Humans ; Kidney Calculi/surgery* ; Nephrolithotomy, Percutaneous ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Obesity, Morbid/surgery* ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Serum myostatin levels are increased according to renal function decline and myostatin may be a main mediator of chronic kidney disease–related sarcopenia. A previous study reported that serum myostatin level was negatively associated with abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in older males. The aim of this study was to assess the association between serum myostatin level and AAC among dialysis patients of both sexes. In addition, we analyzed the relationship between serum myostatin level, muscle mass, and bone mineral density (BMD).METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated AAC in the lateral lumbar spine using plain radiography and BMD in 71 patients undergoing dialysis. We classified patients into two groups according to the median value of myostatin as follows: those with high myostatin levels (≥ 5.0 ng/mL) and those with low myostatin levels (< 5.0 ng/mL).RESULTS: The proportion of patients with an AAC score of five points or more was higher among those with low myostatin levels. Myostatin level was negatively associated with AAC scores on plain radiography and had a positive association with skeletal muscle mass and T-scores for BMD measured at the total hip and femur neck. Lower myostatin levels were independently associated with higher AAC scores following adjustment for age, sex, diabetes mellitus, dialysis vintage, dialysis modality, and osteoprotegerin level.CONCLUSION: Lower serum myostatin levels were associated with higher AAC scores, lower muscle mass, and lower BMD in dialysis patients. Further, prospective studies and those with larger cohorts are necessary to validate these findings.
Bone Density ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dialysis ; Femur Neck ; Hip ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myostatin ; Osteoprotegerin ; Prospective Studies ; Radiography ; Sarcopenia ; Spine ; Vascular Calcification

Chronic mitral valve disease (CMVD) is the most common cardiovascular disease in dogs, causing decreased cardiac output that results in poor tissue perfusion and tissue damage to kidneys, pancreas, and other organs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between heart disease severity and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and lipase in dogs with CMVD, as well as to evaluate longitudinal changes in these values. A total of 84 dogs participated in this 2015 to 2017 study. Serum values of NT-proBNP and lipase were analyzed; radiography was used to measure the vertebral heart score and assess various echocardiographic values. NT-proBNP showed a strong positive correlation with increasing stage of heart disease; lipase showed a mild positive correlation with heart disease stage. When the three values (NT-proBNP, lipase and month) were continuously measured at 6-month intervals, all showed a correlation with the increasing length of the disease.
Animals ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Dogs ; Echocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Kidney ; Lipase ; Mitral Valve ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Pancreas ; Perfusion ; Radiography

PURPOSE: To characterize the course of treatment for nonmonosymptomatic enuresis with overactive bladder (OAB) in a real clinical setting. METHODS: Data from 111 OAB patients with moderate to severe enuresis were analyzed. The baseline analysis included a questionnaire, voiding diary, uroflowmetry with postvoid residual urine measurement, and plain abdominal radiography of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder (KUB). Following standard urotherapy for 1 month, anticholinergic medication was administered with or without laxatives. Desmopressin was added if there was a partial response to OAB. Patients were followed every 3 months to evaluate the status of OAB and enuresis. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors associated with the lack of complete response (CR) in enuresis at 12 months. RESULTS: Following 12 months of treatment, 64% and 88% of patients experienced at least partial response in enuresis and OAB, respectively. Urgency improved more quickly than enuresis, supporting the need to address daytime symptoms before enuresis. Seventy-nine patients (71%) had fecal impaction on KUB and/or subjective constipation. The combination of anticholinergics with either laxatives or desmopressin fared better than anticholinergics alone. Daytime incontinence and anticholinergics-only treatment were associated with a lack of CR during 12 months of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The data confirmed the validity of addressing OAB before treating enuresis. The results of this study also highlight the need to address fecal impaction. Patients should be counseled about the need for a prolonged course of treatment before starting treatment. Anticholinergics should be accompanied with either desmopressin or laxatives for better control of enuresis.
Cholinergic Antagonists ; Constipation ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin ; Enuresis* ; Fecal Impaction ; Humans ; Kidney ; Laxatives ; Multivariate Analysis ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive*

A 35-year-old man presented with progressive dyspnea and hemoptysis. His blood pressure was 230/140 mmHg and serum creatinine level was 20.13 mg/dL. Chest radiography and computed tomography revealed pulmonary hemorrhage. His renal function was low, thus emergent renal replacement therapy was required. Malignant hypertension and acute kidney injury were diagnosed, and antihypertensive therapy and hemodialysis started immediately. Renal biopsy was performed to examine the underlying disease. Typical pathological changes of malignant hypertension, fibrinoid necrosis of the afferent arterioles, and proliferative endoarteritis at the interlobular arteries were observed. His renal function improved gradually and pulmonary hemorrhage completely disappeared with administration of antihypertensive agents. Here, we report this rare case of malignant hypertension with pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage and speculate that the hemorrhage may be related to vascular injuries at the alveolar capillary level caused by malignant hypertension.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adult ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Arteries ; Arterioles ; Biopsy ; Blood Pressure ; Capillaries ; Creatinine ; Dialysis* ; Dyspnea ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Malignant* ; Necrosis ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; Radiography ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Thorax ; Vascular System Injuries

Neostigmine can successfully decompress patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) who are unresponsive to conservative therapy. However, neostigmine is contraindicated in renal failure, so it is underused in ACPO patients with renal failure who would be otherwise appropriate candidates. We described the first successfully treated case of acute kidney injury (AKI) with neostigmine in a patient with ACPO. A 72-year-old man who underwent a coronary artery bypass graft surgery 11 days prior presented to the emergency room with abdominal distension, peripheral edema, and dyspnea on exertion. Plain abdominal radiographs and abdomen computed tomography scan showed diffuse colonic dilatation without obstruction. Serum creatinine level was increased five-fold over baseline. We diagnosed the patient as ACPO with AKI. With conservative treatment, renal function failed to improve because the ACPO was not corrected. Administration of neostigmine rapidly resolved ACPO and renal function, avoiding more invasive procedures such as colonoscopic decompression and hemodialysis. Neostigmine appears to be an effective and safe treatment option for ACPO patients with renal failure. Prospective large-scale studies should be carried out to determine the safety and efficacy of neostigmine in ACPO patients with renal failure.
Acute Kidney Injury/*drug therapy/etiology ; Aged ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction/*complications ; Creatinine/blood ; Humans ; Male ; Neostigmine/*therapeutic use ; Radiography, Abdominal

OBJECTIVE: To compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of upper abdominal organs with 2 different 3.0 tesla MR systems and to investigate the usefulness of normalization using the spleen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients were enrolled in this prospective study, of which, 35 patients (M:F, 27:8; mean age ± standard deviation, 62.3 ± 12.3 years) were finally analyzed. In addition to the routine liver MR protocol, single-shot spin-echo echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging using b values of 0, 50, 400, and 800 s/mm2 in 2 different MR systems was performed. ADC values of the liver, spleen, pancreas, kidney and liver lesion (if present) were measured and analyzed. ADC values of the spleen were used for normalization. The Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, paired sample t test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and Bland-Altman method were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: For all anatomical regions and liver lesions, both non-normalized and normalized ADC values from 2 different MR systems showed significant correlations (r = 0.5196-0.8488). Non-normalized ADC values of both MR systems differed significantly in all anatomical regions and liver lesions (p < 0.001). However, the normalized ADC of all anatomical regions and liver lesions did not differ significantly (p = 0.065-0.661), with significantly lower coefficient of variance than that of non-normalized ADC (p < 0.009). CONCLUSION: Normalization of the abdominal ADC values using the spleen as a reference organ reduces differences between different MR systems, and could facilitate consistent use of ADC as an imaging biomarker for multi-center or longitudinal studies.
Aged ; *Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Echo-Planar Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Kidney/*radiography ; Liver/*radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas/*radiography ; Prospective Studies ; Spleen/*radiography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the perioperative, functional, and oncological outcomes of renal cryoablation (RC) of small renal masses (SRMs) performed in Korea University Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed an Institutional Review Board-approved database of 70 patients who underwent RC and were followed up for a minimum of 3 months by a single surgeon in Korea University Hospital from August 2007 to May 2014. Among these patients, 68 patients (79 renal masses) were enrolled in our research. We evaluated perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes of RC. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients (79 renal masses) underwent RC in our institution. The mean age of the patients was 62.0 years. The mean tumor size was 2.25 cm. Among the 59 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery, only 1 patient (1.47%) was converted to open surgery. No other perioperative complications occurred. The mean preoperative and 1-month postoperative estimated glomerular filtration ratio (eGFR) were 71.8 and 68.3 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively (p=0.19). The mean 1-year postoperative eGFR was 65.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p=0.25). The mean follow-up period was 59.76 months (range, 3-119 months). Local tumor recurrence occurred in eight tumors (15.4%; a total of 52 renal cell carcinomas). Concerning treatment in the patients with recurrence, five patients underwent re-treatment and three patients are under active surveillance. None of the eight patients who experienced local recurrence had additional recurrence or tumor progression during the follow-up period. In our study, the recurrence-free rate was 83.0% and the cancer-specific survival rate was 100%. Moreover, the 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were both 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term experience with RC in our institution demonstrates that RC is a safe and effective treatment for patients with SRMs.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology/radiography/*surgery ; Cryosurgery/adverse effects/*methods ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms/pathology/radiography/*surgery ; Laparoscopy/adverse effects/methods ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Lymphangioma is a congenital abnormality of the lymphatic system detected primarily in early childhood. There are rare reports of mediastinal lymphangioma in older adults. We hereby report on a 66-year-old female patient who underwent kidney transplantation 20 years previously and who developed pathologically confirmed solitary mediastinal lymphangioma 1 year ago. Chest radiography showed a mediastinal nodule, which was not observed 2 year previously, therefore she was referred to the pulmonary division. She had no symptoms, and chest computed tomography demonstrated a 25-mm, well-defined, low-density nodule located at the anterior mediastinum. The size of the nodule had increased from 25 mm to 34 mm 1 year later, and it was completely resected via video-assisted thoracic surgery. The histological diagnosis was cystic lymphangioma. Therefore, we recommend that clinicians consider cystic lymphangioma as a possible diagnosis even in older patients with a mediastinal cystic mass that shows progressive enlargement.
Adult ; Aged* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney* ; Lymphangioma* ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Lymphatic System ; Mediastinal Cyst* ; Mediastinum ; Radiography ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Pincer nail deformity is a transverse overcurvature of the nail. This study aimed to define the anatomical characteristics of pincer nail deformity and to evaluate the surgical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on 20 cases of pincer nail deformity of the great toe. Thirty subjects without pincer nail deformity or history of trauma of the feet were selected as the control group. Width and height indices were calculated, and interphalangeal angles and base widths of the distal phalanx were measured with radiography. We chose the surgical treatment methods considering perfusion-related factors such as age, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, and peripheral vascular disease. The zigzag nail bed flap method (n=9) and the inverted T incision method (n=11) were used to repair deformities. The outcomes were evaluated 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: The interphalangeal angle was significantly greater in the preoperative patient group (14.0degrees+/-3.6degrees) than in the control group (7.9degrees+/-3.0degrees) (P<0.05). The postoperative width and height indices were very close to the measurements in the control group, and most patients were satisfied with the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the width and height indices are useful for evaluating the deformity and outcomes of surgical treatments. We used two different surgical methods for the two patient groups with respect to the perfusion-related factors and found that the outcomes were all satisfactory. Consequently, we recommend taking into consideration the circulatory condition of the foot when deciding upon the surgical method for pincer nail deformity.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Foot ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; Nails, Ingrown ; Onychomycosis ; Osteophyte ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Toes