Symptoms Associated With Long-term Double-J Ureteral Stenting and Influence of Biofilms.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the symptoms associated with long-term Double-J ureteral stenting including the influence of biofilms on ureteral stents. METHODS: Patients with long-term (>8 weeks) uni- or bilateral ureteral stents completed the Ureteral Stent Symptoms Questionnaire (USSQ) at the day of stent exchange. Repeated assessment of patients was possible to allow for analysis of intraindividual changes. Assessment of biofilm mass on the stents was performed according to a validated method, its correlation with the USSQ total score was defined as primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included further analyses of stent-associated symptoms and their temporal course. RESULTS: A total of 87 stent indwelling periods in 35 patients were investigated. Median USSQ total score did not differ significantly between unilateral and bilateral stenting (42 vs 39 points; P = .17). An increasing total stent treatment time up to study inclusion did not correlate with the USSQ total score, but was significantly correlated with less urinary symptoms and a better quality of life. USSQ total score and subscores within individual patients did not significantly increase or decrease over the sequence of stent indwelling periods. Higher total biofilm masses were not associated with higher USSQ total scores or subscores. CONCLUSION: Long-term Double-J stenting provides a valuable treatment option, if stent-associated symptoms are low during the initial indwelling period. Thus, symptoms remain stable over the long-term course and the majority of patients are satisfied with the treatment. Furthermore, biofilm formation on ureteral stents does not seem to be the relevant driver of symptoms.

Impact of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia on kidney transplant outcome.

BACKGROUNDS: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. While the acute phase toxicity in patients with PCP is well-characterized, there is a lack of data on the effects of PCP on long-term graft outcome. METHOD: This retrospective observational study analyzed 1502 adult patients who underwent kidney transplantation at Seoul National University Hospital between 2000 and 2017. After a propensity score matching was performed, the graft and survival outcomes were compared between PCP-negative and PCP-positive groups. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients (4.5%) developed PCP after transplantation. The multivariable Cox analysis showed that positivity for cytomegalovirus and lack of initial oral antibiotic prophylaxis were risk factors of post-transplant PCP. The PCP-positive group had higher hazard ratios of graft failure [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 3.1 (1.14-8.26); P = 0.027] and mortality [adjusted HR, 11.0 (3.68-32.80); P < 0.001] than the PCP-negative group. However, the PCP event was not related with subsequent development of de novo donor-specific antibodies or pathologic findings, such as T-cell or antibody mediated rejection and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: PCP is a risk factor of long-term graft failure and mortality, irrespective of rejection. Accordingly, appropriate prophylaxis and treatment is needed to avoid adverse transplant outcomes of PCP.

A case report of purulent pericarditis caused by Candida albicans: Delayed complication forty-years after esophageal surgery.

RATIONALE: Candida pericarditis is a rare condition with high mortality. Risk factors include thoracic surgery and immunosuppression. We report a case of candida pericarditis which developed forty-years after esophageal reconstruction surgery. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 42-year-old female presented with nausea, abdominal discomfort, and chest pain, and was found to have a cardiac tamponade secondary to candida pericarditis. Her notable risk factor was colonic interposition done during her infancy for esophageal atresia. DIAGNOSES: The patient underwent emergent pericardial window where 500cc of purulent fluid was drained. The pericardial fluid culture grew Candida albicans. INTERVENTIONS: Esophagram did not show any visible leak and the patient improved with surgical drainage and antifungal treatment with Caspofungin. Caspofungin was continued intravenously for a total of four weeks and was switched to fluconazole. OUTCOMES: An Echocardiogram performed one month after pericardial window revealed trivial pericardial effusion. Serum beta-D-glucan at the time was negative. LESSONS: This report highlights that candida pericarditis infection could occur as a late complication of colonic interposition. We also demonstrate the utility of using an echinocandin in treating this entity.

Long-term effects of inhaled corticosteroids on sputum bacterial and viral loads in COPD.

Inhaled corticosteroid-containing medications reduce the frequency of COPD exacerbations (mainly infectious in origin) while paradoxically increasing the risk of other respiratory infections. The aim was to determine the effects of inhaled corticosteroids on airway microbial load in COPD patients and evaluate the influence of the underlying inflammatory profile on airway colonisation and microbiome.This is a proof-of-concept prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded endpoint study. Sixty patients with stable moderate COPD were randomised to receive one inhalation twice daily of either a combination of salmeterol 50 µg plus fluticasone propionate 500 µg or salmeterol 50 µg for 12 months. The primary outcome was the change of sputum bacterial loads over the course of treatment.Compared with salmeterol, 1-year treatment with salmeterol plus fluticasone was associated with a significant increase in sputum bacterial load (p=0.005), modification of sputum microbial composition and increased airway load of potentially pathogenic bacteria. The increased bacterial load was observed only in inhaled corticosteroid-treated patients with lower baseline sputum or blood eosinophil (≤2%) levels but not in patients with higher baseline eosinophils.Long-term inhaled corticosteroid treatment affects bacterial load in stable COPD. Lower eosinophil counts are associated with increased airway bacterial load.

Effects of gut microbiota disturbance induced in early life on the expression of extrasynaptic GABA-A receptor α5 and δ subunits in the hippocampus of adult rats.

Previous studies have demonstrated that gut microbiota disturbance significantly increases the risk of emotional disorders via the gut-brain axis, but the mechanism is unclear. Furthermore, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) deficits were reported to be implicated in the development of depression and amnesia, but the alterations in the GABA-A receptor subunits that are involved in the pathogenetic process have not been fully elucidated. This study used juvenile rats that were fed ampicillin-Na to establish degree III dysbiosis of the intestinal flora and examined emotional change via the tail suspension test, forced swim test and Morris water maze. Additionally, our study investigated the expression of GABA-A receptor α5 and δ subunits in the hippocampus in adulthood via q-PCR and immunohistochemistry. We focused on the role of GABA-A receptor α5 and δ subunit changes induced by juvenile gut microbiota disturbance in the pathogenesis of emotional disorders in adulthood. In addition, we investigated the protective effects of probiotics and benzodiazepine (clonazepam). Findings showed that juvenile gut microbiota disturbances induced chronic depression and memory loss and reduced the expression of GABA-A receptor α5 and δ subunits in the hippocampus of the adult rat. Furthermore, moderate probiotic administration led to a significant improvement compared to short-term BZ treatment. However, we are aware that these results have been established with a single animal experiment and will require further confirmation with a larger group of individuals. Future directions for the exploration of the effects of gut microbiota disturbance on GABA-A receptor α5 and δ subunits are discussed.

Risk continues: Very late manifestation of helicobacter pylori at gastric augmented bladder.

Helicobacter Pylori was previously demonstrated at gastric patch after gastrocystoplasty and a possible relationship with acid-haematuria syndrome was established after symptomatic relief by medical treatment. We present the long term outcome of a male bladder exstrophy patient after gastrocystoplasty. There was past history of bladder perforation, acid haematuria syndrome and treatment of HP and recurrent urinary tract infections, noncompliance on regular follow-up and cadaveric renal transplantation. At the preoperative evaluation for renal transplantation HP was present in the biopsy samples collected during gastroscopy and cystoscopy. The significance of persistant HP after gastrocystoplasty in the long term follow-up was discussed.