Nephrotic Syndrome in the Elderly

Though the nephrotic syndrome is generally believed to be uncommon in the elderly, patients aged 60 years or more accounted for 25 out of 100 consecutive adult cases. Six (24%) of these had the minimal change lesion, compared with 16% of the younger adults. The incidence of membranous glomerulonephritis was similar in the two age groups, but proliferative glomerulonephritis was more common in the younger (29%) than in the older group (16%). Amyloidosis did not have a higher incidence in the higher age group. Five of the elderly patients with minimal change lesion were treated with prednisone—in four a complete remission from the nephrotic syndrome followed, while the fifth patient''s course is unknown.These results suggest that, when the patient''s other circumstances allow, the nephrotic syndrome in an elderly patient should be investigated and managed as in younger age groups.     

Nephrotic syndrome unfavorable course correlates with downregulation of podocyte vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in children is most commonly caused by primary glomerulopathies. Morphological lesions observed in INS might be secondary to inflammatory factors of mainly extra-renal origin. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family is regarded as playing a crucial role in this pathomechanism. The aim of the present work was to analyze the possible relation between VEGF-C and VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-2 expressions at electron microscopy level in different INS cases. The study group comprised 18 children with minimal change disease (MCD), 30 patients diagnosed with diffuse mesangial proliferation (DMP) and 11 subjects with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). An indirect immunohistochemical assay employing monoclonal anti-VEGF-C and anti-VEGFR-2 antibodies was applied in the study. The immunohistochemical expression of VEGF-C within podocyte cytoplasm was significantly increased in DMP subjects who were resistant to steroids and in all FSGS patients compared to MCD children and controls (p 〈 0.05). VEGF-C over-expression in these cases was followed by downregulation of VEGFR-2. Nephrotic syndrome progression correlates with the downregulation of podocyte VEGFR-2. For this reason, decreased VEGFR-2 expression in the podocyte processes of children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome might be regarded as a potent factor of unfavorable prognosis.     

A humanistic library for physicians by physicians.

In 1986 the rate of infectious syphilis (primary and secondary) in Los Angeles County began to rise from previously stable levels of about 23.5 per 100,000 to peak at 55.6 per 100,000 in 1987. The incidence of congenital syphilis increased from 205 cases in 1987 to 575 cases in 1989. The county''s Sexually Transmitted Disease Program instituted a disease-specific plan to address the epidemic. Factors considered in designing the program included the high morbidity and mortality associated with congenital infection, the existence of latent infection, self-limiting symptoms, and the availability of an inexpensive screening test and curative treatment. Policy changes implemented comprised expanded screening, expanded surveillance, increased contact tracing, and the initiation of condom promotion programs. To evaluate the relative effectiveness of Los Angeles County''s syphilis control efforts, the epidemic curve for infectious syphilis was compared with trends in other urban areas. Although the rate of infectious syphilis climbed a year earlier in Los Angeles than in other cities, it returned to baseline levels when other cities'' rates remained at epidemic levels.     

Nephrotic Syndrome in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

Two patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and the nephrotic syndrome are described in whom deposits were shown in renal glomerular basement membranes in a pattern suggesting immune-complex glomerulonephritis. This renal lesion has been described in one case of squamous carcinoma of the bronchus, in one case of Burkitt''s lymphoma, and in three cases of Hodgkin''s disease though not previously in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Immune-complex glomerulonephritis is, however, a recognized finding in mice infected with leukaemogenic viruses     

Weaknesses in primary health care favor the growth of acquired syphilis

Acquired syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that affects the general population and has been growing in recent years in many countries. A study was developed aiming to analyze the trends of acquired syphilis associated with sociodemographic aspects and primary health care in Brazil, in the period from 2011 to 2019. This study used secondary data from the national notification systems of the 5570 Brazilian cities and a database of 37,350 primary health care teams, as well as socioeconomic and municipal demographic indicators. The trends of acquired syphilis at the municipal level were calculated from the log-linear regression, crossing them with variables of primary health care and sociodemographic indicators. Finally, a multiple model was built from logistic regression. 724,310 cases of acquired syphilis have been reported. In primary care units, 47.8% had partial coverage and 74.1% had health teams with poor or regular scores. 52.6% had rapid test for syphilis partially available. Male and female condoms are available in 85.9% and 62.9% respectively and 54.4% had penicillin available in the health facility. The increase in trends of acquired syphilis was associated with better availability of the rapid test; lower availability of male condoms; lower availability of female condoms; lower availability of benzathine penicillin; partial coverage of the teams in primary health care; limited application of penicillin in primary health care; higher proportion of teams classified as Poor/Regular in primary health care; higher proportion of women aged 10 to 17 years who had children; higher HDI; higher proportion of people aged 15 to 24 years who do not study, do not work and are vulnerable; and population size with more than 100,000 inhabitants. The following variables remained in the multiple model: not all primary health care teams apply penicillin; higher proportion of primary health care teams with poor/regular scores; population size >100000 inhabitants; partially available female condom. Thus, the weakness of primary health care linked to population size may have favored the growth of the acquired syphilis epidemic in Brazilian cities.     

原发性肾病综合征患儿家长对疾病营养知识的调查与分析

目的:研究原发性肾病综合征患儿家长疾病营养知识,分析其相关影响因素。方法:选取2014年5月到2015年5月在我院门诊及住院的原发性肾病综合征患儿150例,应用自制问卷对患儿家长的一般资料及营养知识进行调查,应用非条件Logistic回归分析患儿家长营养知识影响因素。结果:150例原发性肾病综合征患儿家长对基本营养知识回答的正确率介于30.7%-96.7%,对具体营养知识回答的正确率为2.0%-42.0%;Logistic回归分析显示:家长文化程度、患儿病程、居住地、发病情况以及首次就诊是否接受营养指导均是家长疾病营养知识影响因素。结论:原发性肾病综合征患儿家长对疾病具体营养知识知晓率低,应根据影响因素对家长进行营养宣教。     

原发性及狼疮性肾病综合征患者血清PAI-1、Lp(a)水平变化及其临床价值探讨

目的:探讨原发性及狼疮性肾病综合征患者纤溶酶原激活物抑制因子1(PAI-1)和血清脂蛋白a[Lp(a)]的水平变化及其检测的临床应用价值。方法:选取病理类型明确,临床初诊为肾病综合征的患者138例。其中原发性肾病综合征70例,为PNS组;系统性红斑狼疮继发性肾病综合征患者68例,为LNS组。同期选取本院健康体检正常者64例,为正常对照NC组。全自动生化分析仪检测各组血清Lp(a)和血脂等指标;酶联免疫吸附(Elisa)法测定血清PAI-1水平。结果:1与NC组比较,血清Lp(a)和PAI-1水平在PNS和LNS两组中均显著升高(P0.05),PNS组比LNS组升高更为明显,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);2LP(a)与PAI-1秩相关系数(rs)分析,在PNS组中r_s=0.328,P=0.006,LNS组中r_s=0.439,P=0.006;3二元logistic回归分析表明,LP(a)和PAI-1均是PNS和LNS的危险因素;4ROC曲线分析表明,血清Lp(a)、PAI-1对PNS和LNS诊断的ROC曲线下面积(AUC~(ROC))分别为0.895、0.874和0.848、0.813,两者联合检测对PNS和LNS诊断的AUC~(ROC)分别为0.947和0.919。结论:血清Lp(a)与PAI-1水平在PNS和LNS患者体内均明显升高,PNS患者升高更为显著;Lp(a)与PAI-1水平在PNS和LNS患者中均显著正相关;LP(a)和PAI-1均是PNS和LNS的危险因素,两者水平的变化与PNS和LNS的发生相关。联合检测Lp(a)与PAI-1水平对PNS和LNS的诊治具有一定的临床应用价值。     

Increased concentration of plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein in nephrotic syndrome: role in dyslipidemia.

Hyperlipidemia is a prominent feature of the nephrotic syndrome. Lipoprotein abnormalities include increased very low and low density lipoprotein (VLDL and LDL) cholesterol and variable reductions in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. We hypothesized that plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), which influences the distribution of cholesteryl esters among the lipoproteins, might contribute to lipoprotein abnormalities in nephrotic syndrome. Plasma CETP, apolipoprotein and lipoprotein concentrations were measured in 14 consecutive untreated and 7 treated nephrotic patients, 5 patients with primary hypertriglyceridemia, and 18 normolipidemic controls. Patients with nephrotic syndrome displayed increased plasma concentrations of apoB, VLDL, and LDL cholesterol. The VLDL was enriched with cholesteryl ester (CE), shown by a CE/triglyceride (TG) ratio approximately twice that in normolipidemic or hypertriglyceridemic controls (P < 0.001). Plasma CETP concentration was increased in patients with untreated nephrotic syndrome compared to controls (3.6 vs. 2.3 mg/l, P < 0.001), and was positively correlated with the CE concentration in VLDL (r = 0.69, P = 0.004) and with plasma apoB concentration (r = 0.68, P = 0.007). Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in normalization of plasma CETP and of the CE/TG ratio in VLDL. An inverse correlation between plasma CETP and HDL cholesterol was observed in hypertriglyceridemic nephrotic syndrome patients (r = -0.67, P = 0.03). The dyslipidemia of nephrotic syndrome includes increased levels of apoB-lipoproteins and VLDL that are unusually enriched in CE and likely to be atherogenic. Increased plasma CETP probably plays a significant role in the enrichment of VLDL with CE, and may also contribute to increased concentrations of apoB-lipoproteins and decreased HDL cholesterol in some patients.     

Nephrotic syndrome with slight proliferative changes in the glomeruli: response to prednisone.

Seven patients with slight but definite proliferative changes in the glomeruli achieved complete remission of the nephrotic syndrome when treated with prednisone. The patterns of response and, in three cases, repeated relapse and response suggested that this was more than a coincidental spontaneous cure. A controlled trial of corticosteroids in patients with slight proliferative glomerulonephritis and severe nephrotic syndrome should be carried out to verify these results.     

原发性肾病综合征小儿发生院内感染的危险因素分析及护理研究

目的:探讨原发性肾病综合征患儿发生院内感染的危险因素及有效的护理对策。方法:回顾性分析在我院儿科住院的原发性肾病综合征患儿的临床资料,用单因素分析与多因素非条件Logistic回归分析原发性肾病综合征(PNS)患儿发生院内感染危险因素,探究合理的护理对策对患儿疾病恢复的影响。结果:PNS患儿院内感染发生率为32(36.4%),以呼吸道感染为最常见部位18(56.3%)。PNS患儿发生院内感染组的免疫球蛋白G(Ig G)、免疫球蛋白A(Ig A)、ALB水平低于非感染组(P0.05),住院天数、24 h尿蛋白定量非感染组(P0.05)。住院天数和血清白蛋白(ALB)是院内感染独立的危险因素,其OR值(95%CI)分别为3.461(1.33~9.01)和2.215(0.87~5.63)。早期、合理的护理措施使PNS患儿疾病恢复良好。结论:住院天数长和血清白蛋白降低是并发院内感染的独立危险因素,健全院内感染控制制度、加强病房管理、完善护理措施等,可降低院内感染发生率,改善患者预后。     

Nephrotic Syndrome with Heart Disease: A Reappraisal

The evidence that heart failure alone may cause a nephrotic syndrome is inconclusive. Mercurial diuretics, which have also been implicated as a cause of the nephrotic syndrome, had been given in 23 of the 24 well-documented cases.Two cases of heart disease and nephrotic syndrome are described. Glomerular lesions were minimal on light microscopy, but thickening of the glomerular tuft basement membrane and partial fusion of the epithelial cell foot processes were apparent on elecronmicroscopy. The response to prednisone was such as to justify a trial of corticosteroid therapy in such cases despite the presence of cardiac disease.     

EXTRAGENITAL SYPHILIS IN PHYSICIANS

In reply to a questionnaire, 51 cases of extragenital chancres in physicians were reported by 32 contributors. Thirty-five of these lesions occurred on the fingers, six inside the nose, one on an eyelid and one on an arm.Otolaryngologists and medical students, interns and residents were affected most commonly.Examination of patients, deliveries, pelvic examinations, needle punctures and tonsillectomies seemed to be the most dangerous procedures in this regard.Since such lesions in physicians frequently are diagnosed as pyogenic or malignant lesions and so treated, the importance of a high index of suspicion for syphilis is stressed.     

Gonorrhea in homosexual men.

Extragenital gonorrhea was seen in 65% of 54 cases of gonorrhea in 43 homosexual men attending a venereal diseases clinic between 1974 and 1977; in 21 cases the infection was extragenital only. This type of gonorrhea was often asymptomatic and was associated with a high rate of failure of initial treatment in 6 of the 50 cases in which the patient returned for follow-up assessment, and in 5 of the 6 the persistent infection was extragenital. Syphillis was seen concomitantly or had previously occurred in 6 of the 54 cases. Fifteen of 28 cases of primary, secondary or early latent syphilis seen in men during the same study period had occurred in homosexuals. Appropriate testing for extragenital gonorrhea and for syphilis is important in homosexual men who present for examination, and homosexuality with the possibility of extragenital gonorrhea should be considered in a man with syphilis of recent onset.     

Dermatopathic Lymphadenopathy—A Clinicopathologic Analysis of Lymph Node Biopsy Over a 15-Year Period

Forty cases of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy were found in a series of 906 consecutive lymph node biopsies (4.8 per cent).The histologic development and progression of the disease was correlated with the clinical state of the patient.In 35 of 40 cases the patients had active skin disease at the time of the biopsy; one of the remaining five patients had Hodgkin''s disease, one had multiple myeloma and one had secondary syphilis. In the other two, no organic cause was found.In nine cases (22.5 per cent), the histological pattern typical of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy was associated with malignant lymphoma. Except for two biopsies, which showed coexisting malignant lymphoma and dermatopathic lymphadenopathy, no histologic features were found which distinguished patients with malignant lymphoma from the remainder.While the pathogenesis of the lymph node changes remains obscure, the histologic features suggest that it is at least in part an immune response, although the nature of the responsible antigen is unknown.     

Peptic ulcer disease: a clinical study in 73 children

Seventy-three children with peptic ulcer have been admitted to The Montreal Children''s Hospital and l''Hôpital Sainte-Justine over the past 11 years. The primary ulcer group comprised 39 duodenal and nine gastric ulcers; repeat contrast studies were necessary to demonstrate a crater in 25%. Vomiting was especially prominent in the younger patients (1 month to 6 years). Pain was present in the majority of older patients (6 to 18 years) but was considered “typical” in no more than one third. Bleeding occurred more commonly in the older children but five had occult bleeding only. There was a positive family history in 11 children with primary duodenal ulcers but in none of those with gastric ulcers. Follow-up in 34 cases with primary ulcers showed that close to two thirds of the older children have had recurrent problems. Bleeding and/or perforation was the most common mode of presentation in 25 cases of secondary ulcers. Corticosteroids and increased intracranial pressure were the most frequently associated factors, the younger age group being at greater risk.     

Secondary amyloidosis due to Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Four children with Schistosoma mansoni infection and the nephrotic syndrome with varying degrees of renal dysfunction were found on histological examination to have amyloidosis. In one boy who had no evidence of renal failure complete clinical regression of his nephrotic syndrome and almost complete disappearance of renal amyloid deposits followed adequate treatment of his schistosomal infection. Conditions known to cause secondary amyloidosis were excluded in all four patients. Amyloidosis in association with mansoni infection is probably more common than is currently recognised. Early treatment of the infection, before renal function becomes impaired, may result in regression of the amyloidosis.     

Primary and secondary CoQ(10) deficiencies in humans

CoQ(10) deficiencies are clinically and genetically heterogeneous. This syndrome has been associated with five major clinical phenotypes: (1) encephalomyopathy, (2) severe infantile multisystemic disease, (3) cerebellar ataxia, (4) isolated myopathy, and (5) nephrotic syndrome. In a few patients, pathogenic mutations have been identified in genes involved in the biosynthesis of CoQ(10) (primary CoQ(10) deficiencies) or in genes not directly related to CoQ(10) biosynthesis (secondary CoQ(10) deficiencies). Respiratory chain defects, ROS production, and apoptosis variably contribute to the pathogenesis of primary CoQ(10) deficiencies.     

Thrombosis in systemic lupus erythematosus: striking association with the presence of circulating lupus anticoagulant.

The lupus anticoagulant was found in the plasma of 31 of 60 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and other connective tissue disorders (mixed connective tissue disease, systemic vasculitis, polyarteritis nodosa, primary sicca syndrome, discoid lupus, Behcet''s syndrome, and systemic sclerosis). Strong associations were found with biological false positive seroreaction for syphilis and thrombocytopenia. The most striking association, however, was with the high prevalence of thrombosis. This tendency to thrombosis was independent of disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus. The lupus anticoagulant appears to be a useful marker for a subset of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus at risk for the development of thromboembolic complications.     

Mathematical Analysis of the Transmission Dynamics of HIV Syphilis Co-infection in the Presence of Treatment for Syphilis

The re-emergence of syphilis has become a global public health issue, and more persons are getting infected, especially in developing countries. This has also led to an increase in the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections as some studies have shown in the recent decade. This paper investigates the synergistic interaction between HIV and syphilis using a mathematical model that assesses the impact of syphilis treatment on the dynamics of syphilis and HIV co-infection in a human population where HIV treatment is not readily available or accessible to HIV-infected individuals. In the absence of HIV, the syphilis-only model undergoes the phenomenon of backward bifurcation when the associated reproduction number (\({\mathcal {R}}_{T}\)) is less than unity, due to susceptibility to syphilis reinfection after recovery from a previous infection. The complete syphilis–HIV co-infection model also undergoes the phenomenon of backward bifurcation when the associated effective reproduction number (\({\mathcal {R}}_{C}\)) is less than unity for the same reason as the syphilis-only model. When susceptibility to syphilis reinfection after treatment is insignificant, the disease-free equilibrium of the syphilis-only model is shown to be globally asymptotically stable whenever the associated reproduction number (\({\mathcal {R}}_{T}\)) is less than unity. Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis show that the top three parameters that drive the syphilis infection (with respect to the associated response function, \({\mathcal {R}}_{T}\)) are the contact rate (\(\beta _S\)), modification parameter that accounts for the increased infectiousness of syphilis-infected individuals in the secondary stage of the infection (\(\theta _1\)) and treatment rate for syphilis-only infected individuals in the primary stage of the infection (\(r_1\)). The co-infection model was numerically simulated to investigate the impact of various treatment strategies for primary and secondary syphilis, in both singly and dually infected individuals, on the dynamics of the co-infection of syphilis and HIV. It is observed that if concerted effort is exerted in the treatment of primary and secondary syphilis (in both singly and dually infected individuals), especially with high treatment rates for primary syphilis, this will result in a reduction in the incidence of HIV (and its co-infection with syphilis) in the population.     

A Pilot Study of IL2 in Drug-Resistant Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

Tregs infusion reverts proteinuria and reduces renal lesions in most animal models of nephrotic syndrome (i.e. Buffalo/Mna, Adriamycin, Promycin, LPS). IL2 up-regulates Tregs and may be an alternative to cell-therapy in this setting. To evaluate a potential role of IL2 as Tregs inducer and proteinuria lowering agent in human nephrotic syndrome we treated 5 nephrotic patients with 6 monthly cycles of low-dose IL2 (1x10⁶ U/m² first month, 1.5x10⁶ U/m² following months). The study cohort consisted of 5 children (all boys, 11–17 years) resistant to all the available treatments (i.e. steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolate, Rituximab). Participants had Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (3 cases) or Minimal Change Nephropathy (2 cases). IL2 was safe in all but one patient who had an acute asthma attack after the first IL2 dose and did not receive further doses. Circulating Tregs were stably increased (>10%) during the whole study period in 2 cases while were only partially modified in the other two children who started with very low levels and partially responded to single IL2 Proteinuria and renal function were not modified by IL2 at any phase of the study. We concluded that low-dose IL2 given in monthly pulses is safe and modifies the levels of circulating Tregs. This drug may not be able to lower proteinuria or affect renal function in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. We were unable to reproduce in humans the effects of IL2 described in rats and mice reducing de facto the interest on this drug in nephrotic syndrome.

Trial Registration

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