Deposition-Temperature Dependence of Vortex Pinning Property in YBa2Cu3O7+BaHfO3 Films

Improvement of critical current density (Jc) in magnetic fields is required in YBa2Cu3O7 films, and process parameters should be optimized for controlling pinning centers. In the present study, a deposition temperature was varied in pulsed laser deposition of YBa2Cu3O7+BaHfO3 films to control the nanorod structure, and its influence on Jc was analyzed. The YBa2Cu3O7+BaHfO3 film deposited at 850°C exhibited pinning force maximum (Fp,max) as high as 413 GN/m3 at 40 K, while the Fp,max for the deposition temperature of 850°C at 77 K was smaller than that in the YBa2Cu3O7+BaHfO3 film deposited at 900°C. A critical temperature decreased and matching field increased with decreasing the deposition temperature. Increase in deposition temperature is effective in improving the Fp,max in high temperatures, since the critical temperature and matching field dependences of Jc value dominate the Fp,max. On the other hand, low deposition temperature improves the Fp,max in low temperatures since the Fp shift in accordance with matching field is dominant to the Fp,max. Thus, the deposition temperature should be set in pulsed laser deposition of YBa2Cu3O7 films containing nanorods considering the Jc variation with critical temperature and matching field

Effect of Hemocoagulase on the Prevention of Bleeding after Percutaneous Renal Biopsy

A percutaneous renal biopsy is an essential tool for the diagnosis of various renal diseases;however, post-biopsy bleeding is a major complication. Hemocoagulase is a detoxified and purified snake venom enzyme that is widely used to prevent post-procedural bleeding. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the effect of hemocoagulase on post-renal biopsy bleeding. We included 221 patients who underwent percutaneous renal biopsy between April 2017 and December 2020 and analyzed post-renal biopsy hemoglobin (Hb) decline in patients who were administered a periprocedural hemocoagulase injection. After the renal biopsy, the mean Hb decrease in the entire patient cohort was 0.33 ・ 0.84 g/dL. Periprocedural hemocoagulase injection lowered the Hb decline post-renal biopsy (0.50 ・ 0.87 vs. 0.23 ・ 0.80 g/dL, p = 0.0204). The propensity-matched cohort was also adjusted for factors influencing postprocedural bleeding; periprocedural hemocoagulase injection reduced the Hb decline post-renal biopsy (0.56 ・ 0.89 vs. 0.17 ・ 0.74 g/dL, p = 0.006). There were no adverse events (e.g., thrombosis and anaphylactic shock) due to hemocoagulase. Our study demonstrated the beneficial effect of hemocoagulase on post-renal biopsy Hb decline, suggesting its clinical value in preventing post-renal biopsy bleeding

Association of Urinary Dickkopf-3 with Residual Renal Function Decline in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis

Background and Objectives: Urinary levels of dickkopf-3 (DKK-3) are associated with poor renal survival in patients with non-dialytic chronic kidney disease. However, it remains unknown whether urinary DKK-3 levels can predict residual renal function (RRF) decline in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Therefore, we investigated the correlation between urinary levels of DKK-3 and the subsequent rate of RRF decline in PD patients. Materials and Methods: This study included 36 PD patients who underwent multiple peritoneal equivalent tests during 2011–2021. The relationship between baseline clinical characteristics and the subsequent annual rate of Kt/V decline was investigated. Results: The annual rate of renal Kt/V decline was 0.29 (range: 0.05–0.48), which correlated with renal Kt/V (r = 0.55, p = 0.0005) and 24 h urinary DKK-3 excretion (r = 0.61, p < 0.0001). Similarly, 24 h urinary DKK-3 excretion (β = 0.44, p = 0.0015) and renal Kt/V (β = 0.38, p = 0.0059) were independently associated with the annual rate of renal Kt/V decline in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: Urinary DKK-3 assessment may help identify PD patients at a high risk of RRF decline

Safety of renal biopsy by physicians with short nephrology experience

Percutaneous renal biopsy is an essential tool for diagnosing various renal diseases; however, little is known about whether renal biopsy performed by physicians with short nephrology experience is safe in Japan. This study included 238 patients who underwent percutaneous renal biopsy between April 2017 and September 2020. We retrospectively analyzed the frequency of post-renal biopsy complications (hemoglobin decrease of ≥10%, hypotension, blood transfusion, renal artery embolization, nephrectomy and death) and compared their incidence among physicians with varied experience in nephrology. After renal biopsy, a hemoglobin decrease of ≥10%, hypotension and transfusion occurred in 13.1%, 3.8% and 0.8% of patients, respectively. There were no cases of post-biopsy renal artery embolism, nephrectomy, or death. The composite complication rate was 16.0%. The incidence of post-biopsy complications was similar between physicians with ≥3 years and 0.99). Under attending nephrologist supervision, a physician with short clinical nephrology experience can safely perform renal biopsy

Crucial roles of Robo proteins in midline crossing of cerebellofugal axons and lack of their up-regulation after midline crossing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Robo1, Robo2 and Rig-1 (Robo3), members of the Robo protein family, are candidate receptors for the chemorepellents Slit and are known to play a crucial role in commissural axon guidance in the spinal cord. However, their roles at other axial levels remain unknown. Here we examine expression of Robo proteins by cerebellofugal (CF) commissural axons in the rostral hindbrain and investigate their roles in CF axon pathfinding by analysing Robo knockout mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We analysed the expression of Robo proteins by CF axons originating from deep cerebellar neurons in rodent embryos, focusing on developmental stages of their midline crossing and post-crossing navigation. At the stage of CF axon midline crossing, mRNAs of Robo1 and Robo2 are expressed in the nuclear transitory zone of the cerebellum, where the primordium of the deep cerebellar nuclei are located, supporting the notion that CF axons express Robo1 and Robo2. Indeed, immunohistochemical analysis of CF axons labelled by electroporation to deep cerebellar nuclei neurons indicates that Robo1 protein, and possibly also Robo2 protein, is expressed by CF axons crossing the midline. However, weak or no expression of these proteins is found on the longitudinal portion of CF axons. In <it>Robo1</it>/<it>2 </it>double knockout mice, many CF axons reach the midline but fail to exit it. We find that CF axons express Rig-1 (Robo3) before they reach the midline but not after the longitudinal turn. Consistent with this <it>in vivo </it>observation, axons elicited from a cerebellar explant in co-culture with a floor plate explant express Rig-1. In <it>Rig-1 </it>deficient mouse embryos, CF axons appear to project ipsilaterally without reaching the midline.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that Robo1, Robo2 or both are required for midline exit of CF axons. In contrast, Rig-1 is required for their approach to the midline. However, post-crossing up-regulation of these proteins, which plays an important role in spinal commissural axon guidance, does not appear to be required for the longitudinal navigation of CF axons after midline crossing. Our results illustrate that although common mechanisms operate for midline crossing at different axial levels, significant variation exists in post-crossing navigation.</p

Effect of Hemocoagulase on the Prevention of Bleeding after Percutaneous Renal Biopsy

A percutaneous renal biopsy is an essential tool for the diagnosis of various renal diseases; however, post-biopsy bleeding is a major complication. Hemocoagulase is a detoxified and purified snake venom enzyme that is widely used to prevent post-procedural bleeding. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the effect of hemocoagulase on post-renal biopsy bleeding. We included 221 patients who underwent percutaneous renal biopsy between April 2017 and December 2020 and analyzed post-renal biopsy hemoglobin (Hb) decline in patients who were administered a periprocedural hemocoagulase injection. After the renal biopsy, the mean Hb decrease in the entire patient cohort was 0.33 &plusmn; 0.84 g/dL. Periprocedural hemocoagulase injection lowered the Hb decline post-renal biopsy (0.50 &plusmn; 0.87 vs. 0.23 &plusmn; 0.80 g/dL, p = 0.0204). The propensity-matched cohort was also adjusted for factors influencing postprocedural bleeding; periprocedural hemocoagulase injection reduced the Hb decline post-renal biopsy (0.56 &plusmn; 0.89 vs. 0.17 &plusmn; 0.74 g/dL, p = 0.006). There were no adverse events (e.g., thrombosis and anaphylactic shock) due to hemocoagulase. Our study demonstrated the beneficial effect of hemocoagulase on post-renal biopsy Hb decline, suggesting its clinical value in preventing post-renal biopsy bleeding

Factors Associated with Glomerular Yield in Percutaneous Kidney Biopsy

Percutaneous kidney biopsy is essential for diagnosing various kidney diseases. However, insufficient glomerular yield leads to misdiagnosis, a critical problem. We retrospectively investigated the risk of insufficient glomerular yield in percutaneous kidney biopsies. We included 236 patients who underwent percutaneous kidney biopsies between April 2017 and September 2020. We retrospectively analyzed the relationship between glomerular yield and patient characteristics. After the biopsy, 31 patients produced insufficient glomerular yields (cases with yielded glomeruli p = 0.04), and positively with glomerular density (β = 0.59, p p p = 0.02). Thus, the glomerular yield was associated with glomerular density and biopsy core length, and hypertension might be related to glomerular yield via low glomerular density

Effect of Hemocoagulase on the Prevention of Bleeding after Percutaneous Renal Biopsy

A percutaneous renal biopsy is an essential tool for the diagnosis of various renal diseases; however, post-biopsy bleeding is a major complication. Hemocoagulase is a detoxified and purified snake venom enzyme that is widely used to prevent post-procedural bleeding. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the effect of hemocoagulase on post-renal biopsy bleeding. We included 221 patients who underwent percutaneous renal biopsy between April 2017 and December 2020 and analyzed post-renal biopsy hemoglobin (Hb) decline in patients who were administered a periprocedural hemocoagulase injection. After the renal biopsy, the mean Hb decrease in the entire patient cohort was 0.33 ± 0.84 g/dL. Periprocedural hemocoagulase injection lowered the Hb decline post-renal biopsy (0.50 ± 0.87 vs. 0.23 ± 0.80 g/dL, p = 0.0204). The propensity-matched cohort was also adjusted for factors influencing postprocedural bleeding; periprocedural hemocoagulase injection reduced the Hb decline post-renal biopsy (0.56 ± 0.89 vs. 0.17 ± 0.74 g/dL, p = 0.006). There were no adverse events (e.g., thrombosis and anaphylactic shock) due to hemocoagulase. Our study demonstrated the beneficial effect of hemocoagulase on post-renal biopsy Hb decline, suggesting its clinical value in preventing post-renal biopsy bleeding

A case of minimal change nephrotic syndrome complicated by ovarian vein thrombosis

The patient was a 54-year-old woman undergoing steroid treatment as a maintenance therapy of remission for minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). After pain appeared in her right-lower abdomen, an abdominal contrast computed tomography scan revealed thrombosis of the right ovarian vein. Laboratory evaluation on admission revealed proteinuria (3.5 g/day) and decreased serum total protein (4.9 g/dL) and albumin (2.4 g/dL) levels, indicating nephrotic syndrome recurrence. Leukocyte and C-reactive protein levels were elevated; over 100 leukocytes/high power field were detected in the urine, and E. coli was detected in both blood and urine cultures, indicating septicemia due to pyelonephritis. The thrombosis disappeared after approximately 27 weeks of heparin and warfarin treatment. The MCNS recurrence was treated with an increased steroid dose; after about 6 weeks, the patient was negative for urinary protein. Her pyelonephritis improved with antibiotic treatment. The patient was discharged in good condition on day 55 after admission. When patients with nephrotic syndrome complain of abdominal pain, venous thrombosis in the abdominal cavity should be considered