Removal performance of pre- and post-dilution online hemodiafiltration using identical hemodiafilters in the same patients.

Online hemodiafiltration (OHDF) for renal replacement therapy has two modes: pre- (pre-OHDF) and post-dilution OHDF (post-OHDF). To elucidate the precise differences between the two modes, a clinical study was performed using the same polysulfone hemodiafilters in the same patients. Eight patients were treated with ABH™-22PA for 6 weeks: 3 weeks of pre-OHDF (with substitution volumes of 24, 36, and 48 L) and 3 weeks of post-OHDF (6, 8, and 10 L). The reduction ratios of urea, uric acid (UA), creatinine (CRE), inorganic phosphorus (iP), beta-2-microglobulin (ß2-MG), and alpha-1-microglobulin (α1-MG) were evaluated. The removal amounts of ß2-MG, α1-MG, and albumin were also evaluated by analyzing the spent dialysis fluids. The types and numbers of adverse events (AEs) and device malfunctions were recorded. The reduction ratios of urea, UA, CRE, iP, and ß2-MG were comparable among all conditions, while that of α1-MG tended to be slightly higher in post-OHDF than in pre-OHDF. The removal amounts of α1-MG and albumin in pre-OHDF and post-OHDF were significantly greater with the maximum substitution volume than with the minimum volume. However, the selective removal indices, which were obtained by dividing the amount of α1-MG removed by the albumin level, tended to be slightly higher in pre- than in post-OHDF. No device-related AEs or device malfunctions occurred in either mode. No significant differences in inflammatory responses, evaluated by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, were observed. This study provides removal performance and safety data regarding the application of ABH-22PA for pre- and post-OHDF.

Immunohistochemical localization of three different immunoglobulin classes in the Harderian gland of young chickens.

The chicken Harderian gland (HG) was investigated using single immunohistochemical staining for one of the three different immunoglobulins (Igs) followed by Alcian blue/periodic acid Schiff (AB/PAS) staining and triple immunohistochemical staining for all of the Igs with hot water treatment. In the HG of 5-week-old chickens, IgG-containing plasma cells were more frequent than IgA- and IgM-containing cells. These numerous IgG-containing cells were predominantly accumulated in the central region of the stroma, whereas a small number of IgA- and IgM-containing cells were scattered in the peripheral region of the stroma. Also, the plasma cells containing PAS-positive Russell bodies (RBs) exhibited distinct immunoreactivity for one of the Igs, being inversely proportional to the intensity of PAS reaction. The RB-containing cells positive for IgA were more frequent than those positive for IgM, whereas those positive for IgG were very rare. The most distinct feature of the IgG-containing plasma cells was a PAS-positive globule located close to the nucleus. Triple immunostaining with hot water treatment simultaneously identified these three Igs in normal plasma cells and RB-containing ones in the stroma of the chicken HG.