Successful Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Chronic Febricula Using the Traditional Japanese Medicine Shosaikoto.

We herein report the case of a 14-year-old girl who had been experiencing chronic fatigue, febricula, and social withdrawal for 20 months. No notable abnormalities were identified during routine checkups at a general pediatric hospital; symptomatic treatments did not affect her condition. She was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Based on the concepts of Japanese traditional medicine, she was administered shosaikoto-based treatment. After several weeks of treatment, all of the symptoms had been dramatically alleviated, consequently resolving the issue of non-attendance at school. Shosaikoto-based medication may be a therapeutic option for treating ME/CFS in patients presenting with chronic febricula.

Urinary fatty acids and liver-type fatty acid binding protein in diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this clinical study were to investigate the associations of urinary free fatty acid (FFA) levels with tubulointerstitial damage, and to determine the clinical significance of urinary liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) in diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: Fifteen patients with nephrotic syndrome due to diabetic nephropathy and 12 patients with minimal-change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) were studied. Urinary and serum FFA concentrations (palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidonic acids) were measured by gas chromatography, and urinary L-FABP levels were quantified using an ELISA technique. Tubulointerstitial damage was assessed using renal biopsy specimens. RESULTS: The levels of urinary linoleic and arachidonic acids were significantly elevated in diabetic nephropathy compared to MCNS patients, though serum FFA levels were lower in diabetic nephropathy than MCNS patients. The degree of tubulointerstitial damage was significantly severer in the patients with diabetic nephropathy than MCNS. Urinary L-FABP and 8-OHdG (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine) concentrations were significantly higher in the diabetic nephropathy subjects. CONCLUSION: Elevated urinary excretion of FFA may be a reflection of FFA overload in the proximal tubules, and FFA may be an important promoter of tubulointerstitial damage in diabetic nephropathy patients. Urinary L-FABP levels may reflect the stress induced by FFA to the proximal tubules, leading to severe tubulointerstitial damage.

[An autopsy case of microscopic polyangiitis complicated with pulmonary aspergilloma and cytomegalovirus pneumonia].

A 71-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of fever and rapidly progressive renal insufficiency over a month. He had depression and Alzheimer's disease as complications. On admission, his serum creatinine was 5.4 mg/dL, and the serum CRP and MPO-ANCA were 18.2 mg/dL and 285 EU, respectively. A computed tomographic chest scan showed pericardiac effusion and fibrosis in both lower lung fields. Although microscopic polyangiitis(MPA)was inferred from a positive MPO-ANCA, renal biopsy could not be carried out. The initial therapy was started with pulse methylprednisolone therapy, followed by oral administration of prednisolone at the dose of 1 mg/kg(60 mg/day). As a result, his fever and inflammatory findings disappeared, and renal insufficiency was ameliorated with a smooth recovery and the pericardial effusion was markedly diminished. However, on the 18th hospital day, chest radiography revealed a nodular shadow in the right lung. Fungus infection was suspected because his serum beta-D-glucan level was extremely high (above 999 pg/mL). Mikafungin, therefore, was started at a dose of 75 mg/day and then, the dose was increased up to 300 mg/day. Nevertheless, he finally died of respiratory failure on the 26th hospital day. The autopsy findings revealed a cavity of 4.0 x 3.0 x 3.0 centimeters in size in the upper lobe of the right lung. There was a great number of fungal threads with a septal wall branched in a Y-shaped figure around the cavity, thus indicating pulmonary aspergilloma. Intranuclear inclusion bodies staining positive for cytomegalovirus were observed in all the lung fields, suggestive of a cytomegalovirus infection. In the kidney, a cellular crescent formation was noted in the majority of glomeruli showing crescentic glomeluronephritis, compatible with MPA.

Potential Benefit Associated With Delaying Initiation of Hemodialysis in a Japanese Cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Late referral to a nephrologist, the type of vascular access, nutritional status, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at the start of hemodialysis (HD) have been reported as independent risk factors of survival for patients who begin HD. The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of the HD-free interval from the time of an eGFR of 10 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (IGFR10-HD) on patient outcome. METHODS: We enrolled 124 patients aged older than 20 years who had HD initiated in a general hospital. The predictive factor was the HD-free IGFR10-HD. The primary outcome was the relationship of the HD-free interval on death or the onset of a cardiovascular event. Survival analysis was performed using the Cox regression model. RESULTS: The median IGFR10-HD was 159 days (range: 2-1687 days). The median eGFR at the initiation of HD was 5.48 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Sixty-seven of 124 patients (54.0%) reached the primary outcome. Of these, 29 died and 38 experienced a cardiovascular event. In univariate analysis, older age, a history of cardiovascular disease, nephrologic care for <6 months, higher modified Charlson comorbidity index score, poor performance status, temporary catheter, edema, diabetic retinopathy, and nonuse of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent were statistically related to the primary outcome. The unadjusted hazard ratio per log-transformed IGFR10-HD was 0.393 (95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.244-0.635; P < 0.001) and the hazard ratio adjusted for confounding factors was 0.507 (95% CI: 0.267-0.956; P = 0.036). DISCUSSION: A longer HD-free IGFR10-HD was associated with a lower risk of death or a cardiovascular event. The interval could be considered an independent prognostic factor for outcomes in patients on HD.

More stable and reliable pharmacokinetics with preprandial administration of cyclosporine compared with postprandial administration in patients with refractory nephrotic syndrome.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the absorption profile of cyclosporine after preprandial administration with that after postprandial administration, and to determine which administration time resulted in a more stable absorption profile and the timing of the drug concentration that was the most reliable marker for monitoring drug absorption. DESIGN: Prospective analysis. SETTING: University teaching hospital in Japan. PATIENTS: Sixteen patients with refractory nephrotic syndrome. INTERVENTION: Thirteen patients received cyclosporine after breakfast (postprandial group) and eight received the drug 30 minutes before breakfast (preprandial group). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Blood cyclosporine concentration was measured 5 times serially: before administration (C 0 ) and at 1-hour intervals until 4 hours after administration of cyclosporine (C 1 -C 4 ). Also, area under the concentration-time curve from 0-4 hours (AUC 0-4 ) was calculated. Of the 13 patients in the postprandial group, six (46%) showed fair absorption and exhibited a peak concentration at C 1 or C 2 (high-absorption pattern); seven (54%) showed poor absorption and did not reach the peak concentration within the 4-hour period (low-absorption pattern). Five of the seven patients with the low-absorption pattern were switched from postprandial to preprandial administration. All patients in the preprandial administration group showed a high-absorption pattern and reached the peak cyclosporine concentration at C 1 . The C 2 value showed the best correlation with AUC 0-4 in both groups, and the C 0 parameter did not correlate with AUC 0-4 in either group. CONCLUSION: Preprandial administration provided a more stable absorption profile of cyclosporine compared with postprandial administration. From the correlation with AUC 0-4 , we concluded that C 2 , and not C 0 , is a reliable marker for monitoring cyclosporine exposure.

[Takotsubo cardiomyopathy thought to be induced by MRSA meningitis and cervical epidural abscess in a maintenance-hemodialysis patient: case report].

A 65-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for high fever and severe left shoulder pain. He was initiated on maintenance hemodialysis for end-stage renal failure caused by diabetic nephropathy 9 years previously. On admission, the serum CRP level was 29.3 mg/d/l and the white blood cell count was 29,000/mm3. Bacterial examination of blood and spinal fluid revealed MRSA colonization. On the 6th hospital day, a giant negative T wave in the V2-6 leads of an electrocardiogram asymptomatically appeared. Ultracardiogram revealed apical systolic paradoxical centrifugal motion. None of the cardiogenic enzymes, such as creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase was elevated. Cardiac thallium-201-chloride (201Tl-Cl) and I-123 beta-metyl iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (123I-BMIPP) scintigraphy revealed a decreased accumulation of isotopes in the apex. From these findings, we diagnosed Takotsubo cardiomyopathy induced by MRSA meningitis. Vancomycin was administrated and the inflammatory signs decreased. On the 46th hospital day, tetraplegia and respiratory suppression occurred. A cervical spinal magnetic resonance image revealed cervical spondylodiscitis and cervical epidural abscess, which compressed the medulla oblongata. Surgical spinal decompression and drainage of the abscess were performed. The giant negative T wave in the electrocardiogram improved after the operation. Two months after the operation, cardiac 201Tl-Cl scintigraphy revealed improvement in the accumulation of isotopes in the apex. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is secondary cardiomyopathy presenting with apical systolic paradoxical centrifugal motion without coronary stenotic disease. It has been reported to be induced by severe mental stress or intracranial disease. In the present patient, it was predicted that stress on the central nerve system caused by the MRSA meningitis and the cervical epidural abscess induced the Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.