Regulation of renal aquaporin water channels in acute pyelonephritis.

Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is most frequently caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), which ascends from the bladder to the kidneys during a urinary tract infection. Patients with APN have been reported to have reduced renal concentration capacity under challenged conditions, polyuria, and increased aquaporin-2 (AQP2) excretion in the urine. We have recently shown increased AQP2 accumulation in the plasma membrane in cell cultures exposed to E. coli lysates and in the apical plasma membrane of inner medullary collecting ducts in a 5-day APN mouse model. This study aimed to investigate if AQP2 expression in host cells increases UPEC infection efficiency and to identify specific bacterial components that mediate AQP2 plasma membrane insertion. As the transepithelial water permeability in the collecting duct is codetermined by AQP3 and AQP4, we also investigated whether AQP3 and AQP4 localization is altered in the APN mouse model. We show that AQP2 expression does not increase UPEC infection efficiency and that AQP2 was targeted to the plasma membrane in AQP2-expressing cells in response to the two pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan. In contrast to AQP2, the subcellular localizations of AQP1, AQP3, and AQP4 were unaffected both in lysate-incubated cell cultures and in the APN mouse model. Our finding demonstrated that cellular exposure to lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan can trigger the insertion of AQP2 in the plasma membrane revealing a new regulatory pathway for AQP2 plasma membrane translocation, which may potentially be exploited in intervention strategies.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is associated with reduced renal concentration capacity and increased aquaporin-2 (AQP2) excretion. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) mediates changes in the subcellular localization of AQP2 and we show that in vitro, these changes could be elicited by two pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), namely, lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan. UPEC infection was unaltered by AQP2 expression and the other renal AQPs (AQP1, AQP3, and AQP4) were unaltered in APN.

Effects of pH on the Pathogenicity of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae on the Kidney: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

Urine pH reflects the functional integrity of the body and may influence the virulence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, the main causes of urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study evaluated the effects of acidic pH on the pathogenicity of uropathogenic E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains, in vitro and in vivo. Four uropathogenic E. coli and four K. pneumoniae strains were used. Biofilm formation, growth competition indices, motility, and adhesion and invasion of human renal cells were analyzed in media with acidic, neutral, and alkaline pH. A murine lower UTI model was used, with urine adjusted to acidic, neutral, or alkaline pH. At acidic pH, E. coli and K. pneumoniae exhibited higher bacterial concentrations in the kidneys and systemic symptoms, including bacteremia. Alkaline urine pH did not affect bacterial concentrations of any strain. In mice with UTIs caused by E. coli Nu14 and K. pneumoniae HUVR42 and acidic urine pH, histopathological studies of the kidneys showed acute inflammation affecting the urothelium and renal parenchyma, which are traits of acute pyelonephritis. These results indicate that acidic pH could increase the pathogenicity of E. coli and K. pneumoniae in murine models of lower UTI, promoting renal infection and acute inflammation.

Protective role for C3aR in experimental chronic pyelonephritis.

Emerging evidence suggest that C3aR plays important roles in homeostasis, host defense and disease. Although it is known that C3aR is protective in several models of acute bacterial infections, the role for C3aR in chronic infection is largely unknown. Here we show that C3aR is protective in experimental chronic pyelonephritis. Global C3aR deficient (C3ar-/- ) mice had higher renal bacterial load, more pronounced renal histological lesions, increased renal apoptotic cell accumulation, tissue inflammation and extracellular matrix deposition following renal infection with uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strain IH11128, compared to WT control mice. Myeloid C3aR deficient (Lyz2-C3ar-/- ) mice exhibited a similar disease phenotype to global C3ar-/- mice. Pharmacological treatment with a C3aR agonist reduced disease severity in experimental chronic pyelonephritis. Furthermore, macrophages of C3ar-/- mice exhibited impaired ability to phagocytose UPEC. Our data clearly demonstrate a protective role for C3aR against experimental chronic pyelonephritis, macrophage C3aR plays a major role in the protection, and C3aR is necessary for phagocytosis of UPEC by macrophages. Our observation that C3aR agonist curtailed the pathology suggests a therapeutic potential for activation of C3aR in chronic infection.

Outcomes of asymptomatic histologic pyelonephritis of kidney transplant.

BACKGROUND: Urinary Tract Infections are the most common post-transplant infection and can have varied presentations. This study aimed to describe the outcomes of kidney transplant recipients with asymptomatic histologic pyelonephritis on allograft biopsy. Histologic Pyelonephritis was defined as neutrophil cast or neutrophilic tubulitis, interstitial infiltrates with predominant neutrophils, and no evidence of rejection or glomerulonephritis on biopsy. METHODS: The study included 123 kidney transplant recipients, of whom 95 underwent protocol biopsies, and 28 had biopsies for elevated creatinine within the first 2 years of a kidney transplant. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 55.3 years, with 52% females and 78% deceased donor transplants. The risk factors for asymptomatic histologic pyelonephritis were recipient female sex (OR 1.89, 1.3-2.7, diabetes mellitus (OR 2.479, 1.687-3.645), and deceased donation (OR 1.69, 1.098-2.63). The incidence of asymptomatic pyelonephritis on protocol biopsy was 1.7%, with 52% having positive urine cultures and Escherichia coli being the most common bacteria. Subjects with asymptomatic pyelonephritis had inferior graft survival compared to the matched cohort HR 1.88 (1.06-3.35), p = .0281. In addition, of these 123 subjects, 68 (55%) subsequently developed pyelonephritis, and 34 subjects had pyelonephritis within 6 months after this episode. Subjects with recurrent infections exhibited lower survival HR 2.86 (1.36-6.02) and a trend toward higher rejection risk. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic histologic pyelonephritis can occur in kidney transplant recipients and is associated with inferior graft survival.

Szechwan Lovage Rhizome Extract Improves Renal Function and Alleviates Inflammatory Responses in Pyelonephritis Rats Infected with Escherichia Coli via IL-6/STAT3 Axis.

The objective of this study was to probe the effect and mechanism of Szechwan Lovage Rhizome (Chuanxiong, CX) extract on renal function (RF) and inflammatory responses (IRs) in acute pyelonephritis (APN) rats infected with Escherichia coli (E. coli). Fifteen SD rats were randomized to intervention, model and control groups. Rats in the control were fed normally without treatment, rats in the APN model were infected with E. coli, and rats in the intervention group were intragastrically administered CX extract after infection with E. coli. HE staining detected pathological changes in the kidney tissues in rats. Levels of renal function indexes and inflammatory factors (IFs) were measured by ELISA and an automatic biochemical analyzer. Besides, levels of IL-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway-related genes in rat kidney tissue were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. the experimental results showed that IL-1ß, IL-8, TNF-α and RF levels were the highest in the model group and the lowest in the control group, with those of the intervention group in between (P<0.05). Besides, the IL-6/STAT3 axis was markedly activated in the model group but inhibited in the intervention group (P<0.05). Subsequently, activated IL-6/STAT3 signal promoted IFs (IL-1ß, IL-8 and TNF-α) and RF (BUN, Scr, ß2-MG and UA), but this effect was offset after CX treatment (P<0.05). In conclusion, CX extract could improve RF and inhibit IRs of APN rats infected with E. coli by inhibiting the IL-6/STAT3 axis, which may be a new choice for APN treatment in the future.

Mast cell interleukin-10 drives localized tolerance in chronic bladder infection.

The lower urinary tract's virtually inevitable exposure to external microbial pathogens warrants efficient tissue-specialized defenses to maintain sterility. The observation that the bladder can become chronically infected in combination with clinical observations that antibody responses after bladder infections are not detectable suggest defects in the formation of adaptive immunity and immunological memory. We have identified a broadly immunosuppressive transcriptional program specific to the bladder, but not the kidney, during infection of the urinary tract that is dependent on tissue-resident mast cells (MCs). This involves localized production of interleukin-10 and results in suppressed humoral and cell-mediated responses and bacterial persistence. Therefore, in addition to the previously described role of MCs orchestrating the early innate immunity during bladder infection, they subsequently play a tissue-specific immunosuppressive role. These findings may explain the prevalent recurrence of bladder infections and suggest the bladder as a site exhibiting an intrinsic degree of MC-maintained immune privilege.

Renal Denervation Exacerbates LPS- and Antibody-induced Acute Kidney Injury, but Protects from Pyelonephritis in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Renal denervation (RDN) is an invasive intervention to treat drug-resistant arterial hypertension. Its therapeutic value is contentious. Here we examined the effects of RDN on inflammatory and infectious kidney disease models in mice. METHODS: Mice were unilaterally or bilaterally denervated, or sham operated, then three disease models were induced: nephrotoxic nephritis (NTN, a model for crescentic GN), pyelonephritis, and acute endotoxemic kidney injury (as a model for septic kidney injury). Analytical methods included measurement of renal glomerular filtration, proteinuria, flow cytometry of renal immune cells, immunofluorescence microscopy, and three-dimensional imaging of optically cleared kidney tissue by light-sheet fluorescence microscopy followed by algorithmic analysis. RESULTS: Unilateral RDN increased glomerular filtration in denervated kidneys, but decreased it in the contralateral kidneys. In the NTN model, more nephritogenic antibodies were deposited in glomeruli of denervated kidneys, resulting in stronger inflammation and injury in denervated compared with contralateral nondenervated kidneys. Also, intravenously injected LPS increased neutrophil influx and inflammation in the denervated kidneys, both after unilateral and bilateral RDN. When we induced pyelonephritis in bilaterally denervated mice, both kidneys contained less bacteria and neutrophils. In unilaterally denervated mice, pyelonephritis was attenuated and intrarenal neutrophil numbers were lower in the denervated kidneys. The nondenervated contralateral kidneys harbored more bacteria, even compared with sham-operated mice, and showed the strongest influx of neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the increased perfusion and filtration in denervated kidneys can profoundly influence concomitant inflammatory diseases. Renal deposition of circulating nephritic material is higher, and hence antibody- and endotoxin-induced kidney injury was aggravated in mice. Pyelonephritis was attenuated in denervated murine kidneys, because the higher glomerular filtration facilitated better flushing of bacteria with the urine, at the expense of contralateral, nondenervated kidneys after unilateral denervation.

[Modern algorithm of diagnosis and treatment of acute gestational pyelonephritis in a large industrial city].

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: to develop a modern algorithm for the diagnosis and treatment of acute gestational pyelonephritis in a large industrial city and to study the possibilities of phytotherapy as an integral part of this algorithm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study consisted of two stages and included 629 patients treated over 12 years (2010-2021) in Perm city with a population of 1.1 million people. At the first stage, the developed algorithm for the diagnosis and treatment of acute gestational pyelonephritis in 440 pregnant women was tested. A city emergency center for patients with gestational pyelonephritis was created with 3 urologists and related specialists on duty around the clock, what accelerated hospitalization timelines by 2.1 times. The patients underwent a level 1 examination, which included ultrasound examination, urine bacteriology and other methods. Patients in serve condition underwent, a level 2 examination, which included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound Dopplerography (USDG) and extended laboratory tests. RESULTS: During an urgent examination, acute purulent pyelonephritis was diagnosed in 27 (6.1%) patients who underwent 13 open surgeries (11 organ-preserving, 2 nephroectomies) and 14 minimally invasive (percutaneous nephrostomy, puncture of a kidney abscess) within 2-5 hours from the moment of hospitalization. Serve obstructive pyelonephritis was diagnosed in 286 patients, the passage of urine was restored by the installation of a stent or catheterization of the ureter. Conservative antibacterial therapy was performed in 127 patients with serous non-obstructive pyelonephritis. Positive results of treatment were observed in 439 (99.8%) patients: recovery in 95%, significant improvement in 4.8%, with a mortality rate of 0.2%. Bed-day decreased by 30.4%. At the second stage, a comparative randomized study was conducted during 4 years with 189 pregnant women with acute serous pyelonephritis enrolled. In the group 1 (n=94) patients received standard therapy according to the implemented algorithm, in the group 2 (n=95) patients had 60-day use of Canephron N. In the group 2, treatment results were better: recovery was achieved in 96.8% of patients, improvement in 3.2%, the number of pregnant women with leukocyturia and bacteriuria decreased 4.1 times, which prevented the occurrence of repeated attacks of acute pyelonephritis. Compared with standard therapy, Canephron N increased glomerular filtration by 12,3%, diuresis by 14.2%, increased urea excretion function of the kidneys, sanitized the urinary tract at an earlier timelines, reduced the number of premature births and the birth of dead and premature babies. CONCLUSION: As a result of the development and implementation of an algorithm for the diagnosis and treatment of acute gestational pyelonephritis and creation of the treatment center for such patients, it was possible to reduce significantly the time of hospitalization and inpatient treatment and achieve good treatment results in 99.8% of patients. The inclusion of long-term phytotherapy with Canephron N in the treatment regimen increased the effectiveness of treatment, improved kidney function in patients, significantly reduced the number of pregnant women with leukocyturia and bacteriuria, and reduced the risk of a repeated attack of pyelonephritis.

The bacteria and the host: a story of purinergic signaling in urinary tract infections.

The local environment forces a selection of bacteria that might invade the urinary tract, allowing only the most virulent to access the kidney. Quite similar to the diet in setting the stage for the gut microbiome, renal function determines the conditions for bacteria-host interaction in the urinary tract. In the kidney, the term local environment or microenvironment is completely justified because the environment literally changes within a few micrometers. The precise composition of the urine is a function of the epithelium lining the microdomain, and the microenvironment in the kidney shows more variation in the content of nutrients, ion composition, osmolality, and pH than any other site of bacteria-host interaction. This review will cover some of the aspects of bacterial-host interaction in this unique setting and how uropathogenic bacteria can alter the condition for bacteria-host interaction. There will be a particular focus on the recent findings regarding how bacteria specifically trigger host paracrine signaling, via release of extracellular ATP and activation of P2 purinergic receptors. These finding will be discussed from the perspective of severe urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis and urosepsis.

Clinical manifestations, laboratory markers, and renal ultrasonographic examinations in 1-month to 12-year-old Iranian children with pyelonephritis: a six-year cross-sectional retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Upper urinary tract infection (UTI) or pyelonephritis may increase the pathogenesis rate and risk of severe complications in children due to kidney atrophy. OBJECTIVE: A set of clinical symptoms, laboratory markers, and ultrasound findings were assessed to achieve the early diagnosis and prognosis of pyelonephritis in hospitalized pediatrics. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 104 Iranian children (95 girls and 9 boys) aged 1 month to 12 years with acute pyelonephritis during 2012-2018 was conducted. The ultrasound examination of kidneys and urinary tract during hospitalization, the incidence of clinical symptoms, and laboratory markers in blood and urine were monitored to identify the best predictive factors of early diagnosis of this bacterial infection. RESULTS: Three-fourth of the patients had one of the four clinical symptoms of abdominal pain, constipation, dysuria, and vomiting, while others were asymptomatic. A much frequency of pyuria (88.46%), Escherichia coli in urine (92.31%), leukocytosis (81.73%), and high ESR (> 10 mm/h, 92.30%) and CRP (> 10 mg/L, 82.82%) was observed. The kidney and urinary tract ultrasonography only in 32.7% of children revealed findings in favor of pyelonephritis (cystitis, ureteral stones, and hydronephrosis). CONCLUSION: There was a high frequency of clinical signs and laboratory markers associated with pyelonephritis. Ultrasound alone was not an efficient tool to track febrile UTI as most patients presented normal sonography.

Severe infection including disseminated herpes zoster triggered by subclinical Cushing's disease: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Subclinical Cushing's disease (SCD) is defined by corticotroph adenoma-induced mild hypercortisolism without typical physical features of Cushing's disease. Infection is an important complication associated with mortality in Cushing's disease, while no reports on infection in SCD are available. To make clinicians aware of the risk of infection in SCD, we report a case of SCD with disseminated herpes zoster (DHZ) with the mortal outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: An 83-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with SCD, treated with cabergoline in the outpatient. She was hospitalized for acute pyelonephritis, and her fever gradually resolved with antibiotics. However, herpes zoster appeared on her chest, and the eruptions rapidly spread over the body. She suddenly went into cardiopulmonary arrest and died. Autopsy demonstrated adrenocorticotropic hormone-positive pituitary adenoma, renal abscess, and DHZ. CONCLUSIONS: As immunosuppression caused by SCD may be one of the triggers of severe infection, the patients with SCD should be assessed not only for the metabolic but also for the immunodeficient status.

Evaluation of hematogenous spread and ascending infection in the pathogenesis of acute pyelonephritis due to group B streptococcus in mice.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) causes pyelonephritis in adults but the mechanisms of infection by which GBS infects the kidneys in vivo are unknown. We investigated GBS infection of the kidneys in mice following experimental challenge via the hematogenous route (transient bacteremia model) or transurethral route (bladder infection and cystitis model). Adult female mice were examined for bacterial dissemination to the kidneys and other organ systems at 24-72 h and tissue samples were assessed for histopathological changes. Comparisons included analysis of different challenge inoculum doses ranging between 107-109 CFU and investigation of several GBS serotypes, including representative strains of serotype V (NEM316), III (BM110, 874391) and Ia (807). Mice with transient, low-level GBS bacteremia routinely developed acute pyelonephritis secondary to high-level kidney infection; infection progressed with high GBS burdens that were sustained in the tissue for days in contrast to bacterial clearance in other organs, including spleen, liver and heart. The histopathological changes of acute pyelonephritis due to GBS were characterized using hematoxylin and eosin, and stains for bacteria, neutrophils, macrophages, mast cells and T lymphocytes; this revealed recruitment of a mixed inflammatory cell population that infiltrated the renal medulla of infected mice in focal areas of discrete micro-abscesses. In contrast, bladder infection leading to cystitis in mice did not result in ascending spread of GBS to the kidneys. We conclude that transient bacteremia, rather than preceding infection of the lower urinary tract, is the predominant condition that leads to GBS kidney infection and subsequent development of acute pyelonephritis.

Clinical Predictors Implicated in the Incidence of Acute Pyelonephritis during the Antepartum Period: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is a common infection during pregnancy that increases the risk of unfavorable maternal and fetal outcomes. However, it has not been clearly elucidated which demographic and clinical characteristics are associated with the incidence of APN during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: This population-based cohort study aimed to determine the risk factors for APN during pregnancy. METHODS: Using the database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of South Korea, we enrolled Korean women who delivered infants between 2010 and 2014 in Korea and had complete health examination records within 1 year of pregnancy. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the risk factors for APN during pregnancy. RESULTS: Of 370,248 women, 2,526 (0.7% of the total participants) were treated for APN while in hospitalization during pregnancy. Younger age, history of previous APN within 1 year of pregnancy, and abnormal results of health examination before pregnancy, such as high fasting glucose level (>100 mg/dL) and proteinuria, were associated with an increased risk of APN during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Certain maternal demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with the incidence of APN during pregnancy, and these should be monitored closely during antenatal care.

A Systematic Review of Single-Dose Aminoglycoside Therapy for Urinary Tract Infection: Is It Time To Resurrect an Old Strategy?

Increasing bacterial resistance and poor patient adherence rates limit the effectiveness of conventional antibiotic therapies for urinary tract infection (UTI). The objective of this study was to investigate whether a single aminoglycoside dose adequately treated UTI. A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases was performed through September 2018 for English language original research articles assessing the efficacy of one-time parenteral aminoglycoside as UTI monotherapy. Of 252 potentially relevant studies, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria, representing 13,804 patients. Patient ages ranged from 2 weeks to >70 years; both inpatient and outpatient settings were represented. Cystitis was more common than pyelonephritis, and more females were represented than males. Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated uropathogen. The pooled microbiologic cure rate with single-dose aminoglycoside therapy was 94.5% ± 4.3%. Cure was sustained (no recurrence) for 73.4% ± 9.6% of patients at day 30. Lower cure rates were observed among patients with radiographic urinary tract abnormality (chi-square P < 0.01). Across all studies, 63/13,804 (0.5%) cases of nephrotoxicity, vestibular toxicity, or injection site reaction were reported; no hearing loss was observed. Single-dose aminoglycoside therapy appears to be an effective treatment option for lower UTI in nonseptic patients, with minimal toxicity. Additional studies would be beneficial to confirm efficacy for pyelonephritis. When resistance to first-line UTI agents is endemic, aminoglycosides may serve as ß-lactam- and fluoroquinolone-sparing options.

Clinical impact of perinephric fat stranding detected on computed tomography in patients with acute pyelonephritis: a retrospective observational study.

Perinephric fat stranding (PFS) is often detected on computed tomography (CT) in patients with acute pyelonephritis (APN). However, its clinical impact remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of PFS detected on CT in patients with APN. This retrospective observational study included patients with APN who underwent CT (median age, 79.5 years). Patients were classified into PFS (patients with PFS observed on CT) and non-PFS (patients without PFS observed on CT) groups, which were further classified into bacteraemia and non-bacteraemia groups. Clinical findings between the groups were compared. Among 194 patients who underwent CT, 111 (57.2%) patients demonstrated PFS. The rate of bacteraemia was significantly higher in the PFS group than in the non-PFS group (55.2 vs. 23.1%, p < 0.001). CT findings other than PFS were not associated with bacteraemia. The median peak body temperature was significantly higher in the PFS group than in the non-PFS group (38.8 vs. 38.5 °C, p < 0.001); however, the duration of fever and in-hospital mortality rates were not significantly different between the groups. Concordance between blood and urine culture results was observed in 75.0% of the patients; the presence of PFS was not different between patients with concordant and discordant results, regardless of the pre-treatment antibiotic used. Our findings suggest that the presence of PFS in patients with APN predicts bacteraemia; thus, clinicians should consider obtaining blood cultures if PFS is found on CT in patients with APN, even if the patients had received antibiotics prior to admission.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis in renal allograft related to antibody-mediated rejection: A case report and literature review.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a rare condition which can rapidly progress to sepsis and multiple organ failure with high mortality. We experienced a rare case of EPN in a renal allograft related to antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). The patient received a deceased donor kidney transplant due to end-stage renal disease secondary to diabetes mellitus. Cross-match test was negative but she had remote history of anti-HLA-A2 antibody corresponding with the donor HLA. Surgery concluded without any major events. Anti-thymoglobulin was given perioperatively for induction. She was compliant with her immunosuppressive medications making urine of 2 L/d with serum creatinine of 1.9 mg/dL at discharge on post-operative day (POD) 6. She did well until POD 14 when she presented to the clinic with features of sepsis, pain over the transplanted kidney area and decline in urine volume with elevated serum creatinine. CT revealed extensive gas throughout the transplanted kidney. Renal scan revealed non-functional transplant kidney with no arterial flow. Based on these findings, a decision to perform transplant nephrectomy was made. At laparotomy, the kidney was completely necrotic. Pathology showed non-viable kidney parenchyma with the tubules lacking neutrophilic casts suggestive of ischemic necrosis. Donor-specific antibody (DSA) returned positive with high intensity anti-HLA-A2 antibody. This is the first case of early EPN in allograft considered to have occurred as a result of thrombotic ischemia secondary to AMR. This case suggests consideration of perioperative anti-B-cell and/or anti-plasma cell therapies for historical DSA and strict post-operative follow-up in immunologically high-risk recipients to detect early signs of rejection and avoid deleterious outcomes.

Perinephric Fat Stranding on Postmortem Computed Tomography Scan in Acute Pyelonephritis: A Case Report.

Infection/inflammation of solid organ can be difficult to appreciate at postmortem computed tomography (CT) scan (PMCT). Perinephric fat stranding is a clinical CT finding to suggest pyelonephritis; however, PMCT scan showing perinephric fat stranding in acute pyelonephritis has not been documented in the forensic literature. We present a death from acute pyelonephritis in a setting of hypertensive heart disease, in which the unenhanced PMCT performed before postmortem examination was able to show florid bilateral perinephric fat stranding. This PMCT finding subsequently guided the pathologist to pay special attention to the kidney and take appropriate microbiology specimens to confirm the diagnosis. Perinephric fat stranding on PMCT may be a useful sign to alert the pathologist to consider acute pyelonephritis during the postmortem examination.

Bilateral Pyelonephritis in a Cat with Multiple Urinary Malformations Including Ureteral Pseudodiverticulosis.

Ureteral pseudodiverticulosis is an unusual acquired abnormality in humans and dogs. This report describes the first feline case of ureteral pseudodiverticulosis, associated with right retrocaval ureter and malposition of the uretero-vesical junctions, in the context of pyelonephritis. The coexistence of pseudodiverticulosis with other urinary abnormalities suggested that this lesion should be considered in other patients with urinary pathology.

Mitochondria-Associated Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in Acute Renal Pathologies.

Activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of kidney cells were evaluated on the models of acute renal pathologies: pyelonephritis, rhabdomyolysis, and ischemia/reperfusion of the kidney. In acute pyelonephritis, a significant increase in the level of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in kidney cells and the appearance of mitochondrial MMP-2 isoform with a lower molecular weight, but still exhibiting proteolytic activity were observed. A direct correlation between the level of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the kidney and the severity of inflammation in pyelonephritis was revealed. Obviously, the appearance of active protease in the mitochondria of the kidney cells could have an impact on their functioning and, generally, on the fate of renal cells in this pathology.

ABILITY TO FORM BIOFILMS BY PYELONEPHRITIS CAUSATIVE AGENTS IN CHILDREN.

The work is dedicated to the study of biofilms formation process by main pyelonephritis causative agents in children in vitro using methods of light, fluorescent and scanning microscopy. To study biofilms formation bacteria were cultivated in liquid substratum on glass in polystyrene Petri dishes d=40mm. The study demonstrated that all isolates formed biofilms. Adhesion of bacteria planktonic forms took place on the first stage, intracellular matrix formation took place on the second stage, and biofilms formation took place on the third stage. During the study of E. coli and Proteus sрр bacteria preparations with the use of scanning and light microscopy ordered bacteria arrangement was seen in the form of separate structures or tiny clusters of bacterial cells united by matrix. During the study of the ability to form P. aeruginosa isolates biofilms with the help of scanning microscopy it was stated that the adhesion of separate bacterial cells occurs by conglomerates formation surrounded by matrix with further biofilms formation. Bacterial cells in the form of dense elongated sticks were seen under the film. P. аeruginosa isolates daily biofilms were stated to have dense structure in the form of gel. Packed biofilms areas with cells clusters with good fluorescence were found with the help of fluorescent microscopy. During daily K.рneumoniae isolates biofilms study by methods of scanning and fluorescent microscopy it was found that K.рneumoniae biofilms were covered with dense matrix and riddled with multiple canals in the form of apertures. During morphological peculiarities study of E. faecalis isolates biofilms formation with the use of scanning and fluorescent microscopy it was found that bacterial cells were densely packed and united by intracellular matrix under which bacteria of spherical shape were seen. Thus biofilms, the nature of which depends on the type of bacteria, are formed on the surface of conglomerates consisting of bacterial cells. Peculiarities of course and appearance of pyelonephritis chronic form and relapses in children is explained by biofilms formation.