Brucella glomerulonephritis and prosthetic valve endocarditis: a case report

Although brucellosis is an endemic disease in Mediterranean countries, there are few reported cases of Brucella endocarditis and glomerulonephritis. We report a case of Brucella prosthetic mitral valve endocarditis and glomerulonephritis that could be managed by using only antibiotic therapy, including rifampicin, doxycycline and ceftriaxone, without a surgical procedure

Relationship between Depression and Proinflammatory Cytokine Levels in Hemodialysis Patients

Aim: To evaluate the presence of the relationship between depression and proinflammatory cytokine levels in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: The study included 40 HD patients and 20 healthy controls. All participants were evaluated for the presence of depression using the structured clinical interview based on criteria defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision) Axis I disorders. The severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. The depressive patients received antidepressants for 8 weeks. Blood samples were taken at baseline and after 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment for interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels. Results: A total of 9 (22.5%) of the 40 HD patients had depression. IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-a levels were significantly higher in HD patients compared with that in the control group, but were not significantly different between HD patients with and without depression. In the depressive patients, we observed no significant difference in proinflammatory cytokine levels after antidepressant treatment. The psychometric measurements in depressive patients decreased significantly after antidepressant treatment. Conclusion: We observed that depression is a common psychiatric disorder and has no significant effect on proinflammatory cytokine levels in HD patients; no important improvement in cytokine levels was observed after antidepressant therapy

Unusual Clinic Presentation of Polyarteritis Nodosa: Involvement of Axillary and Brachial Artery

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a necrotizing inflammatory vasculitis of small-and medium-sized muscular arteries. Multiple organs, especially the kidney, skin, peripheric nerves, striated muscles, and intestine, are affected. In this case report, a patient with renal and hepatic involvement and axillary and brachial artery aneurysm resulting in shoulder hematoma and pain due to underlying PAN is presented

Association between Depression, Nutritional Status, and Inflammatory Markers in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background: To investigate the relationship between depression, nutritional status, and inflammatory markers in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Patients and Methods: This prospective study included 40 PD patients and 20 healthy people. The severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. The depressive patients received antidepressant drug for 8 weeks. Blood samples were taken before and after antidepressant treatment for the high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels. Results: Ten (25%) of the 40 PD patients had depression. No significant difference was determined between depressive patients and nondepressive patients. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was higher in depressive patients. There was no significant difference for other inflammation parameters, including hs-CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-6, between depressive patients and nondepressive patients. In the depressive patients, we did not observe any significant change in nutritional parameters after antidepressant treatment. When we evaluated inflammation parameters of the depressive patients before and after antidepressant treatment, only IL-1 and IL-6 levels were significantly increased after antidepressant treatment. Conclusion: The depressive disorder in PD patients is a common psychopathology and has no significant effects on nutritional status and inflammation

Locking Tunneled Hemodialysis Catheters with Hypertonic Saline (26% NaCl) and Heparin to Prevent Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections and Thrombosis: A Randomized, Prospective Trial

Objective: Tunneled cuffed dual-lumen catheters (TCCs) are commonly used for vascular access in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is the major problem leading to morbidity and mortality. We investigated whether 26% NaCl solution has any favorable effect on the infections and thrombosis caused by HD catheters. Methods: TCCs were locked with either 26% NaCl and heparin or standard heparin. The primer end point of the study was the CRBSI or thrombosis of the TCC. We compared the antimicrobial activity of the NaCl solutions (6.5%, 13%, 26%) with 0.9% NaCl solution by time-kill kinetic assay. All tests were performed in triplicate by incubation of test fluids with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Results: The mean catheter survival was significantly higher in the 26% NaCl and heparin group (129.5 +/- 50.1 catheter days to 103.3 +/- 59.8, p = 0.008). CRBSI rates (10-15.4%) did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.54). The hypertonic 13% NaCl solution had bactericidal effects on E. coli and P. aeruginosa, but had bacteriostatic effect on S. aureus and S. epidermidis. Conclusion: In this study we demonstrated that the 13% NaCl solution and more hypertonic NaCl solutions revealed potent in vitro antimicrobial properties against all checked Gram-negative microorganisms

The Lack of Benefit of a Combination of an Angiotensin Receptor Blocker and Calcium Channel Blocker on Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Aim: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a relatively common and serious complication, which occurs after the administration of contrast materials to patients. Although the pathophysiology of CIN is not exactly understood, ischemia of the medulla, oxidative stress, and direct toxicity of the contrast material are some of the factors that are implicated for the pathogenesis of CIN. To date, the only therapy that reduces the risk of CIN is volume expansion. There are conflicting results about the roles of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and calcium channel blockers (CCB) in studies on CIN. For this reason the aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of the prophylactic use of amlodipine/valsartan plus hydration versus hydration only for the prevention of CIN in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG). Patients and methods: We prospectively enrolled 90 patients whose baseline serum creatinine levels were under 2.1 mg/dL and who were scheduled for CAG. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I (n = 45), consisted of patients who received amlodipine/valsartan plus hydration, group II (n = 45) consisted of patients who received only hydration. The patients in group I were given amlodipine/valsartan 5/160 mg once a day for a total of 3 days, starting one day before CAG and continuing on the day of and the day after the procedure. A 1 mL/kg/h sodium chloride infusion was administered for a total of 24 h, starting 12 h before the procedure and 12 h after, in all patients. The baseline serum creatinine (S-cre) level was obtained before the procedure and repeated 48 h after. CIN was defined as an increase of >= 0.5 mg/dL or an increase of >25% in baseline S-cre on the second day after CAG. Results: The baseline clinical characteristics of the treatment groups were similar. Baseline S-cre was 1.13 +/- 0.33 in group I and 1.07 +/- 0.23 mg/dL in group II (p = 0.31). There was a significant difference between the S-cre levels 48 h after CAG between the two groups (1.18 +/- 0.33-1.05 +/- 0.23) (p = 0.03). The reason for this was the increase of S-cre in group I. CIN occurred in 17.8% (8/45) of patients in group I and in 6.7% (3/45) of patients in group II (p = 0.197). In the diabetic subgroup, CIN occurred in 10.5% (2/19) of patients taking amlodipine/valsartan and in none of the patients in group II (p = 0.486). The Mehran scores of the patients who developed CIN were significantly higher than those patients who did not develop CIN. Conclusion: Amlodipine/valsartan therapy plus hydration did not reduce the risk of CIN in chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage 2 patients who underwent elective CAG using a low-osmolar nonionic contrast medium. This is because there was a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using the Levey Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula in the amlodipine/valsartan group and CIN occurred at a higher frequency in this group; ARBs and CCBs may be withheld before CAG in high-risk patients