Managing Cancer Treatment in Patients with Renal Dysfunction: The Role of Chemotherapy.

Malignancy is characterized by damage to several vital organs, and utilizing chemotherapy as a treatment option can have toxic effects on healthy body tissues. Kidney function is commonly compromised by cancer and chemotherapy. These effects can be pre-renal, intrarenal, or postrenal. Tumor lysis syndrome and electrolyte disturbances are also common in this group of patients. Etiologies of this dysfunction are poorly understood; therefore, careful monitoring and management of renal function are required in such cases. This narrative review aimed to highlight some of the common renal abnormalities among patients receiving cancer and chemotherapy.

Quercetin can be a more reliable treatment for metastatic prostate cancer than the localized disease: An in vitro study.

Quercetin is a plant flavonoid that has been recognized to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities. This study aims to evaluate the inhibitory effects of quercetin against prostate malignancy in vitro and the underlying resistance mechanism. IC50 values of quercetin were determined by MTT assay. Annexin-V/PI staining was used to measure the rate of apoptosis. DNA cell cycle was analysed by PI staining method. Real-time PCR was performed to assess mRNA levels of OPN isoforms, VEGF isoforms, P53 and KLK2. Migration potential, proliferative capability and nucleus morphology of cells were evaluated by the scratch-wound assay, colony-forming assay and Hoechst staining, respectively. Quercetin significantly increased the apoptosis rate of PC-3 and LNCaP cell lines, arrested the cell cycle at the sub-G1/G1 phase, and reduced the migration potential and colony-forming capability. Moreover, upregulation of apoptosis-related genes and downregulation of genes involved in proliferation and angiogenesis was also observed. Although our results elucidated that quercetin has antitumor effects on PC-3 and LNCaP, for the first time, we showed that quercetin treatment causes alterations in the expression of OPN and VEGF isoforms, which are cancer-promoting modulators through various processes such as angiogenesis and drug-resistance. Prostate malignant cells can dodge the anti-carcinogenic properties of quercetin via modulation of OPN and VEGF isoforms in vitro. Therefore, quercetin acts as a double-edged sword in prostate cancer treatment.

Two-way Road of Kidney and Hypercalcemia: A Narrative Review.

Calcium homeostasis is regulated by the dyad of parathyroid hormone and calcitriol, whereas kidney, intestine, and bone are the primary target sites. Elevation of serum calcium levels and hypercalcemia are likely markers of pathological conditions, particularly malignancy and hyperparathyroidism. Similarly, several dysfunctions within the body can direct hypercalcemia. Furthermore, chemicals and drugs can also drive this condition. Owing to the significant role of the kidney in calcium homeostasis, renal abnormalities lead to hypercalcemia and increased calcium levels can have pathological effects on the kidney. This review is designed to highlight some of the commonly known causes of hypercalcemia and their effects on the kidney.

Clinical Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are characterized by hyperproliferation of B cells due to solid organ or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Based on histological findings, it is divided into 4 categories. Most PTLD patients are Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive. Additionally, aggressive immunosuppressive therapies can also lead to PTLD. Reducing immunosuppressive regimes, antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are available therapeutic options, depending on the nature and phase of the disease. This review briefly highlights pathogenesis, risk factors, prevention, and therapeutic strategies regarding PTLDs.

Chronic hemodialysis: Evaluation of dialysis adequacy and mortality.

Objective: Dialysis efficacy is one of the important issues in patients undergoing hemodialysis. This study aimed to determine the adequacy of dialysis with mortality and hospital admissions in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients who underwent dialysis. Dialysis adequacy was measured based on the Kt/V criterion. Age, sex, disease etiology, duration of dialysis, and access dialysis were evaluated. Results: 128 patients with a mean age of 61.48 ± 13.36 years were included in the study. 8 patients had a history of kidney transplantation. The mean dialysis time in the patients was 4.30 ± 3.39 years. The mean Kt/V in the patients was 1.40 ± 1.8 years. Of the 128 patients, 53 were hospitalized for cardiac or renal reasons. The number of fatalities was 9 cases out of 128. The cause of death in all the cases was heart problems. There was a statistically significant correlation between the adequacy of dialysis in terms of Kt/V and mortality, but it was not associated with hospitalization. Conclusion: Inadequate dialysis in terms of Kt/V is likely to increase the rate of mortality among dialysis patients.

Predisposing factors and uremic pericardial effusion among ESRD patients undergoing dialysis.

Objective: Pericardial effusion and pericarditis are responsible for 3-5% of deaths due to tamponade, fatal arrhythmia and heart failure. Improvement in dialysis methods has allowed the initiation of the treatment at early stages. This study is designed to evaluate the prevalence of pericardial effusion and its predisposing factors among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing dialysis. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that included patients from the two Medical Centers in (XXX). These patients were presented with ESRD with a GFR <10 cc/min and were under long-term dialysis, also called chronic hemodialysis. The echocardiography was performed and patients with pericarditis and/or pericardial effusion due to non-uremic causes or dialysis were excluded. Results: Of 132 patients included, mild pericardial effusion was observed in 17(12.9%) patients, 8(6.1%) patients were presented with moderate and 1 (0.7%) had severe pericardial effusion. Among females, 9(15.8%) showed pericardial effusion whereas, it was reported in 8(10.7%) males, with no statistically significant difference. Furthermore, no significant difference was seen in the ages or etiologies of patients with or without pericardial effusion (50.5 ± 15.5 vs 52.8 ± 16.1, respectively). Conclusion: Our study reports that echocardiography among dialysis patients is likely to determine the effectiveness of the dialysis procedure and can be a cost-effective approach. Futher studies regarding laboratory parameters are required in this area.

Choriocarcinoma transmitted with the transplant: Case study.

Choriocarcinoma is a rare kind of cancer, which may be either gestational or non-gestational. Choriocarcinoma is responsible for about a quarter of all documented neoplastic aneurysms. It is a descriptive case report of choriocarcinoma transmission from a donor, following kidney donation. A 45-year-old woman got a kidney from a 25-year-old woman who was taken to the hospital due to a non-traumatic cerebral hemorrhage. She delivered a healthy baby 48 days before her brain death. The transplant was successfully done. Five weeks' post-transplantation, the recipient had pain and erythema in the surgical area. Regarding the high level of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in her blood, diagnostic tests were performed. Following the confirmation of the cancer, a five-phase chemotherapy plan with various pharmaceutical regimens was initiated. Liver function test values rose after the final round of chemotherapy, and the patient developed hepatic encephalopathy. Considering the thrombocytopenia, dialysis, or hemoperfusion, which are normally performed to reduce liver enzymes, were not initiated. Finally, she died due to the hepatic failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Although the nephrologists disagree on the optimal course of treatment, it seems that nephrectomy would be helpful in such instances. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of transplant-related choriocarcinoma in female donors of reproductive age who die because of intracerebral brain hemorrhage for unclear reasons. Every donor must undergo a thorough examination. It is critical to get documents, clarify history, and interview relatives.

Prone position: A possible method to decrease post dural puncture headache (PDPH) during surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is a complication associated with spinal and epidural anesthesia, characterized by a very severe dull, non-throbbing positional headache along with nausea, vomiting and other symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare positional character of PDPH, where the effects of prone and supine positions during surgery were compared for the risk of the headache. METHODS: This cohort study, was carried out at (XXX) University of Medical Sciences from June 2019 to June 2020 after the approval from the Ethical Committee. 1416 patients participated in this study among whom either supine or prone positions were used for the surgery, based on the type of surgical requirements. All patients received spinal where, 18-gauge cannula was inserted and lactated ringer 4 mL per Kg per hour was used for the administration. Using an aseptic technique, a 26-gauge Quincke needle was inserted intrathecally via a midline approach into the L3-L4 or L4-L5 interspace with the patient in the sitting position. Patients received 10 mg 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. 444 patients were operated in the prone position during surgery (P group) and the 972 patients were in the supine position (S group). RESULTS: We compared the rate of PDPH between the two groups. 3 (0.68%) patients with pilonidal sinus were operated in prone position experienced headache and 87 of those operated in supine position (8.95%) had headache (P < 0.001); and the odds ratio of developing headache when operated in supine position was 13.16. CONCLUSIONS: Prone position during surgery appears to be a reliable way to reduce PDPH following spinal or epidural anesthesia.

Effects of aminophylline on the levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in asphyxiated term neonates.

OBJECTIVE: Our study evaluates the effects of aminophylline in the reduction of NGAL levels in perinatal asphyxia. METHODS: Term neonates with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy who were divided into two groups, the treatment and placebo. Urine NGAL levels were measured on day one and four of the treatment using BIOPORTO kits in both the groups. RESULTS: Day 1 NGAL levels were not statistically different in either group irrespective of the age, gender and the mode of delivery. on 4th day, NGAL in treatment group significantly decreased as compared to day 1 levels and placebo day-4 levels. significant differences were seen between first and fourth day NGAL levels among children with normal and caesarean birth and among female and male neonates. CONCLUSIONS: Following the treatment with aminophylline, NGAL levels in asphyxiated neonates are likely to reduce. Further studies based on other kidney dysfunction parameters can lead to the better and accurate conclusions.

The Role of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme in Immunity: Shedding Light on Experimental Findings.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a zinc-dependent dicarboxypeptidase with two catalytic components, which has an important role in regulating blood pressure by converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II. ACE breaks down other peptides besides angiotensin I and has a variety of physiological effects together with renal growth and reproduction in men. ACE also acts on innate and acquired immune systems by affecting macrophage and neutrophil function, and these outcomes are exacerbated due to the overexpression of ACE. Overexpression of ACE in macrophages imposes antitumor and antimicrobial response, and it enhances the ability of neutrophils to produced super peroxide that has a bactericidal effect. ACE is also known to contribute to the expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I and MHC class II peptides through enzymatic alterations of these peptides. Apprehending the expression of ACE and its effects on myeloid cell (myelogenous cells) activity can be promising in therapeutic interventions, including treatment of infection and malignancy.

Association between neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and iron profile in chronic renal disease.

NGAL, also known as lipocalin 2, is a stress protein located on the cell surface that is known for its involvement in iron transport. This study is aimed to evaluate the correlation between the iron profile and NGAL concentration in serum among chronic kidney disease patients under dialysis in order to find its diagnostic value with regards to iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). 47 patients under chronic haemodialysis in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and 15 healthy controls were evaluated to determine the correlation between serum NGAL concentration and IDA characteristics. Our results recorded a significant correlation between IDA (TSAT < 20%) and NGAL serum concentration with a Spearman's coefficient of 0.314. Serum NGAL was also significantly related to serum ferritin, TIBC, uric acid, creatinine and blood sugar whereas, an inverse relationship with albumin, total cholesterol and LDL. Our study reports a positive correlation between IDA and serum NGAL levels in CKD patients.

Does COVID19 activates previous chronic pain? A case series.

INTRODUCTION: With the outbreak of coronavirus, the number of patients who referred to the pain clinic for follow-up was much higher than before, which coincided with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. However, due to incomplete knowledge regarding the virus and its effects, patients did not follow up to the pain. METHODS: We present case of 8 patients who were treated previously for chronic pain (complete remission). RESULTS: During the pandemic, these patients were presented to our center presenting identical pain, that did not respond to the conservative therapy. Owing to the symptoms, these patients were screened and tested positive for COVID19. Two of the patients died whereas, symptoms were improved in other patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with the history of chronic pain may present relapse as a result of the infection or infection can trigger previous chronic pain among patients with risk factors.

Drug-induced interstitial nephritis as a result of sodium valproate and triamterene.

we presented a case of drug-induced interstitial nephritis in a 43-year-old woman, having the history of renal calculi, as a result of sodium valproate and triamterene. Renal biopsy was used to confirm the diagnosis, however, due to poor prognosis along with discontinuation of drugs, she was treated with corticosteroids.