A reappraisal of the bladder cumulative method as a reliable technique for the measurement of glomerular filtration rate.

In order to quantify the decline in renal function, repeated measurements of GFR are necessary. The conventional procedure is cumbersome and time expending so that alternative clearance techniques are needed. We propose a simple isotopic technique for measuring GFR by 99mTc-DTPA and external counting of the bladder by gamma camera (bladder cumulative method). This consists in the measurement by external counting of the amount of labelled filtration marker accumulated in the bladder after intravenous bolus injection. In 36 adult patients with all degrees of renal impairment (serum creatinine 0.9-9.3 mg/dL) GFR was measured twice, once by the conventional method (continuous i.v. infusion of the filtration marker and urine collection by spontaneous voiding) and once by the bladder cumulative method. 99mTc DTPA was used in performing both methods. A satisfactory agreement was found between GFR measured by bladder cumulative method (BCM) and by conventional method (CM). The BCM averaged 60.0 +/- 36.7 mL/min and the CM +/- SD averaged 62.8 +/- 36.6 mL/mm. The ratio BCM/CM +/- SD was 0.95 +/- 0.14 (y = 0.94x + 1.14; r = 0.94). Considering the 17 patients with renal insufficiency (GFR60 mL/min) an even better agreement between the two methods was found. In these patients the BCM averaged 28.4 +/- 17.2 mL/min; the CM averaged 29.1 +/- 16.6 mL/min; and the ratio BCM/CM was 0.96 +/- 0.08 (y = 1.03x - 1.47; r = 0.99). The day-to-day variability of BCM, studied in another 11 patients, was lower than that of creatinine clearance (variation coefficient for duplicate measurements: 7.18 +/- 6.65 SD for BCM, 15.68 +/- 8.80 SD for CM, p0.01). The bladder cumulative method is a simple procedure for the accurate measurement of GFR, in particular in patients with renal insufficiency. It represents a reliable tool for estimating the decline in renal function

The origins of redistributive policy preferences: political socialisation with and without a welfare state

Research on the impact of the macroeconomy on individual-level preferences for redistribution has produced varying results. This paper presents a new theory on the presence of an expansive welfare state during one’s formative years as a source of heterogeneity in the effect that macroeconomic conditions have on individuals’ preferences for redistributive policy. This theory is tested using cohort analysis via the British Social Attitudes surveys (1983–2010), with generations coming of age between the end of World War I and today. Findings confirm that cohorts that were socialised before and after the introduction of the welfare state react differently to economic crises: the former become less supportive of redistribution, while the latter become more supportive. The research sheds light on the long-term shifts of support for the welfare state due to generational replacement

Party identification and party closeness in comparative perspective

The present analysis uses data from 1974 and 1981 U. S. cross sections, which incorporate a panel, to compare the standard NES measure of party identification (ID) with a measure of partisanship derived from a party closeness question widely employed in cross-national research. Important features of the two scales are examined by transforming the closeness measure into a scale of very close, fairly close, not very close, and no preference corresponding to the seven-point ID scale. The scales are highly correlated and are similar in their reliability. More than 75% of the “independents” in the ID scale choose a party in the closeness version, and over half of these select the “fairly close” category. Respondents do not volunteer that they are independents when that alternative is not stated in the question.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45482/1/11109_2004_Article_BF00990552.pd

P-glycoprotein in HK-2 proximal tubule cell line

P-glycoprotein (PGP) is an efflux pump physiologically expressed in the apical membrane of the proximal tubular cells. PGP may play a role in the elimination of exogenous substances such as chemotherapeutic drugs, calcium channel blockers and immunosuppressors. The involvement of renal PGP in the transport of endogenous substrates is under investigation. HK-2 is an immortalized proximal tubule cell fine from normal adult human kidney, reported to retain a phenotype indicative of a well-differentiated state. No data regarding expression and/or activity of PGP in this cell line are available The aim of this study was to ascertain the usefulness of HK-2 cell line to investigate the properties and roles of PGP in proximal tubular cells. PGP expression in HK-2 cells was determined by immunoblotting analysis using the monoclonal antibody C219. The activity of PGP was assessed by measuring the transport of the fluorescent probe Rhodamine 123 (R-123) in intact cell monostrates. The interactions of putative PGP modulators, including verapamil and cyclosporin A were also evaluated. Western blot revealed a C219 immunoreactive band of about 150 kDa consistent with the presence of PGP. HK-2 cells preloaded with R-123 rapidly effluxed the dye, the efflux being inhibited by verapamil. Verapamil and, to a major extent cyclosporin A, significantly increased R-123 intracellular accumulation. PGP immunoblottable amount was increased when cells were cultured in the presence of either cyclosporin A or dexamethasone. The results suggest that the HK-2 cells, among the various differentiation features of proximal tubules, retain also the expression of a functional PGP in their membranes and that both PGP activity and expression may be modulated by drugs. Therefore, HK-2 line appears a suitable and promising tool for the study in vitro of renal transport processes dependent on PGP

Renal function and serum concentration of five tumor markers (TATI, SCC, CYFRA 21-1, TPA and TPS)in patients without evidence of neoplasia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between renal function and the blood level of some tumor markers that are low molecular weight proteins, that is, tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI), squamous cells carcinoma antigen (SCC), cytokeratin 19 fragments (CYFRA 21-1), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), and M3-specific epitope of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPS). In 41 adult patients without evidence of neoplastic disease, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the blood levels of creatinine and of the tumor markers were determined. The decrease in GFR was accompanied by an increase in serum levels of TATI, SCC, CYFRA 21-1, and TPA. The serum level of tumor markers increased particularly when GFR fell below 40 ml/min. On the basis of these results, the renal function must be taken into account for the clinical evaluation of the studied tumor markers