Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Lung Biopsy Complicated by Symptomatic Systemic Air Embolism: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Surgical procedures in highly vascularized renal parenchyma sometimes can cause iatrogenic vascular complications. Although incidence renal pseudoaneurysms after partial nephrectomy is low, around 1%, clinical presentation of these patients can be quite severe – hematuria, lumbar pain, dizziness, weakness. Prompt and precise diagnostics and treatment are essential. Ultrasound and Computed Tomography are two most common diagnostic approaches for the assessment of pseudoaneurysms or arteriovenous fistulas following partial nephrectomy. Endovascular selective microcoil embolization is a safe and effective kidney-preserving procedure for treating iatrogenic vascular complications. Although when embolizing renal arteries some of renal parenchyma loses perfusion and becomes fibrotic, no significant decrease in renal function in early post-embolization period was noted. Comparing open surgery to endovascular treatment of pseudoaneurysms, latter one allows shorter average hospital stay and less frequent cardiac and peripheral vascular complications. The article discusses a case of a patient that had developed renal pseudoaneurysm after partial nephrectomy. During a routine check-up of a middle-aged woman a presumable renal cyst was found. On more throughout examination the cyst was ruled as a tumour and partial nephrectomy was performed. After 12 days from surgery patient was admitted to hospital complaining macrohematuria, lower abdomen pain, episodic right-side ache. Urgent contrast enhanced computed tomography was performed, which confirmed that patient was bleeding from the operated kidney. Patient was admitted to interventional radiology departament and perform embolization of bleeding vessel. After embolization of pseudoaneurysm, bleeding was controlled and patient was completely treated

Risk Factors of Chronic Kidney Disease after Partial Nephrectomy

Background: In comparison with radical nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy (PN) is considered a better option for small renal mass surgery, because of optimal kidney tissue removal and parenchyma preservation. But there are patients with worsening postoperative renal function (RF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) after PN. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate and detect risk factors for CKD after PN. Materials and Methods. A prospective observational study was conducted, which consisted of 91 individuals who received PN with warm ischemia and an estimated preoperative glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 ml/min/1.72m2 without pathologic albuminuria. Preoperative and intraoperative factors like intraoperative hypotension (IOH), blood loss, and resected part volume were analyzed. Results. At 6-month follow-up, 14 (15.4 %) patients experienced postoperative CKD. After 12 months of follow-up, 15 (16.5 %) patients had CKD. Patients with CKD had a lower preoperative eGFR than non-CKD group (69.0 vs 91.0 ml/min/1.72m2, p 500 ml during PN was discovered to be the major risk factor for CKD development (OR 11.13, 95 % CI 1.88–65.92, p = 0.008). Furthermore, kidney resected part volume (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.05-1.10, p = 0.033) and IOH time (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.19, p = 0.005) were identified as risk factors for postoperative CKD.  Conclusions. Patients after PN are at an increased risk of CKD development. Most commonly, postoperative CKD occurs in the first 6 months after PN and appears stable after 12 months of follow-up. Blood loss > 500 ml during PN, IOH and resected kidney volume can have an impact on postoperative RF and increase the risk of CKD

May Measurement Month 2017–2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Lithuania

CC BY 4.0In 2017, Lithuania joined the global May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign which aims at raising awareness of raised blood pressure worldwide. Presented here are the data arising from the 2017, 2018, and 2019 campaigns. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of individuals aged ≥18 years was carried out in Lithuania in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Two thousand nine hundred and nineteen participants were recruited in the MMM campaigns in response to the media engagement and interactions with the study team. The mean age of participants was 46.1 years (SD 16.3) years, 58.9% were females. Blood pressures were measured using electronic devices provided by Omron according to the MMM protocol. Of the 2919 screened participants, 1308 (44.8%) had hypertension. Of all hypertensive participants, the awareness rate, the treatment rate, and the control rates (<140/90 mmHg) were 79.5%, 41.0%, and 14.2%, respectively. Of those on antihypertensive medication, the control rate was 34.8%. The high percentage of participants with hypertension was either untreated (59.0%) or treated but uncontrolled (65.2%) suggests the usefulness of such screening programmes to improve awareness of hypertension control in Lithuania

Sodium and health : old myths and a controversy based on denial

Purpose of Review: The scientific consensus on which global health organizations base public health policies is that high sodium intake increases blood pressure (BP) in a linear fashion contributing to cardiovascular disease (CVD). A moderate reduction in sodium intake to 2000 mg per day helps ensure that BP remains at a healthy level to reduce the burden of CVD. Recent Findings: Yet, since as long ago as 1988, and more recently in eight articles published in the European Heart Journal in 2020 and 2021, some researchers have propagated a myth that reducing sodium does not consistently reduce CVD but rather that lower sodium might increase the risk of CVD. These claims are not well-founded and support some food and beverage industry’s vested interests in the use of excessive amounts of salt to preserve food, enhance taste, and increase thirst. Nevertheless, some researchers, often with funding from the food industry, continue to publish such claims without addressing the numerous objections. This article analyzes the eight articles as a case study, summarizes misleading claims, their objections, and it offers possible reasons for such claims. Summary: Our study calls upon journal editors to ensure that unfounded claims about sodium intake be rigorously challenged by independent reviewers before publication; to avoid editorial writers who have been co-authors with the subject paper’s authors; to require statements of conflict of interest; and to ensure that their pages are used only by those who seek to advance knowledge by engaging in the scientific method and its collegial pursuit. The public interest in the prevention and treatment of disease requires no less

C4 nephritic factor in patients with immune-complex-mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and C3-glomerulopathy

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Dent Disease Type 1: Still an Under-Recognized Renal Proximal Tubulopathy: A Case Report

Dent disease is a rare renal tubular disorder that appears almost exclusively in males. The diagnosis is still challenging, and therefore Dent disease is occasionally misdiagnosed. We report a case of a 45-year-old man with Dent disease who developed renal failure. Since the age of 7 months, he persistently exhibited proteinuria. At the age of 24 years, he underwent kidney biopsy, which revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The patient&rsquo;s brother was found to have proteinuria since he was 2 years old. At the age of 45 years, the patient was transferred to a tertiary care nephrologist, and Dent disease was suspected. Genetic testing revealed a CLCN5 mutation. We highlight the broad spectrum of clinical manifestations in Dent disease and the importance of having a high clinical suspicion to attain a definitive diagnosis. Furthermore, future research regarding the clinical course of the disease, prognosis, and effective treatment options is needed

The Impact of Nutritional Status on Sexual Function in Male Kidney Transplant Recipients

Background and Objectives: Sexual function and nutritional status assessment are relevant topics in chronic kidney disease patients. This study was designed to investigate whether bioelectrical impedance analysis-derived nutritional parameters, nutritional biomarkers, and handgrip strength influence sexual function and to analyze the changes in sexual function after kidney transplantation in men. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four men with kidney failure who had undergone replacement therapy entered the study. In addition, sexual function and nutritional status were evaluated before kidney transplantation and 12 months after. We used the International Index of Erectile Function, bioelectrical impedance analysis, three different malnutrition screening tools, handgrip strength, and anthropometric measurements. The demographic profiles and biochemical nutritional markers were collected. Results: Sexual inactivity was associated with a lower phase angle (6 (1) vs. 7 (1), p p p p p = 0.57). Only a weak association between muscle mass and sexual desire 12 months after kidney transplantation was found (rS = 0.36, p = 0.02). Further, linear regression revealed that higher muscle mass could predict better sexual desire after kidney transplantation following adjustment for age, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: Kidney transplantation did not significantly improve erectile dysfunction in our study population. Sexual desire and intercourse satisfaction are the most affected domains in patients with chronic kidney disease. Higher muscle mass predicts higher sexual desire after kidney transplantation. Higher levels of fat-free and lean mass are associated with normal erectile function before kidney transplantation

Dent disease type 1: still an under-recognized renal proximal tubulopathy: a case report

Dent disease is a rare renal tubular disorder that appears almost exclusively in males. The diagnosis is still challenging, and therefore Dent disease is occasionally misdiagnosed. We report a case of a 45-year-old man with Dent disease who developed renal failure. Since the age of 7 months, he persistently exhibited proteinuria. At the age of 24 years, he underwent kidney biopsy, which revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The patient’s brother was found to have proteinuria since he was 2 years old. At the age of 45 years, the patient was transferred to a tertiary care nephrologist, and Dent disease was suspected. Genetic testing revealed a CLCN5 mutation. We highlight the broad spectrum of clinical manifestations in Dent disease and the importance of having a high clinical suspicion to attain a definitive diagnosis. Furthermore, future research regarding the clinical course of the disease, prognosis, and effective treatment options is needed