Review of combination of peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis as a modality of treatment for end-stage renal disease.

Because the contribution of residual renal function (RRF) to total solute clearance is often significant in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), loss of RRF over time can lead to inadequate dialysis if appropriate prescription management strategies are not pursued. Additionally, declines in ultrafiltration caused by increases in peritoneal permeability may limit continuation of CAPD therapy. Peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis (PD + HD) combination therapy (complementary dialysis therapy) is an alternative method. This therapy allows the patient to maintain daily activities, as with CAPD, while undergoing once-a-week HD supplements for the insufficient removal of solutes and water. This therapy allows for the continuation of PD without shifting to total HD in PD patients who continue to have uremic symptoms even after individualization of the PD prescription. This treatment option is psychologically more acceptable to patients and may be expected to provide such accompanying beneficial effects as peritoneal resting, improvement of QOL and reduction in medical cost.

[Management of hypertension in Japan--current state and clinical issue].

The Japanese Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension (JSH2000) have been published in June, 2000, which basically followed the direction of 1999 WHO/ISH and JNC-VI guidelines. Target blood pressures for young or middle-aged hypertensive patients or hypertensives with diabetes are recommended to maintain less than 130/85 mmHg. In contrast, blood pressure control for hypertension in elderly is set taking the subject's age into consideration with systolic blood pressure lower than 140-160 mmHg and diastolic below 90 mmHg. Among hypertensive cardiovascular diseases, stroke is more common while ischemic heart disease is less common in Japanese than in Caucasians. Frequency of hypertension in Japan, which is estimated to be one-fourth of whole population and two-thirds of persons aged 60 years or over, has been declined in recent years, because of increasing treatment of hypertension, resulting in a decrease in stroke mortality and morbidity. However, the number of persons with hypertension controlled to below 140/90 mmHg seems to be about 20 percent of all hypertensives. Therefore, increases in rates of awareness, treatment and appropriate control of hypertension are the important issue for the management of hypertension in Japanese at present state.

Double-contrast radiographic assessment of lupus-associated enteropathy.

PURPOSE: To describe the double-contrast radiographic features of lupus-associated enteropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six patients with systemic lupus erythematosus involving the small bowel were assessed by double-contrast radiography of the duodenum and small intestine, with reference to clinical manifestations and jejunoscopic findings. RESULTS: Lupus-associated enteropathy could be categorized into two types: acute onset enteritis in four patients and protein-losing enteropathy with hyperlipidaemia in two patients. The former group presented with irregular thickening and spiculation in the folds of the multiple segments of the duodenum to the terminal ileum, and they were frequently accompanied by thumbprinting, suggestive of ischaemic change. The latter group was characterized by mildly thickened folds with multiple submucosal nodules in the upper portion of the jejunum. In one patient from this group, jejunal biopsy demonstrated lymphangiectasia. Both groups were successfully treated by high-dose prednisolone. Follow-up radiography in the former group showed a complete improvement within 2-7 weeks, whereas radiographic abnormalities in the latter remained even after 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: Lupus-associated enteropathy cases may be divisible into two types; an acute ischaemic enteritis type and a protein-losing enteropathy type, each presenting distinct radiographic features.

Ultrasonographic assessment of regional differences in atherosclerotic lesions in patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or both.

We evaluated risk factors involved in regional differences in atherosclerotic lesions in patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or both. Using ultrasonography, we examined the brachial, common carotid, and common femoral arteries in 65 hospitalized Japanese patients (15 controls, 18 patients with hypertension, 16 with diabetes mellitus, and 16 with both hypertension and diabetes mellitus). They ranged in age from 39 to 81 yr, mean 60.3 yr. The thickness of the intima-media complex of the far wall was measured, and the severity of atherosclerotic plaques was graded according to maximal lumen stenosis. The intima-media thickness in the carotid and femoral arteries was significantly greater in the hypertensive patients and the hypertensive patients with diabetes than in the controls. Severity of plaque was greater in the hypertensive patients with diabetes than in the controls. Plaque grades were higher in the carotid and femoral arteries than in the brachial artery. Multiple regression analysis revealed that age and mean blood pressure were strongly associated with the intima-media thickness in all three arteries. In the femoral artery, cigarette smoking and hyperglycemia also significantly correlated with the intima-media thickness. Plaque grades increased with age in the carotid and brachial arteries, while in the femoral artery the grade increased with cigarette smoking and serum cholesterol concentration. These findings suggest that the extent of atherosclerosis and its underlying risk factors differ among arterial sites. In addition, risk factors may partly differ according to the stage of atherosclerosis. To prevent or reverse atherosclerosis, the above differences should be taken into account.

[Partial splenic embolization for the treatment of liver cirrhosis with hypersplenism: assessment of clinical response and liver function].

We have evaluated the efficacy of partial splenic embolization (SE) in the treatment in 10 cirrhotic patients with marked hypersplenism. The mean infarction rate of the spleen was 84%. The change of spleen size, peripheral blood cell counts and liver function tests after SE were investigated during 3 years, and also 10 cirrhotic patients without SE were followed as control. The residual spleens after SE did not enlarged except 1 case with 65% infarction rate of the spleen. In these cases, the SE led not only to a sustained increase in both platelet and white blood cell counts but also to a significant improvement of hepatic function tests (hepaplastin test, total cholesterol and albumin) during observation period. On the other hand, these parameters tended to decrease in control patients without SE. This study suggests that SE performed with a high infarction rate of spleen is an useful therapy for hypersplenism in cirrhosis.

Sulfamethizole absorption test for the assessment of gastric emptying. Comparison with scintigraphic method.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether the sulfamethizole absorption test can be applied for the assessment of gastric emptying, we measured comparatively plasma sulfamethizole concentration and gastric emptying as determined by scintigraphy in 15 subjects. METHODS: After the ingestion of a solid-liquid meal that contained sulfamethizole and radioisotope (technetium-99m-labeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid), the plasma sulfamethizole concentrations were measured every 15 to 60 min up to 180 min. The initial emptying time (duration after ingestion until 10% reduction in radioactivity of the stomach) and the exponential curve in the cumulative reduction of radioactivity were used as indicators of gastric emptying. RESULTS: The initial emptying time was significantly correlated with the sulfamethizole concentration at 15 min after ingestion (r = -0.64, p < 0.05). A close correlation was observed between the rate of decrease in radioactivity and sulfamethizole concentration at 60 min after ingestion (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The sulfamethizole absorption test can be used for the evaluation of gastric motility. Two points of measurement, 15 and 60 min after ingestion, are sufficient to demonstrate the initial and subsequent gastric emptying.

Salmonella colitis: assessment with double-contrast barium enema examination in seven patients.

To completely rule out the possibility of ulcerative colitis, Crohn disease, and other diseases, the authors analyzed the radiographic findings at double-contrast barium enema examination performed in seven patients with colitis caused by Salmonella organisms. In all patients, bacteriologic confirmation of nontyphoid Salmonella infection and radiographs of the upper gastrointestinal tract were obtained. Total colonoscopy was performed in five patients and sigmoidoscopy in one patient. In all patients, the radiographic findings were retrospectively analyzed. The descending colon and sigmoid colon were affected in six patients, whereas the rectum was affected in none. The findings included fine mucosal granularity (seven patients), loss of haustration (six patients), many fine ulcerations (five patients), and multiple ulcers (two patients). The radiographic features simulated those of ulcerative colitis, except for absence of rectal abnormality. It is concluded that double-contrast barium enema examination is useful for detection of fine mucosal changes.

Hydrogen breath test assessment of orocecal transit time: comparison with barium meal study.

Orocecal transit time was measured simultaneously by the hydrogen breath test and a barium meal study in 12 hospitalized patients, the objective being to determine whether the former test accurately represents the orocecal transit time, and to establish an adequate criterion for the transit time, based on the former test. Two definitions of orocecal transit time by the hydrogen breath test were evaluated: the time from lactulose ingestion to a sustained increase of over 5 ppm above fasting levels in the end-expiratory hydrogen concentration (definition A) and the interval to that of over 10 ppm (definition B). The orocecal transit time measured by the radiologic method was 63 +/- 9 min (mean +/- SEM), whereas that using definition A of the hydrogen breath test was 74 +/- 9 min, and that using definition B was 87 +/- 10 min. Transit times determined by both definitions closely correlated with that obtained by the radiologic method (A, r = 0.86, p less than 0.01; B, r = 0.81, p less than 0.01). Therefore, elevation of end-expiratory hydrogen concentrations seemed to coincide with cecal appearance of the head of the lactulose load. When the mean transit times were compared with findings in case of the radiologic method, definition A rather than B appeared to be more appropriate to determine orocecal transit time.