No abstract available.
Acidosis, Renal Tubular* ; Captopril*

No abstract available.
Carnitine* ; Renal Dialysis*

No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis*

No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis*

BACKGROUND: No-reflow is a specific type of vascular damage occuring when removal of coronary occlusion dose not lead to restoration of coronary flow. There are three major explanations for the no-reflow phenomenon such as endothelial cell edema, microvascular plugging by platelets or thrombi and coronary occlusion by ischemic contracture of the myocardium. But detailed mechanisms of no-reflow phenomenon are not known. The objects of this study are to elucidate the possibility whether elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration during ischemic cardioplegic period is mechanism of no-reflow phenomenon or not. METHODS: Changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration were measured under varying experimental condition. Free [Ca2+] in the cytosole [Ca2+]i of single rabbit coronary artery cells was measured with fluorescent Ca2+ indicator, Fura-2. RESULTS: Resting [Ca2+]i was 134.2+/-34 nM (n=43). When single cells were perfused with cardioplegic or ischemic cardioplegic solution, [Ca2+]i was significantly increased and degree of [Ca2+]i elevation was further augmented by ischemic cardioplegic solution. Pretreatment of sarcoplasmic reticulum emptying agent (20mM caffeine) had no effect on cardioplegia-induced [Ca2+]i change, but application of Ca2+ channel blocker (5x10-7M nifedipine) or an antagonist of Na+/Ca2+ exchange (5mM Ni2+ ) partially (nifedipine) or completely (nickel) inhibited the [Ca2+]i elevation. Pretreament of caffeine had no effect on ischemic cardioplegia-induced [Ca2+]i change, but application of nifedipine or nickel partially inhibited the [Ca2+]i elevation. Magnitude of ischemic cardioplegia-induced [Ca2+]i elevation was dependent on the Ca2+ concentration of perfusate from 0 to 2.5mM. When Ni2+ was added to reperfusion solution, recovery of ischemic cardioplegia-induced [Ca2+]i elevation was very rapid compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results, it may be speculated that ischemic cardioplegia-induced [Ca2+]i elevation may act as one of the mechanism of no-reflow phenomenon in rabbit coronary artery.
Caffeine ; Cardioplegic Solutions ; Coronary Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels* ; Cytosol* ; Edema ; Endothelial Cells ; Fura-2 ; Ischemic Contracture ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle* ; Nickel ; Nifedipine ; No-Reflow Phenomenon ; Reperfusion ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum

To elucidate the possibility whether an elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in rabbit coronary artery myocytes during ischemic cardioplegic period may serve as one of the mechanisms of the "no-reflow' phenomenon or not, the changes in [Ca2+]i were measured under ischemic cardioplegia conditions using a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator, fura 2/AM. When single cells were perfused with cardioplegic or ischemic cardioplegic solutions, [Ca2+]i was significantly increased and the degree of [Ca2+] elevation was further augmented by the ischemic cardioplegic solution. Pretreatment of a sarcoplasmic reticulum emptying agent, 20 mM caffeine, had no effect on ischemic cardioplegia-induced [Ca2+]i changes, but application of a Ca2+ channel blocker, 5 x 10 (-1)M nifedipine, or an antagonist of Na+/Ca2+ exchange, 5 mM Ni2+, significantly inhibited the [Ca2+]i elevation, respectively. The magnitude of ischemic cardioplegia-induced [Ca2+]i elevation was dependent on the Ca2+ concentration of perfusate in the range of 0 and 25 mM. When Ni2+ was added to the reperfusion solution, recovery of ischemic cardioplegia-induced [Ca2+]i elevation was very rapid compared with the controls. It is concluded that ischemic cardioplegia-induced [Ca2+]i elevation may serve as one of the mechanisms of the "no-reflow' phenomenon in rabbit coronary artery smooth muscle cells. We propose that Na+/Ca2+ exchange may serve as a key function in ischemic cardioplegia-induced [Ca2+]i elevation.
Animal ; Arteries/metabolism ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Coronary Vessels/*metabolism ; Female ; *Heart Arrest, Induced ; Intracellular Membranes/*metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/*metabolism/pathology ; Myocardial Ischemia/*metabolism/pathology ; Osmolar Concentration ; Rabbits ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially ischemic heart disease (IHD) and vascular access occlusion (VAO) is the most common morbidity in dialysis patients. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is regarded as an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis in general population, however clinical implication of HHcy in dialysis patients is controversial. Nutritional status of dialysis patients is also known to be closely linked to CVD. METHODS: To investigate the impact of the presence of HHcy and malnutrition on cardiovascular events, especially ischemic heart disease (IHD) and vascular access occlusion (VAO). We measured plasma levels of Hcy and other biochemical parameters with an evaluation of nutritional status using subjective global assessment (SGA) in 44 HD patients and gender-matched control subjects of comparable age. RESULTS: Mean plasma Hcy was 18.6 microM/L (range 5-28), which was significantly higher than normal control (8.6+/-2.0 microM/L, p< 0.05). There was no significant correlation between plasma Hcy and the levels of folate or vit B12. Mean Hcy was significantly higher in patients with normal nutritional status compared to mild-to-moderately malnourished patients (22.0+/-3.2 vs. 15.1+/-4.1 microM/L, p<0.05), and there was a significant positive correlation of Hcy level with serum albumin or nPNA. There was no significant difference in plasma Hcy level according to the presence of IHD or VAO. However, interestingly, in HD patients group with lower serum albumin (<3.9 g/ dL), frequency of VAO was significantly correlated with Hcy (r2=0.68, p<0.001) whereas no significant correlation was observed in patients with higher albumin level. CONCLUSION: The clinical implication of HHcy in HD patients may be different from general healthy population. Nutritional status can be one of the important factors influencing plasma Hcy level. And, high plasma level of Hcy in malnourished HD patients has to be carefully followed up in terms of the development of atherosclerotic CVD and VAO.
Atherosclerosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Dialysis ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia* ; Malnutrition ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Nutritional Status* ; Plasma ; Renal Dialysis* ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin

BACKGROUND: With advances in immunosuppression, graft and patient survival rates have increased significantly, but acute cellular rejection remains an important problem following liver transplantation (LT), and late acute rejection (LAR) occurs in a small percentage of recipients. Some risk factors for LAR have been identified, yet the cause of LAR has not been completely investigated. The efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) administered in combination with calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) for reduction of LAR has been demonstrated. METHODS: Between January 2006 and August 2007, adult LT recipients (n=309) were enrolled in this study. Biopsy-proven acute rejection that occurred >6 months after LT was defined as LAR. The immunosuppression regimens, CNI or CNI plus MMF, were used continuously for at least 6 months after LT. The mean follow-up period was 34.8 months (range, 25~46 months). RESULTS: LAR occurred in 17 cases (5.5%). The incidence of LAR in the CNI (n=138) or CNI plus MMF groups (n=171) was 8.6% (n=12) and 2.9% (n=5), respectively (P=0.015). Multivariate Cox regression confirmed that CNI plus MMF versus CNI therapy is associated with a decreased risk of LAR (relative risk, 0.33; P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of LAR in the CNI plus MMF group was significantly lower than the CNI group. Thus, continuous use of CNI plus MMF may represent a better immunosuppression regimen to decrease the rate of LAR in LT recipients.
Adult ; Calcineurin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Incidence ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Mycophenolic Acid ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of newly developed recombinant human erythropoietin (Epokine(R)), a phase III clinical trial was performed in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Epokine(R)was given initially at a dosage of 50unit/kg, intravenously, three times a week after each dialysis session and the dosage was adjusted according to the changes in hemoglobin level. Out of total 79 patients who were enrolled initially, data of 64 patients who have completed 12 weeks study period were analyzed. The results were as following: 1) Hemoglobin(g/dL) and hematocrit(%) increased significantly from baseline levels beginning from 2 weeks after Epokine(R) administration. Hemoglobin increased significantly from 6.8+/-0.8 to 10.4+/-1.3 and hematocrit increased significantly from 20.9+/-2.2 to 31.1+/-5.2 after 12 weeks(P<0.05). Corrected reticulocyte count(%) increased significantly from 0.6+/-0.4 to 1.4+/-0.7 after 2 weeks and to 1.3+/-0.6 after 12 weeks(P<0.05). 2) A significant increase in platelet count was observed from 2 weeks after Epokine(R) administration (P<0.05). 3) Serum ferritin and serum iron decreased significantly and total iron binding capacity increased significantly after 2 weeks(P<0.05). 4) The mean of pre-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure(mmHg) increased significantly from 148+/-21 to 154+/-25 at 12 weeks(P<0.05). Also, post-hemodialysis blood pressure(systolic/diastolic) at 12 weeks increased significantly from baseline levels(146+/-28/ 82+/-15 vs. 153+/-25/87+/-14mmHg, P<0.05). 5) Anti-erythropoietin antibody was not detected in all subjects. 6) Side effects observed in this study were similar to those reported by earlier reports. Headache(9 cases), and flu-like syndrome(7 cases) were the most common side effects. These side effects were not severe and disappeared without discontinuation of Epokine(R) administration in most of the patients. In conclusion, Epokine(R) is safe and effective in treating anemia of hemodialysis patients with end stage renal disease.
Anemia ; Dialysis ; Erythropoietin ; Ferritins ; Hematocrit ; Humans* ; Iron ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Platelet Count ; Renal Dialysis* ; Reticulocytes

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated cirrhosis is an increasingly frequent indication for liver transplantation (LT). However, HCV recurrence is universal and this immediately occurs following LT, which endangers both the graft and patient survival. We investigated the frequency of posttransplant recurrence of HCV infection and the patient-graft survival, and we analyzed the responses to ribavirin and interferon therapy in the patients with recurrent HCV infection after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical outcomes of 39 HCV-associated cirrhosis patients who underwent LDLT at Asan Medical Center between August 1992 and June 2006. In this study, the diagnosis of recurrent HCV was made on the basis of increased transaminases and serum HCV RNA levels greater than 10 million IU/mL because protocol liver biopsy was not performed. RESULTS: HCV recurrence was seen in 26 of the 39 LDLT patients (66.7%). 86.7% of recurrence occurred within the first postoperative year. Antiviral treatment was used for all patients with recurrence of HCV. None of the 10 patients receiving ribavirin alone and 9 of 16 patients who received combination therapy with pegylated interferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin became HCV RNA negative and they remained persistently negative during the median follow-up of 24.9 months. Our data indicates that there is no significant factor influencing HCV recurrence except for the recipient's age. The 2-year patient survival for the HCV patients with HCC and those patients without HCC were 81.2% and 81.3%, respectively (P=0.85) and the 2-year graft survival rates were 81.2% and 68.2%, respectively (P=0.29). No patient died from HCV recurrence during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy with ribavirin and interferon appears to improve the outcome of recurrent HCV infected patients after LDLT.
Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Graft Survival ; Hepacivirus/drug effects/isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon Alfa-2a/therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis/mortality/*surgery/*virology ; Liver Neoplasms/mortality ; *Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin/therapeutic use ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome