Isolation and Characterization of Mumps Virus Strains in a Mumps Outbreak with a High Incidence of Aseptic Meningitis

In 1993, mumps with a high incidence of aseptic meningitis became prevalent in Akita prefecture, Japan. Three mumps virus isolates obtained from the nonvaccine-associated cases lacked the BamHI restriction cleavage site of the P gene, like the Urabe strain (Yamada, A. et al, Vaccine 8: 553-557). However, four additional nucleotide substitutions were found in the determined region of 157 bp. Fourteen of 19 cases from which mumps virus showing the Urabe-like RFLP profile was detected were complicated with symptomatic meningitis, whereas there were only four cases of meningitis among 23 individuals infected with the wild type showing no Urabe-like RFLP profile (non-“Urabe-like” wild-type). The incidence of meningitis was over 70% among patients infected with the “Urabe-like” wild-type virus. The “Urabe-like” wild-type disappeared after February 1994 in the epidemic area and was replaced by the non-“Urabe-like” wild-type. Patients infected with the “Urabe-like” wild-type lived in a closed colony, in which there were two instances of transmission between siblings. Thus this outbreak was transient and narrowly localized.     

华南常见毒鹅膏菌及其中毒事件分析

根据文献报道和实际调查对华南地区的有毒鹅膏种类进行统计分析,确认了21种常见有毒鹅膏菌,包括急性肝脏损害型的剧毒鹅膏、急性肾脏损害型和神经精神型的毒鹅膏各7种。对2000-2019年20年间发生的有毒鹅膏中毒事件进行统计分析显示,华南地区有毒鹅膏中毒事件共发生45起,163人中毒,60人死亡,病死率为36.8%;毒鹅膏的中毒事件主要发生在3-9月,其中3月份最多。致命鹅膏Amanita exitialis引起的中毒起数、中毒人数和中毒死亡率均占中毒事件总数的70%左右,是华南毒蘑菇中毒的“头号杀手”。本研究对华南地区毒蘑菇中毒的科学精准防控、有效减少中毒事件的发生、以及降低中毒死亡率具有重要意义。     

Severe hypotension after first dose of enalapril in heart failure.

The new, long acting converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril was given to 26 patients with moderate to severe heart failure. In 23 cases the mean systolic blood pressure fell from 120 (SD 22) to 108 (25) mm Hg without adverse effects. Profound hypotension with severe bradycardia and sweating, however, occurred in three patients, most pronounced two to four hours after the first dose. The haemodynamic and biochemical changes in these patients were similar to those seen in patients with severe symptomatic hypotension after the first dose of the converting enzyme inhibitor captopril, except that with enalapril the changes occurred later and were longer lasting. Evidence of myocardial damage and reversible renal failure was seen in one patient, and acute reversible deterioration in renal function occurred in one other. In patients with heart failure converting enzyme inhibitors should be administered initially under strict medical supervision with appropriate facilities available for dealing with occasional profound hypotension.     

Experiences with High Doses of Furosemide in Renal Disease and Resistant Edematous States

Six cases of edema, three due to the nephrotic syndrome, one to congestive heart failure and two to chronic renal failure, are reported in which furosemide was administered in oral doses higher than those usually prescribed (up to 720 mg. a day), in order to obtain a satisfactory diuresis. In one case of severe prerenal failure secondary to cardiogenic shock and in one case of acute tubular necrosis secondary to hypotension at the time of operation, intravenous doses up to 990 and 1400 mg. per day respectively were able to reverse the oliguria. In eight additional patients who were on chronic hemodialysis, furosemide was administered to the amount of 1000 mg. per day orally in divided doses for two weeks, and produced a moderate diuretic response.The use of high doses of furosemide in edema and renal failure resistant to the usual therapeutic measures appears to be safe and effective.     

Frequency and Type of Renal and Electrolyte Disorders in Fulminant Hepatic Failure

Of 48 patients with fulminant hepatic failure who progressed to grade III or IV encephalopathy 38 showed evidence of renal impairment. In 32 of these patients the underlying cause could be placed initially into one of three categories—prerenal uraemia (4 patients), acute tubular necrosis (16), and “functional renal failure” (12). The latter differed in several respects from that seen with liver failure secondary to cirrhosis. The frequency and type of renal impairment was the same in those patients in whom the fulminant hepatic failure had resulted from an overdose of paracetamol as in the other aetiological groups.Abnormalities in plasma electrolytes were common—in particular hypernatraemia occurred in 11 patients from an osmotic diuresis precipitated by hypertonic dextrose or fructose given intravenously, and from the sodium in the fresh frozen plasma used to correct the coagulation disturbance when renal excretion of this ion was inappropriately low.     

Carbon monoxide poisoning and nonoliguric acute renal failure.

Carbon monoxide poisoning in a 37-year-old man was complicated by neurologic damage, skin changes, muscle necrosis and nonoliguric renal failure. The relation between nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure in carbon monoxide poisoning is reviewed. Recognition of the acute renal failure in such cases is important, for this complication can be fatal; the prognosis is excellent, however, if proper medical management is provided.     

Renal Failure in Acute Pancreatitis

In three patients with acute pancreatitis complicated by renal failure recovery followed dialysis and treatment of associated complications. The records of cases of pancreatitis treated at Addenbrooke''s Hospital, Cambridge, suggest that renal failure is a grave and not infrequent complication of acute pancreatitis.     

The Sequence of Events in the Development of Bilateral Renal Cortical Necrosis Accompanying the Generalized Shwartzman Reaction

The generalized Shwartzman reaction, or Shwartzman-like conditions, were induced in a variety of experimental mammalian species by systemic injections of disintegrated cells of Gram negative bacteria, live Salmonella cholerae-suis or Liquoid. A comparative study of the renal lesions showed that the initial step in the development of bilateral cortical necrosis is stagnation and disintegration of red cells in glomerular capillaries. The glomerular “microthrombi” consist mainly of erythrocytic debris, which frequently has staining properties akin to those of fibrin; even wide-spread glomerular “thrombosis” is not accompanied by obvious destruction of renal parenchyma. A second step is necrotic mural lesions in afferent arteries, with ensuing thrombosis. These vascular lesions lead to the formation of individual infarcts which fuse to form total bilateral cortical necrosis in fulminant cases of the generalized Shwartzman reaction.     

Anaphylactic shock and lethal anaphylaxis caused by compound amino acid solution, a nutritional treatment widely used in China

Compound amino acid solution (CAAS) is a large class of solution of amino acids’ mixture and was widely used in China. Its extensive nutritional treatment was accompanied by a substantial incidence of adverse reactions, especially life-threatening anaphylaxis. However, the adverse reactions were reported in isolated case reports only, and the reasons behind this needed further investigation. The Chinese language papers were searched from China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang database published in China from 1985 to 2010. The search terms “anaphylactic”, “anaphylaxis”, “allergic”, “allergy”, “shock”, and “adverse reaction” combined with the term “amino acid” were used. Totally 71 episodes of anaphylactic shock and seven deaths in 38 articles were analyzed. Chest distress and cool extremities were the most common clinical manifestations. Almost all patients suffered from significant hypotension. The vast majority of patients were not found to be allergic to certain substances. CAAS was inappropriately administrated in more than one-third of patients. The life-threatening anaphylaxis was prominently prevalent in pregnant women, the elderly and patients with hypersensitivity such as asthma, and patients without medicinal indication. Innovation of processing technique and establishment of more strict supervision system are an urgent need for CAAS to control its production quality and thus improve its safety in China.     

Hypertension and Nephrosclerosis: A Reappraisal and a New Theory of Renal Ischemia

An observation in human autopsy material showing a statistically close relationship between complicated atherosclerosis of the aorta, at or above the renal artery take-off, and nephrosclerosis of usual type (i.e. the “granular kidney” of essential hypertension) led to a study of platelet aggregates as a cause of renal lesions. The renal cortical surface is peculiarly sensitive to ischemic damage. When an embolic source, which sheds repeatedly, was placed in the thoracic aorta of rabbits, they became hypertensive. The hypertension persisted for six months, at which time the kidneys showed nephrosclerosis characterized by surface cortical lesions consisting of shrunken glomeruli and atrophical tubules, subtended by arterioles whose intimas showed fibrous thickening. It is suggested that the renal component of the hypertension so induced is transitory, serving as a trigger mechanism for sustained hypertension.     

A cervical ligamentum flavum cyst in an 82-year-old woman presenting with spinal cord compression: a case report and review of the literature

Introduction

Legionnaires' disease is recognized as a multi-systemic illness. Afflicted patients may have pulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system complications. However, renal insufficiency is uncommon. The spectrum of renal involvement may range from a mild and transient elevation of serum creatinine levels to anuric renal failure requiring dialysis and may be linked to several causes. In our present case report, we would like to draw attention to the importance of the pathological documentation of acute renal failure by reporting a case of a patient with acute tubulointerstitial nephritis complicating Legionnaires' disease.

Case presentation

A 55-year-old Caucasian man was admitted to our hospital for community-acquired pneumonia complicated by acute renal failure. Legionella pneumophila serogroup type 1 was diagnosed. Although the patient's respiratory illness responded to intravenous erythromycin and ofloxacin therapy, his renal failure worsened, he became anuric, and hemodialysis was started. A renal biopsy was performed, which revealed severe tubulointerstitial nephritis. After initiation of steroid therapy, his renal function improved dramatically.

Conclusions

This case highlights the importance of kidney biopsies in cases where acute renal failure is a complicating factor in Legionnaires' disease. If the presence of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis can be confirmed, it will likely respond favorably to steroidal treatment and thus irreversible renal damage and chronic renal failure will be avoided.     

连续性血液净化联合血液灌流对糖尿病肾病合并难治性心衰的治疗效果分析

目的:研究连续性血液净化联合血液灌流技术治疗糖尿病肾病合并难治性心衰患者的临床效果。方法:选择我院收治的60例糖尿病肾病合并难治性心衰患者为研究对象,按入院先后顺序随机分为对照组和观察组,每组各30例患者,对照组患者给予常规对症治疗,而观察组患者在常规对症治疗的基础上应用连续性血液净化联合血液灌流技术,比较两组患者的肾、心功能变化和治疗效果。结果:治疗后,观察组的总有效率、好转率及1年存活率均明显高于对照组(P0.05)。对照组患者的肾、心功能指标均较治疗前显著改善(除Scr、E/A),而观察组的各项肾、心功能指标均较治疗前明显改善,且均明显优于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:连续性血液净化联合血液灌流技术治疗糖尿病肾病合并难治性心衰较常规药物对症治疗更有效。     

甲状腺功能减退症合并慢性肾功能衰竭5例临床分析

目的：提出一些关于早期诊治甲状腺功能减退症合并慢性肾功能不全的建议。方法：回顾性分析我科2000-2006年住院患者中甲状腺功能减退症合并肾功能衰竭病例5例,比较其临床表现和相关检查并分析其诊疗经过。结果：二种疾病不仅在其发生发展上有一定联系,而且在临床表现和相关检查上也有相似之处。二种疾病都可出现浮肿、贫血、乏力、纳差、心包积液、蛋白尿和不同程度的肾功能不全。二者合并出现时临床表现更加复杂多样,增加了临床诊断的难度。结论：在诊治此类疾病时要注意临床表现的一些细节,如心力衰竭时的相对缓脉、与肾功能不全不相适应的贫血、难治性心包积液、不明原因的肾功能损害等,以便早期正确诊治,提高诊疗水平。     

Calciphylaxis in Man

A patient with renal failure developed widespread calcification in the thighs after the injection of iron-dextran (Imferon). This is considered as an example of calciphylaxis, a process in which calcium is laid down in parts of the body following the administration of a “challenger.” Iron-dextran is a known challenger, and should be used with caution in uraemic subjects, who may be sensitized by high serum parathyroid hormone levels. Contributing factors may have been a high calcium/phosphate product, steroids, and the patient''s immobility.     

ABCG2 Dysfunction Increases the Risk of Renal Overload Hyperuricemia

ATP-binding cassette transporter, sub-family G, member 2 (ABCG2/BCRP) is identified as a high-capacity urate exporter, and its dysfunction has an association with serum uric acid levels and gout/hyperuricemia risk. Generally, hyperuricemia has been classified into urate “overproduction type,” “underexcretion type,” and “combined type” based on only renal urate excretion, without considering an extra-renal pathway such as gut excretion. In this study, we investigated the effects of ABCG2 dysfunction on human urate handling and the mechanism of hyperuricemia.

Clinical parameters for urate handling including urinary urate excretion (UUE) were examined in 644 Japanese male outpatients with hyperuricemia. The severity of their ABCG2 dysfunction was estimated by genotype combination of two common ABCG2 variants, nonfunctional Q126X (rs72552713) and half-functional Q141K (rs2231142).

Contrary to the general understanding that ABCG2 dysfunction leads to decreased renal urate excretion, UUE was significantly increased by ABCG2 dysfunction (P = 3.60 × 10^?10). Mild, moderate, and severe ABCG2 dysfunctions significantly raised the risk of “overproduction” hyperuricemia including overproduction type and combined type, conferring risk ratios of 1.36, 1.66, and 2.35, respectively.

The present results suggest that common dysfunctional variants of ABCG2 decrease extra-renal urate excretion including gut excretion and cause hyperuricemia. Thus, “overproduction type” in the current concept of hyperuricemia should be renamed “renal overload type,” which is caused by two different mechanisms, “extra-renal urate underexcretion” and genuine “urate overproduction.”

Our new concept will lead to a more accurate diagnosis and more effective therapeutic strategy for hyperuricemia and gout.     

Prolongation of skin allograft survival and inhibition of graft versus host reaction in rodents treated with "middle molecules".

“Middle molecules” (MM), isolated from the urine of patients with chronic renal failure by means of gel filtration, had been shown to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation after mitogenic or allogeneic stimulation in vitro. MM also caused a significant reduction of the graft versus host reaction (GVHR). CBA mice, having received a lethal dose of radiation, were injected with MM-treated spleen cells from C 57/B1 6 mice and were found to have a spleen weight × 1000/body weight ratio of 1.2, whereas mice injected with untreated allogeneic cells had a ratio of 1.7 Isogeneic controls were found to have a ratio of 0.8. The effect of MM was then analyzed in the Lewis and Sprague-Dawley rat models. Those rats which received a continuous infusion of MM had a significant delayed rejection time: 17.4 ± 1.06 days, as opposed to 12.1 ± 0.35 days in control rats which were infused with a saline solution. These results suggest that MM have an inhibitory effect on T-lymphocyte proliferation, which is not exclusive of other MM activities nor of additional mechanisms responsible for the immunodeficiency secondary to renal failure.     

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome complicated by orchitis

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a disease caused by viruses of the family Bunyaviridae,genus Hantavirus.HFRS from Dobrava virus (DOBV) is a seldom reported disease in Albania.Clinically HFRS is manifested as mild,moderate,or severe.Therefore,the number of cases of Hantavirus'infection may be underestimated,and should be included in the differential diagnosis of many acute infections,hematologic diseases,acute abdominal diseases and renal diseases complicated by acute renal failure.We report here an atypical presentation of HFRS from Dobrava virus complicated by orchitis with a positive outcome.     

Use of prazosin in management of hypertension in patients with chronic renal failure and in renal transplant recipients.

Prazosin was used in combination with other antihypertensive drugs in the successful management of hypertension in seven patients with chronic renal failure and six renal transplant recipients, also with chronic renal failure. The addition of small doses of prazosin (mean 3 mg/day) to the antihypertensive regimen produced significant falls in systolic and diastolic blood pressures in both the lying and standing positions. The standing blood pressures were significantly lower than the lying blood pressures during prazosin treatment. Neither the mean blood urea concentrations nor the mean plasma creatinine concentrations changed significantly during prazosin administration. Chromium-51 edetic acid clearances did not change significantly during prazosin treatment in the seven patients in whom it was measured. Severe symptomatic postural hypotension occurred in one patient a week after starting prazosin 3 mg/day. This hypotensive episode was associated with a transient and reversible deterioration in renal function. Another patient developed a rash while on prazosin but it was probably related to propranolol rather than prazosin. Prazosin is thus an effective antihypertensive drug in patients with chronic renal failure, and it may be used with a variety of other drugs. It should be used cautiously, however, since patients with chronic renal failure may respond to small doses, and significant postural falls in blood pressure may result. There was no evidence that the use of prazosin resulted in progressive deterioration in the residual renal function of the patients with chronic renal failure.     

Liquoid-Induced Arterial Lesions and the Generalized Shwartzman Reaction

Mural necrotic lesions were produced in renal afferent arteries in rabbits, pigs and blue foxes, by intravenous injections of Liquoid. These lesions were frequently accompanied by thrombosis in the affected arterial segments and invariably by “microthrombosis” in glomerular capillaries. Mural arterial lesions were always present in cases with evident macroscopic necrotic changes of the renal cortex. Necrotic arterial lesions, with thrombosis, were also observed in pulmonary arteries in all the animal species used in these experiments, i.e. rabbit, pig, blue fox, mouse and ferret.     

Hypothermia and acute renal failure in the elderly

During 1993-1998, in winter time 14 elderly patients: 8 female and 6 male aged 65-88, were treated because of hypothermia. Rectal temperature on admission was 20-34.9 degrees C. Sopor was present in 2 and various grades of coma were present in 10 patients. Arterial hypotension was recorded in 5, and shock in 9 patients. Increased serum creatinine level was found in 8 patients. The mean rectal temperature in the whole group was 31.3 degrees C +/- 4.7, ranging from 20.0 to 34.9 degrees C, and the mean serum creatinine level was 172.2 +/- 93.5, in range of 66.0 to 360.0 mumol/L. Negative correlation between those two parameters was found: r = -0.572. In 2 of them parameters of renal failure were analyzed: urine sodium concentration, creatinine urine/plasma ratio, urine osmolality, urine/plasma osmolality ratio, renal failure index and fractional excretion of filtered sodium. In one of the patients all parameters were within the range of functional oliguria, in an other the urine sodium concentration serum showed acute renal failure, but all other findings showed borderline values between functional oliguria and acute renal failure. Twelve out of 14 patients died within 1-216 hours from admission.