Efficacy and safety of Plantago major seeds in patients with diabetic nephropathy: A randomized open-labeled controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is characterized by albuminuria and a declining glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in diabetic patients. Plantago major (plantain) seed powder is traditionally used in these patients. Despite emerging and promising pre-clinical evidence, no clinical study investigated the potential efficacy of this intervention in patients with DN, which is the aim of this study. METHODS: In a randomized clinical trial 60 DN patients were recruited from November 2022 to March 2023 and randomly assigned to the plantain group that received standard treatment (Losartan 25 mg twice a day) and plantain seeds' powder (10 gm sachet twice a day) plus sweet almond and the control group was received only standard treatment for 60 days. Proteinuria, as per 24-hour urinary protein, as well as fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, serum potassium, and quality of life score were measured at baseline and after 60 days as study outcome measures. RESULTS: Proteinuria was significantly decreased from 165.04 mg to 135.84 mg (p = 0.026) in the plantain group. The mean level of proteinuria was significantly lower in the plantain group (135.84 vs. 192.04, p = 0.039) compared to the control group after treatment. The plantain group showed more increase in quality of life score after treatment (33.89±9.67 vs 38.28±10.72, p = 0.041). Other outcomes showed no significant difference between the two study groups. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant supplementation with plantain seeds powder may decrease proteinuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer duration are needed to confirm these results.

Prevalence of contrast-induced nephropathy after primary percutaneous coronary intervention at a tertiary referral hospital.

Objective: This study aimed to quantify the incidence of Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) due to acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: From April 2019 to March 2022, a prospective, observational study enrolled 213 consecutive STEMI patients referred to a tertiary hospital for PPCI. Participants were divided into tow groups based on the presence or absence of contrast-induced nephropathy. The chi-square test (χ2) and Student's t-test evaluated the data, with logistic regression identifying CIN's independent predictors. Results: Results: In this study, the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy was observed at 13.1% (N = 28). Several factors were more prevalent among patients exhibiting contrast-induced nephropathy. These factors encompassed: radial access for coronary angiography over the femoral method (P = 0.021), elevated contrast volume (P = 0.003), smoking (P = 0.009), diabetes (P = 0.04), heart failure (P = 0.049), a history of coronary artery bypass graft (P = 0.006), diminished left ventricular ejection fraction indicating systolic dysfunction (P = 0.012), cardiogenic shock (P = 0.046), increased BUN at the time of admission (P = 0.043), decreased initial GFR (P = 0.004), and prior consumption of medications such as aspirin (P = 0.002), diuretics (P = 0.046), beta blockers (P = 0.04), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (P = 0.033), angiotensin receptor blockers (P = 0.02). Other relevant conditions included anemia (P = 0.012), leukocytosis (P = 0.011), hypercholesterolemia (P = 0.034), and reduced HDL levels (P = 0.004).Through logistic regression, key predictors for the onset of contrast-induced nephropathy were determined, which included heart failure (OR: 5.52; 95% CI: 1.08-28.24), radial access (OR: 12.71; 95% CI: 1.45-110.9), hypercholesterolemia (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.004-1.04), increased BUN upon admission (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.006-1.24), and leukocytosis (OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.18-3.49). Conclusions: While heart failure, radial access, hypercholesterolemia, elevated BUN at admission, and leukocytosis significantly influenced renal filtration deterioration post-PPCI, it's evident that CIN is multifactorial. Further studies are crucial to elucidate the underlying factors.

Allopurinol prophylactic therapy and the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in high-risk patients undergoing coronary angiography: A prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is considered to be a possibly severe complication of radiography and thus, remains to be the main cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) for inpatients. A clinical trial was executed to measure the preventive effect of allopurinol against CIN in high-risk patients undertaking coronary angiography. METHODS: Through randomized controlled trial, 140 patients with at minimum two risk factors of CIN, undertaking coronary angiography, were randomly allocated to the allopurinol (n = 70) or control group (n = 70). Those in the allopurinol group received allopurinol (300 mg) a day before their coronary angiography and intravenous hydration for 12 hours before and after their procedure, while members of the control group only received intravenous hydration. Serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid were measured before and 48 hours after the procedure. CIN was defined by a 25% increase in SCr or the concentration of > 0.5 mg/dl, 48 hours after coronary angiography. RESULTS: CIN was observed in 8 (11.4%) patients in the allopurinol group and 11 (15.7%) patients in the control group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of CIN between the two groups at 48 hours after coronary angiography (P = 0.459). In the allopurinol group, the median SCr concentration decreased non-significantly from 1.16 mg/dl to 1.13 mg/dl, 48 hours after coronary angiography (P = 0.189). In the control group, the median SCr concentration increased significantly from 1.11 mg/dl to 1.2 mg/dl, 48 hours after coronary angiography (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Allopurinol presents no considerable effectiveness over the hydration protocol for development of CIN in high-risk patients.

Association Between 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Inflammatory and Nutritional Factors in Hemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis Patients in Qom, Iran.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (PD) and its association with inflammatory and nutritional factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 176 hemodialysis and 32 PD patients participated in the study. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, albumin, parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HSCRP), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were measured. Data on body mass index were also collected. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors for 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and its relationship with the nutritional and inflammatory factors. RESULTS: No significant association was found between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and age, body mass index, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, serum albumin, dialysis quality, and duration of dialysis; while NLR and HSCRP were significantly associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the hemodialysis patients only (P < .001 and P = .001, respectively). A positive correlation was found between NLR and HSCRP in both hemodialysis and PD patients. (r = 0.817; P < .001). This association was confirmed between an NLR greater than 3 and an HSCRP level greater than 3. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent in our dialysis patients, and inadequate level of vitamin D was associated with inflammatory factors such as HSCRP and NLR in both hemodialysis and PD patients. An easy and inexpensive test of an NLR greater than 3 could be used as a measure of inflammation instead of HSCRP in both PD and hemodialysis patients.

Parapharengeal unicentric Castleman disease with nephrotic syndrome.

Castleman disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder, first described in 1956. This case report describes a 27-year-old man with hyaline vascular unicentric CD, first presented with edema and hypertension. On initial evaluation for edema, 24-hour urine collection revealed 8200 mg/24 h protein excretion. Pathologic examination of the kidney specimen showed diffuse mesangial lesions with segmental subepithelial deposition. On follow-up for nephrotic syndrome, the patient experienced a feeling of a mass in his pharynx and deterioration of previous snoring, documented by neck magnetic resonance imaging. Pathology report of the excisional biopsy showed CD. Treatment with corticosteroids and partial excision can be considered as an alternative to surgery for unresectable unicentric CD. The 5-year follow-up showed that this strategy could lead to remission.

Efficacy of anti-interleukin-2 receptor antibody (daclizumab) in reducing the incidence of acute rejection after renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Acute rejection remains a major problem in renal transplantation and represents one of the most important causes of chronic allograft dysfunction and late graft loss. Daclizumab is a genetically engineered human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the α chain of the interleukin-2 receptor, and may thus reduce the risk of rejection after renal transplantation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of daclizumab induction therapy combined with a triple immunosuppressive protocol including prednisolone,cyclosporine microemulsion (CsA), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), in reducing the incidence of acute rejection in recipients of living unrelated donor kidneys. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this historical cohort study, 43 adult recipients of their first kidney allograft received daclizumab (three 1 mg/kg doses administered every 2 weeks) with triple immunosuppressive therapy (steroids, CsA, and MMF). This group was compared to 43 first-time graft recipients who received maintenance triple immunosuppressive therapy comprising steroids, CsA, and MMF. The end point was the incidence of biopsy confirmed acute rejection within 6 months after transplantation. RESULTS: At 6 months, 5 (11.6%) of the patients in the daclizumab group had biopsy-proven rejections, as compared to 14 (32.5%) in the control group (P = 0.017). The sex and the age of recipients had no impact on the incidence of acute rejection episodes in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Adding interleukin-2 receptor antibody (daclizumab) to maintenance triple immunosuppressive therapy (prednisolone, CsA, and MMF) reduces the incidence of acute rejection episodes at 6 months in first-time transplant recipients of living unrelated donor.

Evaluation of biochemical urinary stone composition and its relationship to tap water hardness in Qom province, central Iran.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical stone composition in general population of Qom province, central Iran, and its relationship with high tap water hardness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, from March 2008 to July 2011, biochemical analysis of urinary stones in patients living in Qom province for at least 5 years was performed. Stones were retrieved by spontaneous passage, endoscopic or open surgery, and after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. Demographic findings and the drinking water supply of patients were evaluated and compared with biochemical stone analysis. RESULTS: Stone analysis was performed in 255 patients. The most dominant composition of urinary stones was calcium oxalate (73%), followed by uric acid (24%), ammonium urate (2%), and cystine (1%). The peak incidence of urinary stone was in patients in their forties. Overall male to female ratio was 4.93:1. CONCLUSION: The dominant stone composition in inhabitants of central Iran, where tap water hardness is high, was calcium oxalate stones. On the basis of this study, biochemical urinary stone composition of Qom does not differ from other regions of Iran with lower water hardness.

Comparative evaluation of prophylactic single-dose intravenous antibiotic with postoperative antibiotics in elective urologic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Unrestricted antibiotic use is very common in Iran. As a result, emergence of resistant organisms is commonplace. Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery consists of a short antibiotic course given immediately before the procedure in order to prevent development of a surgical site infection. The basic principle of prophylaxis is to maintain effective concentrations of an antibiotic active against the commonest pathogens during the entire surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively investigated 427 urologic surgery cases in our department between August 2008 and September 2009 (Group 1). As reference cases, we retrospectively reviewed 966 patients who underwent urologic surgery between May 2004 and May 2008 (Group 2) who were administered antibiotics without any restriction. Prophylactic antibiotics such as cefazolin were administered intravenously according to our protocol. Postoperative body temperature, peripheral white blood cell counts, urinalysis, and urine culture were checked. RESULTS: To judge perioperative infections, wound condition and general condition were evaluated in terms of surgical site infection, as well as remote infection and urinary tract infection, up to postoperative day 30. Surgical site infection was defined as the presence of swelling, tenderness, redness, or drainage of pus from the wound, superficially or deeply. Remote infection was defined as occurrence of pneumonia, sepsis, or urinary tract infection. Perioperative infection rates (for surgical site and remote infection) in Group 1 and Group 2 were nine of 427 (2.6%) and 24 of 966 (2.5%), respectively. Surgical site infection rates of categories A and B in Group 1 were 0 and two (0.86%), respectively, while those in Group 2 were 0 and five (0.92%), respectively. There was no significant difference in infection rates in terms of remote infection and surgical site infection between Group 1 and Group 2 (P = 0.670). The amounts, as well as the prices, for intravenously administered antibiotics decreased to approximately one quarter. CONCLUSION: Our protocol effectively decreased the amount of antibiotics used without increasing perioperative infection rates. Thus, our protocol of prophylactic antibiotic therapy can be recommended as an appropriate method for preventing perioperative infection in urologic surgery.

Renal Cell Carcinoma with Simultaneous Bilateral Adrenal Metastasis: Ipsilateral Radical Nephrectomy with Contralateral Adrenal Preservation.

Although renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can metastasize to almost every organ, the most common metastatic sites are the lungs, abdomen, bones and brain. We present a rare case of a 72-year-old male with a large left RCC with simultaneous bilateral adrenal metastasis. In the process of surgical treatment, he underwent left radical nephrectomy with ipsilateral adrenalectomy. Due to the poor general condition of the patient, and also to prevent adrenal insufficiency, the right adrenal mass was preserved, without imposing any hazard to the patient. Systemic immunotherapy was initiated and the patient is still alive 1 year after surgery.