Recent accumulating epidemiological evidence underlines the important role of environmental exposures on kidney diseases. Among environmental exposures, this study addresses “Green space,” which has been recognized as one of the major environmental exposures at the population level. We review a total of seven epidemiological studies currently published on greenness and kidney disease. We also discuss knowledge gaps in the epidemiological evidence in relation to study design, greenness exposure index, emerging kidney outcomes, and inequalities. With an increase in public attention regarding environmental risks and climate change, an improved understanding of the beneficial effects of green space can play an important role in promoting kidney health.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) crisis is a life-threatening condition characterized by respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Cardiac problem in patients with MG crisis is a rare condition, presenting as cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, heart failure and sudden death. We report two cases that developed arrhythmia and stress-induced cardiomyopathy during MG crisis episodes.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiomyopathies ; Death, Sudden ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Intubation ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the single most common infection following kidney transplantation and despite prophylactic strategies and the development of new antiviral agents, it still remains a cause of considerable morbidity and mortality. Current literature suggests that CMV infection may trigger rejection. We report a case of late CMV disease in a preemptive seropositive recipient who did not receive CMV prophylaxis. Diarrhea and abdominal cramping persisted after the administration of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) six months after transplantation and resulted in ileal perforation at eight months after transplantation. The boy recovered after six weeks of treatment with ganciclovir. MMF has been mooted as a risk factor for CMV infection since its introduction, and further investigations are required to confirm its role. More attention to infectious complications is necessary and serial monitoring of viral load is recommended when MMF is administered.
Antiviral Agents ; Colic ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diarrhea ; Ganciclovir ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Mycophenolic Acid ; Risk Factors ; Transplants ; Viral Load

PURPOSE: Regional anticoagulation with trisodium citrate for continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) is an effective and safe method, with lower bleeding risk. However it is not widely used because of complex current protocols used to prevent anticipated metabolic derangements. We evaluated simplified regional anticoagulation protocols with ACD-A(R) solution and commercially available calcium-containing dialysis solution. METHODS: The medical records of twenty-eight patients who underwent CRRT were reviewed. Hemofilter life span according to the anticoagulation method used was compared, and laboratory findings at pre- and 48 hours post-CRRT initiation were compared in the citrate-based CRRT group. RESULTS: Of the twenty-eight patients, five patients underwent citrate-based CRRT. Hemofilter life span was 1.60+/-0.72 days, showing no significant differences with the hemofilter life span in the heparin based and LMWH based CRRT group. No patients experienced hemorrhagic complications. PT, aPTT, sodium, tCO2, iCa levels showed no difference in pre- and post-CRRT. Total calcium levels were increased. At the recommended postfilter iCa level, i.e., 0.25-0.39 mmol/L, all five patients needed increased amount of citrate infusion, and Ca infusion requirement was decreased. CONCLUSION: Simplified regional citrate anticoagulation with calcium-containing dialysate is an effective and safe method, and is not associated with increased hemofilter clotting. However, increased postfilter iCa level is recommended.
Calcium ; Child* ; Citric Acid* ; Dialysis ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Renal Replacement Therapy* ; Sodium

Continous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) is becoming increasingly popular for the support of critically ill patients with acute renal failure, and the development of pump-driven volumetric-control CRRT machines with small extracorporeal volumes has lead to the widespread use of venovenous form of CRRT in pediatric field. Basic principles are diffusion and convection. CRRT is indicated in the hemodynamically unstable pediatric patients for hypervolemic anuric acute renal failure, electrolyte abnormalities, multiorgan failure, catabolic patients with increased nutritional needs and hyperammonemia, etc. To date, experiences are limited for pediatric CRRT, but current reports support that CRRT is feasible and useful in children and even infants, and the survival rate of the patients on CRRT is as same as adults. We describe the basic principles, equipments, methods and complications of CRRT, with special considerations on small children to meet the current need for CRRT.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adult ; Child ; Convection ; Critical Illness ; Diffusion ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia ; Infant ; Pediatrics* ; Renal Replacement Therapy* ; Survival Rate

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in chromosome 6p has been reported in a number of tumors and some hematologic malignancies, including ALL. LOH in chromosome 6p, on which the HLA genes are located, can give rise to false homozygosity results in HLA genotyping of patients with hematologic malignancies. Here we report false homozygosity results in HLA genotyping due to the loss of whole chromosome 6 in the neoplastic cells of a patient with ALL. A 33-yr-old Korean female patient was admitted for the evaluation of leukocytosis detected during a workup for headache. Her initial white blood cell count was 336.9x109/L with 84% of blasts in the differential count. Precursor-B lymphoblastic leukemia was diagnosed from a subsequent bone marrow study. HLA high-resolution genotyping of the patient was requested at the time of diagnosis for possible hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Homozygosity results (A*02:01, B*54:01, C*08:01, DQB1*04:01) were obtained, except for the DRB1 locus (DRB1*04:05, DRB1*11:01), in sequence-based typing. Conventional karyotyping of bone marrow metaphase cells revealed chromosomal abnormalities, with loss of multiple chromosomes including chromosome 6, and reduplication of the remaining chromosomes: 29,X,+X,+8,inv(9)(p11q13),+10,+14,+18,+21[15]/58,idemX2[3]/46,XX,inv(9)[2]. LOH at the HLA region was suspected and HLA genotyping was repeated with the peripheral blood in remission state after induction chemotherapy. All 5 HLA loci were typed as heterozygous (A*02:01, A*02:06, B*40:01, B*54:01, C*03:04, C*08:01, DRB1*04:05, DRB1*11:01, DQB1*03:01, DQB1*04:01). To avoid false HLA typing results in patients with hematologic malignancies, clinicians, as well as laboratory personnel, need to be aware of such problems and take appropriate precautions.
Adult ; Chromosome Duplication ; *Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Genotype ; HLA Antigens/*genetics ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukocyte Count ; *Loss of Heterozygosity ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis/*genetics/therapy ; RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics

Receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand (RANKL) is known as a key regulator of osteoclastogenesis. However, the fact that fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells express RANKL in response to bacterial substances, suggests that RANKL may have evolved as a part of the immunity to infection. As RANKL increases the survival and activity of dendritic cells, it may have similar effects on macrophages. To address this issue, we studied the effect of RANKL on various functions of macrophages using mouse bone marrow derived macrophages. RANKL enhanced the survival of macrophages and up-regulated the expression of CD86. RANKL-treated macrophages showed increased allogeneic T cell activation and phagocytic activity compared to control cells. In addition, RANKL increased the expression of TNFalpha, MCP-1, and IL-6 but not of IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma, and iNOS. Collectively, RANKL augmented the activity of macrophages especially as antigen presenting cells, suggesting its new role in immune regulation.
Animals ; Antigen-Presenting Cells/cytology/*drug effects/immunology/*metabolism ; Antigens, CD86/metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/*pharmacology ; Cell Death/drug effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/metabolism ; Inflammation Mediators ; Interferon Type II/pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Macrophages/cytology/*drug effects/immunology/*metabolism ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/metabolism ; Phagocytosis/drug effects ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; Up-Regulation/drug effects/genetics

BACKGROUND: The Htr3a antagonist, ondansetron, has been reported to prolong the QT interval and induce Torsades de pointes in the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. To explore the mechanisms underlying these findings, we examined the effects of ondansetron on the mouse cardiac voltage-gated K⁺ (Kv) channel. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ondansetron increased QT intervals in late pregnant (LP) mice. We measured the Kv channels in freshly isolated left ventricular (LV) myocytes from non-pregnant (NP) and late pregnant (LP) mice, using patch-clamp electrophysiology. Ondansetron blocked Kv current at a dose of 50 µM, and reduced the amplitude of peak current densities in a dose-dependent manner (0, 1, 5, 50 µM), in LP but not in NP mice. In contrast, serotonin and the Htr3 agonist, m-CPBG, increased Kv current densities in NP, but not in LP mice. Interestingly, during pregnancy, serum serotonin levels were markedly increased, suggesting the saturation of the effect of serotonin. Immunostaning data showed that Kv4.3 protein and Htr3a co-localize at the membrane and t-tubule of cardiomyocytes. Moreover, Kv4.3 membrane trafficking was enhanced in response to Htr3a-mediated serotonin stimulation in NP, but not in LP mice. Membrane analysis showed that serotonin enhances Kv4.3 membrane trafficking in NP, but not LP mice. CONCLUSION: Ondansetron reduced Kv current densities, and reduced the Kv4.3 membrane trafficking in LP mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes. This data suggests that QT prolongation by ondansetron is mediated by the reduction of Kv current densities and Kv4.3 membrane trafficking.
Animals ; Electrophysiology ; Membranes ; Mice* ; Muscle Cells* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Ondansetron* ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Pregnancy ; Serotonin ; Torsades de Pointes