Martial Art Training and Cognitive Performance in Middle-Aged Adults.

Cognitive performance includes the processes of attention, memory, processing speed, and executive functioning, which typically declines with aging. Previous research has demonstrated that aerobic and resistance exercise improves cognitive performance immediately following exercise. However, there is limited research examining the effect that a cognitively complex exercise such as martial art training has on these cognitive processes. Our study compared the acute effects of 2 types of martial art training to aerobic exercise on cognitive performance in middle-aged adults. We utilized a repeated measures design with the order of the 3 exercise conditions randomly assigned and counterbalanced. Ten recreational middle-aged martial artists (mean age = 53.5 ± 8.6 years) participated in 3 treatment conditions: a typical martial art class, an atypical martial art class, and a one-hour walk at a self-selected speed. Cognitive performance was assessed by the Stroop Color and Word test. While all 3 exercise conditions improved attention and processing speed, only the 2 martial art conditions improved the highest order of cognitive performance, executive function. The effect of the 2 martial art conditions on executive function was not different. The improvement in executive function may be due to the increased cortical demand required by the more complex, coordinated motor tasks of martial art exercise compared to the more repetitive actions of walking.

Follow-up of phase I trial of adalimumab and rosiglitazone in FSGS: III. Report of the FONT study group.

BACKGROUND: Patients with resistant primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) are at high risk of progression to chronic kidney disease stage V. Antifibrotic agents may slow or halt this process. We present outcomes of follow-up after a Phase I trial of adalimumab and rosiglitazone, antifibrotic drugs tested in the Novel Therapies in Resistant FSGS (FONT) study. METHODS: 21 patients--12 males and 9 females, age 16.0 +/- 7.5 yr, and estimated GFR (GFRe) 121 +/- 56 mL/min/1.73 m2--received adalimumab (n = 10), 24 mg/m2 every 14 days or rosiglitazone (n = 11), 3 mg/m2 per day for 16 weeks. The change in GFRe per month prior to entry and after completion of the Phase I trial was compared. RESULTS: 19 patients completed the 16-week FONT treatment phase. The observation period pre-FONT was 18.3 +/- 10.2 months and 16.1 +/- 5.7 months after the study. A similar percentage of patients, 71% and 56%, in the rosiglitazone and adalimumab cohorts, respectively, had stabilization in GFRe, defined as a reduced negative slope of the line plotting GFRe versus time without requiring renal replacement therapy after completion of the FONT treatment period (P = 0.63). CONCLUSION: Nearly 50% of patients with resistant FSGS who receive novel antifibrotic agents may have a legacy effect with delayed deterioration in kidney function after completion of therapy. Based on this proof-of-concept preliminary study, we recommend long-term follow-up of patients enrolled in clinical trials to ascertain a more comprehensive assessment of the efficacy of experimental treatments.

Diagnostic yield of renal biopsies: a retrospective single center review.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have examined the spectrum of diseases identified with a kidney biopsy and the complications of the procedure. However, few studies have examined the utility of the test to clarify the diagnosis and guide treatment of pediatric patients. This retrospective, single-center chart review was performed to test the hypothesis that at least 80% of native kidney biopsies provide clinically valuable information that rationally guides diagnosis and patient management. METHODS: 200 biopsies performed between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2008 were reviewed. A scheme composed of six categories was devised to classify the utility of each kidney biopsy. RESULTS: 196 complete case files were available for review. Twenty-four (12.2%) biopsies did not shed light on the diagnosis and were unhelpful in patient management - 21 biopsies (10.7%) were non-diagnostic and 3 (1.5%) failed to yield enough tissue for examination. The number of unhelpful biopsies did not cluster in any specific disease entity. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide guidance to nephrologists about the total risk of a kidney biopsy, including uninformative results, when seeking informed consent for the procedure. The results suggest an appropriate balance has been reached which maximizes the use of kidney biopsies while minimizing the risk of this invasive procedure (word count: 202).

IgA nephropathy: a twenty year retrospective single center experience.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a common glomerular disease whose etiology is unknown. Previous studies have described the clinical and laboratory features but none have specifically compared patients during different time periods. This 20 year retrospective study was performed to assess trends in the severity of IgAN from 1989-2008. We reviewed 57 patient charts that contained a confirmed biopsy diagnosis of IgAN and recorded data at the time of diagnosis and the final follow-up appointment. Clinical data included physical examination, urine, and blood tests. Patients were separated into two cohorts, Cohort 1 1989-1998 and Cohort 2 1999-2008. An increase in severity was noted in Cohort 2 based on a significantly higher Up/c and lower serum albumin level. Other prognostic indicators including GFRe, hematocrit, and glomerular injury score also demonstrated a trend towards more severe disease over the past 20 years. The patients in both Cohorts received similar treatments and had comparable renal function at the last follow-up visit. Based on our findings, we suggest that although a kidney biopsy is required to diagnose IgAN, the procedure may not be necessary in patients clinically suspected of having the disease but who have normal kidney function and minimal urine abnormalities.

Pilot study of mycophenolate mofetil for treatment of kidney disease due to congenital urinary tract disorders in children.

BACKGROUND: Congenital uropathies account for nearly half the chronic kidney disease in children. Immune-mediated injury may contribute to progressive loss of kidney function in affected patients. STUDY DESIGN: Open-label uncontrolled pilot study to determine the feasibility of treatment with the immunosuppressive drug mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to prevent a decrease in kidney function in pediatric patients with congenital uropathies. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Children treated in an outpatient tertiary-care center were eligible if they had: (1) age of 3 to 16 years, (2) glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 50 mL/min/1.73 m(2), and (3) a congenital genitourinary tract abnormality. INTERVENTION: After a 2-month run-in period, patients were prescribed MMF, 600 mg/m(2)/dose, twice daily for a 24-month treatment period. OUTCOMES: The primary end point was feasibility based on the ability to recruit and retain subjects and lack of unanticipated adverse events. The secondary end point was change in GFR. MEASUREMENTS: Patients were monitored by using standard clinical laboratory tests, and GFR was determined by means of iothalamate clearance. RESULTS: 12 patients aged 8.9 +/- 4.8 years (10 boys, 2 girls) were treated with MMF for 18.6 +/- 8.0 months; 7 patients completed the entire treatment period. MMF dosage at the final study visit was 381 +/- 241 mg/m(2) twice daily. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common adverse effect. There was only 1 serious adverse event, an episode of fever and neutropenia requiring parenteral antibiotic therapy after 21 months of MMF therapy. GFR remained stable throughout the treatment period. Nutritional status, blood pressure, and serum calcium, phosphorus, and cholesterol levels were unchanged during this period. LIMITATIONS: Insufficient power to assess the safety or efficacy of MMF therapy for patients with congenital uropathies. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to study MMF as an adjunctive therapy to retard the progression of kidney disease in children with congenital uropathies. A multicenter randomized clinical trial is warranted to determine the efficacy of this novel treatment strategy.