A decrease in serum creatinine after ICU admission is associated with increased mortality.

BACKGROUND: The elevation of serum creatinine (SCr), acute kidney injury (AKI), is associated with an increase of mortality in critically ill patients. However, it is uncertain whether a decrease in SCr in the intensive care unit (ICU) has an effect on outcomes. METHODS: In a retrospective study, we enrolled 486 patients who had been admitted to an urban tertiary center ICU between Jan 2014 and Dec 2014. The effect of changes in SCr after ICU admission on 90 day mortality was analyzed. Patients were classified into 3 groups based on change in SCr after ICU admission: a stable SCr group (Δ SCr < 0.3mg/dL during ICU stay), a decreased SCr group (Δ SCr ≥ -0.3 mg/dL during ICU stay) and an increased SCr group with criteria based on the KDIGO AKI criteria. RESULTS: In total, 486 patients were identified. SCr decreased in 123 (25.3%) patients after ICU admission. AKI developed in 125 (24.4%) patients. The overall 90-day mortality rate was 29.0%. In a Kaplan-Meyer analysis, the mortality of the AKI group was higher than that of other groups (p<0.0001). Patients with a decrease in SCr had a higher mortality rate than those with stable SCr (p<0.0001). A Cox analysis showed that both a decrease in SCR (HR, 3.56; 95% CI, 1.59-7.97; p = 0.002) and an increase in SCr (AKI stage 1, HR, 9.35; 95% CI, 4.18-20.9; p<0.0001; AKI stage 2, HR, 11.82; 95% CI, 3.85-36.28; p<0.0001; AKI stage 3, HR, 17.41; 95% CI, 5.50-55.04; p<0.0001) were independent risk factors for death compared to stable SCr. CONCLUSION: Not only an increase in SCr, but also a decrease in SCr was associated with mortality in critically ill patients.

Predictors of postoperative eGFR change and resolution of hyperfiltration in obese patients following bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery (BS) can improve glomerular hyperfiltration (GHPF). Very few studies identified associative factors with glomerular filtration rate and resolution from GHPF after BS. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the predictors of estimated GFR (eGFR) changes and resolution from GHPF after BS. SETTING: University hospital, Republic of Korea. METHODS: We enrolled patients who underwent BS for obesity from January 2008 to December 2014 and had more than a year of follow-up. GHPF was defined as an eGFR above 95th percentile values for age- and sex-matched cohorts extracted from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Database. Patients with baseline eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 138 patients (age interquartile range [IQR] 28-43; 21 men, 117 women) were analyzed. The median follow-up period was 36 months (IQR 25-45 mo). One hundred twenty patients (87%) were defined as having GHPF and 75 (54%) resolved after surgery. Multivariate analysis found that sex, preoperative body mass index (BMI), and age were predictive of postoperative eGFR. In patients with preoperative GHPF, female and lower BMI groups had significantly higher resolution rates (P = .012 for sex, P = .016 for BMI). Younger age was related with early resolution after BS. CONCLUSIONS: Younger patients had a faster eGFR decline after BS. Predictive factors for resolution of GHPF after BS include female sex and lower BMI.

Severity of community acquired hypernatremia is an independent predictor of mortality.

Hypernatremia develops commonly in critically ill patients during hospitalization, and is associated with adverse outcomes. However, community acquired hypernatremia (CAH) has been rarely studied. We conducted a study in patients who presented to an urban referral hospital, and were admitted with CAH. We retrospectively analyzed patients admitted to an urban tertiary care hospital from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014. CAH is defined as more than 147 mEq/L at admission in patients not transferred from other hospitals. Severity of hypernatremia is categorized as mild (148-150 mEq/L), moderate (151-154 mEq/L) or severe (≥155 mEq/L). All data were extracted from electronic medical records and the major outcome is hospital mortality. During the study period, 79,998 patients were admitted to the hospital. Of them, 178 patients (0.2%) had hypernatremia at the time of admission. 121 (68.0%) had mild hypernatremia, 33 (18.5%) had moderate hypernatremia, and 24 (13.5%) had severe hypernatremia at admission. During the hospital stay, 91 (51.1%) developed mild hypernatremia, 31 (17.4%) developed moderate hypernatremia and 56 (31.5%) developed severe hypernatremia. Mean duration of hypernatremia was 2.3 ± 2.0 days. The length of hospital stay was 7 (interquartile range 3-23) days and hospital mortality was 24.3%. Multivariate analysis shows that a peak sodium level that qualified as moderate [OR = 11.50, 95% CI (2.67-49.42)] or severe hypernatremia [OR = 5.18, 95% CI (1.43-18.79)] is an independent risk factor for hospital mortality compared to mild hypernatremia. Admission from the emergency department (ED), oral intake restriction, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and respiratory rate (RR) at admission time are also independently associated with hospital mortality. Maximum sodium level in CAH is independently associated with hospital mortality.

Clinical value of pathologic examination of non-neoplastic kidney in patients with upper urinary tract malignancies.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: While surgical resection remains the standard of care in the treatment of upper urinary tract malignancies, nephrectomy is a risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to determine whether histologic evaluation of non-neoplastic kidney could enable early identification of unrecognized kidney disease and could be of prognostic value in predicting postoperative renal outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 51 patients with upper urinary tract malignancies who received uninephrectomy or uninephroureterectomy. A thorough pathologic evaluation of non-neoplastic kidney including special stains, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopic studies was performed. The degree of parenchymal changes was graded from 0 to 15. RESULTS: Of 51 patients, only 13 showed normal kidney pathology. Fifteen patients showed glomerular abnormalities, 14 showed diabetic nephropathy, and 11 showed vascular nephropathy. There was one case each of reflux nephropathy and chronic pyelonephritis. The median histologic score was 5 points. Only 25.4% of patients had ≤ 3 points. Score more than 5 was observed in 47.1% of patients. Postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 3 to 36 months were obtained from 90.2% of patients, and of those, 34.8% had de novo CKD. Since no one had CKD in partial nephrectomized patients, we determined risk factors for CKD in radical nephrectomized patients. Cox regression analysis revealed that postoperative AKI, preoperative eGFR, and histologic score of non-neoplastic kidney were the independent predictors for CKD. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that routine pathologic evaluation of non-neoplastic kidney provides valuable diagnostic and prognostic information.

A Case of Anaphylaxis Induced by Contact with Young Radish (Raphanus sativus L).

Young radish (Raphanus sativus L), a member of the mustard family (Cruciferae), is a common ingredient of Kimchi. Although few reports have described anaphylaxis to cruciferous vegetables, we report the case of anaphylaxis induced by contact with young radish. A 46-year-old female with a history of contact allergy to metal presented to our emergency room (ER) with dizziness, generalized eruption and gastrointestinal upset. Her symptoms developed after re-exposure to young radish while chopping it. Hypotensive blood pressures were noted. Three days prior, the patient had experienced generalized urticaria with pruritus immediately after chopping the fresh young radish, which resolved spontaneously. In the ER, her symptoms improved by the administration of epinephrine (0.3 mL), antihistamine (chlorpheniramine) and isotonic saline hydration. A skin prick test with young radish extract showed positive reactivity. The same skin test was negative in five adult controls. IgE-mediated hypersensitivity could be an important immunologic mechanism in the development of young radish-induced anaphylaxis.

Comparison of High-resolution Anorectal Manometry With Water-perfused Anorectal Manometry.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To date, high-resolution manometry has been used mainly in the study of esophageal motility disorders and has been shown to provide more physiological information than conventional manometry, and is easier to interpret. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of high-resolution anorectal manometry (HRARM) compared to water-perfused anorectal manometry. METHODS: Patients who complained of chronic constipation with/without fecal incontinence underwent both water-perfused anorectal manometry and HRARM in a random order on the same day. Resting and squeezing pressures of the anal sphincter, attempted defecation, rectoanal inhibitory reflex, rectoanal contractile reflex, Rao's type of dyssynergia during attempted defecation, anal canal length, defecation dynamic parameters and measurement times for each method were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 14 patients, 7 were female, and the median age was 59 years (range 35-77). Indications for manometry were constipation (n = 8) and constipation with fecal incontinence (n = 6). Resting and squeezing pressures showed that the two methods were strongly correlated (resting pressure: r = 0.746, P = 0.002; squeezing pressure: r = 0.921, P < 0.001). In attempted defection, one equivocal case with water-perfused anorectal manometry was diagnosed type I pelvic floor dyssynergia with HRARM providing detailed pressure changes in internal and external anal spincters, and puborectalis muscle which improved assessment of anorectal disorders. The measurement time for HRARM was significantly shorter than that for water-perfused anorectal manometry (11.3 vs. 23.0 minutes, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both water-perfused anorectal manometry and HRARM are well tolerated and reliable methods of evaluating defecation disorders of pelvic floor dysfunction. HRARM is likely to provide better physiological information and to require a shorter measurement time compared to water-perfused anorectal manometry.

The effects of bronchiectasis on asthma exacerbation.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis and asthma are different in many respects, but some patients have both conditions. Studies assessing the effect of bronchiectasis on asthma exacerbation are rare. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of bronchiectasis on asthma exacerbation. METHODS: We enrolled 2,270 asthma patients who were followed up in our hospital. Fifty patients had bronchiectasis and asthma. We selected fifty age- and sex-matched controls from the 2,220 asthma patients without bronchiectasis, and assessed asthma exacerbation and its severity based on the annual incidence of total asthma exacerbation, annual prevalence of steroid use, and frequency of emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to asthma exacerbation in each group. RESULTS: Fifty patients (2.2%) had bronchiectasis and asthma. The annual incidence of asthma exacerbation was higher in patients with asthma and bronchiectasis than in patients with asthma alone (1.08±1.68 vs. 0.35±0.42, p=0.004). The annual prevalence of steroid use (0.9±1.54 vs. 0.26±0.36, p=0.006) and the frequency of emergency room visits (0.46±0.84 vs. 0.02±0.13, p=0.001) due to asthma exacerbation were also higher in patients with asthma and bronchiectasis than in patients with asthma alone. CONCLUSION: Bronchiectasis is associated with difficult asthma control.

Erratum: the effects of bronchiectasis on asthma exacerbation.

[This corrects the article on p. 209 in vol. 77, PMID: 25473408.].