Evaluation of the Effect of Topiroxostat on Renal Function in Patients with Hyperuricemia: STOP-C Study, a Retrospective Observational Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Serum uric acid-lowering therapy is associated with maintaining renal function. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to retrospectively evaluate renal function and serum uric acid in patients with hyperuricemia who received topiroxostat for over a year. METHODS: Medical records of patients from 1 January, 2015 to 31 October, 2019 in our hospital were used. From the medical records, data of 100 patients with hyperuricemia treated with topiroxostat were extracted (67:33 male:female). The primary endpoints were changes in serum creatinine level and estimated glomerular filtration rate at 12 months after topiroxostat administration. The secondary endpoints were changes in serum creatinine, serum uric acid, and estimated glomerular filtration rate before and after topiroxostat administration. RESULTS: The study mainly involved elderly individuals (77.2 ± 9.5 years). Forty-four patients administered uric acid-lowering drugs were switched to topiroxostat. After 12 months, the serum creatinine level and estimated glomerular filtration rate showed no significant changes from baseline; however, the serum uric acid level significantly decreased. The estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly decreased during the 6 months before topiroxostat administration (p < 0.001), but showed no significant change at 6 months after topiroxostat administration (p = 0.849). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that topiroxostat use not only reduced the serum uric acid level but also maintained renal function in elderly patients with hyperuricemia in daily clinical practice.

Changes in urinary albumin excretion, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in ADPKD patients with hypertension.

BACKGROUNDS: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) progresses more quickly to end-stage renal disease in patients with hypertension than in their normotensive counterparts. The authors investigated the effect of telmisartan versus enalapril on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), urinary albumin excretion (UAE), serum high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1), serum interleukin (IL)-6 and urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in patients with hypertensive ADPKD. METHODS: Twenty patients with hypertensive ADPKD with good renal function were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: telmisartan 80 mg once daily (n = 10) or enalapril 10 mg once daily (n = 10). Treatment lasted 12 months. SBP, DBP, serum creatinine, UAE, HMGB1, IL-6 and urinary 8-OHdG levels were measured before and 6 and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: Both SBP and DBP were significantly reduced after treatment (P < 0.001) in both groups. Serum creatinine changed little during the experimental period in either group. UAE, serum HMGB1, serum IL-6 and urinary 8-OHdG levels were significantly decreased after treatment (UAE, HMGB1 and IL-6, P < 0.001; and 8-OHdG, P < 0.01 versus baseline levels) in both groups. However, the decreases in UAE, serum HMGB1 and serum IL-6 were significantly greater in the telmisartan group than in the enalapril group at 6 months (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively) and 12 months (all, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Telmisartan seems to be equivalent to enalapril in lowering BP, but telmisartan has more potent renoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects than enalapril in patients with hypertensive ADPKD.

Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber hemoperfusion in a high school football player with septic shock caused by osteitis pubis.

A 17-year-old male high school football player treated by polymyxin B-immobilized fiber (PMX-F) hemoperfusion for mild-moderate septic shock caused by osteitis pubis is described in this study. He was admitted for inguinal pain, gait disturbance, and high fever (40.6°C). His white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP), endotoxin, and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were significantly elevated. His blood pressure was 76/46 mm Hg. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bone and muscle injury at the pubic symphysis. Septic shock with high blood endotoxin and PCT concentrations was diagnosed, and the patient was treated with antibiotics, γ-globulin, and dopamine on the admission day. However, the septic shock did not improve. On day 3, we performed direct hemoperfusion twice using a PMX-F column. After the second PMX-F treatment, the patient's temperature decreased to 37.0°C, and his WBC count, CRP levels, blood endotoxin, and PCT levels decreased. The inguinal pain diminished, and the patient's blood pressure increased to 112/76 mm Hg. He was discharged on day 10 after admission. This case reflects association of PMX-F with decreased endotoxin, PCT, and CRP, suggesting the association of PMX-F with clinical improvement in mild-moderate sepsis in a young athlete.

Hemoperfusion treatment in a septic shock patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and increased HMGB1 protein levels.

This case report describes polymyxin B-immobilized fiber (PMX-F) treatment of septic shock caused by pyelonephritis in a 68-year-old woman with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. She was admitted for severe lower left abdominal pain, high fever (40°C) and gross hematuria. Her endotoxin and high-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) levels were extremely elevated. Her blood pressure was 68/36 mm Hg. Urinalysis revealed innumerable white blood cells (WBCs). Blood and urine cultures were positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Plain abdominal radiography showed large kidney shadows and calcium deposition. Septic shock with endotoxemia was diagnosed. Her symptoms of septic shock persisted for 3 days with antibiotics, γ-globulin and dopamine. Direct hemoperfusion was performed twice with a PMX-F column. The patient's body temperature, WBC count and C-reactive protein level decreased. Her blood endotoxin level and blood HMGB1 level also decreased to an almost normal level. She was discharged on day 23 after admission.

Calcium channel blocker inhibition of AGE and RAGE axis limits renal injury in nondiabetic patients with stage I or II chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing body of evidence that advanced glycation end products (AGE) and their receptor (RAGE) system are implicated in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We have previously found that a long-acting calcium channel blocker, azelnidipine, but not amlodipine, improves renal injury in CKD patients. However, little is known about the effect of azelnidipine on the AGE-RAGE axis in humans. In this study, we examined whether azelnidipine addition could have renoprotective properties in hypertensive CKD patients by reducing serum levels of AGE and soluble form of RAGE (sRAGE). Thirty nondiabetic stage I or II CKD patients who had already been treated with angiotensin II receptor blockers were enrolled in this study. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that azelnidipine treatment could limit renal injury partly by blocking the AGE-RAGE axis. METHODS: Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups; one group was treated with 16 mg azelnidipine and the other with 5 mg amlodipine once daily. They were followed up for 6 months. RESULTS: Proteinuria was positively correlated with circulating AGE and sRAGE levels in our subjects. Both drugs exhibited comparable and significant blood pressure (BP)-lowering effects. Although neither of them affected glucose, glycated hemoglobin, lipid levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, treatment with azelnidipine, but not amlodipine, decreased circulating AGE, sRAGE, proteinuria, and urinary levels of liver-type fatty acid binding protein, a marker of tubular injury, in a BP-lowering-independent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Our present results suggest that azelnidipine may exert renoprotective properties in nondiabetic hypertensive CKD patients via its unique inhibitory effects on the AGE-RAGE axis.

Massive Pericardial Effusion in a Case of Acute Pericarditis with Slight ST-Segment Elevation of Short Duration.

We present the case of a 77-year-old woman who suffered from chest pain. Her white blood cell count was 10,200/µL and C-reactive protein level was 5.5 mg/dL. There was no electrocardiogram abnormality up to 5 hours after admission. At 15 hours, slight ST-segment elevation occurred, but this disappeared on day 4. Imaging revealed slight pericardial effusion. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics were administered. However, the pericardial effusion, inflammatory response, and bilateral heart failure worsened. Pericardiotomy on day 6 released 350 mL of fluid, and symptoms improved. Viral pericarditis was assumed. Massive pericardial effusion is rare in cases of acute viral pericarditis, as is slight, short-duration ST-segment elevation.

Acute Myocardial Infarction with Severe ST Segment Elevation Treated with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention More than Two Days after Onset: A Case with Remarkable Recovery.

The patient was a 65-year-old man with marked ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Cardiac catheterization revealed an occluded middle portion of the left anterior descending artery and no collateral circulation. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed, and ST elevation improved 5 days after PCI. Almost all electrocardiogram (ECG) findings were normal 6 months later. Echocardiographic findings were also normal. This case was very successful and unusual in that no ventricular aneurysm formed despite ST elevation continuing for a few days and that ECG and left ventricular function were nearly normal after PCI performed days after the onset in a case without collateral circulation.

Urinary L-type fatty acid-binding protein as a new biomarker of sepsis complicated with acute kidney injury.

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to examine whether urinary L-type fatty acid-binding protein can detect the severity of sepsis with animal sepsis models and septic shock patients complicated with established acute kidney injury. DESIGN: Experimental animal models and a clinical, prospective observational study. SETTING: University laboratory and tertiary hospital. SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS: One hundred fourteen human L-type fatty acid-binding protein transgenic mice and 145 septic shock patients with established acute kidney injury. INTERVENTIONS: Animals were challenged by abdominal (cecal ligation and puncture) and pulmonary (intratracheal lipopolysaccharide injection) sepsis models with different severities that were confirmed by survival analysis (n = 24) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis (n = 38). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In animal experiments, significant increases of urinary L-type fatty acid-binding protein levels were induced by sepsis (severe cecal ligation and puncture 399.0 ± 226.8 µg/g creatinine [n = 12], less-severe cecal ligation and puncture 89.1 ± 25.3 [n = 11], sham 13.4 ± 3.4 [n = 10] at 6 hrs, p < .05 vs. sham; 200 µg of lipopolysaccharide 190.6 ± 77.4 µg/g creatinine [n = 6], 50 µg of lipopolysaccharide 145.4 ± 32.6 [n = 8], and saline 29.9 ± 14.9 [n = 5] at 6 hrs, p < .05 vs. saline). Urinary L-type fatty acid-binding protein predicted severity more accurately than blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and urinary N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidase levels. In clinical evaluation, urinary L-type fatty acid-binding protein measured at admission was significantly higher in the nonsurvivors of septic shock with established acute kidney injury than in the survivors (4366 ± 192 µg/g creatinine [n = 68] vs. 483 ± 71 [n = 77], p < .05). Urinary L-type fatty acid-binding protein showed the higher value of area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for mortality compared with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores (L-type fatty acid-binding protein 0.994 [0.956-0.999], APACHE II 0.927 [0.873-0.959], and SOFA 0.813 [0.733-0.873], p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that urinary L-type fatty acid-binding protein can be a useful biomarker for sepsis complicated with acute kidney injury for detecting its severity.

Renoprotective Effects of Various Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers in Patients with Early-Stage Diabetic Nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system provides renoprotection independent of blood pressure lowering. The aim of the present study was to determine whether various angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) affect urinary albumin excretion (UAE), urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in early-stage diabetic nephropathy patients with microalbuminuria. METHODS: Sixty-eight diabetic nephropathy patients with microalbuminuria were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatment groups: losartan 100 mg/day (group A), candesartan 12 mg/day (group B), olmesartan 40 mg/day (group C), or telmisartan 80 mg/day (group D). Treatment was continued for 12 months. UAE, L-FABP and 8-OHdG excretion, serum creatinine, and 24-hour creatinine clearance (Ccr) were measured. RESULTS: The serum creatinine and 24-hour Ccr were not affected during the experimental period in any of the groups. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, UAE, urinary L-FABP and 8-OHdG excretion were significantly reduced after 6 and 12 months compared with baseline in any of the groups. ΔL-FABP and Δ8-OHdG were significantly greater in group D than in the other 3 groups after 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: ARBs have renoprotection and this effect of telmisartan appears to be more potent than that of losartan, candesartan, or olmesartan in early-stage diabetic nephropathy patients.

Effects of telmisartan and enalapril on renoprotection in patients with mild to moderate chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Blocking the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) with angiotensin receptor blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors protects against renal injury in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to compare the chronic effects of telmisartan and enalapril on proteinuria, urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) and endothelin (ET)-1 levels in patients with mild CKD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty CKD patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency (20 men and 10 women; mean age, 37 years; estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) > 60 mL min(-1) and blood pressure > 130/85 mmHg) were included in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive telmisartan at 80 mg day(-1) (n = 15) or enalapril at 10 mg day(-1) (n = 15). We measured blood pressure, serum creatinine, eGFR, urinary protein, L-FABP and ET-1 before the start of treatment and 6 and 12 months after the start of treatment. RESULTS: The blood pressure reduction rate was similar between the two groups. Urinary protein, L-FABP and ET-1 levels were significantly reduced in both groups 6 and 12 months (P < 0.001) after treatment, but the reduction rates were more pronounced in patients receiving telmisartan than in those receiving enalapril (P < 0.001). Estimated glomerular filtration rate was increased similarly in both groups at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that telmisartan results in a greater reduction of urinary markers than does enalapril and that this effect occurs by a mechanism independent of blood pressure reduction. It would be needed to investigate whether the differences may be distinct or not the same when other dosages are used.

Comparative effects of benidipine and amlodipine on proteinuria, urinary 8-OHdG, urinary L-FABP, and inflammatory and atherosclerosis markers in early-stage chronic kidney disease.

INTRODUCTION: We examined the effects of 2 calcium channel blockers, benidipine (T-, L-, and N-type) and amlodipine (L- and N-type), on renal, inflammatory, oxidative, and atherosclerosis markers in hypertensive patients with mild chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: Forty hypertensive patients with CKD were assigned randomly to either of the 2 treatments: 8 mg benidipine once daily (n = 20, group A) or 5 mg amlodipine once daily (n = 20, group B). Treatment was continued for 12 months. Blood pressure, serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, urinary protein excretion, urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein, interleukin-6, high mobility group box-1 protein, urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, pulse wave velocity, intima-media thickness, and blood asymmetric dimethylarginine were monitored. RESULTS: Blood pressure decreased equally in both groups (P < 0.001, at 6 and 12 months versus before treatment). Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate changed little during the experimental period in each group. However, urinary protein excretion (P < 0.001), urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (P < 0.001), urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (P < 0.001), blood interleukin-6 (P < 0.001), blood high mobility group box-1 (P < 0.05), and pulse wave velocity (P < 0.01) decreased more in group A than in group B with 12 months of treatment. The percent reductions in intima-media thickness and blood asymmetric dimethylarginine were significantly greater in group A than in group B (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Benidipine is more effective than amlodipine for protecting renal function and potentially for ameliorating atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients with mild CKD. T-type calcium channel blockers may be effective in patients with CKD.

Effect of polymyxin B-immobilized fiber hemoperfusion on serum high mobility group box-1 protein levels and oxidative stress in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by diffuse inflammation in the lung and resultant permeability edema. Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber (PMX-F) hemoperfusion is effective for sepsis-induced ARDS. High mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) is newly recognized as a proinflammatory cytokine. The aim of the study was to determine whether blood HMGB1 levels are increased in patients with ARDS and whether PMX-F treatment affects these levels. Subjects were 20 sepsis-induced patients with ARDS treated by PMX-F column and 20 age-matched healthy volunteers. Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber treatment was carried out twice at a rate of 100 ml/min for 2 hours. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, the PaO2/FiO2 (PF) ratio and endotoxin, HMGB1, and urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (OHdG) levels were measured before and after PMX-F treatment. Blood endotoxin levels, blood HMGB1 levels, and urinary 8-OHdG levels were significantly higher in patients with ARDS than in healthy volunteers. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and the PF ratio increased significantly after PMX-F treatments. Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber treatment reduced blood endotoxin, blood HMGB1, and urinary 8-OHdG levels significantly. These data suggest that HMGB1 and oxidative stress play a role in the pathogenesis of ARDS and that PMX-F treatment may ameliorate increased blood HMGB1 and urinary 8-OHdG levels in patients with ARDS.

Effect of red wine on urinary protein, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein excretion in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether red or white wine affects urinary protein, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) excretion in type 2 diabetic nephropathy patients. Twenty-four type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with nephropathy were randomly allocated to drink a 118-mL (4-oz) glass of red wine (n = 12, group A) or white wine (n = 12, group B) daily for 6 months. Twelve type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with nephropathy who did not drink any wines served as control subjects (group C). Serum creatinine, 24-hour creatinine clearance, hemoglobin A(1c), urinary protein, urinary 8-OHdG, and urinary L-FABP were measured before and 3 and 6 months after the start of the study. In groups A, B, and C, serum creatinine, 24-hour creatinine clearance, and hemoglobin A(1c) changed little during the experimental period. However, urinary protein, 8-OHdG, and L-FABP excretions were significantly decreased at 3 (P < .05) and 6 months (P < .01) compared with the baseline values in group A. In contrast, these markers changed little during the experimental period in groups B and C. Thus, these urinary markers were significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C at 3 and 6 months. These results suggest that red wine is renoprotective whereas white wine has no such effect in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with nephropathy. The renoprotective effect of red wine may be due in part to its ability to reduce oxidative stress.

Molecular evidence for the presence of new Babesia species in feral raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Hokkaido, Japan.

We recently reported that feral raccoons (Procyon lotor) with splenomegaly native to Japan were carriers of a Babesia microti-like parasite identical to that found in the United States, which was likely introduced to Japan from North America via raccoons imported as pets. Thus, we attempted extensive molecular survey for piroplasma infections of feral raccoon with normal spleen in Hokkaido, Japan using nested PCR that target broadly to 18S ribosomal RNA gene (SSU-rDNA) of all the parasites in the genus Babesia, Theileria, Cytauxzoon and B. microti group. Of the 348 raccoon samples analyzed, 9 gave positive signals. Cloning and phylogenetic analysis on SSU-rDNA sequences revealed that six of nine positives were found to be infected with Babesia and the remaining three with previously unreported Sarcocystis. Babesia sequences were further separated into two distantly related groups, those that reside in a novel phylogenetic group were consisted solely of four parasites found in this study, while those which included one identical sequence found in the three of our specimens were assembled together with both Babesia parasites of tick's in Japan and of raccoon's in U.S. These results may indicate that not only a B. microti-like parasite but also at least two yet undescribed Babesia species are being established in their new life cycles in the feral raccoon populations in Japan.

Urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein in septic shock: effect of polymyxin B-immobilized fiber hemoperfusion.

We aimed to determine retrospectively whether urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) levels are altered in patients with septic shock or severe sepsis without shock and whether polymyxin B-immobilized fiber (PMX-F) hemoperfusion affects these levels. Forty patients with septic shock, 20 patients with severe sepsis without shock, 20 acute renal failure (ARF) patients without septic shock (mean serum creatinine, 2.8 mg/dL), and 30 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber hemoperfusion was performed twice in 40 patients. In addition, 10 patients with septic shock without PMX-F treatment (conventional treatment) were also enrolled in this study. Their families did not choose PMX-F treatment. Thus, their informed consents to perform PMX-F treatment were not obtained. Septic shock or severe sepsis was defined by the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference Committee. Patients with septic shock were eligible for inclusion in the study if they had a definable source of infection and/or positive blood cultures. Patients with cardiogenic or hemorrhagic shock were excluded from the study. The patients were not randomly allocated to receive PMX-F treatment. Urinary and serum L-FABP levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Plasma endotoxin levels in patients with septic shock were significantly higher than those in patients with severe sepsis (P < 0.05), patients with ARF (P < 0.001), and healthy subjects (P < 0.001). Urinary L-FABP levels in patients with septic shock were significantly higher than those in patients with severe sepsis without shock (P < 0.001), patients with ARF (P < 0.001), and healthy subjects (P < 0.001), whereas serum L-FABP levels showed no significant differences between patients with septic shock, patients with severe sepsis, patients with ARF, and healthy subjects. Urinary L-FABP was not correlated with serum L-FABP. Twenty-eight patients with septic shock survived, and 12 patients died. Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber treatment reduced plasma endotoxin levels (P < 0.01) and urinary L-FABP levels (P < 0.01). In 10 patients with septic shock without PMX-F treatment, L-FABP levels remained high 7 days after initiation of conventional treatment (P = 0.12). These results suggest that urinary L-FABP levels are significantly increased in patients with septic shock and that PMX-F treatment is effective in reducing these levels.

Angina pectoris with pharyngeal pain alone: a case report.

Patients with pharyngeal pain are frequently encountered in the department of otorhinolaryngology. The pharyngeal pain is usually caused by an inflammation or a malignant disease. In some cases, anginal pain radiates to the pharynx. However, patients with angina pectoris who suffer from pharyngeal pain without chest pain are believed to be very rare. The patient was a 70-year-old man whose chief complaint was only pharyngeal pain on exertion. The pharyngeal pain was similar to acute pharyngitis with burning pain. Upon cardiac catheterization, no abnormality was found in the right coronary artery or in the circumflex artery, but 99% stenosis was found in the middle portion of the left anterior descending artery. There was no collateral circulation to the left anterior descending artery. Thus, percutaneous coronary intervention was performed, and the pharyngeal pain vanished.

Comparison of renal and vascular protective effects between telmisartan and amlodipine in hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease with mild renal insufficiency.

The present study was conducted to compare the renal and vascular protective effects of telmisartan and amlodipine in untreated hypertensive chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with moderate renal insufficiency. Thirty hypertensive CKD patients were randomly assigned to receive telmisartan 40 mg (n = 15) or amlodipine 5 mg (n = 15) once daily for 12 months. Changes in blood pressure, serum creatinine, 24-h creatinine clearance (Ccr), proteinuria, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), intima-media thickness (IMT), plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), plasma matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and lipid profiles were monitored in all patients. Before treatment, there were no significant differences in these parameters between the telmisartan and amlodipine groups. Over the 12 month observation period, blood pressure decreased equally in both groups. However, serum creatinine, proteinuria, baPWV, IMT, plasma levels of IL-6 and MMP-9 and total cholesterol decreased and 24-h Ccr increased more strikingly in the telmisartan group than the amlodipine group. These data suggest that telmisartan is more effective than amlodipine for protecting renovascular functions, and potentially for ameliorating atherosclerosis, in hypertensive CKD patients with moderate renal insufficiency.

Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber hemoperfusion attenuates increased plasma atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic Peptide levels in patients with septic shock.

Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber (PMX-F) hemoperfusion is reported to be safe and effective in septic shock patients. Because atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) may have pathophysiologic significance in the cardiac dysfunction of septic shock patients, we conducted a study to determine whether PMX-F treatment affects plasma ANP and BNP levels in patients with septic shock. Fifty septic shock patients (34 men and 16 women; mean age 60.0 years) and 30 healthy volunteers (18 men and 12 women; mean age 56.0 years) were included in this study. Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber treatment was performed twice, separated by an interval of 24 hours. Blood endotoxin, interleukin (IL)-6, ANP, and BNP levels were measured before, immediately after the second PMX-F treatment, and the following day. In comparing patients with septic shock with healthy control subjects, we found significant increases in plasma endotoxin (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p < 0.001), ANP (p < 0.001), and BNP (p < 0.001). After the second PMX-F treatment, plasma levels of endotoxin (p < 0.01), IL-6 (p < 0.01), ANP (p < 0.01), and BNP (p < 0.01) were reduced significantly. Values decreased further the following day. Both plasma ANP and BNP levels are increased in septic shock patients and PMX-F treatment is effective in reducing these natriuretic peptide levels.