Effect of glucose concentration on peritoneal inflammatory cytokines in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: It is known that glucose concentrations of peritoneal dialysis solutions are detrimental to the peritoneal membrane. In order to determine the effect of glucose concentration on cytokine levels of peritoneal fluid of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, a cross-sectional study was performed. METHODS: Nine non-diabetic CAPD patients participated in two 8-h dwell sessions of overnight exchanges in consecutive days, with 1.36% and 3.86% glucose containing peritoneal dialysis solutions (Baxter-Eczacibas). Peritoneal dialysis fluid tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were measured. RESULTS: TNF-alpha levels after 1.36% and 3.86% glucose used dwells were 23+/-14 pg/ml and 28+/-4 pg/ml, respectively (p=0.78). The IL-6 levels were 106+/-57 pg/ml and 115+/-63 pg/ml (p=0.81), respectively. CONCLUSION: In our in vivo study we found that the glucose concentration of the conventional lactate-based CAPD solution has no effect on basal IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels of peritoneal fluid. Further in vivo studies with non-lactate-based CAPD solutions are needed in order to determine the effect of glucose concentration per se on cytokine release

Short Communication Nutritional Status and Immune Functions in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Epidemiological studies suggest various kinds of immune dysregulation in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between immune functions and nutritional status of HD patients. We studied 54 patients with ESRD on chronic HD, included 34 females and 20 males with mean age 46.6 ± 16.3 (18-77) years. We measured the height and dry weight of all patients. The BMI was calculated by dividing weight (kg) by height squared (m 2 ). In all patients serum urea, creatinine, albumin, iron, cholesterol, triglyceride, CRP, IgG, IgM, IgA, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD16-56 lymphocytes were measured. Kt/V values were calculated according to DOQI guideline. In this study, a positive correlation between albumin, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels as nutritional parameters and immune functions in terms of total and subtype lymphocyte counts was observed. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the clinical importance of this finding and the appropriate means of measurement and effects of nutrition on immune function in hemodialysis patients

Nutritional Status and Immune Functions in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Epidemiological studies suggest various kinds of immune dysregulation in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between immune functions and nutritional status of HD patients. We studied 54 patients with ESRD on chronic HD, included 34 females and 20 males with mean age 46.6±16.3 (18–77) years. We measured the height and dry weight of all patients. The BMI was calculated by dividing weight (kg) by height squared (m2). In all patients serum urea, creatinine, albumin, iron, cholesterol, triglyceride, CRP, IgG, IgM, IgA, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD16-56 lymphocytes were measured. Kt/V values were calculated according to DOQI guideline. In this study, a positive correlation between albumin, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels as nutritional parameters and immune functions in terms of total and subtype lymphocyte counts was observed. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the clinical importance of this finding and the appropriate means of measurement and effects of nutrition on immune function in hemodialysis patients

Comparison of argon laser photocoagulation-induced cutaneous inflammation and skin pathergy test in Behcet's disease

Nonspecific increased inflammatory response is an important feature of Behcet's disease (BD). The skin pathergy reaction (SPR) which tests this hyperreactivity in the skin is frequently used as a diagnostic tool. This study aims to investigate the argon laser photocoagulation (ALP)-induced cutaneous inflammation in BD patients and controls and also to compare the results with the skin pathergy test (SPT). The study group consisted of 35 patients with BD and 28 healthy volunteers. The ALP was applied to the left forearms of all cases from 20-cm distance (2,000 mW, 100 A mu m) with exposure times ranging from 0.2 to 0.7 s with 0.1-s increments. Also, a SPT with three prics was performed to both forearms of all cases. The ALP-induced cutaneous inflammation and SPT were evaluated and scored with the same method at 48 h, and the SPR scores of 2+ and above was accepted as positive. Positive results as defined above were found in eight cases (23%) with the ALP and in nine (26%) with the SPT in patients with BD. There was no clear correlation between the ALP and SPT results and also between the exposure time to laser beam and SPR scores. The preliminary results of this study reveal that ALP can induce a skin hyperreactivity similar to the needle prick-induced SPR in patients with BD. We, herein, showed that ALP can induce skin inflammation with its thermal effect and without any inoculation of antigen in BD. This method would help to develop another experimental method to investigate the cutaneous inflammation in BD

The Role of Apelin 13 in Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease

Introduction. Apelin is an adipokine secreted by the adipose tissue and by the endothelial cells in various parts of the body. Apelin is also expressed by the glomerular arteriolar rectus and glomerular capillary cells. We evaluated the relationship between the initial serum levels of apelin 13 with the trend of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) during a 1-year follow-up of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Avaliação da frequência e aspectos dos ataques de pacientes com resistência à colchicina em febre familiar do Mediterrâneo (FFM)

Introdu&#231;&#227;o: Colchicina &#233; a viga-mestra para o tratamento de FFM, que &#233; uma doen&#231;a autoinflamat&#243;ria com polisserosite recidivante como principal manifesta&#231;&#227;o. Apesar de doses di&#225;rias de 2 mg ou mais/dia, aproximadamente 5%-10% dos pacientes continuam a sofrer de seus ataques. Neste estudo, objetivamos investigar os aspectos da depress&#227;o e dos ataques em pacientes com FFM apresentando resist&#234;ncia &#224; colchicina (RC). Pacientes e M&#233;todos: Em pacientes com FFM, RC foi definida como dois ou mais ataques nos &#250;ltimos seis meses, quando em medica&#231;&#227;o com colchicina 2 mg/dia. Dezoito pacientes (nove mulheres e nove homens) foram recrutados no grupo RC e 41 pacientes no grupo de controle (29 mulheres/12 homens). Foram avaliados os achados demogr&#225;ficos, cl&#237;nicos e laboratoriais, a fidelidade ao tratamento e os escores do Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Resultados: A idade de surgimento da FFM foi significativamente menor no grupo RC (12,3 anos vs. 16,9 anos, P = 0,03). A dura&#231;&#227;o da doen&#231;a foi maior no grupo RC (p = 0,01). Dores abdominais e nas pernas em decorr&#234;ncia do exerc&#237;cio foram significativamente mais frequentes no grupo RC versus controles (83% vs. 51%; p = 0,02 e 88% vs. 60%; p = 0,04, respectivamente). Pacientes com escores BDI > 17 pontos foram mais frequentes no grupo RC versus controles (50% vs. 34,1%; p < 0,001). Discuss&#227;o: Verificamos que: (1) a idade do surgimento da doen&#231;a foi mais baixa e (2) a dura&#231;&#227;o da doen&#231;a foi maior no grupo RC. Ataques pleur&#237;ticos, hemat&#250;ria e protein&#250;ria foram mais frequentes em pacientes com RC. Propomos que a depress&#227;o &#233; fator importante a ser levado em considera&#231;&#227;o na sensibilidade &#224; RC