Accurate measurements of particle emissions from a three-dimensional printer using a chamber test with a mixer-installed sampling system.

Recently, three-dimensional (3D) printing has attracted attention as a new manufacturing technology. However, there is lack of data and regulations regarding the emissions of ultrafine particles from 3D printers. Therefore, we investigated particle emissions from a 3D printer using a chamber system. The test system was improved by installing a developed mixer for accurate measurement. Without a mixer, the particle concentration was unstable depending on the sampling point; however, reliable data with good uniformity were obtained by installing a mixer. Using the test system with a mixer, we investigated particle emissions from a 3D printer during operation. Filaments made each of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA) were used as the printing material. The effects of nozzle temperature and printing time were investigated. Compared to the effect of the printing time, the nozzle temperature had greater impact on the particle emissions. The dominant particle size for the emissions from a 3D printer is less than 10 nm, and the particle concentration decreased with increasing particle size.

Predicting intradialytic hypotension using heart rate variability.

This study aimed to identify whether a new method using heart rate variability (HRV) could predict intradialytic hypotension (IDH) for one month in advance for patients undergoing prevalent hemodialysis. A total 71 patients were enrolled, and baseline clinical characteristics and laboratory results were collected when HRV was measured, then, the frequency of IDH was collected during the observation period. HRV parameters included heart rate, R-R interval, the standard deviation of N-N interval, the square root of the mean squared differences of successive NN intervals, very low frequency, low frequency, high frequency, total power, and low frequency/high frequency ratio. During the one-month observation period, 28 patients experienced 85 cases of IDH (10.0% of a total 852 dialysis sessions). Among the clinical and laboratory parameters, ultrafiltration rate, prior history of diabetes, coronary artery disease, or congestive heart failure, age, intact parathyroid hormone level, and history of antihypertensive drug use were integrated into the multivariate model, referred to as a basic model, which showed significant ability to predict IDH (the area-under-curve [AUC], 0.726; p = 0.002). In HRV parameters, changes between the early and middle phases of hemodialysis (referred to Δ) were identified as significant independent variables. New models were built from the combination of Δ values with the basic model. Among them, a model with the highest AUC value (AUC, 804; p < 0.001) was compared to the basic model and demonstrated improved performance when HRV parameters were used (p = 0.049). Based on our results, it is possible that future IDH might be predicted more accurately using HRV.

A case report of successful pregnancy and delivery after peritoneal dialysis in a patient misdiagnosed with primary infertility.

RATIONALE: Currently, 15% of women in fertility age are infertile and the frequency is increasing. Among the various causes of infertility, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been shown to decrease the frequency of pregnancies compared with normal females. However, dialysis of patients with ESRD increases the likelihood of pregnancy.Herein, we report successful pregnancy and delivery after peritoneal dialysis in a patient who was misdiagnosed as primary infertility. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 37-year-old female who was unaware of her ESRD was misdiagnosed with primary infertility. After undergoing artificial insemination, she was referred to department of internal medicine because of generalized edema, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, and poor oral intake. After evaluation, she was diagnosed with ESRD and initiated peritoneal dialysis. DIAGNOSES: The patients was on peritoneal dialysis for a year and discovered that she was pregnant. INTERVENTIONS: During pregnancy, the patient maintained a residual urine output, BUN levels below 50 mg/dL, controlled blood pressure and a targeted hemoglobin range. She obtained adequate calories and protein and was managed by a multidisciplinary team. OUTCOMES: The patient delivered a preterm male baby with no anomalies. LESSONS: ESRD should also be considered among the several causes of infertility in fertile women. If ESRD is the cause of infertility, the frequency of pregnancy increases following dialysis. If pregnancy is diagnosed early, intensive renal replacement therapy, adequate nutritional intake and regular fetal monitoring during pregnancy increase the chances of successful delivery while maintaining PD.

Association of proton pump inhibitor use with renal outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have suggested that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is associated with adverse renal outcomes, but obvious evidence for this association is lacking. We investigated the association between PPI use and adverse renal outcomes in patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: Of the 1,284 patients hospitalized for percutaneous coronary intervention between January 2007 and May 2012, 934 patients with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate greater than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were enrolled. Multivariable Cox models were used to examine whether PPI use was associated with acute and chronic adverse renal outcomes. RESULTS: In adjusted time-dependent Cox models, PPI use was associated with acute kidney injury (hazard ratio [HR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.05-2.02), especially in patients aged 65 years or younger (HR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.09 3.96) or in patients with diabetes (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.23-3.25). In multivariable Cox models, the association between duration of PPI use and chronic kidney disease development was not statistically significant (HR of heavy users, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.61-3.67), but a longer duration of PPI use was associated with mild renal progression in patients younger than 65 years (HR of heavy users, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.09-4.60). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that PPI use increases the risk of AKI development, and that PPI use is more significantly associated with acute and chronic renal injuries in younger patients.

Bariatric Surgery can Reduce Albuminuria in Patients with Severe Obesity and Normal Kidney Function by Reducing Systemic Inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Obesity causes renal problems including albuminuria. Bariatric surgery (BS) improves albuminuria. We investigated whether albuminuria is reduced by weight loss per se or by improved systemic inflammation induced by weight loss after BS. METHODS: Patients older than 18 years who received BS in Soonchunhyang University Hospital from 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2011 were included. Other inclusion criteria included body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2, creatinine level ≤ 1.0 mg/dL, and no overt proteinuria (trace amount or undetectable by dipstick). The patients were followed at 1 and 6 months after BS. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were analyzed. Three patients were men, 10 patients had diabetes, and 12 patients had hypertension. All patients had normal renal function (creatinine ≤ 1.0 mg/dL), and estimated glomerular filtration rate was 115.7 ± 16.5 mL/min/1.73 m2. There were significant reductions in body weight, BMI, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). There were positive correlations between delta hs-CRP and delta body weight (r = 0.349, p = 0.043) or delta body mass index (BMI, r = 0.362, p = 0.035); between hs-CRP and body weight (r = 0.374, p = 0.001), BMI (r = 0.431, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis using a linear mixed model demonstrated that hs-CRP (ß = 0.5364, p = 0.026) was an independent risk factor affecting ACR. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that BS can reduce albuminuria in patients with severe obesity and normal kidney function by reducing systemic inflammation.

Urine Methyl Hippuric Acid Levels in Acute Pesticide Poisoning: Estimation of Ingested Xylene Volume and Association with Clinical Outcome Parameters.

To determine the relationship between the oral ingestion volume of xylene and methyl hippuric acid (MHA) in urine, we measured MHA in 11 patients whose ingested xylene volume was identified. The best-fit equation between urine MHA and ingested amount of xylene was as follows: y (ingested amount of xylene, mL/kg) = -0.052x² + 0.756x (x = MHA in urine in g/g creatinine). From this equation, we estimated the ingested xylene volume in 194 patients who had ingested pesticide of which the formulation was not available. Our results demonstrated that oxadiazole, dinitroaniline, chloroacetamide, organophosphate, and pyrethroid were xylene-containing pesticide classes, while the paraquat, glyphosate, glufosinate, synthetic auxin, fungicide, neonicotinoid, and carbamate classes were xylene-free pesticides. Sub-group univariate analysis showed a significant association between MHA levels in urine and ventilator necessity in the pyrethroid group. However, this association was not observed in the organophosphate group. Our results suggest that MHA in urine is a surrogate marker for xylene ingestion, and high urine MHA levels may be a risk factor for poor clinical outcome with some pesticide poisoning.

Intra-dialytic hypertension is associated with high mortality in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Intra-dialytic hypertension (IDH) is emerging as an important issue in hemodialysis patients. Its risk factors and clinical outcomes are unclear. METHODS: A total of 73 prevalent hemodialysis patients were enrolled. They included 14 (19.2%) patients with baseline IDH and 59 patients without IDH. Their clinical parameters, laboratory parameters, and mortality were investigated over 78 months. RESULTS: The risks factor of IDH included low serum potassium levels, low ultrafiltration, and low arm muscle area. Lower median survival was evident in the IDH group compared to the non-IDH group, but was not significantly different. After adjusting for relevant confounders for age, the IDH group displayed 2.846 times higher mortality rate than the non-IDH Group (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.846; 95% confidence interval: 1.081-7.490; P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: IDH is associated with high mortality in hemodialysis patients. Clinicians should be aware of the risk factors. Future research studies are needed to explore the mechanisms involved in the association between IDH and mortality.

Ampullary neuroendocrine tumor diagnosed by endoscopic papillectomy in previously confirmed ampullary adenoma.

Ampullary adenoma is a common indication for endoscopic papillectomy. Ampullary neuroendocrine tumor (NET) is a rare disease for which complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice. However, because of the morbidity and mortality associated with surgical resection, endoscopic papillectomy is increasingly used in selected cases of low grade, with no metastasis and no invasion of the pancreatic or bile duct. Also, confirmed and complete endoscopic resection of ampullary NET accompanied by adenoma has not been reported to date. We report herein a rare case of an ampullary NET accompanied with adenoma, which was successfully and completely resected via endoscopic papillectomy. Prior to papillectomy, this case was diagnosed as an ampullary adenoma.