the atherogenic index, OPG, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The age-adjusted hazard ratios associated with %AC ≥ 15 were 3.46 (p = 0.043) for mortality and 1.90 (p = 0.007) for hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: %AC can predict mortality and morbidity in non-diabetic PD patients, and 15% is a good cut-off value for such predictions. There are complex associations among mineral metabolism, inflammation, and dyslipidemia in the pathogenesis of AC.

Rupture of pectoralis major muscle in an elderly patient receiving long-term hemodialysis: case report and literature review.

Total or near-total rupture of the pectoralis major muscle is rare. It has mainly occurred in male patients between 20 - 40 years of age while performing weight-lifting. Major tendon rupture is a rare but well-documented complication of long-term dialysis. However, rupture of pectoralis major in dialysis patients had never been reported before. Here, we present a pectoralis major rupture in an elderly patient receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Both old age and long-term dialysis could be risk factors of rupture. The clinicians should pay more attention to this complication when taking care of elderly patients on hemodialysis.

Campylobacter jejuni peritonitis and bacteremia in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Gram-negative pathogen-induced continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis- (CAPD) related peritonitis is increasing, especially that caused by enteric pathogens. We describe a 54-year-old Taiwanese man with a case of Campylobacter jejuni-mediated CAPD-related peritonitis and bacteremia. Positive Campylobacter jejuni dialysate and blood cultures confirmed the diagnosis of CAPD-mediated systemic infection. We initially administered intraperitoneal ceftazidime, amikacin and oral azithromycin, but the patient did not recover. We then administered i.v. ciprofloxacin and replaced the hemodialysis (HD). The patient recovered and was discharged with maintenance HD. Treatment of Campylobacter jejuni-mediated CAPD peritonitis is a challenge in areas with high antibiotic resistance.

Synthesis of fluorescent and photovoltaic Cu(2)O nanocubes.

Hollow and filled Cu(2)O nanocubes of about 28 ± 5 nm in edge length with a band gap ∼2.42 eV have been prepared from cupric nitrate in alkaline aqueous solutions containing fructose and ascorbic acid at room temperature. To the best of our knowledge, this simple strategy demonstrates the first example of preparing high-quality Cu(2)O nanocubes (yield>95%) with sizes smaller than 30 nm. By controlling several important experimental parameters such as pH, concentrations of fructose, and molar ratios of fructose/copper (II), different Cu(2)O nanostructures were prepared. The cubic nanostructures were evidenced by the metal shadowing and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images. We confirmed that the Cu(2)O nanocubes were formed from hollow to filled structures by conducting time-evolution TEM measurements. The thus-prepared Cu(2)O nanocubes possess size-dependence absorption and luminescence characteristics; they absorb light at wavelengths 360 and 454 nm and fluoresce at 493 nm (quantum yield 6.6 × 10(-2)%) when excited at 360 nm. A film of Cu(2)O nanocubes provided a photocurrent density of ∼80 mA m(-2) at a biased voltage 3 V under sunlight illumination (100 mW cm(-2)).

Honokiol, a small molecular weight natural product, alleviates experimental mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.

Glomerulonephritis (GN) is still the most common cause of end-stage renal disease. Accumulation of glomerular macrophages, proliferation of mesangial cells, and deposition of extracellular matrix proteins are pathobiological hallmarks of GN. Pharmacological interventions that can inhibit these insults may be beneficial in the retardation of the progression of GN. Honokiol originally isolated from Magnolia officinalis, shows antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities in a variety of inflammation models. In this study, we first investigated the in vivo effects of honokiol on rat anti-Thy1 nephritis. Anti-Thy1 nephritis was induced in Wistar rats by injecting mouse anti-rat Thy1 antibodies intravenously. Nephritic rats were randomly assigned to receive honokiol (2.5 mg/kg, twice a day) or vehicle and were killed at various time points. Glomerular histology and immunohistopathology and urine protein excretion were studied. Western blotting was conducted for markers of proliferation. Adhesion molecules, chemokine, and extracellular matrix gene expression were evaluated by Northern blotting. Honokiol-treated nephritic rats excreted less urinary protein and had lower glomerular cellularity and sclerosis. The increased intraglomerular proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Akt phosphorylation in nephritic rats could be abolished by the treatment of honokiol. Honokiol also alleviated glomerular monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1, similar to type I (alpha1) collagen and fibronectin mRNA levels of nephritic rats. These results indicate that honokiol may have therapeutic potential in mesangial proliferative GN.