New selectivity index calculated using protein fraction as a substitute for the conventional selectivity index.

BACKGROUND: Selectivity index (SI) of proteinuria, calculated using the clearance ratio of immunoglobulin G to transferrin, predicts the response to glucocorticoids in patients with nephrotic syndrome. However, there is disagreement regarding the suitability of SI. Therefore, alternate indices should be considered. This study investigated whether or not selectivity index protein fraction (SIPF) was inferior to SI for the prediction of the response to glucocorticoids. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with nephrotic syndrome were evaluated. On the basis of molecular weight and protein fraction, as an inexpensive substitute for SI, the clearance ratio of the albumin to γ fractions measured in serum and urine protein fractions was defined as SIPF. The quality of SIPF was examined. Moreover, the best cutoff value of SIPF was determined; and SIPF distribution, according to histopathological diagnosis by renal biopsy, was examined. RESULTS: SIPF was strongly correlated with SI (r = 0.79, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of SIPF and SI was not significantly different (P = 0.18). The best cutoff value of SIPF was 0.45. In the group with SIPF > 0.45, only two patients with minimal change disease (MCD) achieved complete remission. In the group with SIPF ≤ 0.45, all patients with MCD achieved complete remission, although eight patients with other histopathological diagnoses did not achieve complete remission. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of protein fractions as a substitute for SI may be useful for predicting response to glucocorticoids in patients with nephrotic syndrome.

Anti-mitochondria antibody-related tubulointerstitial nephritis accompanied by severe hypokalemic paralysis.

A 47-year-old man presented with severe hypokalemic paralysis and respiratory failure. A large amount of potassium was administered along with providing intensive care, and his condition improved. Hypokalemia was attributed to increased urinary potassium excretion. A kidney biopsy was performed to make a definitive histological diagnosis. It revealed acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). After the diagnosis, prednisolone was administered, and the TIN gradually improved. From the clinical course and laboratory findings, the TIN was presumed to be an autoimmune disorder. Further specific autoantibody tests were positive for anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA), which has been gaining increasing attention in regard to TIN. In addition, all previous cases of TIN associated with AMA have affected females. The detailed pathogenetic mechanisms are as yet unclear and require further investigation.

Diffusion-weighted whole-body imaging with background body signal suppression/T2 image fusion for the diagnosis of colorectal polyp and cancer.

Diffusion-weighted whole-body imaging with background body signal suppression/T2 image fusion (DWIBS/T2) is useful for the diagnosis of cancer as it presents a clear contrast between cancerous and non-cancerous tissue. The present study investigated the limitations and advantages of DWIBS/T2 with regards to the diagnosis of colorectal polyp (CP) or cancer (CRC). The current study included patients diagnosed with CP or CRC following colonoscopy, who were subjected to DWIBS/T2 between July 2012 and March 2015. Patient records were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were subjected to DWIBS/T2 when they presented with abdominal cancers or inflammation. Colonoscopy was performed as part of screening, or if patients had suspected colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. A total of 8 male and 7 female patients were enrolled in the present study. All patients, with the exception of one who had been diagnosed with CRC following colonoscopy, had positive results and all patients diagnosed with CP following a colonoscopy, with the exception of one, had negative results on DWIBS/T2. Thus, CRC was detected by DWIBS/T2, while CP was not (P=0.0028). The diameter of CRC lesions was significantly larger than that of CP (P<0.0001) and that of lesions positive on DWIBS/T2 was significantly larger than that of negative lesions (P=0.0004). The depth of invasion tended to be greater for lesions positive on DWIBS/T2 compared with that of negative ones. This indicated that DWIBS/T2 may be suitable for the detection of CRC but not for detection of CP. The results of DWIBS/T2 may also be affected by lesion diameter and depth of invasion.

Tuberculous Fasciitis in Polymyositis: A Rare Case of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis.

A 71-year-old woman with polymyositis presenting with left thigh pain and an intermittent fever was admitted to Osaka Rosai Hospital. We initially diagnosed that her pain and fever were caused by a soft tissue infection because her polymyositis was controlled. She did not respond to various antibiotic therapies. Chest computed tomography demonstrated miliary tuberculosis (TB). Ziehl-Neelsen staining of liver biopsy specimens revealed epithelioid cell granuloma and acid-fast bacilli. Therefore, we finally diagnosed the lesion as TB fasciitis that improved with anti-TB drug therapy. The atypical presentation of TB fasciitis demonstrates the clinical importance of eliminating TB infections in immunocompromised hosts.

[Effectiveness of a practical protocol for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy: improved prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy].

BACKGROUND: In Japan, "Guidelines for iodinated contrast in a patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) 2012" was published, but preventive protocols for specific contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) have not been specified. Therefore, we developed a CIN preventive protocol, and validated its operation and renal protective effect. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, we determined eGFR within 3 months before contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). We evaluated CKD stage 3b - 4 adult patients (eGFR 15 - 45 mL/min/1.73m2) who underwent CECT. We observed changes in renal function over 9 months and compared the changes between the pre-protocol group, which received CIN preventive measures from clinicians, and the post-protocol group, which received 500 mL 0.9% saline intravenously over 4 hours or drank 2,000 mL water over 36 hours. RESULTS: The numbers of CT and CECT patients after validation of the protocol were 5,450 and 2,037, respectively. Among the CECT patients, 310 (15.2%) and 77(3.8%)had eGFRs < 60 and 45 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Among the CECT patients whose eGFRs were < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, 74.5% were 70 years or older. Tumor scanning accounted for 77% of all CECT cases. The number of CECT patients after 3 months did not significantly differ between the groups (2,189 vs 2,037). The percentage of patients with CKD stage G3b - 4 showed no significant differences (3.3% vs 3.7%, p = 0.89). The proportion of patients whose eGFR did not deteriorate at 3, 6 and 9 months was significantly higher in the post-protocol group than in the pre-protocol group (p < 0.001), and the protocol was the only independently-significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Our protocol prevented CIN and provided a renal protective effect without reducing the number of CECT patients.