Clearance and Safety of the Radiocontrast Medium Iopamidol in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Although the characteristics and safety of radiocontrast media in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are not yet well defined, their use in PD patients is considered generally safe. In this study, we evaluated clearance and adverse events of iopamidol in PD patients. We measured the iopamidol concentration in the plasma, dialysate, and urine of 11 patients. Iopamidol clearance from patient plasma was delayed with a half-life of 33.3 h, and the elimination ratio was 83.6% for 96 h. We retrospectively investigated adverse events occurring in a total of 50 stable PD patients who underwent a total of 64 angiographic computed tomography (CT) scans. In 64 angiographic CT scans, two cases of adverse events were observed. Our results suggest that iopamidol can be eliminated by regular PD and careful observation for adverse events are necessary for the safe use of radiocontrast media

Orthotopic kidney transplantation from a living renal donor after interventional therapy for bilateral arteriosclerosis obliterans of the iliac arteries: A case report and literature review

Introduction Orthotopic kidney transplantation is an option when heterotopic kidney transplantation into the iliac fossa is inappropriate. We report a case of orthotopic kidney transplantation following stenting of both external iliac arteries to treat arteriosclerosis obliterans. Case presentation A 56‐year‐old woman on hemodialysis for end‐stage kidney disease underwent living‐donor kidney transplantation. Desensitization therapy was administered because of her history of sensitization by pregnancy. Stents had been placed previously in both external iliac arteries. The left kidney was removed via an oblique lumbar incision. The two graft arteries were conjoined and anastomosed to the native renal artery end‐to‐end. The urinary tract was reconstructed by uretero‐ureterostomy with ureteral stent placement. Renal function improved promptly after surgery. Conclusion Preoperative imaging of vascular anatomy is important for successful orthotopic kidney transplantation in patients who have previously undergone stenting of both external iliac arteries for arteriosclerosis obliterans

In Situ Spectroscopic Studies on the Redox Cycle of NH3−SCR over Cu−CHA Zeolites

The selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia (NH3-SCR) catalyzed by Cu-CHA zeolites is thoroughly investigated using in situ spectroscopic experiments combined with on-line mass spectroscopy (MS) under steady-state NH3-SCR conditions and transient conditions for Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox cycles. Quantitative analysis of the in situ XANES spectra of Cu-CHA under steady-state conditions of NH3-SCR show that NH3-coordinated Cu(II) species is the dominant Cu species at low temperatures (100-150 degrees C). At higher temperatures, Cu(II) species and [Cu(NH3)(2)](+) complex coexist, possibly because the rate of the Cu(II) -> Cu(I) reduction step is comparable to that of the Cu(I)-> Cu(II) oxidation step. In situ XANES, IR/MS, and UV-vis/MS experiments on the reduction half cycle demonstrate that the reduction of Cu(II) species occurs via the reaction of NH3-liganded Cu(II) with NO to yield N-2 and H2O. For the oxidation half cycle, in situ XANES experiments of Cu(I) oxidation in 10 % O-2 at 200 degrees C indicate that an increased density in CHA zeolite exhibits a higher oxidation rate. In situ UV-vis experiments of Cu(I) reoxidation using different mixtures of oxidant feed gas demonstrate the key role of O-2 in the oxidation cycle. It is suggested that the reoxidation of Cu(I) to Cu(II) species occurs with only O-2 as the oxidant, and a high Cu density in CHA zeolite promotes SCR activity by enhancing the oxidative activation of Cu(I) to Cu(II) during the catalytic cycle

Structure of cortical network activity across natural wake and sleep states in mice.

Cortical neurons fire intermittently and synchronously during non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS), in which active and silent periods are referred to as ON and OFF periods, respectively. Neuronal firing rates during ON periods (NREMS-ON-activity) are similar to those of wakefulness (W-activity), raising the possibility that NREMS-ON neuronal-activity is fragmented W-activity. To test this, we investigated the patterning and organization of cortical spike trains and of spike ensembles in neuronal networks using extracellular recordings in mice. Firing rates of neurons during NREMS-ON and W were similar, but showed enhanced bursting in NREMS with no apparent preference in occurrence, relative to the beginning or end of the on-state. Additionally, there was an overall increase in the randomness of occurrence of sequences comprised of multi-neuron ensembles in NREMS recorded from tetrodes. In association with increased burst firing, somatic calcium transients were increased in NREMS. The increased calcium transients associated with bursting during NREM may activate calcium-dependent, cell-signaling pathways for sleep related cellular processes