Transport of Phosphate by Renal Brush Border Membrane Vesicle (BBMV) during Development - Role of the Growth Hormone-

It is well documented that plasma concentrations of Pi (inorganic phosphorus) are higher in developing subjects than in adults. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the Vmax (capacity) of the Na-Pi cotransport mechanism of the renal brush border membrane vesicles was higher in immature than mature rats. In this study, we evaluated the role of a growth hormone in the maintenance of a higher Vmax observed in immature rats. In mature rats, serum Pi, and the tubular reabsorption of Pi (TRPi) increased in the growth hormone treated animals. On the other hand, those values were not changed by growth hormone treatment in immature rats. In kinetic analysis, the Km (affinity) values were not different between the control (growth hormone-untreated) and growth hormone-treated renal brush border membrane vesicles in both immature and mature rats. The Vmax of the immature rats also was not changed by growth hormone treatment. On the contrary, Vmax increased significantly in the growth-hormone treated than the control mature rats. With the above findings, it seems that immature rats reabsorb Pi maximally even in the control state, and it is likely that a growth hormone is responsible for the phenomenon

The Pathogenetic Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Aminonucleoside Nephrosis

We studied the pathogenetic role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rats with puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis (PAN). Heavy albuminuria with markedly decreased density of the anionic sites (AS) on glomerular basement membrane (GBM) (2. 6 ± O. 98 compared to 20. 0 ± 1. 61 AS/l,OOOnm GBM in control) developed 7 days after PA injection. The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in kidney homogenates increased gradually (1. 16 ± O. 18 at day -1 to 1. 97 ± O. 23/g protein at day 5). While catalase or dimethyl sulfoxide, administered with PA, did not affect the course of PAN. superoxide dismutase and allopurinol reduced proteinuria and decreased loss of the AS (11. 7 ± 2. 80 and 13, 7 ± 1. 27 AS/l.000nm GBM, reo spectively) at day 7. These findings suggest that proteinuria in PAN results from the loss of GBM AS. in which ROS generated by xanthine oxidase system plays an import. ant role

The Results of Cervical Nucleoplasty in Patients with Cervical Disc Disorder: A Retrospective Clinical Study of 22 Patients

Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive spinal surgery using a Coblation Ⓡ technique that creates small voids within the disc. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cervical nucleoplasty in patients with cervical disc disorder. Methods: Between March 2008 and December 2009, 22 patients with cervical disc disorders were treated with cervical nucleoplasty after failed conservative treatment. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia, and fluoroscopic guidance and voids were created in the disc with the Perc TM DC Spine Wand TM. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by the Modified Macnab criteria and VAS score at preprocedure, postprocedure 1 month, and 6 months. Results: Six patients had one, eight patients had two and eight patients had three discs treated; a total of 46 procedures was performed. Mean VAS reduced from 9.3 at preprocedure to 3.7 at postprocedure 1 month and to 3.4 at postprocedure 6 months. There was no significant complication related to the procedure within the first month. Outcomes were good or excellent in 17/22 (77.3%) cases. Postprocedure magnetic resonance imaging was acquired in two patients after two months showing morphologic evidence of volume reduction of protruded disc material in one patient but not in the other. Conclusions: Percutaneous decompression with a nucleoplasty using a Coblation Ⓡ technique in the treatment of cervical disc disorder is a safe, minimally-invasive and less uncomfortable procedure, with an excellent short-term clinical outcome. (Korean J Pain 2011; 24: 36-43

Shiga toxin-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome complicated by intestinal perforation in a child with typical hemolytic uremic syndrome

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is one of the most common causes of acute renal failure in childhood and is primarily diagnosed in up to 4.5% of children who undergo chronic renal replacement therapy. Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 is the predominant bacterial strain identified in patients with HUS; more than 100 types of Shiga toxin-producing enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) subtypes have also been isolated. The typical HUS manifestations are microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal insufficiency. In typical HUS cases, more serious EHEC manifestations include severe hemorrhagic colitis, bowel necrosis and perforation, rectal prolapse, peritonitis, and intussusceptions. Colonic perforation, which has an incidence of 1%-2%, can be a fatal complication. In this study, we report a typical Shiga toxin-associated HUS case complicated by small intestinal perforation with refractory peritonitis that was possibly because of ischemic enteritis. Although the degree of renal damage is the main concern in HUS, extrarenal complications should also be considered in severe cases, as presented in our case